Two scans from a Japanese magazine about the l.a. movie

Kendamu · Post by **Kendamu** » Wed May 28, 2008 3:37 am

TheGreatness25 wrote:What are the chances that an alien would look human? Now take that and multiply that by the chances of that alien looking like an Asian human. If you ask me, it's miracle enough that he looked human at all.

About the same chances that there are around a dozen people on this planet that could accidentally destroy it by sparring too hard.

Sorry that it angers you that I would wonder why someone with a Japanese pronunciation of a Chinese name that comes from a Japanese story based on a Chinese story would end up being Caucasian in a live action interpretation.

Makes sense to me that Goku would be an Asian. The fact that he's not doesn't really anger me or anything as Speed Racer wasn't Asian and that movie was actually pretty good. However, I don't see why people are getting so up-in-arms anytime anyone wants to imagine Son Goku as someone who looks like an Asian.

Graphic · Post by **Graphic** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:23 am

I just get all up-in-arms whenever I see Goku portrayed in a way other than what Akira Toriyama intended. I don't get why people are so optimistic about this? It isn't Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball, it's corporate America trying to make a buck. This movie will not have a lasting impression on me the way that Akira Toriyama has with his stories and style.

TheGreatness25 · Post by **TheGreatness25** » Wed May 28, 2008 6:59 am

What i don't understand is the fans that come on here and blast the filler and blast the dub...and then turn around and say that this movie looks to be promising when it has absolutely nothing to do with the series.

NeptuneKai · Post by **NeptuneKai** » Wed May 28, 2008 7:02 am

TheGreatness25 wrote:What i don't understand is the fans that come on here and blast the filler and blast the dub...and then turn around and say that this movie looks to be promising when it has absolutely nothing to do with the series.

Probably because it's new Dragonball material and some of them are so desperate for something that isn't a videogame or a re-re-rerelease this movie is looking fairly good right now.

Post by **desirecampbell** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:54 am

TheGreatness25 wrote:What i don't understand is the fans that come on here and blast the filler and blast the dub...and then turn around and say that this movie looks to be promising when it has absolutely nothing to do with the series.

Anyone who's been pro-film has already given up on it being an accurate adaptation - and they should (we all should), Funi fucked up the dub and they only had to re-do voices, hoping that the new film will be any better is foolhardy.

Shenron · Post by **Shenron** » Wed May 28, 2008 1:53 pm

Sorry that it angers you that I would wonder why someone with a Japanese pronunciation of a Chinese name that comes from a Japanese story based on a Chinese story would end up being Caucasian in a live action interpretation.

Because he doesn't look asian ? Nor does Chichi, or Bulma for that matter. Tenshinan and Kuririn, yeah. Yajirobe, sure. Yamcha, why not, at least in the beginning. But Goku ? No. That's all.

And anyway, if Goku was asian in the Live Action Movie, half of the people here would say "Eww, he doesn't look like Goku !", and there would be as much complaints as now.

Snail · Post by **Snail** » Wed May 28, 2008 2:28 pm

I really don't understand how people find it strange how many find it fitting for Goku to be asian. As stated above in this thread, he was meant to be a little monkey boy derived from an asian mythology; the story of Sun Wukong. But, whatever, he's an alien that 'is not supposed to look asian', ok fine. However, saying that most of the other main characters don't look asian is nonsense. Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, Kururin, and ChiChi are asian no matter how you think they look.

BlueSky · Post by **Kaboom** » Wed May 28, 2008 2:46 pm

That would be perfectly nice, if they were concerned with early DragonBall's Eastern Fantasy-inspired background. But like I've pointed out before, the direction they're taking with the casting and plot of this movie really strikes me as if they were more concerned about setting up for DBZ sequels. So they're casting as such.

Which means movie Goku isn't considered to be the Monkey King. He's just a Saiyan from the beginning (even if he doesn't know it). So, there's no need for Goku to be casted Asian. It wouldn't be "strange" or out of place if he was, but I do find it odd that people think he needs to be. If we were getting just one movie that focused on DragonBall and wasn't going into the Saiyan heritage or anything else Z-related... then yeah, Asian Goku all the way. But under these circumstances... eh, not really.

The other, human characters are casted just fine. Yamcha, Mai, Roshi, Chi-Chi, etc... were always portrayed as Asian, so they've got Asian actors. Bulma never really was, so we've got the lovely and caucasian Ms. Rossum playing her. Piccolo's a demon/alien, so they've casted a guy who's got loads of experience playing badass villains, and put a lot of makeup on him.

sailorspazz · Post by **sailorspazz** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:37 pm

Did anyone ever consider that when casting for the part of Gokuu, they auditioned actors of different races, but *shock* cast Chatwin because he played the role the best? ("but he looks emotionless in a couple promotional pictures!" *whine* Doesn't really tell us anything about his actual acting ability). Would people really be happier if they went with an Asian actor even if he wasn't the one best suited for the role, just because Gokuu (who's an alien) "should" be Asian? Why is this so important to people? Does the race of the actor really matter if they are able to portray the character properly? OK, it's based on Asian source material, but the key point is based on....it's not meant to be an exact replica of the story we already know. It's an American version, so it's going to utilize mostly American actors, representing a wide spectrum of races. Is that a bad thing? Does anyone complain that a Japanese movie only uses Japanese actors? (for example, in the Death Note movies, L is played by a Japanese actor, even though, from what little is known of his heritage, his appearance should be predominantly European). Oh noez, Bulma was played by a Chinese actress in the Chinese movie, shouldn't they have used a white girl? (though there was some idiot on the ANN forums trying to argue with me about how Bulma shouldn't be white

)

Maybe I ranted too much, but it just really annoys me that, even in a society that is supposed to be beyond racism, there is just a constant barrage of complaints about the race of the actors.

Snail · Post by **Snail** » Wed May 28, 2008 5:33 pm

sailorspazz wrote:Did anyone ever consider that when casting for the part of Gokuu, they auditioned actors of different races, but *shock* cast Chatwin because he played the role the best?

Good point. Not that I have anything against Chatwin ( I enjoyed his performance in War of The Worlds ) but I was just stating a personal preference. I'll openly admit that I didn't take what you said in the quote above into consideration.

sailorspazz · Post by **sailorspazz** » Wed May 28, 2008 6:17 pm

I can understand that people might have a preference....my rant was more of a reaction to the constant complaints from multiple forums about the actors' races ever since the cast was announced months ago, not against any one person in particular.

Kendamu · Post by **Kendamu** » Wed May 28, 2008 6:44 pm

Shenron wrote:
Sorry that it angers you that I would wonder why someone with a Japanese pronunciation of a Chinese name that comes from a Japanese story based on a Chinese story would end up being Caucasian in a live action interpretation.
Because he doesn't look asian ? Nor does Chichi, or Bulma for that matter. Tenshinan and Kuririn, yeah. Yajirobe, sure. Yamcha, why not, at least in the beginning. But Goku ? No. That's all.

And anyway, if Goku was asian in the Live Action Movie, half of the people here would say "Eww, he doesn't look like Goku !", and there would be as much complaints as now.

How can you play the "looks" card when it's freakin' manga? A bunch of people with Asian names in an Asian-inspired setting isn't enough evidence for you?

Graphic · Post by **Graphic** » Thu May 29, 2008 12:03 am

That's right, it's a freaking manga, and it should stay that way. I can already tell this is going to be the blow all movie of the year. To me, I don't consider this Dragon Ball. Akira Toriyama is probably rolling in his grave (err... I mean his bed at night, smoking billions upon billions of cigarettes), thinking about how they are destroying what he created!

testing223 · Post by **testing223** » Thu May 29, 2008 3:37 am

Goku always looked pretty stereotypically asian when he got mad. Fairly thick black eyebrows, fairly thin eyes, straight black hair (no curls at all!) and little facial hair. This also applies to Vegeta and to a lesser extent Radditz and Nappa.

So Saiyans look pretty asian to me.

And I AM of Japanese descent, so I'm pretty familiar with these traits, haha.

However, that's pretty moot since it depends on how good the actor is.

Also, Speed Racer was terrible and anyone who liked it should be ashamed of themselves and should go outside.

Death-T · Post by **Death-T** » Thu May 29, 2008 3:52 am

Also, Speed Racer was terrible and anyone who liked it should be ashamed of themselves and should go outside.

That's why I look down on major purist and people like you. >.>

mrkaizoku · Post by **mrkaizoku** » Thu May 29, 2008 7:04 am

Am I the only one that's upset that they didn't get an actual Namekian to play Piccolo? That's so racist!

In all seriousness any live action Dragonball is going to be bad. There just isn't anyway to make it work without totally changing everything that makes it Dragonball.

BlueSky · Post by **Kaboom** » Thu May 29, 2008 11:43 am

testing223 wrote:Also, Speed Racer was terrible and anyone who liked it should be ashamed of themselves and should go outside.

Have you met my friend, Mr. Chainsaw?

Don't be afraid, he just wants to give you a hug. On your neck. Don't worry, that loud rumbling just means he likes you.

Raki · Post by **Raki** » Thu May 29, 2008 1:07 pm

Death-T wrote:
Also, Speed Racer was terrible and anyone who liked it should be ashamed of themselves and should go outside.
That's why I look down on major purist and people like you. >.>

I don't look down on those with alternate opinions, and neither should you.

Shenron · Post by **Shenron** » Thu May 29, 2008 1:27 pm

Kendamu wrote: How can you play the "looks" card when it's freakin' manga? A bunch of people with Asian names in an Asian-inspired setting isn't enough evidence for you?

Well, I'm pretty sure that Toriyama, like any other artist, can give his characters the look he wants to. And the fact is, Goku doesn't look obviously asian, especially if we compare him to Tenshinhan, Yajirobe or Tsuru Sennin.

Furthermore, even in the beginning of DB, Goku has no real family, and we don't know where he's coming from. He could be russian, for all we know.
So yeah, Monkey King and stuff, ok. But this reference has been forgotten pretty soon in the manga, it was like :

Vol. 1 : Hey, let's make an hommage to Journey to the West, by using some of the plot, the Chinese background, names and stuff, it's gonna be awesome.

Vol. 2 : Ok... so, what was my source of inpiration already ?

Vol.3 : Meh, whatever.

Everything is IMHO, of course.

Death-T · Post by **Death-T** » Thu May 29, 2008 5:07 pm

Raki wrote:
Death-T wrote:
Also, Speed Racer was terrible and anyone who liked it should be ashamed of themselves and should go outside.
That's why I look down on major purist and people like you. >.>
I don't look down on those with alternate opinions, and neither should you.

I DON'T look down on people with different opinions Raki. I look down on people who say ridiculous things about others because of THEIR opinions. Maybe you should actually read the quote I used.