Is Jackie Chan Hollywood's Asian version of the "magical negro?"

[Samurai8472]

Ithe complaint is that a black character exists that comes alone with knowledge and or power to help out "the white guy" see the error of his ways and this is somehow portraying blacks in a negative light?

I'm not dropping my opinion in but I remember someone bringing up "The legend of bagger vance" for just that

 

[Small White Car]

On the whole it seems very much subject to interpretation according to one's preconceived notions or the lens trhough which they see the world.

Morgan Freeman's god is a "magical negro" but George Burns' isn't for example.

That's because they're wrong. Freeman's god is NOT a "magical negro."

The "MN" is a derivitive of the Noble Savage concept. Basically, the idea that Native Americans (and other racial minorities) were more connected with the land and the universe and also "magical" in a sense. It's pretty much the same thing, just an earlier version.

To understand the reason it's insulting, you have to think like the people back then. These days "being green" is a good thing. But the thinking back then was that these people were close to nature...in other words, more like animals. White folks are close to god, colored natives are close to the earth and the animals.

The "magical negro" SEEMS like a nice idea, but if you look at the whole thing it's clearly just an evolved version of the noble savage. And hopefully you can see how that concept was no good.

But yes, it IS confusing, as you've found. There's absolutely none of that in Morgran Freeman playing god. Whoever put that in there is just taking the easy and obvious route, which isn't always correct.

Also, you can now see why Jackie Chan has nothing to do with any of this.

 

[Skywalker]

That's also borderline racist to say. Comparing Clooney to Malkovich. They don't take the same kind of roles. Are you saying that because you just think all white people look the same?

I had a chance to compare the 2 a few days ago in Burn After Reading, and all I have to say is that Malkovich smoked everyone else in that film!

Even Malkovich has his misfires. See The Man in the Iron Mask.

Or don't. Such an excellent cast wasted on such a mediocre (decent, but not great) movie.

 

[Small White Car]

There isn't one. That's just a inflammitory analogy thrown in to make this thread last several posts.

See:
Legend of Bagger Vance
The Green Mile
The Majestic

You can debate my last post if you like, but even if you conclude it's not a bad stereotype, you have to admit it that it IS a Hollywood Stereotype. Same as the fat mobster in a leather jacket or the angry police chief.

So even if you don't agree that it has any deeper meaning (you can certainly argue that point, there is a case to be made against me) there's no denying that it's an actual "thing" in movies. The fact that it has a name is legit since it pops up so much.

 

[cardinal biggles]

I was going to write a lengthy reply to GWR, in particular doing a point-by-point dissection of his "assessment" of the parallel careers of George Clooney and Adrian Paul, but it's just easier (and more fun) to post this:

 

[zenophite]

Even Malkovich has his misfires. See The Man in the Iron Mask.

I've always found Malkovich a horrible actor myself.



uh-oh. Heroes is on...and guess what they have a new "magical negro" hanging out with parkman. lol.

 

[ancient]

There isn't one. That's just a inflammitory analogy thrown in to make this thread last several posts.

See:
Legend of Bagger Vance
The Green Mile
The Majestic

You can debate my last post if you like, but even if you conclude it's not a bad stereotype, you have to admit it that it IS a Hollywood Stereotype. Same as the fat mobster in a leather jacket or the angry police chief.

So even if you don't agree that it has any deeper meaning (you can certainly argue that point, there is a case to be made against me) there's no denying that it's an actual "thing" in movies. The fact that it has a name is legit since it pops up so much.

Um, what? Sorry, but you seem to have misread my post somehow, because I'm pretty sure I was agreeing with you.

 

[Small White Car]

Um, what? Sorry, but you seem to have misread my post somehow, because I'm pretty sure I was agreeing with you.

I took "there isn't one" to mean "there isn't a such thing as a "magical negro."

I can see now that I read that wrong. Oh well, I'm pretty sure I avoided insulting your mother, so hopefully everything's ok!

 

[Aragorn]

I'll defend Clooney even though I'm not a big fan of him. Ever see De Niro try to do a period (pre-20th century) or fantasy movie? That does not work. Doesn't mean he's not good.

Let's be honest here... the only actors that can truly slip seamlessly into a bunch of different and diverse roles aren't going to be headlining movies.

 

[ancient]

Oh, whoops, I meant "there is no connection".

I can't think of any time Jackie played a magic Asian. He usually plays an average dude that gets thrown into some freaky weird situation -like in Medallian(Sp) - I don't think I've seen him in anything playing a mystic.

Of course.

 

[Skywalker]

I'll defend Clooney even though I'm not a big fan of him. Ever see De Niro try to do a period (pre-20th century) or fantasy movie? That does not work. Doesn't mean he's not good.

I thought De Niro was pretty good in Stardust.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

And, when I saw Eagle Eye this weekend, and saw that the only Asian American actors/extras in the film "again" played Japanese tourists taking photographs with the faux-Japanese accent...I thought to myself "Steven Spielberg approved of this scene in this script? How would he like it if it was a bus full of kikes wearing yamikas! It's the year 2008 for crying out loud?"

I watched that scene today. Nothing offensive about it whatsoever. No exaggerated stereotypes or ridiculous behavior, no grossly inaccurate Japanese accents. One man said "konichiwa" in greeting in a normal tone of voice, which is something a real person in the same situation would do as well.

So all that was offensive about it was that they were Japanese tourists? Because it turns out that it's not all that uncommon to find bus tours with Japanese tourists.

So that was bullshit, as was your assertion that Jackie Chan plays the "magical negro" role. So what exactly was the point of this topic again? Is it your nonsensical criticism of George Clooney? Was it just to take a swipe at Spielberg and Jews, because obviously he speaks for all Jews?

Or was it just a stream of consciousness thing where you launch into a dozen pointless rants?

 

[cardinal biggles]

Or was it just a stream of consciousness thing where you launch into a dozen pointless rants?

Ding ding ding ding ding!

 

[Brian]

What? Jackie Chan does all the fights and stunts in the movies he's in? They should fix that injustice and have someone else do the fights and stunts and just have Jackie stand there and recite Proust, which is what he has trained for all his life.

Now we've got to figure out why Ray Park does all the fights and stunts in the movies he's in. Is he a Magical Scot?

 

[Aragorn]

Good Will Riker is the only contestant on CBS's new reality show "The Amazing Race Card" who can compete with Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

 

[Orintho]

I've been thinking recently that there also aren't that many asian actors who have celebrity power like George Clooney. They're either B/C level actors(Lucy Liu, Ming na , John Cho, Jackie Chan and Chow Yun fat). Also I'm cantonese

Its a bit unfair to label them all B/C level since many of them have already achieved the 'A' list standards from their country/region of origin.

But with Hollywood, I've wondered about that. Always felt actors like Fat, Ken Watanabi, Michelle Yeoh, John Lone, etc. could carry films and other projects quite capably on their own.

To the original post, I don't think Chan fits the 'magical negro' mold because he never assumes the role of the wise, mature teacher.

 

[doubleohfive]

Good Will Riker, as someone who comes from an Arab-American family, I find your plight sympathetic in that I sometimes feel similarly about how Arab-Americans are portrayed on screen and how they are perceived by the general public consciousness... however, your pointless rambling on these minor issues, making mountain out of every little mole hill you come across has gone beyond pedantic and predictable. Its now full on ridiculous. Give it a rest.

Also, say hi To Sonya for all of us.

 

[zenophite]

Also, say hi To Sonya for all of us.

that girl must be constantly wondering why her ears are burning.

 

[Good Will Riker]

Even Malkovich has his misfires. See The Man in the Iron Mask.

Or don't. Such an excellent cast wasted on such a mediocre (decent, but not great) movie.

My friend made me watch it at his house 9 years ago. Those are 2 precious hours of my life that I am never getting back.

I watched that scene today. Nothing offensive about it whatsoever. No exaggerated stereotypes or ridiculous behavior, no grossly inaccurate Japanese accents. One man said "konichiwa" in greeting in a normal tone of voice, which is something a real person in the same situation would do as well.

So all that was offensive about it was that they were Japanese tourists? Because it turns out that it's not all that uncommon to find bus tours with Japanese tourists.

So that was bullshit, as was your assertion that Jackie Chan plays the "magical negro" role. So what exactly was the point of this topic again? Is it your nonsensical criticism of George Clooney? Was it just to take a swipe at Spielberg and Jews, because obviously he speaks for all Jews?

Or was it just a stream of consciousness thing where you launch into a dozen pointless rants?

It could have been a bus filled with random, everyday people...but the studio/screenwriters had to "stick it to the Asians" by injecting that racial-jab into a scene in a rather mediocre movie.

Also, say hi To Sonya for all of us.

that girl must be constantly wondering why her ears are burning.

Actually, it is her eyes that are burning...

Look guys, just because of the fact that Sonia broke up with her boyfriend last month after 4-5 months of dating doesn't mean that I have a shot with her right now. The girl is 10 years younger than me, so that precludes me from doing that.

I grew up with VHS. She grew up with DVD.
I grew up with compact discs. She grew up with ipod.
I grew up with a dial up phone. She grew up with a cellphone.
I grew up with a color TV. She grew up with an HDTV.
Roger Moore was James Bond when I was 9 years old. Pierce Brosnan was James Bond when she was 9 years old.
George H.W. Bush was president when I was in high school. George W. Bush was president when she was in high school.
When she asked me what I thought of "Indiana Jones" 4 months ago, my mind was on "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Temple of Doom," while she was thinking of "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

No, she is way too young for me. I just consider her to be a friend. Just because we both lived in Chicago, are Korean American, and attend the same church does not mean that we have enough in common or related interests for me to ask her out.

I wish her the best, whatever she ends up doing, and whoever she ends up with. As for me, at age 32 I really should be dating 30-year old women rather than girls who are barely out of college...

 

[zenophite]

The girl is 10 years younger than me, so that precludes me from doing that.

it is the duty of every man to bang a girl that is 10 years their junior if given the opportunity. (only for those 28 and above - ok, statutory police?)

I grew up with VHS. She grew up with DVD.
I grew up with compact discs. She grew up with ipod.
I grew up with a dial up phone. She grew up with a cellphone.
I grew up with a color TV. She grew up with an HDTV.
Roger Moore was James Bond when I was 9 years old. Pierce Brosnan was James Bond when she was 9 years old.
George H.W. Bush was president when I was in high school. George W. Bush was president when she was in high school.
When she asked me what I thought of "Indiana Jones" 4 months ago, my mind was on "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Temple of Doom," while she was thinking of "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

Think of all of these things as discussion points for after the young flesh banging session.

No, she is way too young for me.I just consider her to be a friend. Just because we both lived in Chicago, are Korean American, and attend the same church does not mean that we have enough in common or related interests for me to ask her out.

Interests! Interests he says!

I wish her the best, whatever she ends up doing, and whoever she ends up with. As for me, at age 32 I really should be dating 30-year old women rather than girls who are barely out of college...

Oy ye of little experience despite your years.....