The Last Jedi Box Office discussion thread

[Trekkin]

Japanese nationals have plenty of opportunities to act in Japanese movies. And the audience can easily see Japanese actors in a large variety of roles, whenever they want. If they aren’t affected by Hollywood whitewashing, why would they care?

Asian-Americans actors and audiences...can’t quiet say the same.

 

[fireproof78]

*Asian-American

That isn't to say I defend the casting choice, just that most(all?) of the fury seems to be coming from this side of the pacific.

Yes, very much from this side. Not saying Hollywood doesn't have a problem, but if the Japanese don't have issue with it, I'm curious as to why Americans care more?

 

[Venardhi]

The dearth of Asian-Americans in starring roles is a very real concern. I was involved in theater and continue to be an occasional dabbler in indy film and web productions and on more than one occasion I've crossed an amazingly talented actor (men and women) who simply didn't believe there was a future for them professionally in the field because the roles just aren't there. Given what I see on my own screen most nights, I can't disagree. White is the default and until we have more casting directors, writers and producers out there willing to open their minds or even (heaven forbid) write roles specifically for people of Asian descent it will continue to be.

As far as the Rose character is concerned, I have no problem with any sort of "activist casting" involved if that was indeed the case (and if you do, yes you've got racial hangups). I care that she wasn't a very good character and was primarily involved in the worst storyline of the film. Tran seems more than capable of carrying a meatier role and I hope she gets it in the next film.

 

[JD]

I was trying to think of an major American movie with an Asian lead that wasn't a martial arts movie, and all I can come up with is the Harold and Kumar movies.

 

[fireproof78]

Hollywood needs to learn from its own history

https://psmag.com/news/when-hollywood-gets-things-right-asian-lead-actors-edition

http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-hawaii-five-0-asian-actors-20170708-story.html

 

[Set Harth]

Commonly accepted interpretation is that he simply doesn't care.

Whatever. He went on record with his support. This may have something to do with the fact that he made a movie where she looked white.

make no mistake, people were offended.

In this day and age? Shocking.

 

[Mach5]

This may have something to do with the fact that he made a movie where she looked white.

She looked as "white" as every other anime character ever.

In this day and age? Shocking.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I was trying to think of an major American movie with an Asian lead that wasn't a martial arts movie, and all I can come up with is the Harold and Kumar movies.

Which tells you a lot in itself. Martial arts or stoner comedy.

That said, The Big Sick is getting a lot attention right now.

 

[Saul]

I have no problem with any sort of "activist casting" involved if that was indeed the case (and if you do, yes you've got racial hangups).

The problem I have with that line of thought, activist casting, is when it comes to something like comic book movies etc. It means Asian characters must be played by Asians, whites by whites etc. We head into segregation because we cast by the race of the actor. That's not to say there isn't an imbalance with white actors taking the roles that could be played better by someone of a different background.

Not saying Hollywood doesn't have a problem, but if the Japanese don't have issue with it, I'm curious as to why Americans care more?

At the cost of offending americans, they have a louder opinion than the japanese do.
Also, Japan is a country that is still very homogeneous. There is not an obvious race divide in Japan. But unfortunately that does lead to things like this.... http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42561815

 

[Venardhi]

I think of "activist casting" in this sense as the simple act of bothering to ask themselves questions like "Can this character be Asian/Black/Latin/etc?" "IS there someone out there who can portray this character who isn't my immediate knee-jerk assumption that it will be a white male?" "AM I representing my audience well with this film?" etc. It doesn't mean passing over the super talented white guy perfect for the role who walks into the casting office for a lesser talent purely to put some color on screen. In this case, it sounds like they wrote the character specifically with an Asian woman in mind. That actually raises some alarm bells for me, but the problems with the character in the end were clearly not the fault of Tran.

 

[fireproof78]

I thought Tran did fine, thought Rose was a good character, liked Paige well enough.

Spoiler: Just in case

If I'm sad that she died after 5 minutes in the film then something worked well.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

Rian Johnson on casting Rose:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...ast-jedi-rian-johnson-20171217-story,amp.html

“I was not looking for a specific ethnicity,” said Johnson, who auditioned Caucasian actresses as well as women of color for the part. “We saw a lot of talented actresses of a very broad range — but honestly, it was more about finding Kelly. There was something about Kelly that had that kind of genuine oddball nature and a real sweetness to her. She has the most open heart of anyone I’ve ever met and I knew that was going to shine through onscreen. I knew that I was going to be rooting for her in the movie.”

 

[crookeddy]

Last Jedi now highest grossing 2017 movie worldwide.

 

[fireproof78]

Rian Johnson on casting Rose:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...ast-jedi-rian-johnson-20171217-story,amp.html

And I agree with Johnson.

Last Jedi now highest grossing 2017 movie worldwide.

Flop...

 

[Enterprise is Great]

Last Jedi now highest grossing 2017 movie worldwide.

Man, what a major major flop!

 

[Mach5]

TLJ has crossed $600 million at the domestic box-office this Saturday.

 

[JD]

It's sad it's been such a huge flop.

 

[USS Firefly]

It's sad it's been such a huge flop.

Yeah, this is the end for space movies

 

[Enterprise is Great]

Oh, man. Disney is gonna have to sell off Lucasfilm! Run for the hills!

 

[Ithekro]

So their biggest disappoint since The Force Awakens?