I really like some of this guy's stronger arguments. He's forcing me to rethink myself. It's true that the casual movie goer doesn't want to get wrapped up in the yellowface argument, and just wants to watch a good live action of a comic they like. That's a decent stance, although it would be nicer if everyone could care and be proactive, but that's asking too much.
But I'm hell bent on the "global community" thing. I would like to eradicate thoughts like "I don't want it to be done by asian actors because I don't like asians" or stuff like that. Cultures can adapt, and they've already started to mesh, as this guy points out. And it's happening despite us. I would like to get to a point where a director would consider "should I cast all asians? ... Why not?" and for the public to accept it straight off like it was anything else. THAT would be a completely non-racist, non-prejudiced, globally aware response. That's what I want. He's right, it doesn't need to be. But I'm tired of people that think that canadians live in igloos and that it's cold all the time. It's time to become aware of the world around us, we, the rich one billion people who can go around and see the others.
This is a step towards a larger goal. If we can see the rest of the world, won't it be easier to sympathize with them? If we start to feel the tangibleness of it in our minds, then maybe we can start acting with a more global care. Maybe, individualism will fade into community. Maybe, if we understand and feel the tangible presence of others beside ourselves living on this planet we share, we won't be so gung ho about trying to kill them over some petty argument or a thing of the past. Maybe, we can move on. Maybe we can find some measure of peace.
Maybe.
THERE ARE NO NATURALLY BLOND BIG BOOBED BLUE EYED BABES IN JAPAN
Yet there's a shinigami!
How pray tell, could she be portrayed "in real life" anymore than a Japanese girl trying REAL HARD to be caucasian?
If they adapt it to American culture. Magnificent Seven beautifully made the already Western influenced (Just like Bleach! Oh noes!) Seven Samurai. Take a look at the Departed, Martin Scorcese took a Korean film, perfected it, and won a damn Oscar. Cultures can ADAPT. I'm fine with that, if you're not, you're ironically quite a racist bigot. There's no way in America, nor is there a need, for a Japanese medium to be filmed in Japanese with Japanese actors in Japan. OTHERWISE IT'D JUST BE JAPANESE.
What's important is that they retain the core structure and action that has made the anime so popular, not going for a "How do we make this acceptable...FOR AMERICAN CASUAL MOVIE GOERS?"
People need to understand hollywood is ruled by money, even if the directors/producers want to be faitful. See the Cowboy Bebop budget forcing a rewrite upon the director.