I'm so pissed, I don't have words.

[logansrogue]

No words. I am down with tongue-in-cheek reimaginings/interpretations of classic stories. (Monkey). Or changing the culture and time period of a classic story (Ulysses 31). Or ditching the classic story and putting your hero in the place of its regular heroes (Xena:WP, but considering that most Greek Heroes are of the male variety, I argue that was totally subversive). But this shit is fucking disgraceful.

Neil Gaiman to write script for a Hollywood version of Journey to the West, with James "Let's make the savage natives Blue and Alien" Cameron. Yes, James "All Irish people are poor, Guinness swilling potatoe eaters who are so fucking happy in their poverty!" Cameron. He who should have stuck to films about blasting aliens and evil robots from the future.

Don't even get me started on Gaiman.

There is mention on having white actors in this movie. Why? I'm sorry - WHY? This movie needs no white actors. I don't want to see one lily-white arsehole in this entire thing. IT'S NOT NECESSARY. We had enough white people in Lord of the Rings, God damn it!

Links:

- Dreamwidth user mercredigirl posts about the subject.
- The post at unfunny_fandom.

Let me know if there's any other good ones.

I am just so pissed right now. SO. FUCKING. PISSED.

Comments

[shantari.livejournal.com]

Now I want Völsunga and King Arthur with a completely non-white cast. Because we're seriously due on some more variety and less double standards when it comes to race changes. (And ffs, it's not like it's difficult to find good actors of the actual races! Why does Hollywood keep insisting that we can only relate to people if they're white?)

[kaberett.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not. O.o

[kaberett.livejournal.com]

Sorry! No, I wasn't, just low on communication-fu. I am genuinely very grateful to have all the links passed on, because I do want to know about this stuff - it's just that I'm still unreasonably disappointed every time Neil does something harmful or, well, disappointing :-(

[xedra.livejournal.com]

Had no idea what Journey to the West was, so I looked it up...
Um, yeah, no reason in the world to have white people in it. None, at all.
Gaiman would be an idiot to do that.

[mawaridi.livejournal.com]

Uuuurgh.

I used to like Neil Gaiman, but every time he does anything lately I get more and more annoyed :(

[mawaridi.livejournal.com]

On the subject of Journey to the West, though, I went to a community festival recently where the local Chinese culture group and a circus arts and acrobatics club got together to perform Monkey vs the Water Dragon. It was so cool! The acrobats played the monkeys and there was a gorgeous dragon dance and martial arts demonstrations. And apparently there are plans to perform the whole story of the Journey to the West in the same style in a couple of years' time. You just reminded me how fun that was :)

[hercircumstance.livejournal.com]

Maybe they'll justify the white washing by setting it New York, but keep a few character names to draw in fans of the original material. Oh wait, that's the Akira movie. Not enough white hero movies out there. Must buy culturally significant properties and change...a few...things. There. Starring Robert Pattinson. Book it.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

You know what's one thing I don't think I'll ever say? "I need more Robert Pattinson in my life."

[angriest.livejournal.com]

Gaiman's scripting Journey to the West for a Chinese producer, for a massive 3D movie trilogy being shot in China with Chinese actors. The James Cameron link is because Gaiman and the producer met with Cameron to discuss 3D tech.

Link: http://eiga.squarespace.com/journal/2011/3/16/neil-gaiman-to-write-new-monkey-king-film-series.html

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Gaiman is responsible for so much racefail, I just don't trust him anymore. And there've been stories reporting there would be white actors in this movie. Which is entirely unneccessary. If I'm mistaken in that assumption, I'd be gladder than anyone.

[angriest.livejournal.com]

Given that they're aiming this film at a Chinese market as much as to a Western one (if not more so), I find the thought of Caucasians in the film slightly unbelievable. I say slightly, because there is still Hollywood money involved and anything can happen.

What has Gaiman done in the past? I have to be honest I stopped actively reading his stuff about the time Sandman ended.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

If you Google "Neil Gaiman Racefail" you should find stuff. Actually, I did it for you cause it's buried in LJ and time:

http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2010/04/following-up-on-what-neil-gaiman-said.html

Never mind the fact that he's constantly defending Amanda Palmer's horrible ableism and sexism (It's fine as long as the woman isn't like *her*).

It's hard for me to be so angry at the man, as I grew up worshipping the Sandman comics, believe me. But he's a douchebag and I don't trust him anymore with this sort of material.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Right-o! :) I get disappointed too, I was a huge fan of the Sandman series when I was a teen.