The ancient one isn't a real person, just as Heimdall, who was always depicted as white and was suddenly played by Idris Elba. The people who were against the heimdall casting were called out for being racist trolls, so what do we call the people who are against the tilda swinton casting?
shareCasting of Heimdall didn't seem to bother me. I think Idris Elba is a fantastic actor and with his deep booming voice he seemed apt for Heimdall - the gatekeeper.
However, 2 other castings bothered me - one was the Chinese guy among the friends who also spoke stupid accented English completely out of place with rest and the British guy among the friends who looked ok for the part but spoke in some fancy Victorian era English which was also anachronistic and stupid.
These 2 chinese and british castings were frankly stupid.
This is a movie about a Norse god and his people. Frankly, all the chars should be white to keep with the flow of things. There is no rule that says chars always have to be diverse. Who really cares about diversity in a movie?
If you're making a movie about Vikings and their mythology and Asgard and all that, make them all as they should be - white, blonde, blue eyed etc. Keep the theme.
If you're making a movie about Africans or Black Panther and his people, they should all be black.
I find it ridiculous that PCness has invaded Hollywood (and I'm a very liberal guy!) and things are done just to be not offensive. Who cares if someone is offended about a movie about fictitious chars in order to stick to some ancient myths..
This is a movie about a Norse god and his people. Frankly, all the chars should be white to keep with the flow of things. There is no rule that says chars always have to be diverse. Who really cares about diversity in a movie?
If you're making a movie about Vikings and their mythology and Asgard and all that, make them all as they should be - white, blonde, blue eyed etc. Keep the theme.
I haven't read all the Thor comics but the very few I read they were.
The oriental guy and the British guy seem out of place tbh.
I think the Norse mythology being written by the Scandinavian people is about people who look like them. Now the comics - I'm not sure if they're based on them again or the comics is where they became diverse.
My point is - I'm all for diversity but to force this on every thing just to make points is kinda lame.
That is the difference here. They took Norse mythology and changed it for the comic books. The Warriors Three were created by Marvel, so they can be however they want them to be. And, Hogun was drawn to look Asian/Oriental.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VfPuMCZomv8/UE9av9wABsI/AAAAAAAAHIs/XGFq_BIQJTg/s1600/warriors+three+1.jpg
I'm not sure he looks oriental. Could be someone from east Europe or Italy.
Could even be Scandinavian. They do have some looks like Hogun.
Anyways, the British guy's accent is what is most bothersome. Plus the oriental guy in the movie.
Heimdall though was great. He acted well and seemed great for the role. I don't think the ethnicity is the issue but probably the choice of actors used.
They could've made a better oriental Hogun and better Fandral.
Think back to the 1960's when these characters were created and how often we saw Oriental men portrayed with Fu Manchu's. Plus, the hat he wears is is reminiscent of what is seen in Mongolia.
I also don't see the issue with the British accent. Sure, people in NY sound different than in the south and they sound different than surfer dudes in LA. But that is to be expected. How about closer geographic areas, such as how people in England sound different than people from Ireland and Scotland?
Again, at least one of them is from a different planet. And, we don't know how big Asgard is. Is it beyond belief that people from there could have different accents?
My point is, I think your dislike of this movie is based upon the wrong reasons. It's fine if you don't like it; but it is like saying you don't like the movie because it is the movie you saw just before your wife told you she's having an affair.
In the comics were they all white, blonde, etc?
Also, as it was shown in Thor 2, the "Chinese guy" is actually from a different planet.
So, if we on our little planet don't all look alike, why would someone from a different planet look like a carbon copy of Thor?
The casting of Swinton has also been criticized as part of what's been termed 'white washing', where traditionally non-white characters are portrayed as white.
The thing in both cases that is considered 'racist' is the notion of presenting only white images of heroism. Objecting to a black Heimdall is an insistence that only a white person could be godlike and heroic. Favoring a white Ancient One is the same position.
What you're failing to understand is what 'racist' means. It's not about being consistent with tradition - it's about deciding to empower minorities with positive images of fictional role-models, versus insisting that they don't need or deserve those efforts to be made.
Frankly, I personally think it's silly depicting Norse gods as multi-ethnic, but it's not worth getting worked up about. I also think it's silly to have an 'Ancient One' they explain away by saying "She's Celtic... she doesn't like to talk about it.", but again, not worth sweating over.
The point is that we're in a period of transition where filmmakers are making a conscious effort to make positive representations of all ethnic types. To object to that seems pretty racist.
That's ridiculous. The only reason why people would object to a black heimdall is because it is a (white) norse god in the traditional telling of the tale.
No one would object against it because only white people could be heroic.
Its the exact same thing as objecting to a white 'ancient one', because in the original tale the ancient one wasn't white.
But weirdly, people who object against a black heimdell are called racist.