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Are there any other US citizens that can vouch for this? Sounds a little dystopian to me. 'You can no longer speak'?. As Stewart Lee might say, 'You know what, you can't even write racial abuse in excrement on someone's car these days, it's political correctness gone mad!'
How does it work in the light of Political Correctness? I'm genuinely curious.
How about the stir that is in all regularity created here on this very forum when someone uses the F word? This baffles me just about every time! There is hardly any English spoken TV show (or book for that matter) you can watch, which attaches the word to just about everything(when they dub them in Germany they use - at least - five different expressions for "the" word), yet every time someone here dares to write it you would think it's the complete breakdown of all occidental values! To, me as someone living in 21 century Europe, this is just prude hypocrisy and political correctness at its worst!
When I do DIY I have used a far extensiver range of words when I hurt myself.
I generally do not mind the occassional curse, the likes in Bad Boys 2 did cross my acceptance threshold.
And for me M did bring it kindly when she observed the mess in SF.
Not sure I've heard of people being sued for use of profanity. As a regular f-word user, I should know. 'You know what, you can't even shout the C-word into someone's face these days, without them being offended'.
There is also a difference between cursing and calling someone a "mocking furon", which was what was beaten down on here if I remember correctly. It is a matter of context. I remember that over at CBn, certain curse words were automatically censored by some system they used. This lead to extensive cursing of course.
I should probably clarify: I was quoting other members. I never said any of that stuff.
That was my point, that people got away with those posts, but I got a bollocking just because I said the F word.
I thought it was obvious you were quoting other members, but I suppose not.
Let's keep it on topic and not derail to talking about what we can or can't say here. It's a wonder we've made this discussion last 13 pages, let's not have it closed by going off topic with something else that can surely be anger-inducing.
To the question again then.
No I would not accept a black Bond, but if I did we would need to switch him back to white at least for one film, if we were to re-do LALD, as the black-white dynamic is very prevalent, almost intrinsic to the core story.
What I would love to see though is Elba or some other worthy actor, any colour, do a brazen rip-off of the James Bond film series, with super villains, hot babes, outlandish plots. But not campy spoofy, but rather classic Bond like, with real danger and suspense.
The more of this escapist, Bond inspired, cinema fare the better.
No need to quote trash degrading Barbara. YOU'RE FIRED.................. :)
Yeah, she's not great, but maybe it's not her thing. She's certainly an astute and very intelligent producer. In an industry of egotistical buffoons I think we can be relatively happy that she is steering the good ship Bond.
What I will never tolerate is a homosexual James Bond.
I'd be very cool with a homosexual actor playing Bond. As long as he plays it straight I don't see why that's a problem.
My preferred choice for a future Bond (although unlikely now because of his age), is Luke Evans - who happens to be gay. I can't understand those who have an issue with a gay actor playing Bond. As long as the interpretation of the character is good, how can it be a problem?
Regarding a black actor, it depends on the actor in question (as with every candidate for the part). If a young, charismatic actor who ticks all the boxes happens to be the best candidate for the role, I wouldn't have many issues with it.
If EON audition a number of actors and a black actor aces this so much that he's plainly the best of the bunch and they can really work with this change in the character then I'll go with there decison and be willing to see how it plays out.
Although if they just cast a black actor because it's the right time rather than them being the best person out there that is when I'll have my concerns.
The problem I envisage and I might be wrong is some bright spark writer will want to comment on the change of Bond's skin colour and start putting however subtle elments into the character that address this.
If they just cast a black actor and get on with making Bond films fair enough. I've seen some using the justification not necessarily just here but on the internet in general, saying it will shake up a character who is frankly dated.
To be honest Bond is a dated character, the creation that Fleming gave to the world although has seen some tweaks and some other actors taking it in a more humorous light hearted direction is still the character, Bond is an imperalist snob
Diverting to much away from the character that Ian Fleming created because they want to comment on his skin colour as it seems just too much of an opportunity not to take an advantage of is definitely something I fear.
I'm not saying it will happen but writers will need to keep in check that they understand that Bond is Bond and making him hip and socially conscious because it seems such a great idea to make the character more relevant to audiences might maybe grab a new crowd of people but to me if you want a black spy that does that then just come up with an original character who can have all those attributes rather than trying to make an existing one tailored to this.
It's about the brand and not wanting to do the hard work of establishing something new, why not I get it. Piggy back on the most enduring film series in popular culture because it addresses the idea of not enough black actors getting cast in big tent pole films unless your name is Denzel Washington.
I understand the problem but I don't see why Bond should be the property that needs to be exploited to address it? How about a black John Mclane, Bourne or some such character, the reason it's Bond is because he's globally recognised like virtually no other in cinematic history.
It might be a knee jerk reaction on my part but as I said as long time fan I have concerns, I'm not totally against it but as I've said above I have my reservations about what would be undeniably a radical direction to take the series in whether some want to make it sound like it's not.
Imagine, by the way, how the black community would feel about this.
"Hey, we want to placate you and stimulate emancipation and integration by making this symbol of old-school British colonialism one of you. Oh and nevermind the fact that half the Caucasian fanbase is terrifyingly upset, livid even. That doesn't exactly help said emancipation and integration, but ah well, you can't win them all."
All characters in a Bond film can be black in my opinion, including M, Q and Tanner if needs be. But since we're not exactly falling short on white males who look the part, can we please keep Bond--I dunno--THE WAY HE'S ALWAYS BEEN?
Why do I get the feeling sometimes that I'm branded a racist, "ethnicist", ... simply because I disagree with a black Bond? There's something very wrong with that. THAT is not about being "politically correct". That is about deliberately promoting controversy.
Furthermore, with all this whitewashing talk, why not talk about this pc hysteria as the perfect example of double standard. But I guess it as been talked ad nauseam.
I'm the most liberal, humanist person you'll ever know, and I find this Bond being black (or asian, or female, or whatever) business an idiocyncrasy of these ignorant and dark times, often mascareted as illuminated millennials that really don't know jack sh*t about anything at all. It actually scares me. A lot. Because it talks about fights being fought the wrong way. And that only helps the wrong side of things. Always. Racism and misogyny must be fought the right way. I find that a black guy identifying himself with a white (guy) character), or a white guy identifying with a black (guy) character, for example, more to the point. That is a true victory. But changing a beloved character's racial or sexual identity to suit pc points is losing the fight big time.
They can create a black or coloured character that is like 007 I do not care, I might even watch it.
Bottom line is James Bond is like the creation of Ian Fleming and EON, were EON to go with a colored fellow the franchise would probably not overcome that unlike the oscar baiting they have done with Craig.
While I don't like to generalize, I agree with you that sometimes, as a block, their views aren't as illuminated as they may think. Just ignorant, albeit passionate. It's not always the case of course, but definitely so sometimes.
Suppose the next Bond is played by a black British actor. Let’s say it goes well.
Said actor does 3 or 4 movies and then what? If Bond becomes a white Brit again is the poor bastard going to be accused of white-washing?
If Bond isn't a ‘white guy’ it’s really not the end of the world. As long as Bond is a British alcoholic. ;)
But one does wonder who the one after him would be.
It's really a slippery slope imho. Best to leave it as it is.
Conitnunity in the Bond casting isn't essential. You just have to play the character of 'Bond' and that interpretation will differ depending on the actor and the director.
Ther are certain inherent characteristic that the character embodies, but there is enough latidude there for a variety of different takes upon it.
If anything the jarring difference between Moore and Dalton's performances is a more difficult bridge to gap than looking at the race of another actor playing the role.
Bond films are films and therefore art. Artistic expression allows for a variety of interpretations. So why not have a black Bond? Especially, if there is a worthy interpretation availbale and the right actor to pull it off.
As I said there is zero continuity between the actors. Just look at these two photos:
There is zero similarities to both the above actors. There is really nothing that makes them even inherently similar enough to be considered for the same role. Now, there's probably an argument to made that they weren't really considered for the same role. Craig couldn't have played the Bond in GE and Brosnan couldn't have played the Bond in CR. But the basic fact is proven. If the interpretation is available to tell a Bond story with a black actor with a unique take, they should take it.
Surely, Daniel Craig's casting is more offensive than Idris Elba's?
Craig is short.
Craig is blonde.
Craig is kinda craggy and a little ugly (unconventionally attractive).
Craig is overly muscular and not lithe or suave enough.
The guy is seemingly wrong on paper for the role. Meanwhile, on paper, Idris is terrific.
Idris is tall.
Idris is suave.
Idris is an action leading man.
Idris is damn handsome.
Idris is loved national treasure.
However, he's black. Therefore inappropriate too many, which i just find confusing......
I understand that's too old to commit to the franchise now, but there is certainly an argument that if they were recasting the role in 2012, then Elba would have been a perfect choice.
Elba sure knows how to wear the hell out of a suit too. The guy always looks good, and he's smooth in the interviews.
The same goes for Brosnan.