Ghost in the Shell: Thoughts on DreamWorks Take

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So, there has been a lot of talk on the fact that DreamWorks and Paramount pictures are making a Ghost in the Shell movie. No, I have not read the novel or the manga. I have only seen the first movie once, and I liked it and wish to see it again. The TV series though, I own and adore. I've loved it for years! It's complex yet oddly simple the way I see it with a lot of commentary and themes on a lot of things. When I heard that Hollywood is not going to be making a movie, I couldn't help but feel dread. I don't think that they could make a good movie off of GItS. I really don't. Especially given who is producing and directing it. They don't have a lot of good movies between these people so that alone makes me thing we'll have another Dragon Ball Evolution or Last Airbender.

But that is not what people are complaining about. They are all up about Scarlett Johansson has been casted as the Major. Now this is something I didn't care about. If she can play the part I don't care given this is not a historical film. It's a story that takes place in the future so casting anyone in this role would work for me as long as they can pull it off. The character is a cyborg that can changer her looks after all. So to say that Scarlett can't play this role because she isn't Japanese I thought was a stupid argument. Does that mean they shouldn't cast Idris Elba as James Bond? I don't think that is a fair way to cast someone. I hate the fact that people say Hollywood "whitewashes" things. In some ways, people who say this is right, but they are also wrong. Part of it has to do with who has star power. Longer you've been acting and getting good parts that people buy movies for the more likely you are likely to be cast. If some people see a part they want to be a part of all they have to do is tell the people making the movie and then boom, they have the part. Unknown actors have a hard time breaking it. That is the main problem really. So it made sense to me why Scarlett got the part being she's known for being the Black Widow. She's likely to sell the tickets and if she does good, then I don't care that she was cast as the Major.

However, that was my feelings before I heard that they are working to make Scarlett look more "Japanese." Now, if they were just letting Scarlett play the part, have her look the way she does with changed hair color I wouldn't care at all that she was cast. Especially given the other cast members, such as Christopher Obi, a black guy, playing a Japanese ambassador. But you are making her look Japanese? If you are going to go through that trouble then why didn't you cast a Japanese actress? Now that is something that rubs me the wrong way. I know why they casted Scarlett Johansson. I really do, given she is a well known actress, people will go see the movie on her alone. That is the main reason why Hollywood does what it does. It's trying to make money. I don't care, I get that is the point but this. This I can see why people would be pissed and I'll be with them on that. If you want someone to look a certain race, then you cast a person of that race. That makes sense to me. So I have to wonder now who did they turn down who also tried out for this part. Maybe one of them would have been a better fit. Of course I don't know given I am not part of making the movie. I already have my doubts that this movie is going to be good but given what they are doing now, and I can guess it is because of the backlash of not casting a Japanese actress in the first place, it sounds that it really is going to be what the Dragon Ball fans got. This is going to be a mess!

So, what do you guys think on this? Did you not care but then heard they were making Scarlett Japanese so now you do like me? Or do you still not care? Did you care from the beginning? Maybe you feel something else. I'd like to hear what other fans think about all of this.
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