British actor Idris Elba cannot star as James Bond because he is black, says Rush Limbaugh - Polidicks

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;46790506]So what? I don't care what Flemming wanted. And apparently, neither does just about any movie, so pointing at him like it matters doesn't show me anything. Flemming also held pretty typical views for someone his age at that time period, he would largely be considered an actual racist today. Does that matter? Only if you think it matters what he thinks about the actor playing Bond. Also, there's not a single Bond that looks like that guy.[/quote] Fair enough. [QUOTE=HumanAbyss;46790506]Hey Saigon, why don't you answer my question? Can superman be rewritten as black or would that be an issue for you?[/QUOTE] I would think that a black Superman would be weird and unnecessary, yes. I would also think that a German Superman would be weird. Or a transgendered Superman. It just wouldn't jive with the character in my eyes.

[QUOTE=Saigon;46790545]Fair enough. I would think that a black Superman would be weird and unnecessary, yes. [B]I would also think that a German Superman would be weird.[/B] Or a transgendered Superman. It just wouldn't jive with the character in my eyes.[/QUOTE] What about a Russian one?

Why would a black superman be anything? There were black kryptonians, he could just have black parents in some reality. There's already been a soviet Superman, why would that be "Too far"? Superman started out as a character that couldn't even fly, now he's strong enough to damn near end the universe. To me, racial changes seem so insignificant, that focusing on them could only really be racism at some level.

[QUOTE=TheDecryptor;46790553]What about a Russian one?[/QUOTE] I know one already exists, but is clearly a derivative work, not part of the main series.

[QUOTE=Saigon;46790545]Fair enough. I would think that a black Superman would be weird and unnecessary, yes. I would also think that a German Superman would be weird. Or a transgendered Superman. It just wouldn't jive with the character in my eyes.[/QUOTE] except being black isn't a different nationality

Seriously why would you want a black Bond? That's like casting a black dude as Captain Picard, or a white dude as Jules from Pulp Fiction No way

I think the next bond should instead be some kind of giant Scottish muscleman. [img]http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/screen_kubrick/0/30/2681685-asdfasdf.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=Pretiacruento;46790323]Question - Would you guys be okay if Ken Watanabe (let's pretend for one second that his English is impeccable) was cast as Bond?[/QUOTE] No? Ken Watanabe is a good actor, but one thing I don't remember him for are Bond type characters, suave, charismatic and intimidating. On the other hand, I remember Idris Elba for literally only characters who are suave, charismatic and intimidating.

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;46790556]Why would a black superman be anything? There were black kryptonians, he could just have black parents in some reality. There's already been a soviet Superman, why would that be "Too far"? Superman started out as a character that couldn't even fly, now he's strong enough to damn near end the universe. To me, racial changes seem so insignificant, that focusing on them could only really be racism at some level.[/QUOTE] The difference being that things like "soviet superman" are very clearly in a different reset universe than the normal American Superman is in. They aren't supposed to be the same person. This case isn't like that (unless they're changing the whole situation, which would actually make it better).

[QUOTE=Silence I Kill You;46790412]Sure, it's a new movie in the same franchise using an already established character. Would you also not have a problem with Gandalf being replaced by someone who doesn't fit the stereotype of that character?[/QUOTE] I thought the only problem was that he was an established character, what do stereotypes have to do with anything? Since when does the stereotype of a smooth, dashing and bold spy only apply to white actors?

[QUOTE=Zukriuchen;46790689]I thought the only problem was that he was an established character, what do stereotypes have to do with anything? Since when does the stereotype of a smooth, dashing and bold spy only apply to white actors?[/QUOTE] You're on such a witch hunt to "find the racist!" that you're going to ignore everything else and just cherry pick things you want to make them sound racist. I'm out. Go try to cherry pick and twist someone else's words...

[QUOTE=Zukriuchen;46790689]I thought the only problem was that he was an established character, what do stereotypes have to do with anything? Since when does the stereotype of a smooth, dashing and bold spy only apply to white actors?[/QUOTE] How is being white NOT part of his stereotype? When you see a bond poster you expect to see a white guy on it as Bond. That's just part of who he is. It isn't a good thing or a bad thing... it just is.

[QUOTE=Silence I Kill You;46790473]Of course sometimes a character must be changed. Usually, these are replaced by people who generally fit the same build, body type, style as the previous one. However, if there should be a large change (like extreme skin tone change, genealogy, etc...), it needs to be done properly. There needs to be something done to wrap up the existing character to let the new one come it. It has the double up-side of explaining the change in a way that benefits the story, and it also lets the new actor be able to create his own new characteristics for the character. It allows him to establish himself in the franchise and make it HIS franchise, instead of it being someone else's franchise he's continuing.[/QUOTE] What an incredibly close minded mentality. Listen to yourself. You claim you're not racist and this is just cherry picking and yet you're literally saying Idris Elba cannot possibly play James Bond. You don't even leave room for a reboot, you're saying that if someone has a different skin color they NEED to have their own separate character (because god forbid someone taint your precious white spy with a minority playing him) [QUOTE=sgman91;46790695]How is being white NOT part of his stereotype? When you see a bond poster you expect to see a white guy on it as Bond. That's just part of who he is. It isn't a good thing or a bad thing... it just is.[/QUOTE] Why

this thread reeks of political correctness

[QUOTE=sgman91;46790114]It makes perfect sense to anyone without an agenda.[/QUOTE] Nobody has an agenda, it's just that us normal folks see "Idris Elba as Bond" and imagine him behind the wheel of an Aston Martin in a car chase or getting in a fist fight with an evil Eurovillain while people like you, Silence, and Saigon sweat over the idea of the Leftist Scourge blackifying everything you hold dear.

[QUOTE=Raidyr;46790755]Nobody has an agenda, it's just that us normal folks see "Idris Elba as Bond" and imagine him behind the wheel of an Aston Martin in a car chase or getting in a fist fight with an evil Eurovillain while people like you, Silence, and Saigon sweat over the idea of the Leftist Scourge blackifying everything you hold dear.[/QUOTE] This just goes to show that you don't understand my point at all. [QUOTE=Zukriuchen;46790732]What an incredibly close minded mentality. Listen to yourself. You claim you're not racist and this is just cherry picking and yet you're literally saying Idris Elba cannot possibly play James Bond. You don't even leave room for a reboot, you're saying that if someone has a different skin color they NEED to have their own separate character (because god forbid someone taint your precious white spy with a minority playing him)[/QUOTE] Sure, because there are millions of people every single day who just *POOF* change their ethnicity. As a matter of fact, my friend just turned black the other day. You tell me how that makes any sense. ONCE AGAIN, I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN THIS: I don't think he would be a bad Bond because of his race. I'm saying if they are going to make such a large character change, they need to do something instead of just plopping him in the movie. James Bond, as it sits, is and has always been a white man. I DON'T FUCKING CARE if that changes, but if it does, it should to be done in a plausible way. Just saying "oh, he's black now" is fucking lazy on the studio's part. If you can't see reason and logic, then you will never understand my side of the argument, not that you would want to, since you're too busy trying to twist everything I say.

[QUOTE=Saigon;46790545]Fair enough. I would think that a black Superman would be weird and unnecessary, yes. I would also think that a German Superman would be weird. Or a transgendered Superman. It just wouldn't jive with the character in my eyes.[/QUOTE] German Superman would have very unfortunate connotations.

[QUOTE=Silence I Kill You;46790787]As a matter of fact, my friend just turned black the other day.[/QUOTE] are you still friends?

[QUOTE=Silence I Kill You;46790787]Sure, because there are millions of people every single day who just *POOF* change their ethnicity. As a matter of fact, my friend just turned black the other day. You tell me how that makes any sense.[/QUOTE] In real life, nah, but guess what, it's a fucking movie. Like I said: if you really care about continuity there are TONS of bigger things you can focus on. If it's the same character, why aren't you complaining about Bond never aging? Or about the tremendous leaps in technology? Or about the incredibly useful weapons and gadgets that seem to disappear after every phase? I get it, you're saying the race is not the important part, but out of all of these things that you could be complaining about, a race change is the one part that you can't forgive [editline]25th December 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=En-Guage;46790639]Seriously why would you want a black Bond?[/QUOTE] Why wouldn't you

[QUOTE=En-Guage;46790639]Seriously why would you want a black Bond?[/QUOTE] This is a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation at hand. Nobody really wanted a black Bond. There was no demand for it. What happened was someone at Sony brought up the idea of Idris Elba specifically. People want to see him playing Bond because they think he could do the part well, not because he was black. A common sight in this thread is people who complain about political correctness who are themselves trying to make this a racial thing. It's not a racial thing. It's an Idris Elba thing.

[QUOTE=Zukriuchen;46790829]In real life, nah, but guess what, it's a fucking movie. Like I said: if you really care about continuity there are TONS of bigger things you can focus on. If it's the same character, why aren't you complaining about Bond never aging? Or about the tremendous leaps in technology? Or about the incredibly useful weapons and gadgets that seem to disappear after every phase? I get it, you're saying the race is not the important part, but out of all of these things that you could be complaining about, a race change is the one part that you can't forgive [editline]25th December 2014[/editline] Why wouldn't you[/QUOTE] Because he's white? Because in all the movies he was white? Because James Bond is historically white, not black? I don't want a black bond [editline]25th December 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=Raidyr;46790858]This is a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation at hand. Nobody really wanted a black Bond. There was no demand for it. What happened was someone at Sony brought up the idea of Idris Elba specifically. People want to see him playing Bond because they think he could do the part well, not because he was black. A common sight in this thread is people who complain about political correctness who are themselves trying to make this a racial thing. It's not a racial thing. It's an Idris Elba thing.[/QUOTE] well that explains it better

I do, I'm a massive Bond fan. If you're just stating opinions that's fine but these aren't arguments

[QUOTE=Zukriuchen;46790829]In real life, nah, but guess what, it's a fucking movie. Like I said: if you really care about continuity there are TONS of bigger things you can focus on. If it's the same character, why aren't you complaining about Bond never aging? Or about the tremendous leaps in technology? Or about the incredibly useful weapons and gadgets that seem to disappear after every phase? I get it, you're saying the race is not the important part, but out of all of these things that you could be complaining about, a race change is the one part that you can't forgive[/QUOTE] I don't like some of those either. It's part of the reason I can't watch the Craig ones either. He's too young to me for him to be Bond. I think the end result would be much better if they were to "kill off" the original James Bond stereotype and turn the name James Bond into a codename like 007, that way, they can change whatever they want about him.

[QUOTE=Raidyr;46790858]This is a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation at hand. Nobody really wanted a black Bond. There was no demand for it. What happened was someone at Sony brought up the idea of Idris Elba specifically. People want to see him playing Bond because they think he could do the part well, not because he was black. A common sight in this thread is people who complain about political correctness who are themselves trying to make this a racial thing. It's not a racial thing. It's an Idris Elba thing.[/QUOTE] I honestly can't help but feel that that motive is there. The anti-Elba folks are citing continuity, Fleming's novels, whatever, but I feel that many have a racist motive they are not admitting. In the same way, I can't help but feel that a lot of the pro-Elba folks have a motive of just looking progressive.

[QUOTE=Elecbullet;46790879]I honestly can't help but feel that that motive is there. The anti-Elba folks are citing continuity, Fleming's novels, whatever, but I feel that many have a racist motive they are not admitting. [B]In the same way, I can't help but feel that a lot of the pro-Elba folks have a motive of just looking progressive.[/B][/QUOTE] I'm sorry but you're wrong. You can believe in whatever conspiracy theory you want. I love the Bond series, I think Elba would be a fantastic Bond. Atleast as good as the ones previous. Has nothing to do with the color of his skin.

Everyone here can claim immunity to racial opinions on the matter, but if nothing else, I feel like that's played into the reasons Sony's looking at him as an actor.

I guess all this speculation doesn't really matter bc he'll never b bond

[QUOTE=En-Guage;46790863]Because he's white? Because in all the movies he was white? Because James Bond is historically white, not black? I don't want a black bond[/QUOTE] He's a character and characters can be played by actors of different races believe it or not

What's so astounding is that this is so completely not political to begin with Idris Elba is a great actor, he could be a fucking rainbow skinned moon hermaphrodite from the fifth dimension and he'd still be a great actor and a great Bond

[QUOTE=Zukriuchen;46790904]He's a character and characters can be played by actors of different races believe it or not[/QUOTE] Some, not all