Movie "The Great Wall" to star Matt Damon

[whistler162]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/constance-wu-on-the-great-wall-our-heroes-dont-look-like-matt-damon/ar-BBv2sHN?ocid=ansmsnent11

From a descendant of the same person who cast John Wayne as Genghis Khan?

[MohRokTah]

1. OFFS

If the idea of casting Damon in the role is so fucking bad, it will bomb at the box office as badly as Wayne's picture did, and I suspect it will.

[Jnclr89]

2. I would love to be an ear on the wall

of how Hollywood politics works. It would be a blast I think.

[edhopper]

3. It's a freaking monster movie with an international cast

they want box office in Europe and America.
an all Chinese cast would get it two theaters in NY and LA.

[csziggy]

4. Yes, exactly like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" nt

[The Second Stone]

8. CTHD is a full on masterpiece of cinema

with wide popular appeal. A wonderful story, well acted and beautifully photographed. It told its tale of Asian tragic fairy tales in a traditional Asian style. An amazing piece of storytelling.

[csziggy]

9. True - and I would love to see more films made from a Chinese perspective

About their history, rather than interpreted from a Western point of view with non-Chinese actors directed by non-Chinese people.

Same for other countries - I would very much like to see more movies made by their own people. Few movies made in other than European countries make it to American theaters - except for those in large cities with art cinemas. Even with Indian movies, few of the Bollywood films are subtitled for people who don't speak the languages so they are pretty much inaccessible to people like me who are not fluent in any language other than English.

[oberliner]

5. What is the premise of the film?

What character is Matt Damon playing?

[Jnclr89]

6. a white guy who saves the world

lol

[Orrex]

18. That's a nice departure from the usual formula

You know, where a white guy saves the world.

[Baitball Blogger]

20. The only time they learn to accept less in life, and still find fulfillment

is when they get into an accident or get an illness that gives them brain damage.

Well, not exactly box office hits, but I guess, from their perspective, they do it to show they can be successful living like everybody else.

[Initech]

7. Hollywood Whitewashing: How is this still a thing?

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

10. I'm not seeing the problem here

And I'm Chinese American. The Chinese studio and director approved of this as did the Chinese government.

The only racism I see in this issue is from people who think all Chinese people look the same. Ever heard of Uighurs? They're Caucasians from China's Xinjiang province and they are considered Chinese people too.

[white_wolf]

11. Thanks for this.

I actually hadn't heard of Uighurs until you mentioned them. I think it's easy for people, me included, to assume everyone from a particular country or group looks exactly like the popular image of that group.

[Gabi Hayes]

16. then watch "the geisha boy".....not Chinese, but>>>>

[MrScorpio]

17. Unfortunately, though, Asia and China in particular has a whitewashing problem

For example, in China there exists an entire industry that hires white people to impersonate "experts" like doctors and entrepreneurs in order put white faces on Chinese products.

In much of Asia, white Americans celebs are hired for huge sums of money to be cast in all kinds of advertising. That was the entire premise behind the movie, Lost In Translation.

Also, colorism is huge issue in Asia, as dangerous skin lightening products are hawked to darker skinned people, many of which are manufactured by major industrials.

In Asia, whitewashing is a huge deal and is the cultural extension of Western white supremacy in the non-white parts of the world.

[lame54]

12. I don't see him as Trump

[clarice]

13. Do you mean the same MD who rails on about gun control....

and then gets a gabillion dollars for killing 20 people in his movies? No thanks

[Orrex]

19. He also destroyed NASA property in The Martian

And he shot an innocent horse in True Grit.

What an asshole.

[Iggo]

21. Fucking space pirate!

[Kurska]

14. Chinese director and Chinese studio

And a movie that focuses primarily on the chinese market in the end.

Matt Damon is huge over in China, that explains the casting. Lots of knee jerks in this thread without understanding the context.

[romanic]

15. What's the problem here?

If the Chinese wanted Damon, then that's what they'll get. They don't need Americans expressing their "concern".

[Iggo]

22. I don't get it. Is he playing a Chinese guy?

[aikoaiko]

23. I understand the criticism, but if Yimou Zhang is cool with it -- then so am I.

He has had my respect since Ju Dou and Raise the Red Lantern.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0955443/?ref_=tt_ov_dr