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emem
Joined: 22 May 2003
Posts: 39
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 Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2003 2:57 pm Post subject: Why do Asian people have no line? |
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THat's one question I always wonder.
I watched X-men on Saturday. Lady Dead Strike, the only Asian charactor had only one sentence. I saw them interviewing the actress, she can speak perfectly fine.
I like that movie a lot, it touches a lot about ignorance, fear and discrimination. But, I don't think it is racially friendly though, judging by the fact that there's no minority, black/yellow race among the kids in the mansion.
Anyway, back to what I was trying to express: why do no Asian people ever have any lines in any international movies? Is Asian accent so intolerable? Why is French/Italian/Spanish accent more tolerable?
Any comment?
I think, we, the young people should speak fluently and LOUDLY, anyway we like, lose the "th", the "s", the "r", so they will learn how to listen, our flat sounding English.
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hms
Joined: 11 Jul 2003
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2003 2:08 pm Post subject: Why No Lines? |
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Enem,
In reply to your question on accents, it's basically about sounds. In general French/Italian/Spanish accents sound pleasant to the ear because of the natural rhythm of these languages. The stressed syllables in these languages are like a music beat, whereas in English key words are stressed so it lacks this rhythm. It is because of this that French/Italian men, especially, have a stereotype amongst the British, at least, of being romantic. Haven't we all been attracted to somebody, simply because of their voice?
As for 'Asian' accents. If you mean 'Chinese' accents, then to a British ear the accents of, for example, HK Chinese sound slightly abrasive because the 'clipped' sounds of Cantonese when transferred into English (spoken by a native speaker of Cantonese) cause the accent to be jerky, i.e. the sounds jar, they don't flow. The heavier the accent the more noticeable this becomes.
Why there are so few Chinese actors in Hollywood films (or on British TV - Why is there no Chinese family in EastEnders?) could be due to the amount of actors of Chinese ethnicity. Are the numbers representative of the population? Or is it something deeper, I don't know. Anyway, don't take it all so much to heart. When Hollywood made the X-men I doubt if they wanted to use it as a model for political correctness.
HMS. |
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eye_candy1870
Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 86
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| Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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| did you know lucy lui got paid considerably less than diaz and that other girl in charlies angels 2 |
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emem
Joined: 22 May 2003
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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hms,
Just to tell you that in Britain, East Asians might be a small population. But not in the USA. Also, in the USA, they are considerably the highest earners by ethnicity. Thus, it really is a bias; a problem with us being silent all the time!
I really wonder if there's any protest against "sex in the city" when Charlotte's ex-husband's mother said, "I don't like mandirin food and I don't like mandirin child." Such racist comment was just casually blurted out eventhough it is said by a nasty woman.
The media can joke more on a silent group then one who will shout injustice at the smallest opportunity. And, that I think is extremely upsetting.
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emem
Joined: 22 May 2003
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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hms,
Maybe it's just a matter of taste.
I find French language extremely annoying; find Spanish and Italian beautiful; find Mandirin extremely beautiful and romantic; Russian really sexy. Hokkian extremely noisy; Thai extremely gentle; Swahili really nice too listen to. And, English accent by Sean Connery more romantic than any French guy! And the terminator's English accent horrible.
I think just because the media had put something up front; and claimed that to be; made a beautiful show out of a beautiful hero; it creates stereotypical ideas of what is good, or bad; what is beautiful and ugly.
Just imagine a beautiful hero, tall as 6 feets; sexy bums; muscle all the way, fight like rambo with a squeeky voice winning the heart of a beautiful sexy girl as a plot. I bet, speaking with a squeeky voice will be the next "in" thing for chatting up a girl!
The mass really are influenced by what the media tells them. So, when the media does something that affects the image of a group; it will results in the way people threat that group.
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snikto
Joined: 22 Aug 2003
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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lady deathstrike having only one line in the X movie annoyed me too. I was also surprised that they didn't show Jubilee, who is in the credits and is a main character in the comics. ( I must've blinked)
Here's another example of the derogatory way Chinese/Asian accents are shown. Remember The Tuxedo with Jackie Chan ?? Bad film, but in the first communication between Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jackie on the ph0ne, she remarks "Why are you putting on that ridiculous accent?"
That seemed pretty racist to me. |
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emem
Joined: 22 May 2003
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2003 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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I remember that line.
I think it's because she can't see him, (I think he is hiding) and thought she would be expecting an Englishman.
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hairy fingers
Joined: 03 Apr 2004
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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A white actor shouting in a scene stirs up emotion. White people hardly ever hear US getting mad in English in real life so why should we get big parts or important parts in films when we're regarded as an "unemotional" race? If we don't have a totally unique presense on camera or whatever it takes to keep the audience on the edge of their seats,we won't be hired by the film companies.
Hence a lot of Chinese actors in American movies are either ex-models or ugly,old wise man types who stand out!
In the future,if The Uk had it's own established film companies owned by Chinese people,wouldn't gangsters want a piece of the pie just like back in HK?I'd be worried about them kidnapping our actors for ransom money! |
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Little_Firecracker
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Posts: 27
Location: Fylde Coast, Lancashire. UK
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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| eye_candy1870 wrote: | | did you know lucy lui got paid considerably less than diaz and that other girl in charlies angels 2 |
Really?? *Clambering up soap box and muttering angrily*
Only kidding, will spare you peeps my rant this time... :-p
I think that she might have got paid less simply because Diaz is a bigger name (hence greater demand for her work) and has appeared in more US films. But then again, I do question WHY Diaz has more clout...Is it because of the whole blond thing...Is it a racial issue or, as some of you have mentioned above, that for whatever reason there simply aren't many recognisable Asian actors around??
I know that there aren't many roles out there that would be suitable for Asians, which makes it difficult to cast them. I suppose if their accent is that bad, many members of the audience would understandably be put off as they'll not be able to follow the program/film. (However, I doubt that was the case in X-men and CA)...The stereotypes don't help either...I think the number of Orientals getting more exposure in the entertainment industry (at an International level...not all kungfu-related, and with more than one line or a cameo appearance!) is slowly growing...Myabe it's started to catch on, and I would love to see that continue. It would be a shame if so many Asians were not given a chance to develop their talents...
By the way, speaking as an X-men fan, I just want to add that I was not terribly impressed with the film versions...They were far from accurate, and did not live up to the hype. However, I think that a silent Lady Death Strike actually made the character less 'approachable' and more mysterious...a rather deadly combination which her role required...so although I get the point regarding one-liners, I have nothing against the lack of dialogue on her part...
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Cyber Residence <<< Make yourself at home and sign my Guestbook!
"I didn't make the world. I just try to live in it." |
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snikto
Joined: 22 Aug 2003
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | By the way, speaking as an X-men fan, I just want to add that I was not terribly impressed with the film versions...They were far from accurate, and did not live up to the hype. |
Did you see Colossus though ?? Tovarisch!!
And Sabretooth was way less gobby than he is in the comics, so he probably could get in the queue after LD and complain |
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