170 replies to this topic

[Publius]

Please can someone tell me just one major fictitious male hero that is more defined by his ‘whiteness’ than James Bond?

Please?

James West... oh wait.

Then, why not a black guy to play Harry Potter and Superman?

Fine by me. Likewise, I'm sure there are traditionally black superheroes a white guy could play... but are any of them even famous? That seems to be the biggest difficulty in finding a counterexample.

[MkB]

Then, why not a black guy to play Harry Potter and Superman?

It's off topic, but why on earth or krypton couldn't Superman be black? I honestly don't get it.

[Mister Asterix]

Fine by me. Likewise, I'm sure there are traditionally black superheroes a white guy could play... but are any of them even famous? That seems to be the biggest difficulty in finding a counterexample.

Blade? Can’t see a white guy playing him, but is Blade more intrinsically black than James Bond white? At least cinematicly they might be equal. Haven’t read the comic books.

[Mister E]

Interesting...I'm reading posts about casting a black bond means bond not being believable enough to seduce women of various ethnicities other than black chicks. People in this thread have already accosiated casting a black Bond comes with certain stereotypes, when really that wouldn't be the case with casting a black actor. Sure, personalities are influenced by skin colour but not all the time. Bond's character will forever be the same at least the parts that count, regardless of his colour.

In this case, yes it is. Bond is a white,tough,english gentlemen. He isn't just any manly man. You are only talking about Bond in very broad terms so anyone can play him which doesn't make any sense.

As for Craig, I don't see that old fashioned english man. I see a modern and contemporary take on the character that brings Bond into the 21st century quite comfortably.

Of course he is modern but he's still an english white man and it's extremely obvious that's how he carries himself. He can't be anyone else but an english white guy.

[double o ego]

Of course it makes sense and it's a fact that anyone can play him. Connery wasn't initially liked by flemming but he later changed his mind, Craig doesn't physically fit the conventional profile but he shot that straight to hell, Lazenby isn't even British and at that, had no real acting experience. So what does that tell you besides the obvious of all the actors thus far being white men? I'll tell you, as long as the actor can be sold as being the suave debonaire british secret agent, every thing's game. Also, your last part of the post only confirms what I've already said, multiple times. Bond carries himself in a certain way, a certain BRITISH way and any good actor, white, black, purple or green could pull that off, hell even Lazenby did. You're trying to make this profound when it really isn't.

[Blonde Bond]

The reason the "why not a white guy to play Shaft?" arguments don't work is that, quite frankly, there are far more characters in popular fiction defined by their "blackness" than defined by their "whiteness."

Please can someone tell me just one major fictitious male hero that is more defined by his ‘whiteness’ than James Bond?

Please?

Caspar the Friendly Ghost?

I dunno; Sherlock Holmes?

Batman/Bruce Wayne

[Mister E]

Of course it makes sense and it's a fact that anyone can play him.

Okay so Danny Devito or Ceech Marin can play him.

Connery wasn't initially liked by flemming but he later changed his mind, Craig doesn't physically fit the conventional profile but he shot that straight to hell, Lazenby isn't even British and at that, had no real acting experience. So what does that tell you besides the obvious of all the actors thus far being white men? I'll tell you, as long as the actor can be sold as being the suave debonaire british secret agent, every thing's game.

Wrong again. First off, I don't even think Lazenby was right for the role. He was just okay in OHMSS and he certaintly didn't make the film. Secound, Connery and Craig are/were white manly men and that is excatly how Fleming's Bond was. Tough, conservative, white men. Everything else about him can fit other races but it wouldn't be the same character no matter how much you like it to be.

Also, your last part of the post only confirms what I've already said, multiple times. Bond carries himself in a certain way, a certain BRITISH way and any good actor, white, black, purple or green could pull that off, hell even Lazenby did. You're trying to make this profound when it really isn't.

No, I said Britih WHITE male and both define his character. Stop mincing my words to fit your point.

[MkB]

Connery and Craig are/were white manly men and that is excatly how Fleming's Bond was. Tough, conservative, white men.

Sometimes, I wonder why I'm a Bond fan, and I can see why my friends think I'm a living paradox!

[Safari Suit]

I wouldn't say with any degree of certainty that this particular fictional character could be defined as conservative.

[Mister E]

I wouldn't say with any degree of certainty that this particular fictional character could be defined as conservative.

I am not talking about political orientation.

[Shot Your Bolt]

Man, this topic blew up >_>

[Safari Suit]

I wouldn't say with any degree of certainty that this particular fictional character could be defined as conservative.

I am not talking about political orientation.

In what context do you mean?

[coco1997]

I wouldn't say with any degree of certainty that this particular fictional character could be defined as conservative.

I am not talking about political orientation.

In what context do you mean?

Conservative as in "old-fashioned," most likely.

[Donovan Mayne-Nicholls]

It'd be a really stupid move aimed at selling Bond to people who don't even like Bond and pissing off a considerable chunk of the fanbase. I've heard a lot of people propose the idea. In person, that is. But I've yet to haer a paying BOnd fan propose it.

[Mister E]

I wouldn't say with any degree of certainty that this particular fictional character could be defined as conservative.

I am not talking about political orientation.

In what context do you mean?

Conservative as in "old-fashioned," most likely.

I don't want to use that word but I guess you could. Let's put it this way, Bond's style isn't the layman's casual, it's smart but he isn't a stiff either.

[DLibrasnow]

Also, would all the bond girls be black? They would have to be

It would not be believable to have non-black women from all walks of life to fall for a black bond, no matter how big his gun might me

This is a ridiculous statement. You obviously don't get out much because most of my black friends have white girlfriends.

Some white women I know will only date black men and some black men I know prefer to date white women. You know what they say "Once you go black, you never go back."

One time I was trying to chat up this white girl and her friend was laughing and then said "You are the wrong color - she only dates black guys".

[Publius]

I think it's easy to tell who's proposing this out of political correctness and showing off how "civilized" they are, because the suggestions tend to be American comedians, rappers, and blockbuster stars, NOT classically-trained British actors. Colin Salmon, for example, is a proposal I took seriously, although I find him too bland for Bond. I'm sure there are even better black candidates in Britain.

[quantumofsolace]

I think it's easy to tell who's proposing this out of political correctness and showing off how "civilized" they are, because the suggestions tend to be American comedians, rappers, and blockbuster stars, NOT classically-trained British actors. Colin Salmon, for example, is a proposal I took seriously, although I find him too bland for Bond. I'm sure there are even better black candidates in Britain.

What?

[triviachamp]

Mr. T for Bond! He pities the fool who thinks Bond shouldn't be black!

Bond no. 7 should be a fat, blind, deaf, quadriplegic butch black lesbian with a mental disability. I mean why not? Are you a racist or something?

[Mister E]

Bond no. 7 should be a fat, blind, deaf, quadriplegic butch black lesbian with a mental disability. I mean why not? Are you a racist or something?

Oh so a midget can't do it now ? Snob !

[Blofeld's Cat]

I want CBn's own Jim to play Bond.

About time we had a kick-A, take-no-prisoners, shoot-first-talk-later, very un-PC sort of James Bond for once.

[Righty007]

James Bond can't be black but Jeffrey Wright makes me prefer Felix Leiter as an African American.

[Aris007]

I don't know! We have a blonde Bond thing that's against Fleming's standards. I don't that people from EON will make a 360 degree turn with selecting a black actor as Bond!
Despite my sympathy for black people though, I don't think I'd fell comfortable with a black Bond!

[Righty007]

Despite my sympathy for black people though, I don't think I'd fell comfortable with a black Bond!

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

[Aris007]

I don't seem to get your dark point!

[dragonyeuw]

I'd feel the same way black people would feel if a white guy was hired to play Shaft.James Bond was written as a european white character,let's not go out of our way to be politically correct.I don't care so much about supporting characters,I thought Jeffrey Wright makes a great Felix Leiter for example,but Bond is too iconic a character to make such a radical change.

[DR76]

As long as the actor looked good, can wear a tux with no effort, has a strong screen presence, can do a British accent and . . . can act, James Bond could have green skin for all I care.

[Fiona Volpe lover]

TBH it wouldn't bother me if the guy playing him was good. I know it goes against Fleming but some of the films were against Fleming decades ago. As long as he's part-British........

[eddychaput]

I think the entire gag about James Bond is that he behaves in a very British, upper class manner. He's thinks of himself very highly in that stereotypical English fashion. I think tat what makes the whole thing work. He's sort of a British snob, and the fact that he's white enhances that. I don't know if that would come across as effectively if Bond were black.

With regards to pure acting abilities, Black, Asian, Hispanic...anybody can technically play the part. But I think Bond's 'whiteness' adds that...stereotypical Britishness to the part. I know I'm probably explaining myself in terrible fashion so I apologize if anybody doesn't quite understand what I mean. If that's the case, just say so and I'll try to explain myself again.

[Mark_Hazard]

Well, Colin Salmon finally made it.

On tonights The Omid Djalili Show Salmon appeared as 007 in a sketch with Djalili (playing Q), great fun.