What Sterotypes do you hate?

[KenM]

As far as I'm concerned, they're speaking English as a cinematic device so we can understand them. But since it represents them speaking their native language, they should sound like a person speaking his native language, not like someone speaking a language foreign to them with a heavy accent. Having them speak English like Englishmen didn't bother me at all.



-Hyp.

I like how they did it in The Hunt for Red October movie. They started out speaking russian with subtitles. But in the middle of one line, the actor went from russian to english. It impliled that they were still speaking russian.

 

[Berandor]

Or how they did it in 13th Warrior, where there is a montage of said warrior trying to learn the Norse tongue at campfires etc., and when he has a sufficient grip on the language, they switch to them speaking English, and Mr. 13 speaks with an accent.

 

[Villano]

I'm more bothered by incosistent accents. I caught part of a viking movie on TV and the accents were all over the place. Some either had Scandinavian accents or tried to do them, while others were British and white-bread American. When they are all supposed to be from the same village, it's distracting.

There was an interesting take on different accents in the movie The Blue Max. In it, the German aristocrats all spoke with British accents, while the lower classes were played by Americans. It was unique shorthand to cue people in on who was what class without explaining it.

Anyway, all this talk of accents reminds me of a funny impression of The Hunt For Red October someone once did. They started doing Sean Connery bragging about his "fine Russian crew" and then did the crew as a bunch of Scotties from Star Trek ("I kinnot hold 'er together, Captain!").

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

Seeing all the talk about the “white man makes a better Indian/Samurai/Whatever than do the real Indians/Samurais/Whatever” made me think…

How often has that actually happened?

In Little Big Man, Brimshack and Ed_Laprade make a good case whether or not the Hoffman character does “prove himself,” and if so, to what degree.

In Dances With Wolves, the Costner character does not “save” the Indians. While he does make himself useful during a buffalo hunt and during a skirmish, it is the Indians who have to save him from the white soldiers.

That said, the relationship Cruise’ character in Last Samurai had with the Japanese characters was hard to swallow and the final speech by the Japanese Emperor was almost saccharine. The movie was only bearable due to the visuals and Ken Watanabe’s performance.

In a similar vein is the forthcoming Pathfinder, which according to IMDB.com is about: A Viking boy is left behind after his clan battles a Native American tribe. Raised within the tribe, he (as played by Karl Urban) ultimately becomes their savoir in a fight against the Norsemen. If I go see it, it will be for the visual special. And possibly women in leather.

 

[werk]

In a similar vein is the forthcoming Pathfinder, which according to IMDB.com is about: A Viking boy is left behind after his clan battles a Native American tribe. Raised within the tribe, he (as played by Karl Urban) ultimately becomes their savoir in a fight against the Norsemen. If I go see it, it will be for the visual special. And possibly women in leather.

Didn't I already read that in an R.A. Salvatore book? Young man left behind in a raid, raised by enemies, later coming to their aid...I wonder if he becomes leader of the Norsemen after killing their leader...


Another stereotype that I dislike (probably mentioned already) is the sassy kid. Since when are kids allowed to snap out witticisms about their parents and not get smacked for it?

Dad-"No, this is too small..."
Kid-"That's what mom said!"

 

[sniffles]

Another stereotype that I dislike (probably mentioned already) is the sassy kid. Since when are kids allowed to snap out witticisms about their parents and not get smacked for it?

You haven't been around kids much lately, have you?

 

[Ranger REG]

You haven't been around kids much lately, have you?

You mean kids with a red handprint on the side of their face or without?

 

[Dragonblade]

Sorry if these have been done already. Some stereotypes that I hate:

1) Stupid people in horror movies. If you hear a chainsaw and maniacal laughter coming from the basement, you wouldn't walk down there to check it out all alone with a dim flashlight.

2) Unstoppable supernatural evils. Think Ring or the Grudge. Just once I'd like the hero to greet the evil ghost climbing out of their TV with a baseball bat to the face. And actually have it be effective.

 

[Huw]

You haven't been around kids much lately, have you?

Reminds me of a funny incident with my kid (aged 5). We went swimming, and as we went into the male changing rooms, we were confronted by the sight of an extremely fat, sweaty nude man changing. My son starts to say "What a disgusting.....", but I managed to cut him off at that point.

 

[Huw]

2) Unstoppable supernatural evils. Think Ring or the Grudge. Just once I'd like the hero to greet the evil ghost climbing out of their TV with a baseball bat to the face. And actually have it be effective.

As it happens, I've just finished watching the old Doctor Who story City of Death which does this (Spoiler below):

Spoiler

The Doctor + companions travel back in time to confront the alien villain, who they must stop getting to his spaceship and destroying the world. The cop who's with them simply gets up and punches the approaching alien. The Doctor tells him "that was the most important punch in history."