Friday, January 29, 2010

The 50 Most Racist Movies (You didn't think were racist)

Here's an interesting article in Complex Magazine about the 50 Most Racist Movies http://best.complex.com/lists/The-50-Most-Racist-Movies that you didn't think were racist.  Although I would have to disagree with many of the selections, there are some here that I have been crying foul for some time now. Take particular note of the following:

#32: "Dragonball Evolution": an example of the common Hollywood practice of turning Asian characters white.
#30: "Twenty-one": another example of how Asian characters are turned white.
#26: "The Last Samurai": I actually really like this movie because the action and plot are so good ... but it's one of dozens (maybe hundreds) of movies where white guy saves the day among non-whites. While this sort of premise is common, this movie takes it to the next level by having a white guy be the last samurai and the only person who could save Japan ... a country that invented the samurai.
#16: "The Gods Must Be Crazy": a humorous and lighthearted short film, but it basically insults the intelligence of black people.
#5: "Sixteen Candles:" anyone who loves 80's movies will remember the crazy exchange student, Long Duk Dong.  I have been told by many Asians who came of age in the 80's that Long Duk Dong became the bane of their existence.
#1: "Breakfast at Tiffany's": I'm too young to have ever seen this movie but you gotta see the scene of the crazy Japanese guy.