Lots of posts today, I guess

[cleolinda]

Early linkspam, since it's Lostnesday. And sometime after Lost, we'll check in on Iorek and The Littlest Edward.


ETA: CNN is reporting that Natasha Richardson has passed away, according to a statement from her family.

Gossip Guru Smith Reports Richardson's Life Support Machine Has Been Switched Off; Experts: 'Minor' head injuries may not be; Richardson part of legendary acting family; EW Changes Cover For Richardson.

Original 'Darth Vader,' David Prowse, battling cancer.

Jessica Lange hospitalized after fall.

Actor Stacy Keach hospitalized.

2009 Man Booker International Prize Announced.

25 Other Names The Sci Fi Channel Could Rebrand With ("We're Worried That You're Still In Your Mom's Basement Because That's Not Really The Demographic We're Looking For Channel").

NBC chief calls CNBC attacks ‘unfair’; Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer Have Posses [Feuds]. I don't know--I find Jon Stewart's comments to be entirely fair and perhaps even a little restrained, considering.

Are whoopie pies the new cupcake?

'Designing Women' comes to DVD: Three reasons to cheer!

ABC Family: 'Kyle XY' writer/co-producer Julie Plec answers questions about the finale.

Ben Linus Wants A True Blood Cameo. The accompanying pic of the True Blood "In Case of Vampire" posters are fantastic, btw.

Just How Gory Will 'Harper's Island' Get?

Magnetic Fields Compose The Tunes For 'Coraline' Musical.

Images: Exclusive: Poster for John Crowley's 'Is Anybody There?'; ‘Freddy Vs. Jason Vs. Ash 2′ Cover Image Debuts Online; Marvel Celebrates Wolverine’s 35th Anniversary With Variant Covers And… Fine Art?; 'Whatever Works' stills with Henry Cavill; Concept Art from Timur Bekmambetov's 'Black Lightning'; 'Salt': Angelina Jolie: Arrested, "I'm Sorry Ma'am, But We Checked and It Actually Is Illegal To Be This Sexy."

Trailers and clips: Forecast: 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs'!; CS Videos: Better Not 'Knowing'?; Paul Rudd, Jason Segel "Take It To The Bro-cery Store" With Fart Humor, Bro-isms [Clips]; EXCLUSIVE: Watch Paul Dano Fall For Zooey Deschanel In ‘Gigantic’; Watch This Now: Crazy 'What's in the Box?' Short Film!

Is Harlan Ellison's Star Trek suit aimed at J.J. Abrams' movie?

Favreau: Iron Man 2 Good to Go.

'Quantum of Solace' DVD Exclusive At Target; Laughable Rumor of the Week: Jennifer Aniston, Bond Girl.

'Twilight' Will Go On-Demand Same Day as DVD Release; Twilight Actors Popping In At Surprise DVD Party Location.s Okay, will someone explain to me which DVD set is the best value? Like, in terms of the goddamn "exclusive" extras you get? Because I ain't buyin' six of these. Also: Kristen Stewart gushes about Taylor Lautner, Edward fans are chagrined.

Pitt, Portman and Artifacts.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Caliber’ Adaptation Won’t Star Johnny Depp, Producers ‘Waiting To Hear From’ John Woo.

Producer Says Tilda Swinton to Star in 'Kevin,' Adaptation of Lionel Shriver Novel.

Oscar-Winner Jonathan Demme To Write, Direct Adaptation Of Michel Faber’s ‘Courage Consort.’

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Kick-Ass’ Star Nicolas Cage On His ‘Really Twisted’ Movie Relationship.

Ellen DeGeneres Coming Back to Theaters as Mother Nature!

Superman Returns writer to take a trip into 'Dante's Inferno.'

Adam Scott Joins Leap Year. Ah, you had me at "Amy Adams and Matthew Goode."

'Princess and the Frog': Controversy surrounding Disney's first black princess.

'Time Traveler's Wife' Gets a Date.

We See a 'High Moon' A-Risin.' See, because it's like 'High Noon' with werewolves, and...

U.S. Distro for 'Blood: The Last Vampire.'

A New Christian Film Hopes to Mirror the Success of Last Year's 'Fireproof.'

‘Lost Boys’ Threequel On The Way, Corey Feldman To Return. Well, I know that I can sleep easier now.

Comments

[internal666.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think you're kinda missing the point.

I've looked at both sides of the argument, and both of them have pretty valid points. On the one hand, it is good that they have another interracial couple in their movie (Why has EVERYONE forgotten about Pocohontas and John Smith and whatshisface from the sequel?) and hopefully Tiana won't have a same-race fiance who promptly dies after she meets Naveen (Again, Pocohontas. Seriously dude what the hell was with that?).

And at the same time... Disney has made such a big deal about Tiana being the first Black princess, so why couldn't they have given her a Black prince as well?

When I can remember when I was little, all of my male cousins wanted to be Aladdin when we played outside. Cause he was the Disney character that looked close to what they did. Having a Black prince would've meant so much to them when they were younger so it makes me really sad.

And having an interracial couple would mean a lot to my niece (Who is half White) too, cause I want her to know that even though her parents relationship went to shit, they can work.

I just don't know, I think I'm about to cry.

[ohkaye.livejournal.com]

Of course both sides have valid points. Both sides are valid arguments. I'm not dismissing that in the least. I just think there are more important things to be worried about than, say, whether or not a Disney Princess' prince counterpart is Brazilian or African-American. Whichever way it's represented, it's a good message to be sending to children: either black men can absolutely be princes, and interracial relationships are absolutely okay. I understand that people keep saying the problem isn't really the race of the prince, it's the racism that the prince represents or doesn't represent, and personally I think that's bull. I've also read people getting pissed because Disney doesn't really want to create diversity, they just want to make more money, and frankly I think that's bull as well - they're a corporation, of course they want to make money! But they could just as easily churn out another whitebread Princess movie and do just that, and they're not.

Was the original storyline racist? Yes. If that hadn't been changed, I would see the point of arguing further about this movie. As it stands, I don't see why there's such an uproar.

I have genuine sympathy for your point of view. I can definitely see why it would hit a more personal note with you, and I agree with you that Disney needs to start diversifying their movies (I think that's a point you're making, but I'm not trying to put words in your mouth). I think that this is a good start, and that they need to do more, but I don't think Disney is the root of all racism. Again, it's an aspect of society that needs to change, and not just the movie industry.

[internal666.livejournal.com]

(Honestly, I forgot what my original point was, I let my emotions get the best of me when I was writing that post and just started babbling)

Now about the people saying that Disney wants to make more money, yeah I'm totally with you on that. They're a business and they never would've done this movie if they didn't think it would make money.

Okay let me see if I can pull myself together and try to salvage my original point.

This movie means so much to me and to all of the people who grew up like me that our (grand)daughters and nieces finally have a Disney movie character that looks like them, that they can dress up as on Halloween. But at the same time, it feels like our (grand)sons and nephews are getting the shaft. There are tons of little Black boys who love Disney, and it's really messed up that they don't get their prince.

But at the same time, having a stable interracial couple where nobody dies (I swear to god if someone dies because Tiana and Naveen decide to be together like in Pocohontas I will go apeshit) would be good for young mixed-race Disney fans as well. There are only a handful I can think of on TV now and most of them are from shows geared towards adults so I doubt any little kids are seeing them (Or at least I hope they aren't, oh god I hope they aren't)

Damn it. The need for diversity is high. But there's really no way this mess can have a happy ending, if they change Naveen now it sends the message that being in an interracial relationship is wrong, if they don't then there's something wrong with same-race relationships.

It's just messed up. The one thing I hope that comes from this is that the movie industry changes it's views a little, or is that too much to ask you think? D:

And I'm still emo-babbling so pardon me for that D:

[ohkaye.livejournal.com]

Aw, honey. :( I think that, like everything else, it's a slow process, but I do believe it's getting better. And I TOTALLY agree with you when it comes to the someone dying thing, that was bull when it happened the first time. This movie has no perfect way to go, exactly because of the things you've said - if they change Naveen now, it'll send a bad message, but not having him African in the first place also sends a bad message. Personally I'm trying to look at it as either option sends a good message in some way.

[diddakoi.livejournal.com]

I kind of feel like if the prince was black, and had been black the whole time, then people would complain that Disney's saying black people can only fall in love with black people, she's not good enough for a white prince, etc. Sometimes I think there's no winning.