Here are some photos of Scarlett Johansson at last night’s New York premiere of Ghost in the Shell. I have to say… this might be my favorite gown that Scarlett has ever worn. This is Balmain. It has clean lines. It makes her look taller. It’s super-flattering. It has a vague ‘70s vibe which really works. I love this. Scarlett also debuted a new shorter haircut, possibly because her haircut last month was looking very “Kate Gosselin.” She seems to have shaved her sides. Meh. But the dress… the dress makes this work.
So, that was the nice stuff. Now for some not-so-nice stuff. Apparently, Ghost in the Shell is a total mess. I can’t even figure out if people think the film is good because we’re still talking about how the movie is super-whitewashed. Scarlett has repeatedly said in interviews (including interviews this week) that “I would never attempt to play a person of a different race, obviously. Hopefully, any question that comes up of my casting will be answered by audiences when they see the film.” She’s playing a character who was originally (in the source material) called Major Motoko Kusanagi.
SPOILERS BELOW.
Sooo, guess what, you guys? Scarlett IS playing a Japanese character. The brain of a Japanese woman, Major Motoko Kusanagi, was placed inside the (white) “shell” of Scarlett’s robot-body. Nerds of Color saw an early preview of the film.
Well, yes it is whitewashed because Scarlett Johansson does not belong in the role of the Major, but man it gets worse. From the sneak peak footage I saw, it looks the Major is originally Japanese. Let me explain. It appears that the character is in a nearly fatal accident. This accident causes her body to be rendered useless, but her brain is the only thing that can be salvaged. So this Japanese woman whose brain is recovered is transferred into a body, or Shell, that just happens to be Scarlett Johannson’s new body. Now her name is “Mira.”
This is horrifying.
The “yellow face” comments hold merit because there is a scene that shows Mira awakening in her new body. That particular shot is suspect as Johannson looks… well… Asian. Even the cut of her eyebrows makes me side eye. However, nothing about the Major has ever screamed WHITE WOMAN. That is in the imagination of people who default to whiteness.
So, not only has the role been whitewashed but they start with a Japanese woman and put her brain in a white body. So what does this say? It says that an Asian actress was an afterthought and that Asian visibility wasn’t valuable enough to carry this through to the end. This is made worse by Daisuke Aramaki (Takeshi Kitano) continuing to speak Japanese to her character at the beginning. Wait, what? I understand many non-Japanese folks can speak Japanese, but since her brain is that of a Japanese woman, she still retains her mother tongue. It’s just on the outside she looks white and is named Mira.
So, yeah. A lot of early reviews are talking about this too, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the critical response to this film is overwhelmingly bad, merely based on this one issue. Now, all that being said, I hate the fact that Scarlett is the one who will have to take “the hit” for this. While she should take a hit – it was her choice to do this movie, after all, and chica is NOT poor – it’s also the fault of the screenwriters, director, producers and the studio. A lot of people made a lot of bad choices here.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
I watch a lot of anime and I won’t be watching this movie. Hollywood never gets these anime adaptions right.
Hollywood rarely gets anything that isn’t about North Americans/Western Europeans right.
Does anyone remember the horror that was the movie adaptation of Dragon Ball?
OMG that movie was so bad!
Actually, Hollywood rarely gets Europeans right either.
Yeah, cosplays are one thing, but I’ve never liked the idea of live film adaptations of anime or manga that I’ve already watched or read. Never saw the Dragon Ball live adaptation and never will because I’ve heard how bad it was. But speaking of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Super has it’s flaws too. As a Trunks fan I really don’t care for how they handled the Future Trunks arc, and am very much against the Trunks/Mai thing. That role definitely should have gone to a new ass-kicking saiyan woman.
I haven’t read the Ghost in a shell manga yet though, so I don’t know if it’s a case where the author who did the manga had a Japanese woman’s brain put in a white woman’s body, or if the race-change was just done with the movie. If it’s he latter, that does seem worse.
Yep, as a huge fan of both manga and anime…nope.
Have you seen the atrocity that is the Death Note adaptation Netflix is doing?
It looks horrible and it’s also something I won’t be watching. The trailer has a lot of dislikes on Youtube.
My sister-in-law, who knows nothing about anime or manga, thought the Death Note trailer looked amazing for some reason. Being an anime/manga fan, I politely recommended she watch the anime instead. My sister, a fellow anime/manga fan, wasn’t so diplomatic. Her exact words: “Netflix needs to die in a fire.”
Another anime/manga fan here. I am a devoted Ghost in the Shell fan, and this movie is first rate garbage in my opinion. I have actually seen some fools defend this film by arguing that the Major doesn’t “look” Japanese in the manga/anime. Characters created in manga/anime style generally don’t “look” Japanese, but I think it’s pretty clear the Major is Japanese based on her name alone (Motoko Kusangi). Also, anyone who has a little knowledge of Japanese culture will understand that the Japanese value homogeny. It’s better to blend in than stand out. In the Major’s line of work especially, I think it would be best if she didn’t stand out by looking like a non-Japanese person.
She really should not have taken this role, but I agree the fault lies with the studio, producer, etc.
I’m in the minority, but I’m actually looking forward to this movie.
The dress is great.
I like it too but feel I’ve seen it before…. can’t recall on who or when though.
Yes….shame about the shoes though, she never seems to get the shoes right.
She’s pretty enough and definitely attractive, but there are times I’ll admit I don’t get why she’s considered one of the most beautiful people in the world.
She has a great body, her face is really nothing special in my opinion. But she carries herself as if she’s a sex goddess and it translates to sex appeal. You get women like that who are magnets for men – attitude makes all the difference.
Yes, and her head looks huge here — lollipop head — and yet the sides are shaved down. And I don’t think the body-con dress with vertical stripes does her any favors, defies laws of graphics and actually makes her look shorter.
I thought so too! She looks so stumpy.
She’s stunning, one of the most beautiful in Hollywood, but I think Charlize Theron as far as blonde actresses in Hollywood is the most stunning.
I don’t think she lied. I just think she isn’t smart enough to realize how bad this is. I think ScarJo sees herself as deep and enlightened, but at the end of the day, she’s just another blinkered narcissist.
She probably had dinner with Woody over it.
That friendship says all you need to know. Really. You aren’t close friends with crappy people if you don’t at some level condone their nonsense. Family, well sometimes yes, because you are stuck with them, but friends? No. Especially not late in life ones.
Yeah she gives the impression of someone who wants to be seen as highly intelligent and deep. She can even fake it to an extent, but if you really listen to her talk? She’s really not very bright. Not at all.
The movie looks lame, I’m not interested.
Oh and on the shallow side; her body is still amazing but I think her hair sucks. There, I said it. She still looks like that Gosselin woman.
This is the most accurate assessment of Scarlett I have ever seen. Add to this the fact that she is incredibly overrated as an actress, and you’ve covered all the bases.
The hair is awful and her head looks to big for her body in that dress.
Yes. She always came across as so in love with her own intellect, when hardly anything of substance ever comes out of her mouth. Such an unlikeable person.
I agree. She is not as smart as she would like us to believe. She is also a terrible actress who always sounds like she has a mouth full of marbles. Maybe she takes all jobs because she see an end to the gravy train coming some day. (I do love her with the edgier hair style and she has a great compact muscular body.)
if stupidity is an option, always pick stupidity over malice.
people are way more often lazy, self interested and dumb than they are mean or crafty.
ITA sneakiness always confounds me whereas I can deal with the common or garden variety of dumb….
I would agree, but that overlooks the fact that people can be stupid AND mean. Now if the quote was always pick dumb and nice over smart and mean, I’d get behind that.
Yeah, like we didn’t see that coming. SMH. And I totally agree with your last paragraph. It is always the people that are the face of the project and came to Hollywood in the first place to make movies that get raked over the coals and people like “just woke” After 40 Years in the Business Sorkin and those behind the decisions that don’t get yelled at and don’t get pressed about it. We should post their pictures and have their twitter handles and emails available to yell at them!
(I’m not saying she doesn’t hold any blame at all but considering she has a vagina and is now in divorce proceedings about whether or not she can give her son a stable home while being a working mother makes me want to be careful here. It’s like she’s set up to be the fall guy or should I say fall girl.)
ETA: I think she looks amazing and love her dress and hair and makeup. I had my hair like that when I was young. I wish I could pull it off again.
I agree with this. We must learn to focus the outrage where it actually matters. If it wasnt Scarlet, it would just be a different white actress. Figure out who directed or produced this thing and name and shame that guy,
Yeah but I think the point here is that SHE lied. If you’re going to go on the record like that, basically bullsh*ting the point, be prepared to be held accountable.
“Ghost in the Shell is a total mess. I can’t even figure out if people think the film is good…”
Well, it has 72 % on Rotten Tomatoes at the moment, most critics seem to like it.
Nonetheless, I hope the film won’t make a ton of money. Controversy aside, I don’t like anyone involved.
Most critics gave it a pass because if its visuals but the plot and development of the characters are weak.
Surprised that they decided to let this particular movie pass with a weak plot point.
I’ve only seen the 95 anime, which is fairly described as great visuals with weak characters and plot, so it sounds like a faithful adaptation to me!
The Rotten Tomatoes score is averaging at 6,2 with a 73% Fresh. That is around a 3 stars out of 5, but leaning more towards good than bad. I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up on a par critically with the new Ghostbusters, so that might be an interesting comparison when it comes to box office.
Down to 60% since you wrote this so it dropped like a stone. Not promising if the critics aren’t on board as I don’t think the general public is that familiar with the property. Could be a mess domestically.
I knew Ghost In A Shell was going to bad but not as bad as it is described above. I had hoped that maybe I was wrong for once. This reads like two different terrible Ryan Reynolds films: Criminal and Self/Less with a dash of casual racism. Hard Pass.
Well, I guess I am just going to see Life this weekend. Maybe I will try to watch Grace and Frankie again.
Reminding us once again that Reynolds got to repeatedly fail his way to that Deadpool role and is now proceeding to fail some more outside of it. Oh to be white man! The trailers for Ghost in a shell werent particularly enticing to me. The confirmed white washing makes it appalling.
I’m dying at anyone calling Criminal a Ryan Reynolds film. He’s in the film for maybe 10 minutes max. But yea those films were god awful.
But unlike the films you mentioned….Ghost In The Shell apparently has amazing visuals so audiences are going to eat it up unfortunately.
Maybe she doesn’t know the original source material that well. I can see her not really bothering to read it…
The movie will bomb because audiences are sick of this white washing bull ish. How many more bombs will hollywood go through before they get it? They aren’t going to change are minds by forcing these types of films down our throats.
Most audiences will forgive if the story or acting is good (like Dr Strange) so it depends really.
seriously gorgeous dress.
She annoys me and her hair is just OK, but that dress!!!!!
oooooo!
I don’t know about the movie but that woman is gorgeous imo.
She looked better with long hair.
The short hair is bad on her. I agree.
Rotten Tomatoes rating is 72% right now, so the reviews aren’t that bad.
And to think she was a speaker at the Women’s March.
I’ll wait for the proper remake-with an Asian actress.
You will be waiting forever.
Honestly, I figured Ghost in the Shell would be really difficult to translate well to American film because so much of it relies on a decent understanding of the philosophical elements therein. That’s the real questioned being asked underneath all the action – what is humanity in the age of machines? How do we define it? Is it unique or replicable? Is there an essential component beyond the interaction of electrical relays in the brain? Not that I think Americans are fundamentally stupid, but so often our movies are dumbed down and resort to hand-holding in order to guide us through the ideology.
The whitewashing is completely ridiculous, though. If you’re going to make her white, just change the character to a Caucasian women, geez.
Really?
I’ve recently watched it (the ’95 movie and both seasons of SAC), and as far as ‘philosophy’ goes… it is really shallow. Like, all this
‘what is humanity in the age of machines? How do we define it? Is it unique or replicable? Is there an essential component beyond the interaction of electrical relays in the brain’
might be touched upon, but only superficially and with a metric ton of annoying technobabble to make it sound deeper. Humanity is having a Ghost. Ghost is maybe kinda-sorta soul or personality or whatever, but it sure can be hacked and nobody gives a damn about the implications of that. Just as nobody wonders about, say, racial or gender identity in the age of replaceable bodies. Hacking is magic, more fingers=faster typing=better hacking. Machines seem to maybe probably be able to evolve into having a Ghost, whatever that is. Subservient andriods are women-shaped.
Plus the ‘politics’ is part ridiculous part offensive (Japan having friction with China over latter commiting some war atrocities in the fairly recent past – OKAY). And all the talk about governement corruption leads to the idea that the best way would be for a militarized group to do as they please under a wise leadership of the all-knowing patriarch (is this pro-authoritarian or just about daddy issues?).
And then there is all that misogyny…
It is 73% at Rotten Tomatoes right now so not bad reviews, at least yet.
I refuse to see the movie, so I cannot comment on whether it is “good or bad”. The previews remind me of her other movie – LUCY. I expect next she will be in an Akira Remake or Fist of the Northstar. Never playing someone of another race – of course not . I find her acting overall to be monotone and boring and I am perplexed as to why others think she is talented.
Yup to all of this.
And why is it “obvious” that SHE wouldn’t play a different race? Including changing the race (from downplaying to removing altogether, though it’s highlighted/specifically described in the source material) to fit a white actor?
+100 Obviously. 😉
Ugh Lucy. That film had potential to be so awesome and then she ends up as a USB.
I hope this sh!t goes Double Toilet Roll.. #NoCountryForThisStupidSh!tNoMore!
… Even if she looks super hot ( That bothers me cause this is how she is getting away with all this trash TBH.. and her general Twattery that she Is Finer than Nylon getting threaded on the eye of a Needle FOINE -FOINE)
I’ve commented a couple of times, under the name Veronica. I’ve changed so as not to be confused with the commenter above.
Off topic – what I commented on was re a comment made about QQ, and I think maybe less ‘regulars’, (bless and keep you Sixer), and less women of colour are entering the conversations? The diversity is what keeps me coming back. It’s the only place I really hear those voices unless I visit The Root.
Apologies for length.
I’m lost mermaid? a Comment about me? what now
Hi QQ. Someone a couple of days ago left a comment regarding you which was ridiculous. I think it was Almond joy (maybe), who wrote back ‘Don’t’ , and I added my two cents.
Sounds odd, I’ve admired you through your comments since I stumbled upon this amazing mix of politics, gossip and I intersectional feminism. More input from women of colour is only ever a good thing. Especially yours, frankly. And I love your hair!
Oh! That trolley crap.. Thanks Hun, I appreciate it, but yeah me and a few other girls constantly have these conversations ( which no secret I’ve aid as much here) where we feel like… *sigh* why bother coming back/trying to dialogue etc but then we all still like our gossip, additionally credit where credit is due, we simply don’t have platforms to see stuff we want discussed halfway intelligently ( so Kudos to the Celebitchy team for at least starting to cover more diverse things and MORE Actors/People of Color in Gossip and such)
So this is like *literal* whitewashing. Like they just literally painted a white exterior onto a Japanese character.
What happened to her boobs?
I saw this movie last night in 3D at an early screening here in LA. One of the first things I noticed was that SJ was so tiny! Her boobs, her entire body has been downsized. I think she got tiny after she had her baby and lost weight and trained for this role. I saw her in a photo last year in some sort of slip dress and I struck me how small she was – even her head size got smaller.
I noticed the same, it’s a bummer because her body was killler before and she was a role model for not having to become a bobblehead to be sexy. In my opinion her face does not look as good when it is this angular from all the weight loss.
I have no compulsion to defend her, but I wonder if that aspect wasn’t in her shooting script so that she didn’t knowingly lie? When all the backlash first started they might’ve altered the script for scenes she obviously wasn’t needed for, so might not have known. Probably a stretch I admit. One would have to wonder how the hypothetical old version would’ve done it differently because it doesn’t sound like it would’ve been missing completely.
Incidentally this sounds like it’s basically Robocop then, but with a form hugging body suit instead of combat armour?
I saw the movie last night. MILD SPOILER: the same situation seems to happens with another character. I like SJ and the other actor, but feel like the studio just wanted to make sure that they get a franchise and SJ is a good bet. Money over sensitivity to whitewashing concerns. As far as SJ lying, I don’t think she did. Technically, she’s playing a machine body with a human brain with no memories until her background is pieced together. The way the character works, her brain could be inserted into any body/shell, so there’s no reason why another actor couldn’t play the part.
It reminded me of Chappie more than Robocop. Visually it’s a very affecting movie but as always I found the 3D distracting and annoying.
Her figure is perfect and I love the dress.
I can’t stand the hair or mu. That’s all.
Your reply is so sad QQ. Again, all my admiration for you and the other women of colour on this site, and in life. If only white women had showed/show to Black Lives matter as the Womens march, we could much sooner have wonderful conversations about EVERYTHING.
African American women 92percent voted for Hillary Clinton.
Majority of White US women voters voted for Trump, that says it all. IMO
Fecking bingo.
As an addendum to my previous comments – no need to thank me for having your back re trolls QQ – that’s what humans are meant to do.
This whole white washing complaining is so annoying. The original maker of the anime was asked about it and didn’t care. He was happy to see his creation made into live action. People are so negative. It’s so much easier to talk shit than to say positive things. In my opinion it’s stupid to blame her for all this White washing crap. Give it a rest already and try to be positive. Why can’t we just watch a movie for pure enjoyment instead of criticizing every little thing about it. Especially people that haven’t even watched it or any other movie they critique for that matter. Try and have more of an open mind. Obviously if you go to a movie after reading bad reviews, that’s going to affect your own opinion of it even if you don’t want to admit it. I’m guilty of it and recognize it in myself so I do my best to avoid negativity before I experience something myself and then form an opinion based on my experience.
Did it ever occur to you that while whitewashing is a minor annoyance to you it is a real problem for others? Not everyone has the luxury of simply putting a positive spin on things. Lack of diversity in the entertainment industry (and other industries) is a legitimate issue, no matter how much you may want to gloss over it.
How is the movie doing in Japan? I have read that regarding some issues with Asian culture, the whitewashing or appropriation complaints come more from people outside Japan than from within.
It’s coming from outside of Japan because miniorities of Asian descent outside of Japan are more likely to be affected by white-washing in their home countries than Japanese people (who often see themselves represented in Japanese media). Those are the people issuing the complaints.
You’re talking like minority race actors have the choice of whether to look at this negatively or positively, without acknowledging that the studio has made a poor negative choice and deserves to be called out on it. How about studios start making positive choices and bringing positivity? Why is it that we are always the ones being called out to make sacrifices so white people don’t have to feel annoyed? But it’s okay if we are, we just have to be happy about it?
Okay. Dog at a bone, I know. Gotta do it. I wrote these original comments about 3.30am, and went food shopping today about 11am. Twice. Fucking TWICE 8 hours later, women of colour were treated differently to me, with me standing right there.
Seriously, do other white women not see this, or do they truly think being ‘half a step up socially’, (vomit)equals a seat at the table?
This is not the site to comment if you don’t understand this outrage. This is a site for you to read and learn.
Perhaps you’ll be offended. Know what offends me? That a beautiful, intelligent, gracious and damn near perfect family of amazing achieving people as the Obamas could be even THOUGHT of for one second as, “just n—“-by anyone – ever.
Doesn’t that frigging enrage you? It’s fucking unreal to me. Sorry for swearing.
The two women of colour handled today much more graciously than I did – because they have to. Support your sisters.
I like Scarlett and don’t get all the hate she gets (not even addressing the situation in this movie here, I just mean in general). She keeps her life private and I respect that. She never had a wild child moment despite being a child actress and works really hard.
She looks kind of tired here. 🙁 Maybe the divorce has stressed her. I hope she grows her hair out again, this look is just so harsh.
I refuse reeeeefuuuuuuuse to entertain the idea that those awful satin crisscross clunky heels can come back into style!!