Terrible casting in a movie!
August 24th 2009 00:14
Category: Celebrity
An interesting comment thread on Reddit asks the question: what is the worst casting that you've seen in a movie?
One user immediately identifies Halle Berry as Storm in the X-Men movies, and I think we can all agree on that. While Berry may be one of the most attractive actresses plying her perfect skin in Hollywood, the original character of Storm had this heavy edge, with a personality that could turn from understanding to commanding.
Berry, on the other hand, played the character so forgettably that this reviewer can't even remember what was wrong with her.
Many of the comments identify female actors playing scientists, such as Tara Reid or Denise Richards. Unfortunately, studio casting usually suggests that the hottest babes play important characters, even when they seem so wildly out of whack.
Of course, Anakin Skywalker gets a vote, both as a little kid (Jake Lloyd) and as a whiny young adult (Hayden Christensen), though that particular monstrosity was probably due to George Lucas trying to ham-handedly reinvent the Star Wars franchise.
Personally, I thought that the use of Chinese actresses, speaking English, for "Memoirs of a Geisha" was a a terrible, terrible idea. The entire movie was lost by playing it to English speaking audiences... why don't we get to hear the lovely tinkle of elegant Japanese?
Berry, on the other hand, played the character so forgettably that this reviewer can't even remember what was wrong with her.
Many of the comments identify female actors playing scientists, such as Tara Reid or Denise Richards. Unfortunately, studio casting usually suggests that the hottest babes play important characters, even when they seem so wildly out of whack.
Of course, Anakin Skywalker gets a vote, both as a little kid (Jake Lloyd) and as a whiny young adult (Hayden Christensen), though that particular monstrosity was probably due to George Lucas trying to ham-handedly reinvent the Star Wars franchise.
Personally, I thought that the use of Chinese actresses, speaking English, for "Memoirs of a Geisha" was a a terrible, terrible idea. The entire movie was lost by playing it to English speaking audiences... why don't we get to hear the lovely tinkle of elegant Japanese?
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Cibbuano
Jessie
hsvhsv
Tyronne
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by zer0nix
hear me out.
storm is a mercurious character who changes her appearance frequently and effectively. being cute and waifish may not seem like storm from the outset until you realize that storm is someone who occasionally, arbitrarily, dresses like a stripper.
-that she has the tactical sense to be nominated a leader, and her other life choices include being a thief and a goddess, leads me to believe that storm is someone who is very adept at manipulating her image to suit her wants and needs.
i would fix storm's appearance in the xmen movie simply by dubbing over her voice with something godlike and menacing whenever her eyes turn white and she has entered intimidation/goddess mode.
even craptastic lines like the oft-mocked 'what happens to a toad struck by lightning...' sound awesome when delivered by a deep, multi-dimensional voice, amidst rolling thunder and howling wind, alike an angry god preparing to smack an unfortunate recipient of his rage into the underworld.
waifish one second, whorish (-looking) another, always commanding and always demanding attention and respect. that is storm.
-easy peasy. i don't know how the director missed it.
zer0nix
Comment by Wilson Pon
Health 2 Know
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boxing sound
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Comment by Someone
Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business
Impossible to take that guy seriously. I understand that some great comedians are great actors too (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and One Hour Photo come to mind), but Black is obviously not one of them.
Also, little whispers on the grape vine tell me that Eddie Murphy is being considered over Johnny Depp for the role of the Riddler in the next Batman movie. I hope they're wrong, that's a terrible miscast waiting to happen!
Comment by Carolyn Cordon
Light Within
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Food Leaf
I don't know about the movie you've mentioned, but id the script calls for strength of character, then get a hard-assed bitch up there playing the part.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Ouch
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
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Artist Quirk
Rene Russo in The Thomas Crown Affair, that was ten different kinds of wrong
Matthew Macfadyen in Pride & Prejudice, totally limp vague performance for what is arguably the most dashing character in literary history
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Will Smith in I am Legend and I, Robot
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
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Artist Quirk
in my humble opinion
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Admittedly the script for both I, Robot and I am Legend were lame and yes the CG was overbearing but at its core was an actor incapable of any genuine or sincere emotions on camera...both parts called for subtlety and the ability to communicate without dialogue, two things Smith has no skill at.....and most importantly the audience should empathize with both these parts, again something Smith has NEVER achieved.
Maybe my opinion isn't so humble after all, but then I take cinema very seriously, especially in the case of these two beloved stories
Comment by Nomad
Awesome Food
Comment by GENEVA
And I agree with John Doe on the points he stated regarding I Robot and I am Legend. Both disappointing. Subtlety required, and not delivered.
And Guy Pearce, Nic Cage, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, and Angelina Jolie - they ruin most movies I see them in (e.g., Count of Monte Cristo and Time Machine (both awful book-screen adaptations further ruined with poor casting/acting), Ghost Rider - an awful screen adaptation to begin with made worse with bad casting/acting, anything with Ben or Owen, Beowulf...more Hollywood history rape...a beautiful literary classic ruined).
Comment by Anonymous
Dunk Films
Haylie duff in a backwoods horror movie though nobody watched so nobody probably cares. In fact who cares about this film in general? who even knows about this film?
Jennifer Lopez in nearly every film except for Selena.
There are too many more and I don't feel like typing six pages tonight.