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Orrex

(66,518 posts)

73. Well that's the whole question, isn't it?

Tue Jun 7, 2016, 06:41 PM

Jun 2016

At a certain point you've strayed so far from the character it is meaningless.

And what is that point? Who gets to say what that point is?

Not the original author, surely, because we've seen many times that an actor or a subsequent writer can give a different but wholly effective portrayal of a character. Who, then?

And what it is it about a particular character that makes some aspect central? Why is it important that Hermione be female but not, for instance, that James Bond be male?

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A female James Bond is awesome! So is a black Hermione! [View all] HuckleB Jun 2016 OP

There was one. beevul Jun 2016 #1

Way before Croft there was .. Emma Peel Fumesucker Jun 2016 #7

Yup. N/T beevul Jun 2016 #20

Also Agent 99, April Dancer, Cinnamon Carter and Honey West! csziggy Jun 2016 #38

And still kickin' ass. Warren DeMontague Jun 2016 #43

And before her, Honey West.... bettyellen Jun 2016 #56

Before Emma Peel, there was "Get Christie Love" Bucky Jun 2016 #57

The Avengers was about ten years earlier than Christie Love Fumesucker Jun 2016 #59

Still love her. Photographer Jun 2016 #63

swoon. progressoid Jun 2016 #70

M. Appeal lapfog_1 Jun 2016 #79

A female James Bond is wrong Drahthaardogs Jun 2016 #2

James is James, and gender is irrelevant. HuckleB Jun 2016 #3

It depends on how you view it. Drahthaardogs Jun 2016 #6

Well, then you've decided fiction isn't fiction any more. HuckleB Jun 2016 #10

I don't remember asking for your help. Drahthaardogs Jun 2016 #15

Well, you posted on my OP. HuckleB Jun 2016 #16

Or something.... Drahthaardogs Jun 2016 #23

. HuckleB Jun 2016 #24

Ian Fleming established that "James Bond" was his real name in the books, not a codename. Xithras Jun 2016 #58

Maybe he has a long lost sister. Rex Jun 2016 #69

To some it does, to others not. Drahthaardogs Jun 2016 #72

James Bond is obviously the cover name for seven agents. JackRiddler Jun 2016 #80

Actually, that's kind of the sub-plot... PJMcK Jun 2016 #82

Original Casino Royale is best Bond of all, wouldn't you agree? JackRiddler Jun 2016 #89

Especially Woody Allen as Jimmy Bond (wink) PJMcK Jun 2016 #95

Why not a male Hermione Granger, then? Orrex Jun 2016 #47

Why not a unicorn? TipTok Jun 2016 #71

Well that's the whole question, isn't it? Orrex Jun 2016 #73

Probably because of the relative dearth of good female characters. Crunchy Frog Jun 2016 #85

Then the answer is to create more good female roles Orrex Jun 2016 #93

And a transgender Ronald Weasley? :) Albertoo Jun 2016 #92

This is fiction, so who cares go wild. Rex Jun 2016 #65

I agree! Looking forward to a Jane Bond! Rex Jun 2016 #4

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2016 #8

I've never met a women named James, Jamie...yes...I know 2 Jamies. Rex Jun 2016 #11

So what? HuckleB Jun 2016 #21

They brought it up? Rex Jun 2016 #40

Ryan Reynolds daughter is named James. It's uncommon, but not unheard of. Xithras Jun 2016 #61

That is interesting. Rex Jun 2016 #64

As a fan of Ian Flemings original works, I'd have a problem with them changing the name. Xithras Jun 2016 #67

Since it is all fiction and I love new concepts I would be on board. Rex Jun 2016 #68

Hey, we've had Emma Peel and Natasha Romanov...who needs Jane Bond? First Speaker Jun 2016 #5

Amen. Dr. Strange Jun 2016 #9

Not to mention Fumesucker Jun 2016 #12

Thunderball! HuckleB Jun 2016 #14

Thanks for saving me the time.... Bluenorthwest Jun 2016 #49

Are those their names? HuckleB Jun 2016 #13

Agreed, but I absolutely draw the line at female Ghostbusters; that's just wrong!!1! petronius Jun 2016 #17

Yeah, it's weird. What is happening to supposedly progressive America? HuckleB Jun 2016 #22

Not exactly faithful to the source material... malthaussen Jun 2016 #18

"Source material." HuckleB Jun 2016 #19

There's never been an Asian male Nancy Drew NightWatcher Jun 2016 #25

That would be cool! HuckleB Jun 2016 #26

Why am I on the wrong web page? NightWatcher Jun 2016 #27

You appear to think that fictional characters can't change gender. HuckleB Jun 2016 #28

Why stop there, why not make it James Bark, a secret agent dog? NightWatcher Jun 2016 #29

WOW! You really do make it rather easy. HuckleB Jun 2016 #30

I would totally watch a James Bark movie. Kentonio Jun 2016 #96

Yeah! That's why they should never cast a Scottish guy in the role. Orrex Jun 2016 #48

As long as she still hits on Miss Moneypenny, it's ok with me. FSogol Jun 2016 #31

Why not Mr. Moneypenny? WinkyDink Jun 2016 #88

Because then they'd have to pay him 22% more per hour Orrex Jun 2016 #99

Why not a Hunger Games movie that's about a young Jewish man trying to Marr Jun 2016 #32

Wait. You're saying that every version of a female lead must have a male lead? HuckleB Jun 2016 #33

No, I'm just saying I understand why fans would object to casting that Marr Jun 2016 #34

Post removed Post removed Jun 2016 #35

What a childish response. Marr Jun 2016 #37

What kind of shit is that? U4ikLefty Jun 2016 #42

"A room to a Kill" "you only call roomservice twice" "live and let housekeeping change the sheets" Warren DeMontague Jun 2016 #46

"Murder She Entered." Eleanors38 Jun 2016 #60

But the things great works are about are themes and not sets. In many cases a classic is a classic Bluenorthwest Jun 2016 #50

Sure. I personally think that's the real meat of things, too. Marr Jun 2016 #53

Sounds like a pretty good Hunger Games. JackRiddler Jun 2016 #90

I think Hermione being Black fits her character and backstory quite well Odin2005 Jun 2016 #36

still like to know brettdale Jun 2016 #39

The thing I like about it is that it only upsets assumptions. Marr Jun 2016 #54

Well, it's of on the casting director for the films, too. Orrex Jun 2016 #55

Rowling was happy with a grown up black Hermione in a stage play, so why not. Kentonio Jun 2016 #97

I was really shocked to see Miss Marple cast as a woman in the TV series struggle4progress Jun 2016 #41

When the cinematic story of the march towards the Iraq war is made Warren DeMontague Jun 2016 #45

Never say that sort of thing about frogs! Crunchy Frog Jun 2016 #87

You are absolutely right, of course. Warren DeMontague Jun 2016 #94

Gender Shmender, I dont really care. Warren DeMontague Jun 2016 #44

Thank you! Connery *is* Bond. Just reading posts Jun 2016 #52

Oh come on now! You know you liked Octopussy! Rex Jun 2016 #66

Ok, fine, Rex, Live and Let Die. You got me on this one. Warren DeMontague Jun 2016 #74

Live and Let Die might be the closest, authentic, Bond Movie, Moore ever made. Rex Jun 2016 #75

That movie (live and let die) freaked my shit out when I saw it as a kid. Warren DeMontague Jun 2016 #76

Same here, I thought Moonraker was the coolest movie I'd ever seen as a kid. Rex Jun 2016 #78

At what point is the character no longer the character? Jester Messiah Jun 2016 #51

Ah, hell, say the new one is the spurious issue of the "original." That'll fix things. Eleanors38 Jun 2016 #62

I agree. A suave, black James Bond. Yes! TexasMommaWithAHat Jun 2016 #77

Not sure a female James Bond would work too well PersonNumber503602 Jun 2016 #81

Myself, I have always been a fan Melina Havelock longship Jun 2016 #83

Most of the brand markers for the Bond character are transferable chade Jun 2016 #84

Or---One could strive to create original characters. (If an iconic character is altered WinkyDink Jun 2016 #86

And a Japanese King Arthur? An Indian Ulysses? A Burmese Peter Pan? Albertoo Jun 2016 #91

Although the books give a Bond backstory.. Kentonio Jun 2016 #98