Queen Cleopatra

[BluGalaxy]

Originally Posted by EvaDK

[Show spoiler]

Whoa! That's a big nose!

[drb999]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Where was the hate when Gal Gadot was rumored to play Cleopatra in a feature film? I don't remember the criticisms on this board for that.

There’s always some hate for her because Gal Gadot is Israeli. I’ve seen some hate on Twitter for her because she served in the Israeli army or she’s a patriotic Israeli.

[Moonlight Shadow]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

That's honestly the thing about the "culture wars" - let's not kid ourselves, these producers and corporations are not doing this for the good of mankind.

When someone says "what is woke?" like it doesn't exist, I just shake my head because it's kind of obvious. If these producers/companies really just wanted to champion diversity, they would just DO IT like the good old days. But when you feel you have to come out of the gate, before a project is even finished, or even begun production, and tell everyone how woke it is - well, that's what just reeks of pandering and profiteering.

It would be way more effective, as well. You turn off the very people who's minds you want to change, and you also turn off those who just are looking for entertainment and even if they agree with the topic, don't want to be preached to about it. They just want to enjoy their entertainment - there is enough overt politics in life. If the art is good enough, it will speak for itself - telling everyone up front defeats the entire purpose.

In this case, I guess...we will see. But when they people involved already are writing dissertations about how woke their project is, it doesn't bode well.

Always nice to read a balanced post full of common sense, a rare thing in this forum

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by thejoeman2

Monica Bellucci also played Cleopatra. Both can pass well as the historical figure imo.

I vote for Monica to play the role. Shes still a giant pile of hotness.

Originally Posted by drb999

There’s always some hate for her because Gal Gadot is Israeli. I’ve seen some hate on Twitter for her because she served in the Israeli army or she’s a patriotic Israeli.

Yeah, whatever. Love Gal and love that she irritates the right people.

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by drb999

There’s always some hate for her because Gal Gadot is Israeli.

I'm sure there is always going to be people like that, but the criticism was also because...let's just lay out the cards here...Gadot is honestly a terrible actress.

She worked for Wonder Woman because of her looks (once they made the Amazonians all talk like her so she didn't stand out like a sore thumb), but she has zero range, and has the robotic voice of a virtual assistant. She is the same in every project she does.

She's insanely gorgeous, so she keeps working, but really has shown no development in her skills - which is why she is basically becoming the Netflix queen.

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

When someone says "what is woke?" like it doesn't exist, I just shake my head because it's kind of obvious. If these producers/companies really just wanted to champion diversity, they would just DO IT like the good old days.

When were these good old days? Controversies around Cleopatra's skin color have been around long before "woke" was turned into a meaningless label that the people who use it can't clearly define.

[Cornelius Analog]

I read what the female director had to say about this series, and yep, this is an easy pass for me.

I also read that an Egyptian lawyer is suing Netflix, lol.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Cornelius Analog

I read what the female director had to say about this series, and yep, this is an easy pass for me.

I also read that an Egyptian lawyer is suing Netflix, lol.

Whatever. These people are lucky to even have work. Its amazing how many no-talent butt clowns get directing work.

Although, these days with endless content I guess this is to be expected.

[RayRoy]

Here's all you need to know about Egypt.

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

When were these good old days? Controversies around Cleopatra's skin color have been around long before "woke" was turned into a meaningless label that the people who use it can't clearly define.

I wasn't referring to Cleopatra, I was talking in general about progressive content. Gene Roddenberry didn't hold a press conference to tell everyone how much he should be complemented and how virtuous he was for having Uhura and Kirk kiss. Ridley Scott didn't run around in the press when he was making Alien to say, "Everyone should watch this because it's breaking new ground for female characters, please applaud me!" They just did it. And that's why it was effective.

And I think I very clearly defined woke in the same post - those who pretend it doesn't exist are just cognitively dissonant. It's when the purpose of a project is "diversity" in and of itself, and the people who are making it seek out attention and recognition for it, often before something is even released or filmed.

It's pretty easy to spot, and frankly, is one reason so much content just sucks these days. They spend so much time on making sure everything is "diverse" and think that it's all that matters, and don't bother to have a good story or relatable characters. It's why so many of the projects end up dying - things like the reboot of Party of Five, or the National Treasure TV series, for a more current example.

Yes, there are some folks who use the term just for anything that doesn't have a white male lead - and they are stupid. But to pretend that there isn't a real underlying issue is just as dumb, and the proof piles up every time one of these projects fails.

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

I wasn't referring to Cleopatra, I was talking in general about progressive content. Gene Roddenberry didn't hold a press conference to tell everyone how much he should be complemented and how virtuous he was for having Uhura and Kirk kiss.

Did the makers of this Cleopatra show do that? From what I see here the anti-woke warriors were just triggered by the trailer.

And I think I very clearly defined woke in the same post

I must have missed that.

It's when the purpose of a project is "diversity" in and of itself, and the people who are making it seek out attention and recognition for it, often before something is even released or filmed.

And you think the people who claimed 20 years ago that Cleopatra may have been black didn't do it for the attention?

It's pretty easy to spot

So I guess it's one of those "I know it when I see it" things? That says more about the person using the term than the subject at hand.

They spend so much time on making sure everything is "diverse" and think that it's all that matters, and don't bother to have a good story or relatable characters.

Here's a hint: companies don't do this because they are "woke", or to set you off. They do this because it sells.

Yes, there are some folks who use the term just for anything that doesn't have a white male lead - and they are stupid.

Here's a good example of how meaningless this word has become:

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1648837843932856321

I wish people could simply name the underlying issue that they have a problem with instead of calling everything they don't like "woke".