Disney (and others) at the Box Office - Current State of Affairs

[LittleBuford]

You can dislike her for any reason you like.

That doesn’t change the things that actually happened or the order in which they happened.

Page 3 of the now-locked Snow White thread offers proof of this timeline.

 

[brideck]

The actress cast as Snow White was an age-appropriate, talented, charismatic, photogenic rising star with a high-profile recent history as lead in one of the very few big-budget musicals Hollywood still produces and a personal connection to the character. That certainly seems like dream casting. How was she miscast?

Your reply is better than the one I was already working on. I struggle to think of any other actress in the 16-24 age range working today who can sing and also has the prerequisite amount of innocence and charm. I suppose folks would argue for an unknown, but it makes sense to me to cast someone known for innocent roles (Maria and now Juliet) for this.

 

[Casper Gutman]

It's not racism to say someone isn't right for the part.

No, it isn’t.

However, the vicious attacks on her race that began the present hate campaign before the purveyors found a way to sanitize their rage and broaden the mob is another matter.

You’re free to hate Zegler for any reason. You’re free to hate her AND strongly disagree with the reasons behind the initial assault on her. That doesn’t change the history of the controversy itself. If that makes you angry or uncomfortable, well, that also doesn’t change the history.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Oh, and to respond to the charges that I’ll defend anything Disney does:

I loathe the live action remakes. Although a few like Maleficent or Cinderella have some mild redeeming characteristics, I’d happily wipe them all out of existence. I want all of them to fail at the box office so Disney stops making them.

 

[Farerb]

Getting tired of the Rachel Zegler discourse. Let us be over this movie already.

 

[Chi84]

I don’t remember any outlets (YouTube or other) I watch reporting on any controversial comments from her. Maybe I missed them. I remember a lot of people upset Disney cast a black actor as Ariel but that’s it.

The only “rage” channel I watch is the Critical Drinker and I just looked and he did 1 video on the little mermaid, a review, that got 2.2 million views… he’s done 8 videos on Snow White with a combined total over 23 million views. Bailey seemed to avoid the rage machine much better than Zegler is.

I was talking about the posters on this forum.

 

[Tha Realest]

Zegler has undeniable talent - it’s why Spielberg chose her. She’s been good in what I’ve seen her in. All that said, it becomes more than problematic when some of your first public comments are perceived as being critical of the source material for your remake, only to be followed up with vocal support for groups that had just raped and murdered countless Israeli citizens.

 

[Phroobar]

Zegler has undeniable talent - it’s why Spielberg chose her. She’s been good in what I’ve seen her in. All that said, it becomes more than problematic when some of your first public comments are perceived as being critical of the source material for your remake, only to be followed up with vocal support for groups that had just raped and murdered countless Israeli citizens.

Funny how Zegler never bothered to find out her co-star is ex-Israeli military.

 

[Casper Gutman]

followed up with vocal support for groups that had just raped and murdered countless Israeli citizens.

this is a very late addition to the controversy and I can’t find the comments you are referring to. The only comments from Zegler that I can find seem fairly firmly within the mainstream of respectable discourse. If I’m missing explicit support for terrorist groups, let me know.

Incidentally, I think much of the rage directed at Gadot on this issue is unseemly at best and borders on hateful in many cases. I doubt I’d agree with either Zegler or Gadot on the issue, but neither seems to have said anything particularly repugnant regarding one of the most incendiary issues of our time.

 

[coffeefan]

Zegler has undeniable talent - it’s why Spielberg chose her. She’s been good in what I’ve seen her in. All that said, it becomes more than problematic when some of your first public comments are perceived as being critical of the source material for your remake, only to be followed up with vocal support for groups that had just raped and murdered countless Israeli citizens.

Rachel voiced support for peace to end the genocide and freedom for Palestinians. That opinion is actually the most common around the world. The US is one of the few exceptions, but even here peoples views on the situation are changing rapidly. That is why Gal's political opinions will hurt the movie's performance more on the global box office.

Anyway, let's focus on the box office and movie. We've discusses these topics for years.

 

[LittleBuford]

Zegler has undeniable talent - it’s why Spielberg chose her. She’s been good in what I’ve seen her in. All that said, it becomes more than problematic when some of your first public comments are perceived as being critical of the source material for your remake, only to be followed up with vocal support for groups that had just raped and murdered countless Israeli citizens.

Zegler did not express support for Hamas. Please let’s not stoop to making stuff up.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

1 Million percent wrong (to paraphrase Knuckles).

It's possible to criticize her for things that have nothing to do with race, but if you think it's not a major factor for some people, you'd have to be living in a bubble.

It's funny that "it's not about race" yet certain actors and shows seem to generate a lot more discussion.

See also online discussions about the new Harry Potter series and objections that Snape will be black in this iteration. His character is really not defined by skin colour in any way, yet there's a whole lot of outrage.

 

[Trauma]

For context:

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Having watched the video, it seems he had already moved to New Zealand anyway. But my point still stands. Had Zegler (or Mackie) said what Cameron did, the relevant threads would have been filled with outraged posts.

I don’t think people really attach Cameron to Disney.

Remember Disney was the center of the culture war.

Since that war is coming to a close, and Hollywood Execs are all saying they need “A change of plans” I’m sure this will all be forgotten in a couple years, and we can get back to just enjoying the movies.

 

[erasure fan1]

You didn’t, though (I just reread your post to make sure). You referred only to her political remarks. Someone reading your post who was unfamiliar with what had actually happened would justifiably come away with the notion that all the outrage surrounding Zegler stemmed from those political remarks when, as we all know, it predated them by many months.

Well to that I'd say don't come into a conversation part way through. I'm having a conversation, here, and if you know the situation, as the person who I was talking to does, as well as most people in this thread, should be clear. It's the readers responsibility to trace threads back to get the information. There's tons of stuff posted by everyone on these boards that can be misconstrued without more context. We are not on a journalism site. It's a discussion board. So I'm not fudging or glossing over anything.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I don’t think people really attach Cameron to Disney.

Remember Disney was the center of the culture war.

Since that war is coming to a close, and Hollywood Execs are all saying they need “A change of plans” I’m sure this will all be forgotten in a couple years, and we can get back to just enjoying the movies.

In no way, shape, or form is the cultural conflict “coming to a close.”

 

[LittleBuford]

If I’m missing explicit support for terrorist groups, let me know.

Incidentally, I think much of the rage directed at Gadot on this issue is unseemly at best and borders on hateful in many cases. I doubt I’d agree with either Zegler or Gadot on the issue, but neither seems to have said anything particularly repugnant regarding one of the most incendiary issues of our time.

You are not.

The worst she can be accused of in this regard is posting sentiments in support of Palestinian nationhood (which, of course, are not the same as sentiments in support of Hamas) in contexts that read as a dig at Gadot. Of all the things she’s been accused of doing, this apparent swipe at her Israeli costar is the one that sits most uneasily with me, and if she really did intend it, I think it’s a highly inappropriate act for which she should apologise.

But no, she has not said anything in support of terrorist groups.

 

[LittleBuford]

I don’t think people really attach Cameron to Disney.

That shouldn’t stop them from criticising him, should it?

 

[LittleBuford]

So I'm not fudging or glossing over anything.

The post that I quoted and commented on was doing just that. You don’t agree, and that’s fine. Others can decide for themselves.

 

[Trauma]

In no way, shape, or form is the cultural conflict “coming to a close.”

Well at least this version of it is.

 

[Trauma]

That shouldn’t stop them from criticising him, should it?

Again Disney is a lightning rod.