seriously? this is a movie about snakes... on a plane?

Asian villains are as sneaky as they are cold and ruthless.

Oops, I meant that to mean _all_ Asians, of course. Forget the shampoo and cell phones in the passenger cabin, forget getting medieval, next time I've got a beef with someone, I'm taking it back to the Old Testament all swarming wildlife style!

Are they imitating the Samuel Jackson movie

Wow.Danish cartoonists draw some questionable cartoons about Mohammed, and there is a world outcry and outrage.Hollywood creates a movie where an east asian dude is portrayed as a saboteur of a plane, and there is a smattering of mild interest.What if Hollywood cast the plane saboteur as an arab? There'd be accusations of racism.Of course the filmmakers would want to choose some sort of minority to cast as a villain. That's exactly why they chose an east asian man -- asians are more passive in regards to political/social insults and denigration.

blah, You are really putting to much emphasis on this movie. I dont care what kind of role you stick an asian in, the commuity will see him as the model minority when its over

That'd be comforting to believe. And in some contexts that could be true.But what is also true is the stereotype of the "sneaky," "suspicious" asian villian.The model minority stereotype did not prevent the entire US media and Right-Wing US politicians from jumping to conclusions to stereotype Wen Ho Lee, Capt. James Yee, etc... as "sneaky, untrustable villains."There has been a long history of predominantly villainizing asian males in the US media. There is obviously an effect upon the subconscious of average Americans, and upon the ignorant people who don't personally have many asian men as friends.Anonymous, I don't know if you are asian or not, but if you are, it's really frustrating & pathetic that so many asians are so continually clueless and oblivious to social importance of the media, and in complete denial.Asian ignorance of anti-asian racism in the media is an enabler of media racists, and gives cover whenever asians publically excuse it.It's not that asian-americans have to continually pick fights about movies and constantly cry "racism," but at least don't say you like or are comfortable with the stereotypical depiction if you actually aren't. At least, don't give the media racists cover and excuses.

This is just a movie. Ive seen Samuel Jackson, Bruce Willis and all these other Actors play Viilians in Movies. Social importance in the community is a diifferent story. If Asians want to depict how we are viewed in films then Asians need to create more films for Asians. Stop being passive and complining about Hollywood. Look at the blacks they are doing it.

I'm not being passive. You are advocating passiveness by recommending that criticisms about racism should be kept quiet.You sound like one of those white guys on the blogs with those stupid evasional excuses of "I've seen an Irish guy being made fun of in the movies, so it happens to everybody..."That's facetious baloney -- and it's really stale and old. What counts is the ratio of negative/villanous portrayal to normal/positive portrayal.Asian men are disproportionately portrayed negatively.Passiveness is bending over and asking for more ... and then going shopping at Abercrombie and Fitch to buy multiple shopping bags of clothes while those "Two Wongs make a White, slant eyed chinese laundry T-shirts" are in the store window display.Being passive is perpetually, cluelessly accepting and never criticizing the status quo."The Blacks" as well as other ethnic actors only enter mainstream entertainment at the discretion of corporate Hollywood and the TV studios.It is well known that Hollywood has a strong grip on distribution channels, and that the capital funds required to successfully launch, let alone produce, a competitive film is very expensive.Thankfully there's Youtube to bypass racist media, corporate domination.

Thats why a lot of private filmmakers stay independent, because Hollywood does not tell their story. Asians need to be independent and quite trying to look for hollywood for acceptance. why do Asian think commercialism is the way to go. Counter attack the film industry with Asian writers, Asian Directors offering an Asian brand of entertainment and see what kind of results we would get from the Asian cummunity. The Majority of the roles I see Asians play are Doctors and Scientist. I guess that role would be to negative for Asians to play, right. Every so often you will get that Asian Super Villian. Even when Asians play Millians it does nothing to the Model Minority image. Anyone who takes a movie called Snakes on a Plane seriously needs their head examined

Name 10 Hollywood, US Made movies that headline asian men as (non-sinister) doctors and scientiests.Here are 10 Hollywood, US Made movies that have asian men as main, significant villains (not just cast as evil extras):ElektraBloodsportHong Kong 97Rising SunRambo 2Dr. NoDie Another DayYear of the DragonThe Big HitThe TransporterShowdown in Little TokyoThe CorruptorFlash GordonKung Pow: Enter The Fist[Fu Manchu movies]American Ninja (movie series)Xena TV series, episode:The Debt 1 & 2Fast and the Furious, 1 & 3Earth: Final Conflict (TV series)Kung Fu, the Legend Continues (TV series)Tek WarJohnny MnemonicBatman BeginsBridge of DragonsThe Shadow... whoops that was more than 10...just off the top of my head. It was quick to find examples. I'm sure if the criteria were to extend to count each minor villain role, a comprehensive list would will dominate the number of positive depictions.You are an obsfucator of the truth.

Are you serious? Name the numerious amount of movies were whites, or black played villians. You are really taking this to another level. Only like a handful of those movies were box office hit, you mentioned above. Batman begins had a white villian. Anyhoot thats why I said dont depend on Hollywood, Asians need to become independant filmmakersQuincywhos the man

You aren't serious. That last post was just another white right-wing talking point:I'll repeat my unrebutted refutal:"You sound like one of those white guys on the blogs with those stupid evasional excuses of "I've seen an Irish guy being made fun of in the movies, so it happens to everybody..."That's facetious baloney -- and it's really stale and old. What counts is the ratio of negative/villanous portrayal to normal/positive portrayal."

OK blah, those movies are really hurting the Asian image. The Asian Villian With Superficial powers in Elektra is really going to hurt the Community. OK, I can understand blacks arguemnt. In the real world, society portray them as Drug Dealers and Gangsta. Society makes us to believe that all Mexicans are border hoppers. when the film industry takes these stereotypes and reinforces them through films thats a legitimate arguement. These are images these particular races are trying to abolish. DR NO, ELEFTRA, FLASH GORDON. OK, the guy name is FLASH GORDON is Ming. His objective is to control the universe, or something, but good ole Flash stands in his way. Thats a stereotype Asians need to fight against, come on. Traveling distant Galaxys and destroying planets beyond. Dont get me wrong, I have seen some movies were Asians were being steretyped in a truthful and unfair manner. Im not denying that fact. When this Happens Asians must stand up for what they believe is right. If you picked a movie like "Crash", A movie with real substance then ill understand, but Snakes on a Plane and Flash Gordon.

More obtuseness and denial...How about Fu Manchu? It bordered on fantasy, as well as Dr. No & Die Another Day, but both served to hype geopolitical hatreds.(Fu Manchu -- served to demonize asian men & condone colonialism in China.)How about the movie "Falling Down" (1993) where anti-hero Michael Douglass's character blows up a negatively characterized Korean grocer's store, while a black boy cheers him on?Flash Gordon is another "Fu Manchu" where an asian genius is viewed as a threat and oppressor, and his daughter betrays him for the romantic interest of the white football star hero.Various religious books could be construed as a "fantasy" but people take lessons from the stories also.A fantasy context is not important as the character context. The stereotype of the sneaky, 2-dimensional villian has served various interests.What matters again is the ratio of positive to negative characterizations in the media. You have not addressed this at all. Obviously you concede the point.You also have BS'd the "scientist/doctor" claim as well, because you could only name 2 examples in a timely matter, while there are immensely more examples of major negative AM characters...Maybe you are associated with the Snakes on a Plane movie somehow.If you are asian, then I don't blame you for the negative stereotype, because asian-americans rarely have creative control and major decision making power in Hollywood.If you are white, then you are just another example of a stubborn white individual resisting at every step for racial justice & fairness, -- in this case, in order to maintain the social & psychological priviledge of demonizing asian men through the media.

Well Blah:I see you only catch bits and peaces. The point im really trying to make here is Asians need to take control of films involving Asians. If that mean disassociating with Hollywood, then so be it. We need to write, produce and distribute films from our perspective, telling our story. Spike Lee is an independent filmaker that felt Hollywood stereotped blacks, so he did something about it. Asians need to do the same. If Hollywood refuses to project the image thats deserving of Asian men then find a solution. Putting faith in Hollywood is the wrong answer. So support Asian films. The hunt for the next best Asian filmmaker is on.Theres alway foeiegn Asian films if you do not like the watered down Hollywood crap