Star Wars' "Black Stormtrooper" to Critics: "Get Used to it"

[Zero=Interrupt]

Who's seen him in anything? Is he a sucky actor? (like, say, Common in Hell on Wheels) Are we going to want to consign him to the Jar-Jar bucket for making us feel sorry we saw the film? He's already kind of being a dick by with the whole "get over it" business (way to make the movie about yourself, no-name actor) and honestly, like so many others, I give more of a damn about the roller-ball droid and the slit-your-own-wrist lightsaber.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

I don't get what the big deal is, maybe the Empire has been working to recruit more humans? Personally, I'm hoping for the "Stormtrooper with awakened Jedi powers" angle, that sounds like an interesting way to go...

 

[Entitled]

Wait so being confused about a Stormtrooper not being a Jango Fett clone makes you racist now?

No, but making comments like "WTF are niggers doing in ep VII" definitely does.

 

[jabrwock]

Are you sure you're not reading racism into most critics?

"Oh gawd, why does JJ have to appease the diversity crowd/push the diversity button?" (paraphrased)

Bitching about diversity in the US is "code" for "why is there a (non-white) person in the place of my pre-conceived notion that this character should be white for some reason".

From there it just gets silly (like pointing at the half-Maori actor and saying "See? HE was white! So are all his clones!")

 

[Kittyhawk]

Shouldn't be surprised by this really. SW fans know that as the Empire crumbles or shakes from the Rebel ass kicking, their clones will gradually expire with no access to Kimino knowledge and tech that made them, which the Empire stole for the Emperor and then destroyed (or something like that).

Once the clones begin to expire, as their main reason for existence was to take out the Jedi Knights, the Empire remnants need to hire from the unwashed civis of various planets to boost their forces and not lose ground. They'd offer a tempting package for many looking for some adventure and good pay, but would be more open to rebel spies (or even latent Jedi) getting in their ranks. This stuff is going to make Episode 7 really interesting, much more than those prequels were.

December 2015. Can hardly wait, but lots of other good flicks to see until then.

Storm troopers can be anyone, with the Emperor and Vader gone. And only picky fools will have issue with that.

 

[Brian Tams]

Has John Boyega changed his name to black stormtrooper considering that title?

So I'm not the only one who's bothered by the title?

Yawn, "I'm the most liberal, look at me I'm so offended", "no no, I'm offended too, aren't we both so open minded?"

It wasn't meant in a derogatory sense, quite the opposite; it's this kind of posturing over nothing that makes people switch off when it really matters.

Which is why I said "bothered" not "offended".

 

[MXRom]

wibble

Actually it's not between 3 and 4. It's actually 30 years after the end of Return of the Jedi. So...is the Empire still around? I thought that they had fallen by this point. Or is the war really dragging?

I'm referring to Battlefront. That took place between 3 and 4, and can be seen as a canon justification why every storm trooper doesn't have that accent. And yeah. They killed the Emperor but that doesn't make an Empire stop existing. That just means someone else takes his place.

Even if the EU is noncanon, something tells me Abrams new universe will be something similar.

 

[Programmed_For_Damage]

I have absolutely no problem with a black guy being a Stormtrooper. They recruited them from throughout the galaxy, so of course there's going to be black guys. Hell, bring on Will Smith as a black TIE fighter pilot.

(to X-wing) "No, you did NOT shoot that green shit at me!"

 

[elvor0]

This is edris alba playing hymdall all over again. These "critics" are just closet racists spouting the usual bullshit. Fuck em all.

That wasn't racism. Elba playing Heimdall was changes to an established character, as well as one that is described as "whitest of the gods". I'd be equally annoyed had they picked a white guy to play Blade. I wasn't particuarly happy with them changing Bane in Dark Knight Rises to be "british" either, he's supposed to be carribian/Spanish. I like Elba as an actor, I just don't think it was necessary to change Heimdalls racial appearance.

I wouldn't even say this was racism, just misconception. Given a lot of people are under the impression that all the Storm Troopers are still clones of Jango Fett, saying "wtf Black Storm Trooper?" makes sense. That's not racism, that's questioning something you have been told and believe to be true.

Of course they're not all clones of Fett anymore as the Empire was recruiting Stormtroopers in the oiginal trilogy and I'm pretty sure they didn't retcon that out. And at this point, most of them are dead anyway.

However, I've yet to see any questioning of a black stormtrooper, save one person, who did it on the basis that they thought all Stormtroopers were still Fett clones.Personally I thought it was pretty obvious he was in disguise in the trailer, or he'd just signed up to fight for the Empire and was freaking out. The only discussion I've seen is that stupid Lightsaber.

Films are adaptations of other material, everything including the actors who are chosen to play each character can be changed and modified to however the film makers wish. The thor movies are 99% white man power fantasy to the extreme. 1 single obscure character not being played by a white guy is NOT something anyone should give a fuck about, especially given Alba does an utterly amazing job as the character.

Regarding the stormtrooper thing, not racism? have you READ the comments on youtube? the ones that say the empire are suppose to be like the nazis, the ones that are literally saying "no n***** stormstroopers please" ? yeah. I'm pretty sure that's racism dood.

I'm not saying Elba doesn't do a good job. I'm just saying they should stick to how the characters are represented in the comics. Can be changed, doesn't mean they should. Otherwise we end up with the slippery slope of the upcoming Fantastic Four movie where they've decided to change everything to the point where it fails to even resemble the source material. And what's wrong with all white casts, if those are the characters in the story? I don't decry films with all black casts, or all asian casts.

I know FF isn't quite the same as Elba, but it's not fair to cry racism, and diminishes the word, when that clearly ISN'T the reason for the complaint. "I don't want this character changed because I think it should stick to the source material" isn't a complaint based in racism. Obviously, if they start throwing racial slurs, sure, but otherwise, it isn't racism. If they are throwing out racial slurs, then they're also not very good "closet" racists.

On the stormtrooper note. I have not read the youtube comments, because down that path madness lies. But of the sites I visit, it was based on the Fett clones, which I'd deem a fair complaint, even if it is based on a misconception.

Captcha: Fish on. Yup that'll be it, not flame on, fish on.

 

[Atmos Duality]

This is edris alba playing hymdall all over again. These "critics" are just closet racists spouting the usual bullshit. Fuck em all.

Aye. I never understood that argument.
Actors/Actresses by the definition of their very job, are pretending to be something they aren't.

Idris Elba played Heimdall?
Mary Martin played Peter Pan in 1954.

Yes, gender-bending casting in Hayes Code era 1954.
And you didn't even have to see the movie to realize the titular character was male.

How did America survive? *snickers*

Personal criticisms are just that; personal. Nobody has to like a given casting choice.
But seriously; the amount of anal-retentive rage over these casting details are just becoming laughably childish.

 

[Ticklefist]

Looks like the actual victim is handling it with more dignity than the press, who are just capitalizing on the free clicks.

 

[Methodia Chicken]

What do you think of Boyega's appearance in the trailer?

He looks sweaty?

We're lacking any of the context for the scene,so any commentary is a waste of digital space.

but why is he sweaty, maybe he's not used to wearing stormtrooper Armour and it's hot.
maybe he has a sweat gland problem. perhaps he's actually an aquatic species disguised as a human disguised as a stormtrooper. maybe tatooine is hot. maybe he's actually Geroge Lucas!

we must know the answers to the mysterious sweat!

 

[Makabriel]

I hate what JJ is doing to star wars and the EU, I hate a lot of what he's done, and I'm one of the first to call out his bs, but this isn't a lore issue. I'd actually have more problems if it had been a Jango clone since they should all be dead by this point. Black, Female, not an issue.

In truth, I wouldn't mind the occasional alien stromtroopers either since there is EU precedence.

You have absolutely no clue what JJ Abrams is "doing to the Star Wars Universe". And if you're taking 88 seconds of material to basis that opinion, then that's sad

 

[Baresark]

I don't really think that the 5 people who have a problem with this are worth even worrying about.

I mean, really, the analogy they are using is not appropriate in any way for the empire. So the fact that a handful of people have an issue with the color of a guys skin is utterly meaningless.

But a day couldn't go by without this and several other gaming sites calling their readers a bunch of racists or sexists.

 

[JennAnge]

Does he realize he is really a Jedi when he miraculously starts actually hitting the targets he's shooting at?

That made me snort and chuckle out loud when I read it. At work. In my cubicle. Surrounded by colleagues who now think I'm a lunatic.

Worth it.

"I hit the guy on the first shot! I- I AM THE CHOSEN ONE!"

 

[Pebkio]

"Oh gawd, why does JJ have to appease the diversity crowd/push the diversity button?" (paraphrased)

Bitching about diversity in the US is "code" for "why is there a (non-white) person in the place of my pre-conceived notion that this character should be white for some reason".

From there it just gets silly (like pointing at the half-Maori actor and saying "See? HE was white! So are all his clones!")

That's not paraphrasing, that's saying something different and then arguing with what you just said. Otherwise known as a straw-man argument.

My point wasn't about how I'm uncomfortable with black people. And twisting my words to make it seem like it was is known as a "dick move". Especially since you didn't read my whole post because, for some reason, you think I was referencing the actor who played Jango Fett as "white" when I clearly said the opposite you prat.

I didn't notice any real "oh em gee he's black and that's bad because he's black" complaints. My actual point is that to just assume that any criticism about this outcome is based on racism is some knee-jerk "you just don't like it because he's black, right?" reaction. You know the whole "reading racism into criticism" thing... what I actually said and not your stupid straw-man.

 

[BramblinTheGnome]

Maybe it's just how I'm reading it, but the tweet (or post or whatever the hell it was) looks more to be saying "I am hinting that I am an important character and will be around for most of this movie and possibly future ones" and not "TAKE THAT RACISTS!" I don't see any stab at criticism or any of the... "making the move all about himself" or any of the other stuff I've seen about this post.

To people who are STILL questioning about the stormtroopers being clones, wookieepedia is a thing. Says right in there, by the year 0 BBY that only 1/3 of the stormtroopers were Fett clones. How much of that is canon now? No idea, but thinking they would all be clones after 50 or 60 years have gone by is just silly. Yes, I think there are a ton of people that just want an excuse to complain about a black actor. Just as many are probably just not up to date on their star wars history, and to them I say why the hell would you care if you aren't versed enough in the history to know that most troopers wouldn't be clones anymore. Hell, NO troopers should be clones by then if they even come close to the EU story.

As to the idea he might just be in disguise, I sure as hell hope not. Kyle Katarn and Dash Rendar where both Imperials before they joined the rebellion, and both of them are awesome characters.

 

[Ukomba]

I hate what JJ is doing to star wars and the EU, I hate a lot of what he's done, and I'm one of the first to call out his bs, but this isn't a lore issue. I'd actually have more problems if it had been a Jango clone since they should all be dead by this point. Black, Female, not an issue.

In truth, I wouldn't mind the occasional alien stromtroopers either since there is EU precedence.

You have absolutely no clue what JJ Abrams is "doing to the Star Wars Universe". And if you're taking 88 seconds of material to basis that opinion, then that's sad

Come off your high horse, YOU have no clue what Abrams is doing to the star wars Universe. At best you have as much knowledge as I do.

I base it on his complete destruction of the EU, actually, regardless of the merit of the work in question. I take umbrage to his ego trumping beloved works when he could easily incorporate a large number of them. Even Lucas, for all his faults, at least worked with the fandom. I actually find 'The Force Awakens' to be a stupider title than Attack of the Clones. And some of the rumors going around about what will happen in the movie are very troubling if true.

I take nothing of lore from this 88 seconds of material, largely because it was exactly what I expected from Abrams, Mistery Box BS that tell us nothing. What I did take from the 88 seconds was a somewhat off putting initial visual with the storm trooper (not sure why it looks strange), a large reliance on CGI (to be expected), a silly looking droid, a stupid looking lightsaber, and a pretty good shot of some X-wings and passable action scene of the falcon.

So, his Mistery Box S*^$ does make it difficult to know exactly what he's doing, but I hate what's been done so far. I hate that a series I was following was canceled because of it. I hate that characters I loved and grew up with are being so thoroughly erased that they can't be appear in anything new. I hate that good stories are being thrown out so some new 'truly official' work can over write them.

There was such an opportunity here. Yes there were some goofy and down right bad entries in both the EU and official canon. What SHOULD have been done is not a complete removal of very thing, but Counsel of Trent style sorting of things. By all means throw out the week, stupid, and contradictory lore, but for god's sake keep the good stuff. I understand the Vong and everything after would have to go because it would be near impossible to avoid having to explain why the post Vong galaxy is the way it is, but a lot of the pre-Vong stuff could stay and wouldn't need explaining.

 

[Flames66]

I don't see what the problem is theme wise. If it's a metaphor for the nazis, using a black man as the front line cannon fodder makes sense. If it's about the clone army thing, most of the clones would be too old by this point and it has been established that by the time of the original trilogy a large portion of Stormtroopers were not clones.

Given that we regularly saw Stormtroopers of different heights and with different voices in the original trilogy it seems pretty obvious they were either not all clones or no longer all clones of the same guy.

 

[The Material Sheep]

Empire was always inspired and an analogy of Nazi. It makes perfect sense not to have anyone but white dudes in there.

But we all know why the fuck Jar Jar Abrahams put him in there, for polite correctness. The same reason why in that stupid Captain America movie there was a racially divergent squad during WW2 out of nowhere.
Controversy buzz doesn't hurt either.

None the less, the very first shot ever of this new trilogy being a source for comedy is a stupid move and a sign of more to come.

Dude there is nothing in the lore that stopped there from being black people in the Empire. They were racist, but against aliens, not humans. I suppose xenophobic is a better word but AFTER the the Empire was solidified the Storm Troopers stopped being just clones. They started pooling from populations and no longer relied on having the initial set of clones. In Universe it makes sense that a black stormtrooper could be a thing jesus.