Is Anybody Else Annoyed About The Jem and The Holograms Movie?

Ok, so I hope this all comes out clearly and not a mesh of "WTF was she trying to say?", because I am heated and just typing off the top of my head. Ok, that is actually a fun mental picture of my trying to type on my laptop while it's on my head, but let's get back on track here people. And let me say, that while I am bummed about how it seems the movie will go, this post was written in fun as I found out the newest info out there. So no worries, I have not actually blown a gasket, even though my beloved childhood cartoon is being racked through the coals. *ahem* On with the post.

Ok, so if you haven't heard, Jem and The Holograms is going to be made into a live action movie. If you don't know about Jem and The Holograms, it was a cartoon in the 80s about an all female singing group. The show had to be my favorite cartoon as a child and still is now as an adult. I have literally seen every episode of the cartoon and I love that it's still popular to this day. I love that younger generations are able to enjoy it through Netflix and The Hub. I think more 80s stuff should get a chance at this kind of new generation love.

So the director of G.I. Joe Retaliation and his two buddies decided that Jem and her posse needed a live action movie of their own. Great, right? I'm not so sure. In their video calling out to fans to participate, someone made a very interesting comment. Three men are going to make a live action movie about an all female singing group. The cartoon itself is very much about females and girl power, and I just don't know if three men who "blow shit up" for a living in their live action films can actually give Jem the justice the show deserves. Don't get me wrong, I was slightly excited when I first heard about this movie, but there was a bigger part of me that felt that Hollyweird was going to find some way to mess things up. And today was the first major clue that I wasn't far from right on my thoughts.

The girls picked to play Jem/Jerrica, Kimber, Aja, and Shana are just that, girls. There is no way I would believe that these young ladies would own a recording studio as well as an orphanage. Jerrica, her sister and their friends were in their mid to later 20s maybe even edging on 30 in the cartoon. They were very strong figures that you could see taking care of a house full of girls and running a business that was constantly under attack by Eric and The Misfits. But the young ladies cast for the roles just don't fit that image. Ok, I know this is a retelling of the story, if I am reading things I find online right, so perhaps they are the perfect age for the story that is being told, but then it's no longer Jem and The Holograms for me. Perhaps this is before Jerrica and Kimber's parents die, but I don't think it is. It just throws off what I know and love about the show and makes me sad for what this movie will actually be.

And speaking of the girls, I am so angry that the one cast to play Shana is not a female with a darker skin

tone. The one picked is biracial and looks lighter than the young lady playing Aja. This really upsets me. What is so wrong with casting a girl with the right color complexion. You cannot tell me that they couldn't find the right young lady to fill the spot. As the articles out there read, this cast is made up of mostly unknown actresses who've only really been on tv. So picking a girl from obscurity to play Shana would not have mattered one bit. My sister says "That's Hollywood for you", and while I know that is true, it still really bothers me. I think the casting crew should be ashamed of themselves for not choosing a female with a darker skin tone. This just honestly makes me dislike the idea of the movie more and more. Also, in the video announcing the movie, the director says he wants fans involved in all aspects of the movie and that included acting in the movie. I know for a fact many girls who fit Shana's characteristics would have fit in the role perfectly. Watch this video to see an audition for the movie, you'll see what I mean.

See, she fit Shana's characteristics so much better. Nothing against the girl who was picked, it's just she doesn't fit the role right. But come on, all the girls in the above video fit the bill a little bit closer. I mean Kimber has red hair, not orange. And if we go back to, it's a retelling of the story, then Jerrica should have the red hair, Kimber should be the older sister, and Aja should be British instead of Asian. It wouldn't be the same story then, right? Exactly. Just the slightest change makes it not true to the story. Also, where is Raya? This is why I feel this is before Jerrica and Kimber's parents die, because it makes no sense to leave Raya out of movie. And although we don't know who will be The Misfits yet, I'm assuming there is no Jetta either. Which has me thinking, if the time period is before the death of the parents, will The Misfits even be in the movie? Doesn't Jerrica meet The Misfits after getting into it with Eric and severing ties with him causing him to find a new place to work? Ahhhh!!! I'm telling you, they are going to mess this story up!!! *deep breath*

Ok, after some research I've found that it seems there will be no Misfits, no magical earrings, and no Synergy. Ok, without those earrings and Synergy there are no Holograms. Omg, please don't tell me it's going to be like a Siri thing. Pretty please with sugar on top, don't let it be that awful. From what I've read, it seems the girls will be internet singing sensations and that's how they get their start. *sad sigh* Really? That's the best they can do? Oh and they are writing all new songs, which will no doubt be along the lines of Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and every other pop act out there. *sad sigh again*

Also, it seems that this big thing about casting fans and having fans involved was just a way for creators to get some free viral marketing by having people hashtag all their movies and entries about the movie in social media with their hashtag #jemthemovie. Then they only give some people bit parts and that's about it from the fans. I mean they didn't even get the original creator and anyone from the original show involved. They are truly going for their own vision of the show and from reading various posts, the fans, younger and older, are so not happy, and a lot of them have created a new hashtage they are passing around called #boycottjemthemovie. Another hashtag that is going around now too is #WeWantChristy in a bid to get Christy Marx on the movie team. I mean let's face it, most of the crew seems like they were born after the show went off the air, so they don't know what an icon Jem was for the time. They don't have that relation to her, so messing up the story will be super easy for them. The fans are aware of this, and they are making themselves be heard.

Also, I hate sounding like I am yet another voice in the already loud crowd of those angry over how women

are depicted in media and the lack of people of color in media, because I try to be neutral, but I just couldn't keep my mouth closed with this. Not over something I loved so much as a child and related to so much. It made me believe I could be accepted as I am and if people didn't like it, oh well. Children need that, especially now with so many people not caring who the hell they offend. I think the original Jem was a step in the right direction of showing people as being equal and being judged not based on their color and looks but on their personality and character. But if we have characters not cast properly, what kind of message does that send to kids and adults alike. It'll just get a shrug and be accepted as "That's Hollywood for you". If they can mess with the ages and races of the characters, what else will they change? I'm honestly worried those girls will be wearing a few pieces of tissue and some dental floss for clothing with it being mostly a man crew. Nothing against you men out there, because there are lots of movies out there directed by men that show they got in touch with their gentle side. But come on, like I said, these guys "blow shit up" for a living. So umm, yeah, that's all I will say about that.

And on that note I will bring this lovely novel of a post to a close. I think I mostly got it all off my chest. If you are interested in keeping tabs on what's going on with the movie, you can check out their Tumblr here, and there is also a blog that I believe a fan is running here. It has some added info I couldn't find elsewhere, but I am not 100% sure if their info is right. Seems legit, but read at your own disclosure. And I will talk to you lovely people later. Until next time. Take care. Bye for now. :-)