Why can’t Korean actors be cast as lovers, not fighters?  Three South Korean entertainers have been cast in three big American films, which is pretty impressive but interestingly they’re cast as fighters.  Rain is in the principal role of Ninja Assassins – you guessed it, as the Ninja.  Lee Byeong-Heon has been cast as Storm Shadow in GI Joe – you guessed it, as a Ninja.  And due out next summer, Kwon Sang-Woo has been cast as Kato in The Green Hornet, which was portrayed by Bruce Lee, but not a Ninja.  Kato is a driver and an enforcer (aka fighter).  Now let’s give Hollywood some credit because that’s three South Korean men who don’t speak English that well that have found big roles in big studio films.  Now do they talk much?  No but at least they’re paving the way for greater acceptance of Asian-American men in big studio films.  Does anybody have a script for a Korean man that doesn’t require putting on a hood or throwing a thousand punches?  Take a look at the previews of Ninja Assassin, GI Joe and an old clip of Kato (Bruce Lee) in The Green Hornet TV series.

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