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2011/01/12 22:27:10
Subject: Postive Muslim Characters in Western Cinema
It is a casual hobby of mine to spot trends in films and then try to find exceptions to the rule (a hobby normally carried out at work, instead of actually doing, you know, work).
This latest one has me stumped. I cannot think of any positive Muslim charaters in Western Cinema bar one (more of him in a sec). The criteria are as follows...
1. Must be a relatively main character. Supporting roles are permitted provided they have a decent amount of screen time.
2. Must not be a bad guy in any way shape or form, although I will permit rogue characters (i.e. characters with dubious morals, but technically on the side of good - e.g. Han Solo, Jack Sparrow).
3. Must be fictional i.e. not based on a real person
4. Must be a character in a film, characters from TV shows (which are generally better at exploring different cultures albeit in a simplistic and limited fashion) are not permitted.
Anyway, here's the one exception that I can think of...
This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2011/01/12 22:33:17
Interesting to see a study of positive Christian characters vs. negative.
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
2011/01/12 22:34:51
Subject: Postive Muslim Characters in Western Cinema
Gitsplitta wrote:The guy from the "Mummy" movies... who's name escapes me.
The guy from "Romancing the Stone" (Jules... i.e. the jewel that everyone was fighting over).
The Mummy guy was Ardeth Bay played by Oded Fehr. I disqualified him earlier today as I didn't think his character was muslim, but just double checked and wiki believes he was. Ardeth Bay is thus awarded No. 2 positive muslim character.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2011/01/12 22:49:04
Sinbad was a character from one of Scheherazade's "Thousand Tales". She herself was a Persian legend and therefore pre Islam i.e. Sinbad can't possibly have been a muslim. Sorry, I'm being picky this evening
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Wolfun wrote:Isn't Ahmad ibn Fadlan in The 13th Warrior a Muslim?
Not sure, but if the film was set pre 610AD, definitely not
EDIT - Oops, he was based on an actual historical figure (but he was a muslim, so you were close...)
I know the movie "Hidalgo" was based on a real guy, but I doubt all the characters in it were real people. It takes place in Arabia, so, well, the majority of the characters are Muslims, but a few stood out in my mind. Sheikh Riyadh is a good and benevolent ruler of his people, and Jaffa is a kick- moor who's a great bodyguard, who does everything possible to help and protect those that he loves.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2011/01/12 23:28:53
Commissar NIkev wrote:
This guy......is smart
2011/01/12 23:31:00
Subject: Postive Muslim Characters in Western Cinema
I am both selfish and chaotic. I value self-gratification and control; I want to have things my way, preferably now. At best, I'm entertaining and surprising; at worst, I'm hedonistic and violent.
2011/01/12 23:33:28
Subject: Re:Postive Muslim Characters in Western Cinema
Hmn... They usually had a muslim guy as part of warrior bands in fantasy movies back in the 90's as I recall-Antonio Banderas' character in the 13th warrior-, any film set in Arabia also'll have a positive Muslim character. They aren't commonly protrayed in villainous roles or as insignificant characters because of their relegion, that's a misconception as far as I can tell. Anyhow the question your asking is pretty sectarian. ¬¬
2011/01/12 23:40:03
Subject: Postive Muslim Characters in Western Cinema
There is the police officer from The Kingdom who was the liason to the CIA members, he dies helping them.
I think the character (Sala?) played by John Rhys-Davis in the Indiana Jones movies was Muslim but I'm not sure about that.
And then there was a movie with Leonardo Dicaprio where he is a CIA agent in the Middle East looking for terrorist cells and he meets a female doctor who is most likely Muslim.
I'll try and think of more.
2011/01/12 23:40:23
Subject: Re:Postive Muslim Characters in Western Cinema
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2011/01/12 23:42:28
You know you're really doing something when you can make strangers hate you over the Internet. - Mauleed
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2011/01/12 23:43:16
Subject: Postive Muslim Characters in Western Cinema
I am both selfish and chaotic. I value self-gratification and control; I want to have things my way, preferably now. At best, I'm entertaining and surprising; at worst, I'm hedonistic and violent.
2011/01/12 23:43:57
Subject: Re:Postive Muslim Characters in Western Cinema
Kamran Shah from The Living Daylights. Yup he's a terrorist fighting against the West and a drug baron, but he's got way more morals than the Westerners shown in the film.
2011/01/12 23:53:42
Subject: Postive Muslim Characters in Western Cinema
Warboss Imbad Ironskull wrote:There is the police officer from The Kingdom who was the liason to the CIA members, he dies helping them.
I think the character (Sala?) played by John Rhys-Davis in the Indiana Jones movies was Muslim but I'm not sure about that.
And then there was a movie with Leonardo Dicaprio where he is a CIA agent in the Middle East looking for terrorist cells and he meets a female doctor who is most likely Muslim.
I'll try and think of more.
Hmm... a quick wiki check suggests that Sallah's full name is Sallah Mohammed Faisel el-Kahir suggesting he is almost certainly muslim. Let's drop him in.
I'd agree with the Three Kings guy as well, but can't find his name, same with your fellow from The Kingdom.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2011/01/12 23:56:06
moor who's a great bodyguard, who does everything possible to help and protect those that he loves.
