Casting Cluster-Fucks

Cassie, I love this topic.  It gives us all a chance to rant a bit, and boy, when it comes to this, do I have ranting to do.

Percy Jackson and the Failympians:  One of the main reasons I won't go see the Percy Jackson movies is that the casting just straight-up sucks.  Apart from the fact that the "child" actors are too old (don't even get me started on that), I feel like the adult actors are just kind of...there.  I really feel like they threw these movie together because they knew it would be successful because of the books, not because they wanted to bring the books to life, and it irritates.  Okay, it's true, I don't know who I would put in for the child actors, but I've given a bit of thought to the gods.  For instance, what about Richard Armitage for one of the "big three" (i.e., Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades)?  I can also see Robert Beltran from Star Trek: Voyager in one of those roles, but maybe as Hepheastus instead.  And speaking of Star Trek: Voyager, how about Jeri Ryan as Athena?  Serinda Swan is cast as Aphrodite, and I agree that she should be a goddess in these movies, I just don't think it should be that one.  Maybe later on, if/when they make the Lost Hero movies, she could be Kione?  Or Hecate, the goddess of magic, who we see in House of Hades.  I know that I would never have cast Pierce Brosnan in these movies at all, that's for sure.  Also (and I know you're all going to hate me for this one), I disagree completely with the casting choice for Hermes in Sea of Monsters.  I love Nathan Fillion, but I don't like him for this role.  I think Hermes, being a god known for his ability to fly, should be someone built a little thinner, like Aiden Turner (or Kili from The Hobbit movies).  I dunno...I just can't seem to bring myself to actually see these movies, and it's because of the casting choices.  Oh, and Tyson...I cannot stand what they did with Tyson's casting...

Maleficent:  Here's another one that I don't know if I'll see because of a casting choice.  I dislike Angelina Jolie quite a bit, so when I heard that she was Maleficent, I was unhappy.  Again, if you need a tall and statuesque female, Jeri Ryan could easily be made up to look just as sinister, or Peta Wilson from The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.  I'll probably still go to see the movie, or at least see it when it comes out on DVD, but my expectations are low.

Dumbledore:  Oh, how I can't stand Sir Michael Gambon.  I know Ian McKellen is typecast as Gandalf, so that's not an option, even though I think he would have done really well.  I also like the idea of Gene Kelley, though, who was cast as Grandpa Joe in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  He has the playful nature of Dumbledore, but he knows how to be serious as well.  And he wouldn't have man-handled his own students...at least, I hope not...Honestly, the fact that Sir Michael Gambon played a leading and much-loved role without first reading the books to get a handle on the character is enough for me to miss Richard Harris.

As for Avatar: The Last Airbender...I don't think that movie could have been saved...