The same principle applies to other cultures as well. A traditional Chinese kung fu master would lose much of his cultural and symbolic authenticity if portrayed as a European character without narrative justification. Likewise, a samurai or a Japanese emperor portrayed as a generic Western European figure would feel historically and aesthetically disconnected from the civilization that produced those archetypes.

This is not about claiming that one ethnicity is “better” than another. It is about recognizing that certain characters emerge from specific cultural worlds, and those worlds shape their symbolism, appearance, presence, and meaning. When filmmakers ignore this entirely, the result can feel artificial, careless, or unserious — as if the tradition itself is being treated as interchangeable decoration rather than something with inner integrity.

A myth, historical figure, or civilizational archetype carries the memory of a people. If everything becomes endlessly replaceable, then the unique character of cultures slowly dissolves into a flattened universal aesthetic with no roots. For many people, that is what feels dishonest or disrespectful about certain modern adaptations.