Jack Burton: [pointing to Chinese writing on elevator] What does that say? Wang Chi: [speaks Chinese] Hell of Boiling Oil. Jack Burton: You're kidding. Wang Chi: Yeah, I am. It says Keep Out.
To think they are remaking the movie shows that it has a strong following of fans.
Race is a highly charged issue in America today. It's hard to know where to draw the line. The movie was kitschy and satirical even back then and seemed to me to be poking fun at those very elements by exaggerating them.
This is actually an issue we deal with in Nascrag. We're all about the role-playing. And often that means using your best approximation of an accent for your character. Our theme for the last few years has been a voodoo related zombie apocalypse. Two of our Players Characters were Islanders (Jamaican). Are we racists if we're trying to do a Jamaican accent? Or are we enlightened for having a diverse list of PCs?
I can't speak for other people's culture. I didn't personally find it offensive. The movie is wacky and kitschy and so was the booth. I think wacky and stereotypical humor can have a place in pop culture without insinuating that it's making fun of or insulting someone in reality. Take a look at any Mel Brooks film, Indiana Jones, etc... We've got the self-named gaming wenches group here on the forums, cross play costumes in the main hall, and all other sorts. We're all accepting of each other and we all realize there's no veiled subtext inherent in any of this fun.
I'm sure we can all think of some ways it would be a legitimately racist booth, but instead we're talking about if it might possibly be offensive to someone? Yet without any takers on that side. I think it's probably alright.
I knew plenty of asian friends who found the film Funnier, just cause it DID Ham up those cheezy stereotypes..