Normally, I don't think it matters. HOWEVER, in movies where there are supposed to be several different races of people, the actors ought to be of varied races. For example, the the movie The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the Telmarines seemed to be played by mostly Spanish actors as opposed to the British actors for the people in Narnia.

This is tough. I mean, I would be slightly ticked if they white washed any race of character, or even vice versa. But at the same time, I don't really care about skin color whatsoever.

I guess my thing would be changing the character that was originally for something Hollywood thought would be better. Like giving Katniss more feelings for Peeta than she actually had. haha. But TECHNICALLY KATNISS was "olived skinned" as the book says. Now, I imagined her as some type of mixed race but I wasn't particularly upset when she came out pale as the moon in the movies.

I don't appreciate it because hollywood has consistently requested specifically white actors to play roles that are obviously not caucasian. Casting should be less narrow minded so people like me have someone similar to look up to in films.

Pienso que depende mucho en el trama, la importancia de raíces o géneros en el cuento, etc. Si no importa, está bien, pero si toda la gente de un país (por ejemplo) necesito ser sólo un raíz, o si el género es central a la personalidad de un carácter, no debe cambiarlos. Pero depende mucho en la situación. :/

If somebody's race or appearance is specified in the original story, I think it should be left alone to maintain authenticity. However, if a character's race is never really pointed out as a defining factor of their characterization (physical, cultural, or anything else), I don't think it matters if a director changes their racial background.

Depends on many factors. If race and each one's culture is not important to or specified in the storyline, then I don't mind it. However, when the entire plot is based on a specific race, such as Orientals in Avatar: The Last Airbender, then I would have expected Asians to play in the movie. Changing the characters all to white, while still maintaining Asian clothing, offended a lot of people.

well, I prefer they portray the characters as original like the books as possible.
example: it's not funny to see Chun Li without Asian face (if you change it into a blonde girl, it'll be weird. lolz), or what if you just change Thor / Loki, with its already defined background characters and all with some black guy (No Offence intended).
or Harry Potter, the books says he had messy black hair and green eyes, but you change it into a chopped blonde hair blue eyes.
what do you think?

the creator do create and brainstorm the making-up-the-characters with deep 'personality' and suddenly changing it is weird for me.

imagine you're in the creator's chair. you 'create' and 'raise' your characters, and some guy, with profit-minded brain suddenly change your character to his liking.

Too Many liberties:
M Knight Shamalan's The Last Airbender
Dragonball Forever

I selected "Sometimes I care, sometimes not" because to me the more important factor is acting ability and getting the story and character growth right. If the character's race plays a big role in the story, then you shouldn't change it. Like in Avatar the Last Airbender. I thought race was important and they should not have changed it. Their races were as indicative to what nation they were from as the clothes that they wore. I also don't approve of just picking white actors cause its easier. If there is an actor of the appropriate race that is an excellent at their job, choose them. Don't be a lazy ass and not even look.