I think it's unfair for you to use my post to promote a racist agenda. I never mentioned anything about his colour. I know some fans of the books were not happy with his casting because Roland was written as a white character. I've never read the books so I judged Elba's performace as Roland, I didn't judge him based on his colour.

Regarding Elba's charisma, it seemed lacking in The Dark Tower. I think there's a difference between tv charisma and film charisma. Tv is a more intimate medium, cinema is much broader. It's much harder to hide acting weaknesses on the big screen. Some actors are naturally more charismatic on the big screen, other's aren't. Perhaps tv shows like Luther are a better showcase of Elba's talent?

Fair enough, just one film but I looked over on the site we don't mention (the one that deleted all its movie forums!) and there are some reviews of The Mountain Between Us and they criticize Elba's acting and lack of chemistry with his co-star Kate Winslet. The lack of chemistry observation is quite common, in fact.

As for charismatic actors, I tend to prefer the older school:

Sean Connery

Roger Moore

James Dean

Pierce Brosnan

Cary Grant

I accept those actors are from an older era. Modern audiences are brought up on reality tv, Facebook, and other online stuff. The charismatic movie star is extinct and I'd guess the average movie goer wouldn't relate to that style of acting.

But the negative comments about Elba and Winslet would suggest his charisma isn't as strong as you suggest?

http://observer.com/2017/10/the-mountain-between-us-stars-separated-by-a-miserable-lack-of-chemistry/

The two stars have a miserable lack of warmth that fails to melt the ice, to find any chemistry between them you’d have to chip away the frost with an ice pick,

I dunno why anyone would want to act in the freezing cold, anyway! Give me a tropical island, any day!

I thought the introduction of Roland in the film was kinda lame. I think it should have been much cooler. For example: we see Elba's feet, legs, we pan up onto his body - filmed from stylish angles. He takes out some evil baddies in a fire-fight and tries to save his father. Instead we got a brief scene, his father dies in an instant, and Walter appears. It's a rushed scene. A more exciting opening for Roland - showing he's one cool hombre! - would have helped the audience accept Elba's character is one mean'don't mess with me' hero.

Intros are so important in films. Look at Sean Connery's Bond into in Dr. No, Darth Vader in A New Hope, Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Then watch the lame intro for Roland in A Dark Tower. See my point! The film makers messed up one of the golden rules of film making.

Imagine something like this as the introduction to mid-world:

Roland has heard his father is being held prisoner by Walter. He enters a small village. He heads toward a battered looking building. We don't see his face, just his body viewed from behind.

Roland knows his father is held inside the building. Walter's men are in position to take out Roland.

Roland approaches the building. We cut to his face, sweat on his brow. We see the dirt moves as his boots hit the ground. Closer... closer he walks to the building. The bad guys aim their guns. The howl of mid-world's wind is heard. The sound of tense music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7syYdo2SEQ~

We cut to a brief shot of Walter, cast in shadow. His face breaks into a devilish smile.

Roland gets nearer to the building. The men are about to fire at Roland. Roland lowers his hands in readiness to use his pistols. Then a gun shot rings out. The enemy has made its move! Roland rushes forward, guns ablaze.

Roland kills all the bad guys but Walter kills Roland's father. Walter tries to kill Roland but his 'magics' are not strong enough. Walter escapes. Intro ends. The story then switches to New York.

I've been feeling the same way about Idris. He just doesn't have the strong screen presence to carry a movie.

@fan_of_films said:

Imagine something like this as the introduction to mid-world:

Roland has heard his father is being held prisoner by Walter. He enters a small village. He heads toward a battered looking building. We don't see his face, just his body viewed from behind.

Roland knows his father is held inside the building. Walter's men are in position to take out Roland.

Roland approaches the building. We cut to his face, sweat on his brow. We see the dirt moves as his boots hit the ground. Closer... closer he walks to the building. The bad guys aim their guns. The howl of mid-world's wind is heard. The sound of tense music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7syYdo2SEQ~

We cut to a brief shot of Walter, cast in shadow. His face breaks into a devilish smile.

Roland gets nearer to the building. The men are about to fire at Roland. Roland lowers his hands in readiness to use his pistols. Then a gun shot rings out. The enemy has made its move! Roland rushes forward, guns ablaze.

Roland kills all the bad guys but Walter kills Roland's father. Walter tries to kill Roland but his 'magics' are not strong enough. Walter escapes. Intro ends. The story then switches to New York.

That just doesn't sound very thrilling at all. And I thought the movie was boring.