Film Review
Film Review: Snow Falling on Cedars
Scott Hick's Snow Falling on Cedars is a beautifully crafted film but not a good Asian American film. The film is based upon David Guterson's best selling novel about a triangular entanglement among a white newspaperman and a Japanese American women and her husband wrapped around a murder. Hicks however reduces the story's focus solely to the moral dilemma of the journalist, Ishmael, played by Ethan Hawke.
Movie Review: Romeo Must Die
by Kye Leung
Will real Asian men please stand up? Contrary to what Hollywood would like us to believe, there are actually some Asian men who are not kung-fu masters, gangsters, businessmen or illegal immigrants. So what is Romeo Must Die? In short, it's a cheap reference to the Shakespeare play where no one is named Romeo and where you put some Asian gangs, Black gangs, and White businessmen together with a lot of boom but no bang between Han (played by Jet Li) and Trish (Aaliyah). What's up Hollywood? Can't an Asian male kiss a non-Asian female on screen?
Viewing The Rebel: Butt-kicking Martial Arts as Anti-Colonial History
by Mike Liu
The Rebel is a watershed 2007 Vietnamese film that, despite some weaknesses as a film, is important to see on different levels. Despite its production by Viet Kieu i.e. overseas Vietnamese, it became the highest grossing film in Vietnam history. It has also received strong support among the Vietnamese American community.
Film Review: “Sentenced Home:” Reveals Immigration Injustice
by Mike Liu
The film, Sentenced Home is a quietly powerful film that explores the human side of the issue of Cambodian (Khmer) deportations. In looking at why and how three young Cambodian men from Seattle become ensnared by Home Land Security, it exposes the irrationality, spitefulness and injustice in our immigration policies.
Movie Review: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Pablum?
By Michael Liu
Film Review: Where's the Tiger? Where's the Dragon?
By Jerome Yuan
Stupid western critics. Ok, let me say this: not bad, actually a pretty enjoyable movie in itself. Despite some flaws here and there, it's worth seeing, even at the psychotic nighttime, could have eaten two meals, price.
Watching Vincent Who? - Vincent Chin's Legacy
Mike Liu
The film Vincent Who? resurrects the meaning of the brutal death of Vincent Chin in Detroit and the ensuing campaign. Inspired by the 25th anniversary of Vincent Chin's killing, Curtis Chin, himself a Detroit native, begins with the premise that the meaning has been forgotten in the current generation of young Asian Americans.
BETTER LUCK TOMORROW: FAR FROM A FANTASY
Marilyn Quon
Afterthoughts to "Forget Bill, Kill Tom"
by Julia Oh
To read the original article "Forget Bill, Kill Tom," click here
In response to my "Forget Bill, Kill Tom" article from January, a few Asians have commented that I had no claim in criticizing a movie that I had not seen, or that my views were not valid because I had not seen the film. Others have suggested that while the movie may seem offensive and/or insulting, it actually "wasn't that bad."
Pearl Horror 2001: "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...."
By Burt Takeuchi
Nihonmachi Outreach Committee
Review based on a prescreening of the film made in Santa Clara CA. May 22nd, 2001 at the Mercado 20 Theaters. This was for the press and not a live audience.
The Good:
Pearl Harbor has fantastic special effects. Maybe the best aerial sequences ever created by Hollywood. It captures a young mans dreams on film ....the love of adventure and flying. The special effects are really dizzying so dont go if you get air sick.
