I saw the movie 'Batman Begins' and was surprised that the movie started out with Bruce Wayne (who later becomes Batman) in a Chinese Prison Camp. Wayne is then later trained to become a ninja, kills an evil Fu-Man Chu character and burns down a house that looks like it was somewhere in Tibet...

Usually I don't give much thought to Asian stereotypes in any Hollywood movies... Yes, yes, yes... another movie where all the Asian men are portrayed as being evil or incompetent, we've all seen that... nothing new here... but a couple things about this movie stuck in my head...

1. Ken Watanabe's pathetic role as Ra's al Ghul. 2 years ago, Watanabe got nomintaed for an oscar for best supporting actor for his role in 'The Last Samurai'... and in this movie they dress him up like Fu-Man Chu, who is incompetent as an evil leader, and dies soon after mumbling a few lines; Morgan Freeman complemented that Ken Watanabe is going to be the second Toshiro Mifune, the great actor of all the old Kurosawa movies. Well, Mifune did make some Hollywood movies, Hollywood didn't know what to do with an Asian actor then, and they don't know what to do with one today; As someone who's seen Watanabe shine in many roles in Japanese dramas... Ken, leave Hollywood... it will only go down hill for you from here.

2. The source of all the evil started... in China?? So Bruce Wayne was distraught after he witnessed the murder of his parents. Wanting revenge and to find the true source of all this evil, he follwed the trade route where all the drugs were being shipped into Gotham City... and he found himself in China. I guess having all the drugs come from South America just didn't add a sense of mystery, maybe because no one there is plotting to completely destroy the center of our civilization of Gotham City. China on the other hand... they are trying to take over the world. At least politically, that seems to be the trend of thought here in the US.

Batman begins doesn't take negative stereotypes in Hollywood movies to a new height, instead I'm sad to see how a movie that attempts to raise the bar for movies still can't manage to get it right with Asian roles. Batman Begins was a good movie, it had a solid story, with oscar winning actors giving decent performaces... and still, I cringed many times in the movie where an Asian character is recycled yet again for the same old role... evil and/or incompetent. At least they didn't show a nerdy Asian scientist, or a sexy bondage suited Tiger Lily... Then again, there will always be sequels...

Sadly, I am not the least bit surprised. It seems that if Asians or other less accepted people of color (such as Native Americans) are in films they are either playing to the stereotype or are doing a one note role.

Think of it this way, Batman is basically a creation of Asian martial arts now. Also, it's an American city that's corrupt. Having Christian Bale's character go to Mexico to learn martial arts just doesn't really cut it in my opinion.

Anyway, although I like Liam Neeson as an actor, it's too bad they didn't make Ken Watanabe into the real main villain, or atleast saved his death until the end too. It wasn't just Asians who were ninjas, I noticed a few black and white guys as part of the shadow gang.

It's a movie made in North America, can you really expect that much? I'd rather watch Batman over Joyluck Club anyday. If you want positive role models on television/movies, watch sports.

One fake aspect of the movie was the prison fight though. Although I don't think anyone can outfight 6 guys at once, having 6 asian guys get their asses kicked did sting for a brief moment.

Huu,

Speaking of Joy Luck Club, I saw a WF reading the book on the bus on the way home from work tonight. Geez I wonder what sort of opinion she will have of AM after reading that rubbish. The movie itself is without doubt the movie that portray AM in the most negative light that I've seen. I hope we won't see any movies like that again. However as I say before, I doubt that Hollywood would do AM any favours. So it's up to AM's themselves to try and create a positive image for themselves.

This post has been edited by Condor: Jun 21 2005, 03:14 AM

I personally thought that Joy Luck Club was atrocious....

Condor--was Amy Tan ever called out on the carpet for her depiction of the men in her novel and movie?

Oasis,

I am a not a big fan of Amy Tan, so I don't take much interest in her work or what she does. I only heard about her a few years ago because my ex-girlfriend told me about her.

BTW that's a nice avator.

QUOTE

BTW that's a nice avator.

Thanks. I didn't think I would have the guts to put up a photo of myself but I decided to just go for it.