Best & Worst Movies | Asian American Poll

BEST & WORST MOVIES
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:11:47 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Would you go to a movie because it features an Asian in a positive starring role even if you weren't otherwise interested?
No. | 14%
Yes. | 69%
Yes, if the Asian were male. | 17%

Which of the following is the Greatest Movie Ever for Asian Americans?
Enter the Dragon | 15%
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon | 14%
Romeo Must Die | 5%
The Corruptor | 2%
Dragon: Bruce Lee Story | 57%
Joy Luck Club | 7%

Which of the following is the Most Offensive Movie Ever for Asian Americans?
The World of Suzie Wong | 1%
Sixteen Candles | 13%
Breakfast at Tiffany's | 24%
Year of the Dragon | 25%
Tai Pan | 1%
Joy Luck Club | 38%

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Comments posted during the past year remain available for browsing.

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WHAT YOU SAY

[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]

Annoying Dude:

Your name is totally appropriate.

If you were to take a look at portrayals of Whites and Blacks on Tv and in the Movies, there is at least some balnce--you can name a White character who is good that balances out the villains.

However, with Asian Males, there are not enough representation of them in Western Media in general, and the good ones seem few and far between. Even when they're shown, they don't get enough air time.

For example, Det. Matt Sung on Dark Angel is clearly an heroic Asian Male. However, he is relegated to the role of recurring character and doesn't show up in every episode. This past season, he's only been physically shown in 4 episodes, and figured prominantly in only one. He's been mentioned a bunch--in every other episode Logan or Max has said "We need to call Matt Sung to get this information" or "We need to let Matt Sung know to be on the lookout for _____", but where is the call? Where is he seen? At least he got his 3 minutes in at the end of last episode where he was leading the Seattle PD into an illegal gambling hall and busting the joint up. Still, you would figure that given the business Logan and Max are in, Matt Sung would be in every episode doing something important instead of just showing up to make an arrest here or a phone call there.

Then we have Roger on that 80s show. He's cool, he's greedy, but he also comes off as a dork who's always wanting to witness Sophia, the bi-girl, with his best friend Corey's sister Katie! At least he's shown having nads and being horny, but come on! And a couple of weeks ago, they kept on having him falling off leather couches due to his parachute pants being too slippery! Geez Louise! Yeah, Roger's not as negative as some images shown, but he's no Harry Kim either!

The actor who plays Roger, Eddie Shin, played a postive AM recurring character--one of the Medical students on ER during the first half of the season. However, when he got the offer to be a series regular on That 80s Show, he left and his character was replaced by Dr. Gallant, an African American Med Student.

In the year 2002, we should be way beyond the token Asian characters that get put into TV shows. Based on the REAL WORLD as far as hospitals go, the cast of ER should be 35% Asian (East and South Asian) which would include the principal doctors and Medical Students. Instead we have Dr. Chen, Nurse Yoshi and Nurse Lily; one series regular and two recurring characters. CAN'T YOU SEE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
Hank Lewis Thursday, March 21, 2002 at 08:01:06 (PST)

Remember there was a somewhat unflattering portrayal of an American Indian in Fargo, too. It wasn't just an Asian who was portrayed negatively. It was people across the board! The film was just full of nauseating and frightening characters!
Annoying Dude Thursday, March 21, 2002 at 07:45:24 (PST)

It's great to see Annoying Dude exposed as the ignoramus that he is. I especially enjoy the highly intelligent and biting comments from Man of Lha-sa.

It's too bad that Annoying Dude's opinion represents what I encounter most often in daily American life. Whites especially love to strike a pose as a crusader against racism, but in reality are almost completely clueless about what it's like to be in someone else's shoes.

Because there are some who do complain out of a victim mindset, such Whites automatically assume that anyone who speaks out against an injustice must also be self-styled victims. Frankly, this is a sign of a limited mind that cannot cope of the complexities and subtleties of real issues of real people in the real world.

Very few Whites are able to rise above these limits. Most are blind to glaring problems. Most will not question why there are virtually no Asians in TV series like Charmed - whether as recurring characters or in the background - when the series supposedly takes place in San Francisco.

Most are similarly oblivious to the lack of Asians in just about *all* Hollywood movies that take place in S.F. It is as if such movies depict an "idealized" San Francisco meant for Whites only. If you doubt this, take another look at The Rock or Bedazzled or Nine Months. Where are the Asian characters or extras? These movies depict a city where Whites are the overwhelming majority. Is that congruent with reality?

Hollywood reflects the mentality of the White majority in this country, and that mentality is two-faced: ostensibly an advocate of true racial equality, but at the same time a subtle message that Asians are basically good for one thing and one thing only, and that is producing women to satisfy the desires of White men. To that and people like Annoying Dude, I extend my middle finger.

XO Asian Male Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 09:51:55 (PST)

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