Best & Worst Movies | Asian American Poll

BEST & WORST MOVIES
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:11:43 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Asian American Videos

Films & Movies Channel

Humor Channel

Identity Channel

Vocals & Music Channel

Makeup & Hair Channel

Intercultural Channel

CONTACT US | ADVERTISING INFO

© 1996-2013 Asian Media Group Inc
No part of the contents of this site may be reproduced without prior written permission.

WHAT YOU SAY

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

I don't think that you should take Austin Powers so serioulsy. The film pokes fun at all racial, ethnic, and cultural groups equally.
SaRangHaeYuRi Monday, September 09, 2002 at 00:17:59 (PDT) [209.86.2.38]

who cares dude fook mi and fook yu are hott!!!!!!!
drummer7 Sunday, September 08, 2002 at 19:49:06 (PDT) [152.163.188.3]

I saw Austin Powers last week with my best friend (she is Japanese and absolutely loves Austin Powers). If this was meant to be at all serious, I would have endless issues with it. Actually, I thought it was trying it's damnedest to mix up Asian nationalities like they did in the 60s and 70s. I mean . . .

I had no idea Tokyo sat right in front of Mt. Fuji. Especially when they are in two completely different prefectures.

Fook Mi and Fook Yu are supposed to be Japanese twins? With non-Japanese sounding names?

A geisha secretary? Yeah, right. Like she's be doing office work.
Joy Friday, September 06, 2002 at 23:58:19 (PDT) [218.44.178.60]

Ray,

I understand what you mean about black film makers making serious films, but I think there is another side to the story. If you can imagine, there are several movie proposals that get rejected for the one movie that is actually made. Filmmakers have to find people who will fund their project and a studio who will put it out for them.

There are several very well made films by African Americans that never get the respect they deserve. Why? Because the studios think they can't sell it. Black film makers have to make what sells. Stereotypes sell. People won't pay to see black films like "Daughters of the Dust" (this award-winning film never made it to the theaters, yet all the reels were sold with requests for more copies), but they will pay to see Chris Tucker acting like a complete ass and railroading Jackie Chan with racist insults.

Doesn't it seem strange to you that most black films that get put out are mostly comedies or about inner city violence and struggle? Do you mean to tell me that there are no blacks outside of inner city communities? Where are the black doctors, lawyers, and teachers? Where are the interracial relationships featuring blacks and Asians that go on happily without some kind of tragic consoquence?

People aren't used to see blacks and Asians out of our stereotypical roles. Why? Because it's not "realistic". At least not to the big guys sitting up there in Hollywood who push all the buttons. (It's okay to make films poking fun at them, as long as it makes $$$). I was reading a book where a black celebrity wanted to make a film based on a true story about a single black father who adopted and raised something like 20 children. The producer rejected it asking him where the story was.

Isn't it also strange that although our world is changing, the images that Hollywood puts out have stayed almost the same? Carter (Rush Hour) is the decendant of "Amos and Andy". Lee (Rush Hour) is a relative of Hop Sing. Ling Wu (Ally McBeal) is Suzy Wong's niece.

I hardly look to Hollywood to see quality films. I look to Hollywood to be entertained. Look more closely. Hollywood serves a particular function in our society. It perpetuates myth, it doesn't necessarily promote quality.

Yes, some of the films you have mentioned were fairly well-done, but there still had to be some stereotypical behavior in these films in order for Hollywood to buy them. I wonder what the story would have been if Stella wasn't the epiphony of the "strong black woman, single mother" stereotype.
Joy Friday, September 06, 2002 at 23:28:27 (PDT) [218.44.178.60]

In the recent issue of Mother Jones there is an interview with an AA film maker whose film Better Luck Tomorrow was really popular at Sundance. The movie's premise is a bunch of bookish, goody-goody AA teenagers begin robbing banks, shooting up, and so forth. Anyway when the film really starts to get sordid and seedy one dude in the audience, presumably AA, stands up and says indignantly to the director, "What are you doing? Don't you have any pride? What is this s***?"
Whereupon Roger Ebert springs to his feet and says, "You would never make a comment like that if he were white." Meaning if the baddies were white everything would be cool.

Now I have nothing against having AA villians on the big screen cause I know there are a whole lot of them in the real world. What I found lame about the director and interviewer(AA too) was that in the interview they imply that AAs are reverse racists. They practically cream their pants laughing it up about the supposed racism among AAs.
I can fully understand why any AA would be sensitive to nasty depictions of AAs on screen. After all, whites(Ebert included) and other non-Asians probably have their opinions of AAs shaped by what they see in the movies. And AAs are a rarity in the movies; thus if you see amoral AAs you're likely to think most AAs are amoral. Whereas if you see amoral whites in one movie you can just walk to any other room and see dudes like Russel Crowe and Mel Gibson portraying good guys.

Anyway I hope the the director, though he's a bone-head, the best of luck.
X Thursday, September 05, 2002 at 15:00:31 (PDT) [66.81.132.186]

i wanna see a movie about growing up as a young asian-american. a movie about one guy's struggle to fit in the "cool crowd" and at the same time, please his parents and their culture. it should show the stress and the racism he goes through everyday.

also, add in a part where he brings his girlfriend home for the first time. have a part where mom meets the gf and cant tell if the girlfriend is asian or not because of her blonde hair and color contact. LOL!
Mr. Hann Thursday, September 05, 2002 at 12:29:26 (PDT) [24.242.251.65]

All I can say, is that anybody complaining about a silly Austin Powers movie is just not in touch with their sexual libido - period.

If you think that's offensive, check out how they portray Americans or Europeans in movies like "Once Upon a Time in China" or some other Jet Li flick schlock fest. And don't tell me I don't know my history or yours - I know full well.
This is North America - get a sense of humour! I'm Greek for crying out loud - there's no shortage on those jokes either!

You definitely need to loosen up a bit, stop being so prim and proper and stop being so POLITICALLY CORRECT!!
Politically Incorrect Nikola from Montreal tsaparas4life@hotmail.com Tuesday, September 03, 2002 at 18:36:58 (PDT) [132.205.7.51]

Jim and Azn Pride,

Thanks you guys. I appreciate your compliment.
Ray Thursday, August 29, 2002 at 07:18:36 (PDT)

chowyunpat:
i really think you should stop watching these types of movies if they make you uncomfortable in anyway. i don't know you personally but it seems you lack a certain sense of humour, i think your being racially paranoid. There are plenty of comments said daily that could be taken racially in a negativve sense, not to mention comments that are taken out of context and some people misunderstand it. i know films in general are aimed at trying to please an audience not to offend.
Newcomer Saturday, August 24, 2002 at 20:03:55 (PDT)

Ray-I hear ya.
Azn-Pride Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 14:33:05 (PDT)

Ray,

Whoa, thanks for the great insight to films. I'm an total outsider to cinema but I enjoyed your post alot!
Jim Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 12:34:49 (PDT)

NEWEST COMMENTS | EARLIER COMMENTS