Films with Asian Americans

[hey]

Alright I have to do a review on how films, novels, music perceive Asians in American (stereotypes) and I decided to do a film review, however my professor said that I couldn't do The Joy Luck Club. Now the only other options have are Sixteen Candles, The Karate Kid, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Better Luck Tomorrow becuase these are the only films that I know starring Asian Americans. Can somewhat recommend some other ones preferrably independent/arthouse films?

[hey]

The films can also star yellowface actors...

Yellowface - nonAsians playing an Asian role, who face are painted yellow and eyes taped.

[lesterlong]

Umm...what about movies with Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Chow Yun Fat? Then there's Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune films. You're gonna have to be a little more descriptive.

[Fandango]

The Debut is one that comes to mind although I have not seen it.

[davidlynchfan]

Tia Carrera movies.

[lesterlong]

You could also check out Kobe Tai's films.

[JoeyOhhhh]

Big Trouble In Little China?

And stretching it a bit, You Only Live Twice, James Bond becomes Asian (odds are thats not gonna fly)

Originally posted by lesterlong
You could also check out Kobe Tai's films. :lol:

[Fandango]

He mentioned Better Luck Tomorrow already.

[JoeyOhhhh]

Originally posted by Fandango
He mentioned Better Luck Tomorrow already. Completely missed it, edited my post.

[hey]

Umm...what about movies with Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Chow Yun Fat? Then there's Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune films.

Oh yeah...I forgot about the Kung-fu stereotypes, but a whole bunch of people are most likely going to do this. Maybe I'll look up some Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune films.

The Debut is one that comes to mind although I have not seen it.

Saw it in the theaters and liked the films, but again, I know people who are going to be doing this films, although this is possibly the film that I can relate to most.

You could also check out Kobe Tai's films.

Funny....

What about Better Luck Tomorrow?
Or Big Trouble In Little China?

Didn't like Better Luck Tomorrow, but Big Trouble In China I'm already considering! Thanks!

[illennium]

I think The Perfect Score is interesting in the way it portrays its Asian-American character, Roy (who is, by the way, the most fleshed-out character in the movie).

[tenaciousdave]

My suggestion is "The Cable Guy" No Asians, but it's sterotypical.

My brother's been shot! I think it was an Asian Gang or something. They were speaking another language.... I think it was....Asian.

[mrhan]

Originally posted by lesterlong
Umm...what about movies with Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Chow Yun Fat? Then there's Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune films. You're gonna have to be a little more descriptive.


Asian Americans that are born here? Or immigrants? Because the only Asian born American on that list is Bruce Lee and the rest only work here and live elsewhere.

You can also check out Mark Dacascos.

[Ginwen]

Originally posted by hey
The films can also star yellowface actors...

Yellowface - nonAsians playing an Asian role, who face are painted yellow and eyes taped.
Love is a Many Splendored Thing, Teahouse of the August Moon, lots of 50's movies for this type. Check out this thread for more: http://dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=344055

[RobCA]

The Wedding Banquet (http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:131213) (not on DVD, unfortunately) :(

Rob

[Tazwolff]

Any movie with Lucy Liu. She's of Asian decent thus an Asian American.

[Concorde]

Originally posted by tenaciousdave
My suggestion is "The Cable Guy" No Asians, but it's sterotypical.

Eh?

[mikewendt]

Check out Versus: Director's Cut! Great flick.

[nemein]

Eat, Drink, Man, Woman ... Pushing Hands ... The Corruptor are some that come to mind off hand.

[Max Bottomtime]

Star Trek I through 6
The Dead Pool
Caveman
Air America
Good Morning, Vietnam
Major League 2
Pearl Harbor

[db27]

Goonies!!!!

[D-Ball]

Gung Ho

[Damfino]

Look into the careers of Anna May Wong (An Asian American star from the silent era) and

Victor Sen Yung who played one of Charlie Chan's sons in the movies but is best known for playing Hop Sing on Bonanza

It's not on DVD, but in 1961 Hollywood produced a musical called Flower Drum Song that featured a mostly Asian American cast.

The 1951 movie Go For Broke told the story of the Japanese American soldiers of the 442nd infantry. This movie is available on DVD.

Also since Bruce Lee was born in the US, you could also consider Enter the Dragon.

[hey]

Originally posted by mrhan
Asian Americans that are born here? Or immigrants? Because the only Asian born American on that list is Bruce Lee and the rest only work here and live elsewhere.

You can also check out Mark Dacascos.

Asian Americans have alot of meaning, so really if it's Asians who immigrated, Asians born here, Hapas, etc, you name it....it should be ok.

BTW thanks for all your recommendations guys and I'll be sure to look into them!

[nemein]

Also since Bruce Lee was born in the US, you could also consider Enter the Dragon.



Along w/ that "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" might be useful.

[Andalusia]

Originally posted by hey
Alright I have to do a review on how films, novels, music perceive Asians in American (stereotypes) and I decided to do a film review, however my professor said that I couldn't do The Joy Luck Club. Now the only other options have are Sixteen Candles, The Karate Kid, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Better Luck Tomorrow becuase these are the only films that I know starring Asian Americans. Can somewhat recommend some other ones preferrably independent/arthouse films?

Actually, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" had Mickey Rooney made up to look like an Asian, and it's jaw-droppingly bad (and offensive). The only sour note in that movie.

As for movies with real Asians, "Mystery Train" comes to mind.

[DRG]

A few...

Freaky Friday (2003 version)
http://windowtothemovies.com/LV-freakyfriday2003.html
This is a review chastising the film for it's negative Asian stereotypes.

A few more with differing representations..
Gremlins
Revenge of the Nerds (Takashi)
The Cat in the Hat

[inri222]

The Killing Fields
Year of the Dragon
M. Butterfly
The Last Emperor

[devilshalo]

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...
http://www.starwars.com/databank/species/neimoidian/img/movie_bg.jpg
Stupid Neimoidians.

You could also use Star Trek 1 - 6. George Takei as Sulu. There are supposed to be no stereotypes in the Roddenberry universe.

[Original Desmond]

every Brandon Lee and Mark Dascacos film

[mookiemeister]

Dr No!

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

Look for American Adobo. It is about Filipinos and it got a lot of criticism.

[Trigger]

Mark Dacascos is Hawaian and is a mix of Filipino, Spanish, Chinese, Irish and Japanese

[costanza]

wayne's world

[Mole177]

the scorpion king!

[RyoHazuki]

Kill Bill. A rather stupid person I know, who is only about 50% Japanese, said after seeing Kill Bill "It made me so proud to be Japanese."

[big whoppa]

I'm not sure what you're asking for. Movies with only Asian Americans or movies with Asians.

Because Raise the Red Lantern, Farewell My Concubine, and Shanghai Triad are all wonderful Chinese independent/arthouse movies starring the beautiful and gifted Chinese actress, Gong Li. All have been shown in American theatres and received critical praise. Much better than the $100 million crap Hollywood puts out.

However, there are almost no American films that have done Asian Americans justice with few exceptions like Joy Luck.

[syphon00]

I think anyfilm with asians in it will work
most Hollywood films aren't exactly concerned about putting minorities in the spotlight, if you ain't white, you're not marketable and so you must be casted in the sterotypical minority role

[BRIAN 1972]

anything with asia carrera or kobe tai.

[big whoppa]

Originally posted by syphon00
I think anyfilm with asians in it will work
most Hollywood films aren't exactly concerned about putting minorities in the spotlight, if you ain't white, you're not marketable and so you must be casted in the sterotypical minority role

Unfortunately, it's so true. You think with directors like Wayne Wang and Ang Lee making such a name for themselves, they would have more Asian actors and storylines in their current movies (except CTHD, of course).

Instead, what most people think of Asians are characters like Long Duc Dong, the wise old man, kung fu expert to name a few.

[Rupin]

1) Charlotte Sometimes - good drama with Asian Americans
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284478/

2) Robot Stories - in select theaters now....saw it a year ago in the film festival circuit
http://www.robotstories.net/

[jim_cook87]

"Gung Ho" revolves around stereotypes.

"Snow Falling on Cedars" centers on race.

"Die Another Day" also portrays some stereotypes.

And there is Oliver Stone's Vietnam trilogy "Platoon", "Born on the Fourth of July" and "Heaven & Earth". Add in numerous other Vietnam movies like "Full Metal Jacket" or "We Were Soldiers".

Christopher Lee as Dr. Fu Manchu is another possibility.

"Lethal Weapon 4", "Rush Hour", "The Year of the Dragon" all feature strong Asian stereotypes. "Blade Runner" has a small role.

"Rambo" fights Vietnamese showing some more stereotypes.

Then there are movies like "The King and I", "The Last Emperor", "Seven Years in Tibet", etc. that show other perspectives and stereotypes.

Hard to say which will fit your assignment, but hopefully one or two of these help...

[Verbal Gorilla]

I was just remarking to some buddies about how I found it amazing that Jason Scott Lee, who did an incredible job as Bruce Lee in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, didn't go on to have a decent career. He has basicaly done nothing on par with Dragon since then...unfortunate.

Also got into a debate as to weather Brandon Lee would be an A-list star if he lived...

[jarofclay73]

The Last Samurai

[divemaster]

Dragon Seed starred Katherine Hepburn(!) as a Chinese peasant helping her family and village put up the good fight against Jap invaders.

[j123vt_99]

Although it is a comedy, what about "Not Another Teen Movie"., one of the white characters plays a stereotypical Asian