Jackie Chan - hypocrite

[lio]

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/ap/20051126/113307330000.html

didn't he just signed on to do Rush Hour 3?

[Pungyo]

Hi lio,

Hey, listen... I'm an American and I totally agree with Jackie. It is a little disconcerting to see Asian youths trying to act and dress like a certain sub-culture of American kids. Why? Asian culture and society should make them feel proud... and this should be reflected in Asian films. I've often wondered, myself, why kids from other countries are so quick to adopt this American culture. (When half the kids in this country don't even dress or behave that way, anyway!)

Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of being an American... but you know? Not ALL American kids dress in baggy jeans and say, "Yo man!" That's only a small percentage... perhaps mostly from our cities. But they're the types of characters you see in movies the most. Perhaps because they are most interesting?

And I don't think that Jackie is really knocking American cinema... I believe he enjoys acting in American-made films... but, one's own country should promote their own cinema first. With that... I agree!

Now if we can ONLY get MORE ASIAN FILMS IN THE U.S.!!!! I'd be a happy camper!

-K
_________________
Post nubila, Phoebus.

[news]

K-

I don't know how quickly they're importing Asian movies over to this side of the world, but the Asian films that are slating to remake makes my jaw drops, head spins, and wonder...

Really random tidbits K. Kung Fu Hustle presently is showing on Comcast movie Demand channel (it's free!).

[lio]

[Pungyo]

Hi lio,

Thank you for further explaining your opinion. I understand completely. Yes, I suppose you would feel a bit cheated with Jackie saying what he did.

And you opened my eyes to the Rush Hour films... I didn't realize that they were insulting to Chinese people... I suppose because the films poked fun at Americans, too. I didn't think twice about it. Now I'll try to be more observant.

And news... I'm so disappointed that Hollywood is attempting to remake so many Asian films... they're never as good as the originals... but Hollywood remakes a lot of European films with the same result. Disappointing. My heart sank, just recently when I read that Tom Cruise is supposed to star in the remake of "The Eye." One of my all time favorite horror films... (I still think twice before stepping into an elevator )... I feel just by him being in it, the film is already ruined.

-K
_________________
Post nubila, Phoebus.

[Zen]

Hey, how's it going? I haven't been on the site for awhile. This is an interesting subject that's brought up. I may be taking Mr. Chan's criticism to a whole different level, but I find that there's no problem about being influenced by another culture. Akira Kurosawa made a film based on Russian literature because he admired Dostoevsky. Wong Kar-wai is influenced by European films. It's just a matter of paying homage to a culture. There's a fine line between doing that and trying to imitate a culture.

I'm not sure if I'm off-topic here...I just wrote my essay paper on the controversy of "Memoirs of a Geisha," and that was a thesis of mine. Haha. It took me forever to write, and now I have nightmares about it.

I think Tom Cruise signed on to produce "The Eye," while Renee Zellweger will be starring in it.
_________________
"There is no path to peace. Peace is the path."

--Thich Nhat Han

[lio]

Zen, we were talking about different things here.

There is a difference between cultural exchange/cultural appropriation and cultural imperialism.

Recently some schools in the U.S asked 50 cent's "get rich or die trying" movie billboards that are near school districts to be taken off, lest the image of billboards promoted gun violence. I haven't seen the movie, but if the movie promotes " the nilism" (see Prof. Cornell West's Race Matters"), then I personally don't want Hollywood jamming it down to our throat in Asia.

I used to work in a place where every restaurant round our office was a fast-food restaurant. Nothing against fast-food restaurant, but I'd like to have a choice of not eating hamburger and pizza every day. What I am saying is that noodle shop is fine. Don't kill the noodle shop. Try noodle sometimes.

[Pungyo]

As far as fast food, I have to agree with you, again, lio. Fast food is soooo bad, bad, bad. I haven't been to a McDonalds in years!! (In fact, my son, who is vegetarian, calls it Mc Murder! Ha ha.) But, seriously, Americans are just realizing how healthy the Asian diet is... less meat, less fat... more vegetables... so there's a trend for that type of cooking here recently. But, corporate America has exported all of our bad habits to the rest of the world... how many of you smoke cigarettes?

Here, it's starting to be outlawed in different states... no smoking in public places... offices, restaurants, public transportation. And to think tobacco was originally used as a religious activity with the Native Americans... or smoked in a "peace pipe" to show good will towards another tribe. It took the Europeans who came to this country to make it a "habit."

I think we could have some long and interesting conversations, you and I, lio! Keep up your self expression... it's good to get others thinking!!

-K

P.S. I DO love noodles, too!!
_________________
Post nubila, Phoebus.

[Zen]

lio, I told you my mind wandered off a bit. I kind of see your point, but my opinion was on a different level/perspective. But, I do agree with you about your views. Your food analogy is awesome! I totally concur!
_________________
"There is no path to peace. Peace is the path."

--Thich Nhat Han

[Guest]

this is an interesting topic.

From my personal observation-- it's not so much Hollywood films but MTV & american pop videos going global in the 80's was when american pop culture took hold to the rest of the world.

I was living in England then & I saw how it truly influenced the Europeans kids in dress & even speech with their cute accents. it's the immediacy & accessibility of satellite TV.

Holywood was always around as heavy influence but nothing to this extent.

Right about Jackie too-- he collected a very FAT pay packet for RH2.. region of US $ 20mil..why he wasn't complaining over the racial slurs? He was also moaning why it so long to do 3 was bec Tucker was holding out for more & gross.. & ther sundries, being a very greedy sod. oh well .. it's not like he was in demand for his services for other films after these. he's maybe saving it all for HIS RETIREMENT.

[Guest]

lio.. don't where you are in US but in the WESt coast.. where I am-- there's so much & many Asian fast food places-- your head will be reeling for choice. there's Thai, sushi bars galore, Chinese ( all types) even Korean ..etc.. you want it Asian-west fusion , home cooked.. whatever.. it's here. Actually, it's the tex-mex places that's hard to find now.Even pizza joints offer iit Asian style.

[D-love]

Hi friends,

As a minority here in America, I always find it disturbing, when I see explortation on any level. And I was born here! The limited view of all cultures that are depicted in films, only strengthen steriotypes,bigetry, and widens the gap of opportunity for us all. The biggest offenders are our so called heros in movies, music and on tv. We get so excited to see poeple that represent our race, that we sometimes over look the damage that they cause. Hip-Hop glorifying pimps and hoes, Latinos with drug cartels, Asians as Triad bosses and brothels, Arabs and Muslims are terrorists. Yes, I can feel for some actors and actresses, when they first got into the entertainment busness. They all did things they'er not proud of. But veterans like jacky Mmmm...? To be fare , If an actor wants to make a serious film about societies ills. They have to bow to the powers that be. Jacky and all the others have to play the game. For one role of dignity , you have to pay with 3 Rush Hours . You know what my biggest fear is ?; not being seen or being farely represented at all. We have the power of the wallet. From Hollywood to Ballywood money talks, so... maybe the biggest hipocrite is us . D-love
_________________
Tony is Grrrrrrrrrrrrrreate

[Pungyo]

Well said, D-love! How old did you say you were?... 'cause I believe those are wise words coming from a young person.

-K
_________________
Post nubila, Phoebus.

[D-love]