Movies! Movies! Movies! (Non-Japanese)

bmwracer wrote:
The stereotype lives....! :sweat: :shakehead:

The thing is I don't see this as a stereotype issue. Certain roles must be filled by certain people, like ninja or Saya from Blood. These types of movies and roles will always exist because there will always be a market for them(big one in Japan alone), and Hollywood is no longer structured where the studios control what is made. Hell, independent and foreign films are quickly becoming the standard for excellence over Hollywood's lack of originality, intelligence, or talent.

I feel the problem here is the decisions by these actors. They're big in their own country, and their desire to make a name in Hollywood have them grabbing for roles that they feel will be "instant blockbusters". I've only seen Rain in one drama where he pretty much just plays himself(a famous star) so I can't comment on him, nor can I about the guy playing Storm Shadow in the new GI Joe move..... :bleh: ...... but I have seen what Jun Ji Hyun is capable of and Blood was far beneath her talent. So it's not really the "stereotype lives" but more of why they're wasting their abilities on b-movie roles.

Kijinnmaru wrote:I feel the problem here is the decisions by these actors. They're big in their own country, and their desire to make a name in Hollywood have them grabbing for roles that they feel will be "instant blockbusters".

That's true, but Hollywood won't even consider most (all?) Asian actors for roles outside of this stereotyped image...

BMW

Don't say it like it's an absolute. Sessue Hayakawa was one of the first real Super Stars of Hollywood movies. And I mean on a par with Rudolph Valentino.

He was always the romantic lead or the heroic lead, (mostly romantic) And he was one of the 3 or 4 stars who owned Hollywood from 1914 into the mid 1920s.

But his career took a huge hit (as did Valentino's) when talkies came in and people found out that he spoke with a very heavy accent.

And there's the hint in terms of actors from Asia coming to Hollywood and making movies. Language is the actor's tool. Every bit as much or more than the face and the body. If you're not completely comfortable with the language, your performance is gonna suck. (Miki Nakatani is my favorite Japanese actress. She got a role in a movie called "Silk" which was shot in English. I've never seen her as stiff, as uncomfortable, as awkward as she appeared in that movie. And I think it was mostly because she was more concerned about getting the words right... than getting the character, or the scene, right.)

One other idea to keep in mind. There is a huge difference in the way Japanese & Korean actors work, compared to American actors. In Japan & Korea the director is the puppeteer. The actors rarely ask questions, and never give suggestions. (Might be the same in China, but I don't know.)

American actors would go insane on a Japanese (or a Korean) set. And they would eventually end up insulting the Director. They wouldn't mean to. But the American actor is trained to believe that it's his or her job to interpret their character. Not so in Japan & Korea. There they are trained to do exactly what the director tells them to do. It's the Director's interpretation of the character that you eventually see on the screen in Asian TV and movies.

On the other hand, a Japanese or Korean actor would all but disappear on an American set. They'd just stand there waiting for the director to tell them how to stand, when to move, where to move, what to think, how to speak, how much of a tilt to the head etc. That kind of dependence would make an American Director think they'd hired a dud.

Very insightful Geez!

Could be a part of the reason you didn't see any Japanese girls in the leads of "Memiors of a Geisha". I don't really know the girls that they used, but I suspect they are Chinese/American. The only Japanese actor I can think of that was well-known in America is my old favorite Pat Morita. But I think he spent a lot of time in the USA too.

A.D.

I was a big fan of Pat Morita's. But he was a California boy. The accent he used in Karate Kid was a fake.

And then there was Jack Soo, another of my favorite comics. You might remember him from Barney Miller. He was from Oakland California.

And James Shigeta. A Japanese American from Hawaii. A big time romantic lead through the late 50s and early 60s... and still going strong. (I still think he has the second best voice in American movies. -- Gotta give James Earl Jones the nod as #1 -- )

re: "Memiors of a Geisha".. Those Chinese actresses weren't Americans. But they lived, or spent a lot of time in Hong Kong, where English is a common second language for just about everybody.

This is why Hollywood "suits" love action / CG movies for the international market. There simply isn't as much dialogue in the rock'em sock'em movies.

Woow! Geezer that was very interesting!

I didn't know about Sessue Hayakawa untill about a year ago when i checked a book out at the libary all about actors and actresses and movies before talkies!

Alice In Wonderland Teaser Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtjrlMKDCwY

Stevie wrote:Alice In Wonderland Teaser Trailer

Doesn't seem as menacing as I thought it would be :beaten: Helen Bonham Carter is all CGI :(

Geezer wrote:A.D.
re: "Memiors of a Geisha".. Those Chinese actresses weren't Americans. But they lived, or spent a lot of time in Hong Kong, where English is a common second language for just about everybody.

Just to add, only Michelle Yeoh worked heavily in Hong Kong. Zhang Ziyi was a Chinese actress, but she started working on her English after Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon gave her world recognition. Same with Gong Li, who was well established before the movie came out. I recall the decision to use them was their marketability; their films drew in more profit in Japan than Japanese actresses. Money talks in the end.

I still see this as a matter of "looking for the blockbuster". The best movies are definitely not coming from Hollywood. I'd like to see them give up the instant fame route and go for roles that use the abilities that they're recognized for in their own industry.

Watched Harry Potter 6 today. It was good and not hard to understand, but I missed the part where Harry, Ron and Hermione worked/schemed together for a common objective in the previous books/movies.

There was also a preview for Up, which looked a lot of fun.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049413/

Hmm, after Star Trek and Terminator: Salvation, my movie interest fizzled... I haven't been to the theater since May. :(

xploring wrote:Watched Harry Potter 6 today. It was good and not hard to understand, but I missed the part where Harry, Ron and Hermione worked/schemed together for a common objective in the previous books/movies.

There was also a preview for Up, which looked a lot of fun.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049413/

I just finished the book again and realized just how much they missed in the movie. There was supposed to be a huge battle in the end, and they completely skipped over Dumbledore's funeral. >>sigh<<

In terms of adaptations for the HP books, this was my least favourite.

Wynter wrote:

I just finished the book again and realized just how much they missed in the movie. There was supposed to be a huge battle in the end, and they completely skipped over Dumbledore's funeral. >>sigh<<

bingo!.. everybody is expecting that climatic battle, I was really shock that they didnt show it.. for me it's fine but Dumbledore's funeral is not there.. that's were I'm dissappointed at..

Here's my top HP movies:
1) Sorcerer's Stone
2) Prisoner of Azkaban
3) Order of the Phoenix
4) Chamber of Secrets
5) Half Blood Prince
6) Goblet of Fire

slashersam016 wrote:

bingo!.. everybody is expecting that climatic battle, I was really shock that they didnt show it.. for me it's fine but Dumbledore's funeral is not there.. that's were I'm dissappointed at..

I definitely was amzed by the lack of fanfare for Dumbledore's death.

Oh well, in 15 years or so someone will hopefully make a better remake of the series. :beaten:

a NEW Resident Evil movie is coming out..and now lets hope this one will be GOOD!! and not f***ing gay like the 3 other ones..

I read ~the story will shift to Tokyo. The tone is more akin to Resident Evil: Apocalypse in terms of style. The overall tone is also very dark~

Am so hoping this one will be like the game..


a NEW Tron movie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AwvuirSEAA

Stevie wrote:a NEW Resident Evil movie is coming out..and now lets hope this one will be GOOD!! and not f***ing gay like the 3 other ones..

If the other three sucked, chances are the fourth will too.

bmwracer wrote:
If the other three sucked, chances are the fourth will too.

ya..i shouldent be hoping for a good VideoGame movie...The other 3 was really bad.So this one should be very bad 2 but i just like to hope one of the RE movies will be a good one :fingerscrossed:

Stevie wrote:ya..i shouldent be hoping for a good VideoGame movie...The other 3 was really bad.So this one should be very bad 2 but i just like to hope one of the RE movies will be a good one :fingerscrossed:

Hmm, I'd wait for the reviews or word-of-mouth before throwing away $10 at the theater. :sweat:

I MIGHT be seeing UP tomorrow. I've never gone with my niece (6) and nephew (3) before. I hope they can sit through the entire flick. :beaten:

Great insights there on the Asian-Hollywood-crossover Catch-22, Geezer! :thumbsup:

Kijinnmaru wrote:
I've only seen Rain in one drama where he pretty much just plays himself(a famous star) so I can't comment on him,

Oh lol, so you watched FULL HOUSE, no wonder. :naughty: In the 2003 drama SANG-DOO, LET'S GO TO SCHOOL he was surprisingly good. :good:

Kijinnmaru wrote:
nor can I about the guy playing Storm Shadow in the new GI Joe move..... :bleh:

Hehe, that "guy playing Storm Shadow in the new GI Joe movie" happens to be Lee Byung-hun, one of the most versatile and talented Korean actors alive today. :mrgreen: I've been a huuuge fan of his ever since my extended foray into Asian film/drama began in 2002, and it sucks to know that the rest of the world will see him more as "that masked ninja dude in the G.I. Joe flick" than recognize him for his brilliant turns in the films JSA (2000) and A BITTERSWEET LIFE (2005), among others. I'm not sure if you're aware of it, but he's supposed to have a pretty big following in Japan. I mean, there's more to Korean actors than frikkin' Bae Yong-joon aka Yonsama, who is really nothing more than this plastic blow-up doll with fake eyeglasses and a messianic complex. :hehe:

Kijinnmaru wrote:I know Korean actors are trying to ride the hallyu into international -read Hollywood- recognition, but why are they settling for just any crap movie. Ninja Assasin? After that dismal flop of Speed Racer, looks like Rain is going for another swing-and-a-miss. Jun Ji Hyun failed with Blood, which would have been enjoyable had someone along the way decided to write a real plot. Asians in Hollywood have worked for years to create an acceptance of non-martial arts roles, and the cream of the crop of Asian films(not sure of Rain, but Jun is one of the best Korea has) just take ninja or sword wielding schoolgirl parts?

Hmmm... the NINJA ASSASSIN trailer looks pretty sleek and well-made, but who really knows for sure until the movie comes out, right? *shrugs* The Wachowskis are also very hit-and-miss, so... we'll see. I won't mind an all-out martial-arts flick at all, so long as it's a good one. And "good" = plot integrity and acting before choreography and SFX, I'm sure we all agree on that.

Ick, BLOOD was hardly watchable. :usuck: Triple-B-movie in every sense of the word. Too bad for Jeon Ji-hyun (Gianna Jun? whaddahellz?), because she delivers her English lines pretty well, proving she doesn't really need a don't-talk, just-kick-some-butt-and-look-cool role to launch her into Western mainstream consciousness.

Maybe, just maybe, all those Asian actors who want to make it big in Hollywood but who can't seem to hurdle the language barrier and the pigeonholing would be better off in Asian productions that can successfully find a Western distributor. Not the easiest thing to do, but it worked for Zhang Yimou (HERO and HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS) and for Ang Lee (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON). All three movies were mainstream hits despite being filmed in their original language. I just think that any efforts to plug an Asian lead actor (or a predominantly Asian cast) into what is essentially a Hollywood production (with a Hollywood writer and director) will only come across as half-baked and a little desperate (uh, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, anyone?). :rolleyes: