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Reviews
Blue Bayou (2021)
Justin is only getting better
I was the only one in my theater to see this film! I really enjoyed it! It could get a little melodramatic here and there. And the camera movement was a little weird sometimes. Sometimes I just wanted them to pull back instead of being so close up haha and let us see the entire scene. Particularly in a really good scene like the Vietnamese barbecue scene. I really wanted to see more of that and be around it more. Which I think Antonio (Justin's character) did too! Props to Justin and Alicia for being so great in their roles as a believable married couple! They worked so well off each other. Not to mention I really believed they were who they were portraying. Like, nothing seemed forced or out of place or miscasted. The little girl who played their daughter Jessie was a little stale, but I think this was her first role so that is understandable. Shout out to Linh Dan Pham as the incredible character of Parker who kind of helps Antonio reconnect with his identity in a way. I'm so glad Justin wrote in that character even though she could have easily been left out. I think this film could have been a court drama but I'm glad it wasn't. Instead it was a real character driven story that focused on the people. I really like Justin's work. From Gook to Blue Bayou! He's only getting stronger and stronger! I'll keep following him and his career. Oh, yeah someone get him a Oscar or something because wow can he act! Never thought I'd ever meet a Korean adoptee who was born and raised in Louisiana and has an accent and all. And here we are with Antonio Leblanc and I believed every single second of it! Props to this guy. I would say give Alicia one too but Alicia already has an Academy award haha!! It was just great to watch two great actors together. I give this movie a solid six because of the melodrama it sometimes slips into. But other than that it is a film worth watching!!
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
The Book Had Potential, But...
Gong Li is the only reason I rewatch this film ahaha. It did not deserve any awards, let me be honest. The fact that it got Academy Awards just goes to show how stupid that award show is. Gong Li as Hatsumomo though, should have got an award. I won't lie. Anyway, the film itself is bland. The romance they want you to believe in is literally a tale of grooming and predatory behavior. But even if we were to take that out the window, the Chairman and Chiyo's actors have zero chemistry. So, there's no passion. Also, let's not forget that they cast mostly Chinese actors to play Japanese characters. And the worst part about the film: that they speak broken English throughout the entire film which makes no sense. It just has "written by USA" all over it haha. I won't lie...the book is actually good though. The writing is makes it very easy to get invested into this woman's story. So, I can see why they tried to make it into a movie, I guess. But they just didn't do it in the right way. Well, maybe in the age of Hollywood remakes they'll put this one on the list. And we can get a Japanese American or Asian American filmmaker to make it this time around. But seeing as though the book is written by a white man anyway, maybe this story is one that is better off having been made in the inauthentic the way that it was.
The Joy Luck Club (1993)
A Classic In My Opinion
I can still rewatch this movie to this day. I remember being a little girl and seeing my mother put this on TV. I was enraptured then and have been enraptured even now when I rewatch it as an adult. I don't know if it is the strength in some of these women's tales or the overcoming adversity...but I find this film empowering although it can get dark. Let me not forget how some of the scenes have stayed scratched in my mind until the day I will die I am sure: most notably the baby drowning scene, the confrontation with a husband where one of the character's literally breaks a plate and is about to find the strength to hurt a man who has literally treated her like she is nothing and hurt her physically and emotionally, the watermelon eating scene that literally made me fall in love with Russell Wong's attractiveness for the rest of my life (i c o n i c), the opium death scene, the scene where one of the character's outwits her in laws by tricking them so she can get out of a unwanted marriage, or the scene where one of the character's breaks a set of fake pearls to show she knows the truth of someone's character. All of these character scenes have lived in my head since the day I first watched the movie. I really wish I could see another film that will take me on a journey like this one did. But I haven't come across one like it ever again. It's like hoping to read a book by the same author that wrote one of your favorite's and you learn that he/she only wrote one book. Man, why didn't they make another one of Amy Tan's stories into a film? Haha. Not only that, but the careers and awards these actresses who potrayed these characters should have had. Asian Americans in film needs to be respected and created because what the heck?!?!
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Fala Chen's Character Saves This Dud
I was excited to see this film even before it materialized into actual being. I remember thinking, "This is going to be the next Black Panther experience...but with Asian representation!!!!". I was so pumped to meet Shang Chi and watch his story unfold. And then...it got here. And I saw it yesterday and was SO SO SO disappointed. I found story telling bland and CGI filled, the action meh, dialogue rehashed from other films (especially the humor), and most of the characters one dimensional and non interesting (especially Shang)...but there WAS some heart in this movie. The Marvel movies at least have that at the end of the day. Even the misses have SOMETHING good about it. For most of the Thor movies it was Loki. For Captain America's first film it was Cap's overall goodness. And for Black Widow it was the introduction of her not-so sister. I found this movie heart to be none other than...the mother. Yes. I'm going to write that Fala Chen who played the mother of Shang Chi is the ONLY great part about this film. Honestly, she should have been Shang Chi herself and should be in the MCU alone. Because she STOLE THE SHOW. I wish we could have just gotten her story and her character, because it was WAY more interesting than anything that this film was trying to do. So, I feel like I didn't waste my money buying a ticket because I at least got to fall in love with the mother character and her story. But other than that, I'd say this was a miss overall and is NOT giving Phase Four a hopeful look for the future :/
Zola (2020)
Read The Tweets-Skip The Movie
Unfortunately, the tweets were better. My advice is to find the tweet thread, read the tweets and skip the movie.
Guava Island (2019)
Fans of Glover or Rihanna- MUST SEE
I really enjoyed this little short. I think Rihanna did great which surprised me, because usually I don't think I ever thought of her as an actress before. But her as Kofi was mesmerizing and perfectly cast to play Donald's love. I don't know if she can have more range, but what I saw was really good! She has potential in the right projects like this one! I also thought that the way this was filmed made you not want to look away. Like, at all! Every extra, every character, every shot, etc was dressed and vibrant! I couldn't help but want to stay and get to know Guava some more. (Even though the story and the lives these characters live is far from paradise). But I would really only recommend this little film for anyone who's a fan of Glover or Rihanna. I think anyone expecting a feature film will be disappointed. It's more so a small visual album that just so happens to have a little bit of plot!
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
Disappointed
Beautiful animation but bad story and characters :(
Honey (2003)
A Sweet Little Flashdance-esque Remake
This movie isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. It is sweet and a feel good movie. The costume design is a little over the top and the soundtrack is dated...but Honey's sweet smile, pure personality, and the feel good plot will keep you entertained!
Troy (2004)
Historical/Source Material Inaccuracy
I think people really trash this movie because it doesn't follow the source material to a T. The movie treats the gods in a more realistic sense: maybe they are out there manipulating behind the forces...maybe they aren't. Who knows? All the movie does know is that this is a tale of war and greed and reverence. It isn't about Helen or true love. Aggamanmeon only wants Troy to join under his kingdom and using his brother's unfaithful wife is a good enough excuse for him to declare war and finally get them to bend, Achilles wants fame and recogition but gets side trapped by a woman which ends up being his "Achille's heel", Hector just wants to have his family and be a good king to his people but ends up losing his life to war instead, and Paris just wanted a beautiful woman but ended up causing a war and finally growing a pair instead.
I don't know if I'm crazy for writing that this film has some of the best dialogue, but it does. So many quotable moments. And it is so well acted.
Most notably by Brad Pitt as Achilles, Eric Bana as Hector, Peter O'Toole as Priam, Brian Cox as Aggamanmeon, and Sean Bean as Odyessus.
This film may not be 100% accurate, but it is a great film and a great take on the Troy story.
I definitely think as years go on that this film will hold up, ans maybe even be considered a great by either the masses or just by those who realize what a gem it is.
Coco (2017)
Great Message
Very predictable storywise. But has beautiful animation (duh) and a great message: Family.
Loved it! Left me in tears because of the family scenes with Coco, who the movie is named after. She is the star of this movie. Even though she has a very silent presence throughout lol
xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017)
Silly, Mindless Fun
Don't take this movie seriously-and you'll have a great time. Take this movie seriously-and you'll do yourself a diservice. This movie is a thirteen year olds fantasy world. One where he gets to be Vin Diesel, sleep with gorgeous women, kick butt, and fight alongside Donnie Yen.
I loved the diverse cast! It was great to see all these actors from all parts of the world come together and share the screen. I really hope there is more like it in the near future.
As far as the film franchise, I wouldn't mind seeing all these characters back on screen for more mindless fun. They all had great chemistry and it seems they had fun making this movie!
3/10.