I pretty much agree with everything you pointed out. And the sad thing is I haven't even seen CYF in any of the good movies that you mention. Though I've heard so often about 'Hard Boiled' that I sometimes feel as if I've already seen it. (The reason for this is because I don't rent DVDs and rarely buy them of movies that I haven't seen. I rely on what's being shown on TV and none of them has been shown here so far). Unfortunately I would also add 'Bulletproof Monk' to the lost opportunity column though I can see your point that CYF at least got some broad exposure.
And I would extend what you said on many other movie related artists from Asia. You mention John Woo. After I had heard of his reputation I was expecting big things after he went to Hollywood. But the only movie I'm able to positively mention is 'Mission: Impossible II', otherwise I was pretty disappointed, to put it mildly. After Michelle Yeoh's success in 'Tomorrow Never Dies' I was looking forward to see more from her, but it never really happened. I was happy to see Gong Li in 'Miami Vice' but her next movie in the West was 'Hannibal Rising' and I thought she should have a serious word with her agent or whoever was responsible for bringing her to that movie.
The other trend I sometimes seem to recognise is that studios try to use a global cast so that they can promote a movie better around the globe. I thought so when I looked at the cast for 'Sunshine' (Michelle Yeoh) and also at 'Mission: Impossible III' (Maggie Q, even though she's from Hawaii). But enough rambling now, what I wanted to confirm is that I also think that Hollywood movie studios so far largely failed to integrate Asian stars into their stories by giving them important and memorable roles to play.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-09 09:13 pm (UTC)Unfortunately I would also add 'Bulletproof Monk' to the lost opportunity column though I can see your point that CYF at least got some broad exposure.
And I would extend what you said on many other movie related artists from Asia. You mention John Woo. After I had heard of his reputation I was expecting big things after he went to Hollywood. But the only movie I'm able to positively mention is 'Mission: Impossible II', otherwise I was pretty disappointed, to put it mildly.
After Michelle Yeoh's success in 'Tomorrow Never Dies' I was looking forward to see more from her, but it never really happened. I was happy to see Gong Li in 'Miami Vice' but her next movie in the West was 'Hannibal Rising' and I thought she should have a serious word with her agent or whoever was responsible for bringing her to that movie.
The other trend I sometimes seem to recognise is that studios try to use a global cast so that they can promote a movie better around the globe. I thought so when I looked at the cast for 'Sunshine' (Michelle Yeoh) and also at 'Mission: Impossible III' (Maggie Q, even though she's from Hawaii).
But enough rambling now, what I wanted to confirm is that I also think that Hollywood movie studios so far largely failed to integrate Asian stars into their stories by giving them important and memorable roles to play.