The Joy Luck Club
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Movie Reviews of The Joy Luck Club
Movie Review: Keep a box of tissues handy :~|
Summary: 5 Stars
(Other reviewers have well-described the plot/storyline, so I won't reiterate it here.)
This is a haunting, poignant film that tugs at the heartstrings--a touching story of sacrifice, longing, loving and caring. It's one of those rare films that is all around excellent: excellent acting, writing, cinematography and of course, story. It is a film that's destined to be a classic and can be watched by people of all ages and cultures.
Though a reviewer here complained about lifting text right out of Amy Tan's book as the film's narrative, she has forgotten that a film is a complete story unto itself and has to stand on its own whether a moviegoer has read the book or not. It's the narration, and the poetic, almost lyrical prose, that helps make this movie work and be true to its characters: simple, eloquent words couched in imagery are used throughout; This is how the Chinese language really is. (For example, what we call a turkey in English is called a "fire chicken" in Chinese. (The "fire" is the red comb on its head.))
Yes, there are men in the film who are abusive, womanizers, adulterers and...well...twits, but they're found in all races and cultures, so to say that the film insults Asian men is ludicrous. (As for the comment of one reviewer accusing Ms. Tan of marrying a white guy because of her disdain of Asian men, I (a white guy) married a Chinese woman not because I dislike caucasians but because I love a woman who happens to be Chinese.)
But back to the film...
It's a keeper. Guys, if you want to score big points by watching a "date film" or "chick flick" with your sweetie, this one is the one to rent/own...and I wouldn't be surprised if you grow misty-eyed, too.
Movie Review: Outstanding!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had pegged "The Joy Luck Club" as a "woman's movie" (whatever that may mean to anyone). I had expected this to be more of a gender-focussed film that would make it as interesting to a male audience as a Rambo movie would be of interest to a female audience. I watched it recently I confess that I was very very wrong. This is a movie of so many dimensions that it defies any categorization other than "Great Movies". It tells six seperate stories and uses a trio of mother/daughter experiences and relationships to tell those stories. From the first to the last (and everything in between) these stories are woven together to give us all an insight to life and life's experiences. The contrast between Old World and New World are as instruction as the generational differences that we all are familiar with. Each story tells of an individual struggle against diverse challenges. The movie amplifies it's greatness by allowing a willing audience to share in the revelations that mother and daughter, "aunts and nieces", as well as "cousins" discover about each other. Each person grows from the discoveries in the stories that are shared and we, the audience, are all the better for the experience.
The acting is superb, the sets and costumes are outstanding, and the script and direction are first-rate. Maybe you have heard all about this movie, seen it several times, read the book, or otherwise know that "The Joy Luck Club" is a modern screen classic. I had the pleasure to discover that for myself and I am grateful for the experience. There aren't that many movies anymore that catch me by surprise like this one.
Movie Review: My favorite "alleged" Chick Flick
Summary: 5 Stars
This is probably my most favorite movie. I've never known a movie that can literally "make me cry" when I watch it. Everytime I sit down to watch this movie, I'm hanging on every word and scene. I can feel the pain, so intensely! My heart goes out to Amy Tan, Oliver Stone, and all the wonderful and beautiful actresses in this film. The young, as well as, the elder. This is not just a "chick-flick!" The guys I share this film with walk away with a different perspective than they expected. It's the best movie to have on when your wife has all her friends over. Forget the movie "Now and Then" (with Demi Moore and Rosie McDowall?, McDonald? I dunno). Anyway, this film is truly psychologically engrossing!
I do wish this DVD had more special features added to it though. I really was looking forward to hearing and seeing the actors and actresses talking about this film they did. I usually don't like getting DVD's released with an extra DVD of specials (I mean, really, who'd watch some of those dumb extra features more than once?) But, if this movie had at least one documentary, like "American Graffiti" did, it would be so much better, because I've really come to feel that I'd like to know what these actresses perspectives were on this film.
I recommend, "Raise the Red Lantern" as your follow-up movie to watch. I understand that the DVD is available now. Bollywood has a great eye-opening film, also. It's about the oppressed women of India. It's called "Lajja". Hard-headed, male-dominate religion is the terror of that film. Plus, some of the most gorgeous actresses of India.
Movie Review: Great Chick Flick by Asian Dude
Summary: 5 Stars
As much as I think it's a great movie, thanks to the sensitive directing of Wayne Wang (an Asian American male), the biase against Asian males bordering on racist stereotypes simply comes through. I can empathize the venomous comments by some Asian males here, but I think it's going a bit overboard. Even though stereotypical caricatures are often based on partial truth, I find the cheapskate jerk Asian American husband portrayal the most troubling. Oddly, most Asian guys are the opposite when it comes to money. The husband, by all accounts even though Asian, is really embodying western values of individualism and legalistic formal contracts rather than the Asian traditional emphasis on community, sharing, and personal trust. I can understand the historical premise behind the negative portrayals of wife abuse and concubines by Asian males, but there is no basis to use an Asian male as a cloak for the sins of western values.
The last part of the movie is beautifully done. Wayne Wang's directing and cinematography is superb and Rachel Portman's melancholic scoring adds so much to the emotional catharsis. When June says "cheah cheah" (which is so fitting as a sign of love and respect for the two "elder sisters") and starts breaking up .... that's where I break up too!
I must end by saying that even though my race and gender gets knocked a little bit by the negative portrayals, both justified and unjustified, this is a must see chick flick for any human who has an ounce or more of universal love within them regardless of race or gender! A 5 STARS MOVIE!
Movie Review: Who cares about the male bashing?
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm an Asian male and I have no problems whatsoever with the depiction of men in the film. It's really pretty much the same case with Beloved and Color Purple. They're female books written with a feminist slant, but considering how male chauvanistic and polygamistic Confucianism is, you know, the book isn't totally wrong. Certain parts such as the 'tiger crouching in the shadows' were made exotic to suit a foreign audience but I enjoyed it. It's like fortune cookies. I loved the film. (Though some parts were a bit melodramatic). And I know this is going to sound very suprising but the film is much better than the book. The book does not put the stories into the context of a single dinner gathering, so it lacks this overall coherance that the movie provides and the ending of the book is just so draggy, detailing the whole trip from Guangzhou to visit some Aunt and on to see her sisters. The movie cleans it up very well and the pacing is good. (And for those who were wondering, the Mandarin spoken here is proper, understandable and coherent, unlike Crouching Tiger. *Yuck*) The characters in the movie were less real than the characters in the book, but the effect of this allowed for a more emotional response from the audience.
I especially liked the scene where Suyuan places her necklace over June towards the end and comments about her having a 'quality heart'. It's very moving, and so too the part when Ying Ying tells Lena, "Losing him does not matter, it is you who will be found."
This movie's a real gem.