The Joy Luck Club
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Movie Reviews of The Joy Luck Club
Movie Review: beautiful and heartwrenching.........
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this film, based on the novel of the same name (written by Amy Tan), several years after it was released in the movie theaters. It was a suggested film for a Sociology in the Media course, and I can definitely see why it was reccomended. It's a tearjerker and was beautifully adapted for the screen. Director Wayne Wang brings the harrowing stories of eight Chinese and Chinese-American women, spanning two generations, together as an epic tale of the turbulence and pain of immigration and assimilation. The cast includes the wonderful Ming Na (as one of the daughters).
This story really takes an honest look at the struggle and sacrifice that immigrants must make, in the face of all odds, to survive and adapt to a new culture, language and set of social expectations. All the while, in the case of these strong women, they hold strong to their culture through weekly games of mah jong, where they gather together to gossip, give advice and commiserate. This is a great film, and has been called a "chic flick," but I really don't believe that that stereotypical term is fitting of THE JOY LUCK CLUB at all. It is truly a film for all people. All people age seventeen and over, that is. There is a reason that this was rated R. There is intensely graphic and disturbing imagery here, as well as thematic elements that are too much for small children or young teens.
Movie Review: Emotional roller coaster
Summary: 5 Stars
I knew I would love this movie because I loved the book and I didn't find it difficult to follow at all. I seen it numerous times and I absolutely love films like this. You can not see this film and not become emotionally involved with the characters. Only someone with a heart of stone will walk away without at least a lump in their throat. There are some drop-dead funny scenes and some tragic scenes that will never leave your mind.
These relationships make you stop and think about the people in your own life, especially your family... their motives, desires, true feelings, etc. A fabulous and emotionally rich film. Not a "chick flick" but a stirring thinking person's film. The scenery, costumes, etc. are also stellar. So why should you see the "The Joy Luck Club," because the cast are talented and portrayed there roles very well. If the current affection for having Asian women in films lasts then maybe we could see more of these fine actresses. Too bad that so many wonderful actors can get typecast because of race but there is hope.
Wayne Wang's direction is great. This story goes from funny to sad to touching without being cliche. This movie might be marketed more toward women, and it does hit on great female relationships witch the other gender can enjoy. "The Joy Luck Club" is an incredible piece of film.
Movie Review: Timeless
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of my favorite movies of all time because of several reasons: 1) It came out at a time when I desperately wanted to see Hollywood make an Asian-American film. 2) The American stories totally brought back my childhood. I almost felt like I was watching my life story. 3) It is a very well produced film - it just looks gorgeous. 4) It makes me cry every time I see it. I admit though, it's not a perfect movie. The acting was only okay. Rosalind Chao and Lauren Tom were very good, but Ming-Na Wen was only decent (she's gotten better through the years) and Tamalyn Tomita was kind of awful. The mothers were pretty good overall, with France Nguyen being the most memorable. The best acted scenes were the ones in China - or maybe it just seemed better because it was in Chinese. The script was also shamelessly cheesy at times - "You take worse quality crab because ... you have best quality heart!". Okay so that made me cry the first time, but that doesn't make it good writing. :) Still, despite it's flaws, this movie will always have a certain place in Hollywood history and it will continue to make me cry everytime I see it. As for the DVD version, it looks great but no Chinese subtitles?!?!?! That's just wrong.Movie Review: BEAUTIFUL, THOUGHT PROVOKING FILM
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful, thought provoking movie about 3 women and their 3 daughters. The individual stories of the 3 mothers are told in flashback. Each woman suffered terrible loss and heart break in their homeland. The film moves from past to present seemlessly. The stories of the 3 modern American daughters and their mothers unfold during a huge celebration party for daughter June, who is flying to China to be reunited with her long lost twin half-sisters.
This movie is heart wrenching at points. During some of the story telling I was amazed at the degree of pain and suffering another human benig can withstand and still go on living. But the point is, they do go on living, and they pass their strength on to their daughters who are each enduring their own heartache, disappointments and struggles.
This is a movie that every female should see. My 13 year old son even watched it with me and my daughter, long before Amy Tan's book became required reading at his middle school. Although I do agree to some extent that this is a "chick flick" I also believe that a man can gain great insight into the deepest heart of a woman by viewing this film. I highly recommend it.
Movie Review: Seeing It Through Changing Generational Eyes
Summary: 5 Stars
The very first time I saw this movie I was 17. My grandmother took me to see it.
As a teenage girl I was an emotional wreck over the mother-daughter dilemmas presented by this film. I cried the whole way through. I was so glad my grandmother brought a box of tissues with her.
I recently saw this movie again at 32 and felt engaged by it on a different level. Now understanding more the personal dilemmas of each of the female characters.
It's an interesting experience to witness one's own relationship to a story change with age and life.
While this story is specific to some of the extra added pressures of the Chinese and Chinese-American cultural experience, the tale itself can be understood by all who've ever dealt with parental conflict, issues of inadequacy, a need to rebel, marital strife, a desire to find oneself and so on.
Sadly, I've not read the movie's novel predecessor, though I think it would be no less satisfying an experience given Ms. Tan's talent for relaying the human experience of her characters as equally along with their Chinese experience.