Below are comments to this article which have been moved here from the old site. Enjoy! -- Editor.
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Name: john
Sure, "Black Tyger". Because this site happens to be called "ASIAN-american film.com", It must mean we all know kung fu, and hence, are experts in the field. I believe the style that he was using (no wait, I'm sure of it, because my Asian heritage has entitled me to an automatic mastery of the martial arts) was "Moron-stereotyping racist bitch" style. Seriously, if you want to find out. Take your sorry ass to a library or something.
02/04/03 17:08
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Name: Black Tyger
E-mail: automaticfive@netscape.net
Who were the other martial arts actors that battled Jet in Kiss of the Dragon before meeting up with Richard(Karyo) and what style was he using? thanx in advance
01/31/03 08:20
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Name: john
Wei. Don't let your history of rejection by white females cloud your judgement. I suppose if they made a movie about your life (which I can guarantee you, will never happen), then you would be content with a white guy playing the role of yourself, right? Of course, even if you didn't know kung fu and never used chopsticks in your life, I be they'd have to write that in somewhere. Because everybody knows, if you're going to have Asians in an American made movie, it's just not complete without kung fu and chopsticks.
12/12/02 19:40
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Name: Wei
as well as this, it isn't the director's decision that jet li doesn't kiss his female leads, in an interview about romeo must die, he said that he refused to because didn't want to upset his wife. This is quite normal behaviour from the older generation in asia. Although jet li used to play romantic parts in his asian films, like fong sai yuk etc. that was before he got married. Think about it, if you were the one in charge of media, would you bother to represent another minority race in a positive light? Do asian films portray white people positively? I have yet to see a hong kong film with a white male successfully wooing the chinese female. It's not something to get angry about, just get Chinese or japanese cable tv, and voila! you have positive asian male rolemodels. OK?
12/06/02 10:17
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Name: Wei
E-mail: zwchan@hotmail,com
I totally disagree with thesis one. If we're good at kungfu, why not make movies about it. Jet li and chow yun fat are not considered to be attractive men in asia, (go to asia and ask how many girls are attracted to short stocky jet li, or ancient chow yun fat.) so why try to make out like they're attractive here? in terms of normal actors in romantic etc leads, america has plenty, tell me why they should bother to look abroad for them? the reason asian actors are hired to do these kinds of movies is because they have a talent to offer that isn't available in america. IF you want to see asians in romantic leads, then watch asian movies. There's no reason for american directors to specifically look for asians for romantic leads, and personally, i don't want that kind of condescending politically correct charity that has begun to be displayed in asian-american movies. The unlikely sight of bridget jones hitting on jet- li half her height was a bit offputting and patronising it's nothing to do with him being asian, it's just that he's not that kind of hero.just let kung fu stars get on with what they're good at.
12/06/02 10:05
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Name: phuocv
E-mail: phuocv@yahoo.com
I agree - it is catch 22 situation. I support 100% the asian actors who are hollywood box office hits ( all from Asia too, not many Asian American Actors who have made it ). Nonetheless, I would like to see more Asians in dramatic roles or at least given the chance to do so. I doubt many Asian Actors in America, who like acting, would want to go through the criteria of 10+ years of martial arts training, just to be an actor. phuoc
08/18/02 13:19
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Name: phuocv
E-mail: phuocv@yahoo.com
I agree - it is catch 22 situation. I support 100% the asian actors who are hollywood box office hits ( all from Asia too, not many Asian American Actors who have made it ). Nonetheless, I would like to see more Asians in dramatic roles or at least given the chance to do so. I doubt many Asian Actors in America, who like acting, would want to go through the criteria of 10+ years of martial arts training, just to be an actor. phuoc
08/18/02 13:18
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Name: amir
hi
07/15/02 02:53
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Name: Anna
I was never aware of the stereotype of asexual asian males. In my humble opinion, males of any race can be incredibly hot, and if they are indeed hot, then they should be required to take off their shirts. For any reason. I am disappointed that Jet Li never kisses the female leads, but I am even more disappointed that he never so much as strips off a sock.
04/22/02 00:09
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Name: DJ
E-mail: redsunc@hotmail.com
While the film is better then some of the stereotypes projected in Rush Hour 2. It seems to fit the mode of what the system desires. Except this time the image is reversed ala Chinese Box or any other picture with and Asian Female that is shot in Hollywood. With Jet Li being the albeit reluctant hero, he got a little bit further then Denzel with Julia in the Pelican Brief. And for female leads I almost forgot Ming Na in Final Fantasy. Perhaps if their was another Rising Sun with Jet Li the state of the Asian actor would increase beyond the martial arts stereotype into drama and comedy. Further, while I'm currently writing a film with a strong female Asian character, hopefully,:) I won't have to finance it myself to ensure it sees the light of a camera.
03/31/02 16:59
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Name: mr maroon
Web Page: http://www.mrmaroon.com
"Kiss of the Dragon" could've been the break-out film for Jet Li. After all, with Luc "Leon: The Professional" Besson claiming script credit, how could they go wrong? Alas, very very wrong. Many of the story elements of this film are blatant rip-offs of "The Professional." The action is so badly edited, it's hard to see what's going on. And the acting ranges from one extreme of understated monontony (Bridgette Fonda) to the other extreme of hokey overacting (Tchary). Cool cinematic moments do not make a movie. When will people learn this? It's really sad how Jet Li's American acting career is careening down into kung-fu medocrity. He deserves better than that.
03/25/02 16:49
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Name: david
E-mail: yundean@yahoo.com
I thought this movie was pretty good. I enjoyed it. There are lots of bad american action movies, too many people are critical of asian action movies. Sit back and enjoy the action, a great story is important in any film, but not as critical in action movies. Just watch any of the Van Damme and Seagal movies, etc...
02/02/02 22:23
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Name: Christian D
E-mail: deadjoe@videotron.ca
The success of Asian kung fu stars in America works against Asian American? In fact, Jet Li and Chow Yun-Fat do the same thing in the US screen than they do in Asian one. I mean, Jet Li do kung- fu. The stereotype are ture in some way, because the films asian do in asia are action movie, melodrama and comedy, so the asian actors in america do the same thing. The fact it's the films they do in america are just to bad. Two kind of kung-fu film exist. The good one and the bad one. The narrativ tools occidental cinema use are not adapted to the kind of cinema asian do. I have more than 1000 asian films at home, i can tell the difference. The probleme is the fact Occidental directors try to make "asian type move". And the others problem it's asian directors try to make american type film. See the last Tsui HAkr flick to undertsand what i mean.... I prefere Jet Li make movie in Asia. The only solution it's to distribute Asian movie in Occident.
01/04/02 02:13
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Name: Roxane
Web Page: Roxane's site
Jet Li is the hottest guy in the world! Chow Yun Fat is hot too, but Jet Li is SOOO much more hot! Kiss of the Dragon was the best movie this whole year, it ruledZ! Sure, it would be great if Jet Li actually kissed someone in his movies but if he doesn't want to then leave him alone, even though I've always hoped he'd kiss the girl in his movies, I've come to expect that he doesn't so I don't get dissapionted.
12/15/01 11:39
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Name: JL-fan
I agree with the fact that Asian males are still being portrayed as being a-sexual through the media and society. I never realised this stereotype existed until I read about it. Then I began noticing it. As a young asian male I have no idea where this stereotype comes from, because it absolutely makes no sense and is totally unrealistic and rediculous. The fact that moviemakers only allow asian actors to act a-sexual only enforces this stereotype. In Kiss of the Dragon, Jet Li plays an a-sexual cop. In the movie he has no sexual feelings for Bridget Fonda. When I saw this in the movie, I asked myself: why? Bridget Fonda played a woman who undoubtly has a crush on Jet in the movie and he rejects her, because he "doesn't have a preference". Why did he say that? What does this movie want to prove? As a big fan of Jet Li, I can't understand why he acted that way. It can only hurt the asian male image in Western society. In his first western movie The Master, about ten years ago, he acted like a normal guy. He kissed both the white girl and asian girl and behaved like a normal young man with healthy romantic and sexual feelings. Nowadays western screenwriters seem to only allow asian actors to fit in the stereotype. In the upcoming movie The One, Jet also only hugs his wife and doesn't kiss her. It's rediculous. Bruce Lee always had sex with women in his films. He acted sexualy normal, which is realistic. Although Jet is one of the coolest heroes on earth, he can still learn those social things from the big man Bruce and his son Brandon. Jet should also get laid in a movie sooner or later, because right now he's not doing very well on shaping the western-asian image.
11/09/01 21:21
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Name: james
E-mail: james@hotmail.com
Lucy Liu, that what you call a girl I WANT to tear her apart.
09/19/01 18:23
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Name: cool
jet li is better then all u americans kids. he' better than u all. he represents asian,u noe dat fool. +blocked+ dont write bad +blocked+ about him or i'll call him to kick ur asses cause im his cusin.
08/08/01 16:27
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Name: mey
dang the movie kiss of the dragon is cool and the girl that piss in front of jet li's door was so pretty and i want to see her nude hahaha.
08/08/01 16:22
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Name: bake
E-mail: filmmakerhead@hotmail.com
It is good to see Jet Li make it in hollywood. Jet Li is hot, and Chow Yun Fat is also hot - in different ways.
07/19/01 18:08
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Name: TAI
This movie was pretty good but thing strikes me about it. THE ASIAN GUY CAN NEVER HOOKUP WITH THE GIRL. Especially if it's a white girl. This is perpetuating the stereotype that Asian men in the media are a-sexual. Chow Yun Fat is the man and your telling me that he can't get Jodie Foster. I took a good look at her in Anna and the King and it looked like she wanted some yellow luvin'. Replacement Killers, Anna and the King, Romeo Must Die and now Kiss of the Dragon all don't let the lead hookup. That's just my take of it.
07/09/01 11:14
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Name: Nicky
E-mail: nickyloi@mac.com
Web Page: Authorship
I agree with asian guy, mainly because I've seen Chow Yun Fatt's many ranges acting in comedies, tragedies, action, period, and so on. Track Chow's American career with Jet's, and although they're both very admirable, I think Chow has something solid to build onto. Since the Replacement Killers, he's been King of Siam (that dialect!) and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and the Corrupter. I think a wise thing for him to do for his next project is to release another American film when he isn't necessarily paired with a Cauasian counterpart, because he holds his own on the screen. Jet Li's been in plainly martial arts flicks, but he's faired better in the romance department. I think Chow had better step up his career choices though, he might be past his "romantic leading man" prime. Chow Yun-Fatt rules!
07/08/01 13:58
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Name: asian guy
Gotta go with Thesis #2. As for Thesis #1, and how limited Hollywood decision maker's minds are is funny, because they don't have "minds" period when it comes to Asians. What "they" have is greed, and a bottom-line. Like a hungry pig, with bad eyesight, if they smell money, they react. Jet Li is an "Internation Star", and has huge earning potential, therefore, he's got clout, but only if he's kicking ass on screen. Imagine Li in a love story, drama without any fighting. The movie would nerver even make it to video.
07/08/01 00:15
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Name: kamemoto mamatsu
E-mail: sir_moto@hotmail.com
Although it's true that successful Asian Kungfu stars underline a stereotype of Asians in the American media, it is not Jet Li's fault for being successful for the way he is. The Kungfu action genre has always been a big business in Asia. Before Jet Li was introduced to the US, he was already a superstar/household name in Asia. Although he should be more curious about the craft of acting, and should continue to work on his English , we need to respect him for the level of mastery he has in his craft. Wushu (traditional Kungfu) Champion of China (which basically means Wushu Champion of the World to the Martial Arts circle) at a very young age, and with good looks, it was natural for him to enter the film business in Asia as the next Action Superstar. High-level martial artists would agree that his technique is impeccable. His introduction and success in the US continues to reflect the curiosity the American public has had for the martial arts genre since the 70's and the "mystical" aura of Tao, Zen, Confucianism and Budhhism that our old traditional cultures tease Young America with. In contrast to Jackie Chan, Jet Li fills in the empty space of the "serious" Asian martial arts star that we haven't had since Bruce Lee, although far from attaining the charisma, style, and screen presence of the late film star. Despite lacking a sexual presence and a mastery of acting, Jet Li takes the Asian martial artist away from the image of the Kungfu Buster Keaton, thus re-creating a powerful masculinity that is not necessarily detrimental to the Asian male image in American media. It would be ridiculous to protest this "limited" and "unrealistic" portrayal of Asians on screen. Is it "realistic" when we see Chuck Norris or Jean-Claude Van Damme flying and chopping on TV? ("The White Appropriation of Martial Arts" is another topic/another time) We should see the Kung fu genre as a genre apart. Asian actors and filmmakers should not be threatened by the success of such films, but rather should put their energy into convincing the American audience that there is a distinction between Martial Artists who become actors, and Serious Actors who can do action.
07/07/01 20:01
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Name: Henry
E-mail: picture@home.com
Jet lee sucks.
07/07/01 03:15
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Name: bing
E-mail: bingwang@ee.princeton.edu
Jet Li is awesome! Kiss of the Dragon is the best movie this year, and i've seen most of them. What a piece of brain candy. Plot is simple, jet goes to paris, bad guys tries to kill jet li and got their ass kicked. I believe in thesis two, jet li is hottests. Yes, i would love to have asian americans men be portrayed in a multifaceted way and not be relegated to waiter/nerd/nuclear scientiests/ gansters, etc. But movies like this does move the image of the AA men away from one of weakness. And this obsession some people have with "an Asian guy must get some on the big screen" is ludicrous. A reaction to this is portrayed in the most unintentionally comical way in the movie A Hundred Percent. Yes, white america does have serious problem with the image of the asian men exchanging fluids with their women. They use to lynch black men for the same crime; not for actually touching their women, just just the mere idea of it. But i say take it one step at a time. The sexual tension displayed between Jet Li and Bridget Fonda is undeniable in Kiss of the Dragon(much more chemistry than Romeo Must Die.) Besides, Jet Li is god, and as god, Jet Li can do no wrong.
07/07/01 01:24
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Name: J
Too many factors to consider. It's a Catch22...do we want success for our community in Hollywood, visual representation, etc. bad enough that we settle for the typical chopsocky fare or do we protest and demand more realistic portrayals but at the same time risk underrepresenation because of the lack of such opportunities? When we're NOT doing chopsocky characters, we're getting beat up like little girls - see Rick Yune get his head pummeled in Fast and the Furious along with his Asian sidekick getting beat down by none other than a girl! So, either we're ultra-powerful (and mysterious/exotic) or we're ultra-weak, in both cases - asexual. It's a bittersweet success story. Romeo Must Kiss...
07/06/01 17:35
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Name: fangirl
E-mail: vsoe@sfsu.edu
I just wrote an essay for NAATA called The Trickle-Down Theory of Representation--in a nutshell, it seems to me that it's not an accident that all of the "successful" Asians in Hollywood from overseas--mainstream Americans still think all Asians in this country are foreigners (there's some term for this, I'm sure). So it's good that Jet & CYF & Michelle are making it but whatever happened to Jason Scott Lee? He's pretty hot & he never got a chance to really shine, even after "Dragon." Rick Yune? Window dressing. Lucy Liu? Dragon lady. But I'm still going to see KOD tomorrow.
07/06/01 16:57
