One of the reasons why I loved CTHD was because I thought it successfully blended Western production elements and acting styles with HK martial arts movies to create something truly beautiful and unique.
I loved the story -- it had a grandness of scale that I liked. It was different from the typical, "My kung fu style is better than your kung fu style" or "You killed my master! Now I'll kill you!" storyline that you see at those grade B kung fu flicks on Saturday afternoon TV.
As an older asian male, the love story between Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh's characters was something I could totally relate to. And I liked the pureness of that love as opposed to the "sex/lust" that passes off for love that I see in a lot of American movies.
Although it was criticized by a lot of people, I loved the fighting sequences in CTHD. I loved the beauty and speed of those sequences. I've always loved seeing women who can kick ass in movies!
I was especially pleased by how America seems to have embraced it. Because of this, it seems like I'm more accepted by society. It's cool to be asian now!
In the past, I remember how I was always embarrassed whenever I saw an asian on the screen. I don't know why. Maybe because they were always portrayed as nerdy geeks with bowl haircuts and thick accents. Maybe I saw some of myself in them. Who knows? But I do remember watching Star Trek: The Motion Picture and the people in the audience snickered when they show Sulu gazing in wonder at V'ger. They did not snicker or giggle at the other actors gazing in wonder at V'ger -- only at Sulu. And I always felt like people were making fun of me whenever things like that happened.
Now, it's completely different! Tons of people go to see Jackie Chan movies now! And they're not laughing at him -- they're laughing with him! And it's really cool seeing non-asians admire Jackie when he does something cool on the screen. Chow Yun Fat is seen as a romantic figure by a lot of women. No longer are asians the object of ridicule on the movie screen.
Finally, CTHD was also refreshing because it showed asian women having romantic relationships with asian men. In the past, it seems whenever a movie has an asian theme, they always have to stick a non-asian (typically white) guy in it so that the movie will appeal to non-asians. And if there is a romantic subplot, it is with an asian woman and the non-asian guy.
As a result, I've grown up bombarded with images of asian guys being invisible or never being involved in a romantic relationship. No wonder a lot of asian guys my age seem to have no confidence when it comes to women!
Facebook
Twitter