Today’s post brings us to another Hollywood abomination, this time Dreamworks’ upcoming Kung Fu Panda. It’s an animated feature starring Jack Black as a panda who wants to learn Kung Fu. It does have actual Asians like Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, and James Hong, but really, it’s just another movie equating Asia = martial arts in the public consciousness.
Chan, Liu, and Hong are all actually Chinese, so that’s kind of an accomplishment when you consider Hollywood’s track record of sticking Chinese actress in Japanese roles etc. etc.
But then I heard that the theme song for the movie would be sung by Korean pop star (and mortal enemy of Stephen Colbert), Rain. Really? Rain? I guess it makes no difference for a movie set in China to have a Korean singer doing the main theme, right? I mean we all look alike anyway, right?
It could be especially damaging considering as an animated feature it’s likely going to be marketed mostly to kids, who don’t know any better. I mean, if I had my way, and if it weren’t for all the penis-and-marijuana jokes, I’d make kids watch Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo instead of this. The first Harold and Kumar was still one of the more authentic depictions of American-born Asians growing up and living in the US. Penis-and-marijuana jokes aside.
Other than that… I didn’t make any posts about Valentine’s Day this year. Ah well.
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