This Friday, April 25, at the release of the new movie, "Harold and Kumar - Escape from Guantanamo Bay", the spoof and satire by two Asian anti-heros on their second slapstick adventure in America and Europe, mistaken as a North Korean spy, with Korean-American actor John Cho playing Harold and Indo-American actor Sal Penn playing Kumar, it is a "must see" for all who wants an allegorical but absolutely hilarious spoof on the "climate of paranoia" and Islamophia and fear of the "yellow peril" in America.
It is social commentary done with humor and satire. And I do sincerely hope that our Johnnies, Suzies, and Janes see the nuances and deep meanings behind the characters Harold and Kumar. I hope they see what I see and vicariously learn about America through the hilarious experience of Harold and Kumar, without the heavy stuff.
Does Hollywood Tinseltown see what we Asian intellectuals and artists see ? Do they hear what we hear ? I hope they do, and reflect in a thoughtful on the seriousness of the new world of media and media arbitrage.
It is no longer a "white man's game." And the best films are now not being dominated by Hollywood.
Consider that Korean filmmaking is resurging. And China's 4th generation of film makers are also gaining momentum. With the banality and close-mindedness of Hollywood, pretty soon, Tinseltown will be left biting the dust in the new world of globalization.
Hand in hand with seeing "Harold and Kumar," both the 1st film, "White Castle," and the second one, "Guantanamo Bay," it is recommended that you pick up a copy of Harold Issac's book, " Scratches on Our Minds: American Views of China and India," (Paperback)
by Harold Robert Isaacs (Author)
By doing both films and reading Mr. Isaac's book, you will get a grip on why America can't understand China, India, and Asia-Pacific in general, and why most Americans are blinded by their own "cultural blinders," on things "Chinese, Indian, or other Asian-Pacific Islander."
There's also a very good think piece by an Indo-American, Sandip Roy, who specially wrote an analysis of the history of Asians seen and portrayed in Hollywood, and how Asian actors and actresses have been relegated to banal roles playing Thug # 2, China Dolls, Kung Phoeey chop-chop movies.
Sandip Roy's writing about how Hollywood treats Asians and Asian themes in their schlock may be accessed by clicking on your web address the following link:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/23/DDQT1096PL.DTL&type=movies
