Aaah, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. You know the movie - two Asian American protagonists get really stoned, look for a White Castle, and somehow find Neal Patrick Harris and ride a cheetah instead. The movie did relatively poorly in the box office - only $27 million at the box office - due to no one wanting to watch a movie with Asians in it a poor plot “model”. That being said, it IS a stoner movie, and the stoners DO love watching the DVDs. So much so that it made $30 million in DVD sales, thus deeming it a cult movie. A cult movie, ready for a sequel.
For years, I thought the name of the movie was going to be Harold & Kumar Go To Amsterdam, which makes sense - more weed! More hilarity! But the events of the last couple of years seem to have made the movie take a political bent, and the movie is now called Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.
The interesting thing to me is this - while White Castle was just a movie about two stoned guys who happened to be Asian, Guantanamo Bay plays up the “two minorities look like Al-Queda” race card, especially in the trailer and the movie posters. I don’t know how I necessarily feel about that. A stoner comedy is a stoner comedy, however, so if it has the necessary jokes about bongs and Neil Patrick Harris and cock sandwiches, it should drive the stoners and the folks into stoner movies into the theaters or at least buying a DVD. For the people that are going to watch to support their fellow Asian-American actors? Not so much, but hey - it’s not like we do anyway.
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John wrote:
Cool, this must be a new web-specific trailer - haven’t seen this one before. “Harold & Kumar Go To Amsterdam” was a working title. In an interview I had read where one of our readers posted, the writers / director wanted Harold & Kumar’s quest to go off track - just like in the original movie - so they don’t wind up going to Amsterdam, but are mistaken as terrorists and then taken to Guantanamo Bay. Definitely looking forward to this movie!
Posted on 22-Dec-07 at 8:26 pm | Permalink
Ron wrote:
The lack of Asian Americans in American media is primely due to Asian Americans and their apathy towards the issue.
If you can’t even get that right, you’re pretty stupid.
That being said, most of the positive Asian Americans you do see in American media has been placed there not because of the threat of antagonizing Asian Americans but rather out of the pure good will of whites.
It all comes down to the centuries old idea of Yin-Yang; one side can’t do all the work, you have to meet them halfway. White people don’t change their habits because you give them no reason to. That’s where Asian Americans are a complete and utter failure at life.
How is it that a racial demographic which has the largest spending capital in the US can’t affect change in a country that is primarily run on money? Yes, it’s all *our* fault.
The world isn’t difficult to figure out, people. It’s run on common sense. If Asian American men *and* women were out there protesting and boycotting, Hollywood would change their stance in a matter of seconds.
Posted on 22-Dec-07 at 11:35 pm | Permalink
John wrote:
Ron’s comments are so blatantly filled with vile, but he does have one point - “Caucasians” won’t change their habits because you give them no reason to. Ron should really read some interviews and discuss the issue with Director Justin Lin. Justin is very open about his past experience of him trying to develop Better Luck Tomorrow with “Hollywood” and getting Asian Americans casted in roles.
The only thing that “Hollywood” cares about is the color of green - money & profits. If there is money to be made with Asian Americans with leads, then Hollywood will follow the money. Why do you think there is a sequel to Harold & Kumar - the DVD, video sales generated quite a following. I’m sure the sequel will do a lot better than $30M at the box office!
Posted on 23-Dec-07 at 1:05 am | Permalink
Ron wrote:
It was designed to be vile because this discussion is just so stupid. Asian Americans are constantly overthinking things when the easiest answer will do. The problem is, you’ve figured out the answer but are looking for ways to play the victim and blame others for your problems in order to validate a righteous struggle.
I’m no conservative but I guess liberalism will do that to Asian Americans. You’re too busy focusing on how life should work rather than learning how life works in reality. Yes, the ideal method is for everyone to be portrayed accurately and fairly in media. However, you have to appeal to the powers-that-be and offer a presentation as to why they should change. Human beings are naturally selfish and you have to cater to their own personal needs and showcase how they would benefit from change. I can’t believe I have to explain all of this.
This happens constantly with the whole discussion on Asian women and interracial dating and marriage but I digress.
Life isn’t difficult to figure out; it’s run on common sense. That Asianweek article supports my statement that Asian Americans want white people to miraculously realize the errors of their ways and change. If you honestly believe that’s going to happen, you’ll be waiting for a very long time.
Posted on 23-Dec-07 at 6:38 am | Permalink
Brian wrote:
I like how a post about Harold and Kumar breaking out of Guantanamo Bay has sparked 4 comments that is more intellectual than the two movies put together. That’s like Einstein watching two retards thumb wrestle and coming up with the theory of relativity.
Anyhoo… I didn’t want to like this movie, but I couldn’t help giggling like a little school girl at that trailer. I’m sold!
And re: a comment above: “How is it that a racial demographic which has the largest spending capital in the US can’t affect change in a country that is primarily run on money?” By being ~5% of the entire US population. We may have the “largest spending capital” by percentage points, but not by gross capital. I’ve said all along, it’s a numbers game pure and simple. When we have the numbers, we’ll make the change.
Posted on 23-Dec-07 at 10:21 am | Permalink
Ron wrote:
While we maybe indeed have the largest by percentage points, just using the example of Jews refutes that argument. While one can use the excuse that Jews can blend in with whites and exploit their differences when it benefits them or conceal their differences when it doesn’t, the fact of the matter is that racism doesn’t manifest itself as badly as it did before.
I don’t see Asian Americans working together to create their own power structure such as their own companies, media studios, and social workgroups like Latinos and black Americans have. What’s equally sad is that we have more resources than either of those two groups simply because we are so financially successful.
When people use the word “community,” I picture a group of people that look out for each other. When I hear the word “community” used for Asian Americans, I think of an area where alot of Asian Americans live and work.
We’re so enamored by white society and so willing to be absorbed into their society that we’re no longer interested in creating Asian American power couples.
If Asian men and women protested and boycotted but there still wasn’t any change, then I could agree. However, the current situation is that Asian Americans don’t do shit and whine about how they’re so oppressed by American media.
It’s about time someone hit Asian Americans where it hurts, the arena of common sense. While the Asian American community is young, it still exhibits symptoms of being extremely brain damaged.
Posted on 23-Dec-07 at 11:04 am | Permalink
Brian wrote:
If you consider Jews as a race/ethnicity, then the “example of Jews” refutes your own argument. THEY are the racial demographic which has the largest spending capital in the US, not Asians. If you do not consider Jews as a race (and merely as a religion), then Jews are an inappropriate example for your argument. Either way, you’re wrong.
“…the fact of the matter is that racism doesn’t manifest itself as badly as it did before.” Whether it does or it doesn’t is irrelevant for the purposes of your argument. Let’s assume it’s not as racist in this country as it was. Who cares. We’re talking about money and the power of the dollar. To quote YOU: “How is it that a racial demographic which has the largest spending capital in the US can’t affect change in a country that is primarily run on money?” and “I can’t believe I have to explain this.”
I can’t believe I have to repeatedly ‘copy+paste’, my fingers are starting to ache. Scroll up and re-review your comments. Your third to fifth paragraphs are redundant. Oh yeah, I don’t understand the “power couples” statement. Isn’t that just US Weekly and People magazine fodder? How would that affect anyone?
Posted on 23-Dec-07 at 12:42 pm | Permalink
Lily wrote:
As soon as I am on a computer with sound I am watching this trailer. Go Harold and Kumar!
Posted on 23-Dec-07 at 12:47 pm | Permalink
Ron wrote:
You’re arguing semantics.
I used the American Jewish community *merely* as proof that such a small community is able to affect change and has little to do with population size as so many Asian Americans, such as yourself, claim. I’m not going to dig for the actual statistical findings but even if they are or aren’t the largest holder of buying power in the US isn’t relevant. The fact of the matter is that they’re very comparable. Companies are not able to cater directly to Jews because they look white so any white person will do. Their spending capital is not affected by this.. Thus, the fact that Asians have such a large amount of buying power *and* are able to be catered to directly makes it more embarrassing that we are not able to affect change.
The fact that racism isn’t as tolerated today is highly relevant. It supports my argument that individuals are more willing to ignore race as long as they could make money. This wasn’t true during the past few decades of America when whites would actually prefer to lose money than make more money off of black patrons.
Lastly, the fact that Asian America is not able to create Asian American power couples is highly relevant as well. Rather than be absorbed by white society, having Asian American couples who are in power are more likely to affect change for the good of the community while Asian Americans who have white spouses are much more likely to be enamored and absorbed by white society.
Strong individuals in a community keep their own communities strong.
Posted on 23-Dec-07 at 4:59 pm | Permalink
Brian wrote:
Now you’re being anti-semantic (…nothing folks?…C’mon Ron, I’m trying here). But seriously…
It’s not “semantics”, it’s your failure at constructing a proper analogy. There is the White market, the Black market, the Hispanic market and the Asian market. So far so good? If you use Jewish people as an example of buying power, then you first have to acknowledge that they are a subset of White people (which would then weaken your very argument because they add to the per capita of White America). The proper analogy would be to say “Jewish people are to Whites as Japanese (or Koreans or Vietnamese, et al.) are to Asians”. Then we are comparing subsets and you would be on the right path.
I don’t quite understand the second half of your first paragraph. You say that Jews aren’t able to be catered to? Why not? Just because they look white? I think that’s a stretch. I don’t hear about a lot of Catholics or Muslims on J-Date, let’s put it that way. And secondly, so if Jewish people DO have a higher spending capacity and aren’t being catered to properly (I don’t know how you know this, but let’s go with it…), then what are they spending their money on? According to you, it’s non-Jewish related themed products and services. So what’s the analogy between Jews and Asians again?
But going back to the crux of our argument, and that is you seem convinced that being 5% of the population (but possessing a higher average spending capacity) is enough to alter the market. Well, its not enough. Considering that this is a RACIAL discussion (race being White-Caucasian, Black African American, Latino/Hispanic and Asian Pacific Islander), APA’s are the least in number. Even taking into consideration the higher per capita, it’s not enough to warrant change. Hollywood, for example, isn’t interested in averages. They want a bottom line. What demographic will deliver that bottom line?
Lastly; you’re serious about the Asian power couple? This is something I haven’t really thought about. Bruce Lee had a white wife. If he married an Asian woman, would things have turned out differently?
Posted on 23-Dec-07 at 9:18 pm | Permalink
Lily wrote:
You guys are totally killing my H & K buzz.
Posted on 24-Dec-07 at 7:11 am | Permalink
akrypti wrote:
Brandon Lee is hot!
Posted on 25-Dec-07 at 1:33 am | Permalink
akrypti wrote:
* was.
Rest in peace, my darling Brandon…
Posted on 25-Dec-07 at 1:34 am | Permalink
genghis wrote:
For the win….. “anti-semantic”. hahahaha, Nice one, Brian!
Posted on 25-Dec-07 at 11:55 am | Permalink
Lily wrote:
John Cho is so awesome. I saw him at a screening of the first Harold and Kumar, and he looked swank.
Posted on 27-Dec-07 at 7:27 am | Permalink