From FOBs to Twinkies: The Asian American Slant

By: Mugino

While I revel in the magnificent, ground-breaking films imported from Asia, depictions of Asian Americans in cinema (and literature for that matter) seem forever trapped in its self-made cliches. The tear-jerking FOB (Fresh Off the Boat) stories, the transplanted geisha-meets-rice-king stories, the inter-generational conflict melodramas, and internment camp memoirs range from the poignant yet repetitive to the insufferably stereotypical. Is the Asian American identity so confined? Below is a list of movies that aren’t all bad but don’t give me much hope. And some of those corny titles… sigh. As for Charlie Chan, two on the list is plenty!

• 01
  The Joy Luck Club
  Wayne Wang
• 02
  Snow Falling on Cedars
  Scott Hicks
• 03
  The Karate Kid
  John G. Avildsen
• 04
  Thousand Pieces of Gold
  Nancy Kelly
• 05
  Double Happiness
  Mina Shum
• 06
  Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity
  Mina Shum
• 07
  Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
  Danny Leiner
• 08
  Year of the Dragon
  Michael Cimino
• 09
  Rising Sun
  Philip Kaufman
• 10
  Big Trouble in Little China
  John Carpenter
• 11
  White on Rice
  Dave Boyle
• 12
  China Girl
  Abel Ferrara
• 13
  Chan Is Missing
  Wayne Wang
• 14
  Saving Face
  Alice Wu
• 15
  The Wedding Banquet
  Ang Lee
• 16
  The Crimson Kimono
  Samuel Fuller
• 17
  Americanese
  Eric Byler
• 18
  Better Luck Tomorrow
  Justin Lin
• 19
  Flower Drum Song
  Henry Koster
• 20
  Charlotte Sometimes
  Jacqueline Kim
• 21
  Eve & the Fire Horse
  Julia Kwan
• 22
  Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen
  Clive Donner
• 23
  Charlie Chan: The Chinese Cat
  Phil Rosen
• 24
  Surrogate Valentine
  Dave Boyle
• 25
  Daylight Savings
  Dave Boyle
• 26
  Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
  Guy Hamilton
• 27
  Breakfast at Tiffany's
  Blake Edwards