Now Chinatown

Pretty simple: Why can't Hollywood make a movie with positive Asian roles?

This movie has so many stereotypes it makes my stomach churn. And for what purpose? To tell a story so that the white guy looks good? It even makes a few outdated stereotypical references to "Empress Dowager" and "Special Fortunes (cookies)". Blech!

Production values are pretty good except for the fact there aren't any subtitles. I like the shot where instead of showing the manager's reaction, we see his hand fall by the doorknob. Musical accompaniment evokes empathic feelings for the central character Lee, especially at the end.

Back to the main point: There aren't any positive Asian imagery, particularly for Asian males. Every Chinese person in this movie is either poor (Lee, the cook, & the busboy) or an a**hole (just about everyone else).

Why can't Hollywood make a movie with positive Asian roles?

Most people think that making an independent film of great caliber is fun and can be easily done. They may be right on the "fun" part, but the production involves alot of hard work and ALOT of sacrifices, that's why many indi films never end up on the Big Screen. I believe that NOW CHINATOWN is one of a Few films that overcame this...

Most people think that a film is just all about a story. I believe that NOW CHINATOWN not only achieved this, but it helped opened up alot of untapped resources, and brought opportunities to many striving minorities in the Hollywood Industry. Very few films in Hollywood, independent or not, give substantial roles to American-Minorities. I believe NOW CHINATOWN accomplished this...

I am a great fan of the film, because it is more than just flashing pictures on the screen. None-studio funded, but critically acclaimed, I think the film does more than meets the eye.

USC film/tv student (I'm an American-Minority too! :)

no wonder this got on e!'s top ten dvd's of the year list! i watch a lot of dvd's and this one finally stopped me in my tracks, i sat up, i thought, hmm, that was pretty interesting, what's this section? hey that was cool, i haven't seen that before, and it just got wierder and funnier and better and better. i think this guy had total control over the making of the dvd, it says the menus and cover art is even done by him. you can tell there were no marketing boys in suits mucking in it. this thing is incredible, the best and most diverse features i've ever seen, even new category names, and i hardly heard of it and it gets on e'insiders top ten dvd's of the year with spiderman, harry potter, etc., you can see this director made the dvd right for the viewer, it's like hanging out with a close friend, and he's funny in his commentary too, but very poignant, the single disc must be a dvd 9 cause you get a ton of material, twice as much for the price of one disc, you can tell he thought about this dvd, pushed it to a new level and made it for us, the dvd fans, not just throwing money at it like the studios and boring us with a bunch of featurettes we're gonna see on tv anyway, each section is like a little treasure, a surprise behind each door just like the film itself, and on that note-what a movie! no wonder it won so many awards, check out the real audience reaction on the dvd from premieres in u.s., london, hong kong, and even in mainland china! those were so cool, and the trips you take around the world with the director in dvd-o-rama are awesome. what a talent. i'm rooting for this guy, he's like the rocky of the dvd world amongst the rest of the giants! go get 'em steve, we're right behind you! and i almost forgot, you get this neat little fortune teller thing in it too, you know the ones you folded up as a kid and asked it questions and kinda open and closed it with two fingers on each hand to find your fortune? it looks great just sittin' on my desk at work and everyone picks it up and goes, "Oh yeah i remember these!" very creative i thought to stick in a dvd! cheers again.

Also Recommended: my big fat greek wedding, crouching tiger hidden dragon, joy luck club, casablanca

This film hit me deeply and I know this happens even worse in all communities. Forty people from China stuffed in a cargo shipping container just showed up in London, all dead from the trip trying to get to a new country for a better life. My friends who are not Asian liked it because they have been through their own difficulties that don't even have to do with immigration but just hardships we all go through and the lead character is so inspirational. I'm glad it's not the stereotypical white guy saves the little Asian girl that we've seen before and those movies are insulting. This shows yes the bad guys and good guys too that exist everywhere. This is a sample of the many tough lives that are out there, (not even as bad as many real stories) and how we should be more understanding to those we don't know around us from all walks of life. Bravo! Make more like this Mr. Dunning.

We now are a nation of immigrants, only now we don't look alike as we did during the 1800s when most coming into the nation came from Europe. This is a moving story of one such person with clearly Asian features who tries to make a go of it here. What she learns is that freedom is a relative term. She is bounds by the cultural rules and regulations within Chinatown, her Now. But what about her Tomorrow? Director/Producer/Screenwriter/Actor Steven Dunning takes the viewer down the dark alleys of a place even Chinese Americans no longer see as we move outward into the suburbs for better schools. But Lee is trapped--or is she?

This low budget indy makes many statements and awakens the complacency within us. Now I understand why this film was named one of the top ten DVDs of the year 2002. It has earned this honor.