Video artist Nguyen Tan Hoang spoke and showed eight of his experimental short films at Vassar yesterday. His works are ranging from four to eighteen minutes addressing various topics such as gay Asian American, Vietnamese pop cultures, and sex stereotype of Asian male in mainstream America media. Hoang received his Studio Art’s MFA at the UC Irvine, and is working on his PhD in Rhetoric/Film Studies at UC Berkeley.

From the visual aesthetic sense, Hoang needs tremendous improvements. His amateur productions bring down his messages, way down. I don’t expect Hollywood quality from him, but decent shooting and editing will enhance his works. For instance, Forever Jimmy! is a slideshow featured Asian pop pretty boys including familiar faces of Andy Lau, Jackie Cheung, Aaron Kwok, and Leon Lai. Of course, he also threw in gay pornography to complete the sticky homoeroticism. The way he made the transitions from one image to the next were so bad (too jerky and too many cheesy effects) that I almost began to get seasick. Thankfully, it was only six minutes long or else I have to walk out of the auditorium.

His concept in Pirated! shares some similarities with my “A Few Gifts For My Homeland.” He also used “Mot Chut Qua Cho Que Huong,” but a Khanh Ly’s rendition. The main difference between our works is that I tell mine from the women’s and children’s view while he tells his from a gay man’s standpoint. The video starts off with clips of fleeing boat people then progresses into homosexual pirates. Even though the piece relates to the Vietnamese people, he hesitates to show it to them because he concerns about the homosexual context. With the political issues I had faced with my own work, I understand where he’s coming from. Been there and done that, but I have also learned and met many open-minded individuals through the entire controversy. I feel that the Vietnamese-American community is not so conservative anymore. My negative reaction to Pirated! is not the homosexuality (I don’t have a homophobic problem) but the way he presented it. The experience is pretty disgusting when listening to Dalena singing “Lan va Diep” while watching two guys fucking, especially when we understand the lyrics. “Lan va Diep” is not a lovemaking tune. A couple has to be real tasteless to be humping to that song. He should have just incorporated some Chinese-translated songs, and the scene would have worked fine. Maybe a Vietnamese campy version of ABBA’s “Voulez Vous” would be better.

Speaking of Dalena, Cover Girl: A Gift From God is an eighteen-minute documentary on the talented American female who sings perfect Vietnamese. Hoang pulled together clips from Thuy Nga’s Paris By Night video, and he did a horrendous editing job. The film fails badly because it gives viewers the wrong impression about Dalena (she did look horrible on some of the Thuy Nga’s clips). The audiences were giggling and laughing at her. So the video comes across as an exploitation of Dalena, but I am glad that wasn’t Hoang’s intention. He reemphasized at the end of the lecture that he respects her talent and the film was not meant to be ridicule.

I give Hoang props for his openness about his cultural and sexual identities. In Forever Bottom!, he wants to give viewers the feeling of fucking an Asian guy by putting us, the audiences, in the top position. The four-minute clip shows the pleasure of the bottomhood as the guy being slammed in the anal in various public places including in the car, on the beach, and on the bench. Hoang gets his point across well with the in-your-face, hardcore style, but he should have done it a professional and classy manner. I also hope that he reaches deeper into Vietnamese music around the world rather than just relying on Thuy Nga’s production for his research on Vietnamese pop culture. His perception on Vietnamese music is the recycling of same old songs. That is what he gets when he only looks at Thuy Nga’s products. The music scene has been evolving drastically and many new, original works are from independent musicians around the world and especially in Viet Nam. And for art’s sake, learn the aesthetics of filmmaking. I highly recommend Hillman Curtis on Creating Short Films for the Web.

The remaking of the classic opera Nua Doi Huong Phan is another artless piece of shit from Thuy Nga Production. The actors’ performances are passable (with the exception of Manh Quynh whose acting skill is equal to none and whose face always has that chicken-swallowing-rubber-band paleness to it), but the editing is horrendous.

Who are they trying to fool by incorporating shots of Viet Nam sceneries into the actual production outside of Viet Nam? The differences between the two are significance. A typical scene would start out with a shot of a ghetto part of Sai Gon then cut into a half-assed setting of a broken home somewhere in the States. For the sake of art, if Thuy Nga wanted to capture the visual aesthetics of Viet Nam, film the entire show in Viet Nam. If they don’t want to deal with the politics, just do it in the States. Mixing and mashing the two places together is disorienting and annoying.

The worse element of the film is the sloppy sound editing. A dialogue is loud and noisy but when the actors are about to do an opera soaring, the sound switches to a studio recording, which is quieter and clearer. In one act, Hoai Linh was doing a superb job of conveying an angry dad and he yelled real loud, but suddenly the studio sound cued in and dropped his voice. I know right away, he is about to sing.

What is up with the make-up artists? They tried to make Huong Lan looks older by drawing lines on her face. As she stepped into in scene, my first reaction was like, “What the heck is a cat woman doing in Nua Doi Huong Phan?” So when she sobbed, her face was a big mess. Looking at her face reminded me of my own back in 1991 when I needed a trick-or-treat makeup, and my sister did a much better job than Thuy Nga’s artists.

So if you’ve been caught up into the whole Thuy Nga’s buzz about Nua Doi Huong Phan, save yourself twenty bucks. If you want to cry a river, try to look for the infamous rendition with Thanh Nga in it. Did I purchase the DVD? You’re crazy!

Like I haven’t had enough of politic on my own works already. I wanted to see V for Vendetta for some mind-blowing special effects or something along the line of Sin City’s comic style, yet I am in for another political treat.

The whole time, I kept guessing that the director, James McTeigue, is using the technique of covering up the main character with a mask, and eventually revealing his face in the end. But that is not the case; V is a Phantom-of-the-Opera terrorist from start to finish. V is not just a dangerous terrorist but also a powerful killer without having to use guns, and he’s a hero. Since when does a terrorist is considered to be a hero? At the end of the film, people worship him by dressing in black and wear his mask marching down the street. For a minute, I thought I was watching Eminem’s “Mosh” video.

Politic has definitely killed the film, and the computer-generated animation from Wachowski’s brothers was also disappointing—nothing new, same old shtick. So after watching the film, I feel that V is more appropriate for Venti Latte then Vendetta. The English accents combined with the diplomatic talks were given me a hard time staying awake.

Pedro Almodovar’s Bad Education is one rough, raw, and wicked motion picture. Priest molests boy; boy ejaculates boy; queer blows man; man fucks man. As provocative as it sounds, the film is breathtaking because of the imaginative storyline, lurid cinematography, and ingenious performances, noticeably Gael García Bernal whose acting is superb in both gay and queer roles. Furthermore, the soundtrack and musical score added tremendous enhancements to the work. The way the plot reveals itself is both clever and original while the script, which involves sex, lust, crack, revenge, and murder, keeps us engaging from beginning to end.

Ang Lee, a versatile director, is always up for new challenges. In his latest film, Brokeback Mountain, he struck a bisexual chord. Two cowboys, Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), work together as sheepherders. While on the job they have anal sex after profound drinking and smoking during a cold night up in the mountain. The special bond between the two grows stronger even after they went off on their own ways. Despite being married with children, the two would arrange to go “fishing” several times a year, and their relationship gets deeper over the decades.

Even though the film is a complete turn from what Lee has directed before, one thing still remains the same, and that is his sensitivity for the beauty of nature. The landscapes are gorgeous thanks to cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto; however, the heart and soul of the film is the breathtaking performances from Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. The kisses are passionate; the tears are convincing; and the emotional expressions come through. These two guys deserve the recognition for their unbelievable work. I am not a homophobic, but it takes guts to kiss another man on screen.

Focus Features has created one of the most striking films of the year. The script, which is written by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana based on Annie Proulx’s short story, is tight. The acting is superb (Anne Hathaway added some visual aesthetics to the film while Michelle Williams is fantastic in her supporting role). The soundtrack is soul steaming (especially the finger-picking guitar of the folk songs). The story is heartrending. Brokeback Mountain makes a comeback for Lee after the flopping of Hulk.

With Kung Fu Hustle, Stephen Chow churns out yet another brilliant work with the fusion of martial arts, special effects, and his sense of humor. Chow not only directs, writes, and performs, but he also does whatever it takes to entertain us. So before entering the theater, leave your common sense at the door, and enjoy the show – remember to silence your cell phone too. My cell phone joke might not work, but Chow’s pop-culture references work like a charm, especially the Buddha’s Palm and the Roadrunner commercial. The hair on fire is not another stab at Michael Jackson, I hope.

Of course, Chow’s comedy plays an important role in the film, but the kung fu sequences are also gorgeously choreographed, thanks to Yuen Wo Ping whose works include Kill Bill, Matrix and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Despite the lack of blood spills all over the screen like Kill Bill, Kung Fu Hustle illustrates Chow’s violent and brutal comic style. If the fighting, the axing, the flying, the screaming, or nothing in the film is convincing, the little romance between the sweet but muted girl (Huang Sheng Yi) and Sing (Stephen Chow) might be.

The plot of Kung Fu Hustle might not be compelling, but it serves Chow well, and allows him to go nuts with other aspects. Sing started the trouble between the ruthless Axe Gang and poor group in the Pig Sty Alley. The Axe thugs are tough, but the kung fu fighters in Pig Sty are tougher. After losing the battle, the Axe gangleader seeks professional killers for revenge. The fighting scenes take off from there. In between the chaos, Chow cleverly sneaks in a few flashbacks for a romantic story, and some quiet moments from the beautiful Huang Sheng Yi.

Kung Fu Hustle is a type of film that can be enjoyed by paying attention to the aesthetic experience. Leave your personal judgment behind and just focus on the work of art itself. That way, you’ll get Chow’s jokes and appreciate the film more.

Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City is pretty ugly. What do I mean by that oxymoron? Just imagine watching a dog eats your flesh, but in a black and white silhouette comical style. Sin City is disgustingly violence, yet aesthetically elegance at the same time. Watching this film is like pumping doses of adrenaline rush into my system, and my eyes are nailed to the screen for two hours straight.

Even before the first scene appears, the title sequence is striking. While the typography travels stylistically in and out of the screen, the fusion of techno and jazz added both hip and elegancy into the motion. The film then opens with a gorgeous black and white shot where a woman is standing on the balcony. The back of her dress is the only element lid in red. The soothing jazz groove in the background enhances the noir atmosphere. But the calming scene does not last for long before the film takes viewers on a much more chaotic ride where heroes, whores, blood, breasts, guns, thongs, bondages, classic cars, and much more to be discovered in Sin City.

The structure of Sin City reminds me of Aimee Phan’s book, We Should Never Meet. The three mesmerizing tales unfolded on their own, but with a clever and subtle connection between the three. They all work together beautifully. Although the casts have short screen time, they hold up the pace well. Devon Aoki is a lovely addition to the bunch. She is cute, and she kicks ass. Quentin Tarantino is credited as a special guest director. It isn’t hard to tell which part he has contributed since he is obsessed with martial arts. Beside the stories and the casts, the special effects and the cinematography are exceptional. From a designer point of view, the level of details and the juxtaposition angles are invigorating.

Aside from the misogyny – I don’t take joy in beating up women, especially from the hero and the cop – Sin City is an amazing work of art. Unless you have no taste in computer-generated motion graphics, don’t miss the aesthetic experience. It is a fantastic escapism.

In a nutshell, two of the most powerful people in Forbidden City are the emperor and whomever he loves. As a result, women would not only do anything to win his heart but also destroy anyone who gets in their way, and that is War and Beauty.

The four women who responsible for keeping the long television series engaging are Sharen Tang, Maggie Cheung, Charmaine Sheh, and Gigi Lai. Their exceptional performances stay with viewers even after the film is ended. We love them, hate them, pity them, but cannot forget them. Beside beauty, each woman left something for us to remember her by. Yu Fei (Sharen Tang) is strong, smart, and unapologetic. Although her emotional expressions are written all over her face, what she has in mind is not easy to predict. Whether being good or evil, she is never unconvincing. Onn Sin (Maggie Cheung) is kind-hearted, intelligent, and highly witty; therefore, she became the most beloved concubine. Yee Shun (Charmaine Sheh) is elegant, quiet, and cleverly wicked. Her evilness is forgivable because who would want to hurt that calm and rare beauty? Yuk Ying (Gigi Lai) appears to be a pretty girl with no brain on the surface, but deep down she is calculated and knows exactly what she is doing. As these four girls plotting their ways to the top, we get to know their personality and understand why they become heartless.

Beside the performances, the script is close to perfect. The tightly structured writing leaves no room for these actresses to wipe their tears. As soon as a scheme is wrapping up, another one occurs. The biggest flaw, however, is the emperor’s role. They have done a great job of keep him off the screen for the first quarter, but then he comes in. I wonder if it is possible that he would never appear. Let the viewers be the emperor. It’s more exotic to have these beautiful girls trying to seduce me, the viewer, instead of the old man.

Of course, the film would not be complete without the soundtrack and costumes. The theme song, which consists of traditional instruments and a humming voice from a female vocalist, is dramatic, eerie, and haunting. The track floats like a ghost passing through Forbidden City leaving me goose bums. The traditional costumes are aesthetically beautiful. They are rich in detail with great color combination and looking fabulous on these gorgeous women.

Although War and Beauty is a traditional film, a little use of technology would not hurt, but enhances the experience. The 3D modeling of Forbidden City is well built and the transition effect from one place to another is fantastic. It gives viewers a sense of how big the palace is. The entire film takes place in the palace, but there are more than enough picturesque scenes to dazzling the viewers’ eyes. Beside, who would pay attention to the scenes when our eyes are glued to the girls?

Fifteen years ago, a movie theater in My Tho, Viet Nam was consisted of wooden benches, a 13″ TV and a VCR. At that time, Chinese TV series took over the Viet Nam entertainment. Despite the ghetto style, the theater was always packed. On the inside, the place was filled with audiences. On the outside, it was filled with peepers, including myself. The art of watching a film through a crack with one eye was an interesting experience. I could not afford the tickets, and my parents also banned me from watching the addictive Chinese TV series because I was not concentrating on my schoolwork.

As a peeper, I could not watch a film in peace. I had to look out for securities at the same time. Although I was a fast runner, I was caught many times because I was drawn into the fighting scenes and forgot to pay attention. One of my favorite series was Han So Tranh Hung, which based on a legendary historical era at the end of the “Tan” Dynasty where rivals fought to be in power. Names like Luu Bang, Hang Vu, Han Tin, and Truong Luong are still puzzled in my head because I was not sure who was who. Watching a film through a hole and on the run was not helping at all.

Recently, I come across Han So Ba Vuong (The Conqueror’s Story), which also based on the same tale as Han So Tranh Hung. The new series is fresher with magnificent actors including Trinh Thieu Thu (Luu Bang), Giang Hoa (Hang Vu), and Truong Kha Di (Lu Chi). The film has cleared up much confusion I had fifteen years ago. I am now understand each legend and his or her role.

Luu Bang was uneducated, horny, and afraid of death; however, his caring, loving, and devoting characters gained him respect from the people, and they would do anything for him. Luu Bang is played by Trinh Thieu Thu who captured those characters through his skillful fluctuating acting. He is an actor that could go deep inside his role.

On the flip side, Hang Vu was an educated man, enthusiastic monogamist, and an undefeatable commander in battle. Unfortunately his flaming temper and frankness turned many people away from him. Giang Hoa is an actor that is always appear to be cool even under pressure, yet he gave a powerful performance as Hang Vu, who is heartless on the outside, but full of emotion on the inside.

Lu Chi was a woman who had high ambitions. Her goal was to help her husband conquered China and she accomplished it with Luu Bang, who had no talent at all. Her mesmerizing beauty combines with her intelligent mind made her one of the most dangerous women of her time, and Truong Kha Di’s expressive performance captured the essence of those characteristics exquisitely.

The film features a handful of eminent roles such as Truong Luong, Han Tinh, Ngu Co. With a fascinating storyline, incredible performances, and excellent artistic visions (custom design, cinematography, and choreography), Han So Ba Vuong is worth watching. Although the series is long, the pace is moving along smoothly. The film took me a whole weekend to finish, but I am glad it is not a waste of time.

Please not: The Conqueror’s Story is a Chinese TV series, but I write all the names in Vietnamese.

When two guys get together on a trip, what else are on their minds? Even if two gay men get together, they would find two more gay men to screw. Alexander Payne’s Sideways takes viewers on a road trip to visit California wineries with two best friends Miles (Paul Giamattie) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church). Before Jack is getting married, his mission is getting himself and his buddy some booties. Jack knows his lines with the ladies and Miles knows his wines inside out. Isn’t that a perfect combination?

Beside the tight chemistry between Giamattie and Church, the scripting is “tighter than a nun’s asshole!” – as Miles describes a new pinot noir. His descriptive lines through tasting wines make him sounds like a great critic. The best lines are when he explains to Maya (Virginia Madsen) the delicacy of pinot noir grape, which reflects him personality. In response, Madsen gives an emotional and most convincing answer for why she loves wine – the liveliness of it that is.

Sideways has its a laughable scenes as well as serious moments. The pacing of the film is just right and the story is compelling. Alexander Payne once again perfecting his character creation by casting the perfect roles for his film. Paul Giamatti is flawless as Miles in this film just like Jack Nicholson as Schmidt in Payne’s earlier film About Schmidt. Virginia Madsen and Thomas Haden Church are no less impressive in their roles.