Similar to many Hong Kong TV series, Nguoi Da Ba Yeu Duoi starts off smoothly for the first few chapters, then begins to drag the whole way through. Until the director, Minh Duc Liem, realizes the film has been running way too long, he decided to wrap up quickly on the last chapter.

Not only the production is sloppy, the writing is way off the track. The main character, Ngoc played by Tran Kim Ngan, is so unreal. She is so strong in the beginning, but becomes weaker and weaker as the film proceeds. Her performance is not persuasive at all.

Mrs. Loi (Minh Duc), who takes Ngoc in to be her daughter, is horrible. I want to slap some fairness judgments out of her. Instead of controlling her own kids, she allows them to abuse Ngoc then expresses her apology for what her kids did. When she dies, I feel glad rather than sorry, and she is supposed to be a nice character.

In contrast, Tieu Phung plays a wonderful job as Loc, a wicked daughter, wife, and sister. She only cares about herself. The ways she abuses Ngoc makes me want to smack her; however, she is likable because of her attractive appearance. Speaking of beautiful, Vo Ngoc Ha and Kim Khanh add some pretty faces to the film but their supporting roles aren’t standing out.

If Tieu Phung were not in the series, I would not finish watching the whole thing. She has dominated the film even though she is only a supporting actress. The timing, the writing, and most of the performers are not strong enough to hold up the series.

Is being pretty and poor a sin? Yes! According to Ho Ngoc Xum’s Con Nha Ngheo, a TV series based on Van Ho Bien Chanh novel of the same title. Luu (Bao Chau) is a beautiful but poor lady who was raped and abandoned by Hai Nghia (Thanh Hoang), son of a rich and powerful family. Sounds familiar? Even though the storyline is nothing new, Ho Ngoc Xum has done a great job of keeping the series short and to the point; therefore, the pace does not drag on forever like a soap opera.

“Sau con mua troi lai sang (after a heavy rain, the sun shines again).” After the first dramatic opening with the rape and the injustice, the film moves viewers toward a brighter side of life. The lunch scene on the rice field makes me want to leave this cold place and go back to live a simple life. The husband works on the rice field. The wife brings him a simple lunch. They gather together with the son eating ca kho (braised fish in caramel sauce) and cucumbers with rice. It’s just a perfect life. Simple but filled with happiness.

The performances are simple and natural. Bao Chau is beautiful and Minh Dat is handsome. Together, they are an ideal couple and the chemistry between them is perfect. Le Vu Cau, Minh Phuong and Thanh Hoang have done fantastic jobs as supporting roles. Hong Van is a great comedy actress, but not so convincing in a serious role. I must give her credit for taking on a challenge that is not her usual style.

The only negative aspect of Gai Nha Ngheo, as well as other Vietnamese TV series, is the dubbing. Why don’t they use the actors’ real voice? Hong Van sounds so unnatural with someone else’s voice, especially when I am so used to her high-pitched vocals. Other than that, the film is entertaining. A great time killer for our grandmas.

Two compelling computer generated motion pictures are running neck-to-neck at the box office. Fortunately each targets a slightly different audience. While The Polar Express is pure fantasy, The Incredibles contains a bit of real life situation.

I am feeling the spirit of Christmas already from watching The Polar Express. Not only the high-end computer animation blows me away but Tom Hanks also has done a marvelous job of providing the voices to the characters. As the train takes the kids to the South Pole, The Polar Express takes viewers on a magical roller coaster with its astonishing digital effects. The best part is when the ticket flows off the train, travels around the striking visual sceneries, and makes its way back into the train. The whole process is imaginative. The hot chocolate serving scene, where the waiters dancing, singing, and pouring the drinks, is both creative and fun.

I should have taken Samantha to watch The Polar Express instead of The Incredibles. She could not sit still for two hours even I provided her popcorns and drink. She went from sitting on her own seat to lying down on my lap. It doesn’t mean that The Incredibles is not incredible. It aims more toward older kids and adults. Of course, Pixel’s CG animation is nothing less than superior. On top of the mind-boggling action packed scenes, the terrific writing is what holds the film together. Every family has its own problem and the superhero is no exception. In the beginning the superhero kids (Dash and Violet) are fussing with each other but when trouble comes, they unite and help one another. With the family’s special superpower combined, they conquered their most dangerous enemy (the robot). Pixar studios have once again pushed their work to the limit with this film.

Both movies are highly recommended for family entertainment but if you have any five years old or under, you might not get to enjoy The Incredibles much. I had to make three trips during the movie to buy popcorn, buy drink, and take Samantha to the restroom. Still glad that I get to spent time with her, my adorable Sammy. Felt badly that I couldn’t take little Eric along. He was standing at the glass window watching us leave.

Zhang Yimou’s Hero is a master work of art. Naturally, the martial art is spectacular and the cinematography is visually gorgeous; however, what strikes me the most is the intriguing storyline. My jaw dropped at the end of the film. It’s such a clever piece of writing with an inspiring philosophy behind it. To be honest, I can’t think of anything to write down without spoiling it. So you will have to take my word for it and find out for yourself. Either you’ll get it or you don’t. Apparently, some Western audiences don’t get it.

In term of visual effects, Hero has plenty of them and I just love the way they play with colors and color schemes. Noticeably, the outfits from the characters compliment the scenes surrounding them. I’ve always been inspired by use of bright and rich colors by the Chinese art and this film is no exception. As far as computer-generated effects, the rain of arrows is quite impressive. Furthermore, the battle between Nameless (Jet Li) and Broken Sword (Tony Leung) is just amazing, especially the water drop effect.

In term of characters, Tony Leung gives an outstanding performance as a highly respectable swordsman. He has convinced me with his multidimensional talent. Zhang Ziyi is as striking beautiful as always and Jet Li is pretty much Jet Li.

If you love Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragons, you’ll adore Hero. If you enjoy martial arts and visual stimulations, you’ll appreciate Hero. As for my recommendation, I urge you to pay close attention to the storyline. So bookmark this page, go enjoy the experience then come back here and we’ll discuss.

Wow! Asian dude finally kisses a gorgeous girl and gets some sexual attentions on the big screen. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle is the door opening for Asian American actors to Hollywood. John Cho and Kal Penn had demonstrated their ability to play the roles of getting stoned as believable as Method Man and Redman without having to act hardcore.

I am not a big fan of teenage comedy films because of some over exaggerated silly jokes and this one is no exception; however, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle has touched lightly upon some serious issues about race in America. The White guys pick on the Asian guys; the racist cop harasses the minorities; the Black guy gets lock up for being Black. Even though these subjects are nothing new in Hollywood, they are interesting to see from the Asian American point of view.

Both John Cho and Kal Penn give an excellent performance. The chemistry between Cho and Penn helps holding up the comedy. The best line is when Kuma licks Harold’s face, “I have to try some gay shit to see if you wake up.” There is a funny and clever setup line by Harold, “Did Doogie Howser just steal my car?” Later on, Harold revisits the question with “Dude! Where is My Car?” which references to the director’s (Danny Leiner) first movie. Speaking of reference, there is also a citing of “Better Luck Tomorrow.”

Even though this film has some obnoxious humors such as the “Battleshits”, it has stands above most of the comedies this summer, especially teenage movies. This is also an important film for Asian Americans as we are stepping up into the big screen as lead roles without having to use Kung Fu.

Based on the novel of Vu Trong Phung, Giong To is a very dark and disturbing drama. It is still giving me a chill with its family affairs. The film is set in the early 1910; therefore, it is a despicable toward women. They are raped, bought and shared like sex toys. The conflicts are quite complex and distressful. Of course, the critical themes are involving sex, power, and revenge. Even though the overall acting is not so bad, I am not finding this film to be enjoyable. On the contrary, I find the topics to be unsettling. The sexual content, the language usage, and the subject are quite explicit so keep this film away from your children.

Whenever I watch a film on Viet Nam war, the focus is never on the communist. They always hide in the shadow and I never get to understand their point of views. With Nguoi Dep Tay Do, I get to see their strategies and operations. I don’t care much about political issues, I just enjoy the acting and the undeniable beauty of Viet Trinh.

The story takes place in the 40s during the controlling of the French. The film revolves around Bach Cuc (Viet Trinh). A beautiful lady who gives up her love and sacrifices her life for her country. As an early age, Bach Cuc was married into a rich family that was arranged by her grandmother. Bach Cuc was mistreated by her in law family and abused by her husband. These horrific scenes will make your tears drop. Later, a member of the Viet Minh (communist) protected her and took her out of misery situation; therefore, she decided to join the Viet Minh. Because of her striking beauty and fluency in French, she was assigned to work undercover where she met an interpreter Hoang Thai (Don Duong who also casted in We Were Soldiers along with Mel Gibson). Together they gathered inside information from the French and provided to the Viet Minh to help setting up attacks.

Along with the cast, both Viet Trinh and Don Duong give convincing performances but the work of Le Cung Bac (director), Tram Huong (screenwriter), and Nguyen Ho (writer) cannot go unnoticed, especially the clever references to the war. Nguoi Dep Tay Do is a communist film but if you can get pass the political point of view, it is quite a moving motion picture.

What the heck is Giao Thoi? Thankfully, the term is explained by Mrs. Lan (Minh Duc) at the end of the film. It literally means everyone gets to shine once in his/her life. Throughout Giao Thoi, you will see the rise and fall of many individuals whether they are rich, poor, powerful or weak. One minute you could have everything; however, the next minute, you could walk away with bare hands. And yes, women can ruin your life.

Giao Thoi is a Vietnamese romantic drama TV series directed by Phan Hoang and he had done a fantastic job of putting women on the frontline. The smart and sexy women in the film put men in critical conditions. Kieu Linh (Truong Ngoc Anh) changes men like changes clothes and they still fall head over heels for her. She feels no remorse for her action and willing to move on like nothing happen. Kieu Hanh (Hien Mai) uses men to gain social power. Along with a college degree, she uses her look to get higher ranking even sleeping with old men. She is the greediest and the most dangerous of the three sisters. Kieu Lan (My Uyen) is the youngest and the sweetest. Opposite from her sisters, Kieu Lan is not greedy and she believes in true love. Ironically, the mother, Mrs. Lan, also overpowered her husband. She has all the control and the old man (Manh Dung) is powerless in the house of four women.

Giao Thoi was filmed in 1999 and they had covered almost every social issue that goes on in Vietnam including: Sex cafe (Cafe om), sex restaurant (bia om), poverty, use power to except illegal cash, AIDS, Taiwanese marriages, and much more. The best part of the film is when Kieu Lan slaps the Taiwanese bastard in the face and said, “dirty dollars.” I wish Vietnamese women did that in real life instead of the other way around. The best line is when Kieu Linh commented on artists, “Every artist thinks he has a mansion up in the sky.” The film also touches on commercial art vs. real art. It is interesting to see how commercial work could ruin an artist’s stage of mind and creativities.

Giao Thoi is well directed, well written, and the entire cast had done a wonderful job of holding up the series. Everyone is equally good in his/her role. Furthermore, Nguyen Anh 9 and Nguyen Quang had done an outstanding job on the musical score. It enhances the film nicely. Although Giao Thoi is 40 hours long, the good stories will keep you engage till the end. It is highly recommended for the Vietnamese movie lovers like myself.

DreamWorks animation had once again cooked up another delicious dish with different flavors for both the parents’ main course and the kids’ happy meal. Shrek 2 is not overshadows by the original Shrek because of the amusing parodies that cleverly blended into the ingredients. From The Little Mermaid, Beauty and The Beast, The Lord of The Ring, the Red Carpet, to Hollywood, these references make Shrek 2 fresh and enjoyable. They also brought back “Livin’ La Vida Loca” and I thought that song is dead.

The new addition to Shrek 2 is Puss ‘n Boots who is mad adorable. The animator must have whipped up his characteristics based on Antonio Banderas’s charisma. It is so him. Of course, DreamWork’s CGI is marvelous and Shrek 2 is bangin’.

New Vietnamese chick flick Nhung Co Gai Chan Dai hits Ho Chi Minh and Ha Noi city on June 15. Of course, I won’t be able to see it but I don’t think I’ll miss out much. The only thing attracts me about the film is obviously the long legsVietnamese chicks. Anyway, the real reason I write this post is to draw your attention to the poster design competition. Although the entries are impressive, this is the one that speaks to me. The use of type tucks into the long legs is a nice touch. The color choice is quite aphrodisiacal. Nicely done.