Chinese Filmmakers in the West

[dleedlee]

I think Chinese films are still on the very far fringes, oddities, exceptions. The most influential? Off the top of my head, I'd say Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Both for their 'brand' recognition. At least, their Western knock-off brand. To extend the metaphor, most people know and have access to their ready to wear line but not ther haute couture.

As to whether Asian films are more mainstream now, no I don't think so. Maybe Asian filmmakers are more mainstream by virtue of adapting to their environment, but no longer 'Asian', e.g., Ang Lee/The Hulk. Possibly, by sheer numbers, with more Asians in the West due to world wide emigration, it's unavoidable.

Is it good or bad? I guess it depends on whether you want to subscribe to a Unified Theory of Universal Filmmaking or prefer the Chaos Theory school of thought. ("My Butterfly Wing is more powerful than your Photon's Palm!")

As long as the 'correct' answer is not Quentit Tarantino! Else, I'll have to schedule that appointment for eyelid surgery after all.

[magic-8]

Hollywood has become the world's cinema, but it doesn't reflect the faces of the world, in that most of its stars are white people. There is no home grown Asian talent in Hollywood. Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Chow Yun Fat, Yuen Woo Ping, John Woo, Corey Yeun, Dion Lam, Michelle Yeoh, and a host of others are foreign born talent migrating to Hollywood for the exposure and the paycheck. Stuff that studios pick up for distribution runs the risk of being cubby holed and put on the shelf. Hero and Shaolin Soccer came out in the States years after they were released. Many other movies have been butched, cut, censored, redubbed, rescored, and basically disresepcted.

I'd prefer to see the films I like when they are released or shortly thereafter. I'd say forget Hollywood and the glitter because it's all false and doesn't reflect what's going on in the rest of the world, where storytelling is more interesting and original than Hollywood. Nowadays the product coming outta Hollywood is big mindless enetertainment that has its place, but not memorable.

You need to do your own research and forget about who brings what to Hollywood. It's more work but more satisfying in the end.