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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 2018)
ASIA / PACIFIC Page 16 n THE ASIAN REPORTER September 3, 2018 Crazy Rich Asians hoopla elicits mixed feelings in Asia By Derek Cai The Associated Press S INGAPORE — The craze for Crazy Rich Asians has hit Asia, with a premiere in Singapore followed by openings in several neighboring countries. Much of the over-the-top romantic comedy was set in the wealthy city-state. As the stars streamed past flashing lights down the red carpet, local fans and tourists swarmed around them taking photos and asking for selfies. The movie is expected to draw enthusiastic crowds across Asia after its box-office bonanza in the U.S. Directed by John M. Chu, the film was adapted from Singaporean author Kevin Kwan’s best-selling novel of the same name. It follows Chinese-American Rachel Chu as she travels with her boyfriend Nick Young to Singapore to meet his family and discovers they are ultra-wealthy. The movie is drawing a mixed reaction so far. Admirers of the film say that as the first majority Asian-cast film in more than two decades to be released by a major Hollywood studio it upends Hollywood’s usual stereotypes of Asian characters. Critics say it misses a chance to showcase the city’s ethnic diversity. The $30 million Warner Bros. film has grossed more than $100 million since its August 15 world debut in Los Angeles. “This (movie) is something very personal to people, and it feels like a bigger movement than just the movie itself,” Chu, the director, told The Associated Press. The film has drawn criticism for its inaccurate portrayal of Singapore’s ethnic diversity, with some calling it a misrepresentation of the country’s minority races. Even though a majority of its residents are Chinese, a quarter of its population are Malay, Indian, or Eurasians, with many migrant workers from surrounding countries such as Bangladesh or the Philippines. “There’s this whole notion of the movie being a triumph for representation, which is very problematic. The only Indians and Malays you see are servants,” said Nicholas Yong, a Singaporean journalist and author who saw the movie before its Singapore premiere. Even though its glamorous depiction of Singapore could give its tourism a boost, it was not entirely welcomed. “To us, Crazy Rich should not just be about the opulence and luxury showcased in the film, but Singapore’s actual richness in terms of our diversity,” said Lynette Pang, a spokesperson for the Singapore Tourism Board. As is true anywhere, in Singapore, the super-rich with their extravagant lifestyles are a tiny, privileged minority. Writing in the South China Morning Post of Hong Kong, which has more than its share of tycoons and elite wealthy families, commentator Alex Lo said he enjoyed the film with “guilty pleasure.” “But amusement aside, it strikes me the whole purpose of the film exercise is to glamorize and legitimize the super-rich in Asia, many of whom are ethnic Chinese in real life,” he said. “Should we, as the audience and hoi polloi, be tantalized and awed by the display of mega wealth, which has been described, by most accounts, as accurate. Or should we rather be repelled?” Many in Asia had looked forward to seeing some familiar faces. In Manila, the Philippines, an audience of mostly movie writers, critics, and bloggers, and some celebrity guests, were thrilled and applauded when two Filipinos in the film, Kris Aquino and Nico Santos, appeared in their roles during an advance screening, said Ruth Navarra-Mayo, an editor of the Lifestyle section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper. Santos plays a fashion designer. Aquino, a popular actress and daughter of late pro-democracy champions in the Philippines, played a member of Malay royalty. A former American colony, the Philippines has a highly westernized culture and Hollywood movies are a local entertainment staple. Audiences would welcome more films with Asian themes and characters, Navarro-Mayo said. “We want to see Asian actors on Asian topics,” Navarro-Mayo said. “We’re hungry and ready for this type of film.” Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Manila contributed to this report. The staff at The Asian Reporter wish you and your family a happy and safe Labor Day! DIFFERING VIEWS. Constance Wu (center) plays Rachel in the Warner Bros. Pictures, SK Global Entertainment, and Starlight Culture contempo- rary romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians, which opened in U.S. theaters on August 15. Also pictured are Nico Santos (left) as Oliver and Koh Chieng Mun (right) as Neenah Goh. The craze for Crazy Rich Asians has hit Asia, with a premiere in Singapore followed by openings in several neighboring countries. (Photo/Sanja Bucko, courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Kimmel Distribution, LLC) ✓ More frequent buses ✓ More weekend bus service ✓ Faster commutes ✓ Upgraded bus stops ✓ Improved security We’ve got big plans for next year. Learn what improvements we have planned for 2019 –20 and share your feedback at an open house. Downtown Portland SE Portland September 11, Noon–2 p.m. University of Oregon White Stag Building 70 NW Couch St. September 19, 5–7 p.m. Asian Health Center — 9035 SE Foster Rd. Gresham Milwaukie September 12, 5–7 p.m. CCC Harmony West — 7726 SE Harmony Rd. September 20, 5–7 p.m. Gresham City Hall — 1333 NW Eastman Pkwy. NE Portland Hillsboro September 13, 5–7 p.m. Civic Center — 150 E Main St. September 25, 5–7 p.m. Self Enhancement Inc. — 3920 N. 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