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Visitors Review

FrankT 2012-05-21 21:46:33

Touching and Inspirational!

A great story, not your typical hollywood retarded flick but one that is deep, funny, witty, and so emotional that you'll have no trouble connecting to all the characters if you are Asian American.I'm just amazed that a story like this will ever get filmed! It is just so rare for an Asian American Actor to get into such a great and prominent role. I'm just so excited to see a good representation on the big screen, I hope you all give this movie a chance!

ZoraKitty 2012-05-21 05:54:34

Not that great and negatively suggests...

This movie was OK. Not good not great not awesome. It was just OK.First of all the character Liam Wu is creepy. He's 28 years old anddating a high school student! That's gross. Technically he's apedophile. Even if he didn't kiss her or have sexual intercourse, he'sstill a pedophile. And looking at all the reviews I'm guessing you guysmissed that? Anyway the movie was fine and it went smoothly but it waslacking something. I mean it was funny but Liam's sarcastic andpessimistic personality made watching the rest of the movie tedious.Then there was the fact that when he first came back from China to gethis stuff, he was acting all high and mighty and told his friend not tocall him Liam because that was his "slave name". That's kind ofinsulting, and I get that he was trying to be funny but that didn'tmake any sense at all. Oh and one more thing! The DVD picture that hada huge close up of Hayden? One question. Why? The movie wasn't abouther it was about Liam.

2012-05-20 14:42:00

Interesting but uneven film

Shanghai Kiss - An independent Asian American film that played throughout the US in film festivals gets a home DVD release. SPOILERS BELOW if you haven't seen the film:I watched the film at the Asian American Fi;m Festival this past March (2007) and came away with an uneven impression. Ken Leung (now of "Lost", also X-Men 3, Rush Hour) is a struggling actor who gets into a somewhat convoluted relationship with the lovely Hayden Panettiere when they meet on the bus. Leung doesn't seem to think Hayden is his GF but yet they spend a lot of time together. Things change when Leung inherits a house in Shanghai where he later moves back to. Leung leaves behind Hayden and runs into Kelly Hu (how lucky can a guy get....hahahahah). However, in the end, Leung decides the US is his home and he returns. Hayden and Leung do split apart, but eventually re-unite a year later. The unevenness is the portrayal of the characters ages. Leung is 35+ in real life and is probably late 20's early 30's in the movie. Hayden is 18 and plays a high school kid in the movie. While it is not impossible for a young impressionable teenager to fall in "love" with an older man, it did make the story very awarkward for me personally. However, besides the story, the acting was fairly solid. Leung played his usual brooding self well in the film. Hayden was lovely as always and acted her age throughout the film. Kelly Hu has matured greatly with age. She looks better now than in her days when she was on "Martial Law" and she portrayed her character fairly well too. All in all, an interesting if uneven film worth at least a rental. It should attract some interest due to the actors and actresses in the film. Fans of Hu and Hayden will definitely stop by and see the two lovely ladies in action. Leung's popularity will grow due to his "Lost" exposure. Some people may accidentally stumble upon this due to "Lost".

2012-05-20 03:11:39

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princessadorable 2012-05-12 16:22:29

Lacking Something

The movie was okay. I give it 5/10 because it had a story and it saidit, but the the main dude was really monotone and lacked compassion andhis relationship with the American chick(hayden panttiere) was alsolacking something and was just very strange...the fact that she wasyounger than him was also sorta creepy. He slept with lots of peoplebut not her even though she was the girl of his dreams... yet she waslike 16 so it was just weird.Overall it was just a strange movie.. had about the depth of a spoon.Its an okay movie to watch while you're knitting or sewing, that's whatI did.

William Park 2012-05-12 07:55:29

The Best Interracial Love Story

After watching Shanghai Kiss, I didn't know what to expect. Ken Leung (X-Men 3: The Last Stand, Inside Man & Rush Hour) plays Liam Liu, a 28-year old Chinese American actor who is struggling to get into Hollywood while Hayden Panettiere (TV series of Heroes & Bring It On 3) who plays the beautiful Adelaide, a 16 years-old free spirit genius still in high school falls in love with him. However, after getting a phone call for Shanghai in which his grandmother leaves a home he's never seen, there he meets a beautiful Chinese girl named Micki Yang played by Kelly Hu (X-Men 2 & The Scorpion King). Liam struggles for himself and where he belongs and most importantly who to love. Toward the end of the film, Liam finds out the truth of Micki Yang and her fiance, Jai Li (Street Fighter & Catwoman). Liam decided to give his house to Micki and goes back to Los Angeles to get the girl of his dreams. As things go upside down, Adelaide is going to Paris. Months later, Liam waits for Adelaide to arrive until he sees an unexpected turn. However, once Liam stands outside of the airport, Adelaide stands in front of his presence saying that the person she was with is nothing but a homosexual person. Liam & Adelaide reunites as two loving couples and the film ends there with a happily ever after ending. :)Even though, I'm not Chinese, I'm very impressed of how an asian man goes for the white girl and has a happy ending. hahaha. We need to see more like these in Hollywood films. Even though, there will always be bad stereotypes for Asian-American men out there, but there's always hope & a great opportunity that us Asian men can be described as great lovers in a romantic film. I'd love to meet the person who wrote and directed this film. This guy rocks! It's a great romantic/comedy flick.On a special note, Hayden Panettiere had also won for being the best actress in a feature film of Shanghai Kiss during the 2007 Newport Beach Film Festival. ;)

hitman514-1 2012-05-10 19:17:41

For once, a non-fighting/nerdy/criminal role for an Asian male.

Before Spike Lee came around, Black male actors weren't getting thebest roles - a) They were usually the first to die in any movie, b)they normally played the roles of drug dealers, gangsters, criminals,slaves, convicts, and pimps). c) Their roles were restricted toaction/crime, musical, or sports-related movies.Spike Lee changed all of that and it's because of Spike that we got tosee black actors, such as Denzel, Terrence Howard, and Jamie Foxx (toname a few)get powerful Oscar-worthy roles.To date, Asian actors are still suffering in Hollywood.The only roles Asian actors can get in Hollywood are: a) the evilAsian-villain who gets beaten by the white hero...and the white herosaves the beautiful Asian girl from the clutches of "Dr.Fu-Manchu" b) agangster, Viet-Cong soldier, Shaolin-Monk, Martial Arts teacher,Chinese-takeout cook/delivery-man, computer-geek, pingpong player,etc... c) anything to do with Martial ArtsIt's about time that we have an Asian Spike-Lee! David Ren has steppedup to the batter's box and hit a grand slam with this one and I hopethat he comes back for more!This flick has it all...relevant themes, great movie, great cast, andgreat director!

2012-05-10 07:43:34

Well done

A well made film. The plot is a stretch in some parts, but overall entertaining. Ken and Hayden are great.

cockerspaniels3 2012-05-08 04:38:44

ken leung = billy crystal

Bought and viewed this film. Rate it an 8.Think Ken so resembles Billy in his speech. Quite the actor and lookforward to more of his films.Was put off to buy with the white girl dominant on the cover. Reviewedmore and so happy with the purchase.Caucasion with a 22.5 difference age Tianjin girl. In Canada moretolerant of others. Quite disturbing to have the white girl dominant onthe cover while this is Ken's movie. Hollywood and America have far togo.Thousand Pieces Of Gold is some other unappreciated gem.

Antoinette A 2012-05-07 19:53:53

Loved it

I was surprised on how good it was since the name and cover were repulsing to me. Very worth seeing with interesting characters. I will most definitely buy this movie.

2012-05-07 10:26:03

Shanghai Kiss

'Shanghai Kiss' stated off by seeming to be a pretty promising film and after about an hour quickly descended into a big disappointment. It really seemed like it was gonna be a good film about following your heart and destiny and finding your path in life and instead became the typical soppy, cotton wool, American fare churned out en masse by Hollywood. The direction was quite good and the Chinese scenes were especially good. The characters tended to act, well, out of character at times, you'd build up an image of them and way they'd behave and the they'd do the complete opposite. At just over 90 minutes this film is the perfect length, anymore and you'd get bored and frustrated. An OK film for those lazy afternoons and when you don't want to think too hard. Don't get your hopes up in the first hour and you should be fine!Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

Hui Jin 2012-05-06 22:24:48

It is really a great move of only few from Hoolywood

I don't want to say a lot about it, but just see what the director said"Hayden Panettiere's fee was probably her lowest since she was fouryears old. She did it because she believed in the movie and knew it wastime a story like this was told. Our deal is a royalties deal, meaningthe investor gets a percentage of every DVD sold. If this film is asuccess, Hollywood will take notice and realises that a love story withan Asian male lead could be profitable. If it fails, we could seeanother twenty years without another film like this. So if you enjoyedit and want more films like it to be made, please support it bypurchasing the DVD. You can preorder it here: http://www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v4_item.asp?...earchID=3009588 Or you can pre order it at whatever retailer you'd like (Amazon, etc.)." Thanks for her, and I love this movie and her :P

shoane 2012-05-01 19:54:31

Can't Resist Shanghai Kiss

There is something irresistible about Shanghai Kiss. The story ishumorous, romantic, and thought-provoking at many different levels. Ayoung Asian-American in search of his identity, played by Ken Leung,befriends a precocious teenager, played by Hayden Panettiere. Ken gavea brilliant performance as the witty, sensitive, and endearing youngman. He was so natural that at no point did I doubt that he was thatcharacter. Hayden simply lights up the screen. Her eyes sparkle, andwhen she smiles, it just melts the audience's heart. As the storycontinues, Ken inherits a house in Shanghai, and meets a woman playedby the lovely Kelly Hu. There are other relationships interwoven intothe story, such as Ken's troubled relationship with his father, and hisfriendship with his straight-shooter nerdy buddy played superbly byJoel David Moore. I can barely do justice in describing how interestingthe storyline is and how clever and humorous the dialogs are. But onething I can say is that you would not be able to resist thinking aboutthis film for days afterwards.

stucktruckmoose 2012-05-01 06:27:40

A Review From an American in Shanghai

I recently saw this money and found that it was a great representationof the typical Asian-American as well as the way of life in this city.Some of my friends commented in how we have been in these verysituations such as when the taxi driving was instructed to drive to JinMao tower, but actually drove to the countryside. I felt that saw awefeeling that the character was portrayed as feeling when I firstarrived and was surrounded by bright lights and tall buildings.I did not find any inaccuracies in this movie and I would like to pointout that I often see western women with Asian men, house prices haveindeed recently risen dramatically, and that (from the experience ofothers) KTV girls do not always have a fee and can very well haveemotions too.The plot aspect where the guy's girlfriend is abused by a rich man isall too true. I have seen this myself and know someone who thishappened too.So for anyone that wants to say that this movie is inaccurate, youshould try living in this situation. The living situation here is muchdifferent than in America so things that would seem impossible thereare very much the standard here.

2012-04-26 14:51:16

Even better than Lost in Translation

I saw this movie and I have to say that it plays out better than Lost in Translation, even without the support of a studio. People did not fall in love in this movie because of a forced situation, but because it happens. Yet it also plays out being a foreigner in a different land (the taxi scene really had on the floor)Granted, some of the scenes in China could have used some big budget helpbut it was a great movie and really brings out feelings of being an assimilated Asian American in the United States and rediscovering your roots. Granted I felt the ending was a tad weak... but it was possibly most realistic. This movie earns an extra star because I left watching this movie with something extra, and it has James Hong who played Lo Pan from "Big Trouble in Little China" so it get's a 5 and I will recommend it to all.

yupman 2012-04-25 21:23:36

Surprisingly good

This is not a perfect movie, but it's very unlike anything I've everseen and the execution is very good. It's not preachy but great momentshit you out of the blue, just like in real life. Dialogue is also veryfunny but some of the funny Chinese bits are not translated in thesubtitles (I can understand most of it, but most non-Chinese won't).Very moving at times, and the sense of being lost and bumbling aroundresonates with me. Kelly Hu's character is probably the weakest and herChinese is quite atrocious but she makes up for it by being gorgeous.Hayden P's character is a little hard to believe but once you suspenddisbelief about that, she's a very lovely character indeed. Ken Leungis very good indeed, I must say, he seems almost like somebody I know.

Fayaz Sagar 2012-04-24 14:26:23

dhadkan ki zubaan

look want a immotional film,i like indian films as like tumbin,kuch kuch hota hai,i like sharukhani am a lover boy i love my girl friend so much her name is suriya i want marry with him,she is my lifa ,she loves me alot

Genjuro_X00 2012-04-23 21:46:55

Once in a while, something different comes along.

Firstly, I liked this movie. I liked it for the fact that it explored alot of ideas that I myself have seen and experienced. Yes I'm Asian,but that doesn't make me automatically like this movie. I took a stepoutside the confines of who played what role and looked at it from aspectator and movie goer experience, and I found that it was a veryinteresting movie. I think that if you look beyond the Asian element ofthis movie, it can be applied to anyone. This is a movie about findingoneself and coming to terms with oneself, and I think this movie doesit very well.Acting wise I think that everyone did very well. I've never seen KenLeung in a non-action movie before so I'm glad that I'm able to see adifferent, more realistic, side of him.All in all, this is a good movie to see. I would definitely say rent itif you would like to see it.

JY2222 2012-04-22 23:33:14

Breaking the Asian male stereotype

Finally, a movie an Asian male can watch! Non of that Hollywood racist stereotype of Asian male is portrayed here in this movie. This movie shows the American audience that an Asian male can be desirable and wanted by the opposite sex.

2012-04-22 14:00:49

Pleasant and inoffensive but little more.

As a 'journey of self-discovery' story, "Shanghai Kiss" feels to take a few false turns along the way from its refreshingly different start to its entirely predictable ending. While there is much about this production to like, with some genuinely funny as well as moving moments, it suffers in the end from its own uncertainty--mounting to a total confusion at times--as to whether to be serious or funny, resulting in it failing to be either most of the time. And while the music is well chosen, and the cinematography, especially the city-scapes of Shanghai, visually stunning, the cast mostly comes over as being capable of stronger performances than either the story or the script permit them to give here. I found it hard to fully engage with any of the main characters and it is somehow ironic that the best performances seem to come from the supporting bit-players, especially those with only a line or two to deliver, simply, I suspect, because these characters have not been given the space in which to "develop" the ambiguities which plague the principals. And which ultimately robs this film of the substance it tries so hard to establish.