Why Asian Action Heroes Never Get the Girls? Essay Example

Introduction

Kung-Fu movies and Japan-based American films have been around for a long time. Movies like ‘Ninja Assassin” and “The Rush Hour “are the real highlights of modern American Asian action movies. I personally think that these type of movies are missing an important factor that is different from other American films. Action movies these days always have an equation or almost theatrical law (that most will say) suggesting that the hero will always; save a “love interest”.  This is not the case when it comes Asian action movies; the Asian main Antagonist never gets the girl and I want to know why?

Controversy

I always loved watching action movies as a kid. It brought happiness and excitement into my life to watch Jackie Chan and Jet lee doing their master stunts and moves; but for some reason I always missed the “predetermined blank”. When I got older I started to notice the missing “love interest” when I was the move “Ninja Assassin “in which clearly disregarded the ritual of the hero being rewarded with the love of his desire. After that movie I felt like the movie was missing a very important element and that it shouldn’t have ended that way.

Hollywood movies always have the same recurrent endings. Most American movies follow the hero “gets the girl” concept, except for Asian action movies. If we look at all the James Bond productions; the hero has no difficulties to attract the women they want to. Still, in Asian movies the focus is not on the “love” element; more like the heroic features of the character. (Kato, 2007) The MANAA memo to Hollywood (online) concludes the problem as: “, Asian men are almost never positively paired with women of any race. Western society still seems to view Asian male sexuality as a problem”. (p. 4.)

Hollywood has made it a clear rule that Asian antagonist never gets the girl.  Unfortunately it’s Hollywood’s belief that the public does not want or accept seeing an Asian male romantically involved with any women but in particular, white females. That might be the cultural source of the controversy. The importance of race and culture is evident, but why are there no Asian females brought up on screen? It would be the next logical step. Think of the last time you’ve seen Will Smith or Denzel Washington paired up romantically with a white female? Some authors state that the ultimate compromise of Hollywood is to pair up African-American actors with Latinas. (Think about Will and Denzel with Eva Mendes in Hitch and Out of Time). Interracial relationships are probably the hot button when it comes to race relations. Therefore, it is fair to say that Hollywood plays it safe to maximize box office returns. The safest IR pairing is the WM-AF which is why you see it so often.

Conclusion

Asian American Kung-Fu movies are a part of the action productions of Hollywood.  I think that Asian protagonist should be able to have the same luxuries as action hero; feelings and the return of feelings and should not be disadvantaged compared to the average American hero. I think that if America wants a change so bad, it needs to start with the movies we watch. There are, obviously, some rare exceptions like “The Crimson Kimono”, but the stereotypes of Hollywood are still strong.

References

Kato, M. (2007) Kung Fu Cultural Revolution and Japanese Imperialism. State University of New York Press. In: Kato, M. From Kung Fu to Hip Hop: Globalization, Revolution, and Popular Culture.

Five Films Where the Asian Male Lead Gets the Girl. (online) http://youoffendmeyouoffendmyfamily.com/five-films-where-the-asian-male-lead-gets-the-girl/

MANAA Publication (Memo) (online) Restrictive Portrayals of Asians in the Media and How to Balance Them. Online.             http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu/AAPIcourse/downloads/pdf/readings/AsianAmericaStereoty pes.pdf