Shanghai Kiss

Director: Kern Konwiser & David Ren

Cast: Ken Leung, Hayden Panettiere, Kelly Hu, Joel Moore, James Hong

(Bigfoot Entertainment / Konwiser Brothers, 2007) Rated: Unrated

US DVD release date: 9 October 2007 (Starz / Anchor Bay)

by Jack Patrick Rodgers

I really wanted to love Shanghai Kiss and recommend it as a breakthrough for Asian-American cinema, but it's merely an uneven, occasionally soulful film handicapped by some one-dimensional characters and over-familiar plot elements.

what do the women see in this character?  he shows no likeability whatsoever.  he’s whiny, socially inept, bad karaoke. very painful movie to watch--would never recommend it to anyone.  also, what asain tells another asian “your name rhymes--that’s so cool!” what a white/other race comment to say.  an asian would NEVER NEVER say something so lame and racist.

Comment by mary from california — February 2, 2008 @ 3:39 pm

“an asian would NEVER NEVER say something so lame and racist.” thats quite a generalization on how asians should stereotypically act. It’s Liam’s individuality that voids what people thing asians should or shouldn’t do, showing that Asian Americans can be and do whatever they wish.

Comment by B — February 28, 2008 @ 7:11 pm

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