#Wedding Cinematography Singapore

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Wedding Cinematography Singapore

Smittenpixels Co | Wedding Photography & Videography Singapore. Named as one of Singapore's top, we specialise in weddings and portrait.

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Wedding Cinematography Singapore

Your wedding day is a momentous occasion filled with love, joy, and cherished memories. At Smittenpixels Co., we believe that these memories deserve to be captured in a cinematic way that truly brings your special day to life. Our wedding cinematography service in Singapore is dedicated to telling your unique love story through the art of storytelling and cinematic techniques.

Our team of experienced cinematographers is passionate about creating a personalized masterpiece that captures the essence of your relationship and your wedding day. We work closely with you to understand your vision and preferences to create a wedding film that is unique to your love story. Our cinematic approach ensures that your wedding film is not just a recording of your special day, but a stunning masterpiece that you'll treasure for years to come.

Our cinematography services include using high-quality cameras and equipment to capture every moment in stunning detail. Our team also uses cinematic techniques such as slow-motion shots, aerial footage, and creative editing to create a wedding film that looks like a Hollywood movie.

At Smittenpixels Co., we understand that your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and we are committed to making it unforgettable. Our wedding cinematography service is designed to capture every moment of your special day, from the exchange of vows to the first dance, in a way that is uniquely you. Let us help you create a timeless work of art that you'll cherish for years to come. Contact us today to learn more about our wedding cinematography services in Singapore.

[smittenpixel03]

Destination Photography in Singapore

Melbourne elopement wedding photography and couple portrait of Jeslyn and Victoria. Melbourne, Australia. Destination same sex prewedding.

[adamwatchesmovies]

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

While it would be nice for every story to be wholly new and completely unpredictable, there’s something satisfying about a film that uses genre tropes this well. Crazy Rich Asians is the best romantic comedy we’ve seen in a long time. It’s glamorous, romantic, gorgeous, hilarious, smart and expertly directed.

Economics professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is travelling to Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding) for his best friend Colin’s wedding. There, she learns that Nick's family is among the richest in the country. Dismissed by many because they don’t believe she will fit in, Rachel becomes determined to prove them wrong.

I watched Crazy Rich Asians on a double-bill with Monster-in-Law because of the two pictures’ similarities. Basically, they share a plot but the execution makes them so different it’s like they have nothing in common. You can probably guess the story’s beats but there’s a twist to them that makes Crazy Rich Asians so much more. When you see Nick and Rachel together, they’re perfect. She’s got a good head on her shoulders. He’s wealthy but isn't insensitive to the problems of the common person and doesn't flaunt his riches. The performers have excellent chemistry. They’re both beautiful people. The camera doesn’t shy away from showing you Henry Golding without a shirt on and Constance Wu appears in several glamorous outfits that make her look like a princess. You like them as individuals. You like them even better as a couple. There’s no reason for Nick's mother, Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) to disapprove of them but she does. In her eyes, Rachel's upbringing means she will never fit in.

It’s not that Rachel grew up “poor” and that Nick didn’t. This film is deeper than that. Eleanor doesn’t approve because of the way Rachel was raised. Her parents were Chinese but she grew up in America. In Eleanor's eyes, Rachel could never understand the values the Young family hold so dearly. The opening scene shows Eleanor being discrimated against for being a foreigner. It generates sympathy for her. Seeing her judge Rachel later shows how much of a hypocrite she is.

You could dig deep into the film’s themes of old money vs. new money, of tradition and need to move away from them as well, the significance of the relationship between Astrid (Gemma Chan) and her husband, Michael (Pierre Png), or what it means to see a major theatrical release with an all-Asian cast, but ultimately, all of these are gravy. What you came for are some laughs and scenes of tenderness that will make your date want to hold your hand. That's what you get. The wedding Nick and Rachel attend is so beautiful and so glamorous. It radiates love so brightly it’ll bring tears to your eyes. It’s as romantic as attending a real-life wedding between two people you know are perfect for each other. You love seeing Nick and Rachel together. Seeing them having a great time with every luxury money can buy at their fingertips is rewarding.

There's so much going on with the cinematography, sets and costume designs you could watch the movie on mute and have a great time but then you’d be missing out on the comedy. Awkwafina (an actress who continues to impress with each film) delivers one big laugh after another. So does Ken Jeong - the funniest he’s been in years. Many of the side characters are quirky and memorable for their comedic values. The “serious” characterization is left to the main cast, with Eleanor coming off as particularly multi-faceted. She can afford to be. As in any fantasy, the leads have to be “perfect” to reinforce that anyone who doesn’t cheer for them is a villain.

Crazy Rich Asians is so enormously pleasing only those with a bone to pick against romantic comedies could dislike it. That said, I would agree with criticisms directed towards the conclusion. It’s a bit too long and does indulge a bit in some rom-com clichés. I'm mentioning this to show I'm not biased. The visuals, humor, drama and romance make Crazy Rich Asians a film you’ll be glad to return to over and over. It’s a terrific pick for date night. (August 7, 2020)

[tamilhobbit]

Honestly, fully agree. I just rewatched the main PotC trilogy and then On Stranger Tides, and there really is such a drop in quality. The original trilogy is wonderful. Its cinematography alone is excellent, and oh, that music.

- Each of the films has a beautifully gothic, atmospheric opening. Lingering shots on details like the teacups full of rain, on the expression on the boy's face as he looks up at the noose. Honestly the beginning of At World's End, with the chilling double whammy of child execution and That Song, is in my opinion one of the best openings out there.

- Just. Gorgeous lighting and composition, by and large.

- Like Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean has a lot of night combat scenes that are well lit. You can actually see what's going on.

- The combat is so well choreographed. I often find combat scenes boring after a few watches unless they're really well done, and the combat in these films is always so fun to watch. Elizabeth and Will's wedding is top-tier, but most of the combat is excellent. It got a lot more chaotic and boring in Stranger Tides.

- The chemistry. One of the reasons the other films suffer is that Jack is less compelling as a standalone protagonist - they keep giving us these young lover couples to root for, as a clear stand-in for Will and Elizabeth, but it misses the point. The trilogy worked because of the main trio: Jack, Will and Elizabeth. They all bounced off each other so well. Will and Elizabeth were more than just dewy-eyed lovers, like Philip and Syrena. They were complex characters with arcs of their own, and a complicated relationship with Jack that clearly went both ways.

Barbossa is also great but the magic was in the main trio. The films are less interesting and compelling when it's just Jack, Barbossa, Gibbs and a bunch of new characters.

- Minor details, like the excessive amount of sugar we see Cutler Beckett consuming and serving. Given the cost of sugar at the time - and no, I am not talking about money - it tells us a lot about his character and what he represents.

- That fucking music. Hans Zimmer, you genius. Those swelling themes are magical.

That said, it is frustrating how Elizabeth is constantly under threat of SA. In the first film it was to establish the pirates as an actual threat so we'd root for the good guys, but like. In that whole silly Singapore sequence there was no reason for the leering dude to make her remove more of her clothes and walk around like that. It could have been skipped.

(Also as an actual Singaporean I trust I do not need to say how much I hate that whole part, lmao. For one thing, the time period is most likely before the British showed up in Singapore in 1819. Before that we were a Malay kingdom and, at this point, subject to the Johor sultanate. Not a Chinese pirate city. We weren't even called Singapore yet; we were still Singapura.)

Just in general, those films definitely have a racism problem. 😫

Comments on Pirates of the Caribbean

So, I rewatch the first one after years bc I was sick by the Johnny Depp bullshit and through his presence would ruin the movie for me, thankfully, it didn't.

- Why don't they make blockbusters like this anymore? The scale of the production, everything feels so real, so damn good. They only used CGI when they needed it.

-Now I noticed that Elizabeth, Will and Jack have "friendship" matching scars, as all the three of them have a long cut on the palm of their hand.

-When Barbossa is about to cut Elizabeth, thinking her blood is the one they needed, instead of cutting her throat (something that was expected of him) he just cut her hand and when even Elizabeth looked confused at him, he says "waste not"

At first I thought that he was being nice, like there's no need to kill her, and this being a Disney movie really makes me think that. But now I get it, he wasn't being nice, he was being a nightmare as he only didn't kill her bc he was planning on SA her as soon as the curse was off. That's dark.

And it's weirdly nice to see how their relationship goes from this nightmare, to Barbossa not only actually respecting and acknowledge Elizabeth as one of them, but also with Elizabeth asking him to marry her with Will. It's like they became buddies at the end, almost lol

-People often praise only Johnny Depp for the success of the trilogy, and yes, he was good I got to admit but he wasn't the sole reason of the movies success. The proof of that is that after Worlds End, the movies went down in quality and will not pretend that the writing and production didn't go down either but the thing is that the characters also were not near as charming, charismatic and just as good as Elizabeth, Will, Barbossa, Davy Jones the crew guys...Jack Sparrow is good but he needs good company to truly shine. And the chemistry they all had towards each other plays a big part in the trilogy success. Jack Sparrow is amazing, but only when he isn't the protagonist.

Edit 1: I've saw the second and third ones again today and damn Hans Zimmer was inspired, the Davy Jones theme is the Best villain theme song (sorry Darth Vader)

At world's end, who also is the Will and Elizabeth theme(with some minor changes) is so good. It's not only good, it's a masterpiece. One of my fav original movie songs ever.

-Elizabeth arc is so well done. From damsel in distress, to pirate, to pirate queen. And it was natural, didn't feel forced at all. Even when she was damsel in distress, she wasn't helpless. In the first movie, after the ship battle, she launched herself at Barbossa , to punch in bc she thought Will was gone. She was always fierce.

And now in the second and third movie when she already knew how to fight...she became a menace.

-And Elizabeth lost her dad, her friend and the love of her life in like, just a few days. Damn. And all of the men she kissed, died lol. Jack, Norrington, Sao Feng and Will, and they all die right after kissing her. I bet she has some sort of "black widow" reputation among the sailors

-Jack really cared for both Elizabeth and Will, and we can see it in the scene when he told Elizabeth that her father was gone and when Davy Jones killed Will. And it makes sense cuz Jack was important in their journey from day one, and he saw their growth from naive young adults to pirates.

-Without a doubt, one of the best trilogies we have.

[vividcine]

Know About Indian Wedding Videography Singapore

Our goal is to provide you with a customised experience that is filled with fantastic communication throughout. On one of the happiest days of your life, we'll be there to see, hear, and share all the intimate and emotional moments. We genuinely care about every couple we work with and about telling their story. We will support you through the entire procedure.

As a leading provider of wedding videography Singapore and a multi-cultural culture, we consider it an enormous privilege to be able to record weddings that represent a variety of racial and religious backgrounds.  Every wedding videography is lovely, and the task is to capture that unadulterated beauty, polish it through video editing, and then proudly stamp our brand on a finished product that is fit for the public to view. We work on every wedding with the same love and dedication.

The couple, as well as the couple's friends and relatives, all agree that weddings are by far the most enjoyable and joyous occasions. After all the formalities are completed, everyone will have a tonne of wedding images that may be shared online for the foreseeable future. Your wedding photographers will capture every detail to give you enduring memories, from the exquisite bridal portraits to the pictures of the groom getting ready and all the wedding customs in between.

We adore wedding pictures so much! Its encapsulation of realism, purity, and magnificent aura can serve as a key source of inspiration for your wedding albums. Indian wedding videography Singapore now prefers to broadcast every detail of their wedding day online, from cute honeymoon images to wedding announcements. Additionally, there are a variety of original and clever wedding Instagram captions that you can use for each of the stunning photos waiting in your gallery to blow up the internet and achieve your goals!

Wedding videography, cinematography, wedding video, pre-wedding film, candid motion video, wedding film, engagement shoots, story wedding, traditional wedding, destination weddings video, aerial/drone videography film, digital invitation video, video editing services, cinematic highlight, music video, Instagram video, YouTube video, Vimeo video, and many other video shoot and editing services are our specialties.

We specialise in cinematic wedding films and candid photography all over the world. We love filming the most significant day of your life and that love is reflected in our narration of your wedding story through our best lenses.

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[logicthinksolutionseo]

Wedding and portrait photography & videography. Named as one of Singapore's best photographers, we enjoy fleeting moments and adventures.

[dayseternal-blog]

It's AAPI month! Any piece of media (book, show, movie, podcast...) to recommend us?

😄 Yes!

Films:

The Farewell, Directed by Lulu Wang - Chinese-born, U.S.-raised Billi (Awkwafina) reluctantly returns to Changchun to find that, although the whole family knows their beloved matriarch, Nai-Nai, has been given mere weeks to live, everyone has decided not to tell Nai Nai herself.

The characters are funny, heartwarming, and believable. The cinematography is moving. My older sister cried in the theatre and has re-watched it several times. ...my family is not Chinese, but my husband is half!

Wayfinders: A Pacific Odyssey, Directed by Gail K. Evenari - This award-winning PBS documentary sweeps viewers into a seafaring adventure with a community of Polynesians, as they build traditional sailing canoes, learn how to follow the stars across the open ocean, and embark upon a 2,000-mile voyage in the wake of their ancestors.

Papa Mau: The Wayfinder, Directed by Nāʻālehu Anthony - Papa Mau: The Wayfinder is a feature-length documentary that takes a retrospective look at the influence of Mau Piailug, a native from the tiny Micronesian atoll of Satawal, on reviving the art of non-instrument navigation in Polynesia. In Satawal, navigators are chosen at birth and begin training at an early age, and Mau was recognized as a master.

Moananuiākea: One Ocean, One People, One Canoe, Directed by Nāʻālehu Anthony - Moananuiākea is a feature-length documentary film telling the story of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage of legendary canoe Hōkūleʻa. The three-year voyage connected countless individuals and communities from around the globe. Purchase it on Blu-Ray here.

I highly, highly recommend watching these documentaries and watching them in this order. They're online! Wayfinders is a 1-hour brief history of this significant part of the Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance in the 1970s, the preceding Western skepticism of Polynesian navigation, historical Polynesian cultural genocide, and the difficulties in reconnecting with the lost art of wayfinding. Mau Piailug is mentioned in the first documentary, but Papa Mau dives deeper into this amazing Micronesian man and how none of this could have happened without his patience and passion. Moananuiākea documents the results of unbelievable hard work to circumnavigate the globe using traditional techniques. It's about the next generation of navigators, environmental advocacy, and a celebration of indigenous cultures and pride around the world.

Books:

Crazy Rich Asians, China Rich Girlfriend, & Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan - Chinese-American Rachel Chu travels with her boyfriend Nick Young to his home in Singapore for his best friend's wedding. Unknown to her, Nick not only belongs to one of the top ten wealthiest families in Asia but is possibly the sole heir to his family's great fortune.

I've watched the movie many times, and it's WONDERFULLY FUN, and yet the books are even better! The narrator is really funny, the side characters get a ton more interesting (particularly Colin Khoo and Kitty Pong). China Rich Girlfriend focuses more on Astrid, her husband Michael, and her ex-fiance Charlie.

The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir by Kao Kalia Yang - Yang recounts her family's escape into Thailand during the Vietnam War, their immigration to America, and the challenges they faced adapting to a new place and language.

This was a required text before going to college, and it was definitely one of the best books I have ever read in my life. I met the author at a guest speaker college event, and she is one of the most beautiful people I have ever been blessed to hear and see. I couldn't believe her handle of language...it was like spoken poetry yet she was really just talking.

I have much more stuff I could recommend, but that's enough. Seriously, if you watched and enjoyed the Disney movie Moana, then you should watch the wayfinding documentaries.

[digitalphotostudio]

Professional Photographer in India

Photos are the token of our life events. They remain in the memory and after so many years when we see them again they actually help us to feel the same way. There are many mega events of our life in which we hire professional photographers. At present time, marriage photo shoots are in the huge demand and actually the skilled and experienced photographers are not available as per the expectations of the people.

So many times, the wish remains unfulfilled or the satisfaction that should be achieved by doing the pre wedding photo shoots or other such events could not be achieved as per the imagination of the clients. You might have seen the many photographers who claim to be experts yet they are not!

However when photography was actually not adored by many, there were two passionate professional photographers in India working tirelessly and whole heartedly to make the memories of their clients so awesome.

In the year 2002, Mr. Chetan Patel started his brand known as Digital Photo studio at Bardoli, Jharkhand. His friend Mr. Vijay Suhagiya also joined him and from then they are setting high levels in the field of photography and cinematography. Having the experience of more than 18 years they have made the special space in the hearts and in the memories of more than 300 clients.

With the motto of “Reflecting your memories” they have done photo shoots for weddings and other events not only in India but outside the country too. They have taken their passion to the new heights after working many important and adorable places across the world. Some of the famous locations outside the country where they have proven their expertise in their skills of digital content making and editing are as follows-

· New Zealand

· Fiji

· Indonesia (Bali)

· Dubai

· Australia

· South Africa

· Singapore

· Phuket

· Egypt

There are many other locations too that they have experienced and explored.

Now they have started a new inning to provide their services using the website and internet portals. They started their web based services to provide customized services to their clients and according to their expectations.

How to contact them to make the awesome memories-

We are sharing the details that how can you take the benefit of their services-

· The clients are provided with a link of ‘Request form’.

· Fill the details as name, contact info and location etc.

· Request the service while submitting the details.

From where to get the link:

· Go to the web site of digital photo studio or click here:

http://digitalphotostudio.in/index.html

· Here click on the ‘Enquire now’ tab that you will see on the top left side.

So as we all want to make our memories as best as we can, we use the photos, images and videos to capture them. But it is very important too, to select the best professional photographers. In this article we provided you the details they will help you to make the right decision. We wish you all the best for all your future events.

Contact Us: Digital Photo Studio Limda chowk, Surati Jakat Naka, Bardoli, Surat India 394601 Mobile: Vijay Suhagiya :- +91 97233 96222 Chetan Patel :- +91 99253 53039 E-mail: infodpsphoto@gmail.com

[jajumphol]

Crazy Rich Asians 2018 (Film Review)

This is a good movie. I don’t see issues with it but I will not say it’s the best movie ever.

There are movies that you can watch without having your brain think too much and just have a fun time and then there are films that push the boundaries of the cinematic experience or make commentary on current social issues.

This movie is totally a feel good movie.

So the cinematography itself is very beautiful and it really makes the viewer believe that the family depicted on screen is crazy rich. The wedding scene was beautiful, the mansions looked luxurious, and the CGI boat in the ocean wasn't terrible. I think at one point the most expensive hotel in Singapore was featured where it has that boat sitting on top of two buildings. The vibrant colours palette and the editing were on point with this film with what they were aiming for which is a feel good rom-com.

The plot is cohesive, the characters have a comprehensive story arch, and it is feel good all the way.

Rachel being an Asian American shows her feeling out of place in this world not only because of the feeling of not being rich enough but also the feeling of not being traditionally Asian. This hits home for so many people honestly and even though it's subtle it's fantastic. It's like that little bit of spice that just makes the film a little better.

Films like this are great but then people complain about x, y, and z whenever these types of films are made like the accuracy of being Asian or harmful stereotypes. My views on this movie is the same for "Love Simon (2018)" where it's not best best but it's not the worst. Representation is great but it should not come from a single source but rather a large selection. The greater the selection the more chances that people can see their experiences depicted on the screen and feel they fit somewhere in the world.

Anyways I didn't pay for this movie but I have the book. I didn't pay for the book either but that's different. But I would definitely watch this like maybe another few times if I ever got the opportunity.

[bisexualcrises]

Whats the movie about?

“Rachel Chu is happy to accompany her longtime boyfriend, Nick, to his best friend's wedding in Singapore. She's also surprised to learn that Nick's family is extremely wealthy and he's considered one of the country's most eligible bachelors. Thrust into the spotlight, Rachel must now contend with jealous socialites, quirky relatives and something far, far worse -- Nick's disapproving mother.”It’s an all-Asian cast with fantastic music and beautiful cinematography. The cast is so fun and the film is so enjoyable. I recommend you go see it in theaters!

[johnterrell56-blog]

How to Zero In On the Right Wedding Videography Company?

Picking the right videography company must be taken seriously. Wedding videography is an art and thus is important to opt for the right videographer because generating flawless video takes an appreciable amount of experience and expertise. A wedding video is as important as still images and is the best way of reliving the grand day and sharing it with the future generations.

With so many cinematography companies around, picking the right one can seem to be a Herculean task but if you base your search on certain factors the job would be a cake walk.

Check Out Reviews: In the modern age of the Internet, the way to look for a best wedding videographer in Singapore is by checking the reviews. The best people who can help you out are your friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. These people can provide you with ‘first-hand’ information about cinematography companies. Reviews can help in distinguishing a fly-by-night company from a reputed and professional one.

In-Person Consultation: For choosing a proficient wedding videographer in Singapore is a remarkable idea. An interview with the videographer ahead of the wedding day is a must to judge his personality so that you feel comfortable around him on the big day. You should assess the way they groom or dress up. A reputed videography company would hire professional videographers who are well-groomed and know how to carry themselves.

The main thing is to be comfortable around your videographer so that they know the subtleties about you for producing a unique wedding video.

Go Through Their Portfolio: Many of the videography companies post only a couple of videos of their work on their official websites but to choose an expert wedding videography company in Singapore you need to check out their complete portfolio and only then enter into a contract with them. You could request to gain access to the videography company’s YouTube account for seeing their work. Many of the companies offer different themes based on which to create your video. It could be a narrative, cinematic classic story or fun party theme. Based on the theme a company can offer you could narrow down your choice to the right wedding videography company.

Discuss Your Requirements: first of all, you need to determine exactly what you want. The companies offer a wide array of options. You could want a ‘5-minute’ summary video or a fully-edited entire day video; drone or same-day edit. You should be confident of your requirements for choosing a competent videographer who can meet up to your expectations and fulfil your needs.

Discuss Timelines and Expectations: It is essential to know the logistics of the wedding day. You must communicate your expectations for your wedding videographer before you enter into an agreement. Your videographer must tell you their working procedure, turnaround time and what they would offer as deliverables once your wedding is over. Before deciding on a wedding or event videography company in Singapore you must know how much the company can deliver.

These are the various aspects to consider for getting in touch with the right videography company.

[smittenpixel03]

Wedding Cinematography Singapore

Smittenpixels Co | Wedding Photography & Videography Singapore. Named as one of Singapore's top, we specialise in weddings and portrait.Smittenpixels Co | Wedding Photography & Videography Singapore. Named as one of Singapore's top, we specialise in weddings and portrait.

[adamwatchesmovies]

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

We could talk about how Crazy Rich Asians is significant because of its all-Asian cast but that kind of thing doesn't inherently make it good and some have complained about the choice of actors anyway… No, better to discuss the excellent cast, lavish scenery and gorgeous cinematography, big laughs, heartfelt romance, and genuine drama.

Economics professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) accepts to go to Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), to his best friend Colin’s wedding. There, she is shocked to discover that Nick's family is among the richest in the country.

It’s hard to tell if it’s the cast, who play off each other wonderfully, the screenplay by Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim (based on the novel by Kevin Kwan) or the direction by Jon M. Chu that makes Crazy Rich Asians. There are many characters to keep track of so don’t feel too bad if it takes you a while to remember who’s who between Astrid (Gemma Chan as Nick’s favourite cousin), Michael (Pierre Png, her husband), Colin (Chris Pang as the future groom), Araminta (Sonoya Mizuno as his future wife) and Alistair (Remy Hii, as a shallow groomsman); key players get the scenes necessary to stand out. Others shine immediately, such as Awkwafina as Rachel’s best friend, Goh Peik Lin –so funny- and Nick’s mother, played by Michelle Yeoh. From the moment you see the family matriarch, you know she’s this passive-aggressive thing masquerading as a woman whose veins are filled with venom. Seeing her makes you cheer for Rachel and Nick even more.

Some plot points are typical: the makeover montage, the “gay best friend”, the rich disapproving parent(s), the airport scene, etc. Would it have been nice for the film to be completely unpredictable and reinvent the romcom? Yes. Is it necessary for every movie to be this whole new thing? I don’t think so. Those tried-and-true beats are naturally woven into the story and feel genuine making them difficult to categorize as "flaws". When you see the gossip that follows Nick and Rachel, you understand why it strains their relationship. As much as the clichés are present, they generate the kind of emotion that makes you glad to be sitting in the theater next to a sweetheart – partially due to the terrific chemistry between the leads. Once at Colin and Araminta’s wedding, it’s so beautiful I teared up a little. The lavish shots of street vendors, dresses, and architecture make you want to hop on a plane. Everything this picture strives to do, it accomplishes.

Whether you're Asian or goblinoid (like me) there’s something for you in Crazy Rich Asians. You'll be swept up in the drama and romance. You’ll laugh heartily. It’s not one to miss, a great date film I foresee many calling an instant favorite. (Theatrical version on the big screen, August 24, 2018)

[popwasabi]

“Crazy Rich Asians” Review: Support This Movie So I Can Stop Being Angry

Directed by Jon M. Chu

Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina

 “Crazy Rich Asians” might be the first film I’ve ever been nervous about seeing.

It wasn’t that I didn’t trust that director Jon M. Chu would properly represent Asian Americans in a way most Hollywood films don’t but I found myself worried not about whether I would like the movie but whether others would. You see, in the theater full of mostly Asian people I saw it with there was a row of five middle-aged white people right in front of me and my mind immediately went to the gutter thinking “will these people laugh at anything that isn’t a stereotype in this movie?”

(White people be all like: “Why do Asians all look the same?”)

Obviously that’s an unfair assumption to make but Hollywood makes it for them all the time. Rarely producing films that give being Asian any nuance or depth beyond being smart, martial arts masters or more infuriatingly submissive enablers of a white protagonist over their own stories.

A part of me didn’t care about enjoying it so long as it made an impression on Hollywood and larger film-going audiences; I needed this film to succeed because it could mean so much more for representation and inclusion down the line.

Luckily, from what it looks like, the film is trending well and in the end managed to warm my cold dead heart with its whimsical rom-com charm, even if parts of it devolved into the predictable.

Based on the bestselling book by Kevin Kwan, “Crazy Rich Asians” follows the story of Rachel Chu as she and her boyfriend Nicholas Young travel to visit his family in Singapore for his brother’s wedding. Unbeknownst to her, Nick hasn’t been completely forthcoming about his family’s lifestyle and as it turns out he is part of the richest family in Southeast Asia. Now Rachel finds herself in a battle to establish herself in front of his matriarchal mother and prove to her that she’s worth it to Nick.

In writing this review over the last few days it’s been very hard to convey how I’ve felt about this film without going on an angry tangent about Asian representation as a whole in popular cinema. It’s pretty much impossible for me not to talk about it so I’m going to try to talk about this as briefly as possible before I get into the film itself and where it stands personally for me.

(Me trying to avoid writing 10,000 words of pent up rage over the first couple drafts..)

There have definitely been better movies to come out, even in recent years, about the Asian/Asian American experience in the west and more than a few starring all Asian casts, writers and directors. Last year’s, much smaller film, “Gook” for instance gets much more personal about race and the ugliness of society.Even as far as comedies go “Seoul Searching” (which is on Netflix) is a funnier more relatable take on the issues and themes raised in this movie.

(Also, if you didn’t know already, Justin Chon is a GREAT actor and needs to be in more movies. Or at least directing them.)

But as many in the media have pointed out already, this is historic in that it’s the first MAJOR film of this kind since “Joy Luck Club” and to finally have a film featuring this type of cast, director and story with big corporate backing is huge for representation whether you find the film underwhelming or not.

Over the last couple years, whitewashing has become a more recognized topical issue in Hollywood than ever before as Asian American audiences are speaking up more loudly about problematic casting and writing choices that Hollywood and apologists find all kinds of excuses for. Despite plenty of evidence to support otherwise that ���bankable” stars don’t guarantee box office draws and that Asian Americans are the largest movie-going demographic per-capita in the country, Hollywood still will place relatively unknown white actors in lead roles on huge box office productions (look at the history of Hollywood trying to make Armie Hammer a thing) while simultaneously telling people like myself that people who look like me can’t be mainstream draws.

If for nothing else, cast more Asian Americans because it’s the right thing to do. The representation and inclusion is waaay overdue and if I have to hear “Just make your own movie” or “People from (insert Asian country here) don’t care” one more God damn time I will tear my fucking hair out! Kevin Kwan had to FIGHT to keep the role of Rachel Chu in this movie Asian and Asians from the mainland and Asians in America, or more broadly in the West, don’t have the same lived in experiences. Not even close!

(Me failing often to maintain my decorum in polite company when these topics are brought up...)

One of the weirdest and most shocking revelations I had coming out of this film is that it was one of the only films I could recall seeing an Asian couple engaging with each other romantically in a Hollywood film for more than five minutes at a time ever. That’s. Fucking. Nuts!

I hope that with the commercial and critical success of this movie what’s left of the skeptics will come around finally (especially the ones in Hollywood) and stop with the dismissiveness. They probably won’t but hey maybe it’ll shut them up for a while at least…

(It gets me through this shit...)

Anyways, now that I’m (mostly) done ranting, as far as the movie goes this is a solid date-night romantic comedy that I’m sure everyone regardless of background can enjoy.

“Crazy Rich Asians” is fairly predictable, albeit with some minor twists, but it still manages to tell a story we’re all pretty familiar with in a unique and often dazzling way.

The first thing that pops out immediately about this film is its visuals as the movie displays a wide array of hues and colors that make the cinematography and the literal richness of the plot truly pop. Its visual eye-candy in the best way, even if it comes across as shallow at times, and if nothing else will keep your eyes glued to the screen as the films moves through its lush scenery.

The soundtrack also helps highlight this between the pop songs and Cantonese renditions of them and director Jon Chu does a great job of splicing it all in together with this group of characters and making their performances even brighter through it.

The cast is the true strength of the film, of course, featuring multiple well-known Asian actors and actresses as well as a few newcomers, who I hope breakout in Hollywood through this film. Constance Wu is delightful, sassy and strong-willed as Rachel Chu and helps shed the stereotype of the meek and submissive Asian women in this story by standing up for herself and not hinging her existence on a man, even one she loves. On the other side of things Henry Golding looks every bit like a star in the making and is charming as Nick Young (even if he is a bit of a Gary Stu character) while also smashing stereotypes about asexuality and unattractiveness in Asian men himself. The two of them have great chemistry onscreen and make a very believable romantic couple and it’s hard, even for an eternal cynic like me, to not be like “Awwwww true wuuuuuv” while watching their romance play out.

(*sniff* It’s so extra yet it’s so beautiful ;_;... *sobs at the extra-ness of the romance*)

There’s a hilarious cast of characters who support Wu and Golding alongside them as well. The always enjoyable Awkwafina plays up her role as the funny best friend very well, the Daily Show’s Ronny Chiang gets in some nice quips and Ken Jeong plays the perverted weirdo perfectly.

The indomitable Michele Yeoh does a great job as the menacing matriarch Eleanor Young but manages to keep it from getting too cliché as the writing adds some nice shades of grey to the character. Her love, even if misguided, is well acted alongside Golding and the two make for an interesting mother/son dynamic that I’m sure plenty will be able to relate to.

The real surprise star, and honestly the most interesting part of the story, actually comes from English actress Gemma Chan who plays Nick’s cousin Astrid. The sub plot involving Astrid and her husband sets up a unique and powerful message about the give and take in relationships and its reflection upon femininity and masculinity. Chan puts in a short but nonetheless thoughtful and sincere performance here and I look forward to seeing more of her in the sequel and hopefully other major film productions.

(That look you give when someone tells you a film starring a dozen or so Asian actors and actresses can’t be a huge box office success)

The film doesn’t have many profound things to say otherwise, it’s again a fairly by the numbers rom-com with a heavy dosage of opulence porn and not to mention some problematic elements, but the one message I hope white audiences take from this film, other than everything I mentioned earlier *gets back on soapbox*, comes from Rachel’s mother at the very beginning of the film.

In the lead up to Nick and Rachel’s big Singapore trip Rachel’s mother warns her about what people of the mainland will think of her when they see her. She states that she may look Chinese and speak Cantonese but, pointing to her heart, they see her as American.

This speaks to a lot of what growing up in this country feels like sometimes for us Asian Americans. That despite many of us being three or four generations deep now in this country we’re seen as foreigners and people from “our country” see us the same way. It’s a deep struggle for our identities and the perpetual foreigner syndrome is a real issue for many of us. Yes, as adults it’s easier for us to shake these insults and micro aggressions but that doesn’t mean it’s still not fucking annoying. Hopefully when white film-goers see this scene they begin to understand that we are as much Americans as anyone else and that seemingly harmless but nonetheless insulting comments like “no, where are you really from” need to be done away with.

(”Where are you from?”---->”Oh I’m from LA.”----> “No, I mean where are you from?”---> “Uhhh California?”----> “No where are you really from?”----> “The United States?...”----> “No where are you REALLY from?”--->*me^*)

I won’t stand here and tell you that Asian Americans have had it worse in this country than other minorities but stereotypes and poor cultural representation, or lack thereof, does contribute to a wide array of issues for us and hopefully this film helps hammer away those regressive viewpoints.

TL;DR “Crazy Rich Asians” is a good date movie and, if nothing else, support this movie so I can go on less rants about Hollywood shitting on Asian Americans.

It may be, at least on the surface, a pretty straight forward romantic comedy but its little nuances and unique commentary on this demographic of people (Even if it talks about a small section of it) makes it a film worth supporting.

Hopefully in the future this film will feel pretty ordinary as representation and inclusion become more accessible things for not just Asian Americans but for people of all backgrounds but until then this is a nice, waaaay past-due, coming out party for Asians across this country and abroad.

 VERDICT:

4 out of 5

*Me awaiting the inevitable “Well actually...” comments that’ll come from this review*

[tuhbefayuh]

Crazy Rich Asians: Worth it and why it’s important

I just saw Crazy Rich Asians. 

At the moment of writing this, I loved it. I really enjoyed myself and the movie overall. If I were to judge the movie based off how it made me feel when watching and my experience, then I’d say it’s one of the better movies I’ve seen this year, if not one of the best (I’d probably put it up there with Infinity War and Deadpool 2 based on movie-going experience + film quality).

All-in-all, no major gripes or complaints. 

The soundtrack was pretty good, my favourites were the jazzy party songs, Kina Grannis’s cover of Can’t Help Falling In Love, and Katherine Ho’s cover of Yellow by Cold Play. The score, however, wasn’t entirely forgettable, but only had a few pieces stand out, probably because there wasn’t much other audio in the scene. Like, some unfair comparisons for setting my bar on good scores would be Howard Shore (LOTR & Hobbit Trilogies), La La Land, Beauty and the Beast live remake, and some of Black Panther. Because the music has thematic undertones and are tied to either a person, a place, or a concept/feeling. 

Visually, the movie was passable, more or less meeting industry standards in terms of cinematography and color grading. Drone/crane shots over the locations, colors looking vibrant enough, but shining when/where it counted (mainly in the low-lighting scenes and/or wedding scene). Pretty standard, with some missed opportunities for scenes to have more of an impact, or for visual comedy, etc. However, I enjoyed the gossip scene in the beginning when all the Asians and their mothers (literally) were spreading news of Nick and Rachel, since it just looked visually interesting with the chat bubbles and showing news spread over countries in such a short time.

Characters...though having an ensemble cast can be difficult, it was, I guess, a bit short of being bloated / unnecessarily packed just for the sake of having an all-Asian cast. It didn’t feel odd/out of place/shoe-horned having all these Asians on screen since the setting was in Singapore, just like how Black Panther had all the Black people since it was set in Wakanda. Most of the side characters felt not entirely fleshed out, though for the sake of the story, they didn’t need to be. They showed the side that needed to be shown to be a stark contrast from Rachel, and they served their purpose. There were some characters who I loved and wanted to be friends with, some with just a good character moment, and then there’s the mid-credit scene cameo like goddamit lmao.

Story-wise, it has been described as an Asian version of Princess Diaries 2, for simplicity’s sake. What makes this story compelling, and why I like it more than WongFu’s “Yappie,” is that it follow’s the Monomyth (The Hero’s Journey). But what the movie says and shows is how these homeland/motherland Asians are both the same, and different from everyone else in the world, even Asian  Americans/immigrants. The way these rich Asians get together, flaunt their wealth, gossip, etc. is the same with every other rich group in the world. Yet, they also show how these Asians differ from the rest; how they are very strongly family-oriented, how spending time with family is important, how there is a time to think of yourself, and a time to not be selfish and think of others and how your actions may affect them, and how tradition is important. They show why some of them make certain sacrifices, choose not to follow their passion, to not act solely on emotion, but to be rational and build things that will last and will carry on to future generations, and how important this mindset is, no matter what the situation is. Asians are stereotyped/grouped as individuals who get high paying jobs just for the sake of having money or pride, but in the very first scene of the movie they show how all that money won’t mean shit to a world that looks down on you. It was the influence they had because of the actions of earlier generations mixed with the wealth they attained that changed their situation. But they also show how traditions and the mindset of the motherland Asians are flawed, and how there needs to be a healthy balance between both motherland and immigrant mindsets. 

Please go see this movie if you haven’t already! But it wouldn’t hurt to watch it again if you already have. Though you should watch it to support Asians in the media, and to get a better understanding of Asian culture, you should watch it simply because it’s an enjoyable rom-com movie that carries more weight and goes a bit deeper than your usual rom-com. It tells a compelling story, it has heart, it has comedy, it has mad sex appeal (yes, Hollywood, Asians are sexy af, the sexiest imo). But what Hollywood needs to understand is that Asians don’t need to always be portrayed as either the martial artists or the nerds. But if so, they can be other things as well, there are so many stories that can be told through media featuring Asians. There are the suave and charismatic Asians, the douchey Asians, the ambitious Asians, the family-oriented Asians, the adventurous Asians, the artsy and talented or untalented Asians, the fun Asians, and the Crazy Rich Asians.