Harold and Kumar

Originally posted on xanga.

Harold and Kumar are not my heroes. But they do present something not normally seen in American movies. Asian American (AA) leads. Harold is of Korean descent and Kumar of Indian (India) desecent.

Its coming out on DVD tomorrow and I plan on watching it when I get the chance to rent it. I remember dragging my wife out to the Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle. I didn't know what to expect. I sorta knew they were stoners and that they wanted to eat at White Castle. In 2004, I hadn't eaten at a White Castle, so I didn't know what they were talking about. But whatever, I was going to support the movie with my hard earned $$ so Hollywood would know that AA leads could carry an movie. The thought the movie was average and had funny moments. It did touch on Asian Sterotypes for both CJK and Indians. Which are similiar and quite different in each culture. To go into the differences of just CJK, watch the dramas. They touch and deal on similiar subjects but is quite different culturally.

I have low expectations for Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. But I expect it to be entertaining. Comedies of this sort is for "chill" time. Not really about getting your "brain" on. Although, I suspect I'll have to pay attention to get the debunking references.

As I get older and have less free time to myself, I have to be extra careful in my media choices. I have been more and more leaning towards all things from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Korea, and Japan of late. Even though I am not part of those cultures as I live in Los Angeles, they present to me something I don't see in American media, strong Asian leads.