More thoughts on this later, but first, please read the article which covers the Asian-American as well as Japanese perceptions of the spate of Japan-related cinema which debuted in 2003, including "The Last Samurai," "Kill Bill Vol. 1," "Lost in Translation," and "Japanese Story."
HollywoodǃÙs Land of the Rising Clich?©
Also good news for Gothamist.com too as they were mentioned at least twice!
I find myself agreeing with a lot of the sentiment in this article. Although, as an Asian American (of Japanese descent), many be suprised with my stance.
I am all in favor of the various depictions of Japan and the Japanese in the media. Not because they give the right idea of what the Japanese are like, which I think few do, but because they actually make people think beyond thier own world.
Media; books, movies, theatre, are not really there to educate, but to expand peoples minds. Too many people in this world live locked into a small geographical area, interacting with the tiniest fraction of the diversity on this planet. Fiction allows people to image that there is more to the world than they know. At it's best it even inspires people to go out and learn for themselves what is out there.
I find the concept that media must be accurate to be both rediculous and dangerous. Not only is it impossible to be truly accurate and unbiased, but but claiming that that is the goal, people might actually be lulled into thinking that the media can actually provide truth. I'd rather live in a world where media lies an misrepresents everything and everyone knew it, than live in a world where there was no reason to leave your home because the truth is piped into your room directly from the truth police.
I learned about Japan from Godzilla movies and James Clavells Shogun. If anyone should have a warped perspective about Japan I guess it would be me. But after living here a few years and doing quite a bit of research into the country I can only say I have had many opinins about this country, and that most of them have been wrong. I intend to live long enough for all my theories to be proven wrong.
It is wuite interesting to see all of thhe new Japan themed Hollywood movies coming out. I refuse to see 'The Last Samurai' until it comes out on video. It looks a lot like 'Dances with Wolves' and is a bit long!!
'Kill Bill' was just plain comical annd was obviously not a an accurate portrayal of Japan.
I saw a review on 'Lost in Translation' recently and look forward to seeing that.
Of course in every movie there are always traces of reality and untruths. But that is what movies are, fiction based on fact.