Asians take the lead

Slowly, but surely, the industry is diversifying with more people of Asian descent to the big screen. Here are some films with lead roles held by Asian-descent minorities.

1.) "Abominable"

I absolutely can't wait to see this DreamWorks animated film! The movie is about a teenage girl named Yi (voiced by Chloe Bennet) who embarks on a journey with her two friends, Jin (voiced by Tenzing Norgay Trainor) and Peng (voiced by Albert Tsai), to return a Yeti to his home. Set in China, they must travel to The Himalayas.

2.) "Blinded By the Light"

After watching this film, one can see why Bruce Springsteen's music is appreciated: it speaks to everyday people. Javed, played by Viveik Kalra, is a Pakistani teen living in small town Luton, where he finds comfort in the music of Springsteen while struggling with issues of racism, fitting in, and love. Best of all, it's based on a true story!

3.) "Yesterday"

This film is definitely on my to-watch list. What if The Beatles never existed? Jack, played by Himesh Patel, is an aspiring music artist who wakes up to find that the band never came about. Knowing their lyrics by heart, he uses them as his own and instantly becomes a hit. Jack gets everything he wants, the stardom and glamour that The Beatles once faced, but of course with fame, comes consequences. How far will he go?

4.) "Last Christmas"

One of my favorite things about the holidays are the release of Christmas movies in theaters. It must be quite a challenge for a holiday movie to become a classic, but I must say, I am pretty excited to see this one! Emilia Clarke who held the lead role in 2016's "Me Before You" and Henry Golding from "Crazy Rich Asians"? That's it, I'm seeing it and it's an instant classic for me. As the trailer unfolds, it appears that Kate (played by Clarke), a young woman with a formerly ill past, falls in love with a mysterious, yet charming man (played by Golding).

5.) "The Sun Is Also A Star"

Another romance book-to-film adaptation? Call me in. Based on the YA novel, Natasha, played by Yara Shahidi, is a teenage girl who was raised in New York, but born in Jamaica. On the day she finds out her family is being deported, she meets Daniel, played by "Riverdale" star Charles Melton, and they immediately fall in love. With only a day to spare, they try to make the best of it.

6.) "The Farewell"

This movie focuses on one family with one big secret: the grandmother is dying of cancer. Golden Globe winner Awkwafina plays Billi, who finds it hard and morally wrong to keep such a secret from her.

7.) "Parasite"

This Golden Globe winning film focuses on class discrimination. The Parks are a family of wealth and the Kims are otherwise. The Kim family finds it an opportunity to be financially supported by the Parks as a tutor and art therapist.

Comments

Highlighting Indie Bookstores for World Book Day: Always Buying Books

Back row (left to right) Amelia Faulkner and Gary O’Dell; Middle row (left to right) Bree Thuma and Tina Schmidt. Front row (left to right) Alyse Foley and Bob Wolfe photo courtesy: Bob Wolfe JOPLIN, Mo. — In Webb City, 10-year-old Bob Wolfe would walk almost every day from his house to the public library. He couldn’t wait to devour the next set of "The Hardy Boys" books and lucky for him, he lived less than a mile away. “I didn't read 'The Hardy Boys,' I became the third brother. I lived them, I loved it,” he said. On the way home, he’d read one book while he carried the rest of the haul stuffed into his shirt. He was so absorbed in the story that he'd sometimes step off a curve, run into a tree or walk two blocks past his house without even realizing. Now, 74, he owns a bookstore of his own called Always Buying Books , in Joplin, the birthplace of Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes. BOB WOLFE'S FAVORITE BOOK: Wolfe grew up in a family of reader...

Cait's Plate: Pasta de Pasta - The place to indulge your pasta cravings

photo credit: Cait Malilay Pasta de Pasta, located at 192 1st Ave., is a new restaurant that opened in East Village last June. If you're a pasta lover and you're looking for a reasonably priced dish, then this is the place for you. You can get a fresh in-house pasta for as low as $9.90. I heard about this place on Instagram and I knew I just had to try it for myself. Customers are given the option of their sauce and any additional toppings. If you've seen other posts, what probably caught your attention is that it's only $9.90, but that only goes for the simple Fettuccine Alfredo. It is, however, made in a parmesan wheel cheese. If you get Fettucine pasta noodles with any other sauce, it will be extra. The restaurant is very inviting and there is a window where you can witness the magic that goes into making it. photo credit: Cait Malilay I'll be honest, the first time that I went there, the pasta was hot, but the noodles were a little sticky. My second visit was...

A supporter of Bob Avakian (BA) and a supporter Charlie Kirk (CK) agree on one thing: the censorship of books is not ok!

Texas Republican lawmakers are on the hunt to take down books in school libraries that center on race, the LGBTQ+ community and sexual health. In a letter to the executive director of the Texas Association of School Boards, Gov. Greg Abbott urged them to be on the lookout for any books that he described as containing "pornographic or obscene material,” arguing that parents have a right to be concerned. photo credit: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo Matt Krause, chair of the Texas House's General Investigating Committee, created a list and in a letter to the Texas Education Agency's deputy commissioner of school programs and school superintendents, encouraged them to keep an eye out for any books that might generate “discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of [a student’s] race or sex.” New Kid by Jerry Craft is one of the 850 books on Matt Krause's list In response , a group of librarians started the grassroots initiative, #F...

Type Away Cait

Search This Blog