Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (2006)

From my favorite movies..

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

This is basic Disney fare. Cute and kinda of funny...clearly aimed at teen and pre-teen audiences. No problem there..but I did have a problem with Brenda Song trying to step away fromo her "London Tipton" role...she barely pulled it off. At any moment I was expecting a dumb comment or one of those vauge "duh" looks to come over her. She obviously was playing a bit of a spoiled high school girl..not a real stretch I suppose. The idea of the story was nothing new...it was pure Disney. What always gets me in these films is while these magical things are going on..no normal person in the film seems to notice anything. In this one...I wondered why the Grandmother had not bothered to start training her granddaughter earlier if she khew what was going to happen? As always...Disney stories involve growing up and finding happy endings..which this one does...after quite a bit of annoying things in between.

Brenda Song has a great blend of beauty and comic timing, she plays Wendy Wu, who is envy of most of her friends, she has it all popularity and a handsome boyfriend. And Wendy is running for homecoming queen for her high school prom. But her dreams are about to take a back seat, when a mysterious monk named Shen(Shin Koyamada) tells her she is a chosen warrior, but Wendy at first thinks he's crazy,until she starts displaying some superhuman abilities. Will Wendy become the warrior, she was meant to be? A great action comedy for the whole family. Everybody does well here, but the one who takes it all is Brenda Song. It also had great effects too.

Well I think it's a not a bad movie. The plot not very original but not too overused. It's nice to see that we have an Asian kung-fu movie type that doesn't star Jackie Chan or Jet Li for once. Brenda Song is not bad as the main character but I think the one that really shone was heart-throb Shin Koyamada.The thing that really bothered me most was how fast that Wendy mastered Kung-Fu. A lot of the things seemed rushed and unreal. As soon as Shen said he was destined to die I knew he wouldn't, this being a Disney channel movie it would have a nice ending with the girl getting the guy. It would have been nicer if Shen had died for Brenda when she could not defend herself because she never trained. Then she understands what she needs to do and her love for Shen. Depressing maybe but if Disney Channel is going to give us happy endings every time we can guess the ending before the show even starts.

I thought that Wendy Wu (Brenda Song) was effective. Although she is does not representatively Chinese, she is still Asian looking which provided the effects of the movie, that even other nationalities are willing to accept meditation, like yoga, into their life.This movie had a huge range of cast members from all over the world Shen (Shin Koyamada), Grandma Wu (Tsai Chin) and many other great talented actors and actresses. I thought that really make it successful that everyone is willing to accept other cultures into their lives, for example, the introduction of Mooncakes and chocolate & cappuccino.It is very entertaining that the plot was set out in a high school life environment where there are many distractions, peer pressure, school pressure, and being brought up in another country and suddenly pulled back into a culture of your ancestors.This movie is truly a sensation to watch if you love to go to school, especially World History. Another is your leisure activity and flexibility training called Yoga. Meditation is very much alike but you are in a quiet state of mind, sitting and concentrating your mind to relax and "meditate".I recommend this movie for all ages and those who are willing to accept other people of different cultures into their lives.