Shanghai Kiss (2007)

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

Powerful

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Some of you may complain about the dialogue or the main character's actions, but this movie has more depth than a usual romantic comedy. Liam is trying to find himself, and every Asian American can relate to some of the things he does or has gone through. Most Asian Americans were teased when they were young (whether dick jokes, eye jokes, food jokes, ching-chong jokes), and this makes many have a sense of self-loathing when they are adults. I know so many kids who refused to speak Chinese after they were 7 and forgot their native language just because they thought it is cool to not speak in a weird tongue. If you go to any college campus, you'll see Asian Americans hanging out with each other, and the Asian international students hanging out together (they never ever mingle). The concept of not fitting in with American Culture and not fitting in with the parent's native culture is a struggle properly portrayed in the movie. The relationship with his father was spot on. You'd be very surprised how many Asian Americans have strained relationships with their parents (especially those who want to go into the creative job fields). What this movie very accurately portrayed was that behind all the tension, the parents still love us and do what they think it is the best for their children. Liam wanting to go back to China even though deep at heart he belongs in America is something many Chinese-Americans think about. There is something about the charm of a rapidly developing country where people don't judge you based on your looks. But of course Liam, like many Chinese Americans, realizes he doesn't belong in China because everyone considers him American over there, and that is also spot on. I grew up in China, and I started fifth grade here in America. Despite going to school in China, they still say I'm completely American (that was the first thing my cousin said to me off the plane when I went back a couple of summers ago). And of course, an Asian protagonist who deals with all these genuine problems, and still gets the girl. So many people think there is some sort of Lolita complex going on because Adelaide was only 16 when they met. But if you watch the movie closely, Liam tries very hard to avoid any contact that could be interpreted as sexual with Adelaide (remember the scene in the car where he tells her he's going to China to check out his house, and she tries to kiss him in the mouth, but he declines?).A lot of people complain about the white friend, who seems to be there only to make the Asian look good because the white guy cannot get the girl. But I have to say, there are many white guys who are shy around girls, just like there are many guys in general who are shy around girls. That's that. I don't think there is a reason to read into this and think they are purposely reverse discriminating.All in all, there is what is called a collective action problem going on in the Asian-American community here in America. No one wants to take the first step in the process of integrating mainstream. The ones who do try to go into film or the media take on a huge cost onto themselves because of the lack of opportunities for Asian movie makers and the potential disapproval they will get from their parents and their practically-routed friends. The director of this movie, God bless him, decided to take some action and take on a huge risk. This is very admirable. What the Asian American community needs to do is to act collectively. Encourage the young filmmakers, encourage people to do what they want to do, and most importantly, actually doing what you want to do. When we all change our outlook and our actions, we will overcome this collective action problem and effectively change the sad fact that Asian Americans are badly stereotyped on TV and movies.9/10 Go David Ren!!

I'm somewhat surprised to see such high praise for this film in other reviews here. In a nutshell, while I feel that the movie is decent, it didn't blow me away and it's not something I'll really recommend to friends.I took a certain delight in many of the scenes in the movie: the opening scene where the title character fights through Asian stereotypes while trying to audition for a commercial, the awe and wonder he feels seeing Shanghai for the first time, and his helplessness with the Chinese language as he tries to get back to his hotel. There are a few good laughs in the movie, and sure enough an emotional edge to it which some people will relate to -- in a way, you can call the title character an Asian American "Holden Caufield," if you will, as we watch him feeling empty and going through the motions, struggling with a difficult emotional past and present.However, I felt no love at all for Hayden's character or frankly any interest in their relationship. She sure is nice to look at, but the whole premise of a hot blonde sixteen year old Beverly Hills chick flirting with a much older Asian man on the bus seemed a wee bit implausible, if not outright painful once you throw in her baby talking and bizarre instantaneous attachment and clinginess.Overall, the laughs were a bit too few and far between and the story was a bit lackluster, feeling to me like an awkward and somewhat mediocre mixture of "Garden State" and "Lost in Translation." As an Asian American, I really wanted to love the film -- but I just didn't find it entertaining or profound.

Liam is an Asian American actor who is dating a high school student. Liam is a self-hater who keeps away from anything Chinese. The death of his grandmother however leaves him with a place in Shangai, while in Shangai he falls in love with the city and a girl, Micki. And decides to make a life changing decision.The film is brilliant, people consider it racist, but the film is written and directed by a Asian American director. I felt the film highlighted a key issue among Asians,not just East Asians but South Asians. The film captures what it is like for some Asians living in the western world, who try to get away from their parents world.....Ken Leung is a very talented actor and provides some great comedy, even though a lot of it is wasted on the Chinese through translations, I loved the chocolate martini...Hayden Panettiere was a little annoying but her character was needed; while Kelly Hu sizzles on screen as always providing the person that puts everything into perspective for Liam.... The only thing I felt needed a little work was the ending....But all in all a brilliant film..

Well, the movie was not bad but i felt it was missing a lot of scenes, what i mean by this is that the encounters of Liam and Addy were too short, as an audience i didn't feel connected to the character of Liam(as one usually does when seeing a movie, at least in some great movies i do), i mean i did feel connected in some parts of the movie, I'm a Korean living in Mexico hence the connection, but i couldn't say if Liam was really in love with Addy, but there is more, i felt that the movie was like a mix of several movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind(Scene where Addy mets Liam), Lost in Translation(Scenes where Liam is in Shanghai), Garden State(Both characters, Addy the cheerful girl with some emotional scars and Liam struggling actor in L.A. that has issues with his father(about his mother) and his difficulty to show emotions), When Harry met Sally(Last scenes, where he runs to her house(more like a satirical part of When Harry met Sally, because in the movie Harry is not even tired after his long run and Liam smokes when he is resting(very funny), arriving at Addy's House all sweaty), and Addy saying "why do you make it so hard for me to hate you" (like Addy says News Flash Sally said the same thing to Harry) and i don't know if there is another similar movie but you get the idea. Overall not a Bad movie i give it a 6.5(I'm unintentionally being like Liam's friend Joe(those who saw this movie understand what I'm talking about)), i really enjoyed the song Lilly of Pink Martini and also the reference of Nat King Cole(that made me search for his songs). Well that all folks. Thank you for reading all the way through my comment(I usually don't write comments).