American Born Chinese

[Babillygunn]

I hadn’t seen this talked about anywhere else, but Disney + is adapting Gene Luen Yang’s masterpiece of a graphic novel into a film.

I like the folks involved, but my love of this graphic novel makes me a little hesitant. The beauty of the novel is the narrative style, with three initially independent but ultimately intertwined stories, which doesn’t look to be present here. In fact, one of the narratives seems to be (unsurprisingly) absent here altogether. But if you’ve read the book you know which one and can guess why.

I’m excited because I absolutely love the source material, but I’m also apprehensive for the same reason.

 

[MarvelFan]

Wow...there is an original GoKu there (The Monkey King)...haha.

Tbh, I am not familiar with the source material but
I hope the show runners know what they are doing with this...because they depict Guanyin Goddess/Avalokittesvara Boddhisatva (Kanon Goddess in Japanese), who will be played by Michelle Yeoh here.

Unlike the deities from Greek Myth or Norway myth for example...
Guanyin/Kanon is very prominent and important goddess in the Buddhist religion. (Not just in the myth)
All Buddhist people are praying to Her. (including many here in Japan, also).
She is basically an Eastern evaquelent of Mother Mary....so I hope She will be depicted with respect and not just treated as a myth figure.

 

[chintai80]

I hadn’t seen this talked about anywhere else, but Disney + is adapting Gene Luen Yang’s masterpiece of a graphic novel into a film.

I like the folks involved, but my love of this graphic novel makes me a little hesitant. The beauty of the novel is the narrative style, with three initially independent but ultimately intertwined stories, which doesn’t look to be present here. In fact, one of the narratives seems to be (unsurprisingly) absent here altogether. But if you’ve read the book you know which one and can guess why.

I’m excited because I absolutely love the source material, but I’m also apprehensive for the same reason.

loved the graphic novel so i'm excited but also sort of apprehensive about this too.
it looks to be a fairly loose adaption of it.

i think its very difficult to adapt because its as you said, the appeal of the comic, was very dependent on the narrative structure.

the original story had this seething anger boiling under it (something that many asian americans will understand), which seems to be toned down or outright absent here.

or maybe they're trying to market this as an actioner to get people to watch it first.

either way, i hope its good!

 

[Albright]

I thought this is a series not a movie, is it?

 

[Albright]

It’s a series…and why isn’t this talked much about?
It looks awesome af.
Almost every main actor from Oscar-killer EEAAO is in it.
And Destin Daniel Cretton is the mastermind behind.

 

[Babillygunn]

Yes. It is a series.
I absolutely love the book. In fact, I love most of what Gene Luen Yang does.
From what little I have seen in the features, though, the series looks very very different from the book, which is unfortunate.

Still it may be great as a stand alone story. But I’m not holding out hope for a faithful adaptation of a masterpiece work.

 

[Pennywise]

 

[chintai80]

i think it looks good, but also definitely a very loose adaption of the comic.

also love everything that gene luen yang's written.
this and the shadow hero are probably my faves.

boxers and saints, animal crackers, and superman smashes the klan are really good too.

i really hope this series is good though.
the comic spoke to me.

 

[Babillygunn]

i think it looks good, but also definitely a very loose adaption of the comic.

also love everything that gene luen yang's written.
this and the shadow hero are probably my faves.

boxers and saints, animal crackers, and superman smashes the klan are really good too.

i really hope this series is good though.
the comic spoke to me.

Agree with everything you said. I also love Level Up and Dragon Hoops.

 

[chintai80]

'American Born Chinese' producers discuss the 'next phase' of on-screen diversity

“There was a conversation early on, and not in a bad way, about whether or not the parents should be happier in their marriage. And we stuck to our guns,” creator and executive producer Kelvin Yu said. “Of course, they love each other. But they’re having a hard time, just like their sons having a hard time.”


While it may seem like an uncomfortable moment, particularly for a family show, Yu said they didn’t want to bury an honest portrayal of an Asian immigrant family. Through the series — which announced this week that it will premiere on May 24 — the producers hope to expand on the image of Asian family dynamics, which are oftentimes tense due to the mental toll of immigration.

i like what i'm hearing so far.

they got these fantastical elements, but also this grounded family drama that people can relate too.

 

[Gee]

Day ****ing 1.

PS: Since it's actually a series, probably want to move this to the Misc. Comics TV area?

 

[Babillygunn]

Day ****ing 1.

PS: Since it's actually a series, probably want to move this to the Misc. Comics TV area?

Yeah, when I started this thread, I thought that it was a film. So mods can definitely move it. My apologies

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

So this is getting really good reviews and hit D+ today. Kinda flew in under the radar.

 

[chintai80]

i binged through the whole series this weekend and enjoyed it a lot.
i thought it was overall very well made.

it’s a very loose adaption of gene luen yang’s original graphic novel, as the story is very different here.
but they do carry over some of
the plot elements and most of the themes from it - while incorporating much more of the monkey king mythology here. which was awesome!

for me, this works as a nice companion piece to the graphic novel. you can tell
the production team put a lot of love and passion behind this project.

at it’s core, this is a grounded teen + family drama, told through the lens of a 1st and 2nd generation immigrant perspective.
the extra layer of fantasy elements thats padded on here creates a sense of fun and wonder to it all.

 

[Babillygunn]

Watched the first episode. I really enjoyed it, but it strays so far from the source material that I can’t help but feel a little disappointed. The original graphic novel is such a masterpiece of writing and so layered, but the show sacrifices a lot of those layers for simplicity sake. Still, it is a good show. Well acted and entertaining.

 

[chintai80]

Watched the first episode. I really enjoyed it, but it strays so far from the source material that I can’t help but feel a little disappointed. The original graphic novel is such a masterpiece of writing and so layered, but the show sacrifices a lot of those layers for simplicity sake. Still, it is a good show. Well acted and entertaining.

yea, as soon as i saw the trailer for this i knew right off the bat they were straying significantly from the plotting of the graphic novel.
also this being on disney plus is really the giveaway for that.

but i still felt they kept the spirit of the comic here.
and the things they do show here, just made me relate to it right away.
i grew up with lot of similar experiences.

like the situation of jin wang's father with his corporate job - i saw my own father go through the same thing back then too.

 

[Pennywise]

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Thought that would be the case. Seemed to be no one watching it.

 

[Albright]

I always thought it’s a limited series…felt like an ending to me

 

[Babillygunn]

Just saw that this was cancelled. I am kind of disappointed as it was a fun show. But I cannot help but wonder what would have been if they’d have stayed more faithful to the graphic novel and made it a true limited series.