The Joy Luck Club

Firstly, for those who wrote negative reviews because of of how the movie plays into stereotypes and how disturbing this movie is, I can only assume that you are not Chinese American. I watched this movie when it was released in 1993 and it touched me profoundly. I am a second generation Chinese American and I know from the many stories that my mother has told me about our own family, that this is all very realistic for the time period. I could personally relate to everything from the first dinner with the boyfriend at her parent’s house, to the uppity aunt, to the mah-jong circles. My mother could relate to so much more. It was like watching the generational story of my own family. Sure, there were elements of Hollywood drama, but at the core, the women’s stories, were all very relatable to me and my family.

Not entirely sure why the group of ladies in the story call it the "Joy Luck Club", probably should be the "Dark and Haunted Club". This is a pretty dark movie all around; keep the alcohol and razor blades in another room because if you don't, you might start to reach for both....its that dark. One bad thing after the next happens to just about everyone in this movie, except the one lady who did not get married (moral of the story perhaps?)....I say that as a Dude. That said, it's a good movie with great acting, but it's torturous at times to get through with all the bad happenings. First time I saw this movie was in 2021. It's a good movie to check out if you've not seen it before.

This movie is terrible. It’s funny if you know anybody from a Chinese culture and society.

I am a half Asian American, and I have seen both cultures. The perspective of an American kids born and raised. And the perspective of my parent’s experience in a third world Asian country. There are many different hard ships and endeavors one faces in there life. And It is how you make the best of it that matters. In life it is hard to make some decisions. But when it comes to your self or your children’s future you will do almost anything. This movie shows some decisions you wish you or your children never have to make. For all the American Kids that have faced indifference or prejudiczist stay strong. One day the world will understand, we must love and care for one another!

Many white people in my life have proclaimed their undying love for this movie, so I naturally expected all the stereotypes about "Asians" that's integral to white liberal U.S. society. Lo and behold, this movie did a really good job covering all of them, from shallow ones like strict Asian parents to deeper ones like how unattractive Asian men are compared with white males. It's so sad how white and liberal Hollywood is. That said, I'm a fool to keep spending money on this kind of cinematic garbage when Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, and now Chinese film industries have surpassed the American one in terms of quality, depth, diversity, and excitement? Perhaps Netflix isn't the only reason behind the ongoing sequel-apocalypse in this country.