When East meets West

MANILA, Philippines - It is really interesting to see two individuals of different cultures coming together. Will they get along? Will they just be forever arguing or will they compromise? Will either of them give up their culture? Just like real-life scenarios, film characters also have their fair share of these cultural differences and issues.

Here are some movies, particularly in an “East-meets-West” plot, that have such storyline: 

Rush Hour. It’s funny how these two best buddies, Carter and Lee (played Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan), get together well, in spite of arguing almost 70 percent of the time. It’s even funnier when you see them in the middle of a situation undecided on whose idea is better. Well, that doesn’t matter as long as they are having fun and accomplishing missions. Actually, being different could be the reason why they get along so well. 

Shanghai Noon. Try putting together a Chinese imperial guard and a Western outlaw on a mission — what do you get? A hilarious tandem with a dozen of arguments, a number of cool stunts and a solid friendship. Jackie and Owen Wilson did a great job in showing that people of different culture can still come together somehow, someway. 

The Joy Luck Club. A group of Chinese immigrant women tells stories about struggles living in a foreign land (America). Not only that, they also have difficulty dealing with their American-born children. It is not easy to live in a country which is totally different from one’s own. It takes courage and huge adjustment. 

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Sean, a problem child and a car-racing driver, is sent by his mother to his Japanese father. There, he meets new friends and is set again to enter the world of car racing. However, this time the race is even more dangerous and more intense. He needs to learn, to practice, to experience life outside his comfort zone.

Romeo Must Die. Han (Jet Li) decides to come to the US to find out facts about his brother’s death and to seek revenge. Everything is just so different the moment he lands. Luckily, he meets a local girl, who helps him to fit in and becomes handy in solving the case. Is there a chance for romance between these two culturally different people? 

Tomorrow Never Dies. James Bond is known for his irresistible charm that has magnetized many women. But it’s different when he meets Wai Lin, an Asian agent whom by accident he needs to work with. Different training, different background, who’s better? It doesn’t matter as long as they get to do their job well. Is romance possible? Everything is possible for Bond.

Anna and The King (1999 version). When Anna, a British English teacher, is assigned to teach the children and wives of King Mongkut of Siam, she doesn’t realize that what she’s about to experience will be a life-changing one. Apart from teaching, she will also have to deal with the king who is very protective, not only of his children but also of his kingdom. Will Anna ever get the king to open up even a little?

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. In the sequel, the O’Connells are dealing with yet another mummy. But this time around, it’s a Chinese emperor mummy. Together with his thousands of armies, the emperor is determined to avenge his death and to spread his bitterness among people. It seems like a big trouble, but the O’Connells have their way in solving problems, especially mummy matters.

The Karate Kid. Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) and Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) share many things in common. They are both good in martial arts, they both have foreigners as students, and they live in a foreign country. Seems like a lot of adjustments are needed but they survived anyway.

An interesting part in the movie is when they start teaching the students the ways of martial arts, which actually is challenging, especially for someone with a different culture.

Lost in Translation. What’s fascinating about the movie is that, it shows two people of the same culture (but of different generations) meeting in Japan. As we all know, Japan has a unique culture. So there, they both embark on a journey of experiencing another culture first hand, together. Good thing is that they have each other; two is, almost always, better than one.