cityonfire.com | Better Luck Tomorrow

	Better Luck Tomorrow "Think of it as a high quality "Ninja Turf", only without the martial arts action." - Mighty Peking Man Better Luck Tomorrow (2002) Director: Justin Lin Writer: Ernesto Foronda, Justin Lin, Fabian MarquezProducer: Ernesto Foronda, Justin Lin, Julie Asato Cast: Parry Shen, Jason J. Tobin, Sung Kang, Roger Fan, John Cho, Karin Anna Cheung, Jerry Mathers, Aaron Takahashi, Beverly Sotelo Running Time: 101 min Plot: A group of over-achieving Asian-American high school seniors enjoy a power trip when they dip into extra-curricular criminal activities Reviews MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S REVIEW: V Meet Ben (Parry Shen, who resembles Peter North), a high school senior in Southern California. He's a model student, a semi-jock and a self conscious wreck rolled into one. He seems to be your average overachieving Asian-American student, but deep inside there's a force that pushes him to the dark side of things. With the help of his close friends (the clown, the mastermind and the quiet guy that's too cool to talk) and a peculiar motivation from an out-of-touch dream girl, Ben ventures from his 'good boy' image to a crime-filled pastime that earns him and his 'gang' respect both in and around campus. Biology study by day; gangsterism at night, Ben and his friends live the Goodfellas-dream and get more than what they bargain for... Justin Lin's much-raved film is not bad, but far from a must-see. I remember getting promotion material via e-mail (from a possible MTV Film ad agency) saying that this was an important film and a wake-up call for teenagers, particular the Asian-American youth. I loosely remember what some of it stated: "Go see it now because it may be the most important film you'll ever see!"....yeah... sure... whatever you say...To me, it's just another pseudo-Scorsese flick about unrealistic Asian gangsters who happen to be good students. My question is: What's the punch line? Where's the wake-up call? What's the fucking point? Is Justin Lin trying to tell us that the quiet Vietnamese dude who sat in front of us in pre-calculus was also packing a .45, selling dope, and stealing computers? For a debut feature, "Better Luck Tomorrow" is a worthy project that's bound to put Justin Lin on the boat to bigger and better things. Considering it's maxed out-credit card budget, it was beautifully shot and looks as if it cost millions to produce. Most of the lead performances, particular by Parry Shen, are outstanding - which is a rare case Asian-American talent. However, "Better Luck Tomorrow" as a whole is a pretentious bag. There's nothing riveting, inspiring or important about it, despite what MTV or mainstream critics says. The only reason the film is getting any notoriety is because it's a well-constructed gangster film (and that's all it is) that features not black or Hispanics, but Asians. In the end, it's like: hmmm... okay.... next movie please... Maybe if it was marketed more like "Menace II Society" I'd be a little more understanding, but when it's advertised as some kind of "lesson", of course I'm going to deflect some negative statements right back at it. Think of it as a high quality "Ninja Turf", only without the martial arts action. Personally, I prefer John H. Lee's "A Cut Runs Deep" over this one... it's more entertaining, to-the-point and doesn't take itself too serious. As far as "Better Luck Tomorrow" goes, it's just further proof that phony marketing by MTV, and word-of-mouth can kill a movie. By the way, anyone catch the possible "Too Many Ways To Be Number One" rip-off? MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S RATING: 6/10 MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S REVIEW: Meet Ben (Parry Shen, who resembles Peter North), a high school senior in Southern California. He's a model student, a semi-jock and a self conscious wreck rolled into one. He seems to be your average overachieving Asian-American student, but deep inside there's a force that pushes him to the dark side of things. With the help of his close friends (the clown, the mastermind and the quiet guy that's too cool to talk) and a peculiar motivation from an out-of-touch dream girl, Ben ventures from his 'good boy' image to a crime-filled pastime that earns him and his 'gang' respect both in and around campus. Biology study by day; gangsterism at night, Ben and his friends live the Goodfellas-dream and get more than what they bargain for... Justin Lin's much-raved film is not bad, but far from a must-see. I remember getting promotion material via e-mail (from a possible MTV Film ad agency) saying that this was an important film and a wake-up call for teenagers, particular the Asian-American youth. I loosely remember what some of it stated: "Go see it now because it may be the most important film you'll ever see!"....yeah... sure... whatever you say...To me, it's just another pseudo-Scorsese flick about unrealistic Asian gangsters who happen to be good students. My question is: What's the punch line? Where's the wake-up call? What's the fucking point? Is Justin Lin trying to tell us that the quiet Vietnamese dude who sat in front of us in pre-calculus was also packing a .45, selling dope, and stealing computers? For a debut feature, "Better Luck Tomorrow" is a worthy project that's bound to put Justin Lin on the boat to bigger and better things. Considering it's maxed out-credit card budget, it was beautifully shot and looks as if it cost millions to produce. Most of the lead performances, particular by Parry Shen, are outstanding - which is a rare case Asian-American talent. However, "Better Luck Tomorrow" as a whole is a pretentious bag. There's nothing riveting, inspiring or important about it, despite what MTV or mainstream critics says. The only reason the film is getting any notoriety is because it's a well-constructed gangster film (and that's all it is) that features not black or Hispanics, but Asians. In the end, it's like: hmmm... okay.... next movie please... Maybe if it was marketed more like "Menace II Society" I'd be a little more understanding, but when it's advertised as some kind of "lesson", of course I'm going to deflect some negative statements right back at it. Think of it as a high quality "Ninja Turf", only without the martial arts action. Personally, I prefer John H. Lee's "A Cut Runs Deep" over this one... it's more entertaining, to-the-point and doesn't take itself too serious. As far as "Better Luck Tomorrow" goes, it's just further proof that phony marketing by MTV, and word-of-mouth can kill a movie. By the way, anyone catch the possible "Too Many Ways To Be Number One" rip-off? MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S RATING: 6/10

Better Luck Tomorrow

"Think of it as a high quality "Ninja Turf", only without the martial arts action."

- Mighty Peking Man

Better Luck Tomorrow (2002)

Director: Justin Lin

Writer: Ernesto Foronda, Justin Lin, Fabian MarquezProducer: Ernesto Foronda, Justin Lin, Julie Asato

Cast: Parry Shen, Jason J. Tobin, Sung Kang, Roger Fan, John Cho, Karin Anna Cheung, Jerry Mathers, Aaron Takahashi, Beverly Sotelo

Running Time: 101 min

Plot: A group of over-achieving Asian-American high school seniors enjoy a power trip when they dip into extra-curricular criminal activities

Reviews

MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S REVIEW: V Meet Ben (Parry Shen, who resembles Peter North), a high school senior in Southern California. He's a model student, a semi-jock and a self conscious wreck rolled into one. He seems to be your average overachieving Asian-American student, but deep inside there's a force that pushes him to the dark side of things. With the help of his close friends (the clown, the mastermind and the quiet guy that's too cool to talk) and a peculiar motivation from an out-of-touch dream girl, Ben ventures from his 'good boy' image to a crime-filled pastime that earns him and his 'gang' respect both in and around campus. Biology study by day; gangsterism at night, Ben and his friends live the Goodfellas-dream and get more than what they bargain for...

Justin Lin's much-raved film is not bad, but far from a must-see. I remember getting promotion material via e-mail (from a possible MTV Film ad agency) saying that this was an important film and a wake-up call for teenagers, particular the Asian-American youth. I loosely remember what some of it stated: "Go see it now because it may be the most important film you'll ever see!"....yeah... sure... whatever you say...To me, it's just another pseudo-Scorsese flick about unrealistic Asian gangsters who happen to be good students. My question is: What's the punch line? Where's the wake-up call? What's the fucking point? Is Justin Lin trying to tell us that the quiet Vietnamese dude who sat in front of us in pre-calculus was also packing a .45, selling dope, and stealing computers?

For a debut feature, "Better Luck Tomorrow" is a worthy project that's bound to put Justin Lin on the boat to bigger and better things. Considering it's maxed out-credit card budget, it was beautifully shot and looks as if it cost millions to produce. Most of the lead performances, particular by Parry Shen, are outstanding - which is a rare case Asian-American talent. However, "Better Luck Tomorrow" as a whole is a pretentious bag. There's nothing riveting, inspiring or important about it, despite what MTV or mainstream critics says. The only reason the film is getting any notoriety is because it's a well-constructed gangster film (and that's all it is) that features not black or Hispanics, but Asians. In the end, it's like: hmmm... okay.... next movie please...

Maybe if it was marketed more like "Menace II Society" I'd be a little more understanding, but when it's advertised as some kind of "lesson", of course I'm going to deflect some negative statements right back at it. Think of it as a high quality "Ninja Turf", only without the martial arts action. Personally, I prefer John H. Lee's "A Cut Runs Deep" over this one... it's more entertaining, to-the-point and doesn't take itself too serious. As far as "Better Luck Tomorrow" goes, it's just further proof that phony marketing by MTV, and word-of-mouth can kill a movie.

By the way, anyone catch the possible "Too Many Ways To Be Number One" rip-off?

MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S RATING: 6/10

MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S REVIEW: Meet Ben (Parry Shen, who resembles Peter North), a high school senior in Southern California. He's a model student, a semi-jock and a self conscious wreck rolled into one. He seems to be your average overachieving Asian-American student, but deep inside there's a force that pushes him to the dark side of things. With the help of his close friends (the clown, the mastermind and the quiet guy that's too cool to talk) and a peculiar motivation from an out-of-touch dream girl, Ben ventures from his 'good boy' image to a crime-filled pastime that earns him and his 'gang' respect both in and around campus. Biology study by day; gangsterism at night, Ben and his friends live the Goodfellas-dream and get more than what they bargain for...

By the way, anyone catch the possible "Too Many Ways To Be Number One" rip-off?

MIGHTY PEKING MAN'S RATING: 6/10