This past weekend we took a trip to two our America's prettiest National parks, Yosemite, and Sequoia. Sequoia was a bit out-of-the-way from SF, but after hearing that it has some of world's largest trees, it got me really interested, especially after Yosemite became some what of a let down as it requires you to park in a super crowded parkinglot and get on the shuttle to see the El capitan up close.

Sequoia sure paid off, as we walked down the trail to see the famed General Sherman, a teenage bear walked by us, a brief acknowledgment, and it walked away.

Having worked in China for 4 years, 99% of the things I bought that's made in china failed, earlier this year, the one last thing that I thought it would NOT fail for a while, failed. My question is why is the same item that's exported here from China so good, while their domestic item SUCKS ASS. List of items failed on me that's made and sold in China below:

TV - Changhong brand, failed after 2 days, TV repair man had to come in and fix it.
Closet - the steel rod bent and it collapsed 4 months after purchase
Cordless Phone - worse than a cord phone, can't use it 3 feet away from the base
Humidifier - this actually didn't fail, it's Beijing's water that made it unusable after 3 months.
Kingston USB flash drive 8gb - fails after 3 months.
then I bought a different brand, PNY - fails after 3 months.
then I bought a domestic brand aigo - fails after 3 months as well, on the day.

Now the Hard drive... sigh...

The Karate Kid was a beloved classic of my childhood, only thing was I was too young to relate to that story. This 2010 remake of the story had many elements I loved, though I thought it really should have been called "The Kung Fu Kid".I chose this movie as my opener of the Summer season not because it's a nostalgia film, but I chose it because I felt the need to pay respect to Will Smith, who is the producer on this film. Making this film sounds near impossible, taking the consideration of a production in China, writing a story that's both true to the original franchise and a step up from them. Plus a corny story of an early teen's "coming out of his shell" story. In the end, the movie was pulled off, and it is truly enjoyable. I had a lot of fun as a picky early 30 something and I'm not afraid to say it. I also wanted to commend Jaden Smith, I felt he truly related to that character, who was singled out and lonely.

There are two things I really look forward to around my birthday in June. One of them is a Pixar film. It has become my annual tradition ever since Toy Story. This year once again they didn't disappoint. The 3rd film to end this story well. It wasn't as powerful as UP since all the main characters are already established, but still, it is a film that will beat out its' competition once again.

Then of course, this must see. Christopher Nolan is somewhat of a Hollywood effect whistle blower, everything's gotta have real physics and textures, script aside, that creative vision alone is worth seeing.

Alright, this wasn't a summer flick, I just happen to finally see it. I love Michael Moor films, he fights for the common man, not afraid to piss people off, and I think he is one of the visionaries in America. I hope people more people watch his films than people listen to the republican rhetoric.

I made a short trip to LA on mother's day weekend, after spending two days at my parents, me and Roger decided to find our ways to a LA "must-see" that we never bothered to visit until now - The Bradbury Building. I don't want to go into details about the building, if you're unfamiliar with the place, you can read it here.

This recent tv spot done by W+K is very typical W+K anthemic style, just like their Levis spots. Cutwater also explored that direction with it's own version, see here:

You see, the difference is fun, I truely believe that's what jeep is about, from wrangler to grand cherokee, its not about the bling, its not about safety, tow power, whatever whatever, its the brand that spun out from pure love from 18-24 GIs who loves that kind of freedom, reminder of their adventure. It's Americana, yes, but really, the essence in Americana, willingness to go out and just have fun.

Another thing that bothers me about W+K spot, being in my generation, I'm starting to doubt their anthem right from the beginning. Are we really a nation of builders these days? Last time I checked, it's China. I thought we're a nation of innovators and inventors. Yes things we make makes who we are, but it is the idea, and the willingness to explore and fail that makes us Americans. So yeah, fine, i'm sure some people will shed tears over your spot, but for me, I immediately put up my judgement as soon as the first 5 seconds. Also, how will this direction be translated internationally? Last time I checked, unlike Americans, the rest of the world knows the nation of builders is China also. Do you guys really think they'll catch up to this idea? Chinese kids will laugh at it, just as hard as they did when Timothy Geitner told a roomful of them that US debt securities are "VERY SECURE".

Jeep, I wish you're still here, and hope you to return one day, Chuck still drives his Wrangler.

A footnote* Friends, read this for what it's worth, it's my honest opinion even if I'm not with cutwater, I fought my way here because of cutwater's rayban and jeep campaign. Industry professionals, yes, I'm with cutwater, and yes my opinion's obviously biased, I'm admitting to that right here right now, albeit it is my honest opinion and it's not an agency stunt. Also, yes, I saw chuck drove away in his green wrangler from grumpy's today, which prompted me to write about it.

Growing up in America as a minority has certain challenges, growing up as an Asian guy, let me tell you, a lot of times, it's just plain unfair. Just ask any non-Asian American girls how much action we Asian guys get with them, the answer almost always come back as none. Now I'm not saying its absolutely impossible, but, I'm DEFINITELY saying the odds are against us.

This leads me to the broader topic of representation, I don't like the fact that we're under represented in the media in this country, we love America just as much and we contribute just as much, but we often gets castrated in the media, we're sexless, all you see in films of of us is 1. Kungfu guy, 2. Waiter / cook / laundromat owner, 3. Triad / mobster. Compare to other minorities, we never get casted as romantic leads, or even in an inter-racial couple setting, Asian women does it far better, but that's a whole other conversation.

Romantic leads, representation, what made me suddenly rant like this? It was today's Apple Iphone 4 announcement. If you go to their website now, you'll see some pictures of a highly touted feature - FaceTime. I mean, I get it, I'm also an advertising professional, it needs to be an obvious mix of races to make the whole thing look - A. International, B. Politically correct, but I was frustrated with not seeing an Asian dude once again! Especially on an apple ad out of all places. In case you lived in a cave for the past 6 years, we Asian guys not only make up a big percentage of Apple's company, the silicon valley, the general SF Bay area, we aslo buy a lot of Apple products, in fact, most of my Asian buddies had every version of the iphone ever since it had launched, I personally have bought three, but no, layout must be "White guy talking to Asian woman."

I don't have problem with seeing Caucasian dudes with Asian girls, not at all, but, I HATE not being represented, somehow, I just feel wrong, wrong in a fundamental sense and in Apple's case a sense that someone is telling us we're bad at math, or doesn't like to own a Honda kindda wrong too.

Racism in America, yes I believe it still exists.

I watched the first episode of LOST when I was working in Beijing, in my tiny apartment in front of a computer screen. I was captivated by the production value, after all, it was a 2hr season premiere. Then, I got drawn to all the characters, as they were portrayed in a way that only happens in a character study. It's definitely something I haven't seen before in an American TV program. I guess this series was so wildly successful because we can all relate to those characters, we're all lost but had to make necessary decisions to carry on, we're all flawed yet we strive to be better. Most importantly we find strength in each other, especially in ones that believe in you and love you.

LOST, you've been a good story, I enjoyed it very much. So long...

Afghan Star was an UK production, I really wonder why Americans didn't make this film, o right, Hollywood marketing people, right right, same people that hate featuring minorities in their films.

Anyways, the film follows 4 characters in war torn Afghanistan who participated in the first ever "American Idol" style singing competition. While the topic in its self to me was already very intriguing, I did not anticipate how much I related to the film. There was a moment in the film where it showed what the country was prior to the Soviet invasion, it was eerily reminiscent of China before the June 4th demonstration crack down. You see girls on the street with western clothes, Farrah Fawcett hair, Rock&Roll, Disco, Sneakers, and jeans. Then, seconds later, flash back ends, back to Afghanistan, 2009.

In that film, I saw a different me, what I could've been. Had China taken the wrong turn, what would be of my present. It was a moment of pause for the Chinese, a moment of choice for the communist government. I think we as a society, chose wisely... Thank God.

Afghan Star, thus, was bitter sweet, from the film I saw people with similar faces we had in 1989, doubt, anger, unwillingness to accept progress, but then, people do realize it's something unavoidable, something that everyone desires for, to sing, to be able to choose in fairness, to dream for the better.

Exit through the gift shop is an amazing documentary on street art movement of this decade. Contrary to what most people have perceived about the film, it's not JUST about Banksy, it's actually about some of the most important artisits in the street art scene, the film carries Space Invader, Shepard Fairey, along with other famous faces like PinkMonster. The genius of the film, the genius of Banksy really, is how irreverent the film turned out to be. Without ruining the film here, I will say this, Banksy had a stock of street art footage so complete it covered an entire span of 6 years from street art being street art, to street art being gallery art. He could well made a documentary just about street art, and yet, he worked the tapes into something else entirely. That is why I think this film will win best documentary this year.

SF often have these short and sudden showers, they'd start misty, then drizzle and suddenly clouds would rush off. So on this cloudy day there was nothing special, except the serendipity of timing, the clouds were thinning as the night begins to fall. Everything for that brief 10 minutes turned into blue.

Just like a lot of calculations I made in my life, I was wrong again. I stood on my balcony totally stoked thinking that I could document the dramatic switch off, but instead, things pretty much stayed the same, except for Coit Tower and the Golden Gate bridge off in the distance.

Shame on you San Francisco.

There was absolutely no change before and after 8:30pm, what an embarrassment.

I used to bitch about China's SARFT all the time when I was in China. As a part of the culture department, they're responsible for letting western movies gain rights to play in the Country, and their motive is often either obvious, or just bizzare and terrible.

Art house movies are not heavily promoted, I totally understand that, but, when it came to New York I Love You, I couldn't understand how terrible of a promotion job the studios did for this movie in the States. There was absolutely no promotion. I'm a die hard fan of Paris J'taime, and even I had hard time locating the movie.

Now for those of you who doesn't know the significance of Paris J'taime, the concept is very simple. Take a group of world famous directors and allow them to make up their stories themed around love and the city. Because they all have to share this 90min slot, they have to make their stories to about five minutes. In 2006's Paris J'taime alone, it featured works from directors such as Gus Van Sant, The Coen brothers, Christopher Doyle, amongst other masters.

In New York I love you, the concept was carried out in the English speaking setting, in New York. I was also really excited especially because it featured the work of my favorite Chinese director Jiang Wen. He has almost a god status amongst the Chinese my generation because of his willingness to take risk with brilliant wit in Mainland China's environment, it is near impossible for a director. Another reason I was particularly curious about his work is that his last film was considered a failure, after his 8 year hiatus, this second act of his needlessly to say, is very important. Thank god he delivered, his piece is the opening film, and it was very entertaining to watch. I loved how effortless it was for him to mix some Chinese element into the story too, its absolutely brilliant.

The Cove became the only piece of communication that made me pick up my mobile and dialed in to donate money, its just that good. I don't want to divulge further on how and why this documentary is so smart, you just need to watch it to understand it. Of course, I hope you could dial in and donate some money for the cause as well after you finish watching it.

The Ghost Writer featured two of my favorite actors and a brilliant director - Roman Polanski. It was another art house film that was under promoted. I'm glad I caught this one in the theater, I don't really dig Polanski's style as I tend to think he's a bit old fashioned and has a slower pasting, this thriller is not any different, but, I did enjoy this film a lot, its definitely worth it compare to "clash of the titans".