Go For Broke!

  Unlike the previous film that we had watched, I wasn't cringing at how awfully it was represented and I felt that I was able to enjoy it more because of it. Most war-related movies don't really catch my interest, but this one did. Go For Broke! was a film that re-told the story of the 442nd regiment, which consisted of Japanese American men who volunteered to help their country in the war, as well as to prove their loyalty to their country. I suppose that the fact that I myself am Japanese American contributed to how interested I was in the film.

  Though we only watched a few clips from the movie in class, I think it was a more accurate portrayal of Hawaii than how it was in Bird of Paradise. But this is probably because it was based on a true event, and not a work of romantic fiction. I especially liked how they included pidgin in the dialogue, which is something that we actually do have in Hawaii's culture unlike the stereotypical grass huts and hula girls. And I have to say.. it was a nice touch to have the actual soldiers to participate in the film, as well as have some actual footage near the end of the movie. However, it must've have been difficult (not to mention a little distressing) to have to "play pretend" and re-live war all over again, even if it was just a movie.

  In addition, I thought the message about racism and honor really stood out... I mean, the person that was assigned at first to be their leader was prejudiced against them, but in the end his opinion of them changed. Yes, hate is a powerful emotion, but it can also be overcome with time. These Japanese Americans didn't need to fight for their country; they were treated like the enemy after all, by their own country. They didn't need to fight for the people who were racially prejudiced against them. They didn't owe them anything. But they volunteered anyway to put their lives on the line to prove to their country that they were indeed loyal. And they succeeded. And yet some people still treated them like dirt... which really bugs me. But I suppose you can't change everyone's opinion.

Bird of Paradise (1932)

  The film Bird of Paradise tells the story of a sailor, Johnny, who falls in love with an island princess, Luana, who is destined to be sacrificed to the island's volcano to appease an angry goddess. Though their affair together was looked down upon by both sides, their forbidden romance flourished as they escaped (for a time) away to their own little hiding place. However, the romance ends when Johnny is wounded and Luana is convinced that she must return to the island and "accept her fate," in order to lift the volcano curse off of Johnny.

  This movie was probably one of the funniest movies I have seen about Hawaii, mostly because of how ridiculous it is. So many things were changed and added that the Hawaii that the film was trying to portray was more of a parallel universe version of it. They even went as far to create a new island called "Lani," which is probably based off of the actual island of "Lana'i." So many things were changed about the actual culture of itself that it might as well have been a fictional place instead.

  In some cases they did include some accurate bits and pieces of Hawaiian culture, as well as a had the basic idea for certain culture elements, such as hula and the goddess of volcanoes, Pele. However, in the end these concepts were only twisted and warped to fit the barbaric, savage portrayal of the people. It's true that they did include some Hawaiian words and language in the film, but only in small instances; most of it was made up gibberish, which was kind of hilarious. Hula, in turn, looked like meaningless moving and shaking with jerky movement, not at all like the graceful, story-telling that it's supposed to be.
  But the most insulting part of this movie I would have to say was how they portrayed its people. The Hawaii citizens were shown as barbaric, savage, illiterate people who practiced sacrificial rituals. All the people wore grass skirts, leis, elaborate headdresses (not to mention bone jewelry), and lived in grass shacks along the beach. It made no sense, considering that during the time that the film supposedly took place, Hawaii was already "civilized."
  Aside from the inaccuracies, the one part that actually disturbed me was how Johnny chased Luana and pinned her down on the beach, forcing himself onto her even though she clearly didn't want him to come onto her. And she was okay with it after he forced her to kiss him. It was so messed up.
  There were a lot of implications of Johnny being the superior one in the relationship, by being more intelligent or knowledgable due to how much more civilized he was. He came off as "greater than thou" in his thoughts and actions sometimes, like when he corrected Luana on her own religion, by telling her that "No, there is just one God." As if his religion was more accurate than her own.
  Overall the plot was ok for me. Forbidden love is kind of a cliche topic, but it was interesting enough and I kind of wanted them to end up together (or rather I expected them too, but that didn't end up happening). If anything it was the badly portrayed Hawaiian culture that ruined it for me, as well as how the main protagonist, Johnny, was characterized.