Crazy. Rich. Asians.
Ask one in ten Singaporeans, they would probably relate it to the award winning Asian Hollywood blockbuster since Joy Luck Club in 1993. Yes, Asian pride! As I am a bookworm myself, I could not resist picking up the book itself (published since 11 June 2013) from the shelves of the bookstore, and finished the whole book before the movie premiers in Singapore. Despite some tweaks in story line between the book and the movie, I came up to some conclusions while trying to reconcile the two.
Box Office
As of November 5, 2018, Crazy Rich Asians has a worldwide gross of $235 million against a production budget of $30 million. In October 2018, it became the 6th-highest-grossing romantic comedy of the last 10 years. Now, that sounds like some astounding success numbers to me. And safe to say, probably 80% of the audience have yet to read the actual trio-logy itself. Please do pick up a copy and read! If you think the movie is amazing, the books will not disappoint you. (I still secretly prefers the plots from the books though.)
Costumes and Designs
Once word got out that the film was being made, luxury designers “clamored” for the stars to wear their clothes. A Tokyo executive for Ralph Lauren in Asia sent the film’s costume designer a huge box of 30 dresses just for consideration. Eventually, Araminta’s gold wedding dress and bachelorette body suit was custom designed by the film’s costume designer herself. Next, the halter dress Peik Lin loaned Rachel for the party (disco Cleopatra look) is by Missoni. And, the blue dress Rachel wears to the wedding is by Marchesa.
With so much attention from various fashion and design labels, it goes to show how hyped this movie already was even before its premier. Plus, I totally dig the fashion feasta my eyes got to enjoy. Oh and let’s not forget about the amazing architectural features in this movie. One can only imagine~
“Old money is rich money. Let it shine and be known to the world.” – Anonymous
Featuring Singapore
Yay! Fellow travellers, I am so happy now that the whole world knows Singapore is not a part of China! (No offence, China is a beautiful country too.) My travel encounters always led me to eventually explain how Singapore is not a part of China, and that we are an independent country concise in a small, but powerful cute little red dot with our very well endowed economy.
However, I too am mildly disappointed at the misrepresentation of Singapore’s multi-racial society and diversifying cultures. On one hand, yay! Asian pride! (more on that later) I couldn’t be happier. Yet, this is another movie about the lives of the Crazy-Rich-High SES*-Society individuals in Singapore. And no, 99% of Singapore’s population do not live like what was depicted in the movies; with the exception of decadent hawker foods.
*SES – Socioeconomic status
(Fact: although Singapore isn’t generally divided by race, it has become increasingly prominent that we are divided by social classes. It’s even taught in our Social Studies Textbooks in high school these days!)
Asian Pride and Societal Influences
This is a breakthrough.
Heck.
This is one hell of a revolution.
For Asians at least.
The next stepping stone paving the route for how Asians will be depicted on screen in future. Plastered all over the internet in a multitude of articles about this revolutionary comedy movie, Asian pride is one of the many and very reasons why this Hollywood blockbuster is a hit!
Misrepresentation of Singapore aside, as an Asian, I’m extremely proud of this production. (hey! good job! pat on the back!) It is genuinely considered one of the most phenomenal and successful breakthrough of Asians casted in Hollywood in the last 25 years. No longer will we see cliché Asian roles, I’m rooting to watching many more iconic Asian roles being portrayed in Hollywood. Let’s hope this heat doesn’t falter.
I hereby conclude this movie review with…
Crazy. Rich. Satisfaction.
Hilary Travels 