Sherlock’s Sidekick Reimagined

Elementary’s Dr. Watson is a master class of grace, wit, and power

Lucy Liu on both television and film is no stranger to strong female personas. From private investigator Alex Nuncy in Charlie’s Angels to Yakuza boss O-Ren Ishii in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, the Asian-American star showed that she has the versatility to take on a wide range of unforgettable roles.

Over the years, the award-winning actress-director moved further and further away from stereotypes often linked to actresses of Asian descent. Of all the roles she played, no departure is as striking as her character in the procedural drama Elementary, a modern reimagining of the world’s most famous fictional detective—Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes.

Another Great Year for Asian-American Women on TV

Lucy Liu and Jadyn Wong return as heroines on screen

The past few years saw a dramatic turning point for Asian stars as they land bigger roles and get a better representation on television. Last year was particularly great for actresses of Asian descent portraying strong inspiring roles that break away from stereotypes.

But this year and the next are also seeing major screen time for Asian stars especially Asian-American Lucy Liu and Asian-Canadian Jadyn Wong, who are returning to primetime television for their respective roles in Sherlock Holmes adaptation Elementary and action drama series Scorpion.

Liu plays Dr. Joan Watson, the world-famous fictional detective’s assistant reimagined as a woman, and Canadian actress Jadyn Wong plays Happy Quinn of Team Scorpion, whose mission is to neutralize complex, high-tech threats around the globe.

REEL DEAL: Kung Fu Panda 3 REVIEW

It has been a powerful and entertaining franchise which was inspired from the eastern martial arts, now also an entertainment success, Kung Fu Panda hits harder now on its 3rd movie. The movie now expands to his roots and even the heritage from the secret Panda village.

The Dragon Warrior Panda Po faces a new foe that goes beyond dimensions. With the furious five and Master Shifu still has a lot to learn, the quest for peace and justice goes into another level. A new villain emerges from the spirit realm and takes on the best masters in China, the only hope lies again with Po.

The third film looks fun and awesome with the Pandas and all but it pars equally with the last film which was also quite heavy with the dark past. This time they incorporated it with the spirit realm which is a new place with new powers, and a great expansion for future sequels.

Kung Fu Panda 3 Trailer Reveal

In DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda 3” first trailer, Po and the gang is back with three times the force and adventure! Po (voiced by Jack Black) is now considered as the legendary Dragon Warrior who has already saved the world a few times but has remained a humble panda despite wide and wild adulation.   

REEL DEAL: “KUNG FU PANDA 3” First Look Photos

In 2016, one of the most successful animated franchises in the world returns with its biggest comedy adventure yet, “Kung Fu Panda 3.” When Po's long-lost panda father suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters.  But when the supernatural villain Kai begins to sweep across China defeating all the kung fu masters, Po must do the impossible—learn to train a village full of his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of Kung Fu Pandas!

REEL DEAL: The Man With The Iron Fists - Jaime Chung SPOTLIGHT

THE HANGOVER LEADING LADY JAMIE CHUNG BACK TO HER ROOT AS LADY SILK IN THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS 

The Hangover Part II’s Jamie Chung plays Lady Silk in ‘The Man With Iron Fists’.  Producer Marc Abraham explains Lady Silk’s role in the action-adventure: “To buy the freedom of his beloved prostitute, the Blacksmith does what he has to do and builds weapons for bad guys.  He’s not proud of it, but he’s justified it.  In the end, he decides to free himself from all this and to do the right thing: to destroy those weapons and the people who have forced him to make them, and to hopefully free the woman he loves.  Ultimately, Jamie’s character is in love with him, but not so much that she would sacrifice her freedom.  She wants wealth, power and to get out.  She’s used him to some degree, but he’s touched her.”  

REEL DEAL: The Man With The Iron Fists - Batista SPOTLIGHT

Move-over ‘The Rock’ Half-Filipino Wrestler Superstar Dave Batista is here!

Half-Filipino World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar and current MMA heavyweight fighter David Batista stars as Brass Body in Universal Pictures’ “The Man With The Iron Fists”. The performer shares that his nearly invincible character—who is able to deflect any weapon by turning his skin into brass at will—is brutal inside and out.  He says: “If you break Brass Body down, what he is really is a mercenary.  In his opening scene, he’s carrying the little kids around, but basically what he wants is money.  He would kill his own mother for money.”

The Man With the Iron Fists, an action-adventure inspired by kung fu classics as interpreted by his longtime collaborators RZA and ELI ROTH.  Making his feature-film debut as a director, co-writer and leading man, RZA—alongside an exciting international cast led by RUSSELL CROWE as Jack Knife and LUCY LIU as Madam Blossom—tells the epic story of warriors, assassins and a lone outsider hero who all descend on one fabled village in China for a winner-takes-all battle for a fortune in gold.