Hoa 1
Vivian Hoa
Professor Ted Gournelos
CMC 200
March 29, 2013
Original Research Report 1
Method
A discourse analysis was conducted looking at ten review sources for each of the eleven
films and television shows for each actress. It consists of a compilation of critic reviews and user
reviews from sites such as rottentomatoes.com, metacritcs.com, IMDB.com, and TV.com. It is
important to note that these sites are For the actress Lucy Liu, I choose to look at the reviews of
the TV series Elementary (2012-present), a TV mini-series Marry Me (2010), the TV series Ugly
Betty (2007), the film Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), the TV series Ally McBeal (1998-2002), the film
Charlie’s Angels (2000), the film Shanghai Noon (2000), the film Payback (1999), the film
Gridlock’d (1997), the TV series Home Improvement (1995), and the TV series Beverly Hills,
90210 (1991). For the actress Kelly Hu, I choose to look at the reviews of the TV series Arrow
(2012-2013), the TV series Hawaii Five-0 (2010-2011), the film The Tournament (2009), the film
Shanghai Kiss (2007), the film Underclassman (2005), the film X2 (2003), the film The Scorpion
King (2002), the TV series Malcolm & Eddie (1998), the TV series The Sentinel (1996), the film
Surf Ninjas (1993), and the TV series Growing Pains (1987-1988).
Results
“On my honor, I have not given, nor received, nor witnessed any unauthorized assistance on this
work.” – Vivian Hoa
Hoa 2
Interestingly enough many of the earlier films and television shows, as well as some
latter on, did not mention either of the actresses in the reviews (Beverly Hills, 90210, Home
Improvement, Gridlock’d, Ugly Betty, Growing Pains, Surf Ninjas, The Sentinel, Malcolm & Eddie,
and Hawaii Five-0). In reviews for Elementary Lucy Liu was mainly regarded as an interesting
twist to the traditional Sherlock Holmes series because she, a women, was casted to play the
traditionally male Dr. Watson. In the Denver Post review, the critic stated, “the gender-blind
and color-blind casting of the Watson role adds another new element to the chemistry.” In
Marry Me, Liu was complimented on her “stunning” performance and appearance. In the film
Kill Bill: Vol. 1, the reviews focused on mainly on the main actresses Uma Thurman while
offering compliment to Liu as a “juicy supporting role,” playing the “fierce” O’Ren Ishii with
good acting skills. In Ally McBeal, Liu’s character was described as the “mean and selfish career
woman who is ready to do anything in order to [succeed],” as well as “fiery” and “bitchy.” In
Charlie’s Angels, Liu was reviewed as playing the “cute, technologically brilliant, but still asskicking angel,” while also considered as lucky to get have gotten the best lines in a bad movie.
On the other spectrum, one user reviewer from Metacritc stated, “it was disappointing to see
Lucy Liu in that stupid character she's better than that.” The reviews for Shanghai Noon did
nothing more than acknowledge Liu as the kidnapped princess from China. As for Payback, Liu
is mentioned as the “dominatrix” of some sort who beats up men at their own game.
Kelly Hu’s reviews rarely went beyond comments on her appearance. Reviews of Arrow
characterized Hu’s character, China White, as the “seductive mercenary,” and the beautiful and
dangerous. In the film The Tournament, one review stated Hu as a presence to “provide some
kickass girl-power,” while many other said something similar to this IMDB user review, “Kelly
“On my honor, I have not given, nor received, nor witnessed any unauthorized assistance on this
work.” – Vivian Hoa
Hoa 3
Hu is beautiful but can't act.” Also, question about her “weird accent” came up in a few of the
reviews. In Shanghai Kiss, the same question of a weird Chinese accent rose in reviews, as well
as, more comments on her beautiful appearance. One reviewer even mentioned that Hu is
“arguably one of the planet earths best looking people,” while another user just stated “kelly hu
is hot[t].” A staple in all of the reviews for this film was the mention of her lack of acting, or Hu
as the weak link in the film. In Underclassman, Hu was said to have been too good for this poor
film from several different reviews. One Rotten Tomatoes user even stated, “It's not funny, the
cast stinks, the only decent cast member is Kelly Hu,” but all the while there were more
comments on Hu’s beautiful appearance and categorized by another Rotten Tomatoes user as a
showstopper. In X2, reviews never went further than to mention Hu as the actress for Lady
Deathstrike (Yuriko Oyama). In the film The Scorpion King, the reviews were solely on the visual
appeal of Hu. One Rotten Tomatoes user review said the film was a “mindless action flick. [But]
Kelly Hu is pleasant eye candy though.”
“On my honor, I have not given, nor received, nor witnessed any unauthorized assistance on this
work.” – Vivian Hoa