MovieChat Forums > Prince of Darkness (1987) Discussion > what's with the 'almost pass for asian' ...

what's with the 'almost pass for asian' joke?

posted 11 years ago by BouncyX
15 replies | jump to latest

is it some reference i don't get? because based on the comment, it would imply he's poking fun at her for not looking very asian but there's no doubt that she is.

[–] eer85 11 years ago

It's called non-humour: he's stating the obvious. Like the famous joke about the chicken crossing the road.

[–] BouncyX 11 years ago

i....did not think of it that way!

just figured it was some common 80s joke or something! lol

[–] mdh1875 11 years ago

I assumed he was was just commenting on the irony of an Asian person specializing in translating Western languages...just a cheeky way of saying you may be Asian genetically, but culturally, you're Western.

[–] panjin79 10 years ago

I don't think it was as deep as that. I think Walter was written to be kind of an a-hole. The joke is just a terrible pick up line that helps the characterization.

-Pecs like melons and knees of fringe

[–] jpssteveshanahan (462) 2 years ago

Was thinking the same thing.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Redux006 10 years ago

The actress was Asian, but I figured the character she was playing was supposed to be an Asian looking Latina. So it wasn't so much a joke as it was him making a true statement.

[–] christomacin (4677) 2 years ago

Probably a Filipina.

[–] Minus_The_Beer 9 years ago

This one line always cracks me up. The humor in this movie is a bit stale, but that one gets me.

[–] captnavenger 9 years ago

More over thinking by a lot of people here, that could be remedied if people just paid more attention to the film.

Walter is angry because he had huge plans for the weekend, and now he is stuck doing what he considers some kind of voodoo research.

He is being an ass to everybody. At one point, the Parker Jameson character actually tells him to his face that everybody thinks he is being an *beep*

The "you could pass for Asian" comment is nothing more than more of Walter taking his frustrations out on his fellow researchers with his angry "wit." He did it consistently through the whole movie.

[–] jpssteveshanahan (462) 2 years ago

I don't think that remark would fly in today's politically correct era.

[–] simone21 (21) 2 years ago

That's why today's films are the way they are

[–] jpssteveshanahan (462) 2 years ago

Yeah, underwhelming in some regards. There's nothing wrong with being a little edgy, if it's tasteful. In my opinion. Shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy are a dying breed. Reminds me of what "Review Tech USA" once said. Programs like the Howard Stern show wouldn't survive in this current PC climate.

[–] chilidoggg (14394) 2 years ago

I totally forgot about this movie. I seem to remember liking it, gotta check it out again...

[–] EleazarHisSon (754) a year ago

Many Asian girls in the US date/marry white men and she is extremely Westernised, so that is why he is bitter. Sometimes a minority can become a bit resentful and feel the need to tell another POC when they think they're acting too assimilated.