Gran Turino

Although I watched the movie when it first came out, I got the chance to see Clint Eastwood's film again a few nights ago. All I remembered from the movie was the old man overcoming his Asian racism and actually loving his Asian neighbors. Watching it a second time, I was able to get some more values and lessons out of the well made movie.

The movie does a great job portraying the disrespectful attitude of teenagers nowadays. The way the grandchildren treat Walt at his wife's funeral just shows the lack of common sense of a lot of kids. Only calling and talking to the grandpa when they need something (like the Gran Turino) shows how selfish we've all become. It's true if we think about our own situations. We act like we all of a sudden care about other people when we need something from them. Not many of us genuinely care for people we should be caring and loving.

The scene where a grandma drops her groceries and the kids walking past make sexual jokes when she can't see shows how immature kids have become. As audience, we agree that those behaviors are stupid and unnecessary, but when we are with our friends we go ahead and act similarly just to be the 'cool' kid.

In that sense, the Western society has a lot to learn from Asian cultures in things related to respect. Although most Asian families aren't as traditional and strict as the one portrayed as Thao and Sue's family, most Asian kids are still raised to be respectful to their parents and elders. At the least, that is one thing that Americans should learn. I see kids mocking and cursing at their teachers or coaches, thinking they are better than them. Although some adults might be ridiculous in how they act, all adults should be respected as they are our elders.

Another sad point from the movie was how easy it is for children from poor neighborhoods to join the gang. As it was shown when Thao was first being persuaded to join the Asian gang, there is not much going for kids living in those neighborhoods. They don't have a future in academics and it is hard for them to find a legitimate job. They have no goal in life, but are scared they will get picked on around the area. When a gang come around and promises that they will protect him and help him make easy money if they join their gang, it is easy for teenagers to follow the gang.

Ultimately, the movie points out that revenge should not be an eye-for-an-eye. If Walt decided to go and try to shoot everybody that's part of the gang, he would have most likely failed and also could have caused more trouble for Thao's family. This was shown when he first went over and beat up the fat Asian. They came back and raped Sue and shot at their house. Walt learned from his mistake and realized that he should think bigger. He needed to get rid of the root of the problem, which was the gang. That is what a lot of people are mistaken when they act out of vengeance. They act emotionally and if successful, only solve the problem temporarily. For Walt, he needed a way for the problem to never come back and haunt his Asian neighbors.

Overall, the movie is great. Great acting and great lessons to be learned. It shows a different perspective of what it is to live in a ghetto neighborhood and that being part of a gang is pathetic.