I find I nearly always am disappointment by movies if I read the book first, but if I see the movie first, I don’t mind that half the book is missing or changed. Sometimes the book isn’t better, but that’s okay.
I saw CRA last night and really enjoyed it. I love street food and the scene with the street food made me want to go…now! Those who’ve visited Singapore do you happen to know where that is?
The food center where the street food scene was is the very famous Newton Food Center, formerly known as Newton Circus.
I’m the other way around. I prefer to read the books first so the details of the story & ending are new to me. Then, if I see the movie, I just assume it will never be as good as the book. 
I just saw the movie - incredibly accurate. The country really is that gorgeous with the colonial buildings and Chinese shop houses popping up with regularity as well as the Marina Bay Sands complex, Gardens by the Bay with the SuperGrove Trees, Chijmes, etc., etc. Raffles is currently undergoing construction - that was obviously filmed earlier. Depictions of the personalities were also reminiscent of several personal experiences.
As stated, Newton Food Center. There are hawker centers with food like in the movie all over the city. Cheap - the centers were established to move the street vendors off the streets so that sanitary conditions can be maintained. No problem with sanitation and food is great.
Due to plot lines, the movie stuck with Chinese and Peranakan influences. There are also a number of stunning Indian Temples and Muslim Mosques that welcome visitors. Also many of the incredibly gorgeous areas of natural rainforest/jungle beauty could not be included. If anyone does make Singapore a stop, you’ll find even more than was in CRA in a safe city with everything to US standards (or higher).
Other than this ^ note about familiar personality types, most are noting the setting (yes, filmed in Singapore and Malaysia.) My issue was script and acting, that execution, not scenery or food shots.
I hope I wasn’t offensive on saying personality depictions - didn’t mean anything negative at all. I was thinking of the line about “building something that lasts” and the personal sacrifices.
The fun for me in seeing the movie was the familiarity. I agree with those who thought the movie lightweight, but I saw a morning matinee, so a cheap, diverting outing for me! I do wish I played mah jong - as noted earlier, I’m sure there was some real meaning in the tiles.
The mahjong scene is explained here.
https://www.vox.com/first-person/2018/8/17/17723242/crazy-rich-asians-movie-mahjong
As I was watching the scene and with my limited knowledge of mahjong, I knew Rachel gave up her winning hand to let Eleanor win.
Will be seeing it tonight. That link was helpful, @cbreeze . Thanks.
Please no spoilers here. The link is interesting but warns you about spoilers. I would have preferred not to know that as a plot point that “Rachel gave up her winning hand to let Eleanor win.” I haven’t seen the movie yet but apparently that scene is a pivotal moment in the movie.
^^^ agree we should all be careful of spoilers, but I think you don’t need to worry @sevmom. I didn’t get anything out of the mahjong scene, not knowing the game. Certainly not a pivotal moment for me, nor did it give me any insights into previous action or characters. I also didn’t feel that I was missing anything important without insider game knowledge as that scene went by. The movie unfolds pretty linearly.
Thanks @Momofadult . Good to know. I still remember someone posting the end of La La Land, that gave away the ending as to whether or not the main characters stay together!
Like Father on Netflix
Kristen Bell and Kelsey Grammer.
If you like those two then you will like this light comedy and will want to book a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Predictable plot but good supporting cast.
Lest anyone think the events of the BlacKkKlansman were a thing of the past… this is a local news story (grr! - and sigh):
http://www.witf.org/news/2018/08/kkk-fliers-found-at-hanover-homes-and-businesses.php
And of course, it’s not just around here.
Will stupidity ever end?
The Children Act with Emma Thompson was very moving. While it concerns an aspect of British law, the issues are just as germane in the US.
Netflix is rolling with the good films!
I second Like Father and I just watched The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Two thumbs up :-bd
@ProfessorPlum168 Wow, I really disagree about Joy Luck Club. The book was written by Amy Tan, whom I adore. The movie was faithful to the book, IIRC, and the characters were varied and not a collection of sterotypes… But the movie was really about the mothers and daughters, not the men.
S and I saw Crazy Rich Asians this weekend. It was a fun rom com with gorgeous scenery, both human and non , and lots of plutocracy porn. Michelle Yeoh is magnificent.
Recent watched Guernsey Literary. Nice movie, good cast. I am a big fan of Michiel Huisman. As soon as i saw him i knew she wouldn’t be marrying the American. 
I saw Crazy Rich Asians this afternoon and really liked it. It’s no Citizen Kane, or BlackkKlansman for that matter, but was enjoyable.
I introduced my male friend to The Woman in Gold, on Netflix. He enjoyed It. I had just seen Guernsey…, and that will be the next movie I show him. Both have great casts and stories.