Paj Nyiag Txog Hmoo–My Review
Posted on 16 July 2010
Photos credit to the director…
I am not sure if I am just being a little too religiously emotional about this movie or not, but I just did not like this movie what so ever, left like it was a total waste of my time and money purchasing and watching this movie. This movie cost 5 bucks more than the average Hmong movies, hump!
I tried watching this movie with an open mind, I tried, but the more I tried, the more offended I get with this movie. And honestly, I think this is one of the worst storylines Moua Lee had ever came up with, but then again, it may had just been my emotional religious feelings that is speaking (don’t get me wrong, I think Moua Lee is a great director and a great writter). I thought the trailer did an extremely bad job trying to portray this movie, it was a very good eye catching trailer, oh it really caught my attention, but when watching the movie, it really was not what the trailer had portrayed. I thought this was a very religious movie and in the trailer they did not portray any of the religious aspect at all. Yes this movie really is about the life of Paj Nyiag, our main actress and yes it was about Paj Nyiag’s horrible luck, her abusive father not loving her and her mother because she was not the son her father wanted, yes it was about Paj Nyiag living with her aunt and uncle and worked hard under their rules for the little food she gets, yes it’s about Paj Nyiag having to suffer an illness on top of all that, but in the trailer it had nothing about Kos (sorry, I cannot recall what his name in the movie was) wanting to help convert Paj Nyiag into Christianity (Guess I should had read the summary). The religious aspect of this movie was so strong that I felt that in this movie, the main point isn’t about Paj Nyiag’s life anymore but it’s about how if you’ve become a believer you’ll be saved as for the people who are not believers, they’ll just have to suffer for life, I thought that was offensive, I tried not to think it that way, but of course isn’t it the viewers thought and understanding to judge a movie? Well that was my judgment and my understanding of the movie. I don’ t mind if the main focus was of Christ, but it just bugged me because (from my view) they are bashing on the shamanist religion, stating that if you continue to follow that religion you’ll fall into hardship, but once you convert, life is sweet…
Someone, anyone if you guys beg to differ, please shine some light on me, I would love to see beyond what I cannot or did not see with this movie.
9 responses to Paj Nyiag Txog Hmoo–My Review
hey ze,
wow, the movie is that bad. a friend in fb told me about it and she said the same thing too. damn, what is so bad about shaman? this is part of our hmong culture. why are people making bad mouth on shamans sheesh. So back on topic, wow the movie is very bad and thanks god, i didn’t buy the movie and is looking forward for Tub Ntsuag Kub.
- kml
Ze me still want to see it
I don’t get the whole christian movement of movies. I don’t think it’s a good topic for a movie at all. I’m christian, but I don’t like to force my religion on people and when others do, I feel offended! Movies that do try to force it on people are generally bad movies. Man, I like Moua too, but I wouldn’t watch this movie because of the whole “gotta be christian” thing.
Ze nvm you don’t have to upload it anymore I got it already
Ze I have to agree with you. The movie is not good at all!
You said exactly what I was thinking. The trailor for the movie was exciting and made me want to watch it. When the movie was over, I turned to my husband and told him I didn’t realize it was going to have such a religious tone. I have never watched a movie that had Hmong Christian characters. I rewatched the trailer to see if I had missed that part, but no. I think the trailer kept out the religious parts b/c he might have know that it would limit the audience who would purchase.
Moze…,
I’ve been a follower of your blog, you’re an outstanding woman for doing a great job to my community at large. I just have to comment on your review. I believe you’re being very bias on the whole Christianity topic, you as an artist, you should give a response to the leap of Hmong movies and performance. I thought the movie was great, the message is delivered and the style of the movie, modern and interesting, the sound effects was great. That’s just my opinion, but I’ll continue to follow your blog.
Peter,
Thank you for your feedback and thank you for being a follower of my blog and I do hope you continue to follow my blog and give me feed backs.
For some reason I just felt like the story line wasn’t fully developed, we didn’t get the chance to really know Kos and somehow I felt like there was a gap in Paj Nyiag’s character. I do believe that everything else about the movie was great, the composition, the music, their acting skills and what not was very good, thats why I really enjoy Moua Lee, he knows what to capture and he always picks the most beautiful scenes to capture his movies. I just felt like this was his weakest movie and will look forward towards his new and up coming movies. I have to say, MOua Lee is one of the BEST Hmong Director and Producer out there, I always get excited and look forward for towards his movies.
wow, so far two of my three most promising movies of 2010 have not been positively received by you and a few others. I myself haven’t gotten around to watching them yet but after reading snippets of your reviews of ‘Paj Nyiag…’ and “No ti txha’ I feel somewhat dejected and more hesitant now.
But I still have high hopes for ‘Fallen Skies’ since it is the one I’m more intrigued with. Maybe ‘Fallen Skies’ will balance out those two?