Hank and Asha

This was a surprisingly adorable movie. Both characters were well acted. In today's world of technology, it's completely feasible that relationships start this way via Skyping and other means of video chat. The connection between the two characters was so real and I was really looking forward to the moment they met. As they kept talking about meeting in Paris, I kept wondering what would happen beyond the initial meet and where the movie would take us. How would they end up together. Then the twist was thrown in there and I was very disappointed with her from that moent through the end. She mentions "that's not who I am" but she's the one who initiated all of this! She sent adorable vids that were playful and intimate. Then she tells him she can't meet him after leading him on this whole time....but uses the ticket to Paris anyway after telling him she wasn't going to Paris. What?! I really fell in love with her character and his as well...both so adorable but he turned out to be the only honest one with genuine intentions. He was too good for her. When he hung the ribbon that she said was made for him to "Wish new fortune at the beginning of a new journey....so Hank this is for you." it's telling that she never had any intention of meeting him and he handled it far better than I would expect after being played. I still loved the adorable interaction between them but she ended up being deceitful through and through.

Hmm....coming from the other side of the world (i.e., Asha's side of the world), I can totally relate to her emotions and reactions in the movie.Of course, being a sucker for a HEA, I was expecting a similar one.There can be two schools of thought with a movie like this - it can be construed as a pen pal in video, or it can be construed as a love story which slowly develops over time.This day and world, both men and women stand as testimony to their choices, and Asha in this movie is not exempt from it.I feel she led him on, with her intense reactions and stark portrayal of emotions - no, neither of the protagonists had a poker face!If Asha had never had the intentions, she should have made it clear to Hank first off. Notice that in the two hours, neither of them really indicated a liking to the other person. The idea was all circumspect and left to imagination.If this movie has one of its motives to show South Asian women in a different light, and show how their character could be flawed, I will vehemently deny the same. If it portrays an average South Asian woman, who falls in line with her parents just for the sake of the "verbal agreement", I think the research done was not enough. Sad effort leading to a bad result, I would say.If on the other hand, the protagonists had a plan all along to just be pen pals, then they beautifully carried it off. Nothing wrong in having a "boy" friend, who can hear you and your arguments out and provide insight into what should and should not be done.You could always be madly passionate with your spouse, AND STILL REMINISCE PARIS WITH YOUR FRIEND!The last scene where she puts a lock and throws the key in Paris - was unnecessary if the ending was the way it was - unless the Director is planning a sequel.Not bad to watch, watch for photography.

oh gosh...I feel sad although I liked this movie a lot!!!I came from a tiny town. Back to middle&high school, I used to have a 'friend' like Hank. We communicate with emails, videos, phones and letters for six yrs. He lives in a fancy big city of China where I dreamed to meet him there. I tried and failed. Before going to college, we end up being good friends, just friends. I couldn't face to him for a long time. It is so easy to disappear when you are only talking through tech tools. You just need to turn off the computer, hide your cellphone and get away from Internet. When you were heading home, there will not be a surprise that he's standing in front of your house. After a long time, he wrote me a letter which said whenever I turn around, he'll be there for me, as the best friend. Then I replied to say so will I. End of story.By the way, we finally met once after he got married and I am also with someone. We met, talk and laugh. However, talking about past, you can only be silent. I know we are doing just well and happy. But I don't wanna look back to it. Memory hurts.

Don't you hate it when the cake looks amazing, and then you bite into it only to find a cardboard picture of it would have tasted better?!! That's kind of how I felt about this movie. It was only a mirage. It had the appearance of greatness, but it left me wanting the real thing. The writers had me at the first video chat hello between Asha and Hank. I wrenched free of all affection I had previously felt for this film when I realized what the ending would be in the last five minutes. They would never meet. Asha's ties to her family and tradition held her fast and unmoved. I will give the writers high marks if the goal was to create a film based in a realty made of cold hard steel. I think what most people long for and wish to see is a character with brass, a mark of distinction-something that sets these two a part from all the rest of the world. A Romeo and Juliet. Two people willing to risk everything for love. We find in the end, however, they are much the same as everyone else-going through the motions, chasing a mirage that leads to emptiness and and a sub-par existence. What if they had given everything for love instead of going through the motions? I guess we'll never know.