China's blockbusters are politically revealing. They're also a lot of fun.

You should really spend your weekend watching Chinese films

Chinese movies.
(Image credit: Illustrated | iStock, Screenshot/YouTube)

The first thing you notice about "Twister" — the big bad villain Donnie Yen fights at the climax of 2010's Ip Man 2 — is that he's huge. Towering. Made of muscles. Even his meanness is outsized. Oh, and not incidentally: He's white. Western imperialism made flesh.

"I can finish you off in two punches," he snarls at Yen.

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Joel Mathis, The Week US

Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.