All Things: Asian Film, Vol. III

Haemoo Review - TIFF 2014 from Director Sung-Bo Shim

His film walks a delicate line between visceral cinematic thrills and complex emotional trauma, yet never seems to struggle at balancing the two. It’s a remarkably effective debut and if my description of precisely why seems vague, that’s purely because it deserves to be experienced through unfamiliar eyes. That’s when you’re putty in Shim’s hands and by the time he’s done, you’ll stumble out of the theater an emotional wreck. But at least you’ll know you’ve seen something special, vital, and of the moment. Hopefully Shim will be just as productive a filmmaker as his preceding countrymen, because he already added a welcome and fresh flavor to the South Korean cinematic stew.
Grade A-
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Review: Tsai Ming-Liang's 'Stray Dogs' Is A Must-See Masterclass In Directing

Still, these are high standards to set for anyone, and of all the films we saw in Venice, this is the one that most demands a second viewing: there's an awful lot to unpack here, and another go-round could probably see our view go way up, or a fair way down. But if nothing else, you're left with a masterclass in directing, and a film that anyone who's serious about cinema needs to make the time to see. [A-/B+]
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Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 2 Images & Netflix Release Details

The Weinstein Co. and Netflix have signed a deal to release Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend simultaneously in IMAX theaters and on Netflix on August 28, 2015. Netflix previously won a bid for the streaming rights to TWC movies, and the two companies joined forces for the original series Marco Polo. The Green Legend deal ramps up the partnership and is the logical next step of Netflix’s growing plan to disrupt the traditional distribution model.
Read more at http://collider.com/crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon-2-netflix-images/#Fpv8fvJ36WOoZId3.99
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adgy-san said:
Hmmmm.
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Just read that this may fail due to Imax allowing theaters to decide yay or nay as opposed to forcing them to carry the movie. As usual, the theaters are balking at showing a same day release because it will cut into their take. Something like Crouching 2...that's a great test case. Those who would want to see that art displayed on an Imax canvas are gonna go regardless, and I find it hard to believe others on the fence are gonna jump into the deep end for pricey tickets to a foreign(in more ways than one to some) film. I know my man Adgy sees Weinstein and goes red, but in this instance, they seem to be trying to do the right thing.
 
Tokyo Film Festival Review: Audience Award Winner ‘Pale Moon’

Neither a convincing parable of self-empowerment, nor the kind of ripe ethics drama that really involves itself in the moral ramifications of its characters’ actions, “Pale Moon” is, as its name suggests, and as its desaturated palette and indifferent photography confirm, a wan drama, drained to the point of bloodlessness. The audience that embraced it here presumably found something more vital at its heart, but try as we might, we couldn’t even locate a pulse. [C]
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Busan 2014 Review: KABUKICHO LOVE HOTEL, A Raunchy Charmer

Hiroki ensures that each interaction is meaningful and entertaining; running the gamut from hilarious to heart-breaking. It has been somewhat of a hiatus since Japan has tackled a multi-strand film, and although Kabukicho Love Hotel is not epic, it certainly is ambitious. The film is informed by Japanese cinema of the early 2000's; it has a message, but it is the characters and near-slapstick level encounters that really drive the plot.

Kabukicho Love Hotel is in many ways a fresh start for Hiroki. His more conventional fare and his soft-core background come to a head, creating not only an entertaining drama, but a hybrid production that has positive attributes of both old and new Japanese cinema.
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Watch the trailer for Takeshi Kitano’s new Yakuza comedy!

Following 2010′s Outrage and its 2012 sequel, Outrage Beyond, Takeshi Kitano is back for another round of Yakuza action. Only this time, it’s a comedy called Ryuzo and His Seven Henchmen, which is a playful nod to Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

According to Film Business Asia, Ryuzo and His Seven Henchmen is about a retired crime boss (Tatsuya Fuji) who calls up his old gang after he becomes the victim of a scam. The film also stars Masaomi Kondo, Akira Nakao, Akira Onodera, Toru Shinagawa, Ben Hiura, Yoshizumi Ito and Ken Yoshizawa.

Kitano wrote, directed and edited the film. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a solid role, but he does have a cameo appearance. Ryuzo and His Seven Henchmen opens domestically on April 25th, 2015.
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Joshua Reviews Sion Sono’s Why Don’t You Play In Hell? [Theatrical Review]

Truly cinema’s great punk rock auteur, Sion Sono has created what may very well be not only the best action film of this still very young decade, but one of its better all around feature films. Why Don’t You Play In Hell is about as great as cinema can get. Funny, energetic, action packed, jaw dropping, thematically rich and even emotionally dense, Sono’s film is just the bee’s knees. I’ve seen the top of the mountain. And it’s deliciously bloody.
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Available from a ****load of services for streaming right now. $7 rental, $10 buy. So tempted.
 
Are you kidding ADGE...I gotsta see that. Any word on a domestic release? By the way have you seen that Sono 3 hr + flick about the panty/crotch shooters yet? I gotta watch that again. SO frikking odd and awesome...oddsome?
 
jerseydevil said:
Are you kidding ADGE...I gotsta see that. Any word on a domestic release? By the way have you seen that Sono 3 hr + flick about the panty/crotch shooters yet? I gotta watch that again. SO frikking odd and awesome...oddsome?
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Physical release on Blu and DVD is January 27th. Do I wait, or just buy it now digitally? Hmmm...

Are you talking about Love Exposure? If so, yes, and it is one of my favorite movies of all time after only one viewing.
 
Arrow to Release Two Classic Gangster Films with J? Shishido on Blu-ray

Independent distributors Arrow Video USA confirmed today that they will release on Blu-ray two classic Japanese gangster films directed by Yasuharu Hasebe: Massacre Gun (1967), starring J? Shishido, Tatsuya Fuji, and Jir? Okazaki, and Retaliation (1968), starring J? Shishido, Akira Kobayashi, and Hideaki Nitani.

The two films have been recently remastered by Nikkatsu Studios and will feature new English subtitle translations. Supplemental features to be included on the upcoming releases are yet to be revealed.

The releases are expected to arrive on the U.S.market in early 2015.
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I love you, Arrow. Neither of these films is even available on DVD in Japan, let alone on Blu-ray with English subs.
 
Cinefamily Calendar:Sion Sono's WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IN HELL
http://www.cinefamily.org/films/why-dont-you-play-in-hell/

Putting the call out to Adgy and LetTigerIn...

BUY TICKETS ($12/free for members. Showtimes subject to change):
————————————————————————————————–
Thursday, December 18th: 7:30pm
Friday, December 19th: 7:30pm
Saturday, December 20th: 2:45pm, 9:00pm
Sunday, December 21st: 7:30pm
Monday, December 22nd: 10:30pm
Tuesday, December 23rd: 10:30pm
Friday, December 26th: 9:50pm
Saturday, December 27th: 9:15pm
Sunday, December 28th: 3:30pm, 10:20pm
Monday, December 29th: 10:40pm
Tuesday, December 30th: 7:30pm, 10:30pm - See more at: http://www.cinefamily.org/films/why-dont-you-play-in-hell/#sthash.PA2fMSG4.dpuf
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