New York Asian Film Festival & Japan Cuts: Filming Highlights, PART 2!
It has been a very long time, fellow leetNEET readers. For the last month (give or take a week) Lincoln Center has been my home away from home. I’ve literally gone from the morning shift at my job, to rushing to the center for my films, to doubling back to the airport to get four hours of sleep before repeating it all over again. I was there for so long that the movie staff started calling me “Five Guys” while other movie attendees mistook me for NYAFF volunteer staff. I’ve bonded with fellow film lovers, critics and random strangers. I’ve got stories that are both hilarious and awesome to tell. I scored free swag. I scored free tickets. I shook Donnie Yen’s hand. Twice. People looked at me like I was crazy when I dropped (approximately) $300 on this bad boy, and while my sanity has been called into question on multiple occasions – this time it was all worth it. Forty-one films. Forty-one unforgettable new experiences. And as much as I would love to share all those experiences with you, I only have so much white space to fill with characters. In this “Part 2” you’ll hear my top three flicks along with some honorable mentions.
Warning: Spoilers ahead after the jump!
IT'S BACK! THE NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL VS. JAPAN CUTS! WHO WILL WIN!?
leetNEET readers, I am writing this as I am jumping up and down like a fangirl on speed. As your duly deputized informant on all things paper, there are only a few things that get me all fired up throughout the year. This is one of those times, because two of the most awesome, mind-blowing, mind breaking, hilarious and overall badass film festivals have once again graced New York City (though we are not worthy of it)! I’m talking about Japan Cuts and the New York Asian Film Festival. Jointly run together (NYAFF from June 29 - July 15 / Japan Cuts from July 12 – July 28), we are given an entire month’s worth of film showcases and premieres this year. You WILL laugh. You WILL cry. You WILL get angry. You WILL laugh. You WILL fall silent. And at the end of it all, you WILL never forget what you’ve seen. This will be my third year attending, and I haven’t forgotten a moment yet!
For those of you who still have no clue about what I am saying, let me elaborate. The New York Asian Film Festival is the annual flagship event sponsored and operated by Subway Cinema, the non-profit organization who is considered to be one of the authorities on Asian cinema. Having its heyday in 2002, NYAFF has garnered a reputation as an event that has to be seen to be believed. As for Japan Cuts, I’ll let this blurb speak for itself:
“North America's premiere showcase for Japanese film" (Firefox News), JAPAN CUTS is an inimitable platform for contemporary Japanese cinema, showing the diversity and vitality of one of the most exciting world cinemas, and ranging from refined, high-concept art house titles to popular and grindhouse genre movies. In its sixth consecutive year, JAPAN CUTS 2012 includes close to 40 titles screening from July 12 to 28, with 12 co-presentations with the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF, 11th edition), with which it forms a winning summer fest combination that shows 100 films annually. Profound and/or pervy, frivolous and/or momentous, all the films selected have a brand of unyielding artistry and out-of-control eccentricity, offering you the hard, the rough, the sharp, the smooth and the soft edge of today's film scene from Nippon!”
Need I say more?
So, what does that mean for you? It means, GO WATCH THESE FILMS ALREADY! Seriously, though, this news blurb is for anyone looking for a new, novel movie experience. I’m not writing this because I am a fangirl for both of these film festivals (and I feel no shame in admitting that), but because I truly believe that there is a film for EVERYBODY to see during those four weeks. Who cares if you can get some of these films when they hit the bootleg market on DVD– see the films now and then buy them later! Make a day trip out of it! Do studies about it! Tell your family, friends, enemies, animals, the hobo down the street – EVERYBODY!
Now, it would be impossible to make of note of every film being shown. But, as incentive, I’ll try to give you all a heads up about films that should be given a once over. If you need more detail, or see what’s in store, the full list of films, their synopsis, and the film schedules can be found at the New York Asian Film Festival website and the NY Japan Society's website for Japan Cuts.
GO FORTH, AND SEE THE FILMS! And who knows, maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of the reclusive MangaHemit…
Maso Mondays: The Room
O hai, readers. Welcome to Maso-Mondays. How I think of you fondly, despite only joining the site less than a year ago. Hmm? What’s that? I have to be subjugated to an abysmal piece of media that’ll surely crush all reason for me to live? Wonderful! And, boy, do I have the movie for the job. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you:
The Room
“Don’t worry about it.” Oh, how I wish.
What is there to say about The Room? A cult classic amongst film and internet circles, this independent movie has been described as the Citizen Kane of bad movies with its piss-poor acting, lousy editing, hilarious dialogue, obvious plot holes, and just all around terribleness. And all of this brought to you by the unintelligible actor/writer/producer/director quadruple threat, Tommy Wiseau.
Sounds like fun! Let’s get started.
The movie begins with some lovely shots of San Francisco. Symbolism, anyone? Anyway, we are introduced our main character Johnny, played by our quadruple threat! And, right off the bat, you can see why this movie is so infamously horrible. Mr. Wiseau, sir?
You.
Can’t.
Act.
Maso Mondays: Tekken the Live Action Movie. How High Is Your “Iron” Pain Threshold?
I consider myself a Tekken fan — sometimes really fanatic, sometimes a simple button masher. And I also consider myself having a high bullshit threshold, although it's quite debatable because I filter rubbish before I think of watching. So obviously, if I do decide to watch horrible movies, it’s because I don’t care or because I love the series/game, etc. For example, Dragonball Evolution or Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. Before I watched it, I expected Tekken the live action movie to be no better. And I was right.
GANTZ Live-Action Film to Premiere in the U.S.
Japanese live-action film GANTZ begins its international theatrical run tonight with a world premiere that kicks off in 325 theaters in the United States. Three of those theaters happen to be in our hometown, New York City! As you've probably guessed from the title, the film is based on the sci-fi action anime and manga GANTZ.
For those who are not familiar with this series, the two protagonists Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato save a drunkard from getting squashed by an on-coming train. However, they get killed in the process instead. That's where things get interesting. Instead of them dying when they are killed, they prove Shirou wrong and respawn in the "afterlife" in an apartment with a black ball called GANTZ. The ball opens up to inform them that their "lives" now belong to it and that they are to go kick some alien asses (by killing those pesky extraterrestrials). If they kill enough aliens fast enough, then they are allowed to live regularly until it's time to kill more aliens or reach 100 points, at which time they're freed from this game.
Unlimited Reviews: Tron: Legacy
Greetings, programs.
My rating system:
5 = Perfection.
4.5 = REALLY good, but lacking that oomph to make it 5.
4 = Great.
3.5 = Above average. Definitely worth a look.
3 = Average.
2.5 = Below average. If you like its genre, you probably would like it.
2 = Not terrible, but not something you would like.
1.5 = Bad, but still worth checking JUST to make fun of how bad it is.
1 = BEWARE! EVIL! NOT EVEN WORTH MAKING FUN OF! WILL LITERALLY MAKE YOU SICK!
Tron: Legacy initially continues about seven years after the ending of the first movie. The main character of the first movie, Kevin Flynn, has become CEO of software company ENCOM. Flynn started a new project that is far larger in scale than any of his video games. He claims it will change the very nature of human existence. However, before he could reveal what his project was, he mysteriously disappeared. Not only does that almost financially ruin ENCOM, but leaves his son Sam orphaned. Twenty years later ENCOM recovered from Flynn’s disappearance, but Sam grew up so haunted by his father’s disappearance that he (for lack of a better word) trolls his father’s former software empire. Alan Bradley, Kevin’s friend and co-worker, reveals to Sam that he received a mysterious pager message from the long-abandoned arcade that used to belong to his father. Sam decides to investigate, and discovers a secret lab in the arcade’s basement – and a digitizing laser that beams him into the Grid. Now trapped within the digital world his father created, Sam must rescue his father and escape back to reality all the while avoiding the new evil in the Grid: Clu, Kevin’s program gone rogue.
Now for the review:
Tron: Legacy is amongst the most graphically stunning things I have seen; living up to its predecessor’s…erm, legacy of incredible special effects excellently. Everything felt very real and you can definitely feel substance with every bump, crash, and action. I have never felt that way in regards to other movies’ effects, even those for Transformers or James Cameron’s Avatar. Speaking of that, I honestly felt like the world of Tron: Legacy was more real and believable compared to Avatar’s Pandora. Before the Avatar fans string me up and lynch me, hear me out. While I thought Pandora looked absolutely beautiful, I never really felt like it was actually there – which it wasn’t. I was never able to be caught up in their world because I just couldn’t believe it existed. The Grid, however, is quite the opposite. It felt physical. Practical. I felt like I could actually reach out and touch it. And that’s not because of the 3D by the way. It was able to look amazing while still having presence. More on that in a bit.
Unlimited Reviews: Metropolis
Who am I? Oh, yeah. NL.
My rating system:
5 = Perfection.
4.5 = REALLY good, but lacking that oomph to make it 5.
4 = Great.
3.5 = Above average. Definitely worth a look.
3 = Average.
2.5 = Below average. If you like its genre, you probably would like it.
2 = Not terrible, but not something you would like.
1.5 = Bad, but still worth checking JUST to make fun of how bad it is.
1 = BEWARE! EVIL! NOT EVEN WORTH MAKING FUN OF! WILL LITERALLY MAKE YOU SICK!
Metropolis takes place in… well, Metropolis; the most advanced city in the world with robots serving the populace. A Japanese detective and his nephew arrive in Metropolis to track down a mad scientist wanted for organ trafficking. Eventually, their case brings them to come across an unusually beautiful and naked young girl with no apparent knowledge of who she is or what she is doing here. The nephew and the girl then get separated from his uncle after a fire in the factory they found the girl in. However, that is the least of their worries as the city's corrupt system takes a turn for the worst and the city's most powerful man seeks the girl for a secret agenda.
Chicago: The Movie (2002)
Chicago the musical was truly a sight to behold. It's a musical about the female murderers of Chicago and the troubling jazz era. The movie Chicago is just as amazing in told through a unique way in which the story shifts from what is going on reality and large scale musical numbers for characterization and adding a musical effect to the film.
The movie starts out with a classic jazz opening full of liquor, smoke, clubs and scantily clad women. Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) performs after washing off the blood on her hands (that we later find out is from the murder of her twin sister and husband). In a classic vaudeville setting she performs her song and as Roxanne Hart (Renee Zellweger) and Fred Casely leave the club. Roxy proceeds to have an affair with Mr. Casely when he finally decides to be frank with her and end it. However, Roxy feels betrayed and shoots him twice with her husband’s pistol. From there on the plot follows her, from arriving at jail where she meets Matron “Mama” Morton (Queen Latifah) and the 6 merry murderesses of murder row. Try saying that 6 times fast.
Unlimited Reviews: Predators
My rating system:
5 = Perfection.
4.5 = REALLY good, but lacking that oomph to make it 5.
4 = Great.
3.5 = Above average. Definitely worth a look.
3 = Average.
2.5 = Below average. If you like its genre, you probably would like it.
2 = Not terrible, but not something you would like.
1.5 = Bad, but still worth checking JUST to make fun of how bad it is.
1 = BEWARE! EVIL! NOT EVEN WORTH MAKING FUN OF! WILL LITERALLY MAKE YOU SICK!
Predators is about a group that are made up of seven killers (and a doctor) that is quite literally dropped onto a jungle-covered alien planet. They are forced to work together as they attempt to survive the planet's terrain, wildlife, and the very Predators that have brought them there in the first place to hunt for sport. Things do not look good for this group.
Now for the review:
Predators had everything I did not like in a good movie: A simple plot, unsympathetic characters, and gratuitous violence. And yet, I found it pretty damn sweet! Its simple plot of a group of people being hunted by Predators seemed to actually help its case. This film was very self-aware and knew that it was more-or-less a summer popcorn flick, so it stuck with a straightforward story, but packed in as much awesome as it can into itself. While the characters were "unsympathetic," being badass killers on Earth, they were still likeable and very entertaining to watch; much like the characters from Baccano!. Hell, I actually found Stans, the criminal on the most wanted list, to be highly amusing despite several people feeling he was a complete monster. This goes to show how well a character is written when a guy who generally dislikes characters like those actually doesn't here. As for gratuitous violence… It's a Predator movie. You really can't expect anything less than that.
The acting all around was really standard fare with the exception of Laurence Fishburne. He was chewing through the scenery so much that it was ever so delightfully hilarious. I really wish they gave him more to do. Though I know what you all really want to know: How did Adrian "The Pianist" Brody do? It's a little hard for me to explain properly, but I'll sum it up in a quick sentence: Think what Christian Bale did with his voice in the Batman suit, only more convincing. I was honestly pretty surprised. Yes, he was putting on one of those tough guy gruff voices, but was actually pretty badass in the action scenes. Mind you, he wasn't as good as Arnold Schwarzenegger (honestly, who is?), but still preformed well.
The special effects for the movie aren't anything to comment on. It was pretty standard. However, I thought the Predators' makeup was really good. Instead of the usual CGI monsters we've been seeing as of late, we're actually getting guys dressed as the Predators! Finally, something TANGIABLE that you are willing to believe that are interacting with the actors, props and the set! Hollywood: Please…PLEASE follow this movie's example!
The action in this movie was over-the-top awesome. Honestly, three-quarters this movie is made of badass action sequences that catered to our inner bloodlust and desire for random gunfire. About every classic 80's action film cliché was in this, and it was ever so satisfying. While I'd usually nag my readers' ears off with my "Nothing is cliché; simply tradition" line whenever I'd even utter the word cliché, I don't think it quite fits this time around. They were clichés, yes. But as I said before, the movie was very self-aware. I'm sure it was done intentionally as a throwback to the original. Actually, there were a lot of throwbacks to the original!
However, despite my praise for this movie, I cannot say this movie is "good" in the traditional sense. While the action was very entertaining and satisfying, the movie never seemed to escape the looming shadow of its predecessors. It fell into a rut and didn't really want to take risks in being different from the original Predator. Again, however, this movie was still leaps and bounds better than many of Hollywood's recent remakes or reboots of past movies and television shows. It stayed very true to its source material, almost to a fault, and managed to still be a very entertaining film. You can't really fault a movie for being what it is, though you can seriously appreciate the amount of effort that went into it to be entertaining and even breaking boundaries.
For this revival of the Predator franchise, I give a:
3.5 out of 5
While by no means great, Predators was still a welcome sequel to Predator and a cut above the rest of the revivals Hollywood have been churning out as of late. I look forward to a possible sequel.
I recommend this movie to Predator fans and those wanting an aimless-yet-awesome action film.
Predators was made by Troublemaker Studios and Davis Entertainment; and distributed by 20th Century Fox.
Unlimited Reviews: Inception
My rating system:
5 = Perfection.
4.5 = REALLY good, but lacking that oomph to make it 5.
4 = Great.
3.5 = Above average. Definitely worth a look.
3 = Average.
2.5 = Below average. If you like its genre, you probably would like it.
2 = Not terrible, but not something you would like.
1.5 = Bad, but still worth checking JUST to make fun of how bad it is.
1 = BEWARE! EVIL! NOT EVEN WORTH MAKING FUN OF! WILL LITERALLY MAKE YOU SICK!
Hello, everyone. I am No Limit. Reviewer of everything under the sun. Anything is my domain and I shall pass my judgment on it…. Well, to the best of my ability anyway. Onward to the review!
