September 2021 | Otaku No Culture

Meditating on what Makes Masao A Simple Man

The cinematography is poetic and contemplative, making this film almost a tear jerker because everyone knows the inevitable.

Masao L.A. Asian Pacifc Film Festival
Regal L.A. LIVE:
A Barco Innovation Center
Sept 25, 2021
12:00 pm

Not everyone can say, “I Was a Simple Man,” like Christopher Makoto Yogi can. This film by this writer/director offers a truly sombre look at the last days of Masao (Steve Iwamoto). The flashbacks reveal everything you want to know about this protagonist–including bits of his troubled family’s past–and why he lives his days out with his daughter, often alone instead with friends and kin.

It’s tough to watch a parent grow old, hear them complain about one thing or another, and see you’re not able to help. Kati (Chanel Akiko Hirai) is the only relative trying her best because they share the same space. Her brother Mark (Nelson Lee) is living a new life far, far away. When she phones him and asks for him to come home, the dilemma they face together in how to deal with their father is tough.

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Trying to Figure Out Life’s Little Problems in Definition Please

L.A. Asian Pacifc Film Festival
Regal L.A. LIVE:
A Barco Innovation Center
Sept 25, 2021
4:00 pm

Sujata Day’s debut movie Definition Please offers a Bollywood-style charm about Monica Chowdry (played by Day) dealing with life many years after winning the spelling bee as a child. Her friends and family are proud. They assumed big things would be in store for her later in life. None of that fame stood the test of time and it seems she’s transfixed with living in the comfort of what is familiar instead of taking on new challenges.

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Delving into What Makes LAAPFF’s Pacific Cinewaves Shorts Unique

How to Catch a Taotaomona

Playing at the
Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center
1000 W Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA

Saturday | September 25, 2021
3:30 pm

The Pacific Cinewaves Program at the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival is my go to for kick starting this event. It’s free / pay what you can, because there’s no reason not to miss all the messages being delivered about how to preserve the ancient world of Polynesia.

The various pieces offer a delightful, supernatural and meditative exploration on what makes this part of the world unique. I say this with mixed feelings, because not all the countries in this vast region are represented. We have Guam, and a beautifully family oriented tale about how to reconnect with one’s faith in How to Catch a Taotaomona.

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Maika Loubté’s Show Me How Remix Now Available!

Maika Loubté channels feelings indescribable by words into music - TOKION Tokyo based singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Maika Loubté has a brand new remix! “Show Me How” is now available, starting today, to stream and view.

This ethereal take maintains the similar emotion of the original track, while giving it a new life by adding light, youthful, and percussive energy. Kan Sano, a keyboardist, remixer, and producer has worked with many artists across Japan and he is regarded as one of the most important figures in the country’s music scene today.

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Three Shining Ways to Celebrate Moon Festival!

Over the Moon (2020) - IMDb By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

The Moon Festival is nearly here in North America! It’s already started in China, and this annual mid-autumn event is big. Pandemic or not, close-knit families are likely to gather to observe the moon and give thanks much like the American holiday of Thanksgiving. The tradition came about circa 17th century and it only gained in popularity since. It’s also considered to be the second most important holiday in the Chinese calender (1) and some make the time a three-day celebration! I plan on catching three specific films to respect this aspect of the event.

Another aspect is ritualistic. This includes burning incense and releasing candle lit lanterns so they will float up into the night sky like an air balloon. The best made ones with a carefully hidden helium baloon can float up very high to resemble stars.

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Who Has the Power in Mattel and Netflix’s He-Man and The Masters of the Universe?

The teens we find in He-Man and The Masters of the Universe are Eternia’s answer to Power Rangers…

Spoiler Alert

Hasbro & Netflix’s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe may not appeal to all longtime fans. It’s been redesigned, and the new power of Grayskull is a trans-dimensional force of nature to perhaps contain and explain why these retellings over the years exist. Thankfully, this latest version stays true to the first series where it tries to teach young viewers the value of friendship, trust and teamwork.

Rob David, the showrunner, is drawing from a cleaned up series bible. Hasbro and Funimation never made one during their development of the 1983 show. After so many retellings on different fronts, namely three televised series and the comic books–this latest takes the best of and explains the complex relationships that exists in this world. The motives are much clearer. It’s also completely different from what Kevin Smith is doing in his continuation, MotU: Revelation.

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