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A Different Kind of Top Ten Movies to Continue Self Isolating With…

28 Mar

Image result for the day the earth stood stillBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

As folks continue to self-isolate, I’m not ready to admit defeat from all this COVID-19 madness. In this thought experiment, I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

The modern Prometheus can give us hope instead of total destruction. Everyone is expecting the Night of the Living Dead to rise and tear humanity asunder. It’s the Invasion of the Body Snatchers, no less. Yes, tis the Day the Earth Stood Still. The alpha patient will destroy us all with this Resident Evil, and the Omega Man can give us hope. But can he rise to say, “I am Legend?”

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Come Visit Dark Horse Comics’ Spy Island April 1st!

26 Mar

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Dark Horse Comics
On sale April 1st, 2020

Spoiler Alert

When writer Chelsea Cain and illustrator Lia Miternique of Image Comics’ Man-Eaters fame reunites to bring more thrillers to life, all fans need to know it’s going to be good. Spy Island is heading to a second print run, and I’m seeing shades of classic James Bond in the preview. When this piece of land is located at one of the tips which define The Bermuda Triangle, anything can happen!

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It’s Not Ip Man’s Finale, but the Grandmaster of all Collections!

24 Mar

IP MAN: THE GRANDMASTER 4-MOVIE COLLECTION
Release Date: April 7th

Wilson Yip’s work in the fictional biography of Ip Man is getting a box set! Not only will it feature all four films (previously released as separate films by Well Go USA) featuring Donnie Yen in the titular role, but also we’ll be getting the much needed featurettes that should help fill in the gaps that the cinematic treatment doesn’t touch on.

In the fourth film, which I reviewed a few months ago here, Ip Man lands in San Francisco to help ease tensions between the local Kung Fu masters and an up and coming talent, Bruce Lee. However, there’s more than just tensions between keeping Chinatown in peace. There’s problems with other locals; when the military gets involved, the xenophobic tensions can almost speak for the current situation going on presently between the White House, China and COVID-19.

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Japan is Too Cool with this Latest Update!

24 Mar
Image result for cool japan book

Available to purchase on Amazon USA

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Tim Craig’ss Cool Japan 2nd Edition is a very welcome update to looking at what’s trending, and how it affects the industry. The term was coined circa 2005 and when this look “Inside Japan’s Cultural and Creative Industries” can change overnight due to many influences–be it on a global scale or amid crisis–the effects are often longer term than a return to form.

The fast and furious industries in the business side of Japanese side entertainment–ranging from anime fandom to J-pop to manga and sumo (to name a few)–are not the only industries affected by change. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry coined the term.

Like the original edition, it’s written for folks who want a deeper look into the industry and it’s a perfect textbook to use not only in a high school level but also academic. Two new chapters–”Shesha and the Manga Industry Face a Midlife Crisis” and “Japanese Comedy: Entertainment Powerhouse Yoshimoto Kogyo Shaken by Scandal”– fill in the years between this edition and last. For the other chapters, addendums and what’s happening now are added to reveal whether or not projects like the Cool Japan strategy works.

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