Category: Cinema

A Merry Little Hollywood Suite Roundup for a Spectacular December

This December’s Hollywood Suite line‑up mixes glamour, grit and nostalgia with new documentaries, classic cinema retrospectives and a stacked selection of seasonal films perfect for cozy nights in.

Hollywood Suite LOGOHollywood Suite is getting into the holiday spirit by unwrapping a trio of exclusive premieres this December, offering a festive blend of Hollywood history, pop‑culture icons, and nostalgic film deep dives that should please viewers settling in for the season.

The headline attraction is Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar (2024), executive produced by Kim Kardashian. This three‑part docuseries reframes Elizabeth Taylor as not only one of Hollywood’s most celebrated performers but also a celebrity who fundamentally changed how the world engages with superstardom. The documentary also explores her influence as a businesswoman and activist, featuring reflections from Sharon Stone, Joan Collins, and Paris Jackson. Part one premieres December 26 at 9 PM ET on the Hollywood Suite 2010s+ channel, with on‑demand availability the same day.

Elizabeth Taylor- Rebel Superstar

Continue reading “A Merry Little Hollywood Suite Roundup for a Spectacular December”

The Red Spectacles Restored! And Celebrating Mamoru Oshii’s Kerberos Saga

Mamoru Oshii’s The Red Spectacles returns in a striking 4K restoration that reveals just how strange, abrasive, and foundational it is to the Kerberos Saga. Part neo-noir, part absurdist fever dream, it plays like a dark mirror to knightly orders and Orwellian authority, stitched together by one of Kenji Kawai’s most playful scores.

The Red Spectacles OriginalMetrograph Showtimes:

  • Nov 22 8:15pm
  • Nov 23 9:00pm
  • Nov 26 8:20pm

Distributor: Small Sensations!

Anyone unfamiliar with Mamoru Oshii’s Kerberos Saga may wonder where to begin. The franchise sprawls across anime, radio dramas, manga, and live-action films, making its chronology look more like a web than a line. For my part, I believe the journey starts most powerfully with The Red Spectacles. Its recent 4K restoration—debuting at The Metrograph and perhaps also courting other art houses down the road—offers the perfect opportunity to revisit this strange, brooding cornerstone of Oshii’s world. There’s hardly any grain in sight!

To experience this work on the big screen is essential. The Japanese crowdfunding campaign (via Motion Gallery) performed remarkably well, reflecting both local enthusiasm and international curiosity. And for viewers whose entry point was Jin-Roh—as mine was—this neo-noir odyssey feels shockingly raw. More grounded. More abrasive. Visceral in ways that anime, by its nature, softens.

Continue reading “The Red Spectacles Restored! And Celebrating Mamoru Oshii’s Kerberos Saga”

Mamoru Oshii at the Metrograph. A Cinematic Tribute to a Master

Metrograph honours Mamoru Oshii with restorations of Angel’s Egg and The Red Spectacles, plus influences from Tarkovsky to Yamatoya. It’s a must see for fans of this master auteur!

Mamoru OshiiVenue: Metrograph, 7 Ludlow St, New York
Dates: November 15–23

Among anime fans, Mamoru Oshii stands apart for his singular art-house aesthetic. Though most know him as a director, understanding the depth of his writing means looking closely at his filmography. Angel’s Egg remains his first truly original work, while Urusei Yatsura: Only You (1983) and Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer (1984) were where his unique voice first began to shine. From there, his contributions to some of the most influential anime of the 90s cemented his reputation as a visionary.

With Avalon (2001), Oshii explored the harmful effects of virtual reality long before it became a plaything of today, and parts of that story (written by Kazunori Itō) resonate. Through its existential themes, he explored what it means to live and dream inside a machine—ideas that would echo throughout science-fiction cinema for decades.
Continue reading “Mamoru Oshii at the Metrograph. A Cinematic Tribute to a Master”

A Chinese Ghost Story Returns: Wilson Yip & 4K Trilogy

Explore how A Chinese Ghost Story returns: the 1987 trilogy’s legacy, the 2011 remake, and the upcoming Shout! Studios 4K release.

A Chinese Ghost Story GenericA Chinese Ghost Story Returns with not only a look back at Wilson Yip’s 2011 remake, but also news of the upcoming Shout! Studios 4K trilogy release. With Ghost Month here, it feels like the perfect time to revisit one of Hong Kong cinema’s most haunting sagas. This supernatural romance has captured audiences since 1987, and it’s about to return in stunning form. The folklore is classic, and how can not weep for the shadow whose only glimmer of hope is that of a naïve scholar?

Director Wilson Yip took on A Chinese Ghost Story (2011) with the goal of reimagining the classic tale for a new generation. While opinions remain divided on whether his version matches the original’s magic, it undeniably keeps the legend alive. By comparing both versions, we see how this story of love, spirits, and duty continues to evolve. When the third film slightly deviated from the formula (I reviewed this instalment when Fantasia played it), there’s room to grow. And with the classic trilogy getting a fully remastered release (Amazon link), I’m eager to revisit it!

Continue reading “A Chinese Ghost Story Returns: Wilson Yip & 4K Trilogy”

Ghost Month 2025: Chinese Horror Picks & New Teasers

Although no films were made specifically for Ghost Month 2025, there’s plenty of support from releases earlier this year and following!

Ghost Month 2025The second half of August is shaping up to be very spooky and Fringey. Ghost Month 2025 starts on Aug. 23 and runs until Sept. 21. As for Hungry Ghost Festival, that will be on Sept 6!

Although there’s no mandate about releasing films during this time–that’s reserved for Chinese New Year–some fans of horror always like to look at what’s on the cinematic slate to be reminded about what the Hungry Ghost Festival will entail. Some years have seen releases made specifically for this celebration as it’s a time not to be afraid of, but honour!

But for those who want to know what’s happening this year, we got a guide!

Fresh Releases, Teasers & Trailers
Plus Where to Watch

  • The Dark Mysteries (China, 2025) — A new horror/sci-fi teaser has dropped, hinting at eerie supernatural disturbances and a mystery to unravel. A late-summer digital or theatrical drop feels likely—stay tuned!
  • Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio:
    Curious Tales of a Temple (China, July 2025) —     Just when this film will manifest in other countries is still in question, but for those fans of Chinese Ghost Story, and Pu Songling’s classic collection “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio,” this animated take will please! Technically, Ghost Month 2025 can’t be complete with this film. There are six stories, and our coverage can be found by searching our archives with this link.
  • Ghost Killer — Available on Digital via WELL GO USA — Geared toward Asian horror fans, this trailer teases a ghostly revenge story packed with atmosphere and tension.

Continue reading “Ghost Month 2025: Chinese Horror Picks & New Teasers”

[Fantasia Film Festival] Unveiling the Hidden Truth: A Chinese Ghost Story 3’s Secret Reincarnation Links

Explore how A Chinese Ghost Story 3 subtly connects to its predecessors through the enduring theme of reincarnation and the nuances of cultivation.

A Chinese Ghost Story 3
Playing at Fantasia Film Festival Aug 3. Buy your tickets here!

Spoiler Alert

The original “A Chinese Ghost Story” trilogy (1987–1991) is a cult classic that stands the test of time. And at Fantasia Film Fest, the programming team decided to play A Chinese Ghost Story 3 on the big screen instead of the other two, which are narratively better than this chapter. The reason may well be because the third film was originally designed to be standalone. But for a long-time fan like me, these movies are connected because of what Daoism tries to achieve–cultivation. It’s like connecting to The Force in Star Wars.

But because reincarnation is a major theme that connects all three movies, there’s an implication that Fong (Tony Leung Chiu-waii) may well be an incarnation of Ning Choi-san. That’s how I read the introduction, which explains why this film jumped 100 years into this world’s future. When Yin Chik-ha, a Taoist priest, and Ning Choi-san, the scholar, are fighting the tree-demon again in order to banish it for a century, the setup feels obvious.

Continue reading “[Fantasia Film Festival] Unveiling the Hidden Truth: A Chinese Ghost Story 3’s Secret Reincarnation Links”