Oh My Heavens: The Boy And His Robot is set to Explode at Fantasia Fest 2024!

Despite being a very cliche-ridden plot, Heavens: The Boy and his Robot is fairly entertaining and worth the watch on the big screen.

Heavens The Boy and His Robot Movie PosterScreening July 27, 2024 3:35 PM
Auditorium des diplômés de la SGWU (Théâtre Hall)

Singapore filmmaker Rich Ho has an idea, and that’s to create a franchise that is “Heavens” above all other giant robot films. In Japan, they’re known as mecha, and what I’m seeing in Heavens: The Boy And His Robot is a genuine love letter to the genre. After a very Transformers and Macross inspired introduction to explain how the Second Great War started, Kai (Jonathan See) becomes the focus of this tale. The boyish charm that this actor has sold the fact he’s a fish out of water. Or should I say he’s a small fry?

After his father died in a prior conflict, he’s anxious that his mother won’t come back either. She’s been called to duty, and even though his god parents raise him well, he still wishes mom to come home. Nothing is directly said if she’s dead or not, but I think she’s gone. Upon turning 18 years old, he wants to join the Mecha Corps with the goal of finding his parents. Instead of asking to join the science arm of this military group, he wants to be in the field.

Continue reading “Oh My Heavens: The Boy And His Robot is set to Explode at Fantasia Fest 2024!”

12 Hot Films to See at Fantasia Film Festival 2024

Fans of Fantasia Film Festival will also say their shorts, like Anime no Bento 2024, are not worth missing! They offer a celebration of the arts in ways not every film will explore!

Fantasia Film Festival 2024Montreal City’s Fantasia Film Festival is the destination for all things wild in the pop culture movie scene. Although I love it because of all the Asian style imports, there’s always something unique from another country that’ll catch my interest.

Whether that’s with Les yeux d’Olga or Chainsaws Were Singing (Mootorsaed laulsid) due to what this work promises to entertain with, they help round out this top twelve must see picks! The former is a short which may borrow concepts from Bubba Ho-tep and the latter is a horror musical, a genre which doesn’t receive enough attention, and I hope both succeed!

Presented in alphabetical order are my top picks on what to go see:

Brush of the God (Kaminofude)

Brush of the God (Kaminofude)Sun July 28, 2024
Salle J.A. De Sève

Once a movie earns the label of a kaiju film, I’ll simply watch it, and here, it’s about a young girl who wants to know more about her late grandfather. He’s a model maker who’s worked in many monster movies, and as for how she gets teleported into the worlds that her grandpa made, well, that’s the mystery. I doubt this work will be like the Last Action Hero, but I’m very curious!

Continue reading “12 Hot Films to See at Fantasia Film Festival 2024”

Summer Nights at Otaku no Culture; A Best of and Going on Vacation This Week

Who’s ready for Summer? There’s plenty of past entertainment to enjoy as we take a break to recharge.

One Piece Summer VacationWith July now here, even we need to relax in preperation in what we expect to be a busy month! Fantasia Film Festival is coming up and we plan on covering it. We’re awaiting a response to our application and until then, we are still working on a list of top picks on what to see. Until then, we will be out enjoying the sun and try not to get a sunburn. Nobody wants that. We will resume posts next week. In the meantime, please enjoy this selection of best of past summer themed articles.

And we even have a Summertime Mixtape on YouTube too!

With Blockbuster Inc., You’re Making Movies Faster Than Building a Studio to Rent

Everything you want to know about how movies are made are revealed here in this videogame simulation simply known as Blockbuster Inc. But do you have what it takes to make the next hit? Hint: patience is required to understand how this game works.

blockbuster inc. title card
Now availble to purchase on Steam (PC)

Managing a movie studio isn’t easy, and for Blockbuster Inc. to emulate this in a sim city style video game, the production team at Super Sly Fox dived deep! In addition to getting an education about how movies are made, what’s offered in this product has a nostalgic charm. In fact, in my playtest, I started during the Golden Age of Hollywood. It’s a shame that due to copyright, that municipality’s name can’t be used.

Back then, everything followed a systematic approach to film production. In this virtual world, players have the power to manipulate everything. Here, I have an empty film lot to build onto. Although I find it odd that the movie sets are open air rather than warehouse, but to say all the world’s a stage is an understatement here. On the harder side of this game is all that  micromanagement. That’s the role of a producer–to acquire the funds to expand the studio, hire additional staff and find the right actor for that movie.

Continue reading “With Blockbuster Inc., You’re Making Movies Faster Than Building a Studio to Rent”

Ross Munro’s The Moviegoer Aims for More Than A Reflection of Times Gone By

There’s no innocence lost in The Moviegoer, since it also includes recognising the various exploitation type films that became prominent for this era.

Ross Munro's The Moviegoer PosterRoss Munro‘s The Moviegoer is more than a love letter about his youthful experiences at the movie theatre. It’s also a look at what inspired him to start making films of his own, and what’s notable is the affection for Carlota Viva, an actress from Venezuela. He says she’s South America’s answer to Bridget Bardot and I can’t blame him for carrying that affection into his adult years.

Although this character is a fictional creation, I get what he’s going for; she symbolized a time much like Marilyn Monroe back in the 60s. Had the era been different, I’m sure not everyone will get it, and I feel the choice of which decade to make his own is important to sell this film. I grew up in this time too.

Although I thought of his short film as an autobiography, there’s a lot more going on. After watching it, I had to hit google and do some additional research just to reacquaint myself about the times. The only reference I could find is from the Jane the Virgin Wikipedia. And if I was to connect this character to anyone real, I’d place my money on him being infatuated with Eva Perón, The First Lady of Argentina.

Continue reading “Ross Munro’s The Moviegoer Aims for More Than A Reflection of Times Gone By”

One Fan’s Response to Variety’s Report About 3D in Cinema–It’s Dead

To 3D or not to 3D is the question some viewers may have now that pandemic concerns have abaded. But does anyone want it?

Imax 3D CinemaSubscribers to Variety Magazine and fans of the 3D film medium will no doubt want to read Carolyn Giardina’s report where the Summer Movie Season [will be] Testing 3D Cinema’s Recoverability. But as for whether that’s happening everywhere, I’ve noticed that my local movie theatre chain is close to abandoning the format unless it’s a blockbuster. As far as advance ticket sales are indicating what’s available, I’m not seeing any listings.

The only film listed is The Garfield Movie, and it’s a product not worth paying more for. If this activity is indeed happening, I imagine that they are only occurring at major metropolises where numbers matter instead of small towns. Whether fans of this medium want it back, the next few months will be telling. Ever since Covid-19 struck, the fear of getting the virus any which way depends on how much of a germ phobia one has. I firmly believe this fad is just that; and it’s finished running its course.

Continue reading “One Fan’s Response to Variety’s Report About 3D in Cinema–It’s Dead”