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White Snake 3: Afloat Needs To Surface in North America! Every Explosive Trailer Released.

The movie, White Snake 3, has made its debut in China, and hopefully the plan to bring this latest Light Chaser Animation to North America will be soon!

Release Date in China:
August 10th, 2024

Light Chaser Animation Studios continues to delight fans of the White Snake series with their latest entry, White Snake 3: Afloat (白蛇：浮生). While the literal translation of the title is “Floating Life,” “Afloat” or even “Rebirth” better captures the intended themes of renewal and emotional drift.

Whatever name you prefer, I can’t wait to see this next chapter! For those unfamiliar with the series, the first film is available online and on Amazon USA, while the second is streaming on Netflix. You can also check out my reviews of Part One and Part Two.

As for why these films feel disconnected, I suspect the North American distributor wasn’t aware this story was always intended as a trilogy.

This fantasy romance raises two big questions: Will the sisters reunite? And will Bianca (Xiao Bai, voiced by Zhe Zhang) see Xian (Tianxiang Yang) again? There’s a third thread too—according to the source material, the couple has a child! The ending of the first film teases this possibility, but in the sequel, Xian is sidelined when time travel complicates everything. During a climactic battle, Verta (Xiao Qing, played by Xiaoxi Tang) is hurled into a future that’s anything but welcoming.

In that timeline, the Baoqing Fox takes on a larger role in the chaos. While the trailers don’t reveal much about her involvement, what little we see is intriguing—and I’m eager to learn more.

Continue reading “White Snake 3: Afloat Needs To Surface in North America! Every Explosive Trailer Released.”

The Entanglements in Fly Me to the Saitama II, From Biwa Lake With Love Can Spell Disaster, If Rei Isn’t Careful!

It’s tough to be original in Fly Me to the Saitama II, From Biwa Lake With Love. What’s added on top is a romantic triangle which only makes this work more llike a Broadway style spectacle than anything else.

Fly Me to the Saitama II, From Biwa Lake With Love is one of those mixed genre types of film where viewers will get to see Shōjo, fantasy, cosplay, rom-com all mixed into a vaudeville style stage show.

When I first saw the full title, I had thoughts of Macross running through my head (mostly because the word, “Love” is often used in many subtitles). And I had to remind myself about how the conflict began by looking at the first film again (movie review can be read here). It’s basically a story about the citizens from a specific prefecture wanting to be free from Tokyo’s political wrangling and Rei Asami (Gackt) led the party.

Continue reading “The Entanglements in Fly Me to the Saitama II, From Biwa Lake With Love Can Spell Disaster, If Rei Isn’t Careful!”

[Fantasia 2024] When A Samurai in Time Isn’t Like Enemy Mine. It’s About Absolutes.

What’s unique to this dramatic comedy is that we’re left wondering what caused A Samurai in Time to travel to the future and decide to remain?

A Samurai in Time Movie Poster — **Played at Fantasia Film Festival 2024 on July 28, 2024**

Even if you know nothing about Jidaigeki, a genre of Japanese action films set during the Meiji period, A Samurai in Time will make you a fan! It’s twice as good as Rurouni Kenshin and as a modern day drama about what’s worth fighting for, that’s up to Shinzaemon Kosaka (Makiya Yamaguchi) to decide. After his warrior class got disbanded, he’s a soldier without a cause. After a lightning storm interrupted a duel he was going to have with Yamagata Hikokuro of the Choshu Clan (aka Kazami Kyoichiro), just where he lands is modern day Kyoto.

All those conflicts between the factions from his days are now the stuff of entertainment. And sometimes, we delve into the historical significance of who is in the right for the unification, but what matters more is what this warrior class does if any individual loses that stewardship. This theme gets a soft exposition as Kosaka finds a new career as a Yamaguchi, a type of stuntman who performs an absurd pose as he dies.

Continue reading “[Fantasia 2024] When A Samurai in Time Isn’t Like Enemy Mine. It’s About Absolutes.”

Chang’An, A City in Turmoil. It Was The Best of Times and Worst of Times.

For now, the movie Chang’an is available to purchase online via eBay or YesAsia as a Region 3 release until North American distributor Niu Vision Media figures out what to do.

Chang'An Movie Bluray R3 “The Times They Are A-Changin’” is a song that should be used if a dub of Chang’an ever gets released to North American Market. Its lyrics are perfect, but if that does not work, I’d suggest David Bowie’s song,“Changes,” to the distributor involved in editing. While it’s doubtful the Chinese producers would approve of it, I’d get the reference since this movie concerns how the capital of Shaanxi Province would undergo shifts in political power. This city is also known as Xi’an, and it’s historically significant because it was the original beating heart of a unified China.

All of it is the backdrop for the rather ambitious animated film by Lightchaser Studios. This work not only recounts the historical events that transpired but also tries to figure out the relationship two famous poets had as rebellions took place around them. They were sometimes involved in it and other times not.

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A Cat’s Life Isn’t For Everyone, But You’ll Purr at This One

This charming coming of age tale looks at not only A Cat’s Life but also that of a young girl whose parents are about to divorce. It’s all about how to adapt.

Available to view on Apple TV

A Cat’s Life is a German made film finally making its way to screenings in other countries. It’s an adaptation of the novel “Rrou” by Maurice Genevoix and is nothing like Illumination’s The Secret Life of Pets (movie review). That’s because this story looks at what defines those relationships between animal and humankind. In this case, it’s about how Lou (as named by Clémence, played by Capucine Sainson-Fabresse) manages to win the hearts of viewers as she provides comfort to this young girl.

It’s sad to see that this kitty loses sight of his mother in the opening moments. Something happened, and he just left, to wander into the city streets and be found by a young girl. I hate to think there’s a sadder element as there’s no dialogue to explain what happened to his siblings and mother. What’s implied is very sad, and I hope the family survives. Continue reading “A Cat’s Life Isn’t For Everyone, But You’ll Purr at This One”

Donnie Yen’s Polar Rescue Shows We’re Not Finished With Winter Just Yet

Fans of Donnie Yen will be interested in seeing him flex his acting chops than fighting ones in Polar Rescue.

Polar Rescue Blu-Ray Cover — **Available to order on Amazon USA**

Well GO USA
Now Available on VOD and Blu-ray

Throughout the years, Donnie Yen has played a variety of characters who faced a myriad of challenges and in Polar Rescue, the greatest one is when a loved one disappears. The physical and emotional response is tough, and he definitely goes through the motions and that alone makes watching this movie worth the look.

In this film originally titled Come Back Home, his youngest child is lost somewhere in the wilderness. It’s winter time, and to visit a Tein Lake without a ride is impossible. Also, the parents are having a tough go at dealing with this kid. He’s quite demanding and when De (Yen) disciplines this tyke for a few minutes by locking him in a cabin, the kid decides to sneak out the back window. And when the folks realise he’s gone, they better do everything they can to find him.

Continue reading “Donnie Yen’s Polar Rescue Shows We’re Not Finished With Winter Just Yet”