Tag: Japanese

[Fantasia 2021] Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story

All Nimfa Dimaano (Angelica Panganiban) needs is love, but it’ll come at a price if the colourful, animated feature film Hayop Ka! Is any sign.

Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story PosterAvailable to Stream On Demand
Tickets can be purchased here

All Nimfa Dimaano (Angelica Panganiban) needs is love, but it’ll come at a price if the colourful, animated feature film Hayop Ka! is any sign. In English, this Filipino word means, “You Animal!” And it’s not meant to be kind. Here, this feline works as a salesperson and when she sells Iñigo Villanueva (Sam Milby), a wealthy entrepreneur, the wrong perfume. He tracks her down instead of going to the store and the problems that erupt between him, her boyfriend and her defines much of the tale.

Her beau, Roger (Robin Padilla) is jealous. He thinks she’s cheating on him and to make matters worse, he’s willing to go to extremes to win her back. We’re dealing with an anthropomorphic take on Fliipino culture and here, the main protagonist is flirting with two huge canines. Roger is of mongrel descent and Iñigo is a husky.

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[Fantasia 2021] On A 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died In 8…

When is a kaijū movie not a kaijū movie in The Monster That Died?

The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8 (2020) - IMDbStreaming online at
Fantasia Film Fest 2021
Tickets can be bought here.

When is a kaijū movie not a kaijū movie? It’s when we’ll never get to see those giant monsters. We’re dealing with a new genre of films because a certain pandemic is changing the rules. The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died In 8 is one of many from filmmakers creating something while under lockdown.

In this story’s case, the fictional version of the filmmakers Iwai Shunji (co-director of Shin Godzilla) and Saitō Takumi believe they can make a monster out of capsule toys he bought online.

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[Fantasia 2021] Having “Dreams on Fire”

The movie Dreams on Fire is about finding that passion to make Yume that rising star, and fulfilling a dream to become a professional dancer.

Dreams on Fire (2021) - IMDbNorth American Premiere

Moviegoers who love films about newcomers wanting to firmly establish themselves in the performing arts have seen this premise before. There’s an individual who wants to be recognized. But in order to do so usually means crossing the line or burning a bridge somewhere.

Yume (Bambi Naka) has Dreams on Fire–this film’s title. After watching a spectacular performance at a local theatre, all she wants to do is dance. She goes against her parents’ wishes and leaves the nest to find she’s alone. She’s nowhere close to getting auditions for those shows or being recognized, much less winning at street dance competitions. But there’s more to the art than having the moves. There’s also finding that drive to keep going. As Don Henley once sang, “She can’t feel the heat coming off the street.”

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That Crazy Samurai is Headed to Home Video March 2nd!

Anyone who missed out in seeing Crazy Samurai Musashi at film festivals can now see it on streaming or on home video!

Crazy SamuraiAvailable on
Hi-YAH! Streaming Service.

WELL GO USA
Physical/VOD/Digital
Release Date: March 2, 2021

Please click on this link to read a review of this movie.

Anyone who missed out in seeing Crazy Samurai Musashi at film festivals can now see it on streaming or on home video! This film has been renamed though, and anyone feeling confused at why Crazy Samurai: 400 vs 1 is used for the Well GO USA release is best to ask this company.

Perhaps it’s to ideally identify what this movie is about. It’s a one take slug-fest of one man versus an entire village. Although this company doesn’t always offer extras in every Asian cinema release, this work is one I wished it had additional material from the Japanese physical media release.

 

I’d love to see what was needed to prepare for filming this movie in one long take. There’s hardly time to breathe given the amount of battles Musashi (Tak Sakaguchi) have to endure. Yuji Shimomura’s film is unique such that he has to coordinate everything through walkie-talkie and hidden headphones. The Japanese home video release offers more and can be purchased through YesAsia, This edition includes a bonus DVD of special features including making-of, audienceless event, first day press meet and trailer.

 

BRATS Online Jan 10th with Ambitious Girls Rock Volume One Livestream!

Brats | Discography | DiscogsJapanese punk rock band, BRATS is ready to kick 2021 into high gear with with live albums and a free Ambitious Girls Rock Vol. 1 livestream on January 10! This show starts at 1:00pm (Japan time) and will include many female bands from Japan and South Korea to show no one’s gonna take it anymore, and show its still possible to have fun. These girls got it all!

This release features this group’s hottest sets since they released their second album Karma last September.

This set features the special event “Karma The LIVE” at Shibuya Tsutaya O-East, where the trio performed the new album’s full track list.

The follow-up record showcases their “Ambitious Girls” live set at Ikejiri Ohashi #Chord.

Before the big event, both albums are available worldwide to watch at https://avex.lnk.to/BRATS_PLAYLIST. The following are just exerpts.

BRATS – “Kimarigoto” Live at TSUTAYA O-EAST 2020.09.13

 

BRATS – “Doudatte Yokatta” Live at #Chord 2020.11.08

 

On January 10, BRATS will perform as part of the free “Ambitious Girls Rock – Vol, 1” online concert event. The four-band livestream stars female vocal rock bands from East Asian countries: BRATS (Japan), Velvet Sighs (Japan), Rolling Quartz (South Korea), and VINCIT (South Korea).

Watch live at https://www.youtube.com/c/ROLLINGQUARTZofficial.

  • BRATS will begin at appx 1:30pm, streaming their performance from Shibuya Tsutaya O-Crest.

Rolling Quartz – Blaze
https://youtu.be/Pg51wRHMRek

VINCIT – Strike Out
https://youtu.be/KK0cuakU0oM

Velvet Sighs – Pretending
https://youtu.be/GwQpESCJSJ4

Exploring Horimono: Japan’s Tattoo Pilgrimage at LAAAPFF 2020

The Japanese word Horimono (彫刻) does not necessarily translate to defining the same art form which the English term tattoo expresses. The mini-documentary, Horimono: Japan’s Tattoo Pilgrimage, shows that this country’s older generation sees a difference in how to express themselves through full body modification.

Crazy SamuraiBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Available to viewers in Southern California (excluding San Diego County) from October 1, 2020 at 12pm PT to October 31, 2020 at 11:59pm PT. Click here to watch the film on Eventive.

The Japanese word Horimono (彫物) does not necessarily translate to defining the same art form which the English term tattoo expresses. The mini-documentary, Horimono: Japan’s Tattoo Pilgrimage, shows that this country’s older generation sees a difference in how to express themselves through full body art modification. Some conflict exists. The media in Asia stereotyped the image of what it means to have a pattern on their skin–they are historically labelled a criminal. This belief dates back to the 4th Century.

This mini documentary aims to correct all the misconceptions.

The soundtrack is just as entrancing. The English definition includes how the word can signal the beat of a drum at night to tell soldiers it’s time to go to their quarters. We see it played at a temple in Oyama during a ritual of purification. The mountain shrine welcomes not only the artists who still practice the ancient art but also the men, whose body is fully covered in imagery from the Edo period (1603 – 1868). They wear it like a suit–a badge of honour.

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