Tag: New York

Judy Lei’s “The World’s Greatest” Evokes Love and Heartache

Lei crafted a well-meaning slice of life tale in her debut, The World’s Greatest. It’ll leave people thinking.

The World's GreatestPlaying at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum @ JANM May 13, 2022 (Buy Tickets)

Judy Lei is a young filmmaker based out of New York City, and her debut work serves more than one purpose. The World’s Greatest is a powerful story about a Chinese-American family struggling with life. I find the title has two meanings:

Call it Fresh Prince of Bel Air or something else, but I firmly believe this film cautiously and intimately examines that relationship between parent and teen (played by Lei). There’s also getting to understand the mindset in the lead and what she wants to do to achieve that dream. These two ideas combined makes for a compelling tale. I found it’s a very personal and relatable piece.

Continue reading “Judy Lei’s “The World’s Greatest” Evokes Love and Heartache”

The Waterman is Riding High Near You

Director/documentarian Isaac Halasima is excellent at showing just how Duke is an embodiment of the Polynesian spirit, too.

Duke Kahanamoku doc 'Waterman' coming to Waimea Theater - The Garden IslandDuke Paoa Kahanamoku is the Waterman, a hero unlike any other. He not only represented Hawaii‘s spirit in sports competitions, but also became something more. At the height of his career, he became a five-time Olympic medalist. Like Aquaman, part of his family’s heritage comes from noble blood and viewers will be pleased Jason Momoa is one of many voices to offer insight to this athlete’s world.

Kahanamoku grew up enjoying life along the warm beaches around Waikiki. He honed his many oceanic skills here, and that also included mastering the waves on an alaia–a waterboard. When he introduced this sport to the world (starting in Australia) the love for it was only starting. Duke didn’t get the recognition for it right away, and what this documentary perfectly explores are all the problems he faced before being hailed the king of the sea.

Continue reading “The Waterman is Riding High Near You”

Flipping through Different Chapters in The Booksellers

nullBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Feb 13 | 5:30 PM | Parkside
* a limited amount of tickets is held at the door for purchase.

Hitting select theatres worldwide in March.

Bibliophiles are a unique lot, and I’m one of them. To understand what we represent is more than just about admiring a bunch of typeset paper with pictures slabbed in between two hard pieces of rectangular cardboard and reading it from time to time.

The Booksellers is a fascinating documentary. I belong to not only the comic book but also the antiquarian world. The discourse suggests how it influenced the arts. I can see how dada influenced hip hop, but surrealism?

Although the interviewers slips into tangents from time to time, the only thing missing is adding a bit of dialogue about sequential art. I’m certain we had a few seconds of the Yellow Kid (a reprint?) on a window display, but this subculture was not discussed at all. I did not expect any, though any note would have added to this documentary since collecting books is as synonymous as collecting autographed baseballs.

Continue reading “Flipping through Different Chapters in The Booksellers”

Yoshiki Live at Carnegie Hall hits PBS Nation-wide this Month!

RMMS-Yoshiki-Live-at-Carnegie-Hall-PBS-2019-extended-1.jpg

To find when this performance will air, please visit https://www.yoshiki.net/classical

Yoshiki Hayashi’s concert at Carnegie Hall is going nation-wide, and fans of this super-star musician can see at soon, airing across various PBS Stations beginning this month.

This special was filmed in New York and it was sold-out. Not only did he perform to standing ovations but also was taped. Yoshiki Live at Caregie Hall made its broadcast premiere this year in the New York City area on WNET13, the most-watched public television channel in America. Because of the enormous reaction from American viewers, this touching concert created overwhelming demand. All other major PBS-affiliated TV stations received numerous requests to add the special to their schedule.

Continue reading “Yoshiki Live at Carnegie Hall hits PBS Nation-wide this Month!”

The Secret Life of Pets Gets Revealed, and It’s Busy

The-secret-life-of-pets-poster-newBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Illumination Entertainment’s The Secret Life of Pets shows that life does not have to be a dog eat dog world. The Jack Russell Terrier Max (Louis C.K.) gets his world upturned when his owner, Katie (Ellie Kemper) decides to adopt another dog, a massive Wookie-sized Newfoundland named Duke. Both want the human’s affection and Max’s jealousy is almost warranted. The larger of the two thinks he can have the run of the place, and tensions only rise until they are forced to work together.

After an incident at the park where they fight for alpha dog status and lose their tags, the two are chased by animal control and a crazy underground world of displaced pets. The rabbit, Snowball (Kevin Hart) leads this motley gang and he’s dangerous! As the trailers suggest, he very nearly steals the movie and his relationship with the two canines is only that of an enemy, because they are recognized as domesticated.

Continue reading “The Secret Life of Pets Gets Revealed, and It’s Busy”

%d bloggers like this: