Flash Forward: Debut Works and Recent Films by Notable Japanese Directors to be presented by Japan Society NY from December 3-23

Moonlight Whispers (Directed by Akihiko Shiota, 1999. 97 minutes)

Flash Forward: Debut Works and Recent Films by Notable Japanese Directors kicks off this Friday, Dec. 3rd. With 18 films available for nationwide streaming, plus two exclusive in-person screenings in Japan Society NY's auditorium, the series compiles must-see works from six of Japan's best-known directors: Naomi Kawase, Miwa Nishikawa, Shuichi Okita, Junji Sakamoto, Akihiko Shiota and Masayuki Suo.

Running from Dec. 3 to Dec. 23, Flash Forward presents two distinct facets of each filmmaker’s career, pairing their respective debuts with more recent works.

In addition to online screenings available for nationwide streaming, Japan Society present two new 4K restorations of films by master filmmaker Sadao Yamanaka in its auditorium. Plus: Free to stream—six films from filmmakers on the rise.

In-Person Screenings:
- Tickets: $15 / $10 members
- Tickets for In-Person Screenings are on sale now.

Online Screenings:
- Rentals: $10 for 3-day rental
- On-Sale Date: December 3

All-Access Pass: $55 for all online films (Available for purchase now through December 2nd only)

Members receive 20% off online rentals and the all-access pass. Not a member? Join today to receive exclusive benefits for the whole family.

Learn more about the films here.

9th Old School Kung Fu Fest: Joseph Kuo Edition coming December 6-13

Museum of the Moving Image and Subway Cinema

In association with
Taipei Cultural Center in New York, Ministry of Culture, Republic of China (Taiwan)
Present

9th Old School Kung Fu Fest: Joseph Kuo Edition!
December 6-13, 2021

The Old School Kung Fu Fest is back, and this time Museum of the Moving Image and Subway Cinema will co-present eight newly restored films and one fan favorite classic by Kuo on glorious 35mm — four titles available exclusively online, December 6–13, and another five films for in-person big-screen viewing at MoMI, December 10–12.

Whether you know his name or not, when someone says “Old School Kung Fu” the first image that flashes across your brain is probably from a Joseph Kuo movie. Taiwan’s ultimate independent filmmaker, Kuo put his stamp on the Seventies as his own boss, writing, producing, and directing dozens of movies through his production company, Hong Hwa International Films, which he founded in 1973.

Kuo’s credo was simple: “I cannot let down the person who buys my works.” He learned to deliver maximum impact on minimum budgets, taking the latest trends of the day and turning them into hard-hitting spectacles boasting unlimited mayhem. To make his movies rock the hardest on the smallest of budgets he assembled a rotating cast of charismatic action stars that included Wen Chiang-lung (who looks like Bruce Lee after a Cantopop makeover), the musclebound Carter Huang, the puckish Li Yi-Min, the underrated female fighter, Jeanie Chang, the versatile Jack Long and Mark Long. Working with action choreographers like Corey Yuen, one of the Seven Little Fortunes, and Yuen Cheung-yan, brother of Yuen Wo-ping, his flicks feature wall-to-wall fight scenes, and in an attempt to please every single audience member these fight scenes go on, and on, and on, continually changing location and upping the stakes, so that just when you think you’ve seen every possible variation on two guys standing in a field kicking the stuffing out of each other, Kuo takes it to another level.

Full of funky editing tricks that momentarily turn his movies into experimental flicks, Kuo hooks eyeballs with convoluted storytelling structures packed with frenetic flashbacks that force viewers to pay close attention. Everyone is related to everyone else, everyone has a secret identity, there’s almost always a last minute revelation popping up out of nowhere, usually with evil laughter on its lips, and every movie single revolves around revenge. While the first half hour of any Joseph Kuo film takes some patience while he clears his throat and gets down to business, once things kick off it’s a non-stop roller coaster ride that ends in an apocalyptic beatdown that leaves the main characters doling out a galaxy-shattering finishing movie before confronting the futility of vengeance. Delivering martial arts mayhem and a moving moral message in 90 minutes or less, Joseph Kuo gets in, delivers the goods, makes his point, then gets out, leaving you hungry for more. And in this year’s Old School Kung Fu Fest we’re offering plenty more.

For complete information about the 9th Old School Kung Fu Fest: Joseph Kuo EditionI, click here.

Subway Cinema's new website is up; past write-ups being added

Subway Cinema Inc. is a New York-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit volunteer-run organization dedicated to the exhibition and appreciation of Asian popular cinema and preservation of America’s Asian film exhibition heritage

Founded in 1999 in New York City as a labor of love for five film fans (Paul Kazee, Grady Hendrix, Brian Naas, Nat Olson, and Goran Topalovic), the organization has played a key role in nurturing the growth of Asian film culture in the U.S. by championing the works of Johnnie To, Tsui Hark, Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, Takashi Miike, Kim Jee-woon, Ryoo Seung-wan, Seijin Suzuki, Sion Sono, and other notable directors.

The organization recently got its new website up and running and is gradually adding all of its past write-ups. Check out the website, including information about the organization's 9th Old School Kung Fu Fest: Joseph Kuo Edition! (December 6-13, 2021)  at https://www.subwaycinema.com/.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA 2 to screen on Sunday, November 28th

 

The Criterion Collection recently released a Once Upon a Time in China box set and to celebrate, Subway Cinema scheduled screenings of the 4K restorations of ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA 1 & 2!!!!

The organization  screened Part 1 last Sunday and had a huge crowd that rocked the room with cheers and applause from the moment the Golden Harvest logo appeared until the last bad guy got done in.

Now, Subway Cinema is doing it again with OUATIC Part 2 screening at the Nitehawk Prospect Park on Sunday, 11/28 at noon. No familiarity with Part 1 is required.

Tickets for Part 2 are on sale now! 

Founded in 1999 in New York City, Subway Cinema is a not-for-profit volunteer-run organization dedicated to the exhibition and appreciation of Asian popular cinema and preservation of America’s Asian film exhibition heritage.

The Monkey King: Reborn is coming to digital, Blu-ray™ & DVD on December 7th, 2021

Well Go USA Entertainment
presents

The Monkey King: Reborn

Directed by Wang Yun Fei

China, 2021, 96 minutes

Following on the heels of recent groundbreaking animated films from China (including Ne Zha, 2020 & Jiang Ziya, 2021) comes an all-new anime action-adventure fantasy, The Monkey King: Reborn, landing on digital, Blu-ray™ and DVD December 7th, 2021 from Well Go USA Entertainment.

 

Playing off the three hugely popular Monkey King live action films,  The Monkey King: Reborn follows the trickster after he is insulted while visiting a temple with his master Tang Monk. Outraged, he destroys a magical tree and accidentally releases the ancient King of Demons, who kidnaps Tang Monk as revenge for his long imprisonment. Now, Monkey King and his fellow disciples must rescue their master within three days, before the demon king regains his full power and unleashes his armies to destroy the earth.

Directed by Wang Yun Fei (4-film Yugo & Lala franchise),  The Monkey King: Reborn features an all-new English dub for this release.

Synopsis:
After short-tempered trickster Monkey King is insulted while visiting a temple with his master Tang Monk, he destroys a magical tree and accidentally releases the ancient King of Demons, who kidnaps Tang Monk as revenge for his long imprisonment. Now, Monkey King and his fellow disciples must rescue their master within three days, before the Demon King regains his full power and unleashes his armies to destroy the earth.