With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013

With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013
With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

ACF 602: Secret Reunion at NYAFF

Secret Reunion / Ui-hyeong-je
Directed by Hun Jang
South Korea, 2010, 116 minutes
Starring Song Kang-Ho and Gang Dong-Won
In Korean with English Subtitles

At the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater:
- Friday, July 2nd, 2010 at 7:30 PM
- Saturday, July 3rd, 2010 at 2:10 PM

Song Kang Ho (Thirst, The Host, Secret Sunshine, J.S.A.: Joint Security Area) is probably the Korean actor most familiar to American audiences. Here he plays Lee Han-kyu, a South Korean National Intelligence Service agent. Gang Dong-Won portrays Song Ji-won, a North Korean agent who's part of a three-man assassination team.

Lee decides not to call in back-up when an opportunity arises to bust the spy ring, and things go all to hell. The leader and Song get away and only the third member of the team is captured. Lee is forced into ignominious retirement, and Song is left all on his own.

The film flashes forward a few years to find Lee leading a motley crew that locates young women from other Asian countries who have fled the Korean husbands they were made to marry. Song is happily working construction, hoping to one day reunite with his wife and child in the North. They recognize one another, but neither one gives the other the slightest hint of this. Lee, hoping to finally bust the spy ring and redeem himself, gets Song to become his partner, replacing two incompetent employees Lee has let go.

Song Kang Ho is always a delight to watch. He strikes me as a contemporary Korean version of the kind of everyman character associated with many roles played by Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, and Tom Hanks. Here, once again, he raises the level of the material just by virtue of his likeability.

Not that the material in any way is shabby, quite the contrary. Secret Reunion is a captivating tale with many humorous elements. It's enjoyable throughout and concludes with a sweet and satisfying ending.

ACF Rating: 3 out of 4 stars, highly recommended.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

ACF 601: Reminder - free screening of "JSA" tonight

Korean Cultural Service's Korean Movie Night Epic Action series continues tonight with a free showing of:

JSA: JOINT SECURITY AREA
Directed by Park Chan-wook
South Korea, 2000, 110 minutes
Showtime: Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 @ 7:00 PM
All seating is first come, first served
Doors open at 6:30 PM

All films in the series are shown at Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal Street, one block from the A, C, E and 1 train Canal Street stops.

A special screening to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War, Park Chan-Wook's JSA: JOINT SECURITY AREA is one of the most moving Korean films ever made, and the hit that put Director Park (OLDBOY) on the map. Starring Song Kang-Ho (THE HOST), Lee Young-Ae (LADY VENGEANCE), Lee Byung-Hun (GI JOE; THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD) and Shin Ha-Kyun (SAVE THE GREEN PLANET, THIRST) it is the APOCALYPSE NOW of the Korean War, a shimmering, hyper-real epic that charts the spiritual fallout of international politics.

JSA uses the partition, the arbitrary line drawn through the middle of Korea and manned by international oversight, as a door into the psychological wreckage of the Korean War. It starts with a present-day incident on the border that leaves a group of North and South Korean soldiers alternately wounded or dead. The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) swoops in
to investigate, led by Korean-Swiss Major Sophie Jean (Lee Young-Ae) and the stark, technocratic investigation becomes the frame for a series of extended flashbacks that depict the events leading up to the shooting.

In every sense of the word, JSA is a tragedy, but at the same time, it's a testament to human nature. Not the cheap, sentimental Hallmark card version of human nature, but the human nature where, in the teeth of global politics, even in the face of extinction, like reaches out to like, and friendships are formed because we're humans, not ideologues. One of the most
popular Korean movies of all time, both at home and overseas, JSA is a movie that takes Korea¹s national tragedy of partition and manages to find within it something as fragile and precious as hope.

Monday, June 28, 2010

ACF 600: La Corda D'Ori ~ Primo Passo Collection 1 on sale from Section 23


Section23 Films has announced the release of LA CORDA D'ORO ~ PRIMO PASSO COLLECTION 1 on DVD.

Where words fail, music speaks…and fills the infinite between two souls.

SYNOPSIS: Talking to invisible people that only you can see can get you into unusual situations, so when Kahoko Hino encounters a tiny fairy named Lili on the way to school, she is shocked to find herself entered in a competition for her school’s elite music program! That might be wonderful, except Hino doesn’t even play an instrument, let alone own one! But Lili has a solution for that as well, and he attempts to give her a magic violin. Hino refuses at first, but weakens, perhaps noticing how many good looking boys seem to be in the program. The problem is that now Hino is competing against a host of other talented students, and she really can’t play a note! Now she’ll have to work double-time in order to justify her place in the orchestra! Will Hino become the musical prodigy everyone thinks she is, or will she just end up playing second fiddle? One way or another, she’ll have to face the music in 'La Corda d'oro' ~ Primo Passo Collection 1!

LA CORDA D'ORO ~ PRIMO PASSO COLLECTION 1
Running Time: 325 min.
Age Rating: TV-PG
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Format: DVD
SRP: $49.98

Sunday, June 27, 2010

ACF 599: Simon, Sammo, and Me!

Last night, between the screenings of Eastern Condors and Echoes of the Rainbow at The Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater, The Hong Kong Economic Trade Office, New York and The New York Asian Film Festival held an invitation-only reception to honor Sammo Hung, Simon Yam, and this year's line-up of Hong Kong films. And yours truly was one of the most-fortunate invitees. Not only that, but I got to meet and speak, albeit briefly, and get my picture taken with both Simon Yam and Sammo Hung. (The previous night, Friday, Simon received the Star Asia Award, while Sammo got the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by Angela Mao, to Sammo's utter surprise and shock.)

Both of these gentlemen and huge stars of Hong Kong Cinema were very gracious to all. Both posed for numerous photographs and signed both programs and DVDs that people had brought. Truly class acts.

Simon Yam and me

Simon arrived at the reception first, while Sammo was still at the Q&A following Eastern Condors. I told Simon how much I'd enjoyed him in PTU: Police Tactical Unit and so many other films. I also briefly described how I'd come to be interested in and write about Asian films. I was so touched when, a few minutes after we'd parted, he came over to me and thanked me for my interest in and love of Hong Kong movies.

Sammo Hung and me
(That's Joyce Mina Godenzi, Sammo's wife,
in the background behind my right shoulder)

Sammo arrived a bit later. I'm not a celebrity whore by any means, but I was in total awe of being in his presence. I mean, above and beyond his extensive credits as actor, director producer, action choreographer, etc. this guy went at it with Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon!

My wife took two shots of Sammo and me. After taking the first, she told me that I should smile. When I later looked at the first photo, I saw that I looked like I was terrified, probably because I was so nervous just being next to a legend whom I admire immensely. So glad this second one came out as it did.

After thanking Sammo for all of his wonderful work, I told him that I was sorry if what I was about to say brought up any unpleasant memories. I then told him that I thought that his series Marshal Law was one of the greatest things that had ever happened on American TV, and that I was so sorry that it had been ruined by others. (By this I meant those who decided to turn the "fish-out-of-water" police actioner into a TV version of Rush Hour by bringing in Arsenio Hall, though I didn't mention this specifically to Sammo.) Sammo seemed to take this in stride, but in any case I just had to let him know what a great show it had been to watched initially.

The New York Asian Film Festival has been off to a great start this weekend, and I expect that it's going to be a phenomenal success this year. In the meanwhile, it's provided me with one of the most memorable evenings and photo mementos of my life. Thanks to The Hong Kong Economic Trade Office and to all those at SubwayCinema which presents the NYAFF.

P.S. - The food and drink were both plentiful and delicious!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

ACF 598: The Storm Warriors - a NYAFF 2010 Preview Review

The Storm Warriors
Directed by The Pang Brothers (Oxide and Danny Pang)
Starring Ekin Cheng, Aaron Kwok, Simon Yam, Nicholas Tse
Hong Kong, 2009, 110 minutes
In Cantonese with English subtitles
U.S. Premiere

At the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater:
- Sunday, June 27th at 12:00 noon (Simon Yam is scheduled to be at this screening)
- Thursday, July 1st at 9:00 PM

As I sometimes like to do with films I'm reviewing (as opposed to one's I'm just putting out the word on), first I'll present the publicity statement, then my own take on the film. I especially feel the need to do this here to be as fair as possible. You'll understand when you read my review comments at the end of the post.

Here's what SubwayCinema.com had to say:

In 1998 the Hong Kong film business was in danger of disappearing, but out of nowhere came THE STORM RIDERS, a special effects extravaganza based on a popular comic book and directed by Andrew Lau (INFERNAL AFFAIRS). A massive hit across Asia, it single-handedly saved the Hong Kong film industry. Now, 12 years later, comes THE STORM WARRIORS, based on the same Ma Wing-shing comic and with some of the same cast, but otherwise a standalone flick that is the closest cinema has ever come to putting Chinese martial arts comic books, with all of their surreal techniques and freaky superpowers, on the silver screen.

From the very first frame the choirs are wailing like a death metal concept album times infinity, and every shot is a blast-beat drum solo, every edit is a power chord and when the characters fight it's like two planets smashing into each another. Cloud (pop star gone supernova, Aaron Kwok) has been captured by Lord Godless (Simon Yam, playing an evil Japanese warlord) along with his master, Nameless (Kenny Ho, playing one of the original comic's most popular characters). Their armies are destroyed, their powers have been stripped and things look grim. Suddenly, Wind (Cheng) swoops to the rescue and the good guys take to the hills. Nameless informs Cloud and Wind that they're going to have to level up to defeat Lord Godless, and while he helps Cloud invent a new style of sword-fu, Wind is sent off to learn Evil Power from Lord Wicked.

With special effects layered so heavily they transform battles into dreamy, psychedelic abstractions, even the actors are digitally enhanced as Evil Power turns Wind into a brooding goth dreamboat that not even TWILIGHT's Edward Cullen can rival. Swords are so powerful they cut the weather in half, ultimate weapons are made from the spinal columns of dead gods and everything ends on a note of rock opera tragedy. What other summer blockbuster concludes with the hero traumatized and wounded, raving "Why didn't you kill me?!?" A happy ending? Happy endings are for sissies.

Won the 2009 Hong Kong Film Award for "Best Visual Effects."

AsianCineFest Review:

First, a couple of positive thoughts. There will certainly be those who'll really enjoy this supernatural martial arts fantasy which is based on the hit Hong Kong comic series Storm Riders by Wing Shing Ma. And many of the special CG effects are indeed top-notch.

On the other hand, I myself didn't care for the film much at all. The "story line"is really thin, even for this sort of fare, from which one doesn't tend to expect much. The directing is uninspired, which seems to be the way the Pang Brothers have been going lately, as in 2008's Bangkok Dangerous.

For me there wasn't any evidence of actual "acting" by anyone on the screen. And we all know that even when doing a film based on a comic book (or a video game, for that matter), and even when working in front of a green screen, it's still possible to "emote." I just didn't see any evidence of it here.

So overall I really can't recommend the film, which is a successor to 1998's The Storm Riders. (There's a Storm Warriors III currently in production, for which I don't hold out much hope of redemption.) But if supernatural martial art films are your thing, or if you simply can't miss seeing Aaron Kwok (Cloud) or Ekin Cheng (Wind), feel free to give it a try. You very well may enjoy it.

Friday, June 25, 2010

ACF 597: Let The 'Fest Begin!!!!!

A scene from Takashi Miike's Yatterman

The ninth New York Asian Film Festival begins today at 3:00 PM with a screening of Yatterman at The Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater.

Complete NYAFF 2010 schedule here.

ACF 596: Sophie's Revenge - a NYAFF 2010 Preview Review

Sophie's Revenge
Directed by: Eva Jin
Starring: Zhang Ziyi, Fan Bingbing, So Ji-Sub
China, 2009, 108 minutes
In Mandarin with English subtitles
New York Premiere

At the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater:
- Tuesday, June 29th at 4:00 PM
- Saturday, July 3rd at 9:45 PM

Sophie's Revenge is a delightful romantic comedy that stars Zhang Ziyi as Sophie, a cartoonist who was engaged to marry Jeff (Korean actor So Ji-Sub) an absurdly handsome young doctor. Trouble is Jeff abandons Sophie shortly before the nuptials because he's fallen for Joanna (Fan Bingbing) a ravishing actress .

Pressured by her mother, who's already made extensive preparations for the marriage ceremony, and assisted by two female friends and a male photographer she meets, Sophie embarks on o series of attempts to win Jeff back. Not surprisingly, these tend to backfire regardless of the tactic employed.

I found Zhang Ziyi almost unrecognizable throughout most of the film. Partially it's because her face is a bit fuller than in the past. (Did she put on a few pounds for the role, or is it just that she's not the super slender young ingenue she used to be?) But I think the most credit must go to those involved with her hair, make-up and costumes. I paused my screener DVD a number of times and almost always saw little of the Z.Z. I'm used to seeing.

Th's is also the first comic role I can recall seeing her in, and I've got to say she really pulls it off well for the most part, both emotionally and physically. My only slight problem was with her somewhat excessively repeated tendency to fall down. That ploy tended to get a bit old after awhile.

Still, Sophie's Revenge turned out to be a wonderfully funny surprise. Zhang Ziyi is a great comedienne. Who knew?! I highly recommend that you check this film out.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

ACF 595: JAPAN CUTS coming this July!

ZERO FOCUS © 2009 “Zero Focus” Production Committee

JAPAN CUTS:
Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema

July 1st - 16th, 2010

Okay, we all know (or should know) that the 9th New York Asian Film Festival kicks off tomorrow night. Still, we should take at least a moment to recognize that in just one week JAPAN CUTS, the other great festival that hits New York this time of year, will begin.

Now in its fourth consecutive year, this summer festival includes co-presentations with the New York Asian Film Festival and a special selection of films from the last decade (Best of the Unreleased Naughties!) which have not been treated to U.S. release. Zero Focus (pictured above) is one of more than 20 films being screened at JAPAN CUTS 2010, this year’s largest showcase of contemporary Japanese cinema outside the archipelago.

With over 30 screenings in total, the festival opens July 1 with Confessions (dir. Tetsuya Nakashima) and Sawako Decides (dir. Yuya Ishii) and closes July 16 with two North American premieres: About Her Brother (dir. Yoji Yamada) and Sweet Little Lies (dir. Hitoshi Yazaki).


Other highlights of the series include: Blood of Rebirth (dir. Toshiaki Toyoda), Bare Essence of Life: Ultra Miracle Love Story (dir. Satoko Yokohama), Dear Doctor (dir. Miwa Nishikawa), Golden Slumber (dir. Yoshihiro Nakamura), Nightmare Detective II (dir. Shinya Tsukamoto), Parade (dir. Isao Yukisada), Villon’s Wife (dir. Kichitaro Negishi), and Zero Focus (dir. Isshin Inudo).

For full info on this fabulous festival, click here.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

ACF 594: BLEACH Anime Series streaming for free on VIZAnime.com


LATEST EPISODES AIRED IN JAPAN OF POPULAR BLEACH ANIME
SERIES TO START STREAMING ON VIZANIME.COM

Fans Are Invited To View New Episodes On VIZAnime.com For FREE!

VIZ Media continues to generate tremendous momentum for its popular BLEACH series with the announcement that English-subtitled episodes from the most current story arc will begin streaming for free in the U.S. via the company’s premier website for anime, VIZAnime.com. Since starting on June 22nd with Episode 275, VIZAnime.com will stream a new BLEACH episode one week after it has aired in Japan.

BLEACH is one of the most popular Japanese anime and manga properties in the world and this near simulcast schedule is part of VIZ Anime’s ongoing strategy to bring hit animated properties to a national audience via the web.

BLEACH is a popular manga and animated series (both rated ‘T’ for Teens), distributed domestically by VIZ Media, that follows the adventures of Ichigo, a 15-year old student with the ability to see ghosts. When his family is attacked by a Hollow — a malevolent lost soul – Ichigo encounters Rukia, a Soul Reaper, and inadvertently absorbs her powers. Now, he’s dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping tortured souls find peace. Episode 275, from the newest story arc in Japan, marks the start of a thrilling storyline and guarantees a series of face-offs that are sure to excite old and new BLEACH fans!

VIZAnime.com is the official online home to some of VIZ Media’s best-loved animated series, and a burgeoning social network for fans to connect and form an interactive community. Over 1,000 episodes are currently available, and new content is added on a weekly basis.

“BLEACH remains one of the most successful and popular anime series in North America, and VIZ Media continues to break down time and distance barriers by making new episodes available within days of their original airing in Japan,” says Ken Sasaki, Sr. Vice President & General Manager, VIZ Media. “VIZAnime.com is the ultimate destination for the many popular VIZ Media animated titles, and currently contains an extensive catalog of hundreds of episodes from popular shows like BLEACH, INUYASHA, NARUTO, THE PRINCE OF TENNIS and more, all offered with accurate, high-quality streaming video that is completely free for viewers!”

BLEACH is a tremendously successful multimedia property internationally. The manga has been licensed in numerous countries around the world and has sold over 2 million copies in the US. In North America, the manga has been a sales hit and the popular animated series is viewed weekly by millions. This success also includes an array of related video games, apparel, action figures and other merchandise.

BLEACH animation can be viewed on Adult Swim and through a variety of other web-based video download and streaming outlets that have partnered with VIZ Media, including iTunes®, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, Amazon, and HULU. For more information on BLEACH, please visit bleach.viz.com. View subtitled BLEACH animated episodes at VIZAnime.com.

Friday, June 18, 2010

ACF 593: New York Asian Film Festival 2010 starts in one week!

Sammo Hung (left) and Donnie Yen go at it in Ip Man 2

That's right, just seven more days until the latest -- and I'm bettin' the greatest -- New York Asian Film Festival arrives. It'll run from June 25th to July 8th, 2010. There'll be a huge number of films shown at several great locations, including the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater! Talk about going big time!

There will also be several special events and appearances by such Asian film luminaries as Sammo Hung and Simon Yam, both of whom are to receive awards.

Tickets for some screenings are already sold out, so get yourself over to subwaycinema.com, check out the schedule, and start makin' your plans.

And don't forget about this year's JAPAN CUTS Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema. It'll run from July 1-16, 2010. Some of the initial offerings will be cosponsored with NYAFF. Click here for info about JAPAN CUTS, another terrific annual film series.

Damn, do I love livin' in New York!!!!!

ACF 592: NARUTO Volume 48 now on sale

NARUTO MEETS THE TRUE FACE OF PAIN

The Gripping Next Installment of the Hit SHONEN JUMP Manga
NARUTO Volume 48 is Now Available!

VIZ Media invites fans to continue the adventure with their favorite ninja in NARUTO Volume 48, now available in stores! NARUTO is rated ‘T’ for Teens and carries an estimated retail price of $9.99 US and $12.99 CAN.

Naruto, a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief and a wild sense of humor, is completely serious about his mission to be the world's greatest ninja! In this volume, Naruto is finally face-to-face with his ultimate nemesis, and finds out there's way more to the true Pain than he could have ever imagined. As the consequences of the tumultuous politics of the past come to light, an unexpected turn of events puts a new ninja in power in Konoha - the first act by the new leader will change Naruto's world forever.

Also included in this exciting volume as a special bonus is an exclusive collectible NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Collectible Card from Bandai America, featuring Sakura Haruno. Part of an exclusive three-card promotion, fans can collect the first card featuring Naruto Uzumaki, included in Bandai’s Series 17 Hobby Booster Boxes, and the third card featuring Kakashi Hatake, included in the August issue of SHONEN JUMP magazine (the best selling monthly manga anthology in North America), hitting retailers on July 6th.

NARUTO depicts the adventures of a young boy named Naruto Uzumaki who trains to become a ninja, and through his exciting adventures, the young ninja learns the importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity, ingenuity, and right versus wrong. Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga, and more than 100 million copies to date have been printed. The manga series has captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America.

More information on NARUTO at http://www.naruto.com/.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

ACF 591: Heads Up - free screening of "JSA" courtesy of Korean Cultural Service


Korean Cultural Service's next free screening in its Korean Movie Nights Epic Action series will be:

JSA: JOINT SECURITY AREA
Directed by Park Chan-Wook
South Korea, 2000, 110 minutes
Screening: Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 @ 7:00 PM
Doors open at 6:30 PM

This free screening will be held at Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal Street, one block from the A, C, Eand 1 train Canal Street stops.

A special screening to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War, Park Chan-Wook's JSA: JOINT SECURITY AREA is one of the most moving Korean films ever made, and the hit that put Director Park (OLDBOY) on the map. Starring Song Kang-Ho (THE HOST), Lee Young-Ae (LADY VENGEANCE), Lee Byung-Hun (GI JOE; THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD) and Shin Ha-Kyun (SAVE THE GREEN PLANET, THIRST) it is the APOCALYPSE NOW of the Korean War, a shimmering, hyper-real epic that charts the spiritual fallout of international politics.

JSA uses the partition, the arbitrary line drawn through the middle of Korea and manned by international oversight, as a door into the psychological wreckage of the Korean War. It starts with a present-day incident on the border that leaves a group of North and South Korean soldiers alternately wounded or dead. The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) swoops in to investigate, led by Korean-Swiss Major Sophie Jean (Lee Young-Ae) and the stark, echnocratic investigation becomes the frame for a series of extended flashbacks that depict the events leading up to the shooting.

In every sense of the word, JSA is a tragedy, but at the same time, it's a testament to human nature. Not the cheap, sentimental Hallmark card version of human nature, but the human nature where, in the teeth of global politics, even in the face of extinction, like reaches out to like, and friendships are formed because we're humans, not ideologues. One of the most popular Korean movies of all time, both at home and overseas, JSA is a movie that takes Korea's national tragedy of partition and manages to find within it something as fragile and precious as hope.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

ACF 590: "Clannad Complete Collection" on sale now from Section23 Films


Section23 Films has announced the brand new English dubbed release of the hit series CLANNAD. All 24 episodes on 4 DVD’s, featuring an all-star cast with David Matranga and Luci Christian. It’s on sale now.

CLANNAD COMPLETE COLLECTION
Running Time: 600 min.
Age Rating: TV-PG
Language: English and Japanese with English Subtitles
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Format: DVD
SRP: $49.98

SYNOPSIS: Tortured by his past and pained by an uncertain future, Tomoya drifts through life with an almost overwhelming anger and emptiness. But when he meets the mysterious, beautiful, shy Nagisa, his world seems to change. Drawn in by her gentle but lonely spirit, he begins to experience the joy life can bring. But as he discovers the reason for his newfound friend's loneliness, Tomoya also finds that life can be frighteningly fragile.

Poignant. Compelling. Heartbreaking. Clannad is one of the most cherished anime of all time. Experience the wondrous and tender storytelling that has made Clannad an anime classic.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

ACF 589: "Maid-Sama!" begins airing today on Anime Network Online


NEW ROMANTIC COMEDY SERIES MAID-SAMA!
AIRING THIS JUNE ONLY ON ANIME NETWORK ONLINE

Maid-Sama!, the latest series from director Hiroaki Sakurai (Cromartie High School, Revolutionary Girl Utena), will begin airing this June on Anime Network Online.

From J.C. Staff (Honey and Clover, Azumanga Daioh), comes the story of the most unlikely class president...ever! Ayusawa Misaki is the hard-boiled, hard-nosed, boy-hating class president of a former all male school, recently turned co-ed. A beacon of hope to the female students as well as teachers, she rules over the boys with an iron fist and a heart of ice. When a popular male student stumbles on to her secret double life, she's forced to make a deal: spend some time with him, or have her hard earned reputation destroyed by revealing her embarrassing secret: working part-time as an upbeat and cheery waitress at a maid cafe!

WHEN: Episode 1 will be available to Premium subscribers on June 15, and to Registered users on June 17. Episode 2 will be available on June 24, then one new episode per week every Thursday.

Check www.theanimenetwork.com for North American Listings.

WHERE: Anime Network's Online Player.

HOW: Episode 1 will be available to registered users. Episodes 2 and on will be available for our Premium subscribers.

ACF 588: Reminder - Free screening of "The Sword With No Name" tonight

Just a quick reminder about tonight's free film The Sword With No Name, which is being shown as part of Korean Cultural Service's Korean Movie Night Night Epic Action series.

THE SWORD WITH NO NAME
Directed by Kim Yong-gyun
South Korea, 2009, 124 minutes
New York Premiere
Showtime: Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 @ 7:00 PM
All seating is first come, first serve
Doors open at 6:30 PM

All films in the series are shown at Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal Street, one block from the A, C, E and 1 train Canal Street stops.


Holy blockbusters! A big hit at the box office last year, SWORD is the epitome of posh, luscious, decadent period filmmaking. Based on the real life Empress Myeongseong, it tells her story through the eyes of a bounty hunter who becomes her bodyguard (Cho Seung-Woo, now doing his mandatory military service). She tries to stand up to Russian and Japanese intervention in 19th Century Korea and the results are a series of luxurious, CGI-enhanced action scenes alternating with carefully calibrated and eye-meltingly colorful scenes of court life, making this movie feel like an unholy mix of Merchant-Ivory and THE MATRIX.

Monday, June 14, 2010

ACF 587: Section23 Films announces July 2010 releases


Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its July slate of releases, including the new English dubbed release of the hit series Golgo 13 from Section23 client Sentai Filmworks.

Also releasing in July is the Blue-Ray Edition of
LEGENDS OF THE DARK KING COMPLETE COLLECTION.

Product details follow, in order of release
.

EYESHIELD 21 COLLECTION 2
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 7/6/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $49.98

SYNOPSIS: You can't make a silk purse out of a pig's ear, but you can make a football. And apparently with enough finagling and a little finesse, you can make a football star as well! By both hook and crook, Sena Kobayakawa's unnaturally strong sense of self preservation and even more extraordinary skills at fleeing have turned him into the star running back of his school's admittedly unusual US-style football team. And even more amazingly, the Deimon Demon Bats are actually starting to be taken seriously! But can Machiavellian manager Himura pull an even bigger trick and build the team into a serious challenge to the awesome might of the Taiyou Sphinx? He'll have to if they want to have the privilege of tackling the NASA Aliens! Sena's biggest challenge and greatest rival are about to take the field by storm in EYESHIELD 21 - COLLECTION 2!

GOLGO 13 COLLECTION 1
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 7/13/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $59.98

SYNOPSIS: His targets never see it coming and he's never caught. If there is a witness to the kill, that poor SOB winds up dead too. People say he's a ghost. A machine. A monster. He's Golgo 13, the most feared assassin in the world, the professional's professional, the killer of killers. And now he's back with 13 targeted missions that will keep you glued to the screen (and away from the windows). Load up for high-powered, bullet-riddled action with Golgo 13!!

LEGENDS OF THE DARK KING COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 7/20/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $49.98

SYNOPSIS: A nuclear holocaust has robbed the world of its order, and now warring factions fight for every square inch of desert, spilling buckets of blood to gain control. But legends tell of one great warrior who will become King, using his powerful fists and an awesome rage to rise to his rightful place. That warrior is Raoh, a giant hulking fighter with the ability to vanquish his enemies in the bloodiest way possible. But other warriors will not relinquish their kingdoms so easily. Because in this world, no one gives up without a fight! Join in the adventure with one of the most exciting animated warriors ever!

LEGENDS OF THE DARK KING COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY EDITION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 7/20/2010
Format: BD
SRP: $69.98

SYNOPSIS: A nuclear holocaust has robbed the world of its order, and now warring factions fight for every square inch of desert, spilling buckets of blood to gain control. But legends tell of one great warrior who will become King, using his powerful fists and an awesome rage to rise to his rightful place. That warrior is Raoh, a giant hulking fighter with the ability to vanquish his enemies in the bloodiest way possible. But other warriors will not relinquish their kingdoms so easily. Because in this world, no one gives up without a fight! Join in the adventure with one of the most exciting animated warriors ever!

HELL GIRL: TWO MIRRORS COLLECTION 2
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 7/27/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $49.98

SYNOPSIS: Whenever there has been Hell to pay, Ai Enma has been the collector. Now, however, the volatile emotions she has kept entombed are slowly beginning to exhume themselves, and as a monstrous cycle of reprisal and retribution wields its deadly scythe across the people of Lovely Hills, the Hell girl and her companions suddenly find themselves confronted with visions of their own mortality. Who were they, before becoming Hell's Collectors? And what will be their ultimate fate? As she seeks to cope with the ceaseless inhumanity of mortals consumed with vengeance, Ai Enma must take a journey she never expected, and answer the question she never dared to ask: When you're already in Hell, are you allowed to die? The truth lies buried in the second shocking collection of HELL GIRL - Two Mirrors!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

ACF 586: Encore screening of "Chosen" tomorrow at The Korea Society

Reflections on the ROK-U.S. Alliance:
Encore Screening of Chosin @ The Korea Society

The recent performance of Chosin at Symphony Space was sold-out. Because of ongoing overwhelming demand, The Korea Society has added a special encore screening tomorrow, Monday, June 14 at noon at The Korea Society.

In the harsh winter of 1950, numerically inferior American forces found themselves surrounded by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army. The Americans also battled severe cold and rugged terrain, breaking out of the encirclement and escorting 98,000 refugees to safety. In one of the most decorated battles in U.S. military history, American servicemen received 14 Medals of Honor and 70 Navy Crosses. Chosin is the first documentary film to tell their remarkable story.

12PM Screening and Brown Bag Luncheon (Register in advance at www.koreasociety.org)

$5 members and student ($10 for nonmembers)

The Korea Society
950 Third Avenue @ 57th Street, 8th Floor (entrance on 57th Street)

Saturday, June 12, 2010

ACF 585: Free screening of "The Sword With No Name" by Korean Cultural Service

The next free film shown as part of Korean Cultural Service's Korean Movie Night Night Epic Action series will be:

THE SWORD WITH NO NAME
South Korea, 2009, 124 minutes
New York Premiere
Showtime: Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 @ 7:00 PM

All films in the series are shown at Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal Street, one block from the A, C, E and 1 train Canal Street stops.


Holy blockbusters! A big hit at the box office last year, SWORD is the epitome of posh, luscious, decadent period filmmaking. Based on the real life Empress Myeongseong, it tells her story through the eyes of a bounty hunter who becomes her bodyguard (Cho Seung-Woo, now doing his mandatory military service). She tries to stand up to Russian and Japanese intervention in 19th Century Korea and the results are a series of luxurious, CGI-enhanced action scenes alternating with carefully calibrated and eye-meltingly colorful scenes of court life, making this movie feel like an unholy mix of Merchant-Ivory and THE MATRIX.

Friday, June 11, 2010

ACF 584: International coalition has been formed to fight Manga piracy

MULTI-NATIONAL MANGA ANTI-PIRACY COALITION FORMED

A coalition of Japanese and U.S. publishers recently announced a coordinated effort to combat a rampant and growing problem of internet piracy plaguing the manga industry.

“Scanlation,” as this form of piracy has come to be known, refers to the unauthorized digital scanning and translation of manga material that is subsequently posted to the internet without the consent of copyright holders or their licensees. According to the coalition, the problem has reached a point where “scanlation aggregator” sites now host thousands of pirated titles, earning ad revenue and/or membership dues at creators’ expense while simultaneously undermining foreign licensing opportunities and unlawfully cannibalizing legitimate sales. Worse still, this pirated material is already making its way to smartphones and other wireless devices, like the iPhone and iPad, through apps that exist solely to link to and republish the content of scanlation sites.

Participants in the coalition include: the 36 members of Japan’s Digital Comic Association, Square Enix, VIZ Media, TOKYOPOP, Vertical, Inc., the Tuttle-Mori Agency and Yen Press. Working together, the membership of the coalition will actively seek legal remedies to this intellectual property theft against those sites that fail to voluntarily cease their illegal appropriation of this material.

“It is unfortunate that this action has become necessary,” said a spokesperson for the group. “However, to protect the intellectual property rights of our creators and the overall health of our industry, we are left with no other alternative but to take aggressive action. It is our sincere hope that offending sites will take it upon themselves to immediately cease their activities. Where this is not the case, however, we will seek injunctive relief and statutory damages. We will also report offending sites to federal authorities, including the anti-piracy units of the Justice Department, local law enforcement agencies and FBI.”

The coalition stated that it has currently identified thirty sites targeted for action.

Participant members of the Digital Comic Association include: Akane Shinsha, Akita Shoten, ASCII Media Works, East Press, Ichijinsha, Enterbrain, Okura Shuppan, Ohzora Shuppan, Gakken, Kadokawa Shoten, Gentosha Comics, Kodansha, Jitsugyo No Nihonsha, Shueisha, Junet, Shogakukan, Shogakukan Shueisha Production, Shodensha, Shonen Gahosha, Shinshokan, Shinchosa, Take Shobo, Tatsumi Shuppan, Tokuma Shoten, Nihon Bungeisha, Hakusensha, Fujimi Shobo, Fusosha, Futabasha, France Shoin, Bunkasha, Houbunsha, Magazine House, Media Factory, Leed sha, Libre Shuppan

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

ACF 583: Anime series KEKKAISHI avail for free download for limited time

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES FREE KEKKAISHI DOWNLOAD EPISODE

Special Promotion To Celebrate the Domestic Broadcast
Launch of the Shonen Sunday Animated Series

VIZ Media invites fans to explore the demon-battling action adventure of popular Shonen Sunday KEKKAISHI anime series with a FREE Download-to-Own (DTO) episode through VIZ Media partners iTunes, Xbox Live's Zune Marketplace, PlayStation®Network and Amazon Video on Demand.

KEKKAISHI Episode 1 will be available for free download through June 17th to celebrate the recent domestic broadcast launch of KEKKAISHI on Adult Swim.

KEKKAISHI is based on the hit manga series by Yellow Tanabe (also published in North America by VIZ Media). A story of mystical forces powerful in the region known as Karasumori. For over 400 years, it has been the duty of a clan of “kekkaishi”—barrier masters—to guard this land and exterminate the supernatural creatures that are drawn to it night after night.

Yoshimori Sumimura is a junior high school student at Karasumori Academy, which is built upon the Karasumori grounds. By night, Yoshimori follows the tradition passed down through generations and fulfills his destiny as the twenty-second “kekkaishi” of the Sumimura clan. But by day, Yoshimori's got other demons to contend with, like an obsession with cake making and a seriously crotchety grandfather! Yoshimori's pretty neighbor, childhood friend and rival, Tokine Yukimura, is also a “kekkaishi,” but their families are caught up in a feud over who is the true practitioner of the art. Protecting ordinary people from the ever-present danger of the Karasumori grounds, Yoshimori will continue to grow stronger as he battles the forces of evil again tonight!

For more information on the KEKKAISHI anime and manga series (both rated “T” for Teens), please visit http://www.shonensunday.com/ or http://www.viz.com/.

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

ACF 582: DVD Release - Brighter Than The Dawning Blue Complete Collection

BRIGHTER THAN THE DAWNING BLUE
COMPLETE COLLECTION ON SALE TODAY

Section23 Films has announced that BRIGHTER THAN THE DAWNING BLUE COMPLETE COLLECTION is now on sale on DVD across North America. BRIGHTER THAN THE DAWNING BLUE COMPLETE COLLECTION contains all 12 episodes on 2 DVD’s.

If the girl you love is from the moon, which one of you is really the lunatic?

SYNOPSIS: It’s never easy when a stranger moves into your house, but if you have to host a foreign exchange student, Feena Fam Earthlight* would be almost the perfect choice… She’s smart, kind, generous and attractive, BUT the problem is that she’s the Sphere Kingdom’s Princess, and tensions between Earth and our Lunar neighbors have been tense since the big war. So you might forgive Asagiri Tatsuya for having some reservations, but since his father IS the first assistant to the president, what better place to board the Princess so she can learn more about Earth culture?

And, as mentioned before, Feena is VERY attractive. Unfortunately, the course of true love doesn’t normally have to contend with either interplanetary diplomacy or Feena’s bizarre entourage of assistants… and then there’s the question of how the kids at Tatsuy’s school are going to react. Get ready to see stars as two teens from totally different worlds collide in Brighter than the Dawning Blue – The Complete Collection!

Title: BRIGHTER THAN THE DAWNING BLUE COMPLETE COLLECTION
Running Time: 300 min.
Age Rating: TV 14
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
CAT: SF-YMY100
UPC: 814131014009
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Street Date: 6/01/2010
Format: DVD
SRP: $49.98