With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013

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

Sunday, January 29, 2017

COLD WAR 2 will be available for digital download on February 7th, and on Blu-ray & DVD on March 7th

Well Go USA
Entertainment
presents
Cold War 2
Directed by: Lok Man Leung and Kim-Ching Luk
Starring: Aaron Kwok, Tony Leung, and Chow Yun-fat
Hong Kong/China, 2016, 110 minutes

A sequel to the Hong Kong box-office smash, Cold War 2 continues the 2012 film’s saga of intra-police rivalry when it debuts on digital February 7th and on Blu-ray™ and DVD March 7th from Well Go USA Entertainment.

Picking up some time after the events in the first movie, Sean Lau (Aaron Kwok, The Monkey King franchise) is now the Commissioner of Police. Things turn bad when his wife and daughter are kidnapped and he must seek help from a former rival (Tony Leung, The Taking of Tiger Mountain) to save their lives. Joining Kwok and Leung from the original cast are Charlie Young (Kung Fu Killer), Eddie Peng (Call of Heroes), Aarif Rahman (Young Bruce Lee), Ma Yili (Badge of Fury) and Alex Tsui (Merry-Go-Round). They are joined by new cast members, including legendary Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Janice Man (The Midnight After) and Tony Yang (Phantom of the Theatre), in the “superbly acted” (Edmund Lee, South China Morning Post) ensemble drama.

Synopsis:
A suspected criminal mastermind escapes from police custody, throwing the city into turmoil. With the police department now divided, rival police chiefs are forced to take their fight to the streets of Hong Kong—with deadly consequences.

Bonus Materials Include:
-- A Powerhouse Cast
-- The Story
-- The Three Powers
-- VFX and Action

Friday, January 27, 2017

KUNG FU YOGA reviewed; opens in theaters today

Well Go USA
Entertainment
presents
Directed by Stanley Tong
Starring Jackie Chan, Aarif Rahman, Lay Zhang, Sonu Sood,
Disha Patani, Amrya Dastur, and Eric Tsang
China/India, 2017


Kung Fu Yoga, an action/adventure comedy starring Jackie Chan, opens in several theaters across the U.S. today, Friday, January 27th and will open in more on February 3rd. (Click here for my post listing the cities and theaters.) The film reunites Jackie with acclaimed director Stanley Tong, who directed him in Supercop (1992),  Rumble in the Bronx (1995) and Police Story 4: First Strike (a.k.a. Jackie Chan's First Strike, 1996).

Nothin' like an archaeology prof who knows how to fight

The film opens with a segment that has the look of video game CGI. It depicts a rivalry between two houses for rule of an Indian kingdom and the disappearance of treasure sent by Princess Gitanjali of Magadha to the Tang Emperor in 647 A.D.

Prof. Chan and his assistant Nuomin (Miu Qimiya) are both bedazzled by Ashimita's beauty

The film then fast-forwards to the present (no more CGI look, just straight live action), where renowned archaeology professor Jack Chan (Jackie, of course) is teaching a class. He and his team are approached by Dr. Ashmita (the super-lovely twenty-four year old Disha Patani, appearing here in just her third film), of the Palace Museum Research Institute of Rajasthan, India. She seeks his help in locating the long-lost treasure. Also seeking the treasure is Randall (Sonu Sood). He is a descendant of Arunasya, who was a would-be usurper of the throne of Magadha back in the day.

This shot explains why Chan and Nuomin were bedazzled. (Note Ashimita's "dimples")

At this point in his life, action comedy is the type of film that Jackie should be concentrating on. He just doesn't have the body to pull off really demanding stunts, or the acting chops for straight action drama (witness Railroad Tigers, also 2016). In Kung Fu Yoga, as in Chinese Zodiac (2012), he gets to perform less-demanding stunts, share some of the stunt/action load with younger supporting members of the cast, and to fully utilize his endearing personality. And, also as in Chinese Zodiac, the viewers -- and here I'm thinking primarily of us guys -- are treated to several very fine-looking young actresses, sometimes displaying a fair amount of skin.

Nuomin (Miu Qimiya) displays her own charms

It may not be a great movie, but Kung Fu Yoga does nicely display Jackie's current abilities and provides solid entertainment, including a Bollywood-like dance number.

AsianCineFest Rating: 3.5 out of 4 star; highly recommended; a most enjoyable action/adventure comedy.

CUTIE AND THE BOXER film screening and artist talk at Japan Society tonight, January 27, 2017

Japan Society NY
Presents
Cutie & the Boxer © 2013 RADiUS-TWC.
Cutie and the Boxer
Directed by Zachary Heinzerling
USA, 2013, 82 minutes

When: Friday, January 27, 2017 at 7:00 PM
Where: Japan Society
333 East 47th Street, NYC
Tickets $15/$10 Japan Society members

Post-screening talk and Q&A with Ushio & Noriko Shinohara

Celebrate the 2016 Emmy award win for the documentary Cutie and the Boxer, which traces the personal and artistic struggles of artists Ushio and Noriko Shinohara since their arrival to NYC in the late 1960s, at this special one-night-only screening and talk inside the Gallery!

The Shinoharas are no strangers to Japan Society: Ushio-san's one-man show Tokyo Bazooka sent shockwaves through our galleries back in 1982, while the couple's contributions to the 2007 exhibition Making a Home received widespread acclaim.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

VIZ Media celebrates Weekly Shonen Jump's 5th anniversary

VIZ MEDIA CELEBRATES
WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ANNIVERSARY
WITH INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION
AND A SPECIAL LIVESTREAM EVENT

Readers Are Invited To Enjoy A One-Day Subscription Promotion
On January 30th; Exciting Announcements Planned For
WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Livestream Event On January 27th!

VIZ Media proudly marks the 5th Anniversary of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP’s digital launch with a special annual membership offer and livestreamed event.

The promotion will run only on January 30th and will be available to North American-based readers as well as fans located in all international territories where WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP digital app is available. Within a 24-hour period, readers can score an annual membership, which includes 48 issues, of the world’s leading digital manga magazine for only $9.99 (USD).

Manga readers are also invited to catch a special WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Livestream Event, taking place on Friday, January 27th beginning at 6:00pm PST at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z37zf8hlLwA.

The online event will blend the fun of the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Podcast with Team Jump regulars along with some very special guests. Fans can join the action via the VIZ Media Facebook page and catch BIG announcements about future magazine content and more! Fans may also participate in a live Q&A and a trivia contest for a chance to win some collectible JUMP items from Japan.

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is published digitally each week by VIZ Media and features the latest chapters of some of the world’s most popular manga series. WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP’s official English edition is available in North America as well as in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Philippines, India and Singapore.

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP annual members receive 48 weekly digital issues as well as rare one-shot manga releases, select digital-only promotions, and access to additional subscriber-only content including creator interviews and insightful promo videos. Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards are not included in this promotion. Current subscribers can access their accounts via VIZ.com/ShonenJump or with the Newsstand App available for the Apple iPad® and iPhone or the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP App on the Google Play Store for Android devices.

Manga series currently featured in WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP include ONE PIECE, MY HERO ACADEMIA, ONE-PUNCH MAN, BORUTO, BLACK CLOVER, BLUE EXORCIST, FOOD WARS!, THE PROMISED NEVERLAND, SERAPH OF THE END, YU-GI-OH! ARC-V and RWBY. WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP also regularly gives readers an advance peek at other hot new series debuts in Japan with special JUMP START features throughout the year.

For more information on WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and exclusive subscriber offers, visit VIZ.com/ShonenJump.

For more information on VIZ Media manga titles, please visit VIZ.com.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

BATTLE FOR INCHEON: OPERATION CHROMITE reviewed; debuts today on Blu-ray and DVD

CJ Entertainment
Presents
 Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite / In-cheon sang-ryuk jak-jeon
Directed by John H. Lee
South Korea, 2016, 111 minutes

Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite , an exciting action film set during the Korean War, debuts on Blu-ray and DVD today, Tuesday, January 24th from CJ Entertainment.The film hit North American theaters last August. At that time it was simply titled Operation Chromite.

The titular operation was the audacious invasion by sea of Incheon, far behind the North Korean front line. The plan was the brainchild of General Douglas MacAuthur (Liam Neeson), commander of the U.N. and South Korean forces, who overcame the objections of more conservative military leaders.  The decisive victory by the U.N. forces resulted in a strategic reversal of fortune for the previously beleaguered Allied forces.

At the beginning of the film there is a notice that what follows was "inspired by true events." This is one step further removed from the "based on true events" designation. Basically, "inspired by" means that the film takes something that happened as its springboard and dramatizes it in a way that has little concern with historical accuracy.

Here, the heroes of the invasion are a small group of South Korean soldiers who impersonate a North Korean inspection team so that they can obtain information essential for the success of the invasion. The group is led by Captain Jang Hak-Soo (Lee Jung-Jae, seen in Assassination and The Thieves) of the South Korean Naval Intelligence Bureau. His group is aided by members of the Korean Liaison Office (KLO) in Incheon, a group of resistance fighters.

Leading the defense of Incheon is Lim Gye-Jin (Lee Bum-Soo, The Divine Move). He is depicted as being the only person in the North Kor4ean political and military leadership who believes that MacAuthur's attack will be at Incheon. Lee Bum-soo, it deserves to be mentioned, makes an outstanding villain.

The movie is well-paced and the cinematography is commendable. There are numerous action sequences that vary in nature, from shoot-outs to a vehicular chase through the streets of Incheon.

All-in-all, a good Korean War action film. Sit back and enjoy; just don't expect much in the way of an accurate history lesson.

Disc Specs:
-- Audio/Subtitles
   -- English 5.1 or 2.0
   -- Korean 5.1 or 2.0 with English Subtitles
-- Bonus Features
  -- "Making Of" featurette (note that this featurette is marred at times by incomplete subtitling (resulting in incomplete sentences) and by some statements not having subtitles at all)
  -- Trailers
     -- Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite
     -- Five other CJ Entertainment films

AsianCineFest Rating: 3 out of 4 stars; a good, solid action film.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Sentai Filmworks announces acquisition of AJIN: DEMI-HUMAN


Sentai Filmworks has acquired home video and transactional video on demand rights to the heart-pounding horror thriller, Ajin: Demi-Human, created by Polygon Pictures, under an exclusive license with the Ajin Production Committee.

Kei Nagai is just another carefree high school student until a fatal accident brings his young life to a violent end. But Kei’s death is only the beginning. A resurrection brings not salvation but horror and the realization that he is something other than human. Kei and others like him, known as “Ajin”, are blessed with regenerative powers but they are hunted for cruel and sinister purposes. Kei must elude dark forces and confront the limits of his own humanity in a world that is truly inhumane.

Ajin: Demi-Human will soon be available on Blu-Ray and DVD with special content and extras only available on home video.

Friday, January 20, 2017

List of U.S. theaters where KUNG FU YOGA will be opening next Friday

Well Go USA
Entertainment
presents
Directed by Stanley Tong
Starring Jackie Chan, Aarif Rahman, Lay Zhang, Sonu Sood,
Disha Patani, Amrya Dastur, and Eric Tsang
China/India, 2017

Here's the current list of theaters where Kung Fu Yoga is scheduled to open next Friday, January 27th and then expand to on February 3rd.

OPENING IN THEATERS JANUARY 27th

NEW YORK CITY

AMC Empire 25
234 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036

LOS ANGELES

AMC Atlantic Times Square
450 N Atlantic Blvd
Monterey Park, CA 91754

AMC Puente Hills 20
1560 South Azusa Avenue
City of Industry, CA 91748

AMC Orange 30
20 City Blvd West
Orange, CA 92868

BOSTON

AMC Loews Boston Common 19
175 Tremont St
Boston, MA 02111

CHICAGO

AMC River East 21
322 East Illinois Street
Chicago, IL 60611

PHOENIX

AMC Centerpoint 11
730 South Mill Ave
Tempe, AZ 85281

SAN FRANCISCO / BAY AREA

AMC Cupertino Square 16
10123 N Wolfe Rd
Cupertino, CA 95014

AMC Van Ness 14
1000 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, CA 94109

SEATTLE

AMC Pacific Place 11
600 Pine Street - Ste 400
Seattle, WA 98101

OPENING FEBRUARY 3RD

INDIANA

AMC Showplace Bloomington 11
1351 S Colleg e Mall Rd
Bloomington, Indiana 47401

COLUMBUS

AMC Lennox Town Center 24
777 Kinnear Rd
Columbus, OH 43212

HOUSTON

AMC Studio 30
2949 Dunvale
Houston, TX 77063

SAN DIEGO

AMC Mission Valley 20
1640 Camino Del Rio N
San Diego, CA 92108

Thursday, January 19, 2017

GIRLS UND PANZER DER FILM coming to 30+ Canadian cities


Following its U.S. Debut, Girls Und Panzer Der Film to Hit
More Than 30 Canadian Cities on January 26, 2017

Sentai Filmworks, a leading independent distributor of Japanese anime and pop culture programming, announced today its Canadian release schedule for the English-dubbed, critically acclaimed, and record-breaking Japanese anime film, Girls und Panzer der Film. Beginning January 26, 2017, Girls und Panzer der Film will screen in more than 30 major Canadian cities, including: Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa.

Girls und Panzer der Film has a massive global fan following – from its record-breaking run in Japan, to its national U.S. release – and we know Canada has an immense fan base,” said John Ledford, President and CEO of Sentai Filmworks. “Girls und Panzer der Film devotees love the movie’s action, humor, unique storyline, and - of course - the girls rocking the artillery tanks, and we’re thrilled we can bring this big screen experience to Canadian fans.”

Girls und Panzer der Film picks up where the successful television series, Girls und Panzer, left off: in a society where humanity exists in cities built atop gigantic carrier ships. Now the girls of the Ooarai High School tankery team must pull together to defeat their foes and save their beloved school.

The movie, released in 2015 in Japan, was ranked the highest-grossing movie of its opening weekend and earned more than $24 million (USD) total at the Japanese box office. The film won the prestigious Seiun Award Best Dramatic Presentation and the Sanctuary Award from the 25th Japan Movie Critics Award. The English-dubbed movie is directed by Kyle Colby Jones, whose credits include No Game No Life, Parasyte -the maxim-, Akame ga Kill!, and Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun. Additionally, Margaret McDonald (Miho), Rebekah Stevens (Yukari), Jessica Calvello (Saori), Caitlynn French (Hana), and Molly Searcy (Mako) reprise their roles from the TV series.

Girls und Panzer der Film made its U.S. debut in November 2016 in San Francisco’s NEW PEOPLE Cinema and has been well-received by critics and fans alike, who have praised the dub quality and its powerful sound design and effects. Together with Los Angeles-based distributor, ELEVEN ARTS, the film was shown in more than 30 major markets, including: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, and Boston.

For its Canadian release, Sentai Filmworks and ELEVEN ARTS will begin screening Girls und Panzer der Film beginning January 26, 2017. Fans can check the most updated schedule via Girls und Panzer der Film.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

BATTLE FOR INCHEON; OPERATION CHROMITE coming to Blu-ray & DVD on January 24

CJ Entertainment
Presents
Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite / In-cheon sang-ryuk jak-jeon
Directed by John H. Lee
South Korea, 2016, 111 minutes

The adrenaline-fueled, true story of a squad of unsung heroes sacrificed to turn the tide of the Korean War during its darkest days, the epic war drama Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite will becoming to Blu-ray and DVD next Tuesday, January 24th from CJ Entertainment.

In this suspenseful, action-packed, military adventure based on death-defying, real-life events, U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur (Liam Neeson, the Taken trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, Star Wars: Episode I, Batman Begins, Schindler's List) is appointed head of the United Nations Command at the height of the Korean War and conducts a covert operation to infiltrate North Korean headquarters far behind enemy lines.

Led by Navy Lieutenant Jang Hak-soo (Lee Jung-jae, Assassination, New World, The Thieves, The Housemaid), the courageous X-Ray intelligence unit finds themselves pitted against not only ruthless North Korean commander Lim Gye-jin (Lee Bum-soo, The Divine Move, IRIS: New Generation, The City of Violence) and his men, but the Russian and Chinese troops supporting them.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

TRAIN TO BUSAN reviewed; comes to BD & DVD today, January 17th

Well Go USA
Entertainment
presents
Train to Busan / Busanhaeng
Directed by YEON Sang-ho
South Korea, 2016, 118 minutes

Train to Busan, the outstanding zombie thriller from South Korea, debuts on Blu-ray™ and DVD today, January 17 from Well Go USA Entertainment. (It's been available for digital download since December 13th.) This review is based on my watching the Blu-ray version.

SUH Seok-woo (GONG Yoo, The Age of Shadows) is a rather self-absorbed fund manager.  He's divorced and his young daughter Su-an (KIM Soo-an) must travel back to her mother by train. She wants to go by herself, but Seok-woo, more out of his need to exhibit control and power than for actual concern for her safety, insists on accompanying her. Unfortunately, there's been an outbreak at YS Biotech that's resulted in a zombie outbreak and one of the undead -- surprise! -- manages to get on the train before it departs. Soon there's a full-scale zombie infestation on the train and those not yet affected must use all their resources to remain so long enough to hopefully reach a safety zone.

Train to Busan was a huge box office across Asia, smashed box office records in South Korea and has become the biggest Korean film of all time. It recently received several nominations for the 11th Asian Film Awards, including GONG Yoo for Best Actor, MA Dong-seok for Best Supporting Actor, YANG Jin-mo for Best Editing, KWON Yoo-jin for Best Costume Design, and JUNG Hwang-su for Best Visual Effects. It has a 7.5 rating at IMDb and a 72 Metascore at Metacritic.

The film truly deserves all these accolades. It's a taut thriller that really delivers. And the ending had me on the edge of my couch, it was so smart and unpredictable. In fact, I found Train to Busan to be every bit as good as World War Z, which I loved. The two would make for a wonderful double bill on home video some weekend.

Disc Specs:
-- Audio
   -- Korean DTS:X
   -- Korea 2.0 Stereo
   -- English 5.1 DTS HDMA
   -- English 2.0 Stereo
-- Subtitles
   -- English
   -- Off
-- Bonus
   -- Featurettes
      -- Behind the Scenes (13:01)
      -- That's a Wrap (4:35)
   -- Trailer (1:55)
-- Previews
   -- Operation Mekong
   -- Tunnel
   -- Phantasm Remastered
   -- The Wailing

AsianCineFest Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; very, very highly recommended

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Section23 Films has announced its March 2017 slate of releases


Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its March slate of releases; including Sentai Filmworks’ Is It Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, which will be available on DVD, Blu-ray and Collector’s Edition Premium Box Set on March 28th.

Product details in order of release:

Title: PHANTASY STAR ONLINE 2 COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 3/7/2017
Format: BD, DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98, $49.98

SYNOPSIS: Phantasy Star Online 2 is the most popular game on the web, and almost everyone at Seiga Academy is deeply immersed in it. When the school administration begins to worry that the game is causing more harm than good, student council president Rina Izumi sets out to prove PSO2's virtual positives. To confirm her opinion, she recruits Itsuki Tachibana, one of the few students who isn't already hooked, and instructs him to learn how to play so she can study the effects. What at first seems like a brilliant and simple plan instead lifts the lid off a Pandora’s Box filled with unexpected complications. As Itsuki's life undergoes a rapid transformation, it soon becomes clear that PSO2 may be much more than merely a game! In fact, a whole new world waits on the other side of the net in PHANTASY STAR ONLINE 2 - THE ANIMATION!


Title: KOKORO CONNECT COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 425 min.
Street Date: 3/14/2017
Format: BD, DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98, $59.98

SYNOPSIS: The five members of the Student Cultural Society have spent a lot of time wondering what it would be like to be in someone else's shoes, but they're about to get in touch with each others' feelings in the most unexpected way: a five-way body swap! What happens when five teens suddenly find themselves inside the body of the girl (or boy) next door? Aside from suddenly making trips to the bathroom VERY uncomfortable, it also brings a whole new meaning to the term "Exchange Student"! If THAT wasn't enough of a problem, the emotional trauma literally gets multiplied when a new affliction strikes, causing peoples' innermost feelings to suddenly transfer from person to person! Get ready for a trip through the emotional wringer as three girls and two boys see the world through each others' eyes in KOKORO CONNECT - The Complete Collection!


Title: MEZZO COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: ADV Films
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 3/21/2017
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $29.98

SYNOPSIS: Mix one gadget-happy engineer, an ex-cop with a serious noodle fixation, and the ultimate bad girl: the highly combustible result is the Danger Service Agency. Brainy Harada and crafty Kurokawa may not seem like the most dangerous mercenaries to ever hit the streets, but it only takes one look at at Mikura's skin tight body suit and huge pair of M1911s to see that she has the assets to kick some serious butt. Toss in Asami, the DSA's new killer schoolgirl-in-training, and the DSA is guaranteed to fulfill your daily "girls-with-guns" requirements! Whether they're working for sexy weather girls, friendly ghosts, or facing off against gangsters, trained assassins (or even extraterrestrials), there's one thing you can be sure of: when the DSA takes a job, you can be sure it'll pay off with action in MEZZO DSA - THE COMPLETE COLLECTION!


Title: GIRLS UND PANZER: THIS IS THE REAL ANZIO BATTLE! OVA
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 38 min.
Street Date: 3/21/2017
Format: COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $19.98

SYNOPSIS: A piece of spaghetti or a military unit, George S. Patton famously said, "can only be led from the front end." However, once the heat of battle has cooled and the fog of war turns as thick as minestrone, determining which end was front and who pulled on what can be difficult. Therefore, for the enthusiasts who've puzzled over the epic tank battle between the girls of Oorai Girls' Academy and their Italian-themed rivals from Anzio High School, we present these classified videos for your eyes-only! Miho and Team Oorai will have their hands full with the impulsive attacks of Vice-Commander Pepperoni and facing the raw fury of Vice-Commander Carpaccio… but the real question is whether they can hold off Anchovy's ultra-secret secret weapons! Will they persevere? Or will their opponents end up saying "tank" you very much… for the victory in GIRLS UND PANZER: THE REAL ANZIO BATTLE!


Title: DIABOLIK LOVERS II: MORE, BLOOD COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 180 min.
Street Date: 3/28/2017
Format: BD, DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $39.98, $29.98

SYNOPSIS: As the sole human living alone with six handsome vampires, beautiful young Yui Komori is slowly becoming used to being the constant focus of all of their attentions, both amorous and otherwise. However, if she was feeling pale and weak before, her ordeal is about to become even more emotionally draining as four new vampire brothers appear with the intention of making Yui their own permanent dinner guest. Who are the Mukami brothers, and why are they so dead set on keeping Yui for themselves? Why do they keep referring to her as "Eve" and whose master plan are they following? How will the original six Sakamaki brothers react to having Yui stolen out of their clutches? Four more vampires join the table and Yui's the second course in DIABOLIK LOVERS II: MORE, BLOOD!


Title: IS IT WRONG TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON? COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 3/28/2017
Format: BD, DVD, COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98, $59.98, $139.98

SYNOPSIS: Some adventurers delve into the sprawling labyrinths beneath the city of Orario to find fame and fortune. Others come to test their skills against the legions of monsters lurking in the darkness below. However, Bell Cranel's grandfather told him a different reason: it's a great place to rescue (and subsequently meet) girls! Now that Bell's a dungeon delver himself, the ladies he's encountering aren't the helpless damsels in distress he'd imagined, and one of them, the beautiful swordswoman Ais Wallenstein, keeps rescuing Bell instead. As embarrassing as that is, it's nothing compared to what happens when goddesses get involved. Freya, Hephaistos, and Loki, with their powerful Familias, are intimidating enough, but there's one goddess whose relationship with Bell is certain to spark trouble. After all, Bell is the ONLY member of the goddess Hestia's Familia, and she's not sure if she wants to share him with anyone in IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON?

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Five film Meiko Kaji weekend mini-retrospective coming to Japan Society NY February 10-12

Japan Society NY
presents
Cruel Beauty: A Romantic Weekend with Meiko Kaji
When: February 10-12, 2017
Where: Japan Society
333 East 47th Street, NYC
Map

Action-packed Prelude to Valentine's Day Anticipates
The 70th Birthday of Iconoclastic Genre Actress

Known for her fashionable modern style, long black tresses and piercing gaze, the inimitable Meiko Kaji rose to the top of the Japanese film industry in the late 1960s and '70s, working with some of the era's most talented filmmakers to create several now-classic genre film archetypes along the way—from hard-boiled girl gang bosses to kimono-clad, sword-wielding assassins.

Japan Society celebrates the iconic star, who turns 70 in March, with an action-packed prelude to Valentine's Day, full of female rebellion, ice-cold vengeance and tough love. Guest curated by writer and producer Marc Walkow, Cruel Beauty: A Romantic Weekend with Meiko Kaji screens five films Friday-Sunday, February 10-12, highlighting a selection of Kaji's most memorable roles.

In addition to the International Premiere of New Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Boss's Head, the series includes early star-making appearances in Blind Woman's Curse and Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter, as well as selections featuring her iconic characters in Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance and Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable.

In his program notes from the series, Walkow writes: "Japanese movie stars don't get much more iconic than actress Meiko Kaji. Born as Masako Ota in Tokyo on March 24, 1947, Kaji's history is sadly one of being continually misunderstood by the studios which employed her. Originally groomed as a matinee idol at Nikkatsu in the '60s, she instead found fame there as the leader of a hard-boiled girl gang, riding motorcycles and brawling tooth-and-nail with both men and women. She moved over to Toei in the early '70s, again miscast as a replacement for recently-retired period film star Junko Fuji, who had embodied a different kind of beauty and strength throughout the '60s.

Before long, however, Kaji once again found her place as an outlaw character, this time as a nearly-silent, icily violent female prisoner who unwillingly becomes the leader of a rebellion against the patriarchy. Having found fame, Kaji once again defied industry expectations and passed up further star turns in favor of working with talented filmmakers in supporting roles, preferring to take her work as an actor more seriously, as well as devote much of her time to her own private life. She remains an inimitable presence in Japanese cinema, and an icon who continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences around the world."

Though all films are later episodes in popular series, they stand on their own and can be enjoyed without familiarity with preceding episodes. These films contain a considerable amount of violence, nudity and graphic depictions of sex typical of the genre, and are recommended for audiences ages 18 and over.

Admission: $13/$10 seniors & students/$9 Japan Society members. Special offers: All Access Pass (1 ticket for each film in the series, 5 tickets total) $50/$35/$30; Double Feature Pass (2 different films in the same transaction) $22/$16/$14. Tickets may be purchased online at www.japansociety.org, in person at Japan Society, or by calling the box office at 212-715-1258.

Friday, January 13, 2017

TRAIN TO BUSAN coming to Blu-ray and DVD next Tuesday, January 17th

Well Go USA
Entertainment
presents
Train to Busan / Busanhaeng
Directed by Sang-ho Yeon
South Korea, 2016, 118 minutes

Dubbed “… a fun, fast, tightly crafted genre film,” (Daniel Barnes, Sacramento News & Review), the critically-acclaimed, zombie apocalypse thriller Train to Busan debuts and on Blu-ray™ and DVD January 17 from Well Go USA Entertainment. (It's been available for digital download since December 13th.) Certified Fresh (96%) on Rotten Tomatoes, horror fans can take a harrowing Train to Busan, where a group of terrified passengers must fight the zombie hordes to make it to their last bastion of refuge ... or so everyone hopes.

The film that set the box office ablaze across Asia, smashed box office records in South Korea and became the biggest Korean film of all time, stars GONG Yoo (The Age of Shadows), JUNG Yu-mi (Manhole), MA Dong-seok (Doomsday Book), CHOI Woo-sik (Big Match), AN So-hee (Hellcats), KIM Eui-sung (Assassination), and KIM Su-an (Memories of the Sword).

Synopsis:
Train to Busan is a harrowing zombie horror-thriller that follows a group of terrified passengers fighting their way through a countrywide viral outbreak, trapped on a suspicion-filled, blood-drenched bullet train ride to the Safe Zone…which may or may not still be there.

Bonus Materials Include Two Featurettes:
-- Behind the Scenes
-- That’s A Wrap

I've watched the Blu-ray version and can attest that Train to Busan is a fantastic film, a truly exhilarating viewing experience. Look for my review here at AsianCineFest next week.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. LAWRENCE playing at Japan Society NY tonight at 7:00 PM

Japan Society NY
Presents
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence © 1983 Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence / Senjo no Meri Kurisumasu
Directed by Nagisa Oshima
With David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto,
Takeshi Kitano, and Jack Thompson
Japan, 1983, 123 minutes, 35mm, color
In English and Japanese with English subtitles

When: Friday, January 13th, 7:00 PM
Where: Japan Society
333 East 47th Street, NYC
Map

This international co-production from director Nagisa Oshima features a magnetic David Bowie in one of his greatest screen roles as a rebellious British officer imprisoned in a Japanese POW camp during World War II who draws the intense fascination of the camp's conflicted commandant, played by composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Divided by language and incongruous understandings of duty and honor, the fraught relationship between prisoners and captors slowly builds towards tragedy. Also featuring a breakout performance by Takeshi Kitano in his first dramatic role, Oshima's film is an entrancing, brutal examination of the absurdities of war punctuated by moments of tenderness and poetry.

Screening in memory of David Bowie (January 8, 1947-January 10, 2016) and Nagisa Oshima (March 31, 1932-January 15, 2013).

Watch the trailer here.

Part of Monthly Classics
Year-round screenings of beloved classics, hidden gems and recent discoveries of Japanese cinema. Only $5 for Japan society members!

Thursday, January 12, 2017

KUNG FU YOGA is coming to theaters on January 27th, 2017

Well Go USA
Entertainment
presents
Directed by Stanley Tong
Starring Jackie Chan, Aarif Rahman, Lay Zhang, Sonu Sood,
Disha Patani, Amrya Dastur, and Eric Tsang
China/India, 2017


Jack (Jackie Chan), a world-renowned archaeology professor, and his team are on a grand quest to locate a lost ancient Indian treasure when they are ambushed by a team of mercenaries and left for dead. Using his vast knowledge of history and kung fu, Jack leads his team on a race around the world to beat the mercenaries to the treasure and save an ancient culture in this breakneck action-comedy that reunites Chan with acclaimed director Stanley Tong (Rumble in the Bronx, Supercop). 

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

TOKYO DRIFTER coming to Japan Society on Friday, February 3rd

Japan Society NY
Presents
Tokyo Drifter © 1966 Nikkatsu Corporation
Tokyo Drifter / Tokyo Nagaremono
Directed by Seijun Suzuki
With Tetsuya Watari, Chieko Matsubara, Tamio Kawaji,
Ryuji Kita, and Hideaki Nitani
Japan, 1966, 82 minutes
DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles

When: Friday, February 3rd at 7:00 PM
Where: Japan Society NY
333 East 47th Street, NYC

In this deliriously unhinged yakuza film by visionary director Seijun Suzuki, a recently paroled ex-con attempts to go straight but is immediately hounded by former cohorts and rivals who want him dead. A highlight of 1960s avant-pop Japanese cinema replete with over-the-top set design and swinging enka ballads (performed by actor-singer Tetsuya Watari), Tokyo Drifter displays the full breadth of Suzuki’s unique visual style and surreal sensibilities.

Part of Monthly Classics
Year-round screenings of beloved classics, hidden gems and recent discoveries of Japanese cinema.

Friday, January 06, 2017

RAILROAD TIGERS opens in theaters today, Friday, January 6th, 2017

Well Go USA
Entertainment
Presents
Directed by Ding Sheng
Starring Jackie Chan, Huang Zitao, Wang Kai, Darren Wang 
China, 2016, 124 minutes

Railroad Tigers is an action-comedy set in China during World War II. It opens in thirty-six  theaters in major U.S. markets today, Friday, January 6th, 2017.

Ma Yuan (Jackie Chan) is a head porter at a railroad station in part of China occupied by the Japanese. He and several cohorts  (the titular "Railroad Tigers") have engaged in various small-time action against the Japanese, but nothing of any real consequence. They have an opportunity to change that when they learn that the Hanzhuang Bridge, along a major route vital to the Japanese for bringing supplies to their front line, must be destroyed. Although the Chinese Eighth Army Route soldiers have been unsuccessful in accomplishing this, Jackie and his rag-tag compatriots take on what looks to be a suicide mission.

Japanese aggression during WWII has been the subject of numerous Chinese (as well as Korean) films. Such movies seem find a receptive audience in these two countries, but they can seem like a worn out trope to North American audiences. Sad to say, such is the case here, because the film is weak in almost every regard. The story line is simple (as opposed, say, to the psychological complexities in the somewhat similarly themed The Bridge on the River Kwai), there's nothing compelling about the characters, the action (choreographed by He Jun) and stunts (performed by the Jackie Chan Stunt Team) are second-rate, and the CGI is not very good.

That the film has problems becomes evident in the first few minutes. As each character is introduced, the frame freezes and text, in Chinese and English, gives the characters name and occupation. In the case of several of the "Railroad Tigers," their catchphrase is also indicated. Do we really need to be told that Jackie's character's catchphrase is "Shut up!" when we will hear him say it several times in the course of the movie? Or that "Let's go!" is the catchphrase of Xiaohun, a railroad porter? This freeze frame introduction -- which visually brings the film to a screeching halt -- is employed for seventeen characters! Not good cinema technique at all.

No one should begrudge the fact that Jackie, who will be 62 years old this coming April, can't handle the kind of stunts and action sequences that he performed so brilliantly in years gone by. But it's kind of sad to see him in a film like this, in straight-up action sequences that are beyond his current abilities. With his terrific sense of timing and ability to poke fun at himself, he'd be better served at this stage of his career with more comedic fare. Perhaps the upcoming Kung Fu Yoga, coming to theaters January 27th, will showcase him to better advantage.

In the meanwhile, Railroad Tigers will probably only be of interest to die-had Jackie fans.

AsianCineFest Rating: 2 out of 4 stars; fair.

Thursday, January 05, 2017

CUTIE AND THE BOXER film screening and artist talk at Japan Society on January 27, 2017

Japan Society NY
Presents
Cutie & the Boxer © 2013 RADiUS-TWC.
Cutie and the Boxer
Directed by Zachary Heinzerling
USA, 2013, 82 minutes

When: Friday, January 27, 2017 at 7:00 PM
Where: Japan Society
333 East 47th Street, NYC
Tickets $15/$10 Japan Society members

Post-screening talk and Q&A with Ushio & Noriko Shinohara

Celebrate the 2016 Emmy award win for the documentary Cutie and the Boxer, which traces the personal and artistic struggles of artists Ushio and Noriko Shinohara since their arrival to NYC in the late 1960s, at this special one-night-only screening and talk inside the Gallery!

The Shinoharas are no strangers to Japan Society: Ushio-san's one-man show Tokyo Bazooka sent shockwaves through our galleries back in 1982, while the couple's contributions to the 2007 exhibition Making a Home received widespread acclaim.

Wednesday, January 04, 2017

3rd Annual DFW South Asian Film Festival to run March 3 to 5, 2017 in Addison, Texas

3rd Annual DFW South Asian Film Festival
Moves from Plano to Addison
(March 3 to 5, 2017)

The 3rd annual DFW South Asian Film Festival (SAFF) will have a new home in Addison, Texas, starting in 2017. The third installment of curated, award-winning shorts, documentaries and feature films from the South Asian region (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives and Bhutan) will premiere in North Texas from March 3 to 5, 2017. The opening night feature film will be screened on Friday, March 3 at the Hoglund Foundation Theater of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, followed by a VIP cocktail reception at the Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall (3rd floor of the Perot Museum) in downtown Dallas. The rest of the line-up will be showcased at the AMC Village on Parkway 9 in Addison on March 4 and 5, incorporating panel discussions with attending filmmakers, after-parties and networking events.

“The Town of Addison is honored to welcome the 3rd annual DFW South Asian Film Festival,” said Addison Mayor Todd Meier. “Addison has a vibrant arts community, and this event will help expand our profile to reach film enthusiasts from all over North Texas.”

JINGO Media, a Dallas and NYC-based, public relations and events management company, produces the annual festival of South Asian independent cinema in North Texas. The third iteration of the festival boasts 15 curated shorts, documentaries and feature films (over a three-day period), which will focus on issues affecting South Asians and explore the lives and stories of the Diaspora working and living in the United States.

"In our third year, we are establishing ourselves as a colorful thread in the fabric of North Texas," said festival founder and director Jitin Hingorani. "Based on the trends of the past two years, we anticipate about a quarter of our festival audience will be non South-Asians, which means that the Texas mainstream population is slowly, but surely, embracing South Asian independent cinema."

In addition to the opening night, centerpiece and closing night films, the festival will also showcase thought-provoking, edgy shorts and docs, along with women’s programming, men’s programming, LGBT programming and family programming. “All-access” festival passes, which provide admission to all of the films, networking events and after parties, are currently available on www.dfwsaff.com for the early-bird price of $150 before February 1, after which the price increases to $175. Individual screenings are $15 per person, but due to sold-out shows, limited tickets will be available at the theater. The entire festival line-up will be unveiled on the festival's web site in early February.

Tuesday, January 03, 2017

THE MONKEY KING 2 reviewed; debuts on Blu-ray & DVD today

Well Go USA
Entertainment
Presents
The Monkey King 2 / Xi you ji zhi: Sun Wukong san da Baigu Jing
Directed by Soi Cheang
China/Hong Kong, 2016, 120 minutes

Soi Cheang's telling of the famous Chinese story of the Monkey King continues with Well Go USA Entertainment's release of The Monkey King 2 on Blu-ray™ and DVD today, Tuesday, January 3rd. This review is based on my watching the Blu-ray version.

The Monkey King 2 is the sequel to The Monkey King, the 2014 film that was also directed by Soi Cheang. (Both were filmed in 3D; the Blu-ray and DVD releases of the sequel are in 2D only.) The original film (also known as The Monkey King: Havoc in Heaven's Palace) starred Donnie Yen, who also served as the film's action director, as the titular protagonist. In The Monkey King 2, Aaron Kwok plays Sun Wukong, a.k.a. the Monkey King. The legendary Sammo Hung assumed duties as action director.

Zhu Baijie, The Monkey King, and Sha Wujing

The series is based on The Journey to the West, a major classic of Chinese literature consisting of one hundred chapters. It tells the tale of a Chinese monk named Xuanzang (also known as The Scripture Fetcher and as The Tang Priest) who is selected by The Mercy Goddess to undertake an arduous and dangerous journey to the West (i.e., to India) to get holy scriptures from the Buddha. He is accompanied and protected by the Monkey King, who is really the main character, and two others. For some time I have owned the first volume of the four volume set translated and edited by Anthony C. Yu. Earlier this year, I finally got around to reading it. The Money King 2 is concerned with portions of the latter part of that twenty-five chapter volume.

The original film ended with the mischievous Monkey King, who has achieved mystical powers and wrecked havoc in Heaven, being imprisoned within Five Finger Mountain for five hundred years. The Monkey King 2 begins with Xuanzang, who is being attacked by a dragon, freeing him from the mountain. Once the Money King has dealt with the dragon, the pair begin their journey and are soon joined by Zhu Baijie (Xiao Shen Yang, The Grandmaster), a pig-man who can transform into either a handsome youth or a wild boar, and Bro Sha Wujing, a mighty blue-skinned warrior. The main protagonist is White Bone Spirit (the always lovely and wonderful Gong Li), also called Lady White. She wants to devour the monk (that is, absorb his essence, not actually eat him physically) so she can become an immortal demon.

White Bone Spirit

Disc Specs:
-- Audio
   -- Cantonese Dolby ATMOS in true HD
   -- Cantonese 20 Stereo
   -- Mandarin 5.1 DTS HDMA
   -- Mandarin 2.0 Stereo
-- Subtitles
   -- English
   -- Chinese
   -- Off
--Bonus Materials:
   -- A Five-part “Making of” Featurette
      -- The Monkey King
      -- The Monk
      -- Bajie
      -- Wujing
      -- A New World
   -- The Monkey King 2 Trailer
   -- Previews (of other Well Go USA releases)
      -- Railroad Tigers
      -- Cold War 2
      -- Call of Heroes

Back in February of this year, The Monkey King 2 enjoyed a limited theatrical release in the U.S. I did not get to see that version but did watch a 2D online screener of the film. I was fairly impressed with it at that time. Having now seen Well Go USA's gorgeous Blu-ray version, I am even more blown away by the film. The make-up, costumes and special effects are spectacular, as are the action sequences.

Before writing this review I noticed that the first film in the series was available on Netflix Streaming. I watched it and thought it was pretty good, decent but by no means spectacular. The Monkey King 2 is superior in almost every way. While I have nothing but high regard for Donnie Yen, I found Aaron Kwok's depiction of Sun Wukong clearly superior.

AsianCineFest Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; very, very highly recommended.

Sunday, January 01, 2017

Section23 Films has announced its February 2017 slate of releases


Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its February slate of releases; including Sentai Filmworks’ Amagi Brilliant Park! Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Collector’s Edition Premium Box Set!

Product details in order of release:

Title: YOUNG BLACK JACK COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 2/7/2017
Format: BD, DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98, $49.98

SYNOPSIS: The year is 1968, the war in Vietnam is approaching its zenith, and the counterculture movement that's been sweeping the world is engulfing Japan. While others are in the streets protesting, one young medical student becomes embroiled in a different kind of battle. As new medical technologies to save and extend lives come into play, the temptation for a surgeon to play God has never been so powerful. Even as he strives to prove his own skills to his colleagues, Hazama Kuroo begins to suspect that the potentials for abuse inherent in the medical system are already being exploited. To attempt to change the system means risking his own promising career as a surgeon, and to move against the perpetrators will put his own life in danger. However, as a doctor, how can he not act when lives are on the line? The diagnosis is murder as the origin of Osamu Tezuka's legendary rogue surgeon Black Jack is finally revealed in YOUNG BLACK JACK!


Title: BUSOU SHINKI COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 2/14/2017
Format: BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98

SYNOPSIS: Some guys wait their entire lives to meet the girl of their dreams, but Rihito is already living with three of them! How did a high school freshman get so lucky? Well, the truth is that Anne, Aines, and Lene aren't normal girls: they're Shinki - 6-inch-high, customizable androids that are the latest hit in the toy world. Don't let their tiny size or doll-like appearance fool you; these little ladies have more than full-size intelligence and emotions, and, since each one would secretly prefer to be Rihito's favorite, there's always a little mechanical friction going on. Then, what happens when a fourth Shinki, Hina, is suddenly added to the mix? Get ready for sparks to fly as four battery-powered princesses take charge of Rihito's world in BUSOU SHINKI!


Title: COMET LUCIFER COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 2/14/2017
Format: BD, DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98, $49.98

SYNOPSIS: Sogo Amagi has spent a good portion of his young life looking for rare crystals in abandoned Giftdium mines, but it's not until he's lost in the ruins beneath his own home town that he and his friend Kaon make the most incredible discovery of all: a giant crystal with a girl trapped inside! Things only get wilder when the girl is unexpectedly freed. Suddenly, the mines are invaded by giant robots controlled by a secret military organization, which is in turn fought off by a mysterious being made of crystal! That leaves Sogo, Kaon, and their friends scrambling to figure out what to do with Felia, a red-eyed girl with strange powers who doesn't even speak their language! They need to figure everything out quickly, because unless they can unravel Felia's secrets and learn why the military is after her, their whole planet may be in danger of complete annihilation in COMET LUCIFER!


Title: GREEN LEGEND RAN COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 140 min.
Street Date: 2/21/2017
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $24.98

SYNOPSIS: The objects fell from the sky, swallowing most of Earth's water, vegetation and animal life. Now, while the remnants of humanity struggle to survive in a world of endless deserts, the followers of the alien Rodo rule from enclaves that control the little water that is left. However, not everyone is willing to bow to the Rodo and their disciples, and resistance groups like Hazzard continue to fight back. Seeking revenge against the man who killed his mother, a young man named Ran sets out to join Hazzard, but fate intervenes and he finds himself in the middle of a battle between the two sides. Hoping to rescue a beautiful silver-haired girl named Aira, Ran will ultimately take on an even greater mission: to learn the shocking secrets that both Hazzard and the Rodoists have been hiding from the world. The classic adventure that enthralled a generation returns in GREEN LEGEND RAN!


Title: UTA NO PRINCE SAMA REVOLUTIONS COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 2/21/2017
Format: BD, DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98, $49.98

SYNOPSIS: Get ready for a madcap round of dueling duets as Haruka and the members of the all-male vocal group ST☆RISH find themselves broken down into smaller teams of two! It's part of a plan to help the budding boy band become the star singing attraction at the famous Triple S sports festival, but Haruka and the boys can't help but wonder if being divided into Cross Units won't end up making them cross with each other instead. It doesn't help that the festival's current top pick is the band made up of ST☆RISH's own senior supervisors, QUARTET NIGHT! No matter what motivations their manager Saotome Shining might have for playing mix-and-match with these golden-throated gents, their future is ultimately going to be determined by their loyalty to each other and Haruka's ability to convert everything into song. Music is the most extreme sport and the competition is on in UTA NO PRINCE-SAMA REVOLUTIONS!


Title: AMAGI BRILLIANT PARK COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 350 min.
Street Date: 2/28/2017
Format: BD, DVD, COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98, $59.98, $179.98

SYNOPSIS: When new transfer student Isuzu asks Seiya Kanie out on a date at gunpoint, he knows something odd is going on. Especially since she wants to go to Amagi Brilliant Park, where the rides are either dangerous or mind-numbingly dull and the only costumed performers who aren't rude or apathetic are the ones who didn't show up for work. So when Isuzu asks Seiya to take over as the park's new manager, he knows she's crazy. (Well, crazy-er, given the gunpoint thing.) But when Seiya learns that Amagi Brilliant Park is a REAL Magic Kingdom, that the costumed performers aren't wearing costumes, that they live off the energy created by attendees, and that unless they can attract 250,000 attendees in three months, they'll lose their jobs and homes… he goes a little crazy himself. But, even with the aid of scantily clad fairies, giant mice and sniper-trained sheep, can anyone rescue a park that's sunk so low that its own bus doesn't stop there anymore? The race is on to get the turnstiles turning and save AMAGI BRILLIANT PARK!