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6 items from 2012

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You Are What You Eat in Hilarious Fugu & Tako Trailer

15 May 2012 7:39 PM, PDT | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »

The latest film from director Ben West and Australian special effects guru, Robot, comes Fugu & Tako, the story of two Japanese salarymen who get more than they bargain for when one of them demands ultra fresh "fugu" (pufferfish) at a sushi bar. I'm getting a strong Hitoshi Matsumoto vibe from the mock-documentary style of this, reminiscent of his classic Big Man Japan, together with something like Minoru Kawasaki's Executive Koala. The effects work looks absolutely sensational - the expressiveness of the "puffer face" is incredibly emotive - and quite frankly I cannot wait to see the full film.Check out the trailer below and there's also a link to Robot's website so you can check out their back catalogue of excellent videos. »

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First Details Released on The 11th New York Asian Film Festival

9 May 2012 10:54 PM, PDT | DreadCentral.com | See recent Dread Central news »

Fans of Asian cinema in the New York area are sure to be happy to get the news that the 11th annual New York Asian Film Festival has set the dates of June 29 through July 15 for this year's event. We've got tons of news about it so read on.

Co-presented with The Film Society of Lincoln Center and in association with Japan Society, the Nyaff is North American's leading festival for popular Asian cinema. All the details we currently have are listed in the press release below, and you can stay current on updates by visiting the New York Asian Film Festival Facebook page.

From the Press Release

The opening night film is Pang Ho-cheung’s astonishingly filthy, extremely hilarious Vulgaria, a movie about making movies, shot in just 12 days, all about gangsters named Brother Tyrannosaur, sleazy lawyers, the sex film industry, and men who love donkeys a little too much. »

- Doctor Gash

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Imagine 2012: Scabbard Samurai Review

4 May 2012 5:17 AM, PDT | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »

(Matsumoto never needs thirty tries to amuse his audience...) In director Hitoshi Matsumoto's newest film "Scabbard Samurai" (original title: "Saya Samurai") a pathetic man gets thirty tries to make a child laugh, and if he fails it will be his death. It seems like the director wants to present the ultimate commentary on stand-up comedy, or even entertainment in general and given Matsumoto's previous output such a deeper layer would not be surprising. But "Scabbard Samurai" shows another aim which is generally wider than that: it honestly wants to entertain and move. In their reviews both Guillem Rosset (link) and Niels Matthijs (link) liked it, but both warned people who were hoping for a new "Symbol" not to expect any of that. Thanks to the »

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[Now Streaming] Your ‘The Avengers,’ ‘Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ & ‘First Position’ Alternatives

3 May 2012 6:00 AM, PDT | The Film Stage | See recent The Film Stage news »

Each week within this column we strive to pair the latest in theatrical releases to worthwhile titles currently available on Netflix Instant Watch. This week we offer alternatives to The Avengers, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel & First Position.

Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Captain America, Hawkeye and the Hulk join forces as the Avengers to face an evil unlike the earth has ever seen before. Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, and Jeremy Renner co-star; Joss Whedon directs.

How about giving some lesser-known superheroes their due:

Confessions of a Superhero (2007) This quirky and compelling documentary follows four dreamers whose passion to become professional actors has landed them all on Hollywood Boulevard costumed as Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and the Incredible Hulk. Matt Ogens directs.

Big Man Japan  (2007) This Japanese mockumentary explores the downside to being a superhero. Daisato is a middle-aged, second-rate superhero who not »

- jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)

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Hkiff 2012: Day 5 Dim Sum Reviews: Miss Bala, Matsumoto Hitoshi & more

28 March 2012 7:00 PM, PDT | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »

Today I finally got the chance to see a film that I had been itching to see since it premiered at Cannes last year. I also had the opportunity to see the new film from absurd Japanese genius Matsumoto Hitoshi, as well as a comedy marketing itself as Japan's answer to Glee. A mixed bag to be sure.Day 5 (26 March)Miss Bala (dir. Gerardo Naranjo, Mexico)Young Mexican actress Stephanie Sigman gives what is sure to be a star-making turn as Laura, an aspiring beauty queen in crime-riddled Baja California. When her friend is slaughtered in a gangland hit, Laura is soon drawn into a nightmarish world of drug deals, corruption and extreme violence that may yet win her the Miss Baja crown if she can »

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Review: Saya-zamurai (Hitoshi Matsumoto)

17 January 2012 5:14 AM, PST | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »

Hitoshi Matsumoto (Symbol, Dai-Nipponjin) is back! The man made only two films prior to Saya-Zamurai, but he gained instant access to my list of favorite Japanese directors thanks to his excessively dry humor and quirky direction. Matsumoto remained behind the camera for his latest film and toned down the weirdness level a little, but if you are comfortable with his sense of humor there's still heaps and heaps to enjoy here. There's little to none of the weirdness you might have come to expect from Matsumoto's previous films, so people looking for a direct continuation of his earlier work might be somewhat disappointed with this film. Saya-Zamurai draws comparisons to the funnier moments in Kitano's Zatoichi though, while Matsumoto's deadpan humor clearly sets itself apart »

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2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

6 items from 2012

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