Zombie films have been a tired, creatively lifeless genre for decades. Besides Shaun of the Dead, the 21st century has not produced any truly classic horror films centered around our hungrily-meandering, half-corpse friends. At least, not stateside. If they have been produced, they certainly have not found success among an American audience. Until now. People … [Read…]
Last night I went to Hawaii International Film Festival or we can call it HIFF to watch Bittersweet. This movie is a drama and also it is all about food and it is from Japan. I watched this because I love food and I was really curious what they are going to put in this … [Read…]
Another movie that I saw today is “Bittersweet”, a Japanese movie about a oman named Maki (Haruna Kawaguchi) who hates vegetables and single but she has a crush on a vegetarian and gay guy named Nagisa (Kento Hayashi). After blackmailing Nagisa, Maki moved in to Nagisa’s house and they learned a lot about each other. The … [Read…]
I really liked the movie Big Hero 6. Before I saw the movie, I had no idea why the title was “Big Hero 6.” All I knew was that the movie had a Japanese named boy and a fat and white robot. You can get why the title is “Big Hero 6” and where the … [Read…]
I watched two baseball-related Asian films, KANO and Vancouver Asahi on the same day. Although the situations are a little bit different, both are about baseball players before the world war and based on real stories. KANO is about how Taiwanese high school students aim to enter the Koshien, Japanese national baseball high school championship, when Taiwan … [Read…]
The Fall 2014 Hawaii International Film Festival was successful to say the least. During the festival I attended the opening press conference and three Films; Stations of the Cross, Kabukicho Love Hotel, and Mary Kom. There were more films that I wanted to see like Beyond the Surface, Imitation Game, and others, but those films either didn’t fit with my … [Read…]
This Saturday, I saw a double feature of Kabukicho Love Hotel and Mary Kom. I started off with Kabukicho Love Hotel, and it was not what I was expecting, to say the least. Kabukicho Love Hotel is about a hotel in Japan that is primarily used for sex. They deal with pornography, prostitution, cheating, and it is very … [Read…]
It’s the last day Hawaii International Film Festival, and still theater room 12 was packed with many people, young and old. The screening of prominent Japanese animator Mamoru Hosoda’s award winning film, “The Wolf Children Ame and Yuki” was a hit even before the film began. But if you consider the popularity of Japanese animation, or anime, then you could … [Read…]
I sort of stumbled into this film by chance not really knowing what to expect, however upon sitting down and watching “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” I was immersed in a world not many get to see. You see, the ART of sushi to a man named Jiro is no joke. This documentary focuses on an … [Read…]
13 Assassins, directed by prolific Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike, is based on an actual historical event. Set in the peaceful Edo period (1600 – 1868), the sadistic Lord Naritsugu rapes, kills and tortures at will. Being the half-brother of the Shogun, the head of the ruling Tokugawa government, the young sociopath cannot be touched. However, … [Read…]
HIFF member, Joseph Dowson gives his thoughts on the Hawaii International Film Festival and shares his favorite film. Click here to see the video.
HIFF audience member, Whitney Shimakuro shares her thoughts on the Hawaii International Film Festival and her favorite film. Click here to see the video.