Few feats in filmmaking are rarer that churning out a string of classics within the span of a few years. It's the cineaste equivalent of, I dunno, whatever sports metaphor you deem fit to slot in here. John McTiernan did it by delivering "Predator," "Die Hard," and "The Hunt for Red October" back-to-back-to-back, while Francis Ford Coppola did him one better by helming "The Godfather," "The Conversation," and "The Godfather Part II" within the span of two years before returning five years later with "Apocalypse Now." But for my money, fews runs can match that of Akira Kurosawa in the '50s, a time in which the Japanese legend gifted us with "Rashōmon," "Ikiru," "Seven Samurai," "Throne of Blood," and "The Hidden Fortress," all before the decade was over.
Now, in the latest bid to boost 2024's sagging box office with an exciting theatrical re-release, Janus Films is celebrating "Seven Samurai...
Now, in the latest bid to boost 2024's sagging box office with an exciting theatrical re-release, Janus Films is celebrating "Seven Samurai...
- 6/7/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Akira Kurosawa’s classic epic “Seven Samurai” is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a 4K restoration and theatrical re-release.
“Seven Samurai” centers on 16th-century Japanese warriors who protect their village from invaders. Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura lead the three-hour feature hailing from legendary auteur Kurosawa. “Seven Samurai” was his third film following “Rashomon” and “Ikiru.” “Seven Samurai” famously debuted at the 1954 Venice Film Festival, where Kurosawa won the Silver Lion for Best Director.
The 70th anniversary 4K restoration was made possible by Toho Co. Ltd, which released the original film. The restored film debuted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival; the festival further honored Kurosawa’s contributions to cinema by incorporating a still of “Rhapsody in August” in the official Cannes poster.
The restoration of “Seven Samurai” will be released in the U.S. by Janus Films. Deadline debuted the trailer.
“Seven Samurai” infamously quadrupled its budget during production, with...
“Seven Samurai” centers on 16th-century Japanese warriors who protect their village from invaders. Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura lead the three-hour feature hailing from legendary auteur Kurosawa. “Seven Samurai” was his third film following “Rashomon” and “Ikiru.” “Seven Samurai” famously debuted at the 1954 Venice Film Festival, where Kurosawa won the Silver Lion for Best Director.
The 70th anniversary 4K restoration was made possible by Toho Co. Ltd, which released the original film. The restored film debuted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival; the festival further honored Kurosawa’s contributions to cinema by incorporating a still of “Rhapsody in August” in the official Cannes poster.
The restoration of “Seven Samurai” will be released in the U.S. by Janus Films. Deadline debuted the trailer.
“Seven Samurai” infamously quadrupled its budget during production, with...
- 6/6/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
How Things Used to Be Assuming you’re not too young, you probably remember what life was like before the age of high-speed and high-quality video streaming; it was a dark, primitive period in human history. Of course, given my age, some of my fondest childhood memories leading up to high school are inextricably connected with watching movies on pieces of physical media, be they VHS tapes or scratched-up DVDs. My parents sometimes bought copies for our living room setup, but more often than not we would rent movies from our local Blockbuster. It’s important to remember that before the chain eroded completely in 2014, Blockbuster was the video rental place, and indeed my first encounters with more niche cinema came from roaming the aisles of that bygone store. I specifically remember my mother renting a copy of the Oscar-winning German film ‘The Lives of Others,’ when that movie’s...
- 6/3/2024
- by Brian Collins
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Few might remember John McTiernan's 2003 military thriller "Basic," a film that was, at the time, touted as a grand reunion between "Pulp Fiction" stars John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson. Because of its star power, "Basic" cost $50 million to make, but raked in a paltry $43 million at the box office. It currently sits at a 21% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and I recall reading Roger Ebert's scathing one-star review with a wince; Ebert said that "Basic" was "was not a film that could be understood," stating that it was so twisty and full of trickery that is might be better called a "jerk-around movie." To elucidate on Ebert's point, the plot description for "Basic" on Wikipedia runs eleven paragraphs. The film is only 98 minutes long.
The plot can, however, be explained (kind of), and we shall now, dear readers, endeavor to unpack this forgotten 2003 thriller for all future generations.
The plot can, however, be explained (kind of), and we shall now, dear readers, endeavor to unpack this forgotten 2003 thriller for all future generations.
- 5/26/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The last decade has seen the success of Asian titles conquering not only the hearts of millions of viewers around the world, but also the streaming charts and international awards. These include such impeccable thrillers as Burning (2018), Parasite (2019) and Decision to Leave (2022), with all of them making noise at the Cannes Film Festival.
Despite the fact that most of the acclaimed Asian thrillers are South Korean, last year’s movie broke this Cannes’ tendency, as it was created by the Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda. His recent work is now climbing Netflix’s chart, and here’s why.
Its plot revolves around a mother who notices her son behaving strangely: all of a sudden, he cuts his hair or comes home with only one shoe on. Then she decides to meet his teacher, assuming he’s responsible for it, however, as they confront and as the story gradually unfolds through their eyes,...
Despite the fact that most of the acclaimed Asian thrillers are South Korean, last year’s movie broke this Cannes’ tendency, as it was created by the Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda. His recent work is now climbing Netflix’s chart, and here’s why.
Its plot revolves around a mother who notices her son behaving strangely: all of a sudden, he cuts his hair or comes home with only one shoe on. Then she decides to meet his teacher, assuming he’s responsible for it, however, as they confront and as the story gradually unfolds through their eyes,...
- 5/22/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Ava Raxa)
- STartefacts.com
Star Wars: The Acolyte's Timeline Takes Us to Samurai-Like Era - Main Image
The upcoming Star Wars series The Acolyte's timeline is breaking new ground for the franchise. The series will be set in a time that has never been explored in any of the live-action shows.
We have become accustomed to seeing the Star Wars live-action projects explore various stories set in familiar eras, starting from the Fall of the Jedi in the prequel trilogy to the Rise of the First Order in the sequel trilogy.
Now, for the first time, Star Wars is tackling the High Republic in live-action, an era that was only previously explored in novels and comics and has no connection to the Skywalker Saga.
Also Read: New The Acolyte Teaser Seemingly Spoils Major Plot Twist
When is The Acolyte Taking Place? Timeline Explained
The Acolyte will take place around 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace,...
The upcoming Star Wars series The Acolyte's timeline is breaking new ground for the franchise. The series will be set in a time that has never been explored in any of the live-action shows.
We have become accustomed to seeing the Star Wars live-action projects explore various stories set in familiar eras, starting from the Fall of the Jedi in the prequel trilogy to the Rise of the First Order in the sequel trilogy.
Now, for the first time, Star Wars is tackling the High Republic in live-action, an era that was only previously explored in novels and comics and has no connection to the Skywalker Saga.
Also Read: New The Acolyte Teaser Seemingly Spoils Major Plot Twist
When is The Acolyte Taking Place? Timeline Explained
The Acolyte will take place around 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace,...
- 5/22/2024
- EpicStream
Mubi has unveiled next month’s streaming lineup, featuring recent releases such as Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Monster, Tynan DeLong’s Dad & Step-Dad, and Rachel Lambert’s Sometimes I Think About Dying. Additional highlights include Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Passion, Abbas Kiarostami’s Certified Copy, Alex Thompson’s Saint Frances (ahead of the release of Ghostlight), as well as a spotlight on the Ross Brothers following Mubi’s streaming release of Gasoline Rainbow at the end of this month.
“Everybody’s raising this Rashomon thing, but I feel that it’s fundamentally different from Rashomon, because in Rashomon, each character, when they go back through the story again, they actually end up being a different character within the film, within the story, whatever specific story it is,” Hirokazu Kore-eda told us last fall regarding Monster. “Whereas with this, the people don’t change, but the monster who appears, appears in different places.
“Everybody’s raising this Rashomon thing, but I feel that it’s fundamentally different from Rashomon, because in Rashomon, each character, when they go back through the story again, they actually end up being a different character within the film, within the story, whatever specific story it is,” Hirokazu Kore-eda told us last fall regarding Monster. “Whereas with this, the people don’t change, but the monster who appears, appears in different places.
- 5/21/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Is Marvel combatting superhero fatigue by incorporating aspects of classic cinema? Not yet apparently, but Ryan Reynolds seemed very interested in doing so at one point. Speaking to Empire for a cover feature on “Deadpool & Wolverine” in next week’s issue, Reynolds told them his first pitch to Kevin Feige for the film was a “‘Rashomon’ story about Wolverine and Deadpool and something that they got into together, but told from three completely different perspectives.”
For context, “Rashomon” is a 1950 Jidaigeki drama from Akira Kurosawa that was the first Japanese film to receive international acclaim, winning the Golden Lion at the 1951 Venice Film Festival, as well as an Honorary Oscar in 1952. The film tells the story of how a samurai was murdered, multiple times through multiple vantage points. Its plot has been repurposed in a number of films and television series over the decades including “The Outrage,” “Courage Under Fire,...
For context, “Rashomon” is a 1950 Jidaigeki drama from Akira Kurosawa that was the first Japanese film to receive international acclaim, winning the Golden Lion at the 1951 Venice Film Festival, as well as an Honorary Oscar in 1952. The film tells the story of how a samurai was murdered, multiple times through multiple vantage points. Its plot has been repurposed in a number of films and television series over the decades including “The Outrage,” “Courage Under Fire,...
- 5/5/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
The "X-Men" film franchise was one of the superhero genre's first bonafide success stories. After debuting in 2000 to decent reviews and solid gold box office, Marvel's mutants added a new level of legitimacy to comic book adaptations on film and provided a runway for other characters to make it to the silver screen. It's a shame, then, that a franchise once emblematic of its genre's greatest potential has since succumbed to its worst qualities: overcomplicated canon, problematic players behind the scenes (his name rhymes with Shmyan Shminger), and corporate interests milking spin-offs for all they could be worth, even as the udders run dry. If it weren't for the Disney-Fox merger and Marvel Studios' plan for mutant integration into the MCU, the "X-Men" franchise would be as close to dead-in-the-water as you can be.
In fairness, the X-Men became friendly with development hell long before its first film. There's just...
In fairness, the X-Men became friendly with development hell long before its first film. There's just...
- 5/4/2024
- by Larry Fried
- Slash Film
Six years after "Deadpool 2" became a huge hit (technically Brad Pitt's biggest movie), we're finally getting a third entry in the wildly popular superhero franchise. This time, Ryan Reynolds is suiting up again as the Merc with a Mouth in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a wild, R-rated trip through the multiverse. Not only that, he's also called upon Hugh Jackman to put on the claws once more, with the actor suiting up as Wolverine for the first time since 2017's "Logan." The resulting film is director Shawn Levy's "Deadpool & Wolverine," which figures to be one of the biggest movies of the summer. However, arriving at the story at the center of this superhero blockbuster was no small task, as it turns out.
In a new interview with Empire, it's explained that Reynolds first pitched a "'Rashomon' story about Wolverine and Deadpool and something that they got into together,...
In a new interview with Empire, it's explained that Reynolds first pitched a "'Rashomon' story about Wolverine and Deadpool and something that they got into together,...
- 5/3/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
“Deadpool and Wolverine” is poised to be one of the biggest movies of the year thanks to the pairing of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, who is returning to his iconic X-Men role for the first time in seven years. Jackman’s return is skyrocketing buzz around the comic book film, which is much needed for Marvel Studios after a rocky 2023 that saw movies such as “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “The Marvels” flop at the box office. It might come as a surprise, but Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed to Empire that he originally warned Jackman against playing Wolverine again.
“I said, ‘Let me give you a piece of advice, Hugh. Don’t come back,’” Feige said. “‘You had the greatest ending in history with ‘Logan.’ That’s not something we should undo.’”
What ultimately got Feige on board with the idea of Jackman coming back was...
“I said, ‘Let me give you a piece of advice, Hugh. Don’t come back,’” Feige said. “‘You had the greatest ending in history with ‘Logan.’ That’s not something we should undo.’”
What ultimately got Feige on board with the idea of Jackman coming back was...
- 5/3/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Even among the more underrated Akira Kurosawa films are timeless masterpieces.
If films like “Dersu Uzala” and “The Idiot” and “Kagemusha” aren’t talked about as much, it’s because the best-known Kurosawa titles — “Seven Samurai,” “Rashomon,” “Throne of Blood” — also happen to be among the most influential movies ever made, casting their shadow over the Spaghetti Western genre, “Star Wars,” and so many more.
Just within the past few weeks, a movie loosely based on “Seven Samurai,” Zack Snyder’s misbegotten “Rebel Moon Part 2,” started streaming, Spike Lee confirmed he’ll direct an adaptation of “High and Low,” and, let’s face it, there’d probably be no “Shogun” at all without the Kurosawa-immortalized Japanese samurai culture onscreen. Probably no director other than Fritz Lang and John Ford has influenced as many genres as Kurosawa, who died in 1998.
But instead of focusing so much on his impact, look at the films.
If films like “Dersu Uzala” and “The Idiot” and “Kagemusha” aren’t talked about as much, it’s because the best-known Kurosawa titles — “Seven Samurai,” “Rashomon,” “Throne of Blood” — also happen to be among the most influential movies ever made, casting their shadow over the Spaghetti Western genre, “Star Wars,” and so many more.
Just within the past few weeks, a movie loosely based on “Seven Samurai,” Zack Snyder’s misbegotten “Rebel Moon Part 2,” started streaming, Spike Lee confirmed he’ll direct an adaptation of “High and Low,” and, let’s face it, there’d probably be no “Shogun” at all without the Kurosawa-immortalized Japanese samurai culture onscreen. Probably no director other than Fritz Lang and John Ford has influenced as many genres as Kurosawa, who died in 1998.
But instead of focusing so much on his impact, look at the films.
- 4/25/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
“Why is it that only those who have never fought in a battle are so eager to be in one?” Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) asks at one point in FX’s Shōgun. It’s a question that resonates not only with the show’s characters but may strike at the heart of our long-standing fascination with samurai.
Its resonance is all the more profound because Shōgun is loosely — very loosely — based on real events from the end of Japan’s Warring States period that pushed the nation into a new era. Taking historical events and crafting drama from them is something the show has in common with many Chanbara or samurai films. The riveting and often bloody history has provided fodder for countless films, including Hiroshi Inagaki’s Samurai trilogy, Sekigahara, Samurai Assassin, and The 47 Ronin.
However, these narrative films can obscure the complex history behind the events. Fortunately,...
Its resonance is all the more profound because Shōgun is loosely — very loosely — based on real events from the end of Japan’s Warring States period that pushed the nation into a new era. Taking historical events and crafting drama from them is something the show has in common with many Chanbara or samurai films. The riveting and often bloody history has provided fodder for countless films, including Hiroshi Inagaki’s Samurai trilogy, Sekigahara, Samurai Assassin, and The 47 Ronin.
However, these narrative films can obscure the complex history behind the events. Fortunately,...
- 4/23/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
The poster for the Cannes Film Festival’s 2024 edition (May 14-25) pays tribute to Akira Kurosawa’s film Rhapsody In August.
The film played out of competition at Cannes in 1991, and follows a grandmother who lost her husband to the Nagasaki bombing in 1945 and how three generations of her family respond to the tragedy. It stars Sachiko Murase as the grandmother, with Richard Gere also among the cast.
It was the penultimate film from the renowned Japanese filmmaker behind masterpieces such as Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Ikiru and Ran.
The festival said: “Mirroring the movie theatre, this poster celebrates the Seventh Art,...
The film played out of competition at Cannes in 1991, and follows a grandmother who lost her husband to the Nagasaki bombing in 1945 and how three generations of her family respond to the tragedy. It stars Sachiko Murase as the grandmother, with Richard Gere also among the cast.
It was the penultimate film from the renowned Japanese filmmaker behind masterpieces such as Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Ikiru and Ran.
The festival said: “Mirroring the movie theatre, this poster celebrates the Seventh Art,...
- 4/19/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled the poster for its upcoming 77th edition which pays tribute to Japanese master Akira Kurosawa and his late career feature Rhapsody in August.
The image shows a scene from the pic with a family seated looking into the distance. The camera captures them from behind. Scroll down to check out the poster below.
Rhapsody in August debuted Out of Competition in Cannes in 1991. The film follows a grandmother who was a victim of the Nagasaki bombing on August 9, 1945, who passes on her faith in love and integrity as a bulwark against war to her grandchildren and her American nephew, with tenderness and contemplation. The pic was Kurosawa’s penultimate film. He was 81 when it was completed. His other credits include seminal features like Sanshiro Sugata, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Dersu Uzala, and Dodes’ka-den.
The festival said today that Kurosawa’s work “reminds us of the importance of coming together,...
The image shows a scene from the pic with a family seated looking into the distance. The camera captures them from behind. Scroll down to check out the poster below.
Rhapsody in August debuted Out of Competition in Cannes in 1991. The film follows a grandmother who was a victim of the Nagasaki bombing on August 9, 1945, who passes on her faith in love and integrity as a bulwark against war to her grandchildren and her American nephew, with tenderness and contemplation. The pic was Kurosawa’s penultimate film. He was 81 when it was completed. His other credits include seminal features like Sanshiro Sugata, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Dersu Uzala, and Dodes’ka-den.
The festival said today that Kurosawa’s work “reminds us of the importance of coming together,...
- 4/19/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
National Award-winning filmmaker Mani Ratnam, who last directed the magnum opus, the two part ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, shared an anecdote from his schooling days, when he would watch a film on the pretext of studying with friends.
The filmmaker who is known for films such as ‘Roja’, ‘Thiruda Thiruda’, ‘Bombay’, ‘Iruvar’, ‘Alaipayuthey’, ‘Yuva’, ‘Guru’ and others, recently spoke with filmmaker Imtiaz Ali during the Masterclass of Mami Mumbai Film Festival.
He spoke about his childhood days and also shared when his interest in cinema turned into a passion.
Mani Ratnam said: “Before I got into films I was just a cinema-goer, because I liked this world of films. I never thought I would choose cinema as a profession. I just used to go theatres every Friday and tell my parents that I’ll be away for group study with my friends but I would be in theatres watching a movie during that time.
The filmmaker who is known for films such as ‘Roja’, ‘Thiruda Thiruda’, ‘Bombay’, ‘Iruvar’, ‘Alaipayuthey’, ‘Yuva’, ‘Guru’ and others, recently spoke with filmmaker Imtiaz Ali during the Masterclass of Mami Mumbai Film Festival.
He spoke about his childhood days and also shared when his interest in cinema turned into a passion.
Mani Ratnam said: “Before I got into films I was just a cinema-goer, because I liked this world of films. I never thought I would choose cinema as a profession. I just used to go theatres every Friday and tell my parents that I’ll be away for group study with my friends but I would be in theatres watching a movie during that time.
- 4/2/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
In the episode of "The X-Files" called "Bad Blood," Agents Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Mulder (David Duchovny) have to get their story straight after Mulder murders a young man (Patrick Renna) believing him to be a vampire. Know immediately that "Bad Blood" is one of the rare comedy episodes of "The X-Files," and that it is deeply beloved by X-Philes the world over. Indeed, /Film listed it as the best episode of the series, replacing the show's usual funereal tone with one of whimsy. This is an episode wherein Mulder, when knocked in the head, uncontrollably begins singing "Theme from Shaft."
"Bad Blood" is told in a pair of flashbacks, telling slightly different versions of the same event, "Rashomon"-style. Scully recalls investigating a series of mysterious cattle exsanguinations in Texas and is careful to relate Mulder's behavior as cavalier and condescending. She also notes that there was no evidence of vampires.
"Bad Blood" is told in a pair of flashbacks, telling slightly different versions of the same event, "Rashomon"-style. Scully recalls investigating a series of mysterious cattle exsanguinations in Texas and is careful to relate Mulder's behavior as cavalier and condescending. She also notes that there was no evidence of vampires.
- 3/27/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Born in 1963, Quentin Tarantino redefined independent cinema with his pulpy mix of violence, dark humor and pop culture, crafting several modern classics. But before he made history, he made a living as a video store clerk while penning spec scripts. He made his directorial debut with “Reservoir Dogs” (1992), a “Rashomon”-esque crime drama about a botched jewel heist. Two more of his scripts, “True Romance” (1993) and “Natural Born Killers” (1994), were later produced by Tony Scott and Oliver Stone, respectively.
He hit the Oscar jackpot just two years after his filmmaking debut with “Pulp Fiction” (1994), a multi-narrative, self-referential pastiche about a group of criminals whose lives intersect in surprising ways. After winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes, the indie hit went on to collect a screenwriting prize for Tarantino and Roger Avery, earning nominations in Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (John Travolta), Best Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Best...
He hit the Oscar jackpot just two years after his filmmaking debut with “Pulp Fiction” (1994), a multi-narrative, self-referential pastiche about a group of criminals whose lives intersect in surprising ways. After winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes, the indie hit went on to collect a screenwriting prize for Tarantino and Roger Avery, earning nominations in Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (John Travolta), Best Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Best...
- 3/22/2024
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
We’ve touted Kanopy as a hidden gem and one of the best kept secrets in streaming since the days when Paramount+ was still CBS All Access. The streaming marketplace has grown so much since then that it is now ready to shrink, but Kanopy is well-positioned to survive the coming consolidation thanks to its unique business model.
Kanopy serves two very different masters: libraries and movie studios. Kanopy is the ad-free streaming service that you did not know you could (potentially) access with just a library card or a university ID. Its library consists of classic films and new releases, and costs the end user exactly…free.
Best of all? Kanopy is profitable, Gm Jason Tyrrell tells IndieWire.
The money flows like this: Tax dollars pay libraries, libraries pay Kanopy (when a member streams at least 30 seconds of its content) for access, and Kanopy pays studios to license their content,...
Kanopy serves two very different masters: libraries and movie studios. Kanopy is the ad-free streaming service that you did not know you could (potentially) access with just a library card or a university ID. Its library consists of classic films and new releases, and costs the end user exactly…free.
Best of all? Kanopy is profitable, Gm Jason Tyrrell tells IndieWire.
The money flows like this: Tax dollars pay libraries, libraries pay Kanopy (when a member streams at least 30 seconds of its content) for access, and Kanopy pays studios to license their content,...
- 3/22/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
The trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte has finally dropped, and it once again whisks you away to a galaxy far away. Announced by Lucasfilm in 2020, it took the production four years to get off the ground, but it is finally here, and it looks good.
Like most Star Wars projects, The Acolyte has been the subject of many discussions and speculation over the years. One of the major topics was the period in which the show was set. The trailer offers an interesting peek into the lives of the Jedi, but the fandom is less than impressed, and the show has already hit a disappointing milestone.
The trailer for the new show is out (Source: The Acolyte)
The Acolyte will take you back to the era of the High Republic
Star Wars is one of the most beloved franchises of all time. A New Hope kicked off the series,...
Like most Star Wars projects, The Acolyte has been the subject of many discussions and speculation over the years. One of the major topics was the period in which the show was set. The trailer offers an interesting peek into the lives of the Jedi, but the fandom is less than impressed, and the show has already hit a disappointing milestone.
The trailer for the new show is out (Source: The Acolyte)
The Acolyte will take you back to the era of the High Republic
Star Wars is one of the most beloved franchises of all time. A New Hope kicked off the series,...
- 3/21/2024
- by Sreshtha Roychowdhury
- FandomWire
Yesterday, a trailer for ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ came out, giving us our initial glimpse of the characters and the High Republic backdrop. This series marks the first live-action portrayal set in this era and the second overall (following ‘Young Jedi Adventures’). Headland, a long-time Star Wars enthusiast since her teenage years, eagerly seized the chance to contribute fresh and distinctive elements to the franchise’s lore. In her recent interview with THR, she delved into her inspirations and offered insights into what viewers can anticipate from the show.
I’m calling Lucasfilm. That’s where I want to work. That’s what I want to do.” So I pitched them. My elevator pitch was Frozen meets Kill Bill, which I said at [Star Wars] Celebration, and I went through what I believed would be a rough season one outline and then an overall series bible, essentially. And Kathleen [Kennedy] bought it in the room and said,...
I’m calling Lucasfilm. That’s where I want to work. That’s what I want to do.” So I pitched them. My elevator pitch was Frozen meets Kill Bill, which I said at [Star Wars] Celebration, and I went through what I believed would be a rough season one outline and then an overall series bible, essentially. And Kathleen [Kennedy] bought it in the room and said,...
- 3/20/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
Yesterday, a trailer for ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ was released and we’ve got a first look at the characters and the High Republic setting. ‘The Acolyte’ is the first live-action show to take place during this time period and the second show overall (the first one was ‘Young Jedi Adventures’). Headland already explained how she was a massive fan of Star Wars Universe during her teen years and she jumped on the first opportunity to add something new and unique to the lore of the franchise. Now during her interview with THR Headland explained her influence and what the fans can expect from the show:
I’m calling Lucasfilm. That’s where I want to work. That’s what I want to do.” So I pitched them. My elevator pitch was Frozen meets Kill Bill, which I said at [Star Wars] Celebration, and I went through what I believed would be...
I’m calling Lucasfilm. That’s where I want to work. That’s what I want to do.” So I pitched them. My elevator pitch was Frozen meets Kill Bill, which I said at [Star Wars] Celebration, and I went through what I believed would be...
- 3/20/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
Leslye Headland’s The Acolyte series will explore an unexplored area of the Star Wars universe. The Disney+ show is very different from the other Star Wars projects and is even set 100 years before the events of The Prequel Trilogy. Interestingly, Headland intentionally hired a writer in the room who was not a Star Wars fan to have different perspectives on the show.
Star Wars: The Acolyte
Recently after The Acolyte trailer was released, the fandom has seen a buzz surrounding the Star Wars mystery-thriller special. The show, set in the final days of the High Republic era, focuses on a Jedi master’s investigation of a series of murders across the galaxy by a dangerous assassin.
Why did Leslye Headland want a non-Star Wars fan on The Acolyte production?
Amandla Sternberg in The Acolyte
In big franchise projects like Marvel or Star Wars, fans often want the cast and...
Star Wars: The Acolyte
Recently after The Acolyte trailer was released, the fandom has seen a buzz surrounding the Star Wars mystery-thriller special. The show, set in the final days of the High Republic era, focuses on a Jedi master’s investigation of a series of murders across the galaxy by a dangerous assassin.
Why did Leslye Headland want a non-Star Wars fan on The Acolyte production?
Amandla Sternberg in The Acolyte
In big franchise projects like Marvel or Star Wars, fans often want the cast and...
- 3/20/2024
- by Subham Mandal
- FandomWire
The trailer has been unveiled for the latest Star Wars series The Acolyte!
Disney+ dropped the first look at the new series on Tuesday (March 19), along with first look photos and the key art.
Starring in the series include Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae in leading roles.
Keep reading to find out more and watch the trailer…
In Star Wars: The Acolyte, an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master (Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past (Stenberg). As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems…
Also starring are Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo and Carrie-Anne Moss.
According to THR, the upcoming series takes place 100 years before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, which was the fourth film released, but Episode I in the prequel trilogy.
Disney+ dropped the first look at the new series on Tuesday (March 19), along with first look photos and the key art.
Starring in the series include Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae in leading roles.
Keep reading to find out more and watch the trailer…
In Star Wars: The Acolyte, an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master (Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past (Stenberg). As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems…
Also starring are Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo and Carrie-Anne Moss.
According to THR, the upcoming series takes place 100 years before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, which was the fourth film released, but Episode I in the prequel trilogy.
- 3/20/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
The first official trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte was finally released earlier today, and the reaction seems to be fairly mixed, with some loving it and others saying they won’t be watching. However, series creator Leslye Headland told the official Star Wars website that The Acolyte isn’t what you think it is, teasing plenty of mysteries to come.
“Whatever you think The Acolyte is, it’s not that,” Headland said. “It’s a drop in the bucket, baby. Just hang in there and check it out.” The creator also teased that The Acolyte will include more than a few nods to the Star Wars Extended Universe. “There’s also some EU lore that I decided to put in because I thought it was so cool and no one told me I couldn’t,” she said. “There are a couple of really big EU ideas that are utilized...
“Whatever you think The Acolyte is, it’s not that,” Headland said. “It’s a drop in the bucket, baby. Just hang in there and check it out.” The creator also teased that The Acolyte will include more than a few nods to the Star Wars Extended Universe. “There’s also some EU lore that I decided to put in because I thought it was so cool and no one told me I couldn’t,” she said. “There are a couple of really big EU ideas that are utilized...
- 3/20/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ Creator Leslye Headland Talks the Unique Perspective of Her Upcoming Series
Star Wars: The Acolyte creator Leslye Headland is currently putting the finishing touches on a four-year journey that started with Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy buying her overall series pitch in the room. At the time, her hook was “Frozen meets Kill Bill,” and now the first trailer provides a few more of the puzzle pieces. Set a century before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Amandla Stenberg’s mysterious character appears to be hunting Jedi during a time of peace near the end of the High Republic era.
The trailer kicks off with Lee Jung-jae’s Jedi Master urging a group of Padawans to not trust their own deceitful eyes, and perhaps the same can be said of the trailer and the series’ overall narrative. The show will be taking a page out of Rashomon’s playbook, exploring different perspectives on the same events.
“One thing to know about the show...
The trailer kicks off with Lee Jung-jae’s Jedi Master urging a group of Padawans to not trust their own deceitful eyes, and perhaps the same can be said of the trailer and the series’ overall narrative. The show will be taking a page out of Rashomon’s playbook, exploring different perspectives on the same events.
“One thing to know about the show...
- 3/19/2024
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Batman: The Animated Series" has many artistic fathers. Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman" film, of course, but also the Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons of the 1940s, the Art Deco movement (which the skyscrapers of Gotham City are made in the visage of), and film noir.
Noir is a film genre characterized by dark high-contrast shadows ("noir" means "black" in French) shot in black-and-white, featuring urban settings, crime (whether the lead is on the wrong or right side of the law), beautiful but duplicitous women, and nefarious schemes gone awry. Noir sprouted up in the 1930s-40s, when most films were black-and-white and pulp novels, from thrillers and to detective stories, were easy fodder for Hollywood adaptations. The storytelling motifs of those books were thus intertwined with Hollywood's biting black-and-white style.
"Batman: The Animated Series" was made in color (the villains have costumes running the whole rainbow spectrum), but it was drawn...
Noir is a film genre characterized by dark high-contrast shadows ("noir" means "black" in French) shot in black-and-white, featuring urban settings, crime (whether the lead is on the wrong or right side of the law), beautiful but duplicitous women, and nefarious schemes gone awry. Noir sprouted up in the 1930s-40s, when most films were black-and-white and pulp novels, from thrillers and to detective stories, were easy fodder for Hollywood adaptations. The storytelling motifs of those books were thus intertwined with Hollywood's biting black-and-white style.
"Batman: The Animated Series" was made in color (the villains have costumes running the whole rainbow spectrum), but it was drawn...
- 3/18/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman is one of the highly awaited movies. The movie is going to see the Time Variance Authority pulling Deadpool from his quiet and peaceful life and sending him on a mission, which is going to change the history of the MCU with Wolverine.
Writer Rhett Reese describes the movie as a ‘fish-out-of-water’ story of a character who is trying to adjust to his newfound Marvel reality while still being a zany, outrageous character compared to the grounded characters of MCU. Deadpool 3 was reportedly being developed at 20th Century Fox but was put on hold after Disney acquired the studio in 2019. The original plotline of the movie has now been revealed.
Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson a.k.a. Deadpool
Deadpool 3 starring Ryan Reynolds was intended to be a ‘road trip movie’
Actor Karan Soni who plays Dopinder...
Writer Rhett Reese describes the movie as a ‘fish-out-of-water’ story of a character who is trying to adjust to his newfound Marvel reality while still being a zany, outrageous character compared to the grounded characters of MCU. Deadpool 3 was reportedly being developed at 20th Century Fox but was put on hold after Disney acquired the studio in 2019. The original plotline of the movie has now been revealed.
Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson a.k.a. Deadpool
Deadpool 3 starring Ryan Reynolds was intended to be a ‘road trip movie’
Actor Karan Soni who plays Dopinder...
- 3/12/2024
- by Avneet Ahluwalia
- FandomWire
In 1929, the Academy Awards were established by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to celebrate global excellence in the film industry. While it had its fair share of detractors over the years, the Academy has managed to navigate through the mire of controversies, especially the touchy topic of racial and cultural representation (case in point: #OscarsSoWhite movement), to stay relevant throughout its illustrious history.
Asian Films have been honoured starting with the 19th edition of the Awards when they were first given as a special honorary prize for the Best Foreign Film released in the USA. Nine years later, the prize became a competitive one and a winner was chosen from within a pool of predominantly non-English nominees.
Seven illustrious motion pictures from within Asia have clinched this top honour but many others, some of which are amongst the most iconic of Asian cinema, have been nominated and acknowledged as well.
Asian Films have been honoured starting with the 19th edition of the Awards when they were first given as a special honorary prize for the Best Foreign Film released in the USA. Nine years later, the prize became a competitive one and a winner was chosen from within a pool of predominantly non-English nominees.
Seven illustrious motion pictures from within Asia have clinched this top honour but many others, some of which are amongst the most iconic of Asian cinema, have been nominated and acknowledged as well.
- 2/27/2024
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
The 1950s are considered the Golden Age of Japanese cinema. The aftermath of World War II and particularly the atomic bomb, and the subsequent American occupation left the country scarred, but filled with inspiration and eagerness to start over. One of the most iconic films of this era is Akira Kurosawa's “Seven Samurai”, considered among the most influential movies of all time, and the basis for a plethora of productions, with John Sturges' “The Magnificent Seven” being a direct adaptation. This influence became widely known, even at the time, as the film was nominated for two Oscars, while Kurosawa won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
In 16th century Japan, during the feudal wars, an entire village is on the border of starvation due to the constant raids by a gang of armed robbers. When a villager learns,...
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
In 16th century Japan, during the feudal wars, an entire village is on the border of starvation due to the constant raids by a gang of armed robbers. When a villager learns,...
- 2/24/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
“Rashomon” is one of Akira Kurosawa's most famous films, and is now considered one of the greatest films ever made. It is a very significant production for the Japanese movie industry since it marked its entrance to the world stage, a move that proved the prowess of Japanese cinema in the best way possible. “Rashomon” went on to win the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1951, and an Honorary Academy Award at the 24th Academy Awards in 1952, among a plethora of other awards.
The film's success in Japan was also significant, even in financial terms. It was given a Hollywood-like premiere at the Imperial Theater in Tokyo, then considered the best theater in the country, and despite its experimental and intellectual orientation, it earned large box office receipts all over the country. Long before it won the Golden Lion, it had won back its production costs, and...
The film's success in Japan was also significant, even in financial terms. It was given a Hollywood-like premiere at the Imperial Theater in Tokyo, then considered the best theater in the country, and despite its experimental and intellectual orientation, it earned large box office receipts all over the country. Long before it won the Golden Lion, it had won back its production costs, and...
- 2/22/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Photo: gorodenkoff (iStock by Getty Images)
Sure, there are plenty of great free movies on YouTube—but while YouTube is awesome, it’s not the only game in town. So we decided to put together a list of other sites that also offer free movies, break down the pros and cons of each one,...
Sure, there are plenty of great free movies on YouTube—but while YouTube is awesome, it’s not the only game in town. So we decided to put together a list of other sites that also offer free movies, break down the pros and cons of each one,...
- 2/6/2024
- by Ian Spelling
- avclub.com
There would be no "Star Wars" without Akira Kurosawa. The fabled Japanese filmmaker was a massive influence on creator George Lucas and his vision for a galaxy far, far away, with his period adventures "Seven Samurai" and especially "The Hidden Fortress" informing so much of the Jedi's aesthetics and philosophy, as well as the plot and characters of "A New Hope." Creatives on more recent "Star Wars" projects have only continued to mine inspiration from Kurosawa's oeuvre, with Rian Johnson drawing pretty explicitly from the director's classic "Rashomon" for the perspective-shifting flashbacks to Luke Skywalker's confrontation with his nephew Ben Solo in "The Last Jedi."
For "Ahsoka," a spinoff of "The Mandalorian" and live-action sequel to his animated series "Star Wars Rebels," creator Dave Filoni -- who's since been promoted to chief creative officer of Lucasfilm -- looked to another Kurosawa film entirely for the show's most fantastical outing yet.
For "Ahsoka," a spinoff of "The Mandalorian" and live-action sequel to his animated series "Star Wars Rebels," creator Dave Filoni -- who's since been promoted to chief creative officer of Lucasfilm -- looked to another Kurosawa film entirely for the show's most fantastical outing yet.
- 1/28/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
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"Monster", directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, is one of the most acclaimed movies of 2023 that you probably haven't heard of yet.
Set in Japan, the film follows three people: the single mother Saori Mugino (Sakura Andō), her young son Minato (Sōya Kurokawa), and Minato's teacher Michitoshi Hori (Eita Nagayama). Saori begins to suspect that Hori is abusing her son, while Hori suspects that there's something sinister in the boy's head. The truth, which I'll leave unspoiled, is a lot sadder. The film is told from their three perspectives. Seeing the same sequence of events three times highlights how hard it is to truly understand someone by looking at them from the outside.
"Monster" enjoyed a film festival run, taking home the Queer Palm (bestowed to Kore-eda) and Best Screenplay (to Yuji Sakamoto) awards at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May...
"Monster", directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, is one of the most acclaimed movies of 2023 that you probably haven't heard of yet.
Set in Japan, the film follows three people: the single mother Saori Mugino (Sakura Andō), her young son Minato (Sōya Kurokawa), and Minato's teacher Michitoshi Hori (Eita Nagayama). Saori begins to suspect that Hori is abusing her son, while Hori suspects that there's something sinister in the boy's head. The truth, which I'll leave unspoiled, is a lot sadder. The film is told from their three perspectives. Seeing the same sequence of events three times highlights how hard it is to truly understand someone by looking at them from the outside.
"Monster" enjoyed a film festival run, taking home the Queer Palm (bestowed to Kore-eda) and Best Screenplay (to Yuji Sakamoto) awards at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May...
- 1/1/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Bookmark this page for the latest updates in the territory.
Screen is listing the 2023 release dates for films in the UK and Ireland in the calendar below.
For distributors who wish to add/amend a date on the calendar, please get in touch with Screen here. Screen is also running a calendar for festival and market dates throughout 2023 here.
December
December 31
Berliner Philharmoniker Live: New Year’s Eve Concert 2023 (Trafalgar - event cinema)
Previous releases January
January 6
Piggy (Vertigo), The Enforcer (Vertigo), Alcarràs (Mubi), A Man Called Otto (Sony), Rashomon (BFI), Till (Universal)
January 7
Andre Rieu In Dublin 2023 (Piece of...
Screen is listing the 2023 release dates for films in the UK and Ireland in the calendar below.
For distributors who wish to add/amend a date on the calendar, please get in touch with Screen here. Screen is also running a calendar for festival and market dates throughout 2023 here.
December
December 31
Berliner Philharmoniker Live: New Year’s Eve Concert 2023 (Trafalgar - event cinema)
Previous releases January
January 6
Piggy (Vertigo), The Enforcer (Vertigo), Alcarràs (Mubi), A Man Called Otto (Sony), Rashomon (BFI), Till (Universal)
January 7
Andre Rieu In Dublin 2023 (Piece of...
- 12/30/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Potential "Deadpool 3" spoilers to follow.
In a time of great turmoil for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who better to come strolling in than the Merc With A Mouth himself? The big-screen iteration of Deadpool -- as played by Ryan Reynolds -- thrives on upending expectations for the superhero genre, like when "Deadpool 2" introduced a version of the famous mutant outlaw squad known as X-Force, only to immediately kill off the entire team in a comically violent fashion (save for Zazie Beetz's luck-powered Domino). A little chaos along those lines would surely do the MCU good at this juncture, allowing it to shake off its recent woes and work towards a better tomorrow.
For that to happen, however, Marvel Studios should probably do a little House (of Ideas) cleaning first. Enter "Deadpool 3," a three-quel that's gotten fans hyped ever since it was confirmed to bring Reynolds' Wade Wilson into the MCU.
In a time of great turmoil for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who better to come strolling in than the Merc With A Mouth himself? The big-screen iteration of Deadpool -- as played by Ryan Reynolds -- thrives on upending expectations for the superhero genre, like when "Deadpool 2" introduced a version of the famous mutant outlaw squad known as X-Force, only to immediately kill off the entire team in a comically violent fashion (save for Zazie Beetz's luck-powered Domino). A little chaos along those lines would surely do the MCU good at this juncture, allowing it to shake off its recent woes and work towards a better tomorrow.
For that to happen, however, Marvel Studios should probably do a little House (of Ideas) cleaning first. Enter "Deadpool 3," a three-quel that's gotten fans hyped ever since it was confirmed to bring Reynolds' Wade Wilson into the MCU.
- 12/5/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Ridley Scott’s career is marked first and foremost by its sheer prolificness. There are very few directors of any age who work frequently enough to have two films coming out the same year. Scott’s done it three times in 2001, 2017, and 2021; and those later two times were when he was past the age of 80.
Since he made his debut with the swashbuckling period drama “The Duellists” in 1977, Scott has been a steady, constant presence at the cinema. His longest break has been two four-year gaps between releases — “1492: Conquest for Paradise” and “White Squall” from 1992 to 1996 and “The Martian” and “All the Money in the World” and “The Last Duel” from 2017 to 2021, the latter gap widened by the pandemic. More frequently, Scott only goes two or even just one year before dropping a new film, resulting in an impressively robust 28 filmography.
What’s even more notable about Scott’s...
Since he made his debut with the swashbuckling period drama “The Duellists” in 1977, Scott has been a steady, constant presence at the cinema. His longest break has been two four-year gaps between releases — “1492: Conquest for Paradise” and “White Squall” from 1992 to 1996 and “The Martian” and “All the Money in the World” and “The Last Duel” from 2017 to 2021, the latter gap widened by the pandemic. More frequently, Scott only goes two or even just one year before dropping a new film, resulting in an impressively robust 28 filmography.
What’s even more notable about Scott’s...
- 11/25/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Returning to Japan for the first time since his Palme d’Or-winning Shoplifters – after venturing to France and South Korea – Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Monster was initially veiled in secrecy upon its announcement. As scripted by Yuji Sakamoto, the film was revealed upon its Cannes premiere––where it picked up Best Screenplay and the Queer Palm––to be a tale of three perspectives as it relates to a boy’s struggle at his school and with a friend, seen through his eyes and those of his mother and teacher.
While at the Toronto International Film Festival, I had the opportunity to catch up with the Japanese director to discuss his latest work (which begins its theatrical release in NYC this week) collaborating with Ryuichi Sakamoto on one of his final works, why his film differs from Rashomon, and the queer themes in the story.
The Film Stage: The previous two films you made,...
While at the Toronto International Film Festival, I had the opportunity to catch up with the Japanese director to discuss his latest work (which begins its theatrical release in NYC this week) collaborating with Ryuichi Sakamoto on one of his final works, why his film differs from Rashomon, and the queer themes in the story.
The Film Stage: The previous two films you made,...
- 11/21/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Hirokazu Koreeda returns to Japan for his latest feature, “Monster,” another outstanding entry in the director’s already impressive filmography. For “Monster,” Koreeda collaborated with screenwriter Yuji Sakamoto, who wrote the screenplay, and music composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, who produced his final film score before passing away. As such, a dedication to the memory of Sakamoto is included. Upon making its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, competing for the Palme d’Or, the movie was met with an overwhelmingly positive reception, winning the Best Screenplay award and being honored with the Queer Palm. Its theatrical run has also been met with acclaim.
Monster is available from Wellgo USA
Regarding the story, single mother Saori Mugino grows concerned for her son Minato when she notices disturbing changes in his behavior. Things only become more concerning as time progresses. Upon learning that schoolteacher Michitoshi Hori is responsible for her child’s behavioral shifts,...
Monster is available from Wellgo USA
Regarding the story, single mother Saori Mugino grows concerned for her son Minato when she notices disturbing changes in his behavior. Things only become more concerning as time progresses. Upon learning that schoolteacher Michitoshi Hori is responsible for her child’s behavioral shifts,...
- 10/20/2023
- by Sean Barry
- AsianMoviePulse
Editor’s note: This review was originally published at the 2023 Busan Film Festival. Netflix releases the film on its streaming platform on Friday, October 27.
Paradise is ever elusive in the work of Bong Joon Ho, no matter what form it might take. That’s true whether it be resolution in “Memories of Murder,” wealth for the Park family of “Parasite,” or even the so-called “calm” that dead animals bring in “Barking Dogs Never Bite.” It’s this search for happiness that typifies the South Korean auteur’s work best, and nowhere is that more evident than in director Bong’s first narrative film: “Looking for Paradise.”
It’s often presumed that “White Man” — a 16mm short released in 1994 — was Bong’s directorial debut, but Netflix’s upcoming documentary, “Yellow Door: ’90s Lo-fi Film Club,” reveals that’s not the case. “Paradise” actually predates it by two entire years and, looking back now,...
Paradise is ever elusive in the work of Bong Joon Ho, no matter what form it might take. That’s true whether it be resolution in “Memories of Murder,” wealth for the Park family of “Parasite,” or even the so-called “calm” that dead animals bring in “Barking Dogs Never Bite.” It’s this search for happiness that typifies the South Korean auteur’s work best, and nowhere is that more evident than in director Bong’s first narrative film: “Looking for Paradise.”
It’s often presumed that “White Man” — a 16mm short released in 1994 — was Bong’s directorial debut, but Netflix’s upcoming documentary, “Yellow Door: ’90s Lo-fi Film Club,” reveals that’s not the case. “Paradise” actually predates it by two entire years and, looking back now,...
- 10/11/2023
- by David Opie
- Indiewire
The best pop songs are the ones that are almost too intelligent to be pop songs. The Beatles‘ “Strawberry Fields Forever” questions the nature of reality, which John Lennon connected to Hindu and Buddhist philosophy. He also discussed how certain philosophical ideas influenced his everyday life.
John Lennon discussed 1 famous line from The Beatles’ ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’
The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” includes the famous line “Nothing is real.” During a 1980 interview with Rolling Stone, John was asked about this observation. “In a way, no thing is real, if you break the word down,” he opined.
“As the Hindus or Buddhists say, it’s an illusion,” he said. “It’s Rashomon. We all see it, but the agreed-upon illusion is what we live in. And the hardest thing is facing yourself.” Rashomon is a famous film by director Akira Kurosawa about different perspectives on a single crime.
John Lennon discussed...
John Lennon discussed 1 famous line from The Beatles’ ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’
The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” includes the famous line “Nothing is real.” During a 1980 interview with Rolling Stone, John was asked about this observation. “In a way, no thing is real, if you break the word down,” he opined.
“As the Hindus or Buddhists say, it’s an illusion,” he said. “It’s Rashomon. We all see it, but the agreed-upon illusion is what we live in. And the hardest thing is facing yourself.” Rashomon is a famous film by director Akira Kurosawa about different perspectives on a single crime.
John Lennon discussed...
- 10/2/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Somewhere, at any given moment, there’s a film director adapting a stage play to the big screen. Yet it’s rare, and fascinating, to see a filmmaker steeped to the gills in cinema as cinema who also has a grand obsession with the theater. Robert Altman was like that. His great films of the ’70s were so naturalistic they seemed to dissolve the edges of the movie frame, yet in the ’80s, starting with “Come Back to the Five & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean,” he adapted nine plays in a row, the last of which, in 1988, was a darkly solid made-for-tv version of “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.”
William Friedkin, the legendary director who passed away last month, just before his 88th birthday, represents another case like Altman’s. In the early ’70s, when Friedkin commandeered Hollywood and the world with the extraordinary one-two punch of “The French Connection” (1971) and...
William Friedkin, the legendary director who passed away last month, just before his 88th birthday, represents another case like Altman’s. In the early ’70s, when Friedkin commandeered Hollywood and the world with the extraordinary one-two punch of “The French Connection” (1971) and...
- 9/6/2023
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
The success of the Monsterverse franchise has allowed for the return of Kaiju culture to the mainstream and has also left an impact on even comic-book-oriented content, as seen in movies like Shang-Chi and Aquaman. Thanks to this resurgence of giant monster-oriented content, a near-forgotten Japanese Kaiju legend, Gamera, will make its debut in animated format as a Netflix original series on 7th September 2023. The character debuted in 1965, a decade after the release of the much revered, iconic monster movie Godzilla, which also served as an inspiration for Gamera’s creation, and since then has remained a fan favorite Kaiju despite being overshadowed by the popularity of Godzilla lore.
For Kaiju fans, Gamera has its own appeal that is both kind of similar to Godzilla and distinctive in its own right. Despite having a dozen live-action movies in its franchise, ranging from Showa to the Heisei era, Gamera has been...
For Kaiju fans, Gamera has its own appeal that is both kind of similar to Godzilla and distinctive in its own right. Despite having a dozen live-action movies in its franchise, ranging from Showa to the Heisei era, Gamera has been...
- 9/6/2023
- by Siddhartha Das
- Film Fugitives
When Netflix announced in April that they would be shutting down their DVD rental service, many wondered, Wait, that was still an option? Once they got over that, a major wave of nostalgia began to hit, with former physical media subscribers probably wishing they still kept that option. Now, with the final discs hitting mailboxes on September 29th, Netflix has decided to give something back to some lucky subscribers, offering upwards of 10 surprise discs from your queue.
As per Collider, a recent Netflix email regarding their DVD service read, “After 25 years of movies in the mail, we’re approaching the end of our final season…We really appreciate that you’re sharing movie nights with us until the last day. Let’s have some fun for our finale!” So get that Jiffy Pop on the stove because so long as you opt in by August 29th, you have a shot...
As per Collider, a recent Netflix email regarding their DVD service read, “After 25 years of movies in the mail, we’re approaching the end of our final season…We really appreciate that you’re sharing movie nights with us until the last day. Let’s have some fun for our finale!” So get that Jiffy Pop on the stove because so long as you opt in by August 29th, you have a shot...
- 8/19/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Famously telling four contradictory accounts of the same event – a samurai is dead – Kurosawa’s unsettling movie influenced countless productions that came after
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Most of us have heard variations of the common wisdom that, when it comes to two conflicting accounts, the truth is usually located somewhere in the middle. But what about three or four accounts, all starkly different? Can the truth ever really be found? No film has explored the unattainability of objective truth as brilliantly and memorably as Rashomon, the hugely influential 1950 classic directed by the great Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa.
Set in Kyoto circa the 12th century, the film famously contains four separate accounts of the same incident, narrated by four different characters whose wildly contradictory stories agree only on the most basic fact: a samurai has been killed.
Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads,...
Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email
Most of us have heard variations of the common wisdom that, when it comes to two conflicting accounts, the truth is usually located somewhere in the middle. But what about three or four accounts, all starkly different? Can the truth ever really be found? No film has explored the unattainability of objective truth as brilliantly and memorably as Rashomon, the hugely influential 1950 classic directed by the great Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa.
Set in Kyoto circa the 12th century, the film famously contains four separate accounts of the same incident, narrated by four different characters whose wildly contradictory stories agree only on the most basic fact: a samurai has been killed.
Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads,...
- 8/15/2023
- by Luke Buckmaster
- The Guardian - Film News
Luck is an elusive and intangible force that has been a subject of fascination and intrigue for humanity across cultures and time. Asian cinema, with its rich storytelling and cultural nuances, has explored the theme of luck in various intriguing and thought-provoking ways. From heartwarming tales to thrilling adventures, here are seven Asian movies that delve into the enigmatic concept of luck.
1. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Stephen Chow’s “Kung Fu Hustle” is a comedic martial arts masterpiece that weaves humor and action with elements of luck. Set in 1940s China, the film follows Sing, a small-time hustler who dreams of becoming a notorious gangster. However, his plans take an unexpected turn when he inadvertently stumbles upon a conflict between two legendary Kung Fu masters. Through a series of fortunate (or unfortunate) events, Sing discovers hidden powers within himself, transforming his luck and destiny.
2. God of Gamblers (1989)
This Hong Kong action-comedy,...
1. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Stephen Chow’s “Kung Fu Hustle” is a comedic martial arts masterpiece that weaves humor and action with elements of luck. Set in 1940s China, the film follows Sing, a small-time hustler who dreams of becoming a notorious gangster. However, his plans take an unexpected turn when he inadvertently stumbles upon a conflict between two legendary Kung Fu masters. Through a series of fortunate (or unfortunate) events, Sing discovers hidden powers within himself, transforming his luck and destiny.
2. God of Gamblers (1989)
This Hong Kong action-comedy,...
- 8/10/2023
- by Peter Adams
- AsianMoviePulse
Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television continues developing an episodic mystery, TV adaptation of director Akira Kurosawa's feature "Rashômon" (1950), "providing subjective, alternative, self-serving and contradictory versions of a singular event", to be executive produced by Amblin TV's co-presidents Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey:
"We couldn’t be more excited to adapt this extraordinary film as the foundation for a new dramatic mystery thriller series," said Frank and Falvey. "It will explore the boundaries of truth and how different perspectives don't often reveal the same reality."
With 'samurai' action "Rashômon" is noted as investigating the philosophy of justice.
Through an ingenious use of camera and flashbacks, Kurosawa reveals the complexities of human nature as four people recount different versions of the murder of a samurai and the assault of his wife.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Rashômon"...
"We couldn’t be more excited to adapt this extraordinary film as the foundation for a new dramatic mystery thriller series," said Frank and Falvey. "It will explore the boundaries of truth and how different perspectives don't often reveal the same reality."
With 'samurai' action "Rashômon" is noted as investigating the philosophy of justice.
Through an ingenious use of camera and flashbacks, Kurosawa reveals the complexities of human nature as four people recount different versions of the murder of a samurai and the assault of his wife.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Rashômon"...
- 7/29/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
More than three decades have passed since Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan — together and forever known as Milli Vanilli – took the music world by storm, and fell from grace even faster. Their six-times-platinum debut album in the U.S., “Girl You Know It’s True,” was accompanied by a marketing blitz that produced three No. 1 singles, a trio of American Music Awards and a Best New Artist Grammy before it was revealed that the duo had not sung on the album. An epic level of public humiliation ensured, as the duo were compelled to return their Grammy and nearly everyone who’d worked with them pleaded ignorance, often disingenuously.
Luke Korem – who directed the new “Milli Vanilli” documentary, premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival – was just seven years old during that 18-month-long real-life drama, which tragically culminated with Pilatus’ fatal drug overdose in 1998.
“I’m a child of the ‘90s,” Korem explains about the doc,...
Luke Korem – who directed the new “Milli Vanilli” documentary, premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival – was just seven years old during that 18-month-long real-life drama, which tragically culminated with Pilatus’ fatal drug overdose in 1998.
“I’m a child of the ‘90s,” Korem explains about the doc,...
- 6/8/2023
- by Roy Trakin
- Variety Film + TV
Ava DuVernay’s arts and social collective Array has announced its slate of summer programming, including an actor’s masterclass taught by Emmy winner Niecy Nash-Betts, a cinematic celebration of Jean-Michel Basquiat and the debut of two new commissioned projects from Array’s Law Enforcement Accountability Project (Leap).
The summer lineup is curated by Array’s SVP of public programming, Mercedes Cooper, and in keeping with the Array’s mission of “igniting social change through the cinematic arts,” all events are free to the public.
“Array’s focus on instigating narrative change through our non-profit Array Alliance allows us to gather audiences around issues aligned with our core mission and everyday work,” said Cooper in a statement announcing the lineup.
“With film and art as the doorway, this summer’s programs invite conversations around otherness, authority and privilege, love and loss, as well as Black masculinity,” she continued. “Our ongoing...
The summer lineup is curated by Array’s SVP of public programming, Mercedes Cooper, and in keeping with the Array’s mission of “igniting social change through the cinematic arts,” all events are free to the public.
“Array’s focus on instigating narrative change through our non-profit Array Alliance allows us to gather audiences around issues aligned with our core mission and everyday work,” said Cooper in a statement announcing the lineup.
“With film and art as the doorway, this summer’s programs invite conversations around otherness, authority and privilege, love and loss, as well as Black masculinity,” she continued. “Our ongoing...
- 6/1/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
For over two decades now, the Fast Saga_, trashing the ancient city of Rome with a giant flaming bomb.
But, the thing with going a quarter-mile at a time is, sometimes you realise you’ve gone a quarter-mile in the wrong direction – and a quick fix is needed to keep everything just about on-course. Through the Fast & Furious franchise, characters have been brought back from the dead, timelines have shifted around, destinies have been rewritten, and never-spoken-of siblings have come to light, all in the service of – as Vin Diesel once so wisely put it – the movies. So, in honour of Fast X hitting the big screen – with yet more characters who are blood relations of familiar faces, people you thought were long dead, and revisiting of scenes from previous films – strap in for a Nos-boosted tour through the Saga’s most spectacular (and spectacularly stupid) rewrites.
Letty is alive…...
But, the thing with going a quarter-mile at a time is, sometimes you realise you’ve gone a quarter-mile in the wrong direction – and a quick fix is needed to keep everything just about on-course. Through the Fast & Furious franchise, characters have been brought back from the dead, timelines have shifted around, destinies have been rewritten, and never-spoken-of siblings have come to light, all in the service of – as Vin Diesel once so wisely put it – the movies. So, in honour of Fast X hitting the big screen – with yet more characters who are blood relations of familiar faces, people you thought were long dead, and revisiting of scenes from previous films – strap in for a Nos-boosted tour through the Saga’s most spectacular (and spectacularly stupid) rewrites.
Letty is alive…...
- 5/19/2023
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
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