The 2011 New York Asian Film Festival has announced its schedule, and we’re in for 15 days of pure cinematic ecstasy.
Of the films I’ve seen from the fest so far, BKO: Bangkok Knockout might be the best, even if it’s just pure visceral fun. Buddha Mountain is a really beautiful and touching drama, Haunters is a entertaining thriller about a guy with psychic powers, and The Unjust is decent flick about corrupt cops trying to track down a serial killer with the aid of some gangsters. And then there’s Karate-Robo Zaborgar, the latest from Noboru Iguchi (Robo Geisha) which is about a cop and his transforming motorcycle robot who fight crime. Violently. You know what to expect from that one.
Truly a lot of fantastic, varied films on the way. Full reviews will hit next week, as well as a contest to win tickets to a screening! For now, the full schedule. All screenings take place at the Walter Reade theater in Lincoln Center unless it says otherwise. Tickets for the Japan Cuts flicks go on sale today! Check out the official blog for more info and here for film descriptions.
Fri, July 1
6:00 SELL OUT (110) – director Yeo Joon Han & actor Peter Davis will appear
9:00 MILOCRORZE: A LOVE STORY (90) –
Director Yoshimasa Ishibashi & star Takayuki Yamada will appear. Yamada will receive the Star Asia Rising Star Award as part of the presentation.
12:00 HORNY HOUSE OF HORROR (75), preceded by DARK ON DARK (17)
** audiences from the 9:00 and 12:00 shows can join us for a special “Horny Happy Hour” in the gallery space across the lobby from the Walter Reade cinema, for free beer (id required) and some snacks, starting at about 11:00 pm
Sat, July 2
12:15 BKO: BANGKOK KNOCKOUT (105)
2:30 PUNISHED (94)
4:30 13 ASSASSINS: DIRECTOR’S CUT (141) – star Takayuki Yamada will appear
7:30 SHAOLIN (131)
10:15 MACHETE MAIDENS UNLEASHED! (84)
12:00 RAW FORCE (86)
Sun, July 3
12:30 A BOY AND HIS SAMURAI (109)
2:45 DUEL TO THE DEATH (83)
4:45 KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR (106)
7:00 NINJA KIDS!!! (100)
9:10 BUDDHA MOUNTAIN (105)
Mon, July 4
1:00 ABRAXAS (113)
3:30 SELL OUT (110) – director Yeo Joon Han & actor Peter Davis will appear
6:30 A BOY AND HIS SAMURAI (109)
9:00 THE LAST DAYS OF THE WORLD (96)
Tue, July 5
1:30 BUDDHA MOUNTAIN (105)
3:45 THE RECIPE (107)
6:15 ABRAXAS (113)
8:45 KARATE-ROBO ZABORGAR (106)
Wed, July 6
1:00 FOXY FESTIVAL (110)
3:30 THE UNJUST (119)
6:15 HAUNTERS (114)
8:45 BEDEVILLED (115)
Thu, July 7
1:15 OCEAN HEAVEN (96)
3:30 B.T.S. BETTER THAN SEX (92) – director Su Chao-pin will appear
6:15 THE MAN FROM NOWHERE (119)
8:45 SHAOLIN (131)
Japan Society:
6:45 OSAMU TEZUKA’S BUDDHA: THE GREAT DEPARTURE (111)
9:00 RINGING IN THEIR EARS (89)
Fri, July 8
1:15 THE LAST DAYS OF THE WORLD (96)
3:30 THE CABBIE (94) – director Su Chao-pin will appear
6:45 OCEAN HEAVEN (96)
9:00 FOXY FESTIVAL (110)
12:00 RIKI-OH: THE STORY OF RICKY (91)
Japan Society:
7:00 LOVE AND LOATHING AND LULU AND AYANO (105)
9:15 BATTLE ROYALE (114)
Sat, July 9
1:30 ZU: WARRIORS FROM THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN (94) – director Tsui Hark will appear
4:00 REIGN OF ASSASSINS (117) – director Su Chao-pin will appear
7:00 THE RECIPE (107)
9:30 HAUNTERS (114)
12:00 BKO: BANGKOK KNOCKOUT (105)
Japan Society:
12:30 GANTZ (130)
3:00 GANTZ: PERFECT ANSWER (150)
** there will be a special double-feature ticket available for both GANTZ movies, for $20 / $14 students, seniors & members; tickets to individual shows also available
6:00 NINJA KIDS!!! (100)
8:15 YAKUZA WEAPON (105) – director Yudai Yamaguchi & director / star Tak Sakaguchi will appear
** ticket price of $16 general / $12 students, seniors & members also includes admission to a Sushi Typhoon after-party with the guests, plus free food and beer!
Sun, July 10
1:00 REIGN OF ASSASSINS (117) – director Su Chao-pin will appear
4:00 DRAGON INN (109) – producer Tsui Hark will appear
7:00 BEDEVILLED (115)
9:30 PUNISHED (94)
Japan Society:
12;30 OSAMU TEZUKA’S BUDDHA: THE GREAT DEPARTURE (111)
2:45 HEAVEN’S STORY (278)
8:00 MILOCRORZE: A LOVE STORY (90) – director Yoshimasa Ishibashi will appear
Mon, July 11
1:30 RINGING IN THEIR EARS (89)
3:30 LOVE AND LOATHING AND LULU AND AYANO (105)
6:00 THE BLADE (100) – director Tsui Hark will appear
9:00 DETECTIVE DEE (122) –
Director Tsui Hark will appear & receive the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the presentation.
Tue, July 12
12:30 MISE-EN-SCENE SHORT FILM PROGRAM #1 (92)
2:30 TROUBLESHOOTER (99) – director Kwok Hyeok-jae & producer Ryoo Seung-wan will appear
5:00 VERSUS (119) – star Tak Sakaguchi & writer Yudai Yamaguchi will appear
7:45 YAKUZA WEAPON (105) – director Yudai Yamaguchi & director / star Tak Sakaguchi will appear
10:15 HORNY HOUSE OF HORROR (75), preceded by DARK ON DARK (17)
Wed, July 13
1:00 MISE-EN-SCENE SHORT FILM PROGRAM #2 (92) – short film director guest will appear
3:30 CITY OF VIOLENCE (92) – director Ryoo Seung-wan will appear
6:15 BATTLEFIELD HEROES (118) – director Lee Joon-ik will appear
9:00 THE UNJUST (119) – director Ryoo Seung-wan will appear
Thu, July 14
12:30 BATTLEFIELD HEROES (118) – director Lee Joon-ik will appear
3:15 THE CHASER (125) – director Na Hong-jin will appear
6:15 TROUBLESHOOTER (99) – director Kwok Hyeok-jae & producer Ryoo Seung-wan will appear
9:00 THE YELLOW SEA (156) – director Na Hong-jin will appear