Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo (2013)

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Posted on October 2, 2013 by Samson

One of the highlights for me at the Reel Anime Festival in 2010 was Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance, the exhilarating second part in the new theatrical version of the landmark anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. Since that time, I have been eagerly anticipating the release of the next part. And now, thanks to the good people at Madman who have decided to run the Reel Anime Festival again this year instead of 2014 (as it has … (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘The Act of Killing’

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Justin

There’s one more film opening this week that it would be remiss of me to leave out, and that’s this confronting, international documentary. The Act of Killing is a documentary centered on a collection of Indonesian paramilitary fighters that fought in death squads in the 1960s, participating in the torturing and murder of more than a million people — Communists, intellectuals and ethnic Chinese.

Since they’ve been treated as heroes of a sort and never punished for their deeds, they’re … (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon’ (China)

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Justin

Also in cinemas this week is director Tsui Hark’s prequel to 2010’s fun Andy Lau-starring period detective film Detective Dee, which we here at HC rather enjoyed.

Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon turns the clock back to the start of Dee Renjie’s career and swaps Andy Lau (who probably couldn’t play the youngster, despite his enviable apparent immunity to aging!) for Taiwanese-Canadian actor Mark Chao in the lead. Also appearing in the film are Feng Shaofeng, … (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘Out of Inferno’ (Hong Kong, China)

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Justin

Opening this week in Oz cinemas is the newest film from Hong Kong directors Danny and Oxide Pang, one that looks like it will take full advantage of the specialisation in special effects and CGI they have developed over the years.

Out of Inferno is a disaster movie that pits a group of heroic firefighters against a building engulfed in flames, perhaps a little reminiscent of Hollywood’s Backdraft from 1991.

The film stars Louis Koo, Sean Lau, Lee Sinje, Cheung … (read more)

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International Chinese Film Festival 2013 (Sydney, Melbourne)

Posted on September 21, 2013 by Justin

It’s been a somewhat quiet launch as far as I’ve seen, but their Facebook page indicates that the International Chinese Film Festival for 2013 has now announced their dates for this year in Sydney and Melbourne, along with the line-up of films that will be screening in Sydney.… (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘My Lucky Star’ (China)

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Justin

Coming to cinemas this Thursday September 19 is Chinese comedy My Lucky Star, starring two actors who should need no introduction — Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, The Grandmaster, you know her well!) and Wang Leehom (Lust, Caution). Interestingly, it’s helmed by Hollywood director Dennie Gordon, who’s worked in American TV since the mid-90s, as well as directing New York Minute, What a Girl Wants and Joe Dirt.

Though it’s described in various … (read more)

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Japanese Film Festival 2013

Posted on September 14, 2013 by Justin

Just a quick update to say that the Japanese Film Festival in Australia has just announced their dates and core program of films for this year, their 17th festival. Twelve films in five cities, plus an abridged travelling program that takes in five more cities!… (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘Hardcore Comedy’ (Hong Kong)

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Justin

I almost missed this movie’s appearance on our shores! Hong Kong film fans who’ve enjoyed the last few exploitation films to come over here (following the trail blazed by Pang Ho-cheung’s Vulgaria) might be interested in Hardcore Comedy, from first-time HK directors Henri Wong, Chong Siu-wing and Law Yiu-fai.

It’s an omnibus comedy: three stories rolled into one film that looks like it goes for some lowest-common-denominator cheesy silliness… complete with enough nudity, violence and drug use to … (read more)

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