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*Note: All non-event updates are now posted on the blog. SA Asian film screenings will continue to be listed here. For Hindi film releases please bookmark austinindia.org and Huebner Oaks' "AMC Select" films.
A rare opportunity to catch a great film on the big screen. This Thursday check out the classic Japanese horror film Kaidan (1964) for one night only at Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes at 7:30 and 10:30 pm.
10/14/08:On Wednesday, October 15th and Thursday, October 16th the Japanese film Death Note 2: The Last Name (2006) will be playing at Cielo Vista 18 and Fiesta 16 at 7:30 pm. For tickets and more info visit fathomevents.com.
9/29/08:The documentary film Dalai Lama Renaissance (not to be confused with last year's 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama) will be playing Wednesday, October 1st and Wednesday, October 15th at 7:30 pm at the Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes.
The award winning Japanese film Death Note(2006) is playing this Tuesday and Wednesday night only at Cielo Vista 18. For tickets and more info visit fathomevents.com.
Two new films open in SA this weekend. Jet Li and Jackie Chan meet up (finally!) in The Forbidden Kingdom, playing in most theaters in town, and Stephen Chow (Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle) is back again in CJ7, showing exclusively at Regal Fiesta 16.
The new Hindi thriller Race opens today at Huebner Oaks 24 and plays through Thursday. For showtimes check Zap2it.com.
The historical epic Jodha Akbar (2008), starring none other than the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai, is playing this weekend only at Huebner Oaks 24. For more info and tickets visit www.austinindia.org.
An unusually eventful week for Asian film in SA is upon us. Of course, there is Ang Lee's Lust, Caution beginning its second week at the Bijou, but there are also two other films opening which shouldn't be overlooked. First off there's Saawariya now showing at AMC Huebner Oaks. The film carries the unique distinction of being the first Hindi film to be produced and released by an American studio, Sony Pictures. It is also based on Dostoevsky's short story White Nights, which should make for an interesting cinematic experience. Later on next week we have another new Hindi film Om Shanti Om showing three days only, Nov. 15-17. The second directorial outing by accomplished choreographer Farah Khan, Om Shanti Om is the latest Indian blockbuster to hit SA courtesy of www.austinindia.org. Check them out for all the info. For showtimes for the other two films visit Zap2it.com.
10/12/07:The new Hindi comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa opens this weekend at AMC Huebner Oaks 24 with one show tonight at 9:45 and two tomorrow at 3 and 9:30 pm. For more info and in case of any changes visit the SA page of www.austinindia.org.
For one night only you can catch the documentary 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama. Shows tonight at the Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes at 7:30 and 10 pm.
A bit of a late update, but anime fans can catch the final two of four films that are a part of the Anime Bento Festival going on nationwide. Participating theaters in SA are Regal's Cielo Vista 18 and Northwoods 14. The final two screenings are Lupin the III: Castle of Cagliostro on September 26 and Karas the Prophecy on the 27th.
I've also updated the store, so now 100% of its profits go to Liberty in North Korea. I would really love for this site to be an outlet for some kind of good in this world, and hopefully this will jump start my effort. I don't want to go all infomercial on everybody, but seriously if you buy just one thing you are helping someone on the other side of the earth who has NOTHING! Seems like a good deal to me.
Satoshi Kon's trippy new anime film Paprika finally opens this weekend in SA at Regal Fiesta 16. Also, the Hindi sports-drama Chak De India is showing on Sunday at AMC Huebner Oaks. For more info visit the SA page of www.austinindia.org.
The new Hindi drama Gandhi My Father will be showing Friday at 9:45 pm and Saturday at 3:30, 6:30, and 9:45 pm at Cinemark Dollar Movies 16. An interesting film about the leader and the tragic relationship between him and his eldest son. From what I've read online this film is by far the best of the recent wave of Hindi films to hit SA. If you've been wanting to go to one of these but haven't made it yet I'd say this film is your best option for a first try. For more info and in case of any changes always visit the SA page of www.austinindia.org.
Katsuhiro Otomo's (Steamboy, Akira) latest film Mushishi (2006), a live-action adaptation of the manga, is playing Tuesday at 7:30 and 10 pm at the Alamo Drafthouse.
There is also another new Hindi comedy showing this weekend at two locations. Partner is playing Friday at AMC Huebner Oaks at 9:45 pm and Saturday at Cinemark Dollar Movies 16 at 3:30, 6:30, and 9:45 pm. For more info and in case of any changes please visit the SA page of www.austinindia.org.
This weekend we have two new films from India opening at Cinemark Dollar Movies 16. Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is playing Saturday at 3:30, 6:30, and 9:30, and Sivaji shows Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday at 7 pm. For more info visit www.austinindia.org.
The new Hindi comedy Fool N Final will be showing tomorrow night at 9:45 pm at Cinemark Dollar Movies 16. For more info visit www.austinindia.org.
Anime fans should be happy to know that Naruto The Movie will be showing one night only this Wednesday at 7 pm at Regal Cielo Vista 18 as a part of a promotion with Shonen Jump. Check the site for all the details.
Also, I also started a blog not too long ago to help add a little more personality to the site since there really isn't much going on event wise. If you read the first post I think you'll understand where I'm coming from.
2/8/07:On Sunday, February 25th we will be concluding Park Chan-wook's vengeance trilogy at the Alamo Drafthouse with the first film of the series, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance(2002). Don't miss out! Shows at 7:30 & 10:15 pm. 35mm, in Korean with English subtitles.
This weekend Asian film returns to the Alamo Drafthouse with another great film by Park Chan-wook, Oldboy (2003). Just 5 months ago we had Park's Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005) which was a big hit and our highest attended film of the year. Many of you asked for Oldboy, and here it is. Shows Sunday night at 7:30 and 10:15 pm. 35mm, in Korean with English subtitles.
Curse of the Golden Flower, the new film by well known and well rounded director Zhang Yimou (Hero, The Road Home, To Live), is now playing in San Antonio! For more about the movie and to enter the Curse of the Golden Flower Sweepstakes visit Campus Circle.
For fans of Chinese music and opera there is also Zhang Yimou's production of The First Emperor featuring a musical score by the outstanding Academy Award winning composer Tan Dun (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). This is a live broadcast of the New York Metropolitan Opera being held at Regal Cielo Vista 18 Saturday only at 12:30 pm. For ticket information visit Fathom Events. For more about this unique production visit The Metropolitan Opera website's First Emperor page.
Accomplished filmmaker Mani Ratnam's newest release Guru, starring the glamorous Aishwarya Rai, is playing in SA this Friday and Saturday at the Santikos Northwest 14. For showtimes and ticket info visit www.austinindia.org.
Priyadarshan's new comedy Bhagam Bhag is playing in SA this Saturday only at the Santikos Northwest 14. For showtimes and ticket info visit www.austinindia.org.
Ravi Chopra's new film Baabul is playing in SA this Saturday at the Santikos Northwest 14. For showtimes and ticket info visit www.austinindia.org.
The brand new Hindi film Dhoom 2(2006), featuring the amazing Aishwarya Rai, hits SA this Saturday and Sunday at the Santikos Northwest 14. For showtimes and ticket info visit www.austinindia.org.
The Japanese horror film Reincarnation(2005) by cult director Takashi Shimizu (Marebito, The Grudge 1 and 2) will be playing at Santikos Mayan Palace and Santikos Silverado today and Tuesday as a part of the 8 Films to Die For horror film festival occurring nationwide. For showtimes visit Zap2it.com.
This weekend the Hindi film Don continues its run at AMC Huebner Oaks 24 and we have a new Chinese film opening as well. Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles is revered director Zhang Yimou’s (Raise the Red Lantern, To Live, Hero) latest tearjerker and is playing at the Regal Fiesta 16.
That’s not all! To get into the Halloween spirit, the Alamo Drafthouse will be showing acclaimed horror director Hideo Nakata's (Ringu, Ringu 2) original Japanese version of Dark Water Monday night at 7:30. Free admission.
An extra bonus to celebrate this Diwali weekend! The new Hindi film Don is opening at AMC Huebner Oaks 24. It is unprecedented to have 2 brand new Asian films opening in both India and San Antonio on the same weekend. As you all already know, we usually wait months to years for these movies to get here if they ever even do, so have fun with it. According to the Huebner Oaks schedule it will be playing at least until Thursday the 26th. Regular admission price. For more info on Don aside from its official website, you can visit indiafm.com as well as its Wikipedia entry.
The Diwali weekend in India can be compared film wise to the Fourth of July in the US. It's a big box office period in which all of the high budget, big star movies are released. Over here we have films like Superman, Mission Impossible, and War of the Worlds premiere near the summer holiday period, and this year in India it's Don vs. Jaanemann. For more on the subject there's an interesting article about it on indiafm. I'm excited all of this is hitting SA this weekend and I hope all of you die hard Asian film buffs out there enjoy it as much as I will!
So the Asian film series at the Alamo Drafthouse has come to an end. It was fun while it lasted. There are still a few Asian films headed our way though, and I'll be sure to update this page and the mailing list when new titles hit the scene.
Take this weekend for instance. The brand spanking new Hindi film Jaanemann hits SA this weekend at the Santikos Northwest 14. Playing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only! For showtimes and ticket info visit www.austinindia.org.
There will be no film this Sunday since the nationwide release of Jet Li's Fearless is set to hit theaters this weekend. Touted as Li's final martial arts film, Fearless tells the story of real-life martial artist Huo Yuanjia and how he became a legendary Chinese Kung Fu figure. Li has put great effort into presenting not only the beauty and skill of martial arts in this feature, but also the important life philosophy that surrounds it. Li's last few films have been all action and little story. I feel that this final work is not only a touching sendoff for one of the great action stars of our time, but also solidifies the legacy of Jet Li as a martial artist himself. For anyone who is a fan of Jet Li or just Kung Fu films in general, this one is truly a special treat.
The Protector, Thai martial arts star Tony Jaa’s follow-up to 2003’s highly successful Ong Bak, opens in theaters throughout SA today. Showtimes available at Zap2it.com.
Tom Yum Goong (aka lame US title The Protector) advance screening this Sunday at 3 pm. Free event includes dinner at Tai-Sun Chinese Restaurant. Email me if you'd like to come. Only a few seats left!
8/25/06:
Lady Vengeance Update:
We are very proud to present this film in its original 35mm format on the big screen. In addition to the free Sapporo and giveaways offered by the Drafthouse, I will also be handing out free Cinema Asia t-shirts outside of the theater. Get one while they last!
The new big budget Bollywood drama Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (“Never Say Goodbye”) will be playing at Cinemark Movies 16 this Friday and Saturday. For all the details visit www.austinindia.org.
NY Times Review
Park Chan-wook's young yet brilliant directorial career already includes several critically acclaimed and controversial titles. The poignant JSA (2000), which dealt with North/South Korean relations, always a topic of great concern in South Korea, was the highest grossing film that year, beating out American heavyweights Mission Impossible 2 and Gladiator. Park quickly followed up on this success with Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), a violent, sadistic revenge yarn centered on a kidnapping gone wrong and a father's quest(played by the multi-talented Song Kang-ho) not for justice, but rather revenge. Having just merely grazed the tip of the vengeance iceberg, Park exploded as a filmmaker in his next feature Oldboy (2003). His visual style became more intense, his themes more deep, his character more developed, his story far beyond twisted. Park wasn't just making movies any more, he was painting his masterpiece. Oldboy thematically picked up right where Mr. Vengeance left off. This time around he cast a new lead (the equally outstanding Choi Min-sik), thickened the plot, threw in a couple cups of hate, half a loaf of kung fu, mixed in just the right amount of anger, and voila, the revenge got ten times sweeter.
This particular recipe was so good it won him the Grand Prize at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. Park had established himself as a world class film director, making films not only appealing to his native audience (i.e. JSA) but ones that would tour the international circuit. After a couple of short films Park once again found himself in the mood for revenge, leading us up to now with Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005), arguably one of the best films of an amazing crop from South Korea that year, which included The President's Last Bang, A Bittersweet Life, and A Tale of Cinema, just to name a few. Lady Vengeance is Park's grand finale, the film in which it all comes together, so to speak. While the movie does have a damn good serving of revenge (undoubtedly much greater than your daily requirements), it also rounds out Park's thoughts on suffering and forgiveness. In fact, religion plays a far more important role in this film than Park's past works, and perhaps without even trying Park has said more about himself in all of this than anything else. Watch it for fun, watch it for an examination of the human condition, whatever you do please just watch it. In San Antonio for one night only, come and savor the ambrosia called revenge only at the Alamo Drafthouse. Oh yeah, there's free beer too. I think there might be a couple of people of interested in that. Hooray beer!
Read an interview with director Park Chan-wook.
