FILM:
20th Century Boys (20-seiki shônen)
US PREMIERE A blockbuster hit in Japan, and one of the most expensive films ever made there, 20TH CENTURY BOYS is a mysterious, puzzling, and thrilling epic adventure. Based on the famous manga, the story follows Kenji, a wannabe rocker with a decidedly banal life. After meeting up with old friends at his high school reunion he realizes that certain current events, like a deadly plague spreading around the world, or the new cult led by a man known as "Friend," are connected to a book of prophecies they wrote when they were children. Their prophecy, however, predicted the end of the world on January 1, 2000. It is up to Kenji and his pals to try and stop "Friend' and save the world in the process. -Ryan Hedge
FILM:
4BIA
US PREMIERE Four of Thailand's finest horror directors come together to deliver a truly delicious horror sampler with 4BIA. This anthology offers a little bit of everything in its four individual stories. Alone in her apartment, a young woman is terrorized by a series of mysterious text messages. A bullied youth looks to an ancient curse to exact revenge on his tormentors. Four friends on a camping trip scare themselves with ghost stories that come true. And a flight attendant accompanies one lone passenger—the corpse of a princess. There's something for everyone with creepy, atmospheric ghost stories, bloody revenge, some humor, and even good old-fashioned storytelling. Thailand continues to lead the way with some of the best Asian horror around.-Ryan Hedge
FILM:
The Chasing World (Riaru onigokko)
Fighting an old friend turned gangster, fast running high school student Tsubasa Sato is launched into an alternate universe where everyone with his last name is being hunted and killed in a bizarre, nationally televised game called “Death Chase.” While running away from the violent “Its,” a posse of terrifying hunters who are dispatched by the king to eliminate all of the Satos, Tsubasa learns that this world is parallel to his own and everyone has a double but him. During the chase, he enlists and receives the unexpected help of alter egos—including that of his comatose sister. But Tsubasa knows that in order to win the “game,” he must rely on his own speed and savvy to save not only himself, but his family—in both worlds. -Mike Takeuchi
FILM:
The Divine Weapon
US PREMIERE When a simple merchant agrees to protect a mysterious stranger from her enemies, he finds himself embroiled in a plot involving scheming monks and warring kingdoms. Epic in its scope, THE DIVINE WEAPON harkens back to classic samurai films. This elegant Korean production plays deftly with the iconic triangle of honor, loyalty, and love. And while the action here marks a return to well-choreographed swordplay rather than the overused current trend of wire works, at its heart this is a film about the dawn of a new technology and its impact on the ancient traditions in the art of war. And in that way it becomes a very classic “Eastern” Western.-Joe Palladino
FILM:
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (Evangelion Shin-Geki Jo Ban)
US PREMIERE The first film in a planned tetralogy, EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE is an adaptation and reimagining of the legendary NEON GENESIS EVANGELION anime series. After a devastating attack on the earth by giant creatures called Angels, the UN has created the NERV Agency to help protect humanity. Fifteen-year-old Shinji Ikari receives a call from his estranged father Gendo, who is the head of the NERV Agency, urgently telling him to come to the agency headquarters. Deep below Tokyo-3, the only remaining city in Japan, Shinji learns of giant mechs called Evas, designed to fight the Angels, which he soon learns he will pilot. This long-awaited reimagining of an anime classic is sure to thrill fans of the series and newcomers alike.-Ryan Hedge
FILM:
K-20: Legend of the Mask (K-20: Kaijin niju menso den )
US PREMIERE The year is 1949. World War II has just ended, but not the way we remember. A strict line has been drawn separating the rich and privileged from the lower class. Heikichi is a lower class circus performer who enjoys the thrill of performing daring stunts. Everything changes one night when he is framed for being K-20, a master of disguise and the city's most notorious villain. Wanted for K-20's crimes and with a determined detective on his trail, Heikichi must hone his skills in order to take down K-20 and prove his innocence. K-20, a swashbuckling nonstop adventure with many different twists and turns, pays homage to classic superhero stories of the 1940s and '50s. -Vince Palomarez
FILM:
Nobody To Watch Over Me (Dare mo mamotte kurenai )
US PREMIERE When a heinous crime is committed, the Japanese police find that they must protect the family of the perpetrator. After two children are murdered, police detective Takumi is assigned to protect Saori, the suspect's younger sister. After the relentless onslaught of the press and angry public, Takumi takes Saori to a remote town outside Tokyo where they can wait out the uproar. Despite his best efforts, they learn that there is nowhere to hide and realize that the public will find them. In the process Saori is forced to deal with being cut off from the outside world and must learn to trust Takumi and share whatever vital knowledge she has regarding her brother's case. NOBODY TO WATCH OVER ME is one of two skillfully directed films (the other being VACATION) shining a light on the Japanese justice system and the toll it takes on those who serve with honor.-Ryan Hedge
FILM:
Our Town (Uri dongne)
A serial killer emerges in a small town in Korea. He commits a series of murders involving women while toying with the police who are unable to identify him. Detective Jae-shin is forced to consult with his childhood friend, Gyeong-ju, a writer who is familiar with the minds of serial killers, in the hopes of finding a lead. Little does Jae-shin know that Gyeong-ju has a secret of his own and that secret could tie him directly to the serial killer. OUR TOWN is a film that tries to examine the motivations of a serial killer and the choices people make to follow either a path of darkness or a path of light. -Vince Palomarez
FILM:
Suspect X (Yôgisha X no kenshin)
US PREMIERE A mother and her daughter are responsible for the murder of the mother's ex-husband. The murder was in self-defense, but the police would never believe it. With no idea what to do, their next door neighbor, a genius mathematician with a fondness for the mother, steps in and develops what he thinks is a foolproof plan to cover up the murder. With every alibi covered, the police look to a physicist who may be the only person who can solve the case. Little do the police know the mathematician and physicist have a past history that may complicate matters. SUSPECT X is a complicated murder mystery that asks the question of whether it is easier to create the perfect crime or to solve it. -Vince Palomarez
FILM:
Vacation (Kyûka)
US PREMIERE As in many countries, the death penalty is a contentious topic in Japan. VACATION approaches the subject in a respectful way that does not take sides or pass judgment. Hirai is a prison guard who looks after Kaneda, a man on death row and a model inmate. Hirai is about to marry a single mother, although he cannot afford to take time off from work to take his wife on a honeymoon and to bond with his new stepson. When Kaneda's execution order is signed, it presents Hirai with an opportunity to take time away but at an overwhelming emotional cost. VACATION is one of two skillfully directed films (the other being NOBODY TO WATCH OVER ME) shining a light on the Japanese justice system and the toll it takes on those who serve with honor. -Ryan Hedge
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