Hey everybody! SEEN ANY GOOD MOVIES? I sure DID! I saw a bunch of wonderful films at the Hawaii International Film Festival in October. The fest gives people the chance to watch cool movies that normally aren't seen by the general public.
Where else could you have a chance to watch the Korean hit movie "The Host"... at the THEATER?
Have you ever seen a blockbuster Korean monster movie with a creature created by the special effects masters over at WETA (Lord of the Rings Trilogy) on the BIG SCREEN? Well then... THE HOST is for you!
Not your cup of tea? Maybe the Japanese blockbuster WWII movie called "YAMATO?" It's a Titanic meets Saving Private Ryan type of war movie. Intriguing and exciting stuff!
In the mood for a sweet, inspiring and feel good type of movie? HULA GIRLS is the movie for you! It's the incredible true story about the hard working people who built a successful "Hawaiian Village" in their Japanese coal mining town. This popular film from Japan is filled with fun hula dance practice sequences. It also has a beautiful score by Hawaii's own... JAKE SHIMABUKARO!
Since this is a "Fanboy" list, here are some of my cult movie recommendations...
"Yo Yo Girl Cop" and "Hal and Bons." Have you ever seen a movie with a female cop who uses a Yo Yo as her weapon of choice? Well then... you gotta go see Japan's Yo Yo Girl Cop! The opening title sequence is simply KILLER! It's similar to the James Bond opening titles... but with a girl in silhouette doing Yo Yo tricks.
And... HAL AND BONS! HAL AND BONS! I LOVE HAL AND BONS!
Have you ever seen a CGI (Computer Animated) movie with two beer drinkin' dogs and a talking Mochi (Japanese rice snack)? The whole movie is pretty much the SAME shot... two dogs sitting on a couch with their hyperactive Mochi friend standing in the middle. I just couldn't stop laughing and smiling through the entire movie! Simply HILARIOUS!
This wonderfully laid back yet crazy movie was made by Katsuhito Ishii. Ishii-san (another incredibly talented and cool guy!) made the Oren Ishii/Lucy Liu anime flashback scene in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill Vol. 1." He also directed the crazy cool "Party 7" and "Sharkskin Man and Peach Hip Girl." Check out those wildly fun movies if you can!
One of the highlights, for me, was the chance to greet at the airport and chat with ... KEVIN SMITH! The man, the myth, the legend... the filmmaker who wrote, directed and starred in movies like... Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and most recently... Clerks II. He was the recipient for this year's Maverick Award. He also did a hilarious Q&A session for a packed crowd at The Hawaii Theater.
Being one of the filmmakers that inspired me to make my first movie...I appreciated the fact that the festival gave me this incredible opportunity to meet, "talk story" and gain advice from one of my film school "heroes."
Kevin Smith = Super cool guy!
(And his wife, Jennifer, was super sweet and cool too!)
There were tons of other GREAT films, stars, filmmakers and events at the festival. But instead of writing about my HIFF (Hawaii International Film Festival) experiences... how about if I just SHOW it to you?
HIFF asked me to document some of the fest... so here are some of my Vblogs (Video Blogs/Journals) I made for them... HOPE YOU ENJOY!
Opening Night 2006
Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival 2006: Opening Night (10/19)- The Hawaii premiere of Babel at the Hawaii Theater, Korean Actress Ji-won Ha at the Hawaii premeire of The Duelist.
Sheraton/Ang Pamana Interviews/Hawaii Panorama 1
Hawaii International Film Festival 2006: Day 2 (10/20)- Sheraton Waikiki HIFF Hospitality Suite, Interview with Romeo Candido(Director/Writer/Editor ) and Phoemela Baranda (Actress/Model) of Ang Pamana: The Inheritance. Hawaii Panorama 1 at Regal Dole Stadium 18- Interviews with Dean Ishida (Director/Ruckus!), Gerard Elmore (Director/Barry) and Ryan Kawamoto (Director/Hawaii Panorama Festival Awards Juror)
LOST Panel
Hawaii International Film Festival 2006: Day 3 (10/21)- LOST Panel Session at Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18. Jorge Garcia (Hurley), Michael Emerson (Henry Gale/ Ben Limus), Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond) and Jean Higgins (Producer).
Filmmakers Meet & Greet Party
Hawaii International Film Festival 2006: Day 4 (10/22)- The Filmmakers Meet and Greet Party at Tiki's Bar and Grill in Waikiki. Guests included Cinematographer Matthew Libatique ( Requiem For a Dream/Inside Man/The Fountain/Iron Man), Actor Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle/Van Wilder 2: Rise of the Taj), Matt Dentler (Producer of the SXSW Film Festival), Elvis Mitchell (Film Critic for The New York Times) and Director Ham Tran (Journey from the Fall).
The Governor's Reception
Hawaii International Film Festival 2006: Day 6 (10/24)- The Governor's Reception at Washington Place.
Closing Night
Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival 2006: Closing Night (10/29)- The Hawaii Premiere of Hula Girls at the Hawaii Theater. Featuring Composer/Musician Jake Shimabukuro and singer/songwriter Jennifer Perri
That was just the tip of the iceberg. I hope you got to experience just some of the exciting sights and sounds of the 2006 Hawaii International Film Festival! Hope to see you at next year's festival!
And until next time... ENJOY LIFE AND ENJOY A MOVIE!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
PS. Your feedback and comments below will be greatly appreciated!
THANKS and ALOHA!
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