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During Covid-19, many Japanese communities organized fireworks to cheer people up and strengthen the collective spirit while being isolated. Emiko Hiramatsu, an industry veteran and regular writer for Yoji Yamada, uses this as a premise to tell a heartwarming story about her hometown, Kurashiki.

The Tales of Kurashiki is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival

After her husband destroys her paintings, Natsuko leaves behind her family and heads for the big city to continue her art. Not only does she leave behind her daughter Beniko and her autistic brother Kyosuke but also an unfinished family portrait. Years later, Beniko aims to be accepted into an Arts college. Obsessed with the unfinished piece of art by her mother, she is determined to submit the once-finished version as an application work. However, her determination is hindered by her alcoholic father and her sense of responsibility for her brother.

The second storyline is...

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky reportedly began dating in November 2020 after a decade-long friendship. Before her relationship with Rocky, she ended a three-year romance with Saudi businessman Hassan Jameel. In May 2022, she and Rocky welcomed their first child, RZA Athelston. Her second child, Riot Rose Mayers, was born in August 2023.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky in a still from the music video of Fashion Killa | Credits: A$AP Worldwide/Polo Grounds/RCA

Her children’s names have often received hate from some fans and Rihanna retorted back with sassy responses. Rihanna shared that she and Rocky have plans to expand their family and expressed her desire to have a baby girl after having two boys.

Rihanna’s first child RZA Athelston Mayers — What does the name mean? Rihanna with her kids, RZA Athelston and Riot Rose | Credits: @badgalriri/Instagram

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky started their relationship in 2020 with no...

Cinema Champion

Veteran Japanese actor Yakusho Koji will be feted with the prestigious lifetime achievement honor at the 18th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong. Yakusho, who won best actor at Cannes in 2023 for Wim Wenders‘ “Perfect Days,” becomes the third Japanese recipient of the Afa’s highest accolade, following director Yamada Yoji (2008) and actress Kiki Kirin (2016).

A former civil servant who first ventured into Taiga drama (long-running TV series broadcast by Nhk), then played in several films by Kurosawa Akira, Yakusho became a major 1990s star in Asia as a result of “Shall We Dance?,” in which he portrayed a ball room dancer, and “Lost Paradise.” He also starred in Itami Juzo’s “Tampopo.”

The honor recognizes Yakusho’s four decades of contributions to cinema. The acclaimed performer was nominated four times and has previously nabbed the Afa best actor trophy twice — for “The Blood of Wolves” (2018) and “Perfect Days...

Confesiones Chin Chin is a Spanish feature film centered around the Cazador bar in Madrid where two queer actors, Vicente and Lolo, engage in a freewheeling conversation about sexuality, life, and more. During this process, they come across people like Sofia, Roberto, and various other eclectic people who are figuring themselves out in their own weird and unconventional ways. Whether or not these stories will positively influence Vicente and Lolo, or bring their friendship to an abrupt end, is what forms the crux of the narrative. I sat down for a virtual chat with its director and co-writer, Carolina Perelman, to learn about the authenticity of confessions featured in the film, her cinematic influences, and the relationship with food and sex.

Film Fugitives: You’ve claimed that the confessions that we hear in your movie are based on real-life stories. Can you tell us a little about how you came across these tales?...

An unexpected movie has seemingly come out of nowhere to make history at the box office. "Seemingly" is doing a fair amount of work there because, for movie fans living in China, the animated sequel "Ne Zha 2" has become a cultural cinematic event like no other. Not just in China, mind you, but it's become bigger in some respects than any other movie in history. Yes, really.

Over the weekend, director Yu Yang's blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" added $250.6 million to its already staggering total, bringing its haul to $1.08 billion as of Monday morning. Keep in mind that the movie was only released on January 29, meaning it has done all of this in about two weeks. It has become the first movie ever to make more than $1 billion in a single country, and passed "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" ($936.6 million) to become the biggest movie ever in a single marketplace.

Mark Consuelos is the last star to join the cast of the upcoming horror movie Scream 7.

Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox are both confirmed to reprise their roles as Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers in the new sequel and there are some other returning cast members as well.

Deadline reports that Mark is the latest newcomer to join the franchise, but his role is being kept under wraps.

Neve is back as Sidney in Scream 7 after previously sitting out of Scream VI due to a salary dispute. Kevin Williamson, who created the franchise and wrote many of the screenplays, is directing this installment, marking his first time directing a movie since 1999′s Teaching Mrs. Tingle.

‘Scream 7′ Cast Updates Recap: 4 Actors Returning, 4 Won’t Be Back, 8 New Stars Joining the Franchise!

Jojo's Bizzare Adventure tells a generation-spanning tale of good versus evil. But, at the end of Part 6: Stone Ocean, the universe underwent a whole reboot. The entire cast was changed, and so too was the setting, timeline, and narrative philosophy of author Hirohiko Araki, who was now more interested in even more experimental storytelling. This new Jojo's Bizarre Adventure universe featured a story titled Steel Ball Run.

Steel Ball Run covers the story of a new Johnny Joestar, a paraplegic ex-jockey, as he takes part in the Steel Ball Run race: a mad dash across America for a prize of 50 million dollars. The part featured a new power, Spin, but couldn't shake its Stand roots. Even in Part 7, Stands, the physical representation of a person's "life energy" is a significant part of the narrative and a prominent feature in many fights. A new universe means that Stands have a...

On Tuesday November 26 2024, Pix broadcasts The Steve Wilkos Show!

DNA: Sorry Won’t Fix This Season 18 Episode 47 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Steve Wilkos Show,” titled “DNA: Sorry Won’t Fix This,” promises to delve into some intense family drama. Adriana is at the center of the story, facing accusations from her partner Robert. Whenever Robert feels upset, he questions Adriana’s loyalty and doubts the paternity of their two-year-old son and newborn daughter. This ongoing conflict raises significant concerns about trust and relationship stability.

In this episode, Steve Wilkos will guide Adriana and Robert as they confront these serious allegations. Viewers can expect a deep exploration of their relationship dynamics. The tension between them is palpable, and it will be interesting to see how they navigate these challenges in front of the audience.

Additionally, the episode will revisit Willesha, who appeared on the show a month ago.

Sudhanshu Pandey Comments on Rupali Ganguly’s Controversy.. ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Anupamaa star Rupali Ganguly has been making headlines for the past few days due to her stepdaughter Esha Verma’s serious allegations against her. The actress’ former co-star, Sudhanshu Pandey, has now reacted to the controversy.

Sudhanshu starred alongside Rupali as her husband, Vanraj Shah, in Anupamaa for four years before quitting the show in August 2024. Before his departure, there were rumors of a rift between them.

Sudhanshu Pandey Reacts to Rupali Ganguly-Esha Verma Controversy

Sudhanshu talked about the Rupali Ganguly-Esha Verma controversy in an interview with News18. The actor said it was the actress’s issue and would not like to get involved. He added that everyone goes through tough times, and God is there to help people.

Trending Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: Dilip Joshi Breaks Silence On His Fight With Asit Modi & Leaving The Show, “It Really Saddens Me…...

The Bold and the Beautiful spoilers see Brooke Logan lashing out while trying to protect her daughter. Hope Logan’s problematic behavior drives her mom to cross lines and make wild accusations on B&b.

Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: Brooke Logan Won’t Stay in her Lane

Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) goes to bat for her daughter, Hope Logan (Annika Noelle), in a wild way. Her recent conduct is pretty indefensible, making her mom’s blind support a bit odd.

Brooke says and do wild things with both Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) and Finn (Tanner Novlan). Will anyone put a stop to her behavior that’s targeting Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) on B&b.

Sure, it was unprofessional for Steffy to let her husband and her mom, Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig), stay in the room during the meeting about Hftf. But since Steffy knew she wasn’t cutting it,...

The Boys Season 5 won't mirror Avengers: Endgame, as Butcher's dark path sets up a different tone. Butcher's descent means Season 5 may not have a heartwarming resolution akin to MCU heroes. Major hero deaths are likely in The Boys Season 5, deviating from traditional superhero endings.

The Boys has frequently drawn parallels with the bigger theatrical superhero universes, but despite an Avengers: Infinity War-style ending to season 4, season 5 will not be anything like Avengers: Endgame. After four spectacular seasons, The Boys is setting the table for their final outing in season 5. While the show frequently parodies and mimics superhero and comic book movies in general, the tone of the show during the fourth season ended on a bleak note when The Boys were individually captured, apart from Billy Butcher.

This kind of ending where the heroes are robbed of all hope was famously done in Infinity War, but that was...

Dragon Ball will always be on the list of most popular anime worldwide. Generations of children have grown up while watching Goku’s ‘Ka-me-ha-me-ha,’ and in today’s world, it has become a kind of unifying force. No matter where you belong, Goku’s primary move will always excite you, and this time, it has been proven in the Olympics.

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 has seen the peak of sports, with players bringing glory to not just them but also their countries. Another community was also satisfied by the Olympics, and it is the anime otakus who have had their fill of anime references via the Olympics.

The French Fencing Team Performed Goku’s Signature Move from Dragon Ball at the Olympics Goku Using Kamehameha | Dragon Ball | Toei

The Paris 2024 Olympics has seen a ton of anime references, but probably the most wholesome one of them all came from the French Fencing Team.

Smart attire, dazzlingly bright weather, and the unmistakable sound of The Who's piercingly energetic "Won't Get Fooled Again" is the starter kit for the first spin-off to CSI, entitled CSI: Miami. The program came to fruition in 2002 and ran for a solid 10 seasons, also making it across the pond to the UK and becoming a celebrated television series there.

Though CSI: Miami was predominantly crime-fighting, viewers got an insight into individual characters' backgrounds and their relationships. Each member of the CSI: Miami team was written with clarity and defining features that contributed to their work and gave them a valid reason for being part of the plot.

Updated on July 24, 2024, by Michael Colwander: CSI: Miami remains one of the most beloved crime shows on television long after its conclusion. As The Real CSI: Miami currently airs, it's fun to look back on the original series. The remaining main characters have been added,...

Before Ayo Edebiri broke out in “The Bear” and “Bottoms” or even as a voice on “Big Mouth,” she was a huge Letterboxd influencer, offering a mix of hilarious and thoughtful commentary on a wide range of cinema. She has largely tempered her posting, still contributing a brief review from time to time, but is now returning to the film criticism forum with some recent Criterion Closet picks.

“I be on these sales. I’m on these sales. I’m getting 50 percent off these DVDs just like you are, so I’m very excited to be here,” Edebiri said as she scoured shelf upon shelf of classic cinema.

Edebiri’s first pick was Akira Kurasawa’s pulpy crime drama and the inspiration for Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s latest collaboration, “High & Low.” Discussing the film, Edebiri said, “I’ve been seeing this popping off Letterboxd, which I think...

With the release of the first half of Season 3, Netflix’s Bridgerton dominated Nielsen’s U.S. overall streaming ranking for the week of May 13, amassing nearly 2.8 billion minutes viewed for 20 available episodes.

Making their debuts on the overall streaming chart were the 116-minute Sony/Marvel film Madame Web, which landed at No. 3 with 1.2 billion minutes viewed on Netflix, and Reba McEntire’s early-aughts Reba sitcom, which that week began streaming on Netflix (as well as on Hulu) and ranked No. 6 with 744 million minutes viewed for 124 library episodes.

More from TVLineBridgerton EP Breaks Down [Spoiler]'s Introduction in Season 3 Finale -...

In a recent newsletter post, prolific comic book writer Grant Morrison shared an early text-based story produced for Marvel UK over forty years ago, allowing readers to read it for the first time ever. In the story, Morrison pokes fun at superhero tropes and iconic Marvel characters using a silly alternate version of the hero Captain Britain; known as "Captain Anglia," the story's central character was the product of an idea Morrison pitched to Marvel UK that didn't gain much traction. The story is a great insight into the early career of Morrison, a groundbreaking comic book writer, showcasing that their talent and ambitious creative style were evident from the start.

Grant Morrison released a previously unpublished short story written for Marvel Comics decades ago a short, humorous Captain Britain vignette that builds off Alan Moore's iconic run with the character in the 1980s. The story offers a look at the writer's early career,...

Quick Links What Happened in the Season 2 Finale of Tokyo Vice? Tokyo Vice's Creators Already Have Ideas For a Third Season Tokyo Vice's Chances of a Third Season Just Got Even Stronger

The second season of Tokyo Vice has recently come to an end, and its finale has had the fans buzzing not just over its quality, but over whether they'll get to see more of Jake Adelstein's investigations in the future. With the events that unfold in the finale, it appears that it has managed to wrap up the main storyline and most of its surrounding subplots in a more than satisfactory manner. Because of this, it may not seem like a third season would even be necessary, but it still leaves the door open for more. Given just how popular the show has become, along with a few other contributing factors behind the scenes, it...

Hidetaka Miyazaki is easily one of the most successful video game directors in recent times. His games never disappoint, and the stories in those games are never lacking in detail. Players can simply roam around the worlds that he creates and experience a bunch of exciting new stories, just through the environments or item descriptions.

His games have such expansive lore that gamers spend hours just digging through them in search of new details. One can be sure of one thing: stories with such depth can only be written by a person who himself has read a lot. While Hidetaka Miyazaki does not deny reading a lot, he suggests he went through a somewhat tough childhood before getting where he is.

Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki’s life is indeed pretty inspirational

A still from Demon Souls Remake

Demon Souls had an interesting premise: a godlike creature taking over the world.

Neve Campbell may be joined by a couple of familiar faces in the upcoming sequel Scream 7.

After some troubles behind the scenes, Scream 7 lost two of its main stars when Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega both exited the project. This was followed by reports that Neve Campbell was wanted to return as Sidney Prescott, and she has since announced that she's officially signed on. The movie will also be directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote the original Scream film helmed by Wes Craven. No other cast members have been officially announced at this time, though movie scooper Daniel Richtman is reporting two franchise stars will potentially reunite with Campbell in the film.

Related 'Won't Be Watching': Melissa Barrera Fans Boycott Scream 7 Despite Neve Campbell's Return Neve Campbell is officially attached to return to the Scream franchise, but fans are still outraged over Melissa Barrera's firing.

Koei Tecmo’s Team Ninja is gearing up for the release of its upcoming title, Rise of the Ronin, this March. The action role-playing game which has been in development since 2015 is set in the mid-19th century during the time of Bakumatsu, which is the final years of the Edo period. It is developed by Team Ninja and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment and is slated for a March 22, 2024 release.

Rise of the Ronin

As part of the promotional campaign for the upcoming game, Touch Arcade had a conversation with the Producer/Director for Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and Team Ninja Department Manager, Masakazu Hirayama about a variety of topics and fan queries, including the much-demanded sequel to Ninja Gaiden.

Ninja Gaiden sequel is a possibility

Talking about his association with Team Ninja, Hirayama stated that he joined Team Ninja immediately after graduate school. He initially started as a...

Su Yu Chun is a graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts. “It's Not that Pig's Problem” was awarded in Pia Film Festival in 2021. After shooting the short “Down the Road”, he came up with her debut feature, “Inch Forward”, which is her graduation project.

On the occasion of Inch Forward screening at Osaka International Film Festival, we speak with her about films-about-films, the inspiration behind the film and the development of the script, the reason so many Japanese movies have scenes at the sea, Nobuhiro Suwa appearing in the movie and other topics.

The film-about-films category has become quite popular lately. What do you like particularly in this style of movie and why did you choose to shoot one?

I probably prefer the film set to the film. I like metafictional films and I wanted to make a metafictional film from the first planning stage.

Is the story autobiographical?...

Winnie the Pooh entered the public domain in 2022, and director Rhys Frake-Waterfield immediately took full advantage. His 2023 movie "Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey" was a slasher film where an adult Christopher Robin finds himself being hunted down by his old childhood friends, Winnie and Piglet. It's a gory nightmare of a movie made popular by the gimmick of having its killers be the sweet, cuddly characters we've all grown up loving.

The movie was not well-received by critics, mainly because it doesn't offer a whole lot beyond the initial shock value of its premise. As /Film's own Witney Seibold put it in his review, "'Blood and Honey' will disappoint fans of Pooh, fans of irony, and fans of horror. Don't bother." But despite the movie's 3% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it was still a clear-cut financial success, making $5 million at the international box office despite its reported budget of under $100,000. This is...

The star of Tampopo, Babel and The Eel reveals how it felt to share the screen with 17 stunning Tokyo lavatories in this joyously strange, Oscar-tipped film about a cleaner

Not all movie heroes wear capes, it is said, but only the rare, cherished few don rubber gloves and blue overalls. Perfect Days, the gorgeous new drama from the German director Wim Wenders, is about one such man of action: a lone wolf in crowded modern-day Japan. Middle-aged Hirayama is employed by Tokyo Toilet and drives a small van from one public convenience to the next. Like Travis Bickle and Dirty Harry, he’s on a mission to clean up the city. Unlike them, Hirayama means literally: he comes with brushes, squeegees and detergent.

Hirayama is played by Kōji Yakusho, a 68-year-old mainstay of Japanese cinema with approximately 100 screen credits to his name. He was the mysterious diner in the 1980s hit Tampopo,...

You may know Kōji Yakusho as the oyster-slurping mystery man from the noodle-Western extraordinaire Tampopo (1985). Perhaps you remember him as the depressed suburbanite who ballroom dances his blues away in the international feel-good hit Shall We Dance? (1996). He’s the reformed felon in the Cannes-winning character study The Eel (1997), a former muse to filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa in the late Nineties and early aughts, the familiar face who graced Hollywood fare like Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) and Babel (2006), and — if you’ve followed his 40-plus years as a major figure in...

The official website of AnimeJapan announced the 7th edition of the much anticipated ‘Manga We Want to See Animated Ranking’ poll on Feb 1, 2024. Fans can cast their votes for the manga titles they most desire to see brought to life on the screen.

The poll comprises of 50 manga titles across various genres that are nominated by the fans.

The voting period spans from Feb 1, 2024, starting at 8:00 p.m., and concludes on March 4, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. The results of the ‘Manga We Want to See Animated Ranking’ will be unveiled at AnimeJapan 2024, as well as on their official website.

Checkout the nominated titles below:

I Want to End This Love Game by Yuki Domoto Ashiaraiyashiki no Juunin-tachi by Tokuichi Minagi Diamond in the Rough by Nao Sasaki Cipher Academy by Nisioisin, Yuji Iwasaki Ikiru no ga Shindoi Onna ga “Shinu made ni Yaritai Koto List” wo Shoka shiteiku Hanashi...

No Entry 2: Arjun Kapoor, Varun Dhawan & Diljit Dosanjh Unite For Anees Bazmee Directorial (Picture Credit: Facebook & IMDb)

The sequel of ‘No Entry’ has been in the news for quite some time. Earlier, filmmaker Anees Bazmee, who earlier had hinted about Salman Khan leading the project, has been brought on board as writer and director. The first part, which was released in 2005, stars Anil Kapoor, Salman, and Fardeen Khan in the leading roles. Backed by Boney Kapoor, it had emerged as a box office hit, becoming the cult classic film. Now, owing to the huge demand of the audience, the makers have decided to return with a sequel.

Earlier, Bazmee had stated that the shooting of the second part would begin once Salman was free. It was later said that while the superstar got busy with his next project and the director too moved on to the next movies, resulting...

Spoiler Alert: This story contains mild spoilers for “The Brothers Sun,” available to watch on Netflix now.

On May 22, 1992, three men brutally stabbed Japanese filmmaker Juzo Itami outside his Tokyo home, just days after the release of his satire “Minbo no Onna,” or “Mob Woman.”

The director of “Tampopo” and “A Taxing Woman” suffered slash wounds across the face, neck and shoulder, but ultimately survived. Police suspected the attack may have been the yakuza’s retaliation for Itami’s “Mob Woman,” which portrays Japanese gangsters as crude bullies who are outsmarted by lawyer Mahiru Inoue (played by Itami’s wife Nobuko Miyamoto).

This assault inspired writer-producer Byron Wu to develop “The Brothers Sun,” the crime family dramedy starring Michelle Yeoh as matriarch Eileen “Mama” Sun, which premiered on Netflix early this year.

“I just thought it was so funny that these gangsters were so insecure about their jobs that they beat up a comedy director,...

Pushpa 2 Not Postponed! Allu Arjun Will Rule The Box Office On 15th August 2024 & Singham Again Won’t Get A Solo Release… ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

The Internet is a strange place to be in; a layman won’t be able to filter out what’s true and what’s sugarcoated to be presented as the truth. Recently, rumors were floating around that Allu Arjun‘s Pushpa 2: The Rule release date has been postponed. The reports also stated that Ajay Devgn, Rohit Shetty‘s Singham Again, would see a solo release on 15th August 2024.

But is that the truth, or it’s yet another tactic to make people think you’re strong and hence no one could clash with you? Well, as soon as these social media titbits started garnering some heat, the makers of the AA starrer immediately took action to shut them down in style.

Yes, the reports of...

At the intersection of interests for cinephiles and foodies lie great movies about food. Films like "Big Night," "Ratatouille," "Babette's Feast," "Tampopo," and "The Trip" movies occupy a special place in the stomachs -- er, minds -- of viewers, and I'm pleased to report that another movie has instantly catapulted into that hallowed pantheon.

"The Taste of Things," from director Trần Anh Hùng, received a limited theatrical release earlier this year for awards consideration (it's the French contender for Best International Feature at the 2024 Oscars), but it won't actually receive a bigger release in the United States until February of 2024. Still, for those who vibe with the types of movies I listed above, this will be a major event at the movies. And aside from being only a great movie about food, it's also a great movie, period -- it's technically one of the best of 2023, but even if you...

The only certainty in life is death. What actually happens when you reach that inevitable end has long been the subject of philosophical debate and in Death & Ramen, filmmaker Tiger Ji takes us on the poignant final journey of a ramen chef who finds himself at the crossroads of life and death. His genre-blending buddy comedy features an awkward grim reaper, played by Matt Jones whose routine job is disturbed by a puking Bobby Lee whose only desire before facing the afterlife is a steaming hot bowl of Kimchi Ramen. Tiger’s short takes us on this contemplative, hilarious journey with tact, nuance and a deep consideration of life and what may lay beyond it. It’s not easy to create a film that opens with a suicide attempt that makes you laugh and hanker for ramen in equal measure, but Tiger has done exactly that and Death & Ramen manages...

Winning Best Actor at Cannes for Wim Wenders’ “Perfect Days” (Neon) was a surprise for veteran Japanese star Koji Yakusho (“Shall We Dance?”). “I’m a very lucky man,” he told IndieWire on Zoom. And when he and Wenders heard that “Perfect Days,” despite its German director, was submitted by Japan for the Oscar, they cheered over dinner at Telluride “like we had just won the Academy Award,” said Yakusho. “Director Wim thought it would be more of a handicap that he’s not a Japanese director. But for the Japanese people, he knows the culture really well. And he also has spent a lot of time there. We were very proud to have him be selected as Japan’s entry.”

Yakusho knew Wenders’ work when he was asked to play Hiroyama, a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo. “He was always looking for a new challenge in his filmmaking,” the actor said,...

Clockwise from bottom left: Julie & Julia (Photo: Columbia Pictures); Chef (Photo: Open Road Films); Hook (Photo: TriStar Pictures); Eat Drink Man Woman (Photo:vThe Samuel Goldwyn Company); Parallel Mothers (Photo: Sony Pictures Classics); Tampopo (Photo: Film Forum) Graphic: Libby McGuire Every Ridley Scott movie ranked, including NapoleonIt’s been nearly...

Clockwise from bottom left: Julie & Julia (Photo: Columbia Pictures); Chef (Photo: Open Road Films); Hook (Photo: TriStar Pictures); Eat Drink Man Woman (Photo:vThe Samuel Goldwyn Company); Parallel Mothers (Photo: Sony Pictures Classics); Tampopo (Photo: Film Forum) Graphic: Libby McGuire It’s time again to sit down to Thanksgiving dinner...

Clockwise from bottom left: Julie & Julia (Photo: Columbia Pictures); Chef (Photo: Open Road Films); Hook (Photo: TriStar Pictures); Eat Drink Man Woman (Photo:vThe Samuel Goldwyn Company); Parallel Mothers (Photo: Sony Pictures Classics); Tampopo (Photo: Film Forum)Graphic: Libby McGuire

It’s time again to sit down to Thanksgiving dinner...

Warning!! Spoilers For Love Is Blind Season 5 Ahead!

Love Is Blind season 5 features 28 new cast members and takes place in Houston, Texas, bringing drama from a new city. Lydia Velez Gonzalez and Milton Johnson are likely to marry, despite their differing lifestyles and age differences. While some pairs won't marry, like Uche Okoroha and Aaliyah Cosby, others like Stacy Snyder and Izzy Zapata are likely to tie the knot.

Love Is Blind season 5 is heating up, and it seems only a few pairs will make it down the aisle. The dating reality TV show premiered in 2020 and quickly became one of the most compelling Netflix shows ever. Love Is Blind season 5 aired in late September 2023 and featured 28 new cast members. Unlike the previous one, Love Is Blind's latest edition brought drama from a new city. The show's set relocated to Houston, Texas, and the cast entered their pods in...

Rick and Morty season 7 trailer confirms that Rick and Morty's voices sound just like the original ones, keeping the show's familiar tone intact. The season will revisit classic episodes like "Pickle Rick" and feature a zombie episode, adding new twists to familiar themes. The trailer hints at a return to Morty's high school adventures and suggests the complicated dynamic between Jerry, Beth, and Space Beth will continue to evolve.

The Rick and Morty season 7 trailer has finally arrived, and the promo proves that the series will not be held back by Justin Roiland’s recasting. Voiceover actor Justin Roiland provided the voices of both Rick and Morty’s title characters throughout the show’s first six seasons. During this time, the series became a major cult hit for Adult Swim. While the anarchic animated sitcom’s seventh season was in production, Roiland was accused of domestic battery and inappropriate behavior by numerous women.

Many films have tackled the complex topic of human desire, but none have done so in such a strange and unique way as 1985's Tampopo. The satiric Japanese Western, directed by Juzo Itami, explores the many roles that food plays across cultures, while simultaneously poking fun at the many tropes of American cinema. The movie draws a parallel between food and cinema as both are communal art forms that cross the boundaries of class and culture. The movie is a true and devoted love letter to the human sensory experience in all its forms and a very funny satire that is sure to appeal to anyone who has fallen in love with either food or film.

Japanese actor Koji Yakusho, winner of Cannes’ best actor prize this year for his universally acclaimed performance in Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days, has been selected 2023 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival’s filmmaker in focus.

Yakusho will attend the Taiwanese festival in person and present a selection of seven of his films during the event’s 17-day duration. The titles shown will include Perfect Days and the erotic classic Lost Paradise (1997), as well as five titles selected by Yakusho himself, including Kamikaze Taxi (1995), Shall We Dance (1996), Cure (1997), Eureka (2000) and The Woodsman and the Rain (2011).

“With these seven films, cinephiles will be able to witness the charm and versatile acting of a legendary actor,” Taipei’s organizers said in a statement.

Across his four-decade career, Yakusho has been nominated for the Japan Academy of Film Prize 23 times, including seven consecutive nominations in the best leading actor category, which he has won three times,...

Yakusho Koji, the Japanese star who was named best actor at Cannes this year in Wim Wenders’ “Perfect Days,” is set as the subject of a seven-title showcase at the upcoming Golden Horse Film Festival in Taiwan.

Among the septet are classic erotic film “Lost Paradise” from 1997, this year’s “Perfect Days” and 1996 film “Shall We Dance,” which was later remade in Hollywood.

Yakusho Koji (Photo: Courtesy of the Golden Horse Film Festival.)

A former civil servant who first ventured into Taiga drama (long-running TV series broadcast by Nhk), then played in several films by Kurosawa Akira, Yakusho became a major 1990s star in Asia as a result of “Shall We Dance?,” in which he portrayed a ball room dancer, and “Lost Paradise.” He also starred in Itami Juzo’s “Tampopo.”

Directed by Morita Yoshimitsu, “Lost Paradise” is a tale of a man and a woman whose marriages no longer make them happy,...

If you have to admire commitment – and you do – then you have to admire Wolf, a new BBC detective series from the producers of Sherlock, adapted from the seventh book in Mo Hayder’s Jack Caffery novels. From its traumatised detective to its scenery-chewing baddies, Wolf is fully committed to the pulp crime genre. Don’t go in expecting realism. You won’t find it.

You will find Ukweli Roach as Jack Caffery, a London Di settling in back home after a few years working in Wales. Roach makes a plausible enough lead, and a useful straight man to counter the madness elsewhere. Not that Caffery doesn’t come with his own slice of that.

Caffery’s regulation-issue TV detective Unresolved Trauma is the childhood disappearance of his brother. After a sibling spat, 10-year-old Ewan ran off, never to be seen again. Jack’s convinced that their paedophile neighbour abducted him,...

The Good Doctor's Season 3 finale shook the series (literally) with an earthquake that caused significant damage to the San Jose area. While many characters' lives were placed in danger, it was Dr. Neil Melendez who met an untimely death.

A central player since Season 1, Dr. Melendez was a surgeon who worked alongside Dr. Shaun Murphy at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. But after being struck by earthquake rubble, Melendez sustained internal organ damage, which led to his death. That, of course, meant the character's actor, Nicholas Gonzalez, also exited the ABC medical drama. Fortunately, unlike some departures in other dramas, this was a mutual decision made by the actor and producers. In a 2020 interview with TVLine, Gonzalez said he felt he was "leaving The Good Doctor at a really great place."

Related: The Good Doctor: [Spoiler] Won't Be Back for Season 7

Why Did Dr. Melendez Leave The Good Doctor?...

King of the Hill quietly wrapped up a successful run in 2009 after 13 seasons on the air. It left a strong cult following behind that led to Hulu announcing a revival in 2023, with creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels returning to oversee the new episodes. But some fans are still confused about how the series originally ended, thanks to Fox making changes to the production order that resulted in two last episodes.

Season 13, Episode 20, "To Sirloin with Love" was intended to serve as the show's finale. Yet four other episodes followed it in syndication, so the animated series officially ended with Season 13, Episode 24, "Just Another Manic Kahn-Day." While that was the last episode to air, the former was the ending that Judge and Daniels planned for Hank Hill and his neighbors on Rainey Street.

Related: King of the Hill's Politics Won't Change in Hulu Reboot - There Weren't Any...

There’s food porn, which shows like Chef’s Table and Top Chef, not to mention last year’s horror hit movie The Menu, have turned into widely popular entertainment. And then there’s art house food porn, a subgenre that possibly dates back to Marco Ferreri’s 1973 satire La Grande Bouffe, and whose other examples include Babette’s Feast, The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, Tampopo, Chocolat and Like Water for Chocolate. The latter films tend to be made in a language other than English, and they’re less about chefs competing for Michelin stars, or glowing reviews from Pete Wells, than about food as a way of life.

Where else but France, then, as the setting for the latest, and certainly one of the most appetizing, art house food porn flicks to come along in a while? Tràn Anh Hùng’s The Pot-au-Feu (La Passion du Dodin-Bouffant) is...

Conway the Machine has dropped his latest full-length album, Won’t He Do It, via Drumwork Music Group and Empire. It serves as the follow-up to the Buffalo rapper’s 2022 major label breakthrough, God Don’t Make Mistakes.

For this effort, Conway has tapped on the shoulders of a long list of collaborators, including his brother Westside Gunn, as well as Benny the Butcher, Fabolous, Juicy J, Dave East, Ransom, Sauce Walka, and more. The album also includes production contributions from Daringer, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Khrysis, Juicy J, and others. Stream the album via Apple Music or Spotify below.

Conway will also be taking his act on the road, and has unveiled a string of tour dates for summer 2023. Grab your tickets via StubHub, where orders are 100% guaranteed through StubHub’s FanProtect program. StubHub is a secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value,...

The world of Japanese cinema is one of the most acclaimed and beloved. This video examines many of the classics, the most essential films ever made in Japan or by Japanese filmmakers. Why is the appreciation of Japanese cinema so enduring? "Narrator Luiza Liz Bond emphasized the 'heightened aesthetic sensibility' of Japanese filmmakers, on display in 'the tender observation of Ozu's Tokyo Story, the poetic rhapsody of Kurosawa's Dreams, the harrowing feminine gaze of Videophobia." The video essay is split into different chapters covering different styles of films: Bushidō, Wabi-Sabi, Mono No Aware, Yūgen, Guro, and Hen. Many all-timer films are featured including The Sword of Doom, Seven Samurai, Hausu, Tetsuo: The Iron Man, Tampopo, Love Exposure, Sansho the Bailiff, Tokyo Sonata + many more. Discover films below. // Continue Reading ›...

Exclusive: For NASA’s pioneering Black astronauts, gravity wasn’t the only barrier impeding them from reaching the highest heights. They also faced another implacable force, in the form of racial bias.

National Geographic Documentary Films today announced filmmakers Lisa Cortés and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza will direct and produce The Space Race, a feature documentary “that will uncover the little-known stories of the first Black pilots, engineers and scientists to become astronauts” and the obstacles that impacted their trajectory. Frank Marshall and Tony Rosenthal of The Kennedy/Marshall Company will executive produce the film, along with Carolyn Bernstein of National Geographic Documentary Films and Leland Melvin. The project will be produced by Kennedy/Marshall’s Alexandra Bowen and Aly Parker, Diamond Docs’ Mark Monroe and independent producer Keero Birla. Monroe will also serve as the film’s writer.

Astronaut Ed Dwight is interviewed for ‘The Space Race.

Brian Cox is setting the record straight about those comments he made about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The “Succession” star previously claimed Meghan “knew what she was getting into” when she and Harry tied the knot in May 2018.

She and Harry have made multiple allegations against the royals in their tell-all Netflix documentary, as well as that 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview.

After Cox’s Haute Living New York interview hit headlines, he told the Radio Times that his comments were “taken out of context.”

He said, according to Page Six, “I’m a bit angry about that because that whole thing has been taken out of context. I actually have enormous sympathy for them.”

Read More: Prince Harry Makes Surprise Trip To U.K., But Reportedly Won’t Be Seeing King Charles And Prince William

Cox suggested Meghan had been tempted by a fairytale that didn’t have a happy ending.

Enemies in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty pack a punch, but finding good armor in the early game can seriously improve the player's defense. Wo Long might be a bit easier than the typical Soulslike, but as accessible as its gameplay is, bosses and even regular enemies hit hard and often. They say the best defense is a good offense, but in Wo Long, when players frequently find themselves outmatched, outnumbered, and overwhelmed, the reverse is also true.

Most of the weapons and armor players will find in Wo Long comes are dropped by defeated enemies. Many of the equipment's stats are randomized, so it's actually possible to stumble upon some of the best weapons in Wo Long's early game. Equipment rewards are also granted for quest completion, and occasionally, especially powerful weapons and armor can be found in chests, or lying abandoned on the battlefield. There's such a constant flow...

This weekend's topic, currently streaming on HBOMax and Criterion Channel, was chosen by readers. This article contains spoilers so if you've never seen the film, correct that first.

for such a delicious movie, the first shot of people and food isn't very appetizing!by Nathaniel R

How far does the "foodie" movie subgenre stretch back? It's difficult to tell from the internet alone, which tends to think movies of all genres began in the 1980s; online "best of all time" lists are of little use when you're curious about film history. We know at least that the subgenre was in full swing by the 1990s with arthouse hits such as Like Water for Chocolate, Eat Drink Man Woman, and Big Night arriving semi-annually. Was the watershed moment, at least for US moviegoers, bout a half a year stretch between the fall of 1987 and the spring of 1988? In that time the...

With its sporadic checkpoints, brutally punishing bosses, and emphasis on parrying, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a Soulslike through and through - but in terms of relative difficulty, it varies. Wo Long is the fourth Soulslike game from Koei Tecmo's Team Ninja, coming on the heels of Nioh and its sequel, as well as the Square Enix-published Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. Nioh offers an intense challenge, but Nioh 2 reined in the difficulty. Wo Long has a simpler combat system and certainly takes notes from Nioh 2, but that doesn't necessarily mean it continues the downward trend of difficulty.

Nioh isn’t the only Soulslike Wo Long compares to, however. FromSoftware's Elden Ring, which released in early 2022 to universal acclaim, has also become a point of contrast. Another FromSoftware game, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is also part of the conversation, since both it and Wo Long are works...