So we are back and I am finally ready to write a post. New York was great as usual and the films were a good time too. Antonioni's Red Desert was a a great watch even though it doesn't quite measure up to some of his other classics (not to say it still wasn't was a brilliant film). Funky Forest was just plain strange. It was a bit on the long side (2 1/2 hours ) and I felt it was a bit too up and down. Some things were great about it while others I just couldn't get into. Chiaki, however loved it. The highlight of our movie viewing came in the form of a Korean film called Git. It a simple film but it was just so beautiful. A lot a reviews hyped it up, claiming it to be the best Korean romance film ever. So much talk often times ruin a film in many cases, however, that was not what happen. I don't think it would due the film justice by labeling it as a romantic comedy, which many will call it, but instead I will just leave it as saying its a small little film with a whole lotta heart. Highly Recommended.

Last time we were in New York we kinda skipped over Chinatown. This time we decided to give it another chance and I am glad we did. Yeah it isn't the cleanest place but damn can you find some kick ass films for between 5-10 bucks- yeah, there boots, but who cares.. the films I picked up would have cost me three times that. I don't feel too bad about the purchases because they are not films released here in the states anyways so technically they can legally get a way with it. I was luckily enough to find a copy of Git and another movie I have been dying to see also out of Korea called Welcome to Dongmakgol (it was actually South Korea's submission for Best Foreign film at last year's Academy Awards). We even managed to find a great Korean restaurant between Chinatown and Little Italy. Tasty!

While we were in New York some really solid dvd releases. Cache, Yakuza Graveyard, Cops vs. Thugs, Burst City and my personal favorite, Electric Dragon 80,000 Volts, which I finally picked up yesterday. I know I mentioned this a while back on the blog but man do people need to check out this crazy ass experimental noise rock balls to the wall battle flick. yeah, I know that doesn't make any since but just see it please. The dvd release even has the soundtrack to boot how damn cool is that.

And for those of us living in ohio there is quite a schedule lined up for the next two months at the Cleveland Cinematheque. Three of the films I have seen in the last year or so and would highly recommend the following: Clean, The Hidden Blade, and Woman is the Future of Man. Others I am planning on attending include seven different samurai films (Samurai Rebellion, Three Outlaw Samurai, Kill!, Sword of Doom, Harakiri, Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron, and Samurai Saga). Also of interest is the screening of a bizarre visual stunning film entitled Drawing Restraint 9, which stars Bjork and was directed by her boyfriend Matthew Barney the creature of the Cremaster series. The most exciting screening on the schedule is the early August sneak preview of the new Michel Gondry film The Science of Sleep. The week it is screening is the same weekend it is supposed to open limited in New York and LA, we should feel honored (word is that the film may have even gotten pushed to September now which means we may be very lucky to catch it a month earlier than the rest of the US...pretty damn cool). I am sure there are more goodies playing which I am not too familiar with. Overall a good solid schedule.

Finally, Panik House Entertainment has unveiled a division of their company entitled Casa Negra Films which will introduce the rest of the world to Mexican cinema. I am really looking forward to this because Mexican cinema is one thing I really need to be more educated on. So far their are only two releases with three more planned in the coming months. Check out their site for more info.