"Beauty and the Beast" truly is a tale as old as time, and has been retold in countless ways, like the Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton TV series of the same name, the Fran Drescher comedy "The Beautician and the Beast," the teen rom-drama "Beastly," or even in an episode of "Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater." Recently, legendary Japanese filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda delivered "Belle," a magnificent animated sci-fi fantasy film that thrusts the tale out of the world of old and into the techno future.
The story takes place in the not-so-distant future where the internet has evolved into a legitimate virtual reality called U, where avatars are created by users' scanned biometric information. A teenager named Suzu creates an avatar named Belle who becomes a pop superstar, but everything changes when her virtual concert is interrupted by the seemingly undefeatable fighter The Dragon (or "The Beast"), who she quickly becomes infatuated with.
The story takes place in the not-so-distant future where the internet has evolved into a legitimate virtual reality called U, where avatars are created by users' scanned biometric information. A teenager named Suzu creates an avatar named Belle who becomes a pop superstar, but everything changes when her virtual concert is interrupted by the seemingly undefeatable fighter The Dragon (or "The Beast"), who she quickly becomes infatuated with.
- 8/12/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
The 7th edition of the National Youth Film Awards (Nyfa) opens for submission today. Organised by *Scape, a non-profit organisation, Nyfa is one of *Scape’s longest running apex programme that provides a platform to empower young, aspiring filmmakers in their pursuit of filmmaking.
Themed ‘New Dawn, New Beginnings’, Nyfa 2021 will explore the evolving film industry and prepare youths for post-Covid-19 recovery. The annual award is supported by the National Youth Council and Objectifs.
New extensions and programmes like never before
As Singapore’s only platform that is catered to youth filmmakers, Nyfa is more than just giving accolades. Over the last seven years, Nyfa has recognised nearly 800 youth filmmakers. Nyfa has also provided commissioned jobs through partners, distribution opportunities, and regional exposure with SeaShorts Film Festival and Cartoons Underground.
Nyfa as a platform also continues to bring together the local filmmaking community. As part of its annual series, Nyfa...
Themed ‘New Dawn, New Beginnings’, Nyfa 2021 will explore the evolving film industry and prepare youths for post-Covid-19 recovery. The annual award is supported by the National Youth Council and Objectifs.
New extensions and programmes like never before
As Singapore’s only platform that is catered to youth filmmakers, Nyfa is more than just giving accolades. Over the last seven years, Nyfa has recognised nearly 800 youth filmmakers. Nyfa has also provided commissioned jobs through partners, distribution opportunities, and regional exposure with SeaShorts Film Festival and Cartoons Underground.
Nyfa as a platform also continues to bring together the local filmmaking community. As part of its annual series, Nyfa...
- 3/18/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Every movie nominated this year for a best picture Oscar employed a stunt coordinator. Yet not one of these individuals will have the opportunity to receive Academy Award recognition.
The Oscars acknowledge categories ranging across multiple disciplines that support a film’s story and visual dynamics. But the stunt department’s contributions remain unsung. This might be due to misperceptions about what stunt performers actually do these days. Stunt coordinator Melissa R. Stubbs (“Tully”) has been a voting member of the Academy since 2007. When she began her career, stunt actors were viewed as adrenaline junkies with “Kodak courage” — her term for the desire to do the biggest, most dangerous stunt sequences just for the glory of having it captured on film.
In a world of pricey digital effects, stunt departments present themselves differently now. Their mission: to advance the narrative by means of repeatable, safe sequences that are also budget-friendly.
The Oscars acknowledge categories ranging across multiple disciplines that support a film’s story and visual dynamics. But the stunt department’s contributions remain unsung. This might be due to misperceptions about what stunt performers actually do these days. Stunt coordinator Melissa R. Stubbs (“Tully”) has been a voting member of the Academy since 2007. When she began her career, stunt actors were viewed as adrenaline junkies with “Kodak courage” — her term for the desire to do the biggest, most dangerous stunt sequences just for the glory of having it captured on film.
In a world of pricey digital effects, stunt departments present themselves differently now. Their mission: to advance the narrative by means of repeatable, safe sequences that are also budget-friendly.
- 2/20/2019
- by Zoe Hewitt
- Variety Film + TV
An anachronistic hodgepodge of genres, tropes, and bad filmmaking techniques, “Buffalo Boys” doesn’t just squander its opportunities, it napalms them into oblivion. Indeed, whatever potential existed with the premise isn’t just destroyed, it is fired in a blazing hell-storm from which no living organism could hope to escape the consumption of oxygen and life. And while a few fun martial arts scenes pepper the effort, they are subsumed by an overall product that is riddled with plot holes, choppy cuts, laughable acting, and villains so evil that they’d make Skeletor blush.
Continue reading ‘Buffalo Boys’: History And Quality Filmmaking Are Set Aside For Problematic Comic Book-Esque Action [Review] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Buffalo Boys’: History And Quality Filmmaking Are Set Aside For Problematic Comic Book-Esque Action [Review] at The Playlist.
- 1/10/2019
- by Warren Cantrell
- The Playlist
"Let's give our people their justice." Samuel Goldwyn has released an official Us trailer for a western action film titled Buffalo Boys, coming from Indonesia (where it's set), and produced out of Singapore. This just premiered at the Fantasia and New York Asian Film Festivals this fall, and is also this year's Singaporean Oscar submission for Best Foreign Language Film. This "fun old-school western flick" is about two brothers named Jamar and Suwo who return to the land of Java to avenge their father, a murdered Sultan, after years of exile in America working on the railroads, and being cowboys. But they end up in a fight for their lives. The main cast of Buffalo Boys includes Yoshi Sudarso, Ario Bayu, Pevita Pearce, Tio Pakusadewo, Conan Stevens, Reinout Bussemaker, Zack Lee, and Sunny Pang. Holy hell, this looks badass!! Get a load of this, seriously - the action actually looks clear and kinetic.
- 11/14/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Earlier this year we saw there release of an Indonesian western in Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts (trailer) and now we have another western from an unlikely country: Singapore.
Buffalo Boys is the directorial debut of Mike Wiluan, an actor and producer behind Crazy Rich Asians, Hitman: Agent 47 and Headshot.
The movie unfolds in 19th century Java. When the sultan is murdered by Dutch soldiers, the sultan's brother and two infant sons manage to escape to America's Wild West. Years later, the boys return to Indonesia to avenge their father's death.
The trailer for Buffalo Boys plays like an al...
Buffalo Boys is the directorial debut of Mike Wiluan, an actor and producer behind Crazy Rich Asians, Hitman: Agent 47 and Headshot.
The movie unfolds in 19th century Java. When the sultan is murdered by Dutch soldiers, the sultan's brother and two infant sons manage to escape to America's Wild West. Years later, the boys return to Indonesia to avenge their father's death.
The trailer for Buffalo Boys plays like an al...
- 11/14/2018
- QuietEarth.us
This year’s Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars is going to be one of the most stacked in recent years. With almost 100 countries from around the world submitting films, the future nominees are sure to be some of the best films of the year, period. And Singapore isn’t about to be left out, as they are submitting “Buffalo Boys” for consideration, and if the trailer is any indication, it looks like the film might get some interest from the Academy.
Continue reading ‘Buffalo Boys’ Trailer: Singapore’s Foriegn-Language Oscar Contender Is A Stylish, Bloody Take On The Western at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Buffalo Boys’ Trailer: Singapore’s Foriegn-Language Oscar Contender Is A Stylish, Bloody Take On The Western at The Playlist.
- 11/14/2018
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
Japan’s Nikkatsu is poised to be one of the busiest sales companies at the Tiffcom market this week. In addition to local hit “One Cut of the Dead” and festival favorite “Killing,” the company has a slate of titles in post-production that it is pitching at the autumn festivals and markets.
Youth drama, “We Are Little Zombies” is set for an early summer release in 2019. Written and directed by Makoto Nagahisa, who last year won a grand prize at Sundance for his short film “And So We Put Goldfish in The Pool,” the film is a story of four youngsters who all lose their parents around the same time. Realizing that they are devoid of emotion, they put together a kick-ass band to try to recover their ability to feel.
Written and directed by Indonesia’s Kimo Stamboel – one half of the so-called Mo Brothers – “Dreadout: Tower of Hell...
Youth drama, “We Are Little Zombies” is set for an early summer release in 2019. Written and directed by Makoto Nagahisa, who last year won a grand prize at Sundance for his short film “And So We Put Goldfish in The Pool,” the film is a story of four youngsters who all lose their parents around the same time. Realizing that they are devoid of emotion, they put together a kick-ass band to try to recover their ability to feel.
Written and directed by Indonesia’s Kimo Stamboel – one half of the so-called Mo Brothers – “Dreadout: Tower of Hell...
- 10/23/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
One of the goals of the Fourth Annual Asian World Film Festival (October 24 to November 1) is to showcase awards titles at the Arclight Cinemas in Culver City. This year, 14 Oscar and 7 Golden Globes submissions are included in the program.
The festival invites all films chosen by their countries as Oscar or Golden Globe Foreign Film submissions to be part of the selection. One of the festival’s sponsors, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), recognizes selected showings as the required official screenings for their members who vote on the Golden Globes.
The competition, to be judged by a jury led by actress-producer Vivian Wu, includes Oscar titles “Sobibor” (Russia), “Cake” (Pakistan), “Buffalo Boys” (Singapore), “Namme” (Georgia), “Ghost Hunting” (Palestine), “The Signal Rock” (Philippines), “The Journey” (Iraq), “No Date, No Signature” (Iran), “Operation Red Sea” (Hong Kong), “Village Rockstars” (India), and “Panchayat” (Nepal). Out-of-competition titles are Cannes entry “Burning” (South Korea...
The festival invites all films chosen by their countries as Oscar or Golden Globe Foreign Film submissions to be part of the selection. One of the festival’s sponsors, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), recognizes selected showings as the required official screenings for their members who vote on the Golden Globes.
The competition, to be judged by a jury led by actress-producer Vivian Wu, includes Oscar titles “Sobibor” (Russia), “Cake” (Pakistan), “Buffalo Boys” (Singapore), “Namme” (Georgia), “Ghost Hunting” (Palestine), “The Signal Rock” (Philippines), “The Journey” (Iraq), “No Date, No Signature” (Iran), “Operation Red Sea” (Hong Kong), “Village Rockstars” (India), and “Panchayat” (Nepal). Out-of-competition titles are Cannes entry “Burning” (South Korea...
- 10/19/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
One of the goals of the Fourth Annual Asian World Film Festival (October 24 to November 1) is to showcase awards titles at the Arclight Cinemas in Culver City. This year, 14 Oscar and 7 Golden Globes submissions are included in the program.
The festival invites all films chosen by their countries as Oscar or Golden Globe Foreign Film submissions to be part of the selection. One of the festival’s sponsors, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), recognizes selected showings as the required official screenings for their members who vote on the Golden Globes.
The competition, to be judged by a jury led by actress-producer Vivian Wu, includes Oscar titles “Sobibor” (Russia), “Cake” (Pakistan), “Buffalo Boys” (Singapore), “Namme” (Georgia), “Ghost Hunting” (Palestine), “The Signal Rock” (Philippines), “The Journey” (Iraq), “No Date, No Signature” (Iran), “Operation Red Sea” (Hong Kong), “Village Rockstars” (India), and “Panchayat” (Nepal). Out-of-competition titles are Cannes entry “Burning” (South Korea...
The festival invites all films chosen by their countries as Oscar or Golden Globe Foreign Film submissions to be part of the selection. One of the festival’s sponsors, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), recognizes selected showings as the required official screenings for their members who vote on the Golden Globes.
The competition, to be judged by a jury led by actress-producer Vivian Wu, includes Oscar titles “Sobibor” (Russia), “Cake” (Pakistan), “Buffalo Boys” (Singapore), “Namme” (Georgia), “Ghost Hunting” (Palestine), “The Signal Rock” (Philippines), “The Journey” (Iraq), “No Date, No Signature” (Iran), “Operation Red Sea” (Hong Kong), “Village Rockstars” (India), and “Panchayat” (Nepal). Out-of-competition titles are Cannes entry “Burning” (South Korea...
- 10/19/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
In today’s film news roundup, “Buffalo Boys” gets Us distribution, Full Moon Empire buys a library, “Invincible” gets cast and a Liechtenstein-based film fund is announced.
Acquistions
Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired the North American rights to Mike Wiluan’s western “Buffalo Boys,” Singapore’s entry in the foreign-language Academy Awards category, Variety has learned exclusively.
The film stars Yoshi Sudarso, Ario Bayu, Pevita Pearce, Tio Pakusadewo, Conan Stevens and Reinout Bussemaker. “Buffalo Boys” will be released in theaters and VOD on Jan. 11.
The film begins in 19th Century Java as a brutal massacre and the murder of a sultan forces the sultan’s brother and infant sons to flee to the American Wild West. After working the railroads and learning the cowboy way of life, the boys return to their homeland to avenge their father’s death.
“Buffalo Boys” was produced by Mike Wiluan, Huang Junxiang, Tan Fong Cheng,...
Acquistions
Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired the North American rights to Mike Wiluan’s western “Buffalo Boys,” Singapore’s entry in the foreign-language Academy Awards category, Variety has learned exclusively.
The film stars Yoshi Sudarso, Ario Bayu, Pevita Pearce, Tio Pakusadewo, Conan Stevens and Reinout Bussemaker. “Buffalo Boys” will be released in theaters and VOD on Jan. 11.
The film begins in 19th Century Java as a brutal massacre and the murder of a sultan forces the sultan’s brother and infant sons to flee to the American Wild West. After working the railroads and learning the cowboy way of life, the boys return to their homeland to avenge their father’s death.
“Buffalo Boys” was produced by Mike Wiluan, Huang Junxiang, Tan Fong Cheng,...
- 10/3/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Action drama film, “Buffalo Boys” will represent Singapore in the foreign-language Oscars category. The film is directed by Mike Wiluan, who also heads the Infinite Studios production group.
Set in 19th century Java, “Buffalo Boys” blends a Wild West story with rich Indonesian historical and cultural elements. It plays in Bahasa Indonesia language and English.
“’Buffalo Boys’ explores the universally resonating themes of family ties and justice, creatively expressed by Singapore film maker,” said Singapore Film Commission director Joachim Ng. The film had its premiere at the Fantasia festival in Canada in July and played at the New York Asian Film Festival the same month. Its theatrical release in Singapore, which is necessary to complete the qualifying conditions, is set for later this week.
“Buffalo Boys is a cross-cultural film not only in genre and narrative but also in the spirit of collaboration as it is a venture between the Singapore and Indonesian creative economies,...
Set in 19th century Java, “Buffalo Boys” blends a Wild West story with rich Indonesian historical and cultural elements. It plays in Bahasa Indonesia language and English.
“’Buffalo Boys’ explores the universally resonating themes of family ties and justice, creatively expressed by Singapore film maker,” said Singapore Film Commission director Joachim Ng. The film had its premiere at the Fantasia festival in Canada in July and played at the New York Asian Film Festival the same month. Its theatrical release in Singapore, which is necessary to complete the qualifying conditions, is set for later this week.
“Buffalo Boys is a cross-cultural film not only in genre and narrative but also in the spirit of collaboration as it is a venture between the Singapore and Indonesian creative economies,...
- 9/4/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Mike Wiluan’s Buffalo Boys is a pulpy, Wild West-inspired revenge thriller by way of Javanese commemoration. As a directorial debut, it’s enjoyable enough when quad-barrel shotguns blast crooked gentrifiers through saloon windows. As a complete “legends are born” horseback – er, buffaloback – adventure, glossy surface-value filmmaking charts plottable highs and lows without much introspection […]
The post ‘Buffalo Boys’ is a Wild Shotgun Blast of Exciting Action and Overly Familiar Story Beats [Fantasia Film Festival] appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Buffalo Boys’ is a Wild Shotgun Blast of Exciting Action and Overly Familiar Story Beats [Fantasia Film Festival] appeared first on /Film.
- 8/3/2018
- by Matt Donato
- Slash Film
A basic white hat/black hat “B” western despite its novel setting in 19th-century Java, “Buffalo Boys” reps a polished directorial debut for producer Mike Wiluan that’s good fun but feels a bit generically assembled. Still, this tale of exiled brothers returning to avenge their father’s murder by evil colonialists is a colorful popcorn entertainment that should please Asian action fans even if it doesn’t rank among the best films Indonesia has had to offer in recent years. Those thirsting for an old-fashioned Western will find “Boys” diverting enough if a mite cartoonish.
Having fled assassins hired by the Dutch occupiers two decades before, Uncle Arana (Tio Pakusadewo) has raised his slain sultan brother’s two sons in America, where they’ve labored building the transcontinental railroad. Now, reserved Jamar (Ario Bayu) and amiable younger sibling Suwo (Yoshi Sudarso) are strapping young men ready to claim their...
Having fled assassins hired by the Dutch occupiers two decades before, Uncle Arana (Tio Pakusadewo) has raised his slain sultan brother’s two sons in America, where they’ve labored building the transcontinental railroad. Now, reserved Jamar (Ario Bayu) and amiable younger sibling Suwo (Yoshi Sudarso) are strapping young men ready to claim their...
- 7/26/2018
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
In one of the latest tendencies in Asian cinema, production companies from S. Korea and Japan have begun penetrating the Indonesian market, financing local filmmakers to shoot big budget productions (for the country’s standards that is). Cj Entertainment financed Joko Anwar’s “Satan Slaves” for example, while in this case, Nikkatsu funded Mike Wiluan, producer of films like “Headshot” and “Macabre”, to shoot a Western with an Indonesian flavor. The result was this particular movie.
“Buffalo Boys” is screening at the 17th New York Asian Film Festival
In 1860, Arana, Jamar and Suwo return to Indonesia after fleeing to America decades ago, following the massacre of sultan Hamza by Captain Van Trach, during an Indonesian uprising against the Dutch. The sole purpose of the three is to exact revenge from Van Trach. During their search, they stumble upon a group attacking Kiona and her grandfather, and proceed on saving the two.
“Buffalo Boys” is screening at the 17th New York Asian Film Festival
In 1860, Arana, Jamar and Suwo return to Indonesia after fleeing to America decades ago, following the massacre of sultan Hamza by Captain Van Trach, during an Indonesian uprising against the Dutch. The sole purpose of the three is to exact revenge from Van Trach. During their search, they stumble upon a group attacking Kiona and her grandfather, and proceed on saving the two.
- 7/16/2018
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
While you may not know his name, if you're a fan of recent genre films out of South East Asia you are almost certainly familiar with the work of Mike Wiluan. Wiluan has been busy as a producer over the last decade with credits on the Mo Brothers Macabre, action horror picture Dead Mine, scifi action picture Beyond Skyline and recent Iko Uwais starrer Headshot. And Wiluan makes the move to directing now with Indonesian western Buffalo Boys. Shot with the spirit of action-adventure serial throwbacks - think along the lines of the Brendan Fraser starring Mummy films - Buffalo Boys is set during the Dutch occupation of Indonesia with a pair of brothers raised in exile returning home to seek revenge and justice for...
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[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 3/16/2018
- Screen Anarchy
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