Fantasia International Film Festival 2019
Fantasia International Film Festival 2019
Sunday July 14, 2019
The Birthday Wonderland (Japan)
Quirky, fun, and colourful other world fantasy.
Hit-and-Run Squad (South Korea)
Police procedural with political undertones. Good car chases.
Shadow (China)
Beautiful cinematography and costumes in muted palates of black, white, gray, with pops of red.
Monday July 15, 2019
Away (Latvia)
While not the smoothest animation it still had some amazing camera work with breathtaking visuals. 3.5 years of work by director/animator.
Bruce McDonald's Dreamland (Canada/Belgium)
Film noire at it's weirdest.
Tuesday July 16, 2019
Porno (USA)
Great throw back to teen horror movies of the 80s and 90s. SFX were suitably gory, especially for the males in the audience.
We Are Little Zombies (Japan_
Quirky and interesting indictment on pop culture exploitation in Japan.
Wednesday July 17, 2019
Stare (Japan)
Tries to be Ringu but falls flat at times.
Dreadout (Indonesia)
Suitably creepy with efficient use of limited resources for costuming and locations.
Thursday July 18
Sadako (Japan)
A retelling of Ringu with the origin of Sadako.
Almost A Miracle (Japan)
Adorable clueless lead male in the romance comedy of teen love for misfits.
Friday July 19, 2019
It Comes (Japan) (Last minute addition due to free passes.)
Same director of Memories of Matcsuko. The extreme juxtaposition of the bright facade the father portrays on his family versus the dark reality. Add in the growing horrific threat with the superhuman measures to eliminate it made for a pretty amazing spectacle.
The Wretched (USA)
Solid mystery with horror elements amalgamating two kinds of witches with good special make up effects make this movies very memorable.
Saturday July 20, 2019
Ride Your Wave (Japan)
Bright, cheery, sappy but does get gray and depressed after a tragedy. This movie pack a punch and is well animated in 2D and 3D.
Killer Cups 3D (Canada)
Cheesy homemade movie. I liked the villainous Styrofoam cups more than the humans.
Gintama 2; Rules Are Made To Be Broken (Japan)
Yep, it's a live action version Gintama, including the barbershop sequence. I covered my ears and closed my eyes as this one makes gag even just remembering it.
8 (South Africa)
Beautifully shot with compelling characters. The monster was monstrous without being CG because it's amazing that casting a ballet dancer does to the body movement.
Sunday July 21, 2019
Cencoroll Connect (Japan)
Kinda odd, it felt incomplete but still amusing in some ways.
Things That Go Bump in the East (Mixed Asian Shorts)
A good mix of up and coming animators from Asia.
Monday July 22, 2019
Fly Me to the Saitama (Japan)
Over the top barely describes this comedy. And it has Gackt.
Bliss (USA)
Toreador Neonate gone crazy. Using real film made it look seedy and the actors looked like normal people from the seamier side of LA. And George Wendt of Cheers and Abraham Benrubi from ER have small parts.
Overall had a good time. Got two posters from Daniel and 2 free passes from Media Credentials girl.
Sunday July 14, 2019
The Birthday Wonderland (Japan)
Quirky, fun, and colourful other world fantasy.
Hit-and-Run Squad (South Korea)
Police procedural with political undertones. Good car chases.
Shadow (China)
Beautiful cinematography and costumes in muted palates of black, white, gray, with pops of red.
Monday July 15, 2019
Away (Latvia)
While not the smoothest animation it still had some amazing camera work with breathtaking visuals. 3.5 years of work by director/animator.
Bruce McDonald's Dreamland (Canada/Belgium)
Film noire at it's weirdest.
Tuesday July 16, 2019
Porno (USA)
Great throw back to teen horror movies of the 80s and 90s. SFX were suitably gory, especially for the males in the audience.
We Are Little Zombies (Japan_
Quirky and interesting indictment on pop culture exploitation in Japan.
Wednesday July 17, 2019
Stare (Japan)
Tries to be Ringu but falls flat at times.
Dreadout (Indonesia)
Suitably creepy with efficient use of limited resources for costuming and locations.
Thursday July 18
Sadako (Japan)
A retelling of Ringu with the origin of Sadako.
Almost A Miracle (Japan)
Adorable clueless lead male in the romance comedy of teen love for misfits.
Friday July 19, 2019
It Comes (Japan) (Last minute addition due to free passes.)
Same director of Memories of Matcsuko. The extreme juxtaposition of the bright facade the father portrays on his family versus the dark reality. Add in the growing horrific threat with the superhuman measures to eliminate it made for a pretty amazing spectacle.
The Wretched (USA)
Solid mystery with horror elements amalgamating two kinds of witches with good special make up effects make this movies very memorable.
Saturday July 20, 2019
Ride Your Wave (Japan)
Bright, cheery, sappy but does get gray and depressed after a tragedy. This movie pack a punch and is well animated in 2D and 3D.
Killer Cups 3D (Canada)
Cheesy homemade movie. I liked the villainous Styrofoam cups more than the humans.
Gintama 2; Rules Are Made To Be Broken (Japan)
Yep, it's a live action version Gintama, including the barbershop sequence. I covered my ears and closed my eyes as this one makes gag even just remembering it.
8 (South Africa)
Beautifully shot with compelling characters. The monster was monstrous without being CG because it's amazing that casting a ballet dancer does to the body movement.
Sunday July 21, 2019
Cencoroll Connect (Japan)
Kinda odd, it felt incomplete but still amusing in some ways.
Things That Go Bump in the East (Mixed Asian Shorts)
A good mix of up and coming animators from Asia.
Monday July 22, 2019
Fly Me to the Saitama (Japan)
Over the top barely describes this comedy. And it has Gackt.
Bliss (USA)
Toreador Neonate gone crazy. Using real film made it look seedy and the actors looked like normal people from the seamier side of LA. And George Wendt of Cheers and Abraham Benrubi from ER have small parts.
Overall had a good time. Got two posters from Daniel and 2 free passes from Media Credentials girl.