Sponsored Fall. A time for football, family, festivities … and films! The Hawaii International Film Festival presented by Halekulani runs from Nov. 7 to 17 on Oahu and as always, local film fans will have an abundant choice of cinematic…
Films that make you laugh, cry and hungry for fried chicken, cheese and soba — there's a lot packed into the Hawaii International Film Festival's April 5-14 Spring Showcase. Think 30 movies from 13 countries, including hits from the film…
Sponsored 2018 has been a particularly strong year for film and once again, the Hawaii International Film Festival presented by Halekulani has done a terrific job of presenting the best the world has to offer. By all means, pore through…
Although the HIFF Spring Showcase presented by Halekulani doesn’t feature as many films as the Fall festival, it can still be tough to choose which films to catch, especially with just 10 days to watch them. Here are our favorite…
Got popcorn? The 37th edition of the Hawaii International Film Festival presented by Halekulani begins tomorrow and runs through Nov. 12 at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 16. And I know I say this every year, but man, the film…
The Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce puts on the 16th annual Korean Festival this weekend and I’m pretty sure I’ve attended every single one. Besides the fact that I always volunteer, there are things I look forward to that draw…
Ever tried frozen custard? No? Well you are denied no longer because Rita’s of Hawaii, a local franchise of the famous East Coast chain, has arrived at the Tiki’s Family Fun Center at Dole Cannery in Iwilei. Walk through the…
The 2017 HIFF Spring Showcase presented by Halekulani kicks off this Friday, March 31st and as always, there are way too many quality films to catch. So here are our picks for what we’re most excited to catch on the…
I’ve already said that I’m not a foodie and I firmly stand by it. Still, as often as I eat out, I can’t help but notice several dining trends that just make me SMH. Some of these have been shared…
Get ready for a fun night of fine dining with a Korean twist, along with a few swigs of soju! The 3rd annual Taste of Korea takes place on Thursday, November 17 and once again this fundraiser for the Hawaii…
Sponsored Not only does the Hawaii International Film Festival bring the best of global cinema to local audiences, it also brings in well-known filmmakers and stars. Film fans have have mingled with the likes of Oh Ji Ho, Daniel Henney…
Sponsored The 36th annual Hawaii International Film Festival runs Nov. 3-13 and as always, there’s a great and varied selection of amazing films from Asia, the Pacific, North America and Europe. How do you pick what to see out of…
After watching the trailer for “The Light Between Oceans,” I was ready for a really good tearjerker based on a popular novel about a married couple who miscarry but then miraculously find a baby floating at sea. As the only…
After a summer full of comic book movies, animated films and unnecessary sequels and reboots, I was hungry for something original and “Don’t Breathe” fit the bill just perfectly. Three young punks eager to get out of their dead end…
I’ll never feel safe driving through the Pali tunnels again. The latest hit to come out of South Korea, “Tunnel” has a simple premise: A man is trapped under debris in a collapsed tunnel and has to fight for survival…
The 15th Annual Korean Festival arrives this weekend and you’d think that after 14 successful years of delicious grinds, cultural presentations and entertaining performances, the Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce would be happy with the status quo. After all, why…
Parents, keep the kiddies at home for this one. Despite the cute animated hot dogs and veggies, “Sausage Party” isn’t for them. Hell, it’s not even for many adults. Based on the very interesting premise that our favorite foods actually…
After the lukewarm reception to “Man of Steel” and “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” it feels like DC figured, if we can’t make fans happy with the most famous comic book characters in history, we might as well go…
I’m not really a Star Trek fan despite enjoying the first two films in this reboot series by J.J. Abrams. He has since left the franchise, moving on to Jedis and BB-8s, but “Star Trek” was definitely left in good…
I honestly had no idea what to expect going into “Train to Busan.” When I received the invitation to review the screener, all I saw was a poster of a man clutching his young daughter as they ran from what…
Hawkins, Indiana. 1983. A boy named Will goes missing on his way home from playing Dungeons and Dragons with his friends. At the same time, a young girl mysteriously appears who may have answers to his whereabouts. Meanwhile, a strange…
I ain’t afraid of no “Ghostbusters” remake. Should you be? This reboot of the 1984 classic has been pretty much condemned from day one. Was it due to the all female twist? Or maybe people were against remakes in general?…
Aw, The Rock is so…cute? “Cute” probably isn’t the first word that comes to mind when thinking of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, but that’s exactly what he is in “Central Intelligence.” The hulking action star always displayed a knack for…
I always do my homework before I travel. While researching where to eat in Las Vegas before my last trip, one fairly new restaurant kept popping up on list after list — Vegas’ Hottest Restaurants, Best Vegas Restaurants, Best New…
I walked into “Me Before You” yearning for a good dose of the “feels.” As much as I love action films, comic book movies and raunchy comedies, I actually appreciate a great tugging of the heart strings once in awhile.…
Where do you absolutely have to visit when vacationing in Las Vegas? Trader Joe’s? Bacchanal Buffet at Caesar’s Palace? The Bellagio fountain show? No matter what you fancy, there’s now another mandatory stop to add to your list: IKEA just…
After six entries, you can’t really blame a film franchise for starting to feel like a used car. It elicits comfort and familiarity rather than adventure and excitement. The ride isn’t so smooth anymore but it’ll still get you where…
Any fan of buddy action films with great storytelling and witty dialogue must know Shane Black’s work. The writer of classics such as “Lethal Weapon,” “The Last Boy Scout,” and “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” certainly knows how to team guys…
Summer. Time for the beach, drinking during the day and partying through the night. Also time for some of the most entertaining films of the year. So get ready to turn that brain off at the door and munch down…
That airport battle scene? Wow. Simply, wow. Comic book fans looking for some real comic-book-type-action translated onto the big screen will be laughing giddily like I was when Cap’s team takes on Iron Man’s in what’s likely to become a…
Key and Peele just made the greatest cat video ever. Seriously, Keanu, the title cat, is the cutest little kitty witty! And I’m saying that as the owner of a beautiful cat named Jet myself. The two comedians (I’m still…
Planning a trip to the City of Angels? No? Well, you might want to book a flight if you’re a fan of Harry Potter. Universal Studios Hollywood just opened up the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in April and since…
Tired of all the monotonous predictability of mainstream Hollywood cinema? Well, you’re in luck because the Hawaii International Film Festival Spring Showcase runs tomorrow, April 2, through April 10 at Dole Theaters and as always, offers up a great variety…
In a likely deliberate move, both DC cinematic universe films, “Man of Steel” and “Batman v Superman,” are incredibly dark and devoid of levity one might expect from a movie about costumed superheroes. But in order to distinguish themselves from…
Netflix started a bold initiative last year when it created a TV version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe where heroes were more human and villains less imposing. Season One of “Daredevil” introduced us to the Man Without Fear who defended…
No one even knew the film “10 Cloverfield Lane” existed a month ago. Then the trailer suddenly drops, teasing a connection to the sleeper 2008 hit “Cloverfield,” and film geeks went nuts with speculation. Would it be a sequel? Would…
I’ll be honest, I was not a fan of “Olympus Has Fallen.” It attempted to be a throwback to ’90s action films but it just took itself way too seriously and it didn’t help that the plot that made absolutely no sense. I…
The original “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” was an elegant film whose story of love and destiny was as beautiful as its balletic martial arts. The sequel … not so much. “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny” has the same…
Whatever happened to predictability? Well, I’m happy to report it’s alive and well in “Fuller House,” the sequel to the popular ’80s and ’90s sitcom “Full House.” And that’s a good thing. Growing up, I loved “Full House.” I loved…
Part “Rudy” and part “Cool Runnings,” “Eddie the Eagle” tells the story of real life British ski jumper Michael “Eddie” Edwards who rose to fame at the 1988 Winter Olympics. For what, exactly? To this day, that remains a mystery…
“Race,” the story of Olympic track and field athlete Jesse Owens opens in theaters Friday, Feb. 19. While I haven’t had a chance to watch and review the film, it did get me thinking fondly about my favorite films with…
Yes! All is now forgiven for that horrible portrayal of Deadpool in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” Gone are the ridiculous arm blades and the foolish decision to sew his mouth shut. There’s a reason he’s called the “merc with a mouth!”…
The latest Korean movie to play in local theaters is a real head scratcher. Based on the true story of a world famous children’s choir composed of Korean War orphans, “A Melody to Remember” seems like it should be an…
I knew you still had it in you, Michael Bay. When hipster film geeks doubted and badmouthed you online, I stayed loyal. After all, how could the director of classics such as “Bad Boys,” “The Rock” and “Armageddon” possibly be…
The best thing I can say about “Ride Along 2” is that it’s not as bad as the first one. Despite the talents of Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, the first “Ride Along” was an absolute bore and yet it…
Now that 2015 has come and gone, it’s time to look ahead to the cinematic offerings of 2016. Of course there will be tons of sequels, comic book films and film franchises with new entries, but a few original films…
It always surprises me when I look back each year and realize how many movies I watched. This year, I saw exactly 80 2015 releases. Whoa. When did I find the time? As always, it was tremendously difficult to narrow…
You ever read a book that was a literal page-turner you just couldn’t put down? That happened to me once. I was sick one day in college and decided to start reading Michael Crichton’s “Rising Sun.” I was so engrossed…
I had a strong interest in seeing “Concussion.” Not only am I a huge fan of NFL football, but one of my favorite players ever, Junior Seau of the San Diego Chargers, committed suicide three years ago at age 43…
(This review is 100 percent spoiler free.) Years of hype and anticipation are finally over for film fans all over the world as the new “Star Wars” installment, “The Force Awakens” opens in theaters this week. So, does it live…
