ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES — Over the past year there has been an influx of films featuring minority actors and themes. Black Panther continues to rake in money, and Pixar’s Coco (2017) won Best Animated Feature at the 2018 Oscars. This month, we have Crazy Rich Asians, based on Kevin Kwan’s…
Full Article FILM: Crazy Rich Asians Review
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES — The end of summer marks the start of the academic year, and I am ecstatic to go back to school. But this time, I will be in graduate school pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Policy at the USC Price School of Public Policy. I figured…
Full Article MOVING ON: Alexis Cruz Bids Farewell to Asia Media
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – Anthony Bourdain, the American celebrity chef and documentarian perhaps best known as tour guide/TV host of the CNN series “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown,” died June 8, but his taste for international cuisine, culture and adventure lives on. Some of the best “Parts Unknown” episodes took place…
Full Article TV: Anthony Bourdain on Asia
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – In just four years, Qatar will become the center of the sports world as host country of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the world’s premiere sports event. Hence, when this year’s World Cup in Russia concludes, Qatar is anticipated to become the focus of massive media…
Full Article QATAR: ITS CUP RUNNETH OVER WITH THE OBVIOUS AND THE LESS SO
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – If Hong Sang-soo had given an interview about how much he loved French cinema, the South Korean director wouldn’t have had to make a movie about it. But the man’s job is to make movies—especially perceptive ones that tackle the complexities of human relationships. He’s even…
Full Article KOREAN CINEMA: IS DIRECTOR HONG A CLOSET GODARD OR TRUFFAUT??
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – There’s no doubt, movies about food are cruel to the eyes and stomach. They tease you with something you cannot smell nor taste, and sight alone doesn’t let you experience the food. “Ramen Head” is just that, featuring bowl after bowl of steamy noodles and broth…
Full Article MOVIE REVIEW: ‘RAMEN HEAD’ – NOODLE LOVE IS SUCH A MANY SPLENDORED THING!
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh ended its tenure as the world’s most glamorous jail. It was the only prison with five-star service, until its detainees moved out and the hotel became available to guests who came voluntarily. In November 2017, the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s…
Full Article SAUDI ARABIA: RITZ PRISONERS WALKING FREE MEANS BIGGER MEDIA CONTROL
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – The Saudi government lifted a 35-year ban on movie theaters in January. Saudi citizens are now able to experience the thrill of a big screen in their country. Is this the beginning of a typical Hollywood happy ending? For this momentous occasion, a film festival in…
Full Article SAUDI ARABIA: MOVIE THEATERS MAKING A COMEBACK AFTER 35 YEARS IN THE DARK
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – Fans of South Korean cinema know the country can produce world class horror, thriller and even rom-com films. You can add political biopic to that list, with the December release of “1987: When the Day Comes.” This moving film centers on the government’s botched cover up…
Full Article FILM REVIEW: ‘1987 When the Day Comes’
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES — The Asian World Film Festival took place this past week October 25 – November 2. The festival commenced with the opening night screening of “Ayla: The Daughter of War.” Asia Media International was honored to be able to cover the event and share reviews of our…
Full Article LOS ANGELES: SPECTACULAR ‘ASIAN WORLD FILM FESTIVAL’ PROJECTS THE RAW STORIES OF ASIA WITH PANACHE
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – Travel through Asia without leaving your movie theater seat. From October 25, 2017 to November 2, 2017, the third annual Asian World Film Festival is on grand display at the Arclight Theater in Culver City, California. The festival is shaping up to be a great exhibit…
Full Article LOS ANGELES: SPECTACULAR AND COSMOPOLITAN ASIAN WORLD FILM FESTIVAL
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – More than 100 days of diplomatic crisis have taken their toll on Qatar. While fighting has yet to break out, proxy shots have most certainly been fired in the press and on the airwaves between Qatar and the quartet of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab…
Full Article QATAR: BATTLE OF THE PRESSES
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – From its creation, Al Jazeera was bound to incite controversy. Though state-funded, it was the first allegedly independent news network in a region tightly regulated by the government. Contentious coverage of neighboring countries brought the network plenty of threats, but none lasted. Still, the threats to…
Full Article QATAR: ISRAEL JOINS THE FIGHT AGAINST AL JAZEERA
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – The expression “She’s got it all” seems particularly apt for the new Netflix film “Okja” and its cloven-hooved lead. Okja the character is smart, brave, loyal and loving, to a degree befitting her elephantine size (for the record, Okja’s sex is uncertain but we’ll call her…
Full Article SOUTH KOREA: Netflix’s ‘Okja’ is Some Pig
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – In 1996, Qatar laid the foundation to become a regional power when it created the news network, Al Jazeera. Qatar’s growing influence even granted the Middle Eastern underdog the FIFA 2022 World Cup. Now, the same source that won Qatar’s recognition is threatening Qatar’s diplomatic relationships…
Full Article QATAR: WHAT TO DO WITH AL JAZEERA?
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES –Turns out, if there’s one place that U.S. President Donald Trump can count on for a warm welcome, it’s Saudi Arabia. As unlikely as that seemed at the height of last year’s presidential election, the Middle Eastern kingdom welcomed Trump with open arms on his recent visit.…
Full Article SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI MEDIA FEEL THE LOVE FOR TRUMP