CADY ABE WRITES — In preparation of the Holiday season, Netflix released the new Christmas movie, Love Hard, on November 5th, 2021. The movie premiered with an all-star cast, most notably comedian Jimmy Yang and The Vampire Diaries’ Nina Dobrev as the two romantic leads. Amid all the large steps…
Full Article MOVIE REVIEW: “LOVE HARD” BREAKING THROUGH ORIENTALIST VIEW
HEIDI SCHUBERT WRITES — A new Netflix series called “Squid Game” is a popular, ultraviolent drama in which people take part in a fatal game derived from traditional children’s activities. In doing so, it provides a window into how South Korean people might behave towards one another and what they’ll…
Full Article SOUTH KOREA: NETFLIX’S ‘SQUID GAME’ WILL MAKE YOU SQUIRM
ABEER ABUNAYYAN WRITES FROM SAUDI ARABIA – Operating in an increasingly competitive industry, Netflix has been pursuing an aggressive growth strategy intended to increase and diversify its programming whilst gaining access to new, high-potential markets. Having consolidated its position in the United States, the company has spent the past few…
Full Article SAUDI ARABIA: HOW TELFAZ11’S PARTNERSHIP WITH NETFLIX IS GOING TO AFFECT THE SAUDI FILM INDUSTRY
CADY-BREE ABE WRITES — The new Netflix live action “Avatar the Last Airbender” TV series was set for release in 2020, but due to COVID-19, production has been delayed until 2021. Skeptical fans are not optimistic about the outcome. Here’s why. Many fans agree that the introduction to every episode…
Full Article ASIAN FUSION: WILL NETFLIX’S NEXT “AVATAR” SERIES WHITEWASH THE ASIAN-INSPIRED ORIGINAL?
CADY-BREE ABE WRITES — Both audiences and critics alike are over the moon for, yes, Over the Moon, the newest computer animated feature to hit Netflix on October 23. The Chinese film, produced by Peilin Chou (“Kung Fu Panda,” “Abominable”), stars Chinese-Filipina actress/singer Cathy Ang as Fei Fei, American born…
Full Article CHINA: THE NEW ANIMATED FEATURE “OVER THE MOON” OUTSHINES “MULAN”
NATHAN RIVAS WRITES – As we approach the release date for “Jojo Rabbit” by Taika Waititi, the acclaimed indigenous director from New Zealand, it has become apparent that indigenous creators there as well as in Australia are in increasing demand in Hollywood. For example, top Down Under actors such as Jemaine…
Full Article Netflix: This ‘Down Under’ Town, With Its Racism, Corruption and Sex Trafficking, Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Them
NATHAN RIVAS WRITES – Once again, anime has come to Tinsel Town. Sort of. A few weeks ago, Warner Bros. announced that Lana Wachowski will write and direct a fourth Matrix film, with actors Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprising their roles as Neo and Trinity. Never mind that the…
Full Article AROUND THE PACIFIC RIM: FAUX ANIME IN THE SHADOWS OF THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN
FASSA SAR WRITES – Amazon and Netflix are now battling it out to gain the eyeballs of millions of Indian television viewers. These two company giants are moving away from the traditional Hollywood strategy where television and film are created for American audiences with the hope they catch some international…
Full Article FILM: AMAZON AND NETFLIX TURN INDIA INTO A HUGE CREATIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR ITS BEST YOUNG TV AND MOVIE TALENTS
EPIPHANY HULBURD WRITES — Over the past couple of years, Asian content has slowly been making its way into the Western mainstream entertainment world. Whether it’s through co-productions with China or the constantly spreading influence of Korean pop culture, otherwise known as “Hallyu,” the content consumed by Americans and Western…
Full Article FILM: FIVE MUST-SEE CLASSIC ASIA FILMS NOW ON NETFLIX
TIARA SALVABILLA WRITES – Alchemiya, the so-called “Netflix for Muslims,” is making a play for Asia. The video on demand (VOD) service is known for shedding positive light on Muslims and Muslim culture. Since its launch in 2014 it has gained thousands of users from 10 different countries and is…
Full Article SOUTHEAST ASIA: AXIATA POPULARITY GROWS, SPREADING MUSLIM POSITIVITY
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
YI NING WONG WRITES – Netflix Original, Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower, tells the story of young Hong Kong activist, Joshua Wong, as he leads the infamous Umbrella Revolution against China in 2014. Directed by Joe Piscatella, the docufiction keeps its viewers interested, featuring the inception of a student organized pro-democracy…
Full Article CHINA: NETFLIX FALLS SHORT WITH ITS UMBRELLA REVOLUTION ORIGINAL FILM
JAMES ROYCE WRITES — Piracy rates in Australia have dropped in recent months, and the introduction of Netflix this March might be the culprit. The video streaming giant sees itself as a key competitor to the many pirate sites and services that offer video content illegally around the world. By…
Full Article AUSTRALIA: Online Piracy Starting to Feel the “Netflix Effect”
LEXIE TUCKER WRITES – As of September 2, the citizens of Japan have been able to “Netflix and chill” to their heart’s content. Be that as it may, it looks as though they aren’t really into binge-watching uber popular, original series such as “House of Cards” or “Orange in the…
Full Article JAPAN: Netflix and Shrug
ROBERT DYLAN FIELDS WRITES – When most people hear the word “animation,” the first thing that comes to mind are often animated works from figures such as Walt Disney. A lot of the time, however, they do not step back and consider what the word animation really means. The word “animation”…
Full Article DOCUMENTARY REVIEW: The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness
VERONICA BANEZ WRITES – Lightbox, Neon, Netflix, Quickflix, Sky TV. These are only a few of the many streaming movie and television services that are provided in New Zealand. James Croot and Blayne Slabbert, writers for the website Stuff.com, really put into perspective the wide range of differences between all…
Full Article NEW ZEALAND: The Rise of Convenient Entertainment