Japan Cuts lineup and schedule!

Japan Cuts, the precocious, slightly more intellectual older cousin of the New York Asian Film Festival has announced it's 2011 lineup and schedule.

You can check it out here!

As can be expected from previous years, it's an impressive array of films that run a bit tamer than those being screened at the NYAFF...except, of course, for the films co-presented by both festivals.

The update offers some much appreciated insight into the as-of-yet unannounced NYAFF schedule.

Hopefully, some of the films that will screen at Japan Society will also receive earlier screenings at the Walter Reade theater. At the least, this will be the case with Milocrorze: A Love Story, which is being shown by Japan Cuts on July 10, but will be a part of the NYAFF's opening night on July 1.

I certainly hope the same will be true for Battle Royale, which Japan Cuts will show on July 8. I would very much like to see this classic in the Walter Reade Theater's superior screening room.

Action fans: Turn your attention to Saturday, July 9's over the top extravaganza. Japan Society will host Gantz, Gantz 2, Miike Takashi's Ninja Kids, and Tak Sakaguchi's Yakuza Weapon!?! It's a move that dares you to leave before the night is over.

One has to wonder kind of counter programming will be on hand across town at the Walter Reade. How about some titles from the Sea of Vengeance series of movies from Korea. That would make for quite the international culture clash!