Review of the San Diego Asian Film Festivalhttp://www.sdaff.org/festival/2008/news.html

I am no means a professional movie critic, but I am definitely a movie fan, and I was pleased with this year's film selections.  Kudos to all those who work so hard putting these films together.  The festival ends on 10/23, if you're in the San Diego area, I encourage you to check it out. 

1.  I Heart U.   A collection of shorts about what else, but 'love'.   I loved them all, but my favorites by far were "California King",  "The Postcard", and "First Crush".   The Postcard had an interesting twist - you observe a handsome man who comes into the post office frequently to send 'postcards' and 'packages' is really sending them to himself.  When the postal clerks (female) realize this, they start reading the post card and discover there is a secret underlying message.. "Your eyes, your hair, your uniform are nice..."  And later, an invite to his house.  So one of the female clerks decides to take up on the offer, assuming that the messages were directed at her.  But it turns out, his messages were all along for the actual postman who delivers the packages/mail.  He had a crush on him the whole time.  And the postman realized it too, and he runs up to meet his admirer - but then sees the female postal clerk in the doorway.  And is confused.  Great timing huh?  So he leaves and the last scene, the postman is in a bathhouse devastated and broken-hearted, because he thinks that the admirer was sending the messages to the girl all along. 

2.  Animation: the Illusion of Life.  A collection of shorts of amazing creative, and animated works.  I was impressed with the level of talent these students have in producing these films.  It was such a wide variety, from Flash, to 3D, and even completely hand-drawn work (Imagine how long this must take!)  My favorites:  The Possum (Chris Choy), Yellow Sticky Notes (Jeff Chiba Stearns, Meat Days (Joe Hsieh), Magicicada (Benett Kim), Apple/Bird & the Bee (Dennis Liu), and Ketchup (Wenchung Lu) 

3.  Kuro-obi aka "Black Belt" was a well-executed martial arts film showing the distinction of good vs. evil and honor of inheriting the belt.  Plus I like how one of the main characters kicks the cigarette out of anothers' mouth.  Just the right amount of ass-kicking. 

4.  Accuracy of Death.  Such an amazing plot tied together through a series of lives and stories, and underlying messages.  Takeshi Kaneshiro is excellent in this film as the grim reaper.  And I actually liked the dog, who had such a small but entertaining role.  Quirky, comedic, and heart-warming.