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Northwest Asian Weekly

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An ex-banker becomes a gamer

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He told himself that he could make something like it. That was the moment he became a board game creator. In the following weeks, he created six games. He had his friends test them out, though they weren’t too impressed with his initial efforts.

5 ways to celebrate a Chinese Thanksgiving

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As is inevitable with most major holidays, Thanksgiving Day’s historical and cultural roots (dating more than 350 years ago) have long been traded in for cross-cultural exposure and mass marketing in the United States. Though it may sound bad, it has its advantages.

“Ninja” big on gore, lacking in dialogue

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“Ninja Assassin,” the new film from director James McTeigue, begins with a Japanese tattoo artist working on a yakuza’s back. Blood flows down from the tattoo needle. With only short respites, blood also flows throughout the rest of the film. Blood isn’t enough, however, to compensate for the film’s anemia in other areas.

“Red Cliff” was cut in half, and it shows

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“Red Cliff” is John Woo’s first Chinese movie since 1991’s “Once a Thief.” His new film triumphs over the cutting of the footage which is almost as cruel as the cuttings of so many characters over the film’s running time. Conceived as a four-hour epic in two parts, it reaches the United States as a single film that runs two and a half hours.

“Horse Boy” touching, if a little uninformed

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Before leaving his home in Texas for Mongolia with his wife and autistic son, author and horse trainer Rupert Isaacson seems eager for the trip as he calls it a “gateway to adventure, a gateway to healing.”

Chinese silent films an important mirror of history, says local author

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Chinese silent films provides a window into history and a reflection of social issues of the time, says Seattle author Richard Meyer, who spoke about his new book, “Jin Yan: The Rudolph Valentino of Shanghai,” at the University Bookstore on Oct. 21.

Filipino movie director dishes on his project: A grim horror film

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Norbert Caoili admits, with a smile, that his last name is pronounced “cow-wheelie.” In fact, he does almost everything with a smile. Sitting in a Seattle coffee shop, dressed smartly with a sweater and crisp jeans, he radiates confidence and warmth. He hardly seems like one of the masterminds behind a grim horror picture which opens with a woman who is slowly and savagely beaten to death.

Action-packed “Ong-Bak 2” doesn’t disappoint

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At age 33, Thailand’s Tony Jaa seems poised to replace Jackie Chan in the world of Asian martial arts film. Like Jackie Chan, Jaa’s movies emphasize all-natural fights and stunts. They avoid the use of computer graphics and stuntman substitutions for the leading man.

Paz sings a new tune for Asian American actors

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“I pretty much got my education in theater, on the road, on that tour in each city. … I kind of went to the University of [Miss] Saigon,” actress Jennifer Paz said laughingly.