Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
Less Than $800 Gets You to Tokyo for Four Nights “Tourism to Japan has dropped by more than 60% since the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and ongoing nuclear reactor leaks.” If you’re a Japan enthusiast (like we are), you know that for the right price you’ll jump on a plane to Tokyo or Osaka at the drop of a hat. Well, for the remarkable price of $780 per person, the Japan National Tourist Organization is offering round trip airfare (from select US cities) and four night’s accommodation in Tokyo. You’d better hurry, though, as this offer ends this Tuesday, May 31st, and some departure dates have already been sold out. (L.A. Times – Cheap Tokyo Package) What Exactly is Boutaoshi? No one outside Japan is quite sure what to make of Boutaoshi. It seems to combine elements of soccer, rugby, capture the flag, and a sports riot. In the video on Laughing Squid, you’ll see a guy on a pole, men ripping each other’s jerseys, and a vague sense that the players are not only organized in some strange way, but are actually enjoying themselves. Check it out and make up your own mind. (Laughing Squid – Boutaoshi) Japan Security Watch actually has a summary of some of the game’s rules, which you can read on their site. (Japan Security Watch – Boutaoshi) You can also pick up a Region 2 copy of a Boutaoshi movie on DVD. We’re interested to know what kind of scripted story can be made about such an odd sport, so drop us a line if you see the movie. (YesAsia – Boutaoshi DVD) Korean Filmmakers Chase Hollywood Success “The biggest obstacle for Korean films to advance into Hollywood is that the U.S. movie industry is largely based on personal networks.” If you’ve seen films like Joon-ho Bong’s “Mother”, or Park Chan-wook’s “Oldboy”, you know that Korean cinema is as fresh, artistic and vital as anything made in the U.S. or Europe. Yet, with certain occasional exceptions, Korean filmmakers have had a heck of a time gaining recognition and success in Hollywood. And it isn’t always the tight-knit nature of the Hollywood community keeping Korean directors on the outs. The directors might just be sabotaging themselves. (Korea Herald – Korean Films and Hollywood) Will “Sex and Zen 3D” bring “Extreme Ecstasy” to America? “It is just like being a voyeur near someone’s bed.” It seems like a pretty logical, naturally-progressing idea, using 3D technology to make a pornographic film. We’re pretty sure for some folks it’s a dream come true. And that’s what the producers and American distributor of “Sex and Zen 3D: Extreme Ecstasy” are banking on. The film out-grossed “Avatar” on its opening day in Hong Kong, and it has done very respectable business in Australia and New Zealand. Not bad for what is being described as essentially a blue movie on steroids. So, although a final release date has not been set, look for “Extreme Ecstasy” soon in a movie theater near you! (Hollywood...
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GR Time 5/27/11
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Japan Unveils Massive Solar Ring Plan for the Moon “Shimizu Corporation proposes the Luna Ring for the infinite coexistence of mankind and the Earth.” One of Japan’s biggest construction companies is perhaps the last source you’d expect to propose encircling the Moon with solar panels to provide us with unlimited energy. NASA, Japan’s JAXA, or the Russian Federal Space Agency? Sure. Still, Shimizu’s proposal, which currently has no established timeline, could in theory provide the Earth with 13,000 terawatts of free and clean solar power. Uh, after the 6,800 mile-long solar ring and the moon-based power transfer facility are built, that is. (The Mail Online – Solar Ring Plan for the Moon) Korean Chef’s Continental Mission “Korean cuisine has a much more complicated flavor profile than soy sauce and kimchi.” Korean celebrity chef Edward Kwon loves to play with kimchi. But he is also out to prove to the rest of us that elements of Korean cuisine are not only world-class, but can be happily incorporated into traditional continental cooking styles. (CNNGo – Chef Edward Kwon) U.S. 9th Circuit Is Not In Liu “He is withdrawing because there is little prospect that the Senate will ever vote on his nomination.” Berkeley law professor Gordon Liu withdraws his name from nomination to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The liberal scholar had been appointed by President Obama, but GOP members of the Senate filibustered to block a vote which may have approved his nomination. (NPR – Professor Gordon Liu) Chinese Prisoners Farm Virtual Gold “Prison bosses made more money forcing inmates to play games than they do forcing people to do manual labor,” Imagine working 12 hours a day at hard prison labor, then being forced to play online games for the benefit of your jailers. Under penalty of physical abuse with, say, plastic pipes. A former prisoner of China’s Jixi Labor Camp tells the story of how prison bosses made him and his fellow inmates play online games (like World of Warcraft) for virtual currency. (Guardian UK – Online Gaming Prisoners) Lacrosse in Shanghai? “People look at you strangely when you mention lacrosse.” Lacrosse, a quintessentially American sport, didn’t exist in Shanghai three years ago. Now, thanks to the support of the Federation of International Lacrosse and an encouraging expatriate coach, a group of Chinese students have their eyes set on the Lacrosse World Championship in 2014. (CNNGo – Shanghai Lacrosse Players)
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As seen in Deadline: “Meledandri told me he first started seeing the designs at the Giant Robot store near his home over a decade ago, and “I remember the immediate appeal and connection that the characters had for me. They are simple in design, expressive in personality, and once I got to know David and Sun-Min, I learned there was a mythology and a world behind this,” he said. Deadline. That’s Chris Meledandri above who was at the Uglydoll Photos from the Uglyverse exhibition. Yes, we had to keep it underwraps since then. How long ago was that? Here’s the photos from their exhibition. Congrats to David and Sun-min and the rest of the Uglydoll crew.
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