NOC Review: Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, and Tonatiuh in ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’

September 23, 2025October 10, 2025 Rosana Maris Arias

Kiss of the Spider Woman, starring Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, and Tonatiuh, is slated to hit theaters on October 10. The two-hour film pays tribute to Hollywood, the film industry, the movie musical, actors, and the idea of celebrity. Highlights from the film include actor Tonatiuh’s performance, Lopez’s dancing, and the use of Technicolor film processing.

Movies, Video Games

The ‘Mortal Kombat II’ Trailer Replaces Cole for Cage

July 17, 2025July 20, 2025 Mike Manalo

As huge fans of Johnny Cage and all of his action films, we were thrilled yesterday when we got a mysterious package with a DVD of Cage’s latest movie, Uncaged Fury. Little did we know that Cage himself went missing … Continue reading The ‘Mortal Kombat II’ Trailer Replaces Cole for Cage

Reviews, Streaming

‘Interior Chinatown’ Satirizes Hollywood’s Stereotypes of Asian Americans

November 15, 2024November 19, 2024 Michael Lee

Hulu’s adaptation of Charles Yu’s Interior Chinatown is anything but conventional. The novel’s unique format allows readers to explore the world of police procedurals through the eyes of a background character while also addressing how Asian Americans have been portrayed in mainstream media.

Streaming, Television

‘Pachinko’ Season 2 Trailer Features Desperation, Past Loves, and New Beginnings

July 22, 2024July 22, 2024 Laura Sirikul

The anticipated Apple TV+ critically acclaimed drama Pachinko season two trailer is finally here! The eight-episode season of the series will premiere globally on Friday, August 23, with one episode, followed by weekly episodes every Friday through October 11.

Literature, Streaming

Hulu Offers First Look at Charles Yu’s ‘Interior Chinatown’ Adaptation

July 11, 2024July 12, 2024 Keith Chow

Generic Asian Man is finally the lead of a real television show! Today, Hulu revealed a first look at the adaptation of Charles Yu’s National Book Award-winning novel, Interior Chinatown. While the book itself was formatted like a television script, the series will not be a one-for-one adaptation but will retain the original’s satirical spirit.

Books, Streaming, Television

Prime Video Releases First Look at ‘Expats’

September 7, 2023September 7, 2023 Laura Sirikul

Prime Video released their first-look images for Expats, the six-part limited series based on the internationally best-selling novel The Expatriates by Janice Y.K. Lee. Directed by Lulu Wang, Expats stars Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue, Ji-young Yoo, Brian Tee, and Jack Huston.

Anime, Movies1 Comment

‘The Boy and the Heron’ is an Unnecessary Title Change for Hayao Miyazaki’s Final Film

July 21, 2023July 20, 2023 Lauren Lola

Last Friday, the highly anticipated final film from Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki (that is, unless, he decides to come out of retirement again for the umpteenth time), How Do You Live?, was at long last released in Japan. That same day, film distributor GKIDS announced that it had acquired the North American distribution rights for the film, and set it to come out later this year. The big kicker is that it will be released not as How Do You Live?, but under a different title, The Boy and the Heron.

Animation, Interview, Movies

Jeff Kinney Talks ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules’

December 2, 2022December 2, 2022 Michael Lee

Disney continues its animated adaptation run of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series with an all new sequel, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. Based on the second book of the same name, Greg Heffley continues to navigate his adolescent life while also having to deal with the complications of growing up, including dealing with his rock-out-loud older brother Rodrick.

Fantasy, Streaming1 Comment

Oh My Demigod: Disney+ Reveals ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Trio

May 5, 2022June 23, 2022 Keith Chow

Disney has just officially announced Aryan Simhadri (Disney’s Spin) and Leah Sava Jeffries (Empire) will play Grover and Annabeth, respectively, in the upcoming Disney+ original series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Simhadri and Jeffries will star alongside Adam Project star Walker Scobell who was recently cast as Percy in this epic adventure.

Books, Movies, Television

More AAPI Supernatural Recommendations for Fans of Disney’s ‘So Weird’

May 3, 2022May 3, 2022 Lauren Lola

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month everyone! Last year, to acknowledge both this annual commemoration of contributions from the AAPI community and the ever-present following of the ’90s Disney Channel original series, So Weird, I compiled together a list of supernatural recommendations, created by and about people of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Interview, Streaming

Stars of Apple TV+’s ‘Pachinko’ Discuss Bringing the Novel To Life

March 24, 2022March 17, 2023 Laura Sirikul

Apple TV+ new series Pachinko premieres this week, and we could not be more excited. Based on the bestselling novel by Min Jin Lee, Pachinko chronicles the struggles and successes of four generations of a Korean immigrant family living in Japan.

Anime, Music, Streaming

Putting the ‘Bebop’ in ‘Cowboy Bebop’ with Steve Aoki and John Cho

November 19, 2021November 19, 2021 Mike Manalo

It’s time to jam Bebop fans! Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop debuts today! And while it isn’t perfect, it’s still pretty fun in a pretty campy way. However, the one thing the show gets right is the music! And heavily inspired by the terrific music of the original anime, the music in the new adaptation pays homage, while managing to carve out its own identity for itself (much like the show as a whole). And someone who knows all about that is iconic DJ Steve Aoki!

Anime, Reviews, Streaming1 Comment

NOC Review: ‘Cowboy Bebop’ is a Mixed Bag That Will Test the Purists

November 15, 2021November 18, 2021 Mike Manalo

So much like my review for Snake Eyes, I will set a disclaimer about the fact that I’m by no means a hardcore Cowboy Bebop fan. I’ve seen the full series once through in my life, and I do like it. And I’ve rewatched some of my favorite episodes numerous times, particularly in preparation for the release of this series. But I’m not as emotionally attached or invested in the series as many out there are.

Anime, Streaming

‘Cowboy Bebop’ Official Trailer and New Poster Drop

October 26, 2021October 26, 2021 Mike Manalo

We are almost to November 19 everyone! Which means we’re that much closer to the premiere of Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop!

DC Comics, Streaming

Yoshi Sudarso is Finally Nightwing in Live Action ‘Batman: Wayne Family Adventures’

October 6, 2021October 8, 2021 Keith Chow

Well, it finally happened! Long time friend of the NOC, Yoshi Sudarso, has been cast as Nightwing in an upcoming live-action adaptation of Webtoon’s popular Batman: Wayne Family Adventures webcomic.

Anime, Streaming, Television

Netflix Unleashes ‘Cowboy Bebop’ Opening Credits

September 25, 2021September 25, 2021 Mike Manalo

Our first footage of Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop is finally here! As predicted, right on the heels of the poster drop yesterday, the streaming service teamed up with the show’s cast during today’s TUDUM event to unveil the first look to all the rabid fans who have been patiently waiting to see it! And it didn’t disappoint! It’s an almost perfect recreation of the classic anime’s intro!

Anime, Streaming, Television1 Comment

New Poster Revealed for Netflix’s ’Cowboy Bebop’

September 24, 2021September 24, 2021 Mike Manalo

This morning Netflix dropped a sweet poster ahead of Netflix’s #TUDUM event tomorrow. Check it out here!

Anime, Streaming

Netflix’s ‘Cowboy Bebop’ Drops a Release Date and Awesome First-Look Images

August 23, 2021August 23, 2021 Mike Manalo

Count it down, folks! Because Cowboy Bebop is finally coming to Netflix on November 19!

The eagerly awaited live-action adaptation of one of the most beloved animes of all time is coming after many years of delays caused by the pandemic and star John Cho sustaining a set injury during filming.

Movies, Streaming

Take a Look at the Official Poster for Netflix’s ‘The Kissing Booth 3’

July 1, 2021July 6, 2021 Sophia Soto

Netflix has just shared the poster for The Kissing Booth 3, which stars Joey King, Jacob Elordi, and Joel Courtney. It reads, “The end of an era. The beginning of everything else.” Are you ready to see how the beloved Netflix trilogy ends? Mark your calendars for August 11.

Anime, Streaming, Television

Netflix’s ‘Cowboy Bebop’ Adaptation Release Date Confirmed

June 10, 2021June 10, 2021 Mike Manalo

Earlier this week, Netflix released a very tiny featurette about its Cowboy Bebop adaptation revealing a number of awesome bits of news:

John Cho’s hair as Spike
John Cho’s hair as Spike
John Cho’s hair as Spike
The original composer of the original anime series will be returning for the Live-Action Series
The show will finally debut on Netflix this Fall!
John Cho’s hair as Spike

Fantasy, Streaming

Netflix’s ‘Shadow and Bone’ Renewed for a Second Season

June 7, 2021June 7, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Netflix has finally announced the renewal of its second season of the hit series Shadow and Bone. The cast surprised fans with their own announcement of the renewal. Based on Leigh Bardugo’s worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels, Shadow and Bone had more than 55 million member households watching the fantasy series in its first 28 Days. The series made the Top 10 list in 93 countries around the world and hit #1 in 79 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Germany, Russia, Spain, South Africa, and the U.S.

Showrunner, writer, and executive producer Eric Heisserer said in a press statement, “I’m honored and thrilled to return to the Grishaverse and continue the stories of these endearing characters, particularly Milo.”

Movies, Theatre

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Film Adaptation’s Emotional Trailer Will Be Found Here

May 18, 2021June 11, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Universal Pictures has finally released the trailer to the anticipated film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen. Ben Platt returns to reprise his Broadway role as the troubled teen, Evan Hansen.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Literature, Streaming, Television

Barry Jenkins and the Cast of ‘The Underground Railroad’ Discuss the Powerful Limited Series

May 13, 2021November 5, 2021 Jamal Michel

Colson Whitehead’s novel The Underground Railroad is a necessary reading for the ways it transcends a violent history and navigates the magic of self determination and Black personhood. The novel, published in 2016 and winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book awards for fiction, follows the life of Cora and Caesar, two slaves in 19th century Georgia who take on the treacherous journey that is their freedom. The novel is bold, loving, and powerful, and with its serving as the basis for director Barry Jenkins’ (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk) Amazon series by the same name, it has become necessary viewing.