Space Nazis vs. Robo Commies

After reading over my list of five things to do at NY Anime Fest, Kaiju Shakedown blogger and NY Asian Film Festival guru Grady Hendrix sent me this mildly outraged email:

I saw your list of things to do at the Anime fest this weekend, and while it was great it was fatally flawed because you missed the motion picture event of the decade….the free screening of CASSHERN!!!!

This built-in-the-basement cracked masterpiece has never been shown in the US in all its majesty and this is the 35mm screening, of the complete 141 minute version of the film, in Japanese with English subtitles, and introduced by the movie’s military advisor (also the advisor on BATTLE ROYALE) and the soundtrack composer who’s part of the J-pop duo, Unicorn Table.

It’s at the ImaginAsian (East 59th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues) on Saturday night at 10pm and it’s free. This is going to be a rowdy, nutty, woolly event featuring singing sheep, prize giveaways, a visit from Naughty Santa and a screening of the greatest steampunk, anti-war, Space Nazis vs. Robo-Commies movie ever made.

So there you have it, folks… a film premiere that’s guaranteed to entertain (or offend) Monty Python fans, Akira buffs, Cold Warriors, robots, and border collies alike. Admission is free for anyone with a NY Anime Fest pass. The ImaginAsian will also be running a stand-by line for the general public; get there by 9:30 PM, and you have a good chance of getting in.