As some of you may know, I am a big fan of the “Ace Attorney” video game series, called “Gyakuten Saiban” in the original Japanese. So when news of a live-action “Gyakuten Saiban” movie came out, I jumped on it. Thanks to tag-team partner in fandom Jason Y., I found and watched a subtitled trailer several times (not several dozen, I admit — there’s only so much drool that my keyboard can tolerate), feeling the chicken skin rising with every second. I tweeted like a madwoman every time fresh bits of news about the movie would come to light. Various conversations Jason and I later had led me to hope beyond hope that the esteemed Hawaii International Film Festival would be bringing in the movie.
Turns out HIFF did one better: Not only are they indeed screening the movie, but according to their latest eNews newsletter, it’s going to be shown at their Spring Showcase! A previous brief Twitter exchange between me and whoever runs the HIFF feed (Christopher Hall, I believe?) had already escalated my anticipation of such, so you can perhaps imagine the intense squeeing that this confirmation elicited from me (though silently and only in chat with Jason, due to me being in a place at the time that would not exactly be thrilled with loud whoops of ecstasy). The exact date and time has yet to be announced, but because the Showcase takes place April 13-19, that means “Gyakuten Saiban” will be playing almost TWO MONTHS BEFORE the other major event that’s also sewn up the movie, AMC2 in California! (And you would not believe how much I cursed at the thought of being so close yet so far to what was then the first and only announced U.S. showing!) I could barely contain the glee as I immediately tweeted the news out.
So, assuming that no other convention or festival snags screenings rights before April, this would make the HIFF Spring Showcase the U.S. premiere of “Gyakuten Saiban”! How’s that for a feather in HIFF’s cap? (Maybe I’m just being biased.)
I’ve already blocked out all possible days available to see this movie, I’ve warned my quite understanding fiance, and my HIFF membership’s been locked down, so I’m armed and ready for when HIFF announces that rare date. I WILL be there, oh yes, I WILL BE THERE.
Otaku Ohana 