SciFi Japan

    Poster art for SPIDER-MAN 3. Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures. © 2007 Columbia Pictures

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Sony Pictures Official Site: Spider-Man 3 The following production notes were created by Columbia Pictures for the upcoming theatrical release of SPIDER-MAN 3. The text is © 2007 Columbia Pictures. MARVEL, and all Marvel characters including the Spider-Man, Sandman and Venom characters are © 2007 Marvel Characters, Inc. Columbia Pictures’ SPIDER-MAN 3 reunites the cast and filmmakers from the first two blockbuster adventures for a web of excitement that will transport worldwide audiences to thrilling new heights on May 4, 2007. In SPIDER-MAN 3, based on the legendary Marvel Comics series, Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. and his duties as a superhero. But there is a storm brewing on the horizon. When his Spider-Man suit suddenly changes, turning jet-black and enhancing his powers, it transforms Peter as well. Under the influence of the suit, Peter becomes

    Cover art for the new THE JUNGLE BOOK 2-Disc Platinum Edition DVD. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Home Ent. © 2007 Disney

    Asian Cinema

    Author: Keith Aiken Source: Walt Disney Home Entertainment Walt Disney Home Entertainment celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the animated classic THE JUNGLE BOOK with a 2-Disc Platinum Edition DVD. The film has been restored with enhanced picture and sound, and comes with a wealth of bonus features. Somewhat loosely based on the stories by Rudyard Kipling, THE JUNGLE BOOK was the last animated feature that Walt Disney was personally involved with. Following the box office failure of THE SWORD IN THE STONE Disney decided that THE JUNGLE BOOK should be fast paced and fun, and while the finished film may not match the beauty of some earlier Disney’s features it is certainly one of the most enjoyable movies ever produced by the studio. For the DVD, the film was digitally restored back to its originally appeared back in 1967. THE JUNGLE BOOK is presented in the original

    Waterskier Chelsea (Willa Ford) spots hockey masked killer Jason Vorhees (Derek Mears) in the new FRIDAY THE 13TH reboot. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. ©2009 New Line Productions

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Official Movie Website: FRIDAY THE 13TH SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for a new movie. Welcome back to Crystal Lake in a chilling re-imagining of the classic horror film FRIDAY THE 13TH. Searching for his missing sister, Clay Miller (Jared Padalecki) heads up to the eerie woods of legendary Crystal Lake, where he stumbles on the creaky remains of rotting old cabins behind moss-covered trees. And that’s not the only thing lying in wait under the brush. Against the advice of police and cautions from the locals, Clay pursues what few leads he has in the search for his missing sister, Whitney (Amanda Righetti), with the help of Jenna (Danielle Panabaker), a young woman he meets among a group of college kids up for an all-thrills weekend. But they are all about to find much more

    Josh Brolin stars as the disfigured western hero in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure JONAH HEX, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. © DC Comics.

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Official Website: Jonah-Hex.com After a disappointing opening weekend box office take of $5.4 million, the Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures` comic book adaptation JONAH HEX plummeted 70% this past weekend to $1.6 million in ticket sales. The film is already being labeled one of the biggest failures of 2010 and has further cemented actress Megan Fox`s growing reputation as box office poison. The one bright spot so far has been lead actor Josh Brolin, whose performance as the DC Comics western hero has drawn positive notices. Warner Bros. recently sent us photos and detailed production notes for JONAH HEX so we thought we`d show the film a little love and share the material with any SciFi Japan readers who have seen JONAH HEX and/or enjoyed the comic book series... SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for a new movie.

    The short film ROMANCE will be screened opening night of

    Asian Cinema

    Spring Fling Film Series Screens over 20 Outré Love Stories with U.S. and World Premieres Source: Japan Society Special Thanks to Shannon Jowett New York, NY - Bad romance, blind love, amour fou: this spring Japan Society screens a series of twisted, heart-blazing films from Japan and Korea. "Love Will Tear Us Apart", the sixth annual Globus Film Series, runs March 2-18 at Japan Society, and showcases select seminal stories of love gone wrong, erotic obsession and the lyrical, sometimes sadistic, and ever-elusive nature of sexual and sentimental passions. Featuring 23 films -- mostly from the past decade with a few classics from as far back as 1969 -- the "Love Will Tear Us Apart" lineup includes the U.S. premiere of Shinya Tsukamoto`s latest film, KOTOKO, and the world premiere of Koji Wakamatsu’s PETREL HOTEL BLUE, as well as Hirokazu Kore’eda’s AIR DOLL,

    Otomo (Takeshi Kitano) is back from the dead, out of prison, and deep in trouble once again in OUTRAGE BEYOND, the sequel to Kitano`s gangster film OUTRAGE. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ? 2012

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan, FilmPressPlus Official Site: warnerbros.co.jp/outrage2 (Japan) Translations: Elliot Gay Special Thanks to Richard Lormand SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from an upcoming movie. A manipulative police crackdown on organized crime ignites a tricky power struggle involving the two biggest yakuza families in OUTRAGE BEYOND (?????? ????, Autoreiji Biyondo), the new film by "Beat" Takeshi Kitano (OUTRAGE, BROTHER, HANA-BI) opening in Japan on October 6, 2012. SYNOPSIS The huge Sanno crime family has grown into a huge organization, expanding its power into politics and legitimate big business. The Sanno’s upper ranks are now dominated by young executives who promote black-marketeering rather than the traditional underground income sources. The old-guard members are penting up resentment as they see themselves being pushed to the sidelines. This vulnerable spot in the Sanno hierachy is exactly what anti-gang

    Japanese poster. Photo courtesy of Shochiku. © 2012 “Akko-Chan: The Movie” Film Partners. © Fujio Akatsuka

    Asian Cinema

    Manga Adaptation Opens in Japan on September 1st Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., NTV (Nippon Television Network) Official Movie Site: akko-chan-movie.com (Japan) SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from an upcoming Japanese movie. The compact can transform you into "anything you want to be". Just say the secret magic words... Akko-chan (??????????, Himitsu no Akko-chan) is a manga by Fujio Akatsuka that created a great sensation in Japan. Originally serialized in Sueisha`s Ribon magazine from 1962-1965, Akko-chan was adapted by Toei as three THE SECRET OF AKKOCHAN anime television series and two animated feature films between 1969 and 1999. On September 1st, it will appear on the silver screen as a brand-new original story, AKKO-CHAN: THE MOVIE (?? ??????????, Eiga Himitsu no Akko-chan). Haruka Ayase (CYBORG SHE, ICHI) stars as Akko in this first live-action adaptation of the comic.

    Ai Hashimoto (SADAKO 3D) and Ryunosuke Kamiki (THE GREAT YOKAI WAR) star in THE KIRISHIMA THING, the new film from director Daihachi Yoshida. Photo courtesy of Showgate. © 2012 “Kirishima” Film Club. © Ryo Asai/ Shueisha

    Asian Cinema

    Everyone is Caught Up in the Turmoil of the Kirishima Thing... Source: Showgate, NTV (Nippon Television Network) Official Movie Site: kirishima-movie.com (Japan) SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from a new Japanese movie. Directed by Daihachi Yoshida, whose FUNUKE: SHOW SOME LOVE, YOU LOSERS! (??????????????? Funuke Domo, Kanashimi no Ai wo Misero, 2007) was officially selected for the Critics` Week at the 60th Cannes Film Festival, THE KIRISHIMA THING (???????????, Kirishima, Bukatsu Yamerutteyo) is the perfect showcase of his unique portrayal of the dark side of people who end up being sympathetic. In this, his first time to work in the teenage milieu, he explores the human geography of a high school as it descends into turmoil caused by the unseen character of Kirishima. What results is a fascinating blend of character study, unforeseen twists and very real emotion

    Samurai Hanshiro Tsukumo (Ebizo Ichikawa) plans to end his life with a final act of vengeance in Takashi Miike`s HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI. Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film. © 2011 Ichimei Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    VOD and Limited Theatrical Run in 3D Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., Tribeca Film Official Site: ichimei.jp (Japan), tribecafilm/hara-kiri-death-of-a-samurai (US) HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI (??, Ichimei, 2011), director Takashi Miike`s (AUDITION, 13 ASSASSINS) remake of Masaki Kobayashi’s cult classic HARAKIRI (??, Seppuku, 1962), is now available in the United States from distributor Tribeca Film. The film was released nationwide on VOD July 18th and begins a limited theatrical run on July 20th. In HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI, a mysterious samurai arrives at the doorstep of his feudal lord, requesting an honorable death by ritual suicide in his courtyard. The lord threatens him with the brutal tale of Motome, a desperate young ronin who made a similar request with ulterior motives, only to meet a grisly end. Undaunted, the samurai begins to tell a story of his own, with an ending no one

    Former motorcycle gang leader Tetsu Hino (Yoshimi Tokui) takes out his frustration on Hirofumi Arai in Toei manga adaptation, BLAZING FAMIGLIA. Image courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. © 2012 Bakugyaku Famiglia Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Violent Manga Adaptation Opens September 8th Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: bakugyaku.com (Japan) SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from an upcoming movie. On September 8th, the action film BLAZING FAMIGLIA (????, Bakugyaku Kazoku) will open in theaters across Japan. Based on the 1994-2004 manga series of the same name by Hiroshi Tanaka (originally serialized in Kodansha`s Weekly Young Magazine), the film was produced and distributed by Toei Co. BLAZING FAMIGLIA was directed by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri (KICHIKU, SKETCHES OF KAITAN CITY) and stars Yoshimi Tokui of the comedy group Chutorial. Additional cast members include Sadao Abe (THE GREAT YOKAI WAR, MAKO HAAAAN!!!!), Tetsuji Tamayama (CASSHERN, GOEMON), Hirofumi Arai (HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI), Arata Iura (20TH CENTURY BOYS), Kazuki Kitamura (GODZILLA: FINAL WARS, KAIBUTSU-KUN: THE MOVIE), Nao Omori (ALWAYS -SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- 3, HELTER SKELTER), Jun Murakami

    Top model Ririko (Erika Sawajiri) finds the dark side of fame in the manga adaptation HELTER SKELTER. Photo courtesy of Asmik Ace. © 2012 Film “Helter Skelter” Production Committee

    Asian Cinema

    "Desire is the Only Truth!" in Live Action Adaptation of the Award-Winning Manga Source: Asmik Ace Entertainment, Inc. Official Site: hs-movie.com (Japan) Translations: Elliot Gay SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from an upcoming Japanese movie. Actress Erika Sawajiri (ASHURA, SHINOBI) makes her return to the big screen after a 5 year hiatus with HELTER SKELTER (?????????, Heruta Sukeruta), opening in Japan on July 14, 2012. The movie is based on Kyoko Okazaki`s manga of the same -- first published by Shodensha in 2003 -- which took top honors from the 2004 Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize. Sawajiri plays Ririko, an icon who is the top star in the acting world. Her fame is so great it’s hard to look anywhere without seeing Ririko`s image plastered all over magazines, on television or in film. But Ririko has a secret that

    Samurai Hanshiro Tsukumo (Ebizo Ichikawa) plans to end his life with a final act of vengeance in Takashi Miike`s HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI. Photo courtesy of Shochiku Co., Ltd. © 2011 Ichimei Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Takashi Miike Remakes Cult Classic in 3D Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., FilmPressPlus Official Site: ichimei.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Richard Lormand SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from a Japanese movie not yet released in the United States. HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI (??, Ichimei, 2011) is director Takashi Miike`s (AUDITION, 13 ASSASSINS) remake of Masaki Kobayashi’s cult classic HARAKIRI (??, Seppuku, 1962). It was the first 3D movie to compete for the Palme d`Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Released in Japan in late 2011, the film received a limited theatrical run in the UK this past May from Revolver Entertainment and will open in Australia on August 23rd from Icon Films. Plans for distribution in North American have not yet been announced. SciFi Japan presents a look at HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI with press notes and

    Fists will fly and noses will shatter in TAI CHI 0, coming to US theaters this October. © 2012 Huayi Brothers & Taihe Film Investment Co., Ltd.

    Asian Cinema

    Well Go USA Teams with Variance to Release What is Clearly the Most Awesome Film Ever Made Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications press release Special Thanks to Leif Helland Everyone knows Well Go USA Entertainment, who brought you such kung-fu badassery as IP MAN, IP MAN 2, LEGEND OF THE FIST and SHAOLIN is the best home entertainment company ever. It is also clear that Variance Films, whose corporate motto is “we are not afraid of you and we will beat your ass,” is probably the best theatrical distributor of all time. In their exhaustive travels, Well Go USA discovered a film called TAI CHI 0 (??????), which may be the most awesome film ever made. For proof: ? It is a steampunk martial arts film. ? It’s from the creators of SHAOLIN SOCCER and DETECTIVE DEE. ? It features choreography by

    WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW: SEEDIQ BALE, Taiwan’s official Oscar entry, will receive a US theatrical release in April. © 2011 ARS Film Production Central Motion Picture Corporation

    Asian Cinema

    Taiwan’s Foreign Language Oscar Entry to Open in Major Markets Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications Official Movie Site: seediqbalethemovie.com Special Thanks to Leif Helland Well Go USA Entertainment has set April 27, 2012 for the theatrical release of WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW: SEEDIQ BALE (???·??, 2011), Taiwan’s official entry for the Academy Awards foreign language category. The film will open in key markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Washington, D.C., Toronto, Vancouver, Austin, and Honolulu. Produced by John Woo, the epic WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW: SEEDIQ BALE was directed by Wei Te-Sheng (CAPE NO. 7) and tells the true story of Taiwan’s aboriginal people who were almost wiped out by Japanese colonizers in the 1930s. The film stars Lin Ching-Tai, Umin Boya, Ando Masanobu, Kawahara Sabu, Vivian Hsu, Lo Mei-Ling, Landy Wen, Da Ching, Pawan Nawi, Yakau Kuhon, Lee Shih-Chia

    BATTLE ROYALE runs May 25-31 at the IFC Center in NYC. © 2000 The “Battle Royale” Production Committee

    Asian Cinema

    Source: IFC Center Special Thanks to Subway Cinema Today, the cult classic BATTLE ROYALE (?????????, Batoru Rowaiaru, 2000) begins its New York City theatrical premiere engagement with a week-long run at the IFC Center. A long-unavailable underground hit, veteran director Fukasaku’s epically violent, still-shocking and deeply influential genre masterpiece takes place in a dystopic alternate universe. To combat social unrest and economic catastrophe, the government has taken radical steps: every year, a randomly-selected ninth-grade class is sent to a deserted island and forced to battle to the death until only one survivor is left. Chiaki Kuriyama (KILL BILL), Tatsuya Fujiwara (DEATH NOTE), Aki Maeda (GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS), Kou Shibasaki (DORORO), Masanobu Ando (SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO) and screen legend Takeshi Kitano (BOILING POINT, BROTHER) star in the movie that has been argued, acclaimed and banned around the world. More than a decade later, it remains

    Anime and film soundtrack composer Yuki Kajiura will perform live at Anime Expo. Photo courtesy of Anime Expo.

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation press release Official Site: anime-expo.org Special Thanks to Jim Yeager and Roberta Silverman Anime Expo (AX), North America`s largest anime, manga and Japanese pop culture celebration, will feature a live concert by acclaimed composer and producer Yuki Kajiura when it returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 29 – July 2, 2012. Kajiura brings her unique fusion of Japanese and European styles to AX in “FictionJunction,” her music project featuring the composer on keyboards and a special vocalist. The multi-talented Yuki Kajiura began her music career performing in the female trio See-Saw. She has gone on to establish herself as a solo musician, composing music for other artists as well as producing for TV, commercials, films, anime and games. In 2002 she had a major hit with “Annaniisshodattanoni,” the ending theme song of TV anime MOBILE

    Yu Irie’s RINGING IN THEIR EARS will be the opening night film at this year`s Shinsedai Cinema Festival. © 2011

    Asian Cinema

    July 12 – 15, 2012 in Toronto Source: Shinsedai Cinema Festival, Ciarlo Communications press releases Official Site: shinsedai.ca Special thanks to Vince J. Ciarlo Shinsedai Cinema Festival July 12 – 15, 2012 Revue Cinema Tickets on Sale June 21, 2012 Chris Magee, Co-director and Co-programmer of the Shinsedai Cinema Festival has announced that Japanese director Yu Irie’s film RINGING IN THEIR EARS (??? ????????? ???????????????, Gekijouban Shinsei Kamattechan Rokkun Roru wa Nariyamanai, 2011 ) will have its Canadian premiere as the opening night film of the fourth annual festival on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 7:00 p.m., at the festival’s new home, The Revue Cinema in Roncesvalles Village. This film kicks off four days of Japan’s best new filmmaking talent for a new generation. New this year, the festival presents "Battle Girls & Bondage", Toronto’s first ever Pink Film Double Bill, on Saturday,

    Shota Sometani (HIMIZU, SADAKO 3D) stars in Sogo Ishii`s black comedy, ISN`T ANYONE ALIVE?, coming to the UK in 2012. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2011 Dragon Mountain, LLC.

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Third Window Films press release Official Movie Site: ikiteru.jp (Japan), thirdwindowfilms.com/isnt-anyone-alive (UK) Special Thanks to Adam Torel Distributor Third Window Films has acquired the UK rights for ISN`T ANYONE ALIVE? (????????????, Ikiteru mono inai noka, 2011). After nearly 10 years without a feature film, veteran director Sogo Ishii returns (now with the name Gakuryu Ishii) with a black comedy (based on the Shiro Maeda play of the same name) about strange deaths happening all over a college campus after talk of a curse spreads around it, and soon the world! Featuring many new faces of Japanese cinema including the award-winning star of HIMIZU, Shota Sometani, and from a director who has been bringing us strange and surreal films for 30 years (BURST CITY, CRAZY THUNDER ROAD, CRAZY FAMILY, ANGEL DUST, ELECTRIC DRAGON 80000V) ISN`T ANYONE ALIVE? is a wonderful and unique piece of filmmaking from a

    UK theatrical poster for director Sion Sono`s HIMIZU. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2012 Himizu Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Third Window Films Official Movie Site: himizu.gaga.ne.jp (Japan), thirdwindowfilms.com/films/himizu (UK) Special Thanks to Adam Torel HIMIZU (???, 2012), the award-winning film from Japanese director Sion Sono (LOVE EXPOSURE, COLD FISH) opens in cinemas across the UK on June 1st from Third Window Films. The new film from Sono, HIMIZU tells the powerful story of two teenagers’ struggle to live in dystopian future Japan destroyed by a natural disaster. When young Yuichi is pushed too far he embarks on a violent campaign of revenge against society’s evil doers and it’s up to Keiko -- who is desperately in love with him -- to try to bring him back to the path of a decent man. A heart-rending drama and tender love story, HIMIZU features startling performances from its young leads. The film was in competition at the 68th Venice International Film Festival in

    The King of the Monsters advances on Tokyo in GODZILLA, screening Saturday for free at the Japan Society in New York. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd.

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Japan Society Special Thanks to Subway Cinema Tomorrow, the Japan Society in New York City will host free 35mm screenings of GODZILLA and FISH STORY as part of their Open House Weekend running May 5-6. Passes are first-come-first-served and will be available for pick-up at 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 5. Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street between First and Second avenues (accessible by the 4/5/6 and 7 subway at Grand Central or the E and V subway at Lexington Avenue). For more information, call 212-832-1155 or visit japansociety.org. Saturday, May 5, 4:00 PM GODZILLA (???, Gojira) 1954, 96 min., 35mm., black and white, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Ishiro Honda. With Akira Takarada, Momoko Kochi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura. GODZILLA is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It’s also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama, made in Japan at

    Page 12 of 16

    SciFi Japan
    Copyright © 2024 | SCIFI JAPAN
    © 2024 Your Company. All Rights Reserved. Designed By JoomShaper