Horror fans have had a whole lot of zombie entertainment sent our way in the last couple decades, much of it broadcast on television by AMC. There have been so many flesh-eaters and brain-munchers on our screens, some of us are feeling zombie overload. But if you’re still looking for zombie stories that do things a little differently from the others, we have a recommendation for you: a Japanese film that mixes the walking dead with shootouts, swordfights, and lengthy martial arts fights. It’s called Versus – and if you haven’t seen this one yet, it’s the Best Horror Movie You Never Saw.
Versus (watch it Here) was an independent production made by a bunch of unknowns, and many of the people involved with the movie remain unknowns to this day. It marked the feature directorial debut of Ryuhei Kitamura, who has gone on to have a solid career,...
Versus (watch it Here) was an independent production made by a bunch of unknowns, and many of the people involved with the movie remain unknowns to this day. It marked the feature directorial debut of Ryuhei Kitamura, who has gone on to have a solid career,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Hideo Sakaki , a prominent Japanese actor, film director and talent agency director, has been taken into custody after allegations of sexually assaulting a woman.
According to local reports, Sakaki is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s at an apartment in Tokyo’s Minato Ward in 2016. Police suspect him to have abused his professional standing as the woman aspired to be an actress.
In September 2022, the woman consulted Tokyo police through a lawyer before eventually deciding to file a formal complaint in June 2023. She first met Sakaki in 2015 at an actors’ workshop.
Sakaki has denied the allegations, calling them “false accusations.” The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has referred him to prosecutors.
Sakaki’s arrest comes nearly two years after several actors, including Midori Suiren, also spoke out about sexual violence allegations against the director. After the allegations were made public, the release of his film Mitsugetsu was canceled and his wife,...
According to local reports, Sakaki is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s at an apartment in Tokyo’s Minato Ward in 2016. Police suspect him to have abused his professional standing as the woman aspired to be an actress.
In September 2022, the woman consulted Tokyo police through a lawyer before eventually deciding to file a formal complaint in June 2023. She first met Sakaki in 2015 at an actors’ workshop.
Sakaki has denied the allegations, calling them “false accusations.” The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has referred him to prosecutors.
Sakaki’s arrest comes nearly two years after several actors, including Midori Suiren, also spoke out about sexual violence allegations against the director. After the allegations were made public, the release of his film Mitsugetsu was canceled and his wife,...
- 2/21/2024
- by Sara Merican
- Deadline Film + TV
Japanese director Sion Sono has been accused by two women of sexual assault in a new report from Shukan Josei Prime.
Sono is known for provocative indie films like 2008’s “Love Exposure,” which screened at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival and won two awards. The almost four-hour film follows the erotic adventures of a peeping tom photographer.
An unnamed actress told entertainment magazine Shukan Josei Prime that Sono told her that women have had sex with him for years to gain parts in his films, and that he is to thank for their success in the industry. She said that after Sono offered her a role, he attempted to force her to have sex with him (via Variety). After she refused, the director allegedly called another actress he had previously worked with and proceeded to engage in sexual acts in front of her. An assistant director then allegedly led her outside...
Sono is known for provocative indie films like 2008’s “Love Exposure,” which screened at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival and won two awards. The almost four-hour film follows the erotic adventures of a peeping tom photographer.
An unnamed actress told entertainment magazine Shukan Josei Prime that Sono told her that women have had sex with him for years to gain parts in his films, and that he is to thank for their success in the industry. She said that after Sono offered her a role, he attempted to force her to have sex with him (via Variety). After she refused, the director allegedly called another actress he had previously worked with and proceeded to engage in sexual acts in front of her. An assistant director then allegedly led her outside...
- 4/5/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Allegations by several actresses were published by a Japanese magazine.
Japanese drama Confession has been pulled from release following allegations of sexual abuse against director Hideo Sakaki.
Accusations from several actresses were published yesterday (March 9) in weekly magazine Shukan Bunsham. No legal charges have been filed against Sakaki.
However, the release of Confession – scheduled for March 25 by distributor Ark Entertainment – has been postponed indefinitely and a statement on the film’s official website said: “As a result of discussions with related parties regarding this work directed by Hideo Sakaki, the release of the movie Mitsugetsu [Confession’s Japanese title] is temporarily suspended. The future is undecided.
Japanese drama Confession has been pulled from release following allegations of sexual abuse against director Hideo Sakaki.
Accusations from several actresses were published yesterday (March 9) in weekly magazine Shukan Bunsham. No legal charges have been filed against Sakaki.
However, the release of Confession – scheduled for March 25 by distributor Ark Entertainment – has been postponed indefinitely and a statement on the film’s official website said: “As a result of discussions with related parties regarding this work directed by Hideo Sakaki, the release of the movie Mitsugetsu [Confession’s Japanese title] is temporarily suspended. The future is undecided.
- 3/10/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Colombia-set drama will play throughout country in string of engagements across multiple cities.
Neon has set April 1 as the start of its “cinemas only…forever” US tour for Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Memoria starring Tilda Swinton.
The film will play throughout the country in a continuous string of more than 100 week-long engagements across multiple cities each week in arthouse cinemas and non-traditional venues like pop-up drive-ins, museums, art galleries, university screenings and outdoor events
Memoria premiered at Cannes last year and won the jury prize. It went on to become Colombia’s Oscar submission and was produced by Weerasethakul, Diana Bustamante,...
Neon has set April 1 as the start of its “cinemas only…forever” US tour for Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Memoria starring Tilda Swinton.
The film will play throughout the country in a continuous string of more than 100 week-long engagements across multiple cities each week in arthouse cinemas and non-traditional venues like pop-up drive-ins, museums, art galleries, university screenings and outdoor events
Memoria premiered at Cannes last year and won the jury prize. It went on to become Colombia’s Oscar submission and was produced by Weerasethakul, Diana Bustamante,...
- 3/10/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Tak Sakaguchi is a Japanese actor, director, fight choreographer, and stuntman. He is best known for his role in Ryuhei Kitamura’s cult film, “Versus”. Since his debut, Sakaguchi has worked with Kitamura several times, often appearing alongside fellow Kitamura staple Hideo Sakaki. He has also worked with frequent Kitamura collaborators Yudai Yamaguchi and Yuji Shimomura, and also with Sion Sono and Koji Wakamatsu.
Sakaguchi is a talented martial artist, and most often appears in films featuring copious fight scenes, usually performing all of his own stunts. He is purportedly skilled in Bajiquan, Shorinji Kempo, boxing, and kick boxing.
We speak with him about his life as a martial artist and his career in the film industry, his collaborations with Koji Wakamatsu and Yoshitaka Inagawa, “Re:Born” and his new film “Kurui-Musashi”, and other topics.
How did you first enter the martial arts? What kind of training did you receive? What...
Sakaguchi is a talented martial artist, and most often appears in films featuring copious fight scenes, usually performing all of his own stunts. He is purportedly skilled in Bajiquan, Shorinji Kempo, boxing, and kick boxing.
We speak with him about his life as a martial artist and his career in the film industry, his collaborations with Koji Wakamatsu and Yoshitaka Inagawa, “Re:Born” and his new film “Kurui-Musashi”, and other topics.
How did you first enter the martial arts? What kind of training did you receive? What...
- 5/22/2018
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
"I may be dead, but I'm still pretty." Whether you want to watch Buffy Summers and company battle supernatural beings for the first time or re-live all your favorite moments from the show, reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are playing now on Pop TV. Also: The Drawing short film starring Clarke Wolfe in its entirety, a trailer / acquisition news for Gehenna: Where Death Lives, an excerpt from Duncan Ralston's Woom, the lineup for Ithaca Fantastik Film Festival, and The Master Cleanse at Screamfest.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Pop TV: Reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are now playing on Pop TV.
To learn more, visit:
http://poptv.com/buffy_the_vampire_slayer/
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Watch Short Film The Drawing in its Entirety: Press Release: "Los Angeles, CA: The Drawing is coming! The Drawing is here! The Drawing is a modern monster horror short infused with 80s synth overtones.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Pop TV: Reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are now playing on Pop TV.
To learn more, visit:
http://poptv.com/buffy_the_vampire_slayer/
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Watch Short Film The Drawing in its Entirety: Press Release: "Los Angeles, CA: The Drawing is coming! The Drawing is here! The Drawing is a modern monster horror short infused with 80s synth overtones.
- 10/25/2016
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
In 2000, Sakaki Hideo made his mark on Japanese cinema by costarring as the ruthless yakuza in the seminal zombie actioner, Versus. Since then, Sakaki has worked steadily in both features and television. He comes to the New York Asian Film Festival with his latest directorial effort, Kiyamachi Daruma, the wild story of a quadruple amputee yakuza chief. Sakaki chatted with me about his filmmaking origins and future. The Lady Miz Diva: I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing several of your colleagues from your earliest days in films, including Sakaguchi Tak, Yamaguchi Yudai and Kitamura Ryuhei. Please tell us about your beginnings and your interactions with them? Hideo Sakaki: So, I came to Tokyo as an actor and my debut role...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 7/17/2016
- Screen Anarchy
Welcome back to Cannes Check, In Contention's annual preview of the films in Competition at this year's Cannes Film Festival, which kicks off on May 14. Taking on different selections every day, we'll be examining what they're about, who's involved and what their chances are of snagging an award from Jane Campion's jury. Next up, the first of two female directors in the lineup: Naomi Kawase's "Still the Water." The director: Naomi Kawase (Japanese, 44 years old). It's possible for certain filmmakers to become prominent, celebrated figures within the festival circuit without making much of a dent in the real world, even in the art-house sphere. Naomi Kawase is a good example. Favored by selectors and juries alike, even her most generously awarded films have secured minimal international distribution -- making her at once a familiar and unfamiliar presence in the lineup. Born and raised in Japan's rural Nara district,...
- 5/9/2014
- by Guy Lodge
- Hitfix
It's been awhile since J-horror has been at the forefront of the genre, but it still has a lot of fans so when word of the worldwide release of Alter Ego, an "undiscovered" film from 2002 that Takashi Shimizu was involved with, we figured you'd want to hear about it.
From the Press Release:
Eagle One Media is proud to announce it will distribute Takashi Shimizu’s undiscovered Japanese film Alter Ego to worldwide audiences for the first time.
Shimizu, the famed director behind The Grudge and Ju-on horror franchises, was intimately involved as a supervising director on Alter Ego, and the feature film has never before been released outside of Japan. A North American DVD is set for February 18 with the film immediately available on digital platforms iTunes and Amazon Instant.
Produced by King Records, Alter Ego features the involvement of some of the masters of today’s Japanese horror...
From the Press Release:
Eagle One Media is proud to announce it will distribute Takashi Shimizu’s undiscovered Japanese film Alter Ego to worldwide audiences for the first time.
Shimizu, the famed director behind The Grudge and Ju-on horror franchises, was intimately involved as a supervising director on Alter Ego, and the feature film has never before been released outside of Japan. A North American DVD is set for February 18 with the film immediately available on digital platforms iTunes and Amazon Instant.
Produced by King Records, Alter Ego features the involvement of some of the masters of today’s Japanese horror...
- 2/10/2014
- by Debi Moore
- DreadCentral.com
We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes DVD release details for Chastity Bites, trailers for Alter Ego and Founders Day, The Walking Dead Hawaii poster, reviews for The Halloween Experience: Volume One, Open Grave, and Still: The Web Series, and much more:
Chastity Bites DVD Release Details: “Grand Entertainment Group (Geg) wants You to celebrate “Women in Horror” month this February with the DVD release of Chastity Bites on February 11. The horror-comedy, which has been slaying festival audiences and has been praised by media, is created by a team of strong and vibrant women including writer/producer Lotti Pharriss Knowles, co-producer Wendi Mirabella and executive producer/lead actress Allison Scagliotti (Syfy’s “Warehouse 13″).
Directed by John V. Knowles (Shadow.Net), the film stars Francia Raisa (ABC Family’s “Secret Life of the American Teenager”); Louise Griffiths...
Chastity Bites DVD Release Details: “Grand Entertainment Group (Geg) wants You to celebrate “Women in Horror” month this February with the DVD release of Chastity Bites on February 11. The horror-comedy, which has been slaying festival audiences and has been praised by media, is created by a team of strong and vibrant women including writer/producer Lotti Pharriss Knowles, co-producer Wendi Mirabella and executive producer/lead actress Allison Scagliotti (Syfy’s “Warehouse 13″).
Directed by John V. Knowles (Shadow.Net), the film stars Francia Raisa (ABC Family’s “Secret Life of the American Teenager”); Louise Griffiths...
- 2/9/2014
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Still the Water
Director: Naomi Kawase
Writer: Naomi Kawase
Producers: Commes des Cinemas, Kumie Inc., Arte France Cinema & Eddie Saeta.
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available
Cast: Makiko Watanabe, Hideo Sakaki, Tetta Sugimoto, Miyuki Matsuda
In the midst of a creative spike, Kawase who is already in prep and finance mode for An – sweet red bean paste (presented at Rotterdam’s Cinemart last month) will once again make a filmic case for the intimate rapport between our natural backdrop and person to person relationships. Look for Still the Water to be coated with plenty of green, ocean blues and blood line reds – as the basis for the project came about when the filmmaker learned of her grandmother’s backtory.
Gist: Taking place during the full-moon night of traditional dances in August and set on the Japanese island of Amami-Oshima, the drama centers on a 14-year-old boy who finds a dead body floating in the sea.
Director: Naomi Kawase
Writer: Naomi Kawase
Producers: Commes des Cinemas, Kumie Inc., Arte France Cinema & Eddie Saeta.
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available
Cast: Makiko Watanabe, Hideo Sakaki, Tetta Sugimoto, Miyuki Matsuda
In the midst of a creative spike, Kawase who is already in prep and finance mode for An – sweet red bean paste (presented at Rotterdam’s Cinemart last month) will once again make a filmic case for the intimate rapport between our natural backdrop and person to person relationships. Look for Still the Water to be coated with plenty of green, ocean blues and blood line reds – as the basis for the project came about when the filmmaker learned of her grandmother’s backtory.
Gist: Taking place during the full-moon night of traditional dances in August and set on the Japanese island of Amami-Oshima, the drama centers on a 14-year-old boy who finds a dead body floating in the sea.
- 2/3/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Competition section includes six world premieres and titles from Koji Fukada, Jun Robles Lana and Lee Ju-hyoung.Scroll down for Competition list
The 26th Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff) has announced its line-up with six world premieres in the Competition section including Hospitalité director Koji Fukada’s Au revoir l’été, Jun Robles Lana’s previous Haf project Barber’s Tales and the Kim Ki-duk-produced Red Family.
Those that are not world premieres are all Asian premieres including Aaron Fernandez’s San Sebastian entry The Empty Hours.
Chen Kaige, the Chinese director behind Farewell My Concubine, will head the competition jury. He will be joined by Korean actress Moon So-ri (Oasis), Australian producer Chris Brown (Daybreakers), Us director-writer-producer Chris Weitz (The Twilight Saga: New Moon), and Japanese actress Shinobu Terajima (Caterpillar).
Tiff is set to run Oct 17-25 with new festival head Yasushi Shiina putting an emphasis on showcasing homegrown productions and discovering Asian talent.
The newly launched...
The 26th Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff) has announced its line-up with six world premieres in the Competition section including Hospitalité director Koji Fukada’s Au revoir l’été, Jun Robles Lana’s previous Haf project Barber’s Tales and the Kim Ki-duk-produced Red Family.
Those that are not world premieres are all Asian premieres including Aaron Fernandez’s San Sebastian entry The Empty Hours.
Chen Kaige, the Chinese director behind Farewell My Concubine, will head the competition jury. He will be joined by Korean actress Moon So-ri (Oasis), Australian producer Chris Brown (Daybreakers), Us director-writer-producer Chris Weitz (The Twilight Saga: New Moon), and Japanese actress Shinobu Terajima (Caterpillar).
Tiff is set to run Oct 17-25 with new festival head Yasushi Shiina putting an emphasis on showcasing homegrown productions and discovering Asian talent.
The newly launched...
- 9/19/2013
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
IFC Films will be releasing Isabelle Coixet's Map of the Sounds of Tokyo nationwide via its genre film VOD platform, IFC Midnight, this Wednesday, August 25th; and Dread Central has the world premiere of the film's trailer.
Writer/director Coixet (whom you might know from last year's Elegy), is an incredibly talented filmmaker who's trying something new with this foray into the genre world. Map of the Sounds of Tokyo is a super-slick, steamy, and restrained thriller that stars Rinko Kikuchi (Oscar-nominee for Babel).
Synopsis:
Ryu (Kikuchi) is a solitary girl whose fragile appearance is in stark contrast with the double life she leads, working nights at a Tokyo fishmarket and sporadically taking on jobs as a hit woman. Mr. Nagara (Takeo Nakahara) is a powerful impresario mourning the loss of his daughter, Midori, who has committed suicide. He blames David (Sergi López), a Spaniard who runs a wine business in Tokyo.
Writer/director Coixet (whom you might know from last year's Elegy), is an incredibly talented filmmaker who's trying something new with this foray into the genre world. Map of the Sounds of Tokyo is a super-slick, steamy, and restrained thriller that stars Rinko Kikuchi (Oscar-nominee for Babel).
Synopsis:
Ryu (Kikuchi) is a solitary girl whose fragile appearance is in stark contrast with the double life she leads, working nights at a Tokyo fishmarket and sporadically taking on jobs as a hit woman. Mr. Nagara (Takeo Nakahara) is a powerful impresario mourning the loss of his daughter, Midori, who has committed suicide. He blames David (Sergi López), a Spaniard who runs a wine business in Tokyo.
- 8/23/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Isabel Coixet’s Map of the Sounds of Tokyo is being theatrically released under the title “Night Tokyo Day” in Japan in a little over a month, and the Japanese distributor Dingo has released a new trailer.
The film, which premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, stars Rinko Kikuchi as a solitary girl in Tokyo named Ryu who leads a double life as both a fish market worker and hit-woman. When Midori, the daughter of a powerful impresario named Nagara (Takeo Nakahara), commits suicide, his employee (Hideo Sakaki) hires Ryu to kill the man believed responsible for Midori’s death—a spaniard named David (Sergi López). Meanwhile, a sound engineer (Min Tanaka) obsessed with the sounds of the city and fascinated by Ryu acts as narrator as an unlikely love affair develops between the assassin and her mark.
“Map of the Sounds of Tokyo” will be released in...
The film, which premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, stars Rinko Kikuchi as a solitary girl in Tokyo named Ryu who leads a double life as both a fish market worker and hit-woman. When Midori, the daughter of a powerful impresario named Nagara (Takeo Nakahara), commits suicide, his employee (Hideo Sakaki) hires Ryu to kill the man believed responsible for Midori’s death—a spaniard named David (Sergi López). Meanwhile, a sound engineer (Min Tanaka) obsessed with the sounds of the city and fascinated by Ryu acts as narrator as an unlikely love affair develops between the assassin and her mark.
“Map of the Sounds of Tokyo” will be released in...
- 8/6/2010
- Nippon Cinema
Isabel Coixet’s Map of the Sounds of Tokyo is being theatrically released under the title “Night Tokyo Day” in Japan in a little over a month, and the Japanese distributor Dingo has released a new trailer.
The film, which premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, stars Rinko Kikuchi as a solitary girl in Tokyo named Ryu who leads a double life as both a fish market worker and hit-woman. When Midori, the daughter of a powerful impresario named Nagara (Takeo Nakahara), commits suicide, his employee (Hideo Sakaki) hires Ryu to kill the man believed responsible for Midori’s death—a spaniard named David (Sergi López). Meanwhile, a sound engineer (Min Tanaka) obsessed with the sounds of the city and fascinated by Ryu acts as narrator as an unlikely love affair develops between the assassin and her mark.
“Map of the Sounds of Tokyo” will be released in...
The film, which premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, stars Rinko Kikuchi as a solitary girl in Tokyo named Ryu who leads a double life as both a fish market worker and hit-woman. When Midori, the daughter of a powerful impresario named Nagara (Takeo Nakahara), commits suicide, his employee (Hideo Sakaki) hires Ryu to kill the man believed responsible for Midori’s death—a spaniard named David (Sergi López). Meanwhile, a sound engineer (Min Tanaka) obsessed with the sounds of the city and fascinated by Ryu acts as narrator as an unlikely love affair develops between the assassin and her mark.
“Map of the Sounds of Tokyo” will be released in...
- 8/6/2010
- Nippon Cinema
[Once again, thanks goes to the intrepid, Christopher Bourne for the following review.]
Hideyoshi Date (Katsunori Takahashi) is at his wits' end when we first meet him in Hideo Sakaki's Accidental Kidnapper. Deep in debt, with no job, no prospects, and no family, he's ready to end it all, and tries to do so, but he doesn't even have the nerve to commit suicide.
Wacky events are set in motion when Densuke (Roi Hayashi), a grade school boy, gets into Hideyoshi's cab and demands to be taken to his prep school. Hideyoshi at first tries to get rid of him, but when he learns that Densuke comes from a rich family, he seizes on the opportunity to get himself out of his financial hole. Recalling the advice of an old prison mate (Takashi Sasano) who pops up now and then to give fantasy pep talks, Hideyoshi hits upon the idea of demanding ransom from Densuke's parents. Densuke is also on the run...
Hideyoshi Date (Katsunori Takahashi) is at his wits' end when we first meet him in Hideo Sakaki's Accidental Kidnapper. Deep in debt, with no job, no prospects, and no family, he's ready to end it all, and tries to do so, but he doesn't even have the nerve to commit suicide.
Wacky events are set in motion when Densuke (Roi Hayashi), a grade school boy, gets into Hideyoshi's cab and demands to be taken to his prep school. Hideyoshi at first tries to get rid of him, but when he learns that Densuke comes from a rich family, he seizes on the opportunity to get himself out of his financial hole. Recalling the advice of an old prison mate (Takashi Sasano) who pops up now and then to give fantasy pep talks, Hideyoshi hits upon the idea of demanding ransom from Densuke's parents. Densuke is also on the run...
- 7/7/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Japan Society has posted the full list of films to be screened as part of their Japan Cuts Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema which will take place in NYC from July 1-16, 2010.
Here’s the list. The films marked with an asterisk will be co-presented with the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival.
About Her Brother (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Yoji Yamada)
Accidental Kidnapper (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Hideo Sakaki)
Alien vs. Ninja* (2010, World Premiere, Dir. Seiji Chiba)
Bare Essence of Life, aka Ultra Miracle Love Story (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Satoko Yokohama)
The Blood of Rebirth* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Toshiaki Toyoda)
Boys on the Run* (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Daisuke Miura)
Confessions* (2010, U.S. Premiere, Dir. Tetsuya Nakashima)
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World (2004, New York Premiere, Dir. Isao Yukisada)
Dear Doctor* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Miwa Nishikawa)
Electric Button, aka Moon & Cherry (2004, U.S. Premiere,...
Here’s the list. The films marked with an asterisk will be co-presented with the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival.
About Her Brother (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Yoji Yamada)
Accidental Kidnapper (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Hideo Sakaki)
Alien vs. Ninja* (2010, World Premiere, Dir. Seiji Chiba)
Bare Essence of Life, aka Ultra Miracle Love Story (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Satoko Yokohama)
The Blood of Rebirth* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Toshiaki Toyoda)
Boys on the Run* (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Daisuke Miura)
Confessions* (2010, U.S. Premiere, Dir. Tetsuya Nakashima)
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World (2004, New York Premiere, Dir. Isao Yukisada)
Dear Doctor* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Miwa Nishikawa)
Electric Button, aka Moon & Cherry (2004, U.S. Premiere,...
- 5/28/2010
- Nippon Cinema
Cinema Today recently posted an alternate trailer for Hideo Sakaki‘s Yuukai Rhapsody, which will be released by Kadokawa in Japan this Saturday. It’s the exact same length as the original version, but this edit seems faster-paced and less like a plodding TV drama.
The film was originally supposed to be released back in December, but when actor Manabu Oshio was involved in a serious drug scandal (see Tokyograph for details), the drastic, but understandable decision was made to take the time to edit out his scenes. However, these scenes of Oshio as a gangster were ultimately deemed too integral to the film to simply be left out, so Sakaki was forced to take over the role himself due to his history as an actor and the obvious time constraints involved.
The film stars Katsunori Takahashi as a down-and-out ex-con named Hideoyoshi Date with no girlfriend, no money, and no life.
The film was originally supposed to be released back in December, but when actor Manabu Oshio was involved in a serious drug scandal (see Tokyograph for details), the drastic, but understandable decision was made to take the time to edit out his scenes. However, these scenes of Oshio as a gangster were ultimately deemed too integral to the film to simply be left out, so Sakaki was forced to take over the role himself due to his history as an actor and the obvious time constraints involved.
The film stars Katsunori Takahashi as a down-and-out ex-con named Hideoyoshi Date with no girlfriend, no money, and no life.
- 4/1/2010
- Nippon Cinema
Be a man! That's the motto of Otokojuku, the all-boys high school for those who wish to temper their inner samurai. It is also, of course, the motto of this irreverent 2008 film that seemingly reveres and at the same time parodies a genre that's unique to Japan. No, not samurai films—the juvenile delinquent genre, or whatever the hell it's called. There's a subsection of Japanese fiction that's dedicated to the conquest of high schools overrun by bad seeds, a very popular but often overused formula in Japanese comic serials. This one is based on Akira Miyashita's 1985 manga, which you can tell from the outdated "respect" attitude (something even recent Japanese gangland stories like to avoid), as well as one character's blazing pompadour, a relic of 80's Japanese culture.
Samurai School starts out as one of these stories, with the cliched premise of the freshman entering the school and, through sheer impressive fighting skills,...
Samurai School starts out as one of these stories, with the cliched premise of the freshman entering the school and, through sheer impressive fighting skills,...
- 6/12/2009
- by Arya Ponto
- JustPressPlay.net
[Updated with a brand new trailer!]
My thanks to Desiree for pointing the way to Isabel Coixet’s Map Of The Sounds Of Tokyo, a film currently splitting production chores between Barcelona and Tokyo to put together an international story of love and murder anchored by a stellar cast. How stellar? Well, anybody with the good sense to put Rinko Kikuchi (Babel, The Brothers Bloom) in the lead is okay by me and when you back Kikuchi up with Sergi Lopez (Pan’s Labyrinth) and Ryuhei Kitamura regular Hideo Sakaki then you know you’ve got something going on.
Kikuchi stars as Ryu, a young woman who does double duty as a late night fish merchant and occasional hired killer. Ryu is hired to kill the Spanish lover of a young woman whose suicide is blamed on their relationship while a lonely sound engineer who is obsessed with Ryu observes the whole affair from a distance.
My thanks to Desiree for pointing the way to Isabel Coixet’s Map Of The Sounds Of Tokyo, a film currently splitting production chores between Barcelona and Tokyo to put together an international story of love and murder anchored by a stellar cast. How stellar? Well, anybody with the good sense to put Rinko Kikuchi (Babel, The Brothers Bloom) in the lead is okay by me and when you back Kikuchi up with Sergi Lopez (Pan’s Labyrinth) and Ryuhei Kitamura regular Hideo Sakaki then you know you’ve got something going on.
Kikuchi stars as Ryu, a young woman who does double duty as a late night fish merchant and occasional hired killer. Ryu is hired to kill the Spanish lover of a young woman whose suicide is blamed on their relationship while a lonely sound engineer who is obsessed with Ryu observes the whole affair from a distance.
- 5/9/2009
- by Todd Brown
- Screen Anarchy
My thanks to Desiree for pointing the way to Isabel Coixet’s Map Of The Sounds Of Tokyo, a film currently splitting production chores between Barcelona and Tokyo to put together an international story of love and murder anchored by a stellar cast. How stellar? Well, anybody with the good sense to put Rinko Kikuchi (Babel, The Brothers Bloom) in the lead is okay by me and when you back Kikuchi up with Sergi Lopez (Pan’s Labyrinth) and Ryuhei Kitamura regular Hideo Sakaki then you know you’ve got something going on.
Kikuchi stars as Ryu, a young woman who does double duty as a late night fish merchant and occasional hired killer. Ryu is hired to kill the Spanish lover of a young woman whose suicide is blamed on their relationship while a lonely sound engineer who is obsessed with Ryu observes the whole affair from a distance.
Kikuchi stars as Ryu, a young woman who does double duty as a late night fish merchant and occasional hired killer. Ryu is hired to kill the Spanish lover of a young woman whose suicide is blamed on their relationship while a lonely sound engineer who is obsessed with Ryu observes the whole affair from a distance.
- 12/19/2008
- by Todd Brown
- Screen Anarchy
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