No word yet on just how wide a release this will be but Film Threat is reporting that Geneon has set a release date of January 14th for Appleseed.  This is a bit later than they were originally aiming for but I’m just happy that it will be getting theatrical screenings because this one looks like it really needs to be seen on the big screen ...

Based on a manga by Masamune Shirow - the man behind the classic Ghost in the Shell - Appleseed uses an entirely new method of CG animation and it looks goooooooooood.  Check out the trailers on the Japanese site here.

There are certain things in life that are just inevitable.  One of them is that when a film pulls in four times more at the box office than it cost to make studio heads will begin to salivate and make plans for a sequel.  Thus it is no surprise that after The Grudge - made for a measley $10 million - generated $40 mil in it’s opening weekend people at Sony were merrily talking up a sequel.

Moviehole is reporting that Sony would like to have the sequel ready to roll by the new year, which shouldn’t be difficult to pull off if they simply do a close adaptation of the second Japanese film.  They’re also saying that they’d like this to launch a franchise, which could be considerably more difficult considering that director Takashi Shimizu is on record saying that the third Ju-On film will be the final one.

As recently as a year ago I wouldn’t have believed it if someone had told me that cult director Takashi Miike was making a big budget children’s film, but then along came the brilliant Zebraman which, once again, totally blew away all my pre-conceived notions of the man’s ability. 

Miike’s Big Spook War - described by some as a Japanese answer to the Harry Potter phenomenon - is the story of a young boy fighting monsters in a magical land and stars Chiaki Kuriyama of Battle Royale and Kill Bill fame.  It has jumped right up to the top of my must view list and it doesn’t look like I’ll have to wait much longer.  The cast and crew recently held a press conference for the film, details of which have been archived here.  There’s even video footage, which includes the cast posing with an assortment of monsters from the film, in both Real Video and Windows Media formats. It’s all in Japanese, of course, so I don’t have a clue what they’re actually saying, but it’s worth looking at to check out the monsters and costuming ...

Thanks to Tom for the tip ...

OK, so Todd made a promise Twitch would be the first place you would find the trailer for Shimizus “Marebito”. Well, I found it for you.

First, go here and hunt around to find the chirashi (advertisement) for the film (shows both sides). Also there in the few links shown is the English publicity information.

The film apparently came out October 16th in Japan, and runs for 92 minutes.

So : the trailer. It’s not got an official site, the film, it seems. Found this in an odd place and it took me 2 hours -  so listen up. Go here. You’ve got he AOL japan entertainment page for the film.

Click on the little blue speech bubble and you will get the 2.5 minute stream Real One Player version of the trailer in a small window. If anyone can copy the stream into a standalone file I would appreciate that. Enjoy.

EDIT : The Gomorrahizer contacted me to say download here (QT version), and site for the series of films (of which Marebito is a part) here. Seen this site before but couldn’t work it out.

CIFF 2004 was exhausting, and exhilerating. Soon I’ll have reviews up of Journey Into Bliss, Grey Gardens, McDull Prince De La Bun, The Taste of Tea, The Woodsman, Primer, Bitter Dream, and a host of others. But let me start with some coverage of a Special Screening of Kinji Fukasaku’s Battles Without Honor and Humanity hosted by the good folks at Home Vision Entertainment.

Continue Reading "CIFF 2004 MEMORIES: KINJI FUKASAKU’S BATTLES WITHOUT HONOR AND HUMANITY"...

I don’t know why, but the 26th seems to be one of those days thats only comes once a year : there’s loads of stuff coming out - and for some reason loads of it suits me. Takashi Miike fans get “Young Thugs : Innocent Blood” and “Young Thugs : Nostalgia” (reviewed by Todd a while back, here) - as well as “Kintaro : White Collar Worker” (and on the 28th, ahem - “Andromedia”).

Also released on the 26th : Ryuhei Kitamuras’ “Alive” in both R-Rated and Uncut versions. Volume 1 of “Paranoia Agent” from Satoshi Kon is also there (seen it, got it early - superb). Also out is “Killing Machine” from the Sonny Chiba collection (superb pic quality on this Adness disc), and a Bill Hicks Live DVD with a painfully long title.

And, only a couple of days ago was “Zero Woman : Red Handcuff” and “Casshern”. A painful time for the old CC.

Kind of semi-vague this. Big fan of Kiyoshi Kurosawa personally. Lovely films.

Anyhow, I know IMDB lists “Ghost Cop” as his latest entry after “Doppelganger” (which i personally loved), but according to jasongray.net there’s also “Shi no Otome” or “Maiden of Death) to come. The site, which i found yesterday, shows in a september post and a couple of small pics. Jason says he has a copy of the screenplay but hasn’t read it (he’s also in the film!) - it’s also apparent Jason has connections with Artsmagic and seems to be conducting interviews for other DVD releases.

“Ghost Cop” i believe to have been shown at a recent “Cop Film Festival” in Japan, but i cant find any more info. “Shi No Otome” (as far as i know) han’t been mentioned anywhere other than Jasons’ site. Anyone got any more on either of these?

For all those in the UK who don’t want to wait for the USA DVD until they see the film, or alternatively want to see it on a big screen first and then make up their mind : you can venture to the Leeds Film Festival and put down your cash.

It seems to be only getting two screenings. One on the 6th November, and then again the following day. Both days fall on a weekend, so it should make it as convenient as it’s going to be.

Visit the Film Festival site here for more info.

A quickie. Bandai Entertainment are expanding their Anime division into Canada. Don’t know exactly how this affects anime distribution in Canada, but there you go. From Bandai Official Site news piece.

Additionally, Bandai have had their American West Coast warehouse flooded by the heavy rains. Shipping has temporarily been suspended until they sort themselves out. From AnimeOnDVD.

Here’s a breakdown of new info regarding the recent Boxset for “Fist of The North Star” Tv Series from 1984.

Boxset : 6 DVDs, each contain 6 episodes. 2.5 hours per disc, 900 min across the set. The box has incorrect times on. Each episode almost 25 minutes long.

Set includes episodes 1 thru 36. At this rate (if licensed) you would need around 3 more boxsets. Manga only have the license to these 36 episodes.

Discs contain English Dub and Japanese Audio (with accurate Subtitles). Audio is in Mono. Manga may (apparently) try to license more episodes depending on how this first set sells (!). Some episodes previously released in the UK had cuts made by the BBFC. It’s not know if the set is now uncut.

This info from post at sexgoremutants forum by Pooch. Thanks for the info.

One of the highlights of the 2003 Toronto Film Festival was the chance to see Takashi Shimizu’s Ju-On in a theater crowded with over nine hundred souls all itching for a good scare.  They did not leave disappointed.  Ju-On was one of the high points of the Japanese horror explosion of the late nineties and beginning of the twenty first century.  It’s an atmospheric, creepy ride – a continual cycle of slow building tension and scream-out-loud payoff.  When I heard that it had been picked up for a North American remake it was no great surprise, but when word got out that Evil Dead director Sam Raimi would be producing with the original director back behind the camera the remake jumped right up to the top of my anticipated films list.

And now The Grudge is here, bringing a string of questions with it.  Does it live up to the original?  Does the horror translate?  Will it live up to the expectations created by the overwhelming success of The Ring, another Japanese horror remake?  The answer to all of the above is yes and no.

Continue Reading "The Grudge Review"...

The next couple of months are full of highly anticipated film releases to the big screen (House of Flying Daggers, A Long Engagement and more) as well as the number one need to see film on my list from Wes Anderson - “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou”.  From the previous trailer already released here it looks to be another right on the mark hit from Anderson and now there is a new trailer with recently released footage cut into the old trailer.  Also the website is up and running as well so go on over and join Team Zissou there.  Now, only if December wouldn’t take so long getting here.

Thanks for the heads up Cinema Confidential

Apple has just posted the trailers for Danny Boyle’s Millions and Alejandro Almenabar’s The Sea Inside.

Boyle, of course, is the Scottish director of Trainspotting, Shallow Grave and 28 Days Laters and, though I missed his latest at the Toronto Film Fest, I’ve heard nothing but good things about this one.  Spain’s Almenabar - director of The Others - got that country’s nomination for the Best Foreign Film Oscar over Pedro Almodavar’s Bad Education and for pretty good reason.  This is the sort of thing that awards voters lap up and it’s my pick to win the best foreign film award.

Yes, I know the reviews are mixed. Still waiting for Casshern so I can judge for myself.

Anyhow, getting mine sent from someone i know in Japan. Expecting an invoice yesterday, I sent an email; two minutes later on the news was the Typhoon damage. All is OK apparently “just a little flooding; what you have to worry about is the Earthquakes…”.

OK, sent another email today to see if it had arrived “Any news?...” i politely asked. Went to sit and watch the news and “News Flash : Earthquake hits Tokyo”. Oooops. Anyhow, friends OK. Just shows : they’re only films!

Anyhow. Casshern is out. Reminder over.

Here’s one for you, Mack ...

Long before The Fast and The Furious was inflicted upon the youth of this land anime fans with a yen for street racing were plugged into Initial D, a long running anime series revolving around a group of young street racers and their heavily modified cars.  Well, the anime is now being made into a film in Hong Kong with many of the key people from Infernal Affairs involved and Monkey Peaches has just linked to some behind the scenes footage.  Click here to see Edison drive real fast ...