August 2005. Demon Spies, Way to Fight, Harakiri, Holy Beast.

Think this might be the last time I do one of these, a list of what DVDs i will be certainly buying this month, which I have written every new month since we began I think. Not much reaction in general to these things, which were aimed partly as a slight reminder of the main things which seem to be around, but primarily as a way of asking for input on my choices and for you to say what you are buying yourselves so there’s some persepective on it all. So unless there’s any ‘outcry’, here goes.

Firstly, my Birthday on the 5th : got a PSP from Japan courtesy of my Bro. Not a massive game player as much as I am still fascinated by creative uses of technology, so I do follow it all online as much as movies. Not going to touch UMDs, could get into putting trailers on it. My white Nintendo DS still gathering dust as no decent games other than ‘Meteos’ and ‘Electroplankton’ that I haven’t already played. Anyhow : movie site!...

Kinji Fukasakus classical drama ‘Fall of Ako Castle’ comes from Adness as ‘Swords of Vengeance’ because it seems to have been one of the several thousand Sonny Chiba movies they have licensed, but this time the sleeves not so generic. Damn long film too, clocking in at well over two and a half hours. Due August 2nd 2005, though mine arrived a couple of days back.

AnimEigo issue ‘Demon Spies’ which looks like a more action-packed thing, different to ‘Samurai Banners’ from last month on August 9th. A week later is Media Blasters issue of ‘The Way To Fight’ aka ‘Kenka No Hanamichi’ Directed by Takashi Miike - How can I resist? That’s on the 16th by the way. Onto more Miike films, but more from the UK in the shape of the first DVD appearances of ‘Bodyguard Kiba’ and ‘Silver’ (official discs that is) both around mid-month.

August 23rd should be the best day of the month, as the anticipated and lusted-after ‘Harakiri’ makes a Criterion appearance. Nacho Cerdas ‘Aftermath’ and ‘Genesis’ shorts get a release together, so order that online because no retailer is going to touch it.

Then the Australian R4 disc of Ong-Bak seems to be the first with Subtitles out on the 24th August : see cd-wow.com to order that one. Finally back to America for ‘Beautiful Girl Hunter’ Director Norifumi Suzukis’ ‘Convent of the Sacred Beast’ which is released as ‘School of the Holy Beast’ on the 30th.

And you…?