The eyes of the world were pointed at Donnie Yen after the end of the spectacular “Ip Man” saga. His choice of an action comedy as a follow-up might be seen as a bit of a surprise, but “Enter the Fat Dragon” blends the well-known elements, like the breath-taking, laws-of-physics-defying action, humor, references and a bit of covert social commentary into an efficient time-killer about the good cops, bad cops and even worse gangsters in Hong Kong and Tokyo. It premiered in the Chinese New Year slot earlier this year, but its theatrical run was impaired by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, this type of film is equally suitable for video formats, where we also caught it.
The title is taken from the cult Sammo Hung’s 1978 action-comedy about an overweight Bruce Lee fan getting involved in a fight with a gang of thugs that threaten his family,...
The title is taken from the cult Sammo Hung’s 1978 action-comedy about an overweight Bruce Lee fan getting involved in a fight with a gang of thugs that threaten his family,...
- 6/18/2020
- by Marko Stojiljković
- AsianMoviePulse
Yuji Shimomura has worked as a stunt co-ordinator on films such as “Shinobi: Heart under Blade” (2005) and “Flashpoint” (2007), as well as directing cinematics for the video game “Bayonetta” (2009). The influence of his earlier work in stunts is clear in this film, which features fast and frantic action sequences and is sure to appeal to fans of the martial-arts genre.
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The film opens with a crack team of soldiers performing a military exercise in a large abandoned building. The group is tasked with taking down the “Ghost”, another soldier who is evading them. A problem soon becomes apparent when a third party appears in the building and begins brutally executing the soldiers one-by-one before disappearing into the shadows. We then meet a young girl, Sachi (Yura Kondo), living with her uncle Toshiro (Tak Sakaguchi), who manages a convenience store. It is clear that Toshiro has a dark and violent past.
Buy This Title
The film opens with a crack team of soldiers performing a military exercise in a large abandoned building. The group is tasked with taking down the “Ghost”, another soldier who is evading them. A problem soon becomes apparent when a third party appears in the building and begins brutally executing the soldiers one-by-one before disappearing into the shadows. We then meet a young girl, Sachi (Yura Kondo), living with her uncle Toshiro (Tak Sakaguchi), who manages a convenience store. It is clear that Toshiro has a dark and violent past.
- 5/21/2018
- by Matthew Cooper
- AsianMoviePulse
What's up with Japanese action star Sakaguchi Tak, star of Versus, Shinobi, Yakuza Weapon and a host of other fan favorites? That depends who you ask. Sakaguchi's long time management company Dongyu Club have announced a retrospective screening series to occur at the Human Trust Cinema in Shibuya throughout early April commemorating that action star's retirement. Here's a translation of that announcement:actor Tak Sakaguchi Farewell Performance (Otoko No Hanamichi)Seven Works To Be Screened At Daily Late Shows In SHIBUYAAfter making his appearance like a comet in 2001's Versus, using his speedy, real action style to leap in one bound from the world into the limelight, the world's fastest action "speed master" Tak Sakaguchi, has decided at this time to step aside from the world of...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 3/5/2013
- Screen Anarchy
The first film of the “Toei Hero Next” series has been announced. It will reportedly be a combination of mystery and sci-fi titled Piece: Kioku no Kakera.
The film will star Shu Watanabe and Ryosuke Miura, both of whom also star in Toei’s Kamen Rider Ooo series.
The “Toei Hero Next” brand is intended to showcase actors from the Super Sentai and Kamen Rider series in different kinds of roles.
Ten Shimoyama (Shinobi: Heart Under Blade) has been tapped to direct the first film, which revolves around a reporter (Watanabe) who teams up with a photographer with split personalities (Miura) to uncover the cause of recent cases of human petrification, collectively referred to as the “Metropolis Gorgon Incident”.
The “piece” part of the title refers to a piece of metal which is needed to solve the mystery.
“Piece: Kioku no Kakera” will be released in Japan this fall.
Sources: Eiga.
The film will star Shu Watanabe and Ryosuke Miura, both of whom also star in Toei’s Kamen Rider Ooo series.
The “Toei Hero Next” brand is intended to showcase actors from the Super Sentai and Kamen Rider series in different kinds of roles.
Ten Shimoyama (Shinobi: Heart Under Blade) has been tapped to direct the first film, which revolves around a reporter (Watanabe) who teams up with a photographer with split personalities (Miura) to uncover the cause of recent cases of human petrification, collectively referred to as the “Metropolis Gorgon Incident”.
The “piece” part of the title refers to a piece of metal which is needed to solve the mystery.
“Piece: Kioku no Kakera” will be released in Japan this fall.
Sources: Eiga.
- 5/29/2012
- Nippon Cinema
Director: Tak Sakaguchi. Review: Adam Wing. Teaming up with cult actor/director Tak Sakaguchi (Versus) for another deliriously demented offering, it would seem that Sushi Typhoon is back in business. Co-directed by Yudai Yamaguchi, and featuring action direction by Yuji Shimomura (Death Trance, Versus, Shinobi), with special makeup effects provided by Sushi Typhoon regular Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police, Helldriver), Yakuza Weapon is based on an adult comic created by Ken Ishikawa, who also had a hand in Cutie Honey. I think it’s safe to assume that we’re not entering period drama territory here. It’s the usual drill. High-octane action, human weaponry, CGI bloodlust and yakuza gangster fodder, brought to you in glorious high definition - I mean really, what’s not to like? You either love this kind of thing or you don’t, and I doubt very much Yakuza Weapon will do enough to change your opinion either way.
- 5/4/2012
- 24framespersecond.net
“Adrift in Tokyo” (released domestically as “Tenten”) is a 2007 outing from cult favourite director Satoshi Miki, who has been responsible for some of the best loved of the recent wave of eccentric Japanese comedies, including “Instant Swamp” and “Turtles are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers”. Headlined by the extremely effective pairing of actors Joe Odagiri (“I Wish”, “Shinobi”) and Tomokazu Miura (“The Taste of Tea”), the film is a whimsical stroll through the city, with the two getting caught up in the kind of odd events and unexpected adventures that Miki has become so well known for. The film finally lands on region 2 DVD via Third Window on February 27th. Joe Odagiri plays slacker and eternal student type Takemura, the film opening with him having a sock stuffed in his mouth by debt collector Fukuhara (Tomokazu Miura) in an effort to try to get him to finally pay off his mountain of bills.
- 2/23/2012
- by James Mudge
- Beyond Hollywood
If you needed a big-time director to orchestrate the chaos and brutal warfare of World War II, you could probably do worst than Kang Je-gyu. Okay, so he’s probably the first guy you’d go to, actually, having directed “Shiri” and “Brotherhood”, two South Korean blockbusters. Kang Je-gyu’s latest, which recently made its sales pitch at Cannes, is “My Way” (formerly titled “D-Day”, which actually sounds much better — “My Way” sounds like a bad romantic comedy, and certainly not war-ish in the least), starring Jang Dong-gun (last seen in “The Warrior’s Way”), along with Fan BingBing (pretty much every epic Chinese movie in recent years) and Joe Odagiri (“Shinobi”, among many others). The film is “the story of two men’s crossed fates and destinies in the Second World War, D-Day.” Yeah, haven’t a clue what that means, but the pretty girl played by Fan BingBing figures in there somewhere,...
- 5/20/2011
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
Here is the new trailer for the Japanese gorefest Yakuza Weapon, starring Tak Sakaguchi (The Versus) with a machine gun arm and a rocket launcher for a leg. There was an earlier reel leaked online with unfinished effects, but this is the official trailer.
The film is co-directed by Yudai Yamaguchi and Tak Sakaguchi, who between them have created crazy, action-filled comedies like Battlefield Baseball, Cromartie High School and Be A Man! Samurai School, and featuring action direction by Yuji Shimomura (Versus, Shinobi), special makeup effects by Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police, Helldriver) and based on an adult comic by Ken Ishikawa, who co-created Cutie Honey, Getter Robot and many other famous series.
Here’s the press release:
The team who brought you Versus have returned with another hard-edged battle royale featuring tough gangsters, deadly women and cybernetic penis implants! Working as a hard-to-kill mercenary in South America, ex-yakuza Shozo...
The film is co-directed by Yudai Yamaguchi and Tak Sakaguchi, who between them have created crazy, action-filled comedies like Battlefield Baseball, Cromartie High School and Be A Man! Samurai School, and featuring action direction by Yuji Shimomura (Versus, Shinobi), special makeup effects by Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police, Helldriver) and based on an adult comic by Ken Ishikawa, who co-created Cutie Honey, Getter Robot and many other famous series.
Here’s the press release:
The team who brought you Versus have returned with another hard-edged battle royale featuring tough gangsters, deadly women and cybernetic penis implants! Working as a hard-to-kill mercenary in South America, ex-yakuza Shozo...
- 3/22/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Well Go USA have just announced that it has acquired North American rights to Japanese “erotic” Vampire action/horror flick Blood, helmed by Ten Shimoyama, director of the international hit (and all-round superb kick ass, Ninja, action flick) ‘Shinobi.’ Blood stars Aya Sugimoto (Flower & Snake) and Guts Ishimatsu (Black Rain) and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 15th. You can catch our review of the movie, at the link. Synopsis: Police Detective Hoshino (Kanji Tsuda) investigates the murder of a maid at a mansion belonging to Miyako Rozmberk, a seductive vampire mistress. Ukyo Kuronuma, an Edo-era swordsman who was turned into a vampire by Miyako, is blamed for the crime, but before anything can be done about it Hoshino ends up under Miyako’s spell as well. This leads Hoshino and Ukyo to battle one another for the privilege of staying with Miyako for eternity. Read our...
- 1/12/2011
- 24framespersecond.net
Well Go USA have just announced that it has acquired North American rights to Japanese “erotic” Vampire action/horror flick Blood, helmed by Ten Shimoyama, director of the international hit (and all-round superb kick ass, Ninja, action flick) ‘Shinobi.’ Blood stars Aya Sugimoto (Flower & Snake) and Guts Ishimatsu (Black Rain) and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 15th. You can catch our review of the movie, at the link. Synopsis: Police Detective Hoshino (Kanji Tsuda) investigates the murder of a maid at a mansion belonging to Miyako Rozmberk, a seductive vampire mistress. Ukyo Kuronuma, an Edo-era swordsman who was turned into a vampire by Miyako, is blamed for the crime, but before anything can be done about it Hoshino ends up under Miyako’s spell as well. This leads Hoshino and Ukyo to battle one another for the privilege of staying with Miyako for eternity. Read our...
- 1/12/2011
- 24framespersecond.net
Well Go USA Acquires North American DVD/Blu-ray Rights To Blood The New Horror Hit from Japan Set for release on DVD and Blu-ray on March 15, 2011 Plano, TX. (January 7, 2011) — Well Go USA announced today that it has acquired North American DVD and Blu-ray rights to the new horror flick Blood, starring Aya Sugimoto (Flower & Snake, Flower & Snake II) and Guts Ishimatsu (Black Rain, Empire of the Sun) and directed by Ten Shimoyama, director of the international hit “Shinobi”. Blood is one of the most highly anticipated horror movies to come out of Japan this year. Shimoyama mixes “erotic” vampires with ancient Samurai warriors making Blood the next evergreen horror classic from Japan. Blood will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 15, 2011. “Blood” is a great addition to our growing DVD and Blu-ray library and an important release for us in early [...]...
- 1/9/2011
- by admin
- Horror News
Well Go USA announced today that it has acquired North American DVD and Blu-ray rights to the new horror flick Blood, starring Aya Sugimoto (Flower & Snake, Flower & Snake II) and Guts Ishimatsu (Black Rain, Empire of the Sun) and directed by Ten Shimoyama, director of the international hit “Shinobi”. Blood is one of the most highly anticipated horror movies to come out of Japan this year.
- 1/8/2011
- by Anthony T
Yep, we don't need much more in a movie to get us to watch it than what is contained in the above headline, and thankfully that's exactly what we're gonna get when Blood hits home video courtesy of Well Go USA!
From the Press Release
Well Go USA announced today that it has acquired North American DVD and Blu-ray rights to the new horror flick Blood, starring Aya Sugimoto (Flower & Snake, Flower & Snake II) and Guts Ishimatsu (Black Rain, Empire of the Sun) and directed by Ten Shimoyama, director of the international hit “Shinobi”. Blood is one of the most highly anticipated horror movies to come out of Japan this year. Shimoyama mixes “erotic” vampires with ancient Samurai warriors, making Blood the next evergreen horror classic from Japan. Blood will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 15, 2011.
“Blood is a great addition to our growing DVD and Blu-ray library...
From the Press Release
Well Go USA announced today that it has acquired North American DVD and Blu-ray rights to the new horror flick Blood, starring Aya Sugimoto (Flower & Snake, Flower & Snake II) and Guts Ishimatsu (Black Rain, Empire of the Sun) and directed by Ten Shimoyama, director of the international hit “Shinobi”. Blood is one of the most highly anticipated horror movies to come out of Japan this year. Shimoyama mixes “erotic” vampires with ancient Samurai warriors, making Blood the next evergreen horror classic from Japan. Blood will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 15, 2011.
“Blood is a great addition to our growing DVD and Blu-ray library...
- 1/8/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
I love this poster! Get ready for another cool foreign horror film import coming March 15th called Blood.
From the Press Release:
Well Go USA announced today that it has acquired North American DVD and Blu-ray rights to the new horror flick Blood, starring Aya Sugimoto (Flower & Snake, Flower & Snake II) and Guts Ishimatsu (Black Rain, Empire of the Sun) and directed by Ten Shimoyama, director of the international hit “Shinobi”. Blood is one of the most highly anticipated horror movies to come out of Japan this year. Shimoyama mixes “erotic” vampires with ancient Samurai warriors, making Blood the next evergreen horror classic from Japan. Blood will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 15, 2011.
“Blood is a great addition to our growing DVD and Blu-ray library and an important release for us in early 2011,” said Tony Vandeveerdonk, Executive Vice President for Well Go USA. “Ten Shimoyama’s directing expertise...
From the Press Release:
Well Go USA announced today that it has acquired North American DVD and Blu-ray rights to the new horror flick Blood, starring Aya Sugimoto (Flower & Snake, Flower & Snake II) and Guts Ishimatsu (Black Rain, Empire of the Sun) and directed by Ten Shimoyama, director of the international hit “Shinobi”. Blood is one of the most highly anticipated horror movies to come out of Japan this year. Shimoyama mixes “erotic” vampires with ancient Samurai warriors, making Blood the next evergreen horror classic from Japan. Blood will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 15, 2011.
“Blood is a great addition to our growing DVD and Blu-ray library and an important release for us in early 2011,” said Tony Vandeveerdonk, Executive Vice President for Well Go USA. “Ten Shimoyama’s directing expertise...
- 1/8/2011
- by brians
- GeekTyrant
Well Go USA announced today that it has acquired North American DVD and Blu-ray rights to the new horror flick Blood , starring Aya Sugimoto ( Flower & Snake, Flower & Snake II ) and Guts Ishimatsu ( Black Rain , Empire of the Sun ) and directed by Ten Shimoyama, director of the international hit Shinobi . Not to be confused with this Blood , the film mixes .erotic. vampires with ancient Samurai warriors and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 15, 2011. Synopsis: Police Detective Hoshino (Kanji Tsuda) investigates the murder of a maid at a mansion belonging to Miyako Rozmberk (Aya Sugimoto), a seductive vampire mistress and .cougar. all in one. Ukyo Kuronuma (Jun Kaname), an Edo-era swordsman who was turned into a vampire by Miyako, is blamed for the...
- 1/7/2011
- shocktillyoudrop.com
Director: Ten Shimoyama. Review: Adam Wing. Everybody loves vampires, right? Over the last few years we have had to contend with more bloodsucking parasites than a Mosquito Rally. Everybody loves sex, right? Well not your partner, that goes without saying. But most of us like a little flesh from time to time, especially when it covers the inner workings of a beautiful Asian actress. Everybody loves martial arts movies, right? Again, perhaps not everybody, but chances are you’re the kind of person that likes to kick back with a sprinkling of kick-ass every now and then. Vampires, sex and martial arts, sounds like a fan(g)tastic night in to me (I’m not proud of that one). Ten Shimoyama calls the shots, and being a big fan of his previous martial arts fantasy Shinobi I was really looking forward to this. The question is however, will an evening...
- 5/15/2010
- 24framespersecond.net
For those of you wondering who I am, I decided it was time so start using my real name on Twitch. So even though the onderhond moniker will continue to reign high on my own site, from now I'll be writing under my own name here at Twitch.
Vampires are the new zombies, even in Japan. And so we're starting to see a surge of Japanese live action vampire flicks. The latest to join the hype is Ten Shimoyama. His films often go by largely unnoticed, but when I stumbled upon the trailer of Blood by accident I was immediately hooked. The final result turned out to be just as pleasing.
I could say I'm a fan of Shimoyama's films, but the truth is that even though I appreciate his work a great deal, his name fails to stick in my consciousness. Shinobi, St. John's Wort and his segment in...
Vampires are the new zombies, even in Japan. And so we're starting to see a surge of Japanese live action vampire flicks. The latest to join the hype is Ten Shimoyama. His films often go by largely unnoticed, but when I stumbled upon the trailer of Blood by accident I was immediately hooked. The final result turned out to be just as pleasing.
I could say I'm a fan of Shimoyama's films, but the truth is that even though I appreciate his work a great deal, his name fails to stick in my consciousness. Shinobi, St. John's Wort and his segment in...
- 5/14/2010
- Screen Anarchy
From director Ten Shimoyama, who gave us one of the better ninja movies in recent years with “Shinobi: Heart Under Blade” and starring the lovely Aya Sugimoto (“Flower And Snake”), comes the erotic vampire movie “Blood”, which arrives on DVD in the UK courtesy of Mvm Entertainment on May 3, 2010. The DVD will come with a buttload of trailers, including a theatrical trailer, original Japanese trailer, Sexy TV spot, Action TV spot, and Vision TV spot; it will also come with trailers for the movies “Dororo” and “Geisha Vs. Ninjas”. Check out four clips from the movie (Fyi: the last one is Nsfw). ‘The Hunger’ meets ‘Countess Dracula’ by way of ‘Blade’ and ‘The Matrix’ in Blood, an erotically charged vampire shocker with more bite than most contemporary horror offerings and featuring enough sizzling sex scenes, lashings of swordplay and stylized martial arts action to keep every genre fan happy.
- 5/11/2010
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
“A sound soul dwells within a sound mind, and a sound body…”
Or so Laura Bailey, the voice of Maka, tells us at the beginning of each episode of Soul Eater. While she doesn’t give us any details about the percentages of recommended daily allowances, we can tell you that Soul Eater, the latest hit series from Funimation, is 100% awesome.
If you’ve been to an anime convention in the last year or so, chances are you’ve already witnessed the phenomenon that is Soul Eater. Starting its tour of our shores as a manga serialized in Yen Press, the series went on to be collected into volumes, giving U.S. fans a taste of what the process is normally like in Japan as a title gains popularity. It exploded onto the con scene, with hundreds of cosplayers taking part in some of the biggest photo shoots I’ve ever seen.
Or so Laura Bailey, the voice of Maka, tells us at the beginning of each episode of Soul Eater. While she doesn’t give us any details about the percentages of recommended daily allowances, we can tell you that Soul Eater, the latest hit series from Funimation, is 100% awesome.
If you’ve been to an anime convention in the last year or so, chances are you’ve already witnessed the phenomenon that is Soul Eater. Starting its tour of our shores as a manga serialized in Yen Press, the series went on to be collected into volumes, giving U.S. fans a taste of what the process is normally like in Japan as a title gains popularity. It exploded onto the con scene, with hundreds of cosplayers taking part in some of the biggest photo shoots I’ve ever seen.
- 2/9/2010
- by E. Douglas
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
We’d previously shared news that Yuji Shimomura was choreographing a totally awesome short film titled Yassy. The trailer looked looked promising and the actual short doesn’t disappoint. It stars Hiroko Yashiki, who I remember from Suicide Club but who has also appeared in Shinobi: Heart Under Blade and The Machine Girl (review).
There aren't a whole lot of effects here but but damn does it kick butt.
Check out the entire film (in two parts) after the break.
Embedded video stripped, see full HTML version.
There aren't a whole lot of effects here but but damn does it kick butt.
Check out the entire film (in two parts) after the break.
Embedded video stripped, see full HTML version.
- 12/2/2009
- QuietEarth.us
Reportedly budgeted at a final of $12m and currently in post-production after shooting in both New York and Tokyo, Rain Fall headlines Gary Oldman as a CIA agent in a Tokyo bureau who is up against the assassin John Rain played by Kippei Shiina. As I'm a big fan of Gary Oldman's work, I'm definitely looking forward to this. "Based on the best-selling novel by Barry Eisler, the film stars Japanese actor Kippei Shiina (Shinobi, Sakuran) as the assassin John Rain who is forced to protect the daughter of one of his own targets. Oldman plays the chief officer of the CIA Tokyo bureau, while Kyoko Hasegawa (Nanayo) plays the daughter." If you head over to the official website which is linked after the break, you can find a few production stills.
Rain Fall official website
via KFC Cinema (registration required)...
Rain Fall official website
via KFC Cinema (registration required)...
- 10/2/2008
- QuietEarth.us
'Shinobi' headed for Moscow, Montreal
TOKYO -- Shochiku Films' hugely popular Shinobi has been selected to screen at the upcoming Moscow International Film Festival as well as at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal. Initially released in Japan this past September, the film quickly became a critical and commerical success, raking in ¥1.4 billion ($12.2 million) at the domestic boxoffice. The tale of two ninja tribes with special fighting skills in 17th-century Japan, Shinobi will appear in the Asian Extreme section in Moscow, which runs June 23-July 2. At Fantasia (July 6-24), it will screen in competition.
- 6/16/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
'Shinobi' heads for U.S. shores
TOKYO -- Audiences in the U.S. may soon have the chance to see Japanese boxoffice hit Shinobi at local cinemas. Capitalizing on the recent demand for Asian action films popularized by Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill series, Japanese entertainment conglomerate Shochiku Co., has sold rights to the live-action film to U.S. distributor FUNimation Entertainment. When Shinobi was released across Japan in September 2005, it became a critical and commercial success for Shochiku, bringing in over ¥1.4 billion ($11.8 million) at the boxoffice and ranking within the top 20 highest-grossing domestic films of the year. "We're very proud of 'Shinobi,'" said Masaki Koga, head of Shochiku's international business division. "We hope its success in the U.S. mirrors its success in Japan."...
- 3/29/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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