The Dragon Ball franchise includes multiple series, the first being Dragon Ball. Even though Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z are different anime within the same franchise, Akira Toriyama created the manga as one. The manga had multiple arcs, and all were exciting, featuring the adventures of Son Goku from a kid to an adult.
Akira Toriyama is one of the best storytellers ever, and his art style is unmatched. However, there are several occasions when one of his arcs is better than the other. While most people believe the Buu Saga to be the worst arc in Toriyama’s career as a manga artist, several hardcore fans believe otherwise. During a discussion on Reddit, there were major differences in opinions.
Frieza Saga Is Better Than The Buu Saga Goku vs. Frieza (Credit: Toei Animation)
A question on Reddit was asked regarding the best art style in the Dragon Ball franchise.
Akira Toriyama is one of the best storytellers ever, and his art style is unmatched. However, there are several occasions when one of his arcs is better than the other. While most people believe the Buu Saga to be the worst arc in Toriyama’s career as a manga artist, several hardcore fans believe otherwise. During a discussion on Reddit, there were major differences in opinions.
Frieza Saga Is Better Than The Buu Saga Goku vs. Frieza (Credit: Toei Animation)
A question on Reddit was asked regarding the best art style in the Dragon Ball franchise.
- 9/1/2024
- by Priyanko Chakraborty
- FandomWire
By the time you’ve inched toward the halfway point of the first episode of Shōgun, the epic new limited series that revisits James Clavell’s 1975 doorstopper of a historical novel about early 1600s Japan, you’ve already seen an eyeful: massive schooners, flashing swords, military processions, political power plays, a father and his infant son sentenced to death, a half-dozen English prisoners awaiting their fate in a pit. And then, out of nowhere, a character rides in on horseback. He’s shot from behind, but there’s something about the way he holds himself,...
- 4/27/2024
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Prolific genre filmmaker Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi the Killer) is back with Lumberjack the Monster, an adaptation of Kaibutsu no Kikori by Mayusuke Kurai. And it’s heading to Netflix this summer.
It’s going to be battle to the death between a serial killer and a psychopath.
Lumberjack the Monster will make its North American premiere on May 6 at the Japan Society, in partnership with Tribeca Festival’s Escape from Tribeca, ahead of its Netflix debut on June 1, 2024.
In the film, “Akira Ninomiya (Kamenashi) is a remorseless lawyer who doesn’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in his way. One night he is brutally attacked by an unknown assailant wearing a monster mask. Although he miraculously survives the assault, Ninomiya becomes fixated on finding the attacker and getting revenge. Meanwhile, a series of gruesome murders occur where the victims are found with their brains removed from their bodies.
It’s going to be battle to the death between a serial killer and a psychopath.
Lumberjack the Monster will make its North American premiere on May 6 at the Japan Society, in partnership with Tribeca Festival’s Escape from Tribeca, ahead of its Netflix debut on June 1, 2024.
In the film, “Akira Ninomiya (Kamenashi) is a remorseless lawyer who doesn’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in his way. One night he is brutally attacked by an unknown assailant wearing a monster mask. Although he miraculously survives the assault, Ninomiya becomes fixated on finding the attacker and getting revenge. Meanwhile, a series of gruesome murders occur where the victims are found with their brains removed from their bodies.
- 4/11/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Veteran Japanese character actor Tadanobu Asano is having a very overdue breakthrough moment. The chameleonic film star has been a mainstay of Japanese cinema for nearly three decades, while also regularly appearing in prominent supporting parts in big Hollywood productions. But his irresistible performance in FX’s period series Shōgun is giving him an all-new level of global recognition.
Asano co-stars in Shōgun as Kashigi Yabushige, the scheming lord of Izu, a rugged region of feudal Japan where much of the series takes place. Playing the character with lived-in swagger and a fatalistic sense of humor, Asano has become one of the show’s clear fan favorites, with Reddit and Twitter threads popping up to revel in his character’s antics. Asano announced himself early in Shōgun‘s run: As many have marveled, Yabushige makes his entrance to the show by boiling a man alive but then wins the audience...
Asano co-stars in Shōgun as Kashigi Yabushige, the scheming lord of Izu, a rugged region of feudal Japan where much of the series takes place. Playing the character with lived-in swagger and a fatalistic sense of humor, Asano has become one of the show’s clear fan favorites, with Reddit and Twitter threads popping up to revel in his character’s antics. Asano announced himself early in Shōgun‘s run: As many have marveled, Yabushige makes his entrance to the show by boiling a man alive but then wins the audience...
- 4/10/2024
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Prolific genre filmmaker Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi the Killer) quietly released short film “Midnight,” based on a manga by Osamu Tezuka, on Apple’s YouTube channel yesterday. And that’s not even the most impressive part: per THR, the filmmaker shot the thrilling short on an Apple iPhone 15 Pro.
Watch “Midnight” below.
The short film “centers on a late-night taxi driver named Midnight, played by popular Japanese actor Kento Kaku, who roams the streets of Tokyo offering help to those in need. The film follows Midnight as he comes to the aid of a young woman, played by Konatsu Kato, who is struggling to take over her recently deceased father’s truck-driving business while fighting off a nefarious local gang, led by an evil boss played by the acclaimed character actor Yukiyoshi Ozawa.”
The 19-minute comedic action short looks incredible for being shot on an iPhone, and mixes live-action with manga illustrations.
Watch “Midnight” below.
The short film “centers on a late-night taxi driver named Midnight, played by popular Japanese actor Kento Kaku, who roams the streets of Tokyo offering help to those in need. The film follows Midnight as he comes to the aid of a young woman, played by Konatsu Kato, who is struggling to take over her recently deceased father’s truck-driving business while fighting off a nefarious local gang, led by an evil boss played by the acclaimed character actor Yukiyoshi Ozawa.”
The 19-minute comedic action short looks incredible for being shot on an iPhone, and mixes live-action with manga illustrations.
- 3/6/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
While there’s plenty to be said and appreciated about cozy, comforting horror that offers catharsis, the genre’s ultimate aim is to terrify, shock, and even repulse. Of course, there is no shortage of ways that filmmakers accomplish this, frequently through gore, violence, and potent scare tactics, but transgressive horror is in a league of its own.
More than just gore, transgressive horror films revel in the taboo. Transgressive horror shatters cultural norms and seeks to explore beyond the boundaries of taste and social sensibilities, challenging viewers with shocking and sacrilegious imagery and themes. And yet, it’s not solely for shock value; transgressive horror has more on its mind than simply gore and depictions of depravity. There’s a purpose behind the pain. This week’s streaming picks are for the seekers of extreme cinema, unafraid to test their limits.
Here’s where you can stream them this week.
More than just gore, transgressive horror films revel in the taboo. Transgressive horror shatters cultural norms and seeks to explore beyond the boundaries of taste and social sensibilities, challenging viewers with shocking and sacrilegious imagery and themes. And yet, it’s not solely for shock value; transgressive horror has more on its mind than simply gore and depictions of depravity. There’s a purpose behind the pain. This week’s streaming picks are for the seekers of extreme cinema, unafraid to test their limits.
Here’s where you can stream them this week.
- 11/13/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
While Konami seems to have been hogging all of the animated Netflix video game adaptations lately, Capcom has countered with a new trailer for Onimusha, which is set to start streaming on November 2. Set to “The Loneliest” by Måneskin, the trailer doesn’t get into the demon-slaying that the video games are known for just yet, but that’s quickly rectified.
Unlike the Castlevania Netflix adaptations, Onimusha instead utilizes 3D animation with a cel-shaded art style from animation studio Sublimation and director Shinya Sugai, whose work includes the CG anime adaptation of another Capcom property, Dragon’s Dogma.
Directed by Takashi Miike and featuring the voice talents of Akio Otsuka, Toshihiko Seki, Hochu Otsuka, Daiki Yamashita, Subaru Kimura and Katsuyuki Konishi, Onimusha will focus on Miyamoto Musashi, who is modeled after Japanese film icon Toshiro Mifune.
Set in the early Edo Period, a time when Japan was transitioning towards peace, and warfare was fading into history,...
Unlike the Castlevania Netflix adaptations, Onimusha instead utilizes 3D animation with a cel-shaded art style from animation studio Sublimation and director Shinya Sugai, whose work includes the CG anime adaptation of another Capcom property, Dragon’s Dogma.
Directed by Takashi Miike and featuring the voice talents of Akio Otsuka, Toshihiko Seki, Hochu Otsuka, Daiki Yamashita, Subaru Kimura and Katsuyuki Konishi, Onimusha will focus on Miyamoto Musashi, who is modeled after Japanese film icon Toshiro Mifune.
Set in the early Edo Period, a time when Japan was transitioning towards peace, and warfare was fading into history,...
- 9/20/2023
- by Mike Wilson
- bloody-disgusting.com
Prolific genre filmmaker Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi the Killer) is back with Lumberjack the Monster, an adaptation of Kaibutsu no Kikori by Mayusuke Kurai. A brand new Japanese teaser trailer highlights the violence in store when a serial killer crosses paths with a psychopath.
The trailer introduces a Patrick Bateman-like psycho and a masked killer that may prove even more bloodthirsty, teasing a hyper-violent grudge match for the ages. The film’s official site explains, “A series of bizarre murders in which people wear a monster mask from the picture book ‘Monster Woodcutter’ and steal their brains with an axe.” The teaser also touts Miike’s feature as “insanely suspenseful.”
Whoever loses, all signs point to audiences winning. Miike always delivers on the unexpected and never shies away from pushing boundaries when it comes to violence or taboos.
Lumberjack the Monster is slated for theatrical release in Japan on December...
The trailer introduces a Patrick Bateman-like psycho and a masked killer that may prove even more bloodthirsty, teasing a hyper-violent grudge match for the ages. The film’s official site explains, “A series of bizarre murders in which people wear a monster mask from the picture book ‘Monster Woodcutter’ and steal their brains with an axe.” The teaser also touts Miike’s feature as “insanely suspenseful.”
Whoever loses, all signs point to audiences winning. Miike always delivers on the unexpected and never shies away from pushing boundaries when it comes to violence or taboos.
Lumberjack the Monster is slated for theatrical release in Japan on December...
- 6/7/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
The Fantasia International Film Festival will be roaring back into theatres to celebrate its 26th edition with a dynamic in-person program of screenings, workshops, and launch events running from July 15 through August 3, 2022. Fantasia remains a leading showcase in North America for the wildest, weirdest, and most worthwhile releases in Japanese anime and live-action manga adaptations, and the festival is proud to announce the first of its 2022 selections. All animated films are nominated for Fantasia’s prestigious Satoshi Kon Award for Achievement in Animation.
A dark and monstrous creature becomes the guardian of an innocent human child in the affecting gothic anime fairy tale The Girl From The Other Side, co-directed by rising talents Yutaro Kubo and Satomi Maiya. The pair world-premiered their short film adaptation of Nagabe’s cult manga at Fantasia 2019, and with this feature film, they bring the elegant, enigmatic tale of Shiva and Teacher to the screen once again.
A dark and monstrous creature becomes the guardian of an innocent human child in the affecting gothic anime fairy tale The Girl From The Other Side, co-directed by rising talents Yutaro Kubo and Satomi Maiya. The pair world-premiered their short film adaptation of Nagabe’s cult manga at Fantasia 2019, and with this feature film, they bring the elegant, enigmatic tale of Shiva and Teacher to the screen once again.
- 5/7/2022
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
‘The Grudge’ Director Takashi Shimizu’s New Movie ‘Homunculus’ is Now Streaming on Netflix [Trailer]
Best known as the creator of the Japanese Ju-on series and The Grudge franchise, Takashi Shimizu is back with a brand new movie, titled Homunculus and now streaming on Netflix. The live-action film adapts the cult classic manga by Hideo Yamamoto (Ichi the Killer). In Homunculus, “Truth and illusion blurs when a homeless amnesiac awakens from an experimental medical procedure with […]...
- 5/3/2021
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Albert Hughes takes us on a wild journey through the movies that made him, then explains why he’s not a cinephile (Spoiler: He is). Heads up – you’re going to hear some words you’ve never heard on our show before, and only one of them is Metropolis.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Gremlins (1984)
A Christmas Story (1983)
The Candidate (1972)
Menace II Society (1993)
Die Hard (1988)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Scarface (1983)
Goodfellas (1990)
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Raging Bull (1980)
Taxi Driver (1976)
Alpha (2018)
Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Metropolis (1927)
True Romance (1993)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
The Matrix (1999)
Man Bites Dog (1992)
Looney Tunes: Back In Action (2003)
A Serbian Film (2010)
Scarface (1932)
The Book of Eli (2010)
The Departed (2006)
Infernal Affairs (2002)
The Godfather (1972)
Casino (1995)
JFK (1991)
Dead Presidents (1996)
Eve’s Bayou (1997)
Basic Instinct (1992)
Psycho (1960)
The Cremator (1969)
The Firemen’s Ball (1967)
Halloween (2018)
From Hell (2001)
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Hoffa (1992)
V For Vendetta (2005)
Spartacus (1960)
You Were Never Really Here...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Gremlins (1984)
A Christmas Story (1983)
The Candidate (1972)
Menace II Society (1993)
Die Hard (1988)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Scarface (1983)
Goodfellas (1990)
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Raging Bull (1980)
Taxi Driver (1976)
Alpha (2018)
Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Metropolis (1927)
True Romance (1993)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
The Matrix (1999)
Man Bites Dog (1992)
Looney Tunes: Back In Action (2003)
A Serbian Film (2010)
Scarface (1932)
The Book of Eli (2010)
The Departed (2006)
Infernal Affairs (2002)
The Godfather (1972)
Casino (1995)
JFK (1991)
Dead Presidents (1996)
Eve’s Bayou (1997)
Basic Instinct (1992)
Psycho (1960)
The Cremator (1969)
The Firemen’s Ball (1967)
Halloween (2018)
From Hell (2001)
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Hoffa (1992)
V For Vendetta (2005)
Spartacus (1960)
You Were Never Really Here...
- 9/29/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Sky Cinema has a big box of cinematic treats for you in June, with something for pretty much everyone on the agenda – horror fans, monocle-poppers and kids alike will find gems waiting for them in the month ahead. As usual, we’ve got a comprehensive list of everything you can expect to hit the service as summer rolls around in earnest, so close the curtains, get the fan on, shove a big bag of popcorn in the microwave, and get ready to clap your eyes on a movie or two.
Premieres
Daniel Isn’t Real – June 1st
The next generation of horror truly arrives with this surprisingly entertaining entry into the ‘imaginary friend’ genre, as Miles Robbins – son of Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins – and Patrick Schwarzenegger (you can probably guess who his dad is) battle it out to be the owner of a very real human body. Daniel isn’t...
Premieres
Daniel Isn’t Real – June 1st
The next generation of horror truly arrives with this surprisingly entertaining entry into the ‘imaginary friend’ genre, as Miles Robbins – son of Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins – and Patrick Schwarzenegger (you can probably guess who his dad is) battle it out to be the owner of a very real human body. Daniel isn’t...
- 5/19/2020
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
The beloved manga series “Fullmetal Alchemist” has had quite a life beyond the pages. Though the original series ran from 2001 through 2010, it has produced two anime series — “Fullmetal Alchemist,” the loose adaptation, and “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood,” a more faithful retelling — a series of light novels, an audio drama, five video games and soon, a live-action adaptation, featuring an all-Japanese cast.
Read More: ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’: Iconic Anime Getting A Big Screen Adaptation, With No Whitewashing
Now, Warner Bros. has released a first glimpse of the film in the form of a brief teaser trailer. Though there are no English subtitles, it features several shots of Ryosuke Yamada (“Assassination Classroom”) as Edward Elric and a promise from him to get “[their] bodies back.” The film co-stars Tsubasa Honda, Dean Fujioka, Misako Renbutsu, Kanata Hongō, Jun Kunimura, Kenjirō Ishimaru and more. Watch the teaser trailer below.
Read More: ‘Ghost In The Shell...
Read More: ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’: Iconic Anime Getting A Big Screen Adaptation, With No Whitewashing
Now, Warner Bros. has released a first glimpse of the film in the form of a brief teaser trailer. Though there are no English subtitles, it features several shots of Ryosuke Yamada (“Assassination Classroom”) as Edward Elric and a promise from him to get “[their] bodies back.” The film co-stars Tsubasa Honda, Dean Fujioka, Misako Renbutsu, Kanata Hongō, Jun Kunimura, Kenjirō Ishimaru and more. Watch the teaser trailer below.
Read More: ‘Ghost In The Shell...
- 11/16/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
After The Storm, the latest from the great Kore-eda Hirokazu premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of this year’s Cannes Film Festival before going on general release in Japanese cinemas where it can still be found. While looking forward for that film to travel abroad, UK fans can make do with the release of his previous effort, Our Little Sister, out today on DVD and Blu-ray. Haruka Ayase (Ichi, Real), Nagasawa Masami (Wood Job!), and Kaho (Tokyo Girl), star as twenty-something siblings living together in an aged and ever-so-slightly ramshackle house in the coastal town of Kamakura. Award-winning newcomer Hirose Suzu plays the little sister of the title, who moves to the house after the death of her father, a man who abandoned the...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 6/14/2016
- Screen Anarchy
Takashi Miike's Yakuza thriller opens with a barrage of sleaze featuring cocaine, stripping and guns. It's brilliant
Warning: contains explicit images
Why we love … the cast of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest … movie computers … the quarry in Breaking Away
Reading this on mobile? Click here to watch
I'm slightly ashamed to admit how much I enjoy the opening scene of Dead or Alive, Takashi Miike's violent Yakuza thriller. It's essentially five minutes of continuous sleaze, resembling more an 18-rated trailer than it does the establishing moments of a film. It's certainly not something I'd recommend sitting down to watch with your family – not unless your family's really weird.
It starts with a count-in – "One, two; one two three four" – before a rock riff kicks in, there's a scream, and a (not entirely convincing) body is seen falling from a building. It hits the pavement, a shady figure...
Warning: contains explicit images
Why we love … the cast of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest … movie computers … the quarry in Breaking Away
Reading this on mobile? Click here to watch
I'm slightly ashamed to admit how much I enjoy the opening scene of Dead or Alive, Takashi Miike's violent Yakuza thriller. It's essentially five minutes of continuous sleaze, resembling more an 18-rated trailer than it does the establishing moments of a film. It's certainly not something I'd recommend sitting down to watch with your family – not unless your family's really weird.
It starts with a count-in – "One, two; one two three four" – before a rock riff kicks in, there's a scream, and a (not entirely convincing) body is seen falling from a building. It hits the pavement, a shady figure...
- 8/28/2013
- by Adam Boult
- The Guardian - Film News
They’re at it again! Director Noboru Iguchi and Special Effects Director Yoshihiro Nishimura, creators of ‘Mutant Girls Squad,’ have reunited for another insane production, the cyborg-filled action-packed comedy-thriller Karate-Robo Zaborgar and its debuting on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital September 11th from Well Go USA Entertainment. The film stars Itsuji Itato (Tokyo Gore Police) as a secret-police officer who teams up with his super robot “Zaborgar” to battle all manner of mechanized super weapons in their quest for justice. The film also stars Asami (Mutant Girls Squad) as a rampaging school-girl robot and Akira Emoto (Ichi) as the leader of the sinister Sigma organization who plans to unleash a giant, transforming robot weapon to wreak havoc upon the unsuspecting world. Only In Japan?! Check out the bonkers trailer. Synopsis: Following the death of his scientist father, secret police officer Yutaka Daimon (Itsuji Itao) inherits a mighty robot warrior named “Zaborgar.
- 8/1/2012
- 24framespersecond.net
The Dawn of the Seeker anime will be hitting select screens across the U.S. (and one in Canada) on May 24th before the movie hits DVD.
The movie features a young heroine named Cassandra, who is "a brash and beautiful warrior, must stop a conspiracy that threatens the realm's most powerful religious order. Accused of treasonous crimes and hunted by friend and foe, Cassandra must clear her name and overcome her rage in order to save the day and take her place in legend" (From the Amazon preorder page). Directed by live action and anime filmmaker Fumihiko Sori (Ping Pong, Ichi, Vexille), I can say based on her filmography that Dawn of the Seeker should at least be easy on the eyes.
As you can see from the clip below, the movie is a CG/2D hybrid (where 2D characters essentially laid over 3D models). Vexille) and 2004's Appleseed both used a similar technique.
The movie features a young heroine named Cassandra, who is "a brash and beautiful warrior, must stop a conspiracy that threatens the realm's most powerful religious order. Accused of treasonous crimes and hunted by friend and foe, Cassandra must clear her name and overcome her rage in order to save the day and take her place in legend" (From the Amazon preorder page). Directed by live action and anime filmmaker Fumihiko Sori (Ping Pong, Ichi, Vexille), I can say based on her filmography that Dawn of the Seeker should at least be easy on the eyes.
As you can see from the clip below, the movie is a CG/2D hybrid (where 2D characters essentially laid over 3D models). Vexille) and 2004's Appleseed both used a similar technique.
- 4/23/2012
- by Charles Webb
- MTV Multiplayer
Takashi Miike, the director responsible for such uncompromising and unforgettable movies as Audition and Ichi The Killer indelibly stamps his trademark style on the Samurai genre with the ultra-violent, all-action, blood-spattered epic, 13 Assassins.
Miike’s remake of Eichi Kudo’s classic 1963 samurai period action-drama Jusan-nin No Shikaku boasts a heavyweight cast featuring some of the biggest names in contemporary Japanese cinema, including Koji Yakusho (Babel; Memoirs Of A Geisha), Takayuki Yamada (252: Sign Of Life), Yusuke Iseya (Sukiyaki Western Django; Memories Of Matsuko; Casshern), Mikijiro Hira (Goemon) and Hiroki Matsukata (Tajomaru: Avenging Blade; Ichi).
We’ve just been sent the official UK trailer and poster (pictured above) for the film by the good folks at Artifical Eye, who unleash 13 Assassins into UK cinemas on May 6th 2011.
Miike’s remake of Eichi Kudo’s classic 1963 samurai period action-drama Jusan-nin No Shikaku boasts a heavyweight cast featuring some of the biggest names in contemporary Japanese cinema, including Koji Yakusho (Babel; Memoirs Of A Geisha), Takayuki Yamada (252: Sign Of Life), Yusuke Iseya (Sukiyaki Western Django; Memories Of Matsuko; Casshern), Mikijiro Hira (Goemon) and Hiroki Matsukata (Tajomaru: Avenging Blade; Ichi).
We’ve just been sent the official UK trailer and poster (pictured above) for the film by the good folks at Artifical Eye, who unleash 13 Assassins into UK cinemas on May 6th 2011.
- 4/5/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Takashi Miike, the director responsible for such uncompromising and unforgettable movies as Audition and Ichi The Killer indelibly stamps his trademark style on the Samurai genre with the ultra-violent, all-action, blood-spattered epic, 13 Assassins.
Miike’s remake of Eichi Kudo’s classic 1963 samurai period action-drama Jusan-nin No Shikaku boasts a heavyweight cast featuring some of the biggest names in contemporary Japanese cinema, including Koji Yakusho (Babel; Memoirs Of A Geisha), Takayuki Yamada (252: Sign Of Life), Yusuke Iseya (Sukiyaki Western Django; Memories Of Matsuko; Casshern), Mikijiro Hira (Goemon) and Hiroki Matsukata (Tajomaru: Avenging Blade; Ichi).
In mid-19th Century Japan the era of the samurai is beginning to fade as the feudal nation begins to enjoy a rare period of peace. But the fragile calm is soon threatened by the bloody rise of Lord Naritsugu, the Shogun’s sadistic, psychopathic younger brother, whose position places him above the law and free to rape,...
Miike’s remake of Eichi Kudo’s classic 1963 samurai period action-drama Jusan-nin No Shikaku boasts a heavyweight cast featuring some of the biggest names in contemporary Japanese cinema, including Koji Yakusho (Babel; Memoirs Of A Geisha), Takayuki Yamada (252: Sign Of Life), Yusuke Iseya (Sukiyaki Western Django; Memories Of Matsuko; Casshern), Mikijiro Hira (Goemon) and Hiroki Matsukata (Tajomaru: Avenging Blade; Ichi).
In mid-19th Century Japan the era of the samurai is beginning to fade as the feudal nation begins to enjoy a rare period of peace. But the fragile calm is soon threatened by the bloody rise of Lord Naritsugu, the Shogun’s sadistic, psychopathic younger brother, whose position places him above the law and free to rape,...
- 3/11/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
The full trailer for Fumihiko Sori's adaptation of popular boxing anime / manga series Ashita No Joe has arrived at the official site and while it features an unfortunate J-pop soundtrack the visuals are right on par with what you would expect from the director of Ping Pong and Ichi. Tomohisa Yamashita and Yusuke Iseya star.
Not having had any real exposure to any of the previous incarnations of the series I have no idea how this bears up to the previous manga or anime version so any fans out there, feel free to weigh in. Does it look like Sori's got it right?...
Not having had any real exposure to any of the previous incarnations of the series I have no idea how this bears up to the previous manga or anime version so any fans out there, feel free to weigh in. Does it look like Sori's got it right?...
- 11/26/2010
- Screen Anarchy
One of the most popular and enduring manga / anime properties of all time, boxing drama Ashita no Joe (Tomorrow's Joe) is coming to the big screen in live action courtesy of Ping Pong, Vexille and Ichi director Fumihiko Sori.
Pop star Tomohisa Yamashita stars as the titular Joe, a young man who hones his fight skills during a prison stint during which he inspires and faces off with a variety of opponents. The freshly released teaser for the picture almost plays like two entirely different movies jammed into one small package. The first half is the Sori we have come to expect when he works in live action - that is to say beautifully shot, featuring an evocative use of music and just all around good. And then the music gives way to cheesy over dramatics all kind of falls apart.
Given that it's Sori at the helm and this...
Pop star Tomohisa Yamashita stars as the titular Joe, a young man who hones his fight skills during a prison stint during which he inspires and faces off with a variety of opponents. The freshly released teaser for the picture almost plays like two entirely different movies jammed into one small package. The first half is the Sori we have come to expect when he works in live action - that is to say beautifully shot, featuring an evocative use of music and just all around good. And then the music gives way to cheesy over dramatics all kind of falls apart.
Given that it's Sori at the helm and this...
- 8/23/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Back in July, North American anime distributor FUNimation announced via press release that they had signed a deal with Electronic Arts subsidiary BioWare to create an animated film based on the Dragon Age video game franchise. Today comes word that Fumihiko Sori, director of Ping Pong (2002), Vexille (2007), and Ichi (2008), will direct.
The film will mark FUNimation’s first foray into original anime movie productions, having announced the initiative back in November of 2009.
BioWare launched the Dragon Age franchise late last year with the highly-anticipated release of their fantasy RPG “Dragon Age: Origins”. The game featured a fairly derivative RPG story and common gameplay mechanics, but was buoyed by BioWare’s typical acute attention to detail and an usual emphasis on freedom of choice, giving players the option to be good, neutral, or evil—or even gay, straight, or bisexual—based entirely on their own actions within the game.
Since its initial release,...
The film will mark FUNimation’s first foray into original anime movie productions, having announced the initiative back in November of 2009.
BioWare launched the Dragon Age franchise late last year with the highly-anticipated release of their fantasy RPG “Dragon Age: Origins”. The game featured a fairly derivative RPG story and common gameplay mechanics, but was buoyed by BioWare’s typical acute attention to detail and an usual emphasis on freedom of choice, giving players the option to be good, neutral, or evil—or even gay, straight, or bisexual—based entirely on their own actions within the game.
Since its initial release,...
- 8/13/2010
- Nippon Cinema
Back in July, North American anime distributor FUNimation announced via press release that they had signed a deal with Electronic Arts subsidiary BioWare to create an animated film based on the Dragon Age video game franchise. Today comes word that Fumihiko Sori, director of Ping Pong (2002), Vexille (2007), and Ichi (2008), will direct.
The film will mark FUNimation’s first foray into original anime movie productions, having announced the initiative back in November of 2009.
BioWare launched the Dragon Age franchise late last year with the highly-anticipated release of their fantasy RPG “Dragon Age: Origins”. The game featured a fairly derivative RPG story and common gameplay mechanics, but was buoyed by BioWare’s typical acute attention to detail and an usual emphasis on freedom of choice, giving players the option to be good, neutral, or evil—or even gay, straight, or bisexual—based entirely on their own actions within the game.
Since its initial release,...
The film will mark FUNimation’s first foray into original anime movie productions, having announced the initiative back in November of 2009.
BioWare launched the Dragon Age franchise late last year with the highly-anticipated release of their fantasy RPG “Dragon Age: Origins”. The game featured a fairly derivative RPG story and common gameplay mechanics, but was buoyed by BioWare’s typical acute attention to detail and an usual emphasis on freedom of choice, giving players the option to be good, neutral, or evil—or even gay, straight, or bisexual—based entirely on their own actions within the game.
Since its initial release,...
- 8/13/2010
- Nippon Cinema
Five years after making his eyeball-searing debut with “Casshern”, former Japanese fashion photographer and music video director Kiriya Kazuaki returns with more visual splendour and epic action in the form of “Goemon”. Produced by the legendary Ichise Takashige (who worked on key modern Asian horrors such as “The Ring”, “Dark Water” and “The Grudge”), the film is a period set fantasy in the Robin Hood style, with Eguchi Yosuke (recently in “Shaolin Girl” and “Children of the Dark”) as the titular rogue ninja hero who has to face up to his destiny as he tries to save the country. The film boasts an illustrious supporting cast, including Osawa Takao (“Ichi”, “Sky High”), Hirosue Ryoko (“Villon’s Wife”), Kaname Jun (“Blood”, “K-20”), Okuda Eiji (“Be Sure to Share”), Terajima Susumu (“Ichi the Killer”), and Tamayama Tetsuji (“Casshern”) amongst others. A mixture of wild fiction and historical fact, the film was a box office hit in Asia,...
- 7/15/2010
- by James Mudge
- Beyond Hollywood
It’s 2010, and while there will be plenty of great anime in the coming weeks and months, AniMania is starting the new year with something a little different by taking a look at the live action sword drama, “Ichi”.
“Ichi” is the latest in the long line of works to draw on the Zatoichi blind swordsman mythos, but with a twist. Ichi, the title character, is a beautiful swords-woman, who travels from village to village in search of the only man to ever show her kindness. Along the way, she meets Toma, who at first comes across as a hopeless bungler, dependent on Ichi to get him out of one sticky situation after another. But as time goes on, we learn that he is hiding a tragic past. There just might be more to this clumsy, would-be samurai than his humorous antics let on.
Live action is nothing new, of course.
“Ichi” is the latest in the long line of works to draw on the Zatoichi blind swordsman mythos, but with a twist. Ichi, the title character, is a beautiful swords-woman, who travels from village to village in search of the only man to ever show her kindness. Along the way, she meets Toma, who at first comes across as a hopeless bungler, dependent on Ichi to get him out of one sticky situation after another. But as time goes on, we learn that he is hiding a tragic past. There just might be more to this clumsy, would-be samurai than his humorous antics let on.
Live action is nothing new, of course.
- 1/8/2010
- by E. Douglas
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Need some last minute x-mas gifts for your favorite genre fanatic? This week's got enough doozies to round out the holiday cheer nicely.
For one thing, we finally get to see Staten Island (trailer, amazon) the mob flick with Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio and Seymour Cassel that was previously titled "Little New York."
Of course we can't forget Neil Blompkamp's District 9 (amazon) is out on DVD and Blu-ray today. Easily one of the best science fiction films in a long time, District 9 was among the three big Hollywood game changers this year (the other two are of course, Paranormal Activity for micro-budget and Avatar for technology).
Another scifi / horror film getting release today is Ghost Machine (trailer, amazon) which finally arrives thanks to Anchor Bay.
Need a good chuckle? Craving a carefree romantic comedy to go along with your holiday rum and eggnog? Then don't get 500 Days of Summer (amazon) this week.
For one thing, we finally get to see Staten Island (trailer, amazon) the mob flick with Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio and Seymour Cassel that was previously titled "Little New York."
Of course we can't forget Neil Blompkamp's District 9 (amazon) is out on DVD and Blu-ray today. Easily one of the best science fiction films in a long time, District 9 was among the three big Hollywood game changers this year (the other two are of course, Paranormal Activity for micro-budget and Avatar for technology).
Another scifi / horror film getting release today is Ghost Machine (trailer, amazon) which finally arrives thanks to Anchor Bay.
Need a good chuckle? Craving a carefree romantic comedy to go along with your holiday rum and eggnog? Then don't get 500 Days of Summer (amazon) this week.
- 12/22/2009
- QuietEarth.us
All that most male viewers probably need to know is that “Oppai Volleyball” translates as ‘breast volleyball’ and that it stars the gorgeous swimsuit model turned actress Haruka Ayase as a teacher who tries to inspire a young school boy volleyball team by promising she will show them her breasts if they manage to win. Adapted from a novel by Mizuno Munenori and supposedly based upon a true story, the film was directed by Hasumi Eiichiro, previously responsible for “Umizaru” and ski comedy “Season of Snow”. Surprisingly, despite its potentially sleazy premise, the film is actually a light hearted mixture of underdog sports story and coming of age journey – albeit with probably more mentions of the word ‘boob’ than in any other respectable production in recent memory. The film is set in back the 1970s and begins as a young female teacher called Mikako (Ayase, who recently also headlined “Ichi...
- 11/7/2009
- by James Mudge
- Beyond Hollywood
Not to be confused with Takashi Miike’s deranged antihero movie of the same name, Fumihiko Sori’s (Ping Pong) Ichi is based on the hugely popular TV and movie saga Zatoichi, the tale of a blind swordsman and his sword wielding adventures. This time we are following the journey of a young girl and her shamisen, roaming small towns and villages in search of her mysterious teacher, a man we glimpse in flashbacks. She believes that he might be her father; we get the feeling that he might be the legendary Zatoichi himself. Ichi’s journey is interrupted when three thugs, the Banki-to, make her an offer she really can refuse. A wandering samurai intervenes, well I say intervenes, he kind of just gets in the way and makes himself look stupid but fortunately for him, Ichi is a bit of a sword fighting genius. She makes short work...
- 8/15/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
Sweet news from our pals at the affenheimtheater this morning! It seems that Fumihiko Sori, director of Vexille, Ichi and the groundbreaking Appleseed, will be making an adaptation of the popular sci-fi manga "2001 Nights" (2001 Ya Monotogari). Called simply To, the project has even launched an official website here.
The manga by Yukinobu Hoshino was published between 1984 to 1986 and tells several short stories about mankind’s adventures in space. Personally, I'd like to see a more traditional animation approach from the usually CGI happy Sori, but whatever, this project will no doubt be truly epic in scope regardless.
The manga by Yukinobu Hoshino was published between 1984 to 1986 and tells several short stories about mankind’s adventures in space. Personally, I'd like to see a more traditional animation approach from the usually CGI happy Sori, but whatever, this project will no doubt be truly epic in scope regardless.
- 7/9/2009
- QuietEarth.us
Ann has posted first details on the new project from Fumihiko Sori, director of Ping Pong, Vexille and Ichi, and director of Appleseed. According to the news, Sori will direct To, an adaptation of the sci-fi manga 2001 Nights (2001 Ya Monotogari) from Yukinobu Hoshino. The manga was published between 1984 to 1986 and tells several short stories about mankind’s adventures in space. It was already adapted in 1987 as the 60-minutes Ova Space Fantasia 2001 Nights.
It’s yet unknown if Sori will use traditional animation or rather power-up the rendering super machines like he did for Vexille and Appleseed. Avex has opened the official website for the To project yesterday but until now it only shows the teaser artwork below.
[via Ann & Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow]...
It’s yet unknown if Sori will use traditional animation or rather power-up the rendering super machines like he did for Vexille and Appleseed. Avex has opened the official website for the To project yesterday but until now it only shows the teaser artwork below.
[via Ann & Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow]...
- 7/9/2009
- by Ulrik
- Affenheimtheater
With its U.K theatrical release barely over a week away, we’ve just been given some great new clips from Fumihiko Sori's Ichi, his reimagining of the legendary blind swordsman series…"Zatoichi." Traditionally a male character Sori's turns tradition on its head and Ichi stars actress Haruka Ayase (Hero) in the title role playing a young, beautiful blind musician who also happens to be an lethal swordswoman. All the clips can be accessed from the links below. For full details on film screening locations, times and dates, whiz on over to the pics official site for the info.
- 6/30/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
With its U.K theatrical release barely over a week away, we’ve just been given some great new clips from Fumihiko Sori's Ichi, his reimagining of the legendary blind swordsman series…"Zatoichi." Traditionally a male character Sori's turns tradition on its head and Ichi stars actress Haruka Ayase (Hero) in the title role playing a young, beautiful blind musician who also happens to be an lethal swordswoman. All the clips can be accessed from the links below. For full details on film screening locations, times and dates, whiz on over to the pics official site for the info.
- 6/30/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
Well this was surprise. Back last Thursday we announced that Fumihiko Sori’s ("Vexille" "Ping Pong) female "Zatoichi" martial arts action saga Ichi was heading for UK DVD. Well just to keep us on our toes they’ve now gone and thrown a curved ball at us by suddenly announcing the film will be getting a UK theatrical (albeit limited) release! Ichi (cert. 15 tbc) will now be released by Manga Entertainment in selected UK cinemas, on 10th July 2009.
- 6/7/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
Beloved cult Japanese director Takashi Miike has gotten the funding and producers needed to finally make Thirteen Assassins, his samurai film. Based on Eiichi Kudo's 1963 film of the same name, the film is set in the shogun era and follows 13 assassins who come together for a suicide mission to kill an evil lord. Producers Jeremy Thomas and Toshiaki Nakazawa are teaming up to fund and produce the project, both of whom have a glowing background. Nakazawa produced this year's foreign language film Oscar winner Departures, Thomas produced Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor, which also won Best Picture. For those unfamiliar with Miike, the filmmaker broke into the cult side of things here in the Us with crazy films like Audition, Dead or Alive, Ichi the Killer, and the original One Missed Call. He most recently directed the spaghetti western Sukiyaki Western Django, that Quentin Tarantino had a cameo in,...
- 5/12/2009
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Just like promised the day before yesterday, the full program with (so far?) 38 titles for the 10. Japanese Film Festival Hamburg is now available online. The Jffh will take place from May 27 to May 31.
Cafe Isobe by Keisuke Yoshida (Eröffnungsfilm) Appassionata by Sadao Nakajima Arbol del Tule by Takeya Sekiguchi Balloon Forest by Takashi Miura Takuya Bluebird by Shu Asakawa Captain Tokyo by Kazushi Watanabe Crazed Beast by Sadao Nakajima Cyborg She by Kwak Jae Yong Das Leben von meinem Vater Yoshiari by Mitsuwaha Yusaku Der Buddha, der den Fuchs berührt by Yosuke Kaneko Der Engel im blauen Himmel Der Rote Punkt by Marie Miyayama Detroit Metal City by Toshio Lee Dream of the City by Shunichi Takagi Empty Blue by Kou Hanekawa Escape from Hiroshima Prison by Sadao Nakajima Gelatin Silver Love by Kazumi Kurigami Genius Party by Studio 4°C Genius Party Beyond by Studio 4°C Grotesque by Koji Shiraishi...
Cafe Isobe by Keisuke Yoshida (Eröffnungsfilm) Appassionata by Sadao Nakajima Arbol del Tule by Takeya Sekiguchi Balloon Forest by Takashi Miura Takuya Bluebird by Shu Asakawa Captain Tokyo by Kazushi Watanabe Crazed Beast by Sadao Nakajima Cyborg She by Kwak Jae Yong Das Leben von meinem Vater Yoshiari by Mitsuwaha Yusaku Der Buddha, der den Fuchs berührt by Yosuke Kaneko Der Engel im blauen Himmel Der Rote Punkt by Marie Miyayama Detroit Metal City by Toshio Lee Dream of the City by Shunichi Takagi Empty Blue by Kou Hanekawa Escape from Hiroshima Prison by Sadao Nakajima Gelatin Silver Love by Kazumi Kurigami Genius Party by Studio 4°C Genius Party Beyond by Studio 4°C Grotesque by Koji Shiraishi...
- 4/24/2009
- by Ulrik
- Affenheimtheater
While it has been known for some time that Shingo Katori from the Japanese Pop-group Smap (jup, the one from the Ninja Scroll live-action adaptation) will continue the work of Shintaro Katsu and Takeshi Kitano and will play the role of Ichi, the full cast has just been announced. Tokyograph mentions Takashi Sorimachi (Fulltime Killer, Yamato) and Satomi Ishihara (The Climber’s High) in supporting roles and Chieko Baisho, Youki Kudoh, Koichi Iwaki, Yoshio Harada, Kanzaburo Nakamura and Seishiro Kato in smaller roles.
But I think more interesting than all these names is the fact that Sorimachi will play a close friend of Ichi while cute Ishihara will be his wife!
Looks like director Junji Sakamoto (Children of the Dark, Chameleon) wants to show another side of the lone wolf Ichi, who already went through a sex change in 2008 when Haruka Ayase played his/her part in Ichi.
The shooting began in early March,...
But I think more interesting than all these names is the fact that Sorimachi will play a close friend of Ichi while cute Ishihara will be his wife!
Looks like director Junji Sakamoto (Children of the Dark, Chameleon) wants to show another side of the lone wolf Ichi, who already went through a sex change in 2008 when Haruka Ayase played his/her part in Ichi.
The shooting began in early March,...
- 4/23/2009
- by Ulrik
- Affenheimtheater
Freshly off a screening of Fumihiko Sori’s Ichi - a partial re-envisioning, partial continuation of the classic Zatoichi saga - I feel quite confident about two things.
First, though he now has only three feature films to his credit Sori is arguably Japan’s most wildly diverse director. Thus far he has made a charming indie comedy (Ping Pong), an animated scifi spectacle (Vexille), and now a traditional swordplay drama. All are impeccably crafted and all vary so wildly in style and approach that you’d never guess that the same man directed all three if not for his name in the credits.
Second, if there is any man on the surface of this planet with a fighting chance to out-do Riki Takeuchi in the crazy-face department then that man must surely be Shidou Nakamura. Yes, both are in this film and, yes, both break out the crazy-face on a regular basis.
First, though he now has only three feature films to his credit Sori is arguably Japan’s most wildly diverse director. Thus far he has made a charming indie comedy (Ping Pong), an animated scifi spectacle (Vexille), and now a traditional swordplay drama. All are impeccably crafted and all vary so wildly in style and approach that you’d never guess that the same man directed all three if not for his name in the credits.
Second, if there is any man on the surface of this planet with a fighting chance to out-do Riki Takeuchi in the crazy-face department then that man must surely be Shidou Nakamura. Yes, both are in this film and, yes, both break out the crazy-face on a regular basis.
- 10/10/2008
- by Todd Brown
- Screen Anarchy
You know what I love about Twitch readers? They have great taste, by which I of course mean taste very similar to my own, and so I know that when I head away from home for a few days - as I just did, traveling to Fantasia - I can count on them to find all the good stuff that I don’t have the time to go looking for myself. Such as what happened right now, when I received an email from regular reader Raku pointing out the full theatrical trailer for Fumihiko Sori’s Ichi.
Sori, of course, is the much loved director of Ping Pong and Vexille and this film is his re-envisioning of the classic Zatoichi story with a young girl replacing the older man as the wandering, sword wielding, blind masseur. I had the chance to catch this in the market at Cannes and while...
Sori, of course, is the much loved director of Ping Pong and Vexille and this film is his re-envisioning of the classic Zatoichi story with a young girl replacing the older man as the wandering, sword wielding, blind masseur. I had the chance to catch this in the market at Cannes and while...
- 7/17/2008
- by Todd Brown
- Screen Anarchy
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