Each new episode of Shōgun raises the stakes, deepens the political intrigue, and brings us closer to the brink of war. It’s a description that, years ago, would have applied to Game of Thrones, a show to which Shōgun has been compared ad nauseam. It’s not an inappropriate comparison. Both tout sprawling casts, sweeping locations, political intrigue, backstabbing, and characters residing in moral gray areas, ready to surprise and disappoint. Though, it may be more apt to compare the show to Japan’s Chanbara or samurai films.
Given Shōgun’s intensity and cliffhangers, waiting a week between episodes is excruciating. Digging back into Game of Thrones or even House of the Dragon might not scratch that Shōgun itch in the long days between installments.
Instead, let’s dive into samurai epics in and around the Edo period when Ieyasu Tokugawa unified Japan and built a shogunate that ruled for more than two centuries,...
Given Shōgun’s intensity and cliffhangers, waiting a week between episodes is excruciating. Digging back into Game of Thrones or even House of the Dragon might not scratch that Shōgun itch in the long days between installments.
Instead, let’s dive into samurai epics in and around the Edo period when Ieyasu Tokugawa unified Japan and built a shogunate that ruled for more than two centuries,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Stars: Sôsuke Ikematsu, Shin’ya Tsukamoto, Minami Hamabe, Mirai Moriyama, Tasuku Emoto, Nanase Nishino | Written and Directed by Hideaki Anno
The third entry in the Shin Japan Heroes Universe, Shin Kamen Rider, steps away from the kaiju-oriented plots of Shin Godzilla and Shin Ultraman to let writer/director Hideaki Anno, the driving force behind the Shin project, reboot a character that dates back to 1971 and who has, over the years appeared in various incarnations spanning live action, anime, and manga forms.
Takeshi Hongo was a socially inept college student who only cared about his motorcycle until he was kidnapped by S.H.O.C.K.E.R., Sustainable Happiness Organization with Computational Knowledge Embedded Remodeling, and experimented on by Professor Midorikawa, played appropriately enough by Shin’ya Tsukamoto, the director of Tetsuo: The Iron Man and its sequels.
He fused Hongo’s DNA with that of a grasshopper giving him incredible strength,...
The third entry in the Shin Japan Heroes Universe, Shin Kamen Rider, steps away from the kaiju-oriented plots of Shin Godzilla and Shin Ultraman to let writer/director Hideaki Anno, the driving force behind the Shin project, reboot a character that dates back to 1971 and who has, over the years appeared in various incarnations spanning live action, anime, and manga forms.
Takeshi Hongo was a socially inept college student who only cared about his motorcycle until he was kidnapped by S.H.O.C.K.E.R., Sustainable Happiness Organization with Computational Knowledge Embedded Remodeling, and experimented on by Professor Midorikawa, played appropriately enough by Shin’ya Tsukamoto, the director of Tetsuo: The Iron Man and its sequels.
He fused Hongo’s DNA with that of a grasshopper giving him incredible strength,...
- 7/24/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Exclusive: Following its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, UK horror film A Banquet has sold to Signature for the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
The deal was negotiated between Signature’s Elizabeth Williams and Hanway’s Nicole Mackey. Release is set for 2022.
A Banquet follows widowed mother Holly (played by Resident Evil actress Sienna Guillory) who is pushed to breaking point when her daughter Betsey develops an extreme eating disorder. She claims she has experienced a profound enlightenment where her body is in service to a higher power. Tormented by Betsey’s illness, her family are faced with an agonizing dilemma, torn between love and fear, and Holly is forced to confront the boundaries of her own belief. Also starring are Ruby Stokes (Bridgerton) and Lindsay Duncan (About Time).
The movie will next play at the BFI London Film Festival in the Cult strand.
The deal was negotiated between Signature’s Elizabeth Williams and Hanway’s Nicole Mackey. Release is set for 2022.
A Banquet follows widowed mother Holly (played by Resident Evil actress Sienna Guillory) who is pushed to breaking point when her daughter Betsey develops an extreme eating disorder. She claims she has experienced a profound enlightenment where her body is in service to a higher power. Tormented by Betsey’s illness, her family are faced with an agonizing dilemma, torn between love and fear, and Holly is forced to confront the boundaries of her own belief. Also starring are Ruby Stokes (Bridgerton) and Lindsay Duncan (About Time).
The movie will next play at the BFI London Film Festival in the Cult strand.
- 9/16/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
In Edo times, around the 17th century, it was common for Samurais to move households to another location on the command of the Shogun. That caused whole villages to move and leave behind many of their belongings. So is the fate of the Matsudaira Clan, who is forced to relocate 400km. Since the procession is a logistical challenge associated with a lot of costs, the daimyo assigns bookworm Katagiri to undertake this ungrateful task.
“Samurai Shifters” is screening at Toronto Japanese Film Festival
Based on a script by Akihiro Dobashi, who wrote the recent Samurai dramas “Samurai Hustle” (2014) and “Samurai Marathon” (2019), the period piece is a mix of comedy and historical insight. Precedent by the shallow “Floating Castle” (2012) director Isshin Inudo takes another try on the genre and breaks away from his endless women-with-animal flicks. Indo started his career in 1999 with the very promising “Across a gold Prairie” and won...
“Samurai Shifters” is screening at Toronto Japanese Film Festival
Based on a script by Akihiro Dobashi, who wrote the recent Samurai dramas “Samurai Hustle” (2014) and “Samurai Marathon” (2019), the period piece is a mix of comedy and historical insight. Precedent by the shallow “Floating Castle” (2012) director Isshin Inudo takes another try on the genre and breaks away from his endless women-with-animal flicks. Indo started his career in 1999 with the very promising “Across a gold Prairie” and won...
- 10/2/2020
- by Alexander Knoth
- AsianMoviePulse
”This also offers the occasion to find new creativity, not only in content but how it is delivered.”
New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff) organisers have set a virtual edition from August 28-September 12 after they cancelled the physical event due to the pandemic.
The acclaimed festival typically runs from late June for roughly two weeks and presents world premieres of new work and acclaimed festival and commercial hits.
Nyaff executive director Samuel Jamier said, “We held out for a physical, real festival as long as we could. At the core of what we do, there’s always the idea(l...
New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff) organisers have set a virtual edition from August 28-September 12 after they cancelled the physical event due to the pandemic.
The acclaimed festival typically runs from late June for roughly two weeks and presents world premieres of new work and acclaimed festival and commercial hits.
Nyaff executive director Samuel Jamier said, “We held out for a physical, real festival as long as we could. At the core of what we do, there’s always the idea(l...
- 7/24/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Well Go USA Entertainment now has “Samurai Marathon” (2019) available on DVD, Amazon streaming, and iTunes download. Directed by Bernard Rose, the visually stunning epic is inspired by a dangerous race established in 1855 that is still held annually in Japan. Featuring a musical score by renowned composer Philip Glass, Screen Daily calls “Samurai Marathon” “an epic sword-slasher.”
Synopsis:
Acclaimed filmmaker Bernard Rose has created a stunning visual feast complemented by a haunting score from iconic composer Philip Glass. Inspired by a race still held annually in Japan, “Samurai Marathon” is a lively action flick with a samurai twist. In late feudal Japan, a young ninja (Satoh) operates undercover in the court of an aging lord and his rebellious daughter. When the lord challenges his lazy samurai to a punishing marathon—joined covertly by Princess Yuki—the ninja finds his loyalties put to the test. Facing impossible odds, this...
Synopsis:
Acclaimed filmmaker Bernard Rose has created a stunning visual feast complemented by a haunting score from iconic composer Philip Glass. Inspired by a race still held annually in Japan, “Samurai Marathon” is a lively action flick with a samurai twist. In late feudal Japan, a young ninja (Satoh) operates undercover in the court of an aging lord and his rebellious daughter. When the lord challenges his lazy samurai to a punishing marathon—joined covertly by Princess Yuki—the ninja finds his loyalties put to the test. Facing impossible odds, this...
- 5/14/2020
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
The title, the trailer, and the tone set me on guard to anticipate a heavy-weight drama, especially when it's noted that Bernard Rose (Candyman) directed. Yet it still left me wondering: Samurai Marathon? Does that mean the film, newly available on VOD, is all about a long-distance race that is run by wandering warriors who are not wielding their swords? "The visually stunning epic is inspired by a dangerous race established in 1855 that is still held annually in Japan," says the official release. A review by James Hadfield in The Japan Times, however, provides a better overview of the film and its intentions. "Once the swords start clashing, the race gets rather forgotten, so when the film finishes with a photo montage of legendary...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 5/13/2020
- Screen Anarchy
Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema has announced the full line-up for its 10th Season including 16 new films from across Asia. Season Ten runs for five-weeks from March 10 through April 9, 2020. Each week will be dedicated to highlighting films from the same geographic location with one film shown on different days each week. A majority of the screenings will be presented at the festival’s primary venue, AMC River East 21. Select titles are screened at collaborative partners’ premises: Chicago Filmmakers, Alliance Française de Chicago, and the Chinese American Museum.
Asian Pop-Up Cinema’s Season Ten opens by honoring Hong Kong filmmaking with two North American Premieres starting with “I’m Livin it” on March 10. Nominated for 10 awards from the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards, “I’m Livin It”, tells the story of a man who was once a star in his finance firm (Aaron Kwok), but now spends his life in a...
Asian Pop-Up Cinema’s Season Ten opens by honoring Hong Kong filmmaking with two North American Premieres starting with “I’m Livin it” on March 10. Nominated for 10 awards from the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards, “I’m Livin It”, tells the story of a man who was once a star in his finance firm (Aaron Kwok), but now spends his life in a...
- 2/27/2020
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
"Whoever wins this race... I shall grant them a wish." Signature Ent. UK has debuted an official trailer for the indie action thriller Samurai Marathon, also known as Samurai Marathon 1855. Inspired by a real-life race that is still held annually in Japan, Samurai Marathon is an epic thriller from the team behind 13 Assassins and The Last Emperor. It is actually directed by a British filmmaker named Bernard Rose, best known for directing Candyman and Immortal Beloved. Set in the late feudal era of Japan, a young ninja is operating undercover in the court of an aging Lord during a peaceful era of Japan. His loyalties are put to the test as he competes in the Samurai Marathon event. Starring Takeru Satoh, Nana Komatsu, Mirai Moriyama, Shôta Sometani, Munetaka Aoki, Ryu Kohata, Yuta Koseki, Motoki Fukami, Junko Abe, and Danny Huston. Featuring a Philip Glass score, which is also a...
- 11/26/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Bernard Rose’s period action film Samurai Marathon following its North American premiere as the opening title of the recent New York Asian Film Festival.
Well Go is planning to release the film in 2020. The deal was negotiated by Doris Pfardrescher on behalf of Well Go USA and HanWay Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
Rose — whose wildly diverse career has spanned horror classics (Candy Man), historical romances (Anna Karenina) and indie dramas (Ivans xtc) — co-wrote the screenplay with Japan's Hiroshi Saito and Kikumi Yamagishi based ...
Well Go is planning to release the film in 2020. The deal was negotiated by Doris Pfardrescher on behalf of Well Go USA and HanWay Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
Rose — whose wildly diverse career has spanned horror classics (Candy Man), historical romances (Anna Karenina) and indie dramas (Ivans xtc) — co-wrote the screenplay with Japan's Hiroshi Saito and Kikumi Yamagishi based ...
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