Himizu- Gets a Cinema release.



Himizu

(CERT 18)

A film by Sono Sion (Love Exposure, Cold Fish, Guilty of Romance)

Winner of the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the 68^th Venice Film Festival

Official Selection: 68^th Venice Film Festival, 36^th Toronto International Film Festival, 16^th Busan International Film Festival, 44^th SITGES International Film Festival, 14^th Deauville Asian Film Festival

Starring rising young stars: Shota Sometani & Fumi Nikaido alongside veterans such as

Ken Mitsuishi (The Thin Red Line, The Pillow Book, Audition, The Eel)

Tetsu Watanabe (Fireworks, Sonatine, Madadayo, Memories of Matsuko)

DenDen (Cut, Cure, Cold Fish, Eureka)

Japan / 2011 / 129 Mins / In Japanese with English subtitles / Colour / HD

Opening at the ICA, Prince Charles Cinema & selected regional sites

One of the most talked about Japanese films of 2012, ‘Himizu’ is Sion Sono’s biggest box-office success to date.

After Shota Sometani & Fumi Nikaido won the Marcello Mastroianni Award (they became the first Japanese actors to win the prestigious award) at the 68^th Venice Film Festival, Himizu opened in Japanese cinemas on January 14^th pulling in an astonishing 27,000 admissions over 79 screens in the first 2 days, with a per-screen average beating the big budget war film ‘My Way’ which opened the same weekend.

On March 11^th, 2011, the largest earthquake in recorded history struck the coast off Japan, sending a massive tsunami causing a wave of destruction that decimated large parts of Japan’s Eastern seaboard and causing the nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Power Station to explode.

This tragedy affected everyone in Japan, especially director Sion Sono who had just finished adapting the hugely popular Manga ‘Himizu’ into a screenplay. Director Sono immediately put the project on hold to help with the volunteer effort in Fukushima and during his work decided to change the setting of ‘Himizu’ story to Fukushima and film it there in order to show the world what happened.

Sion Sono’s next work ‘The Land of Hope’ will once again focus on the aftermath of March 11^th, but will this time look at the nuclear situation which has become much lot worse than most people are aware of.



SYNOPSIS.

Sumida (Shometani) and his schoolmate Keiko (Nikaido) are 15 year old school kids living a dystopian existence where each of their parents hope and encourage them to die. Set in tsunami-hit areas of Japan, which are used as a backdrop, the story follows roughly that of the manga of the same name.

“Don’t give up.” The constant refrain repeated in radio and television programmes to a nation hit by the merciless catastrophe sounds even more ominous when written in a note left by Yuichi Sumida’s mother after running off with her lover. At fifteen, Sumida (Shôta Sometani) is left alone to manage the family’s languishing boat-rental business and fend off his drunk and penniless father’s bouts of violence. Sumida sees his simple dream for an ordinary future rapidly evapo­rating before his eyes. Sharing similarly humble but fading dreams is his classmate Keiko Chazawa (Fumi Nikaidou), who also happens to have a major crush on him, even though Sumida seems deeply annoyed by her presence.

Sumida fights frequently with his father, is abandoned by his mother and tends to reject friendly advances of others. Real violence enters Sumida’s life when his drunken father goes too far in taunting him. Shocked by the crime he has committed, and the fact he’ll never be able to lead the “ordinary” life he planned on, Sumida paints his face and stalks the city streets with a kitchen knife, crazily determined to make amends to society by killing wrong-doers.





Production companies: Gaga, Kodansha
Cast: Shota Sometani, Fumi Nikaidou, Tetsu Watanabe, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Megumi Kagurazaka, Ken Mitsuishi, Denden, Yosuke Kubozuka
Director: Sono Sion
Screenwriter: Sono Sion, based on the comic book by Minoru Furuya
Executive producers: Tom Yoda, Satomi Odake
Producers: Haruo Umekawa, Masashi Yamazaki
Coproducer: Mizue Kunizane
Director of photography: Sohei Tanikawa
Production designer: Takashi Matsuzuka
Music: Tomohide Harada
Editor: Junicho Ito

Hansel and Gretel-Comes to BLU-RAY!

Hello good people,

Just a heads up for a fantastic Blu-Ray release of the incredible Korean movie Hansel & Gretel.

I have had this on DVD for a while now but will definitely be buying this! If you have yet to see it all i can say is go get it! It truly is one of the best Asian films in years and the visuals are beyond anything that the modern Hollywood would be able to come up with and as well as having stunning visuals which will look I'm sure will look amazing on Blu-Ray it also has a fantastic story, great visuals and a fantastic story i hear you ask? Yes indeed, you don't see that much these days!

It was released on Blu-Ray on the 11th June by Terracotta Distribution , So whether you are a fan of Asian films or not i would strongly recommend this film and this release, I've stuck all the details/stills and the trailer below,

Enjoy,

Jonny T.



"probably the most effective Asian horror film since Shutter"  - SFX

SYNOPSIS

A sinister house deep in the forest is full of happy children... But what lies beneath the surface?

A dark and gripping modern age fairy tale for adults, spinning the original Grimm fairytale on its head. Following a car crash on a country road, Eun-soo (Chun Jeong-myeong) is led to safety by a girl in a red cloak (Shim Eun-kyoung), to her house, deep in the forest. Accepting her family's hospitality for the night, he gradually learns that he is trapped in the woods with this strange picture perfect family and of the sinister story behind the seemingly innocent smiles of the children ……….

DIRECTOR

YIM Phil-sung: Born in 1972, he started making a few short films from 1997. Among them, BABY was invited to Venice Film Festival and Karlovy Vary Int'l Film Festival in 1999. He debuted with his feature Antartic Journals (2005) where explorers in the Antarctic face mysterious deaths.

CAST AND FILMAKERS

Eun-soo: CHUN Jeong-myoung (Hindsight, 2011)

Boy: EUN Won-jae (Our Happy Time 2006, Natural City 2003, Marrying the Mafia 2002)

Girl: SHIM Eun-kyoung (Happy Killers 2010, Quiz King 2010, Sunny 2011, Romantic Heaven 2011, Masquerade 2012)

Younger Girl   JIN Ji-hee

Director           YIM Phil-sung

Executive Producer     Miky LEE

Producer          CHOI Jae-won, SEO Woo-sik

Screenplay       KIM Min-sook, YIM Phil-sung

Cinematographer         KIM Jee-yong

Lighting Director        SHIN Sang-yeul

Production Designer   RYU Seong-hee

Original Music            Byeongwoo LEE

AWARDS

Sitges Film Festival 2008 (Best Film Nomination)

Gérardmer Film Festival 2009 (Grand Prize Nomination)

Fantasporto 2009 (International Fantasy Film Special Jury Award)

Fantasporto 2009 (Orient Express Section Grand Prize)

BONUS FEATURES

• 53 minutes Making of Featurette
• Interview with Cast
• Interview with VFX director
• Production Design Featurette
• Interview with Sound composer
• Korean directors recommend Hansel & Gretel
• Trailer Reel

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Dark Fantasy  2007

Country: Korea

Language Korean with English subtitles

Running Time 116 min.

Rating:  15

Screen ratio 16:9 anamorphic

Sound  Dolby SRD





I AM BRUCE LEE - COMES TO CINEMAS!

Good day good people,

Today i bring news of a fantastic looking documentary I Am Bruce Lee, Over the years there has obviously been many many documentaries about the legendary Mr Lee but from the reviews and what i have read this is as the poster states "The Best Bruce Lee Documentary ever!"

I have been a fan for many years and I'm super excited at seeing this which includes a ton of stuff never seen before, so fingers crossed, I've stuck all the details below and hope to catch in the cinema and bring you my review soon,

Jonny T.

Opens in UK cinemas 20 Jul 2012

“Two kinds of people should not miss this film about the most famous martial arts actor and practitioner of modern times: those who worship Bruce Lee and those who don't.”

New York Daily News

Directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Pete McCormack (Facing Ali; Uganda Rising; See Grace Fly) and featuring interviews with Linda Lee Cadwell (Bruce Lee’s wife), Shannon Lee (Bruce’s daughter), JKD instructor and close friend of Bruce, Dan Inosanto (Game Of Death), world champion kickboxer Bob Wall (Way Of The Dragon; Enter The Dragon; Game Of Death), Richard Bustillo (a former JKD student of Bruce Lee’), actors Mickey Rourke (The Expendables; Iron Man 2; The Wrestler) and Ed O’Neill (Modern Family), NBA All Star Kobe Bryant, Taboo from Black Eyed Peas, actress and MMA fighter Gina Carano (Haywire), legendary stuntman and former wrestling and judo world champion Gene LeBell and UFC World Champion Jon Jones.

Featuring a host of rare and never-seen-before footage and photographs, this compelling and visually thrilling documentary examines the fascinating life, continuing influence and lasting legacy of one of the most iconic actors and martial artists of all time – the legendary Bruce Le

Synopsis:

Despite his tragic and sudden death on 20th July 1973 at the age of 32, Bruce Lee’s enormous influence on martial arts, entertainment and popular culture lives on to this day. Utilizing rare archive footage, photos, movie clips and brand new interviews with members of his close family, as well as with numerous stars from the worlds of sport, music and acting who have been inspired by Lee’s legacy, I Am Bruce Lee goes more deeply into the true story behind the legend than any ever before. The film also examines Bruce’s connections to the establishment of Mixed Martial Arts as we know them today, acknowledging that if Gene LeBell is considered the Godfather of MMA then Bruce is without doubt the modern-day Father of MMA.

A Little more info!

The brand new interviews, particularly with Bruce’s wife and daughter, along with tons of amazing archive footage - including previously unseen footage of Bruce, rare footage from “Enter The Dragon” and equally rare photos – make this a must-see for everybody from Mixed Martial Arts and Bruce Lee fans to anyone with an interest in popular culture and the cult of celebrity.
Of particular interest to Bruce Lee fans will undoubtedly be the inclusion of clips from Bruce’s rarely seen appearance in the TV series “Here Come The Brides”, previously unreleased (and believed to be lost) colour footage of Bruce at Ed Parker’s Long Beach Karate Tournament, extensive footage of Bruce training in the backyard of his Bel Air home in Los Angeles and at Bruce Coburn’s house (including Chi Sao training in Wing Chun that have never been seen before) and the first official release of Bruce in Seattle practising Chi Sao.

“An incredible new insight combined with unseen footage makes this unmissable for any Bruce Lee fan”, 5*. Andrew Staton, Martial Arts Illustrated.

“A fast-moving, well-produced and altogether engrossing biographical documentary.” (Four Stars)
– NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

“Terrific!” – HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM

“The archive footage is excellent.” – JOBLO.COM

“Lively and persuasive… whether you’re a mixed martial arts fan, a kung fu movie junkie or a pop
culture enthusiast enthralled by Lee’s iconic image, you’ll find something in ‘I Am Bruce Lee’ to
enjoy.” – SHAWN LEVY, THE OREGONIAN

“An exhilarating cinematic experience.” – PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

“Great new interviews and lots of relevant footage from more than forty years ago… The clips of
his ‘one-inch punch’ are astounding.” – JAPANCINEMA.NET

“A rich and educational documentary… Fans of Bruce Lee, run out and see this film.” –



Crows Zero 2 - Comes to DVD!

Hello Folks,
I bring you news of an exciting UK DVD release of the awesome director Takashi Miike's Crows Zero 2 coming to DVD, The 1st film in my opinion is a true Miike classic and it's great to see that the sequel is finally getting a DVD release, i personally cannot wait to see it!
I have stuck the release details below and watch this space for a review coming very soon,
Jonny T.

“Miike directs with an energy, velocity and cheeky bravado that are pure punk.”

– The Japan Times

 

On DVD 02 Jul 2012

FROM MVM ENTERTAINMENT

Director Takashi Miike (13 Assassins; Ichi The Killer; Audition), manga creator Hiroshi Takahashi (Crows Zero; Worst; QP) and stars Shun Oguri (Sukiyaki Western Django) and Kyosuke Yabe (Samurai Zombie; Dead Or Alive: Hanzaisha).

“Crows Zero” introduced us to Genji Takiya, a student recently transferred to the notorious Suzuran Senior High School for Boys, Japan’s lowest achieving and most violent school, nicknamed “The School of Crows” after its students’ tendency to band together in conflicting factions and battle each other for domination.
Picking up immediately where the first film ended, “Crows Zero II” sees Genji as the head of the now-unified student factions following his successful but very bloody takeover of Suzuran. But his victory has left him unsatisfied and the uneasy peace amongst the students is, in reality, nothing more than a powder keg waiting to explode. Making the situation even more volatile, a truce that has been maintained between Suzaran High and its bitter rivals at Hosen Academy is about to come to a violent end.

“Delivers an extra dose of epic fights with hundreds of cool-looking students involved and a powerful rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack.” – TWITCHFILM.COM
“Good, stylish comic book fun.” – LOVEHKFILM.COM
“Miike jolts the narrative with unexpected directorial flourishes… the velocity of the action makes for an exhilarating cinematic dance.” – VARIETY
“The grungy production design is an artfully composed delight.” – VARIETY

Chronicles of the dead- Great looking New Web series

Hello all,

Jonny T here, Just bringing you news that the 2nd teaser trailer for the great looking  Zombie web series Chronicles of the dead has just been released and man does it look intense!!! I have stuck the link below for the official site as well as the 1st teaser trailer.

The popularity of  the "web based series" seems to be going full steam with some other great ones i have found, so with this being the first web series post i will have a look around and find you some more upcoming treats!

Enjoy,

Jonny T.

Offical website- http://chroniclesofthedead.com/



TEASER TRAILER #1



TEASER TRAILER #2



ZOMBIE DAWN- Looks good!

Hello Folks,

Bring you some news of a film i have found on the old interwebs, A Spanish language Chilean zombie flick called Zombie Dawn,Described as "Chuck full of old fashioned zombie slaying action"

Now as a zombie fan the genre especially since the event of The Walking Dead TV show has exploded there have been a million and one zombie films released but to me personally this looks like one of the better ones, not sure of any kind of release date as yet, but I'll find out details and post them up when i find out more, i have stuck the link below for the official website that is packed full of trailers and still and even a preview of the comic,so you can keep an eye on things as well,

Enjoy,

Jonny T.

http://www.zombiedawnmovie.com/



Maniac-The Remake.

Hello People,
What the hell has happened Elijah Wood??? That's right he has gone true MANIAC, Now i am a big fan of William Lustig's original dirty grimy film and i have to say that this does look as dirty and grimy as the original, Joe Spinnel was truly chilling in the original and from the trailer and stills so far released Elijah looks equally as Maniacal as good old Joe ever did.
Directed by Franck Khalfoun best known for mainly his acting work in Piranha 3D, P2 and the awesome Switchblade romance(Haute Tension) and screenplay by his close friend  Alexandre Aja the director of the 3 films previously mentioned this looks like it is going to be a no holes barred in your face true grind house style shocker, A comment on you tube makes a good point on how and if they will be able to recreate the classic Tom Savini shotgun blast to the head scene, More news on release date etc as i find it,
Jonny T.