Cinema is Dope » Action: Destruction

I saw The Road twice at the 42 Sitges Film Festival and liked it better with each viewing. I still don’t know how close the current cut most matches the directors preferred cut of John Hillcoat (The Proposition) but suffice it to say that this theatrical cut isn’t it, yet still delivers. It will be interesting to see how Cormac McCarthy fans (No Country for Old Men) respond to this film version of their novel. I should note some of the images contained show scenes not in the theatrical cut of the film and Charlize Theron is barely in it.

Image Source:
Official stills that were used in the original international release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile
::: Official Site

BMX Bandits (1983) – Vintage Movie Wallpaper of the Day – Nicole Kidman

blake — Sun, 03 May 2009 03:28:35 +0000

[ View Image (1024x768) ]
[ View Image (704x1000) ]

Vintage Movie Wallpaper of the Day
Sunday, May 3, 2009

Brian Trenchard-Smith (official blog) is a favorite guest and filmmaker here in Austin, Texas, with many of his films from Man from Hong Kong to this one, BMX Bandits. Who would have thought in Nicole Kidman would have kick started her film career as a BMX bike wiz named Judy. Here in this Japanese poster you not only see her in the bottom right but also front in center as the main BMX-er. As for fun kid films and especially fun kids films that feature bicycles this ranks as one of the best! And even if you don’t like kid films or films featuring bicycling of any variety then you still might dig this film as it’s non-stop highly entertaining and charming. While seeing this film on VHS seems to be more common I definitely recommend seeing this one on the big screen someday to see it the way it’s meant to be experienced.

Related Coverage:
::: Japanese Poster Celebration Month – January 2009

Image Source:
Official original Japanese poster artwork for this film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit! (2008) – New Cinema Wallpaper of the Day – Takemajin vs. Guilala

blake — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:00:47 +0000

[ View Image (833x555) ]

[ View Image (1024x683) ]

New Cinema Wallpaper of the Day
Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit! (Guilala no Gyakushu â€” Toyako Summit Kiki Ippatsu) will be screening in the Out of Competition section of the 65th Venice International Film Festival (listing). The 65th edition of the Venice International Film Festival runs from August 27th to September 6th. In October it will screen at the 41st Sitges Film Festival.

I first found out about this project at Nippon Connection film festival last year when I interviewed Minoru Kawasaki (read here). A kaiju style throw down with Takemajin (Takeshi Kitano and/or voice of) vs. Guilala certainly on paper and in these images looks to be one hell of a delicious treat. Mark Schilling wasn’t crazy about the film (read review), yet I still reserve hope. After all, Rug Cop certainly wasn’t as entertaining as Executive Koala, but it still had many great and hilarious moments.

Synopsis from the 65th Venice International Film Festival :

On July 7th 2008, at Lake Toya in Hokkaido, Japan, the G8 Summit is being led by eight leaders of the world in an international conference hall by the lake. The main agenda of the Summit is the environment. Meanwhile, China’s Mars probe crashes into Sapporo city, only thirty miles away from Lake Toya. The monster Guilala appeares from the crash site, and destroys the city of Sapporo by spitting out giant fire balls. Although the Japanese government wants to cancel the Summit, the U.S. President decides to stay and fight against the monster for the public ratings, encouraging other leaders to follow. Now the G8 Summit has become the “Space Monster Task Force Headquarters”. Putting at stake the prestige of their countries, the world leaders plan and execute strategic operations, such as the “Great Roman” tactics, or the deadly poisoning from the Russians. However, they all end in failure and finally a nuclear weapon is about to be launched, putting the world in even greater danger. When the world is close to its final destruction, two journalists find a key to defeat the monster Guilala… A legendary giant called Take-majin is summoned to fight the monster. Will the world ever see peace again?

Japanese Cinema:
::: Jason Gray
::: Mark Schilling’s Tokyo Ramen
::: Midnight Eye
::: Nippon Cinema
::: Outcast Cinema
::: Ryuganji
::: Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow

Image Source:
Official still that used in the original international release of the film.

Related Links:
::: Official Site
::: IMDb Profile
::: Official Minoru Kawasaki Blog