New Cinema Wallpaper of the Day
Monday, July 13, 2009

Movie wallpaper for this series has been a popular destination here and I thought fans would appreciate having something from this new teaser poster.

Related Coverage:
::: Previous Twilight Movie Wallpaper (Cinema is Dope)

Image Source:
Official teaser poster that was used in the original international release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

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

Japanese Poster Appreciation Month – January 2009

Vintage Movie Wallpaper of the Day
Saturday, January 3, 2009

Now here is some fantastic high flying artwork and illustration from what I hear is one of the best action films of the 70’s. I missed getting to see this one at Fantastic Fest this past year and definitely plan to still track it down. I’m told in addition to Wang Yu and Sammo Hung there are brief cameos by one of my favorites Lam Ching-Ying, as well as Corey Yuen and Yuen Biao in it. I believe at some point this year the brand spanking new documentary Not Quite Hollywood (official site) highlighting Australian ”Ozploitation” should be getting a proper US release and it features and profiles this movie.

The director Brian Trenchard-Smith really was a class act with a quick wit that could make anyone laugh at Fantastic Fest last year. I remember having a blast watching the Danish sci-fi romp The Substitute with him, Jasper and Harvey, where I was glad that so many seemed to have been converted to instant fans of the always great Paprika Steen.

Japanese Poster Appreciation Month – January 2009 (Archive):
::: January 24 – Violent City (1970)
::: January 24 – Mr. Majestyk (1974)
::: January 24 – Hard Times (1975)
::: January 23 – Bullitt (1968)
::: January 23 – The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
::: January 23 – The Great Escape (1963)
::: January 23 – The Magnificent Seven (1960)
::: January 22 – BRAINDEAD (1992)
::: January 22 – Frontiere(s) (2007)
::: January 21 – The Gauntlet (1977)
::: January 21 – Live Like a Cop Die Like a Man (1976)
::: January 20 – Thunder and Lightning (1977)
::: January 19 – Race with the Devil (1975)
::: January 18 – Car Wash (1976)
::: January 17 – The Living Daylights (1987)
::: January 17 – Licence to Kill (1989)
::: January 17 – The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
::: January 16 – Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
::: January 15 – The Wilby Conspiracy (1975)
::: January 14 – The Graduate (1967)
::: January 13 – Excalibur (1981)
::: January 12 – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
::: January 11 – Omohide poro poro (1991)
::: January 11 – The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
::: January 10 – Take a Hard Ride (1975)
::: January 9 – Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
::: January 9 – Yatterman (2009)
::: January 8 – Game of Death (1978)
::: January 7 – Crime Busters (1977)
::: January 6 – Sisters (1973)
::: January 5 – Crime Boss (1972)
::: January 4 – White Lightning (1973)
::: January 3 – The Man from Hong Kong (1975)
::: January 2 – Rolling Thunder (1977)
::: January 1 – Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (2008)
::: January 1 – Army of Darkness (1992)
::: Preview – Cannonball! (1976)
::: Previous Japanese Posters Featured @ Cinema is Dope

Related The Man from Hong Kong Coverage:
::: Official Brian Trenchard-Smith Blog
::: Fantastic Fest 2008 Listing
::: Headquarters 10 Loves This Movie
::: Outcast Cinema/Marc Thoughts On
::: Devin from CHUD talks about this movie from Fantastic Fest 2008
::: Swarez thoughts on the movie from Fantastic Fest 2008
::: Q&A from Not Quite Hollywood (TexasGeek.tv)
::: Kung Fu Cinema Review

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

* If you don’t see your site listed here and it covers Japanese cinema please comment below so that I can review it and possibly include it in future lists.

About Japanese Poster Artwork Celebration Month:
To kick off 2009, I can think of no better way of doing so than celebrating Japanese poster artwork. The emphasis will be more of western films through the lens of Japanese poster artwork and of course some of my own personal all-time favorites. At a future date I’ll probably have a month devoted to solely Japanese films and their poster artwork. So be sure to tune in each day during the month of January as I have an incredible amount of incredible Japanese posters that will be on display. Hopefully at the end of this I can convert many of you into life long fans of Japanese posters!

Please help and spread the word on the January 2009 themed Japanese Poster Celebration Month here at Cinema is Dope. Tweet your friends. Mention it in your Facebook status or Friendfeed. Link to it on your blog. Any support is greatly appreciated!!!!!

You can follow along at these specific urls/web addresses:
::: www.cinemaisdope.com/category/movie-wallpaper-japanese-poster-celebration-month/
::: http://tinyurl.com/japanese-poster-2009

Starring in these posters will be: Antonio Sabato, Bruce Campbell, Burt Reynolds, Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood, David Carradine, Dustin Hoffman, Ernest Borgnine, Gene Hackman, George Lazenby, Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Jack Nicholson, James Coburn, Jennifer Billings, Jim Brown, Jimmy Wang Yu, John Boorman, Kate Jackson, Lee Marvin, Lee Van Cleef, Michael Caine, Peter Fonda, Richard Pryor, Roddy McDowall, Sergio Leone, Sidney Poitier, Susan Strasberg, Warren Oates, William Devane and many more…

If you’re interested in Japanese cinema, I highly recommend the following Cinema is Dope picks for January 2009. For this months book selection we have Behind the Pink Curtain by Jasper Sharp. For video recommendation this month we have Linda Linda Linda.

Additionally fans of Japanese cinema will want to pick up this amazing Yasujiro Ozu tribute shirt from Mondo Tees!

As always when in Austin, Texas, be sure to check out Weird Wednesday (January/February 2009 lineup) or Terror Tuesday (January/February 2009 lineup) and of course Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

My current favorite restaurants in Austin that are an absolute must visit are Clay Pit (be sure to place an order of naan bread) and Uchi. Be sure to tell them CinemaisDope.com sent you if you visit.

Image Source:
Official artwork that was used in Japanese poster artwork for the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile
::: Previous Japanese Posters Featured @ Cinema is Dope

Coming Soon – February 2009 @ Cinema is Dope is Lee Marvin Month!!!

There was a peak of this cult Richard Franklin film at Fantastic Fest a couple of months back in the documentary Not Quite Hollywood (Q&A via TexasGeek.tv here). It has been an incredibly long time since I’ve seen this film but I remember it packed in quite a few jolts and sly touches.

Franklin’s surprisingly good sequel to Psycho is worth seeking out.

Caption:
Stacy Keach portrays a freewheeling, poetry-quoting truck driver and Jamie Lee Curtis a beautiful young hitchhiker he encounters in “ROAD GAMES.” The suspense thriller, filmed entirely on location in Australia, is directed and co-produced by Richard Franklin from a screenplay by Everett De Roche. Barbi Taylor is co-producer with Franklin of the Quest Films drama which Avco Embassy Pictures is releasing.

Image Source:
Official publicity still used in the original US release.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

Vintage Movie Wallpaper of the Day
Thursday, October 9, 2008

It’s the 10 year anniversary for Dark City this year. Hard to believe it has already been that long. For fans of Rufus Sewell I definitely recommend checking him out in one of my favorite films this year, Vinyan.

Related Coverage:
::: Read my Alex Proyas interview on Twitch

Photo By:
Jasin Boland

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

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile