New Cinema Wallpaper of the Day
Sunday, October 5, 2008

Remakes always seem a dicey prospect, especially in regards to taking on an Akira Kurosawa classic. This one though seems interesting and I know Marc Walkow (Outcast Cinema) who caught it at Sitges this year thought it was surprisingly good.

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

Press Notes

Introduction

The talents across the world once appreciated and admired, the very origin of entertainment comes back as a newly reborn motion picture.

Setting out from the origin, attaining a new goal…

In 1958
Akira Kurosawa created the movie, the original “Hidden Fortress,” purely from his imagination. Its story-telling and dynamic velocity earned the film high acclaim as “the masterpiece of the entertainment movie.” From then on, the film has continued to inspire and give influences to a large number of great filmmakers.

In 1978
George Lucas, who had been inspired by the original “Hidden Fortress,” created the masterpiece of the century, “Star Wars” which gave significant influences to the creators all over the world.

In 2008, “Hidden Fortress: Last Princess” is to open…
30 years from the first theatrical release of “Star Wars,” and 50 years from the first theatrical release of the original “Hidden Fortress.” Now gathered together the creators that the Japanese boast and are proud of to the rest of the world, to make a new rebirth to the entertainment movie milestone of the 21st century.

“Hidden Fortress”
The world-acclaimed entertainment magnum opus
The timeless masterpiece that has continued to inspire Hollywood filmmakers in many ways, now comes back as a newly reborn motion picture by one of the most esteemed Japanese directors, Shinji Higuchi.

Having their every retreat cut off, no matter how fierce the situation gets,
those nameless young blades never say never.
Their spirit and style is way too extreme and way too brave.

In 2008, you will see a new answer to the entertainment on the big screen!

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

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

 

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New Cinema Wallpaper of the Day
Monday, September 29, 2008

With Hiroshi Kuze in the mix, this certainly looks to be more than usually interesting. Add Fumihiko Sori to the mix and this could be really damn good. I’m sure word out of the Sitges Film Festival this year should be a good indication on how well this film has turned out. I have some very cool Sori stuff to post here in the coming days…

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

Press Notes

INTRODUCTION
“Zatoichi” – the lonesome blind swordsman in search for justice – has been one of the most popular samurai heroes in Japanese film and TV.

In ICHI, we bring back this character, but replacing the main character as a female. She is a lone goze (a blind traveling entertainment troupe) who has been isolated from her troupe She carries a shamisen (traditional Japanese instrument) and a walking stick with a hidden blade inside, and wonders about to find a place for herself in life.

Because she is blind (and also, beautiful), she constantly encounters people who try to take advantage of her. People treat her coldly, and she is even dismissed by the others who are blind or in the lower rank as her.

However, Ichi stands tall with dignity. It may be that because this character — who fights with pain every time she swings her sword — is a female, the audience is able to feel her sorrow and the sting in the heart of the difficulty to live.

It is also through her eyes that cannot see, that the audience will reach her soul, and her true relief when she finally connects with others by finding friendship and love.

The swordplay will be done in a classic form with intensity, with the swordplay direction done by Hiroshi Kuze, the man behind Akira Kurosawa’s amazing sword fights.

Director SORI, acclaimed for his direction in PING PONG (2002) and a hit CG Animation VEXILLE (2007) returns to bring ICHI in action, together with a great cast and crew. Audiences will definitely appreciate and feel the emotions of each character, and the action which brings the film to a dramatic climax.

About ZATOICHI
A fictional character and samurai hero in one of Japan’s longest running series of films (26 in total) and television. Zatoichi, a wandering blind swordsman who protects the innocent and fights the injustice, has been acted by Shintaro Katsu through 1962 to 1989, who was the sole actor to work on this role until Takeshi Kitano has directed and acted his version of Zatoichi in 2003. In “ICHI” the character returns in a female role.

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

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

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Everyone seems to be divided over this Sogo Ishii entry with the experimentation of style in the film seeming to throw off most. What the film lacks in story, it certainly attempts to make up for in visual energy.

Related Coverage:
::: Review by Mark Schilling

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

Amazon.com Link:
Bu the Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle DVD

Image Source:
Official stills used in the original international release for the film.
© Wild Bunch

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile