Out this week in theaters is Radio Silence’s Abigail, a heist-turned-bloodbath when kidnappers realize the child ballerina they’ve snatched isn’t quite human. That the petite vampire is a ballerina feels apt. After all, the deceptive art form has a reputation for dainty elegance that belies the sheer grueling dedication of its performers, both physically and mentally.
Ballet requires a high level of dedication to practice and performance and frequently spills over into body horror through broken toenails, stress fractures, and overuse injuries. In other words, ballet is often a mix of pain and beauty, which means it pairs well with horror.
This week’s streaming picks are dedicated to ballerinas in horror.
These horror movies feature at least one ballerina tormented by her art form, highlighting the stark, beguiling contrast between beauty and horror. Here’s where you can stream them now.
For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks,...
Ballet requires a high level of dedication to practice and performance and frequently spills over into body horror through broken toenails, stress fractures, and overuse injuries. In other words, ballet is often a mix of pain and beauty, which means it pairs well with horror.
This week’s streaming picks are dedicated to ballerinas in horror.
These horror movies feature at least one ballerina tormented by her art form, highlighting the stark, beguiling contrast between beauty and horror. Here’s where you can stream them now.
For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks,...
- 4/15/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike has over 115 directing credits to his name, and it has only taken him 33 years to reach that impressive number. One of his latest credits came on a blood-soaked horror thriller called Lumberjack the Monster, and the folks at Rue Morgue have confirmed that Lumberjack the Monster is going to be available to watch on the Netflix streaming service as of June 1st.
Before the film reaches Netflix, New York City’s Japan Society (located at 333 East 47th Street) will be hosting its the North American premiere screening on Monday, May 6 at 8pm. Rue Morgue notes, “There will also be a pre-screening reception at 7pm with beverages donated by Sapporo-Stone Brewing and Brooklyn Kura. The screening is being presented in conjunction with the Tribeca Film Festival, as part of its Escape from Tribeca program.”
Lumberjack the Monster is based on a novel by Mayusuke Kurai and stars Kazuya Kamenashi,...
Before the film reaches Netflix, New York City’s Japan Society (located at 333 East 47th Street) will be hosting its the North American premiere screening on Monday, May 6 at 8pm. Rue Morgue notes, “There will also be a pre-screening reception at 7pm with beverages donated by Sapporo-Stone Brewing and Brooklyn Kura. The screening is being presented in conjunction with the Tribeca Film Festival, as part of its Escape from Tribeca program.”
Lumberjack the Monster is based on a novel by Mayusuke Kurai and stars Kazuya Kamenashi,...
- 4/12/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
As we have mentioned many times before, Takashi Miike is a director that can shoot anything, as his career and his ‘director-for-hire' style have proven repeatedly. As such, it comes as no surprise that Apple commissioned him to shoot a short film using only an iPhone 15 Pro, in order to highlight the capabilities of the model. The result was “Midnight” a film based on the homonymous manga by Osamu Tezuka.
Check the full movie
In intensely bright and colorful fashion, with the neon lights of Tokyo setting the tone, we are introduced to the protagonist of the 19-minute short, a late-night taxi driver named Midnight. As the movie begins, he is hosting a very noisy and in general annoying couple, who do get their punishment, however, almost immediately, in the most scary but also funny fashion. The film then starts moving in neo-noir paths, with a meeting of rather shady characters taking place,...
Check the full movie
In intensely bright and colorful fashion, with the neon lights of Tokyo setting the tone, we are introduced to the protagonist of the 19-minute short, a late-night taxi driver named Midnight. As the movie begins, he is hosting a very noisy and in general annoying couple, who do get their punishment, however, almost immediately, in the most scary but also funny fashion. The film then starts moving in neo-noir paths, with a meeting of rather shady characters taking place,...
- 4/11/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Prolific genre filmmaker Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi the Killer) is back with Lumberjack the Monster, an adaptation of Kaibutsu no Kikori by Mayusuke Kurai. And it’s heading to Netflix this summer.
It’s going to be battle to the death between a serial killer and a psychopath.
Lumberjack the Monster will make its North American premiere on May 6 at the Japan Society, in partnership with Tribeca Festival’s Escape from Tribeca, ahead of its Netflix debut on June 1, 2024.
In the film, “Akira Ninomiya (Kamenashi) is a remorseless lawyer who doesn’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in his way. One night he is brutally attacked by an unknown assailant wearing a monster mask. Although he miraculously survives the assault, Ninomiya becomes fixated on finding the attacker and getting revenge. Meanwhile, a series of gruesome murders occur where the victims are found with their brains removed from their bodies.
It’s going to be battle to the death between a serial killer and a psychopath.
Lumberjack the Monster will make its North American premiere on May 6 at the Japan Society, in partnership with Tribeca Festival’s Escape from Tribeca, ahead of its Netflix debut on June 1, 2024.
In the film, “Akira Ninomiya (Kamenashi) is a remorseless lawyer who doesn’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in his way. One night he is brutally attacked by an unknown assailant wearing a monster mask. Although he miraculously survives the assault, Ninomiya becomes fixated on finding the attacker and getting revenge. Meanwhile, a series of gruesome murders occur where the victims are found with their brains removed from their bodies.
- 4/11/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Veteran Japanese character actor Tadanobu Asano is having a very overdue breakthrough moment. The chameleonic film star has been a mainstay of Japanese cinema for nearly three decades, while also regularly appearing in prominent supporting parts in big Hollywood productions. But his irresistible performance in FX’s period series Shōgun is giving him an all-new level of global recognition.
Asano co-stars in Shōgun as Kashigi Yabushige, the scheming lord of Izu, a rugged region of feudal Japan where much of the series takes place. Playing the character with lived-in swagger and a fatalistic sense of humor, Asano has become one of the show’s clear fan favorites, with Reddit and Twitter threads popping up to revel in his character’s antics. Asano announced himself early in Shōgun‘s run: As many have marveled, Yabushige makes his entrance to the show by boiling a man alive but then wins the audience...
Asano co-stars in Shōgun as Kashigi Yabushige, the scheming lord of Izu, a rugged region of feudal Japan where much of the series takes place. Playing the character with lived-in swagger and a fatalistic sense of humor, Asano has become one of the show’s clear fan favorites, with Reddit and Twitter threads popping up to revel in his character’s antics. Asano announced himself early in Shōgun‘s run: As many have marveled, Yabushige makes his entrance to the show by boiling a man alive but then wins the audience...
- 4/10/2024
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Starting today, U-Treasure is teaming up with Tezuka Productions to release a trio of Black Jack -inspired wedding and engagement rings, with Black Jack and Pinoko motifs. The new offerings join a long line of character wedding rings from the jewelry maker, including collections inspired by Pokémon , Evangelion and Moomin . The engagement ring features the traditional single central diamond, flanked with a pair of black diamonds. The setting features a design reminiscent of Black Jack's bow tie and Pinoko's hair bows. Related: Osamu Tezuka's Shinsengumi Manga Inspires Live-Action TV Drama Two styles of wedding ring are available as well. The Pinoko model is the slimmer of the two, with a single small diamond and an image of one of her red bows. The Black Jack model has a flattened circle design, with both a white diamond and a black diamond set into the band. Related: Takashi Miike's New...
- 4/10/2024
- by Kara Dennison
- Crunchyroll
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
Exclusive: BAFTA Award nominee Takehiro Hira (Shōgun, Gran Turismo) and Japanese Academy Award winner Akira Emoto have rounded out the cast of Searchlight’s Rental Family directed by Hikari (Beef) and starring The Whale Best Actor Oscar winner Brendan Fraser and Mari Yamamoto (Pachinko).
Cameras are now rolling in Japan, with production to wrap around May. A release date has not been set.
Deadline first told you about the project, which follows a lonely, down-and-out American actor (Fraser) living in Tokyo. He starts working for a Japanese “rental family” company to play various stand-in roles in other people’s lives. Along the way, he forges some surprising human connections and discovers unexpected joys within his built-in family.
“It’s an absolute dream to bring Rental Family to the world,” said Hikari. “I am truly so thankful for my collaboration with my partners at Searchlight and Sight Unseen and for their never-ending support,...
Cameras are now rolling in Japan, with production to wrap around May. A release date has not been set.
Deadline first told you about the project, which follows a lonely, down-and-out American actor (Fraser) living in Tokyo. He starts working for a Japanese “rental family” company to play various stand-in roles in other people’s lives. Along the way, he forges some surprising human connections and discovers unexpected joys within his built-in family.
“It’s an absolute dream to bring Rental Family to the world,” said Hikari. “I am truly so thankful for my collaboration with my partners at Searchlight and Sight Unseen and for their never-ending support,...
- 3/18/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
“Everyone has a dream. For Moe, it is to be a stripper, much to her father's objections as he resents her unknowingly living up to the legacy of her absent mother. Is there something that can change his mind? Perhaps seeing the art of stripping for himself…” (Official Synopsis)
Ririka of the Star is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
Actor Tokitoshi Shiota's directorial debut is difficult to approach without some familiarity with him as a person or, more importantly, his work with director Takashi Miike as an actor in several projects. “Ririka of the Star” even dons the production moniker of “Gozu Productions,” featuring the image of the bullheaded monstrosity that appears in the Miike film of the same name. To those in the know, this will be an indicator to take the following lightly, with the movie showing its influence early on, an important factor but one...
Ririka of the Star is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
Actor Tokitoshi Shiota's directorial debut is difficult to approach without some familiarity with him as a person or, more importantly, his work with director Takashi Miike as an actor in several projects. “Ririka of the Star” even dons the production moniker of “Gozu Productions,” featuring the image of the bullheaded monstrosity that appears in the Miike film of the same name. To those in the know, this will be an indicator to take the following lightly, with the movie showing its influence early on, an important factor but one...
- 3/8/2024
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
If someone wanted a gateway introduction to Takashi Miike, a seasoned fan would likely direct that person's attention toward ‘Audition,' or ‘Ichi the Killer.' The caveat here is that these are full-length films: Neither of them get their point across instantly, and traces of that characteristic Miike calamity come and go.
The beginning of Miike's ‘Dead or Alive' is such an effective taste test because it showcases the sheer zaniness of the prolific director's mind, all within a mere few minutes. The opening shot features the dynamic duo of protagonists, Detective Jojima and Yakuza member Ryuuichi as they pop a squat, crane their necks to look backwards towards the camera and count to four in English.
It is like the two are theme park conductors about to lead their viewers on a rollercoaster ride: Once they reach four, the iconic ‘Doa' logo pops up against a black backdrop,...
The beginning of Miike's ‘Dead or Alive' is such an effective taste test because it showcases the sheer zaniness of the prolific director's mind, all within a mere few minutes. The opening shot features the dynamic duo of protagonists, Detective Jojima and Yakuza member Ryuuichi as they pop a squat, crane their necks to look backwards towards the camera and count to four in English.
It is like the two are theme park conductors about to lead their viewers on a rollercoaster ride: Once they reach four, the iconic ‘Doa' logo pops up against a black backdrop,...
- 3/8/2024
- by Spencer Nafekh-Blanchette
- AsianMoviePulse
Prolific genre filmmaker Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi the Killer) quietly released short film “Midnight,” based on a manga by Osamu Tezuka, on Apple’s YouTube channel yesterday. And that’s not even the most impressive part: per THR, the filmmaker shot the thrilling short on an Apple iPhone 15 Pro.
Watch “Midnight” below.
The short film “centers on a late-night taxi driver named Midnight, played by popular Japanese actor Kento Kaku, who roams the streets of Tokyo offering help to those in need. The film follows Midnight as he comes to the aid of a young woman, played by Konatsu Kato, who is struggling to take over her recently deceased father’s truck-driving business while fighting off a nefarious local gang, led by an evil boss played by the acclaimed character actor Yukiyoshi Ozawa.”
The 19-minute comedic action short looks incredible for being shot on an iPhone, and mixes live-action with manga illustrations.
Watch “Midnight” below.
The short film “centers on a late-night taxi driver named Midnight, played by popular Japanese actor Kento Kaku, who roams the streets of Tokyo offering help to those in need. The film follows Midnight as he comes to the aid of a young woman, played by Konatsu Kato, who is struggling to take over her recently deceased father’s truck-driving business while fighting off a nefarious local gang, led by an evil boss played by the acclaimed character actor Yukiyoshi Ozawa.”
The 19-minute comedic action short looks incredible for being shot on an iPhone, and mixes live-action with manga illustrations.
- 3/6/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
In what is a refreshing — at least for us at Filmmaker — changeup from the usual sorts of films that get the iPhone demo treatment, Apple has released a new 19-minute short, Midnight, directed by Takashi Miike. It’s no Audition or Ichi the Killer, naturally, but his adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s manga is a lot of fun. There’s also an accompanying short behind-the-scenes video, below, that demonstrates the use of iPhone modes like Action and Cinematic — the former’s handheld stabilization and the latter’s rack focus — as well as, most impressively, the use of the phone’s Lidar scanner […]
The post Watch: Apple-Produced Takashi Miike Film Shot on iPhone 15 Pro first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Watch: Apple-Produced Takashi Miike Film Shot on iPhone 15 Pro first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 3/6/2024
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
In what is a refreshing — at least for us at Filmmaker — changeup from the usual sorts of films that get the iPhone demo treatment, Apple has released a new 19-minute short, Midnight, directed by Takashi Miike. It’s no Audition or Ichi the Killer, naturally, but his adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s manga is a lot of fun. There’s also an accompanying short behind-the-scenes video, below, that demonstrates the use of iPhone modes like Action and Cinematic — the former’s handheld stabilization and the latter’s rack focus — as well as, most impressively, the use of the phone’s Lidar scanner […]
The post Watch: Apple-Produced Takashi Miike Film Shot on iPhone 15 Pro first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Watch: Apple-Produced Takashi Miike Film Shot on iPhone 15 Pro first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 3/6/2024
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Takashi Miike works, still, at such a tireless pace that it was just a matter of time until he shot an entire project with the camera in his pocket. Strange though it is seeing the man behind Audition and Ichi the Killer make sponsored content for the world’s biggest tech company, Miike took an opportunity (and what I can only assume is a rather healthy payday) to shoot a characteristically manic, action-heavy short, Midnight, on the iPhone 15 Pro.
Obviously a director of Miike’s stature can access superb post-production studios––evidenced most clearly by the animation, VFX, and black-and-white images, but running all throughout 19 minutes colored and graded a bit more lavishly than what even the newest iPhone might capture. Nobody has ever asked Takashi Miike for naturalism, though, and it’s nice knowing his manic, metal sensibility isn’t dulled too much by a camera downgrade.
Watch it...
Obviously a director of Miike’s stature can access superb post-production studios––evidenced most clearly by the animation, VFX, and black-and-white images, but running all throughout 19 minutes colored and graded a bit more lavishly than what even the newest iPhone might capture. Nobody has ever asked Takashi Miike for naturalism, though, and it’s nice knowing his manic, metal sensibility isn’t dulled too much by a camera downgrade.
Watch it...
- 3/6/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Here’s a nice surprise to get you over Hump Day: Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike secretly shot a 19-minute short film, titled “Midnight,” on an Apple iPhone 15 Pro. Apple quietly released the film on YouTube.
“Midnight,” originally a manga by Osamu Tezuka and directed for film by Miike, follows a mysterious taxi driver, Midnight, who lends a hand to Kaede, a young girl chased by assassins. This dude is a hell of a lot better than that “Cash Cab” guy, and “Midnight” is a hell of a lot better than your home iPhone videos.
Midnight can see the near future, which makes him one of the only people outside of Miike himself who saw this film coming. But when you do see it, you’ll probably want to trade in your Samsung device.
The short film is visually stunning, especially when you consider its camera — Miike’s iPhone has no...
“Midnight,” originally a manga by Osamu Tezuka and directed for film by Miike, follows a mysterious taxi driver, Midnight, who lends a hand to Kaede, a young girl chased by assassins. This dude is a hell of a lot better than that “Cash Cab” guy, and “Midnight” is a hell of a lot better than your home iPhone videos.
Midnight can see the near future, which makes him one of the only people outside of Miike himself who saw this film coming. But when you do see it, you’ll probably want to trade in your Samsung device.
The short film is visually stunning, especially when you consider its camera — Miike’s iPhone has no...
- 3/6/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Midnight is one of manga master Osamu Tezuka's lesser-known works. Published in two parts just two years before his passing, it tells the story of Midnight, a mysterious taxi driver who encounters strange passengers during his late-night drives. Today, a new short film has dropped, inspired by the classic manga—and it was filmed entirely on the iPhone 15 Pro. The 19-minute film was directed by Takashi Miike, known for everything from gritty films like Audition and Ichi the Killer to his adaptations of Ace Attorney and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure . Film and TV actor Kento Kaku plays Midnight, who roams the streets of Tokyo in his specially modified taxi. Konatsu Kato plays Kaede, a young trucker on the run from her father's killer (played by Yukiyoshi Ozawa). Miike himself has a cameo as Kaede's late father in a flashback. Watch the entire short here. Don't forget to turn on...
- 3/6/2024
- by Kara Dennison
- Crunchyroll
With films like “Destruction Babies” and “Miyamoto”, Tetsuya Mariko has really left an impact in the Japanese movie industry during the latest years, as one of the few remaining directors of ‘tense cinema', as established by directors such as Takashi Miike, Sion Sono, Toshiaki Toyoda and Shinya Tsukamoto. Now, with “Before Anyone Else”, he attempts to take his talents outside Japan, to the US specifically, hopefully in a new endeavor and not because he cannot find space in his home country anymore.
Before Anyone Else is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
In black-and-white and low definition, the movie begins with a young woman driving a car, getting out of it, and then the camera turning to the backseat, showing a baby sitting there. The next cut shows a completely different scene, in color this time, where a group of four Americans and Asian Americans break into a pawn shop.
Before Anyone Else is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
In black-and-white and low definition, the movie begins with a young woman driving a car, getting out of it, and then the camera turning to the backseat, showing a baby sitting there. The next cut shows a completely different scene, in color this time, where a group of four Americans and Asian Americans break into a pawn shop.
- 3/3/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
For this month’s installment of “TV Terrors” we revisit Showtime’s “Masters of Horror,” which was created by Mick Garris and aired for two seasons between 2005 and 2007.
It seemed like a horror fan’s wet dream: a horror anthology series with some of the greatest horror filmmakers of all time lensing short format horror films for premium cable. Although horror icons had teamed in the past to bring us series like “Tales from the Darkside” and “Tales from the Crypt,” there wasn’t a modern series that brought them all together to have a chance to tell their stories in the anthology format. “Masters of Horror” seemed like a prime opportunity to re-invent the waning anthology horror format, and while it didn’t quite re-invent the wheel as planned, it brought with it a lot of great content from some bonafide horror icons.
“Masters of Horror” was originally envisioned...
It seemed like a horror fan’s wet dream: a horror anthology series with some of the greatest horror filmmakers of all time lensing short format horror films for premium cable. Although horror icons had teamed in the past to bring us series like “Tales from the Darkside” and “Tales from the Crypt,” there wasn’t a modern series that brought them all together to have a chance to tell their stories in the anthology format. “Masters of Horror” seemed like a prime opportunity to re-invent the waning anthology horror format, and while it didn’t quite re-invent the wheel as planned, it brought with it a lot of great content from some bonafide horror icons.
“Masters of Horror” was originally envisioned...
- 3/1/2024
- by Felix Vasquez Jr
- bloody-disgusting.com
“Words create lies. Pain can be trusted.”
Few things in this world are more frightening than dating. In addition to the fear of getting stood up or rejected, women have the added bonus of worrying that the person they’ve matched with might turn out to be a serial killer. It’s just smart to text your location and the photo of your blind date to a friend while asking for advice on which earrings best complement your impossibly sexy First Date Dress. Women talk about our hopes for a romantic adventure in the same breadth that we relay justifiable fears that we might end the evening as a collection of dismembered body parts in a trash bag at the bottom of a ravine.
Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) learns about this terrifying dichotomy the hard way in Takashi Miike’s insightful masterpiece Audition. Tired of the single life but terrified of women,...
Few things in this world are more frightening than dating. In addition to the fear of getting stood up or rejected, women have the added bonus of worrying that the person they’ve matched with might turn out to be a serial killer. It’s just smart to text your location and the photo of your blind date to a friend while asking for advice on which earrings best complement your impossibly sexy First Date Dress. Women talk about our hopes for a romantic adventure in the same breadth that we relay justifiable fears that we might end the evening as a collection of dismembered body parts in a trash bag at the bottom of a ravine.
Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) learns about this terrifying dichotomy the hard way in Takashi Miike’s insightful masterpiece Audition. Tired of the single life but terrified of women,...
- 2/22/2024
- by Jenn Adams
- bloody-disgusting.com
“You just couldn’t die, could you?”
There are certain anime evergreen customs that are omnipresent in the medium, with ninja and samurai right at the top of the list. Audiences have their share of options when it comes to such content, whether it’s established classics like Rurouni Kenshin, Jubei-chan: The Ninja Girl, and Ninja Scroll, or newer modern hits like Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku, Yasuke, and Blue Eye Samurai. It’s harder to stand out in a genre that’s done it all before, but this only makes Ninja Kamui’s success even more significant. Adult Swim is not one to chase trends, but they’ve tapped into an electric energy here and produced a powerful series that confidently slices its way through the competition.
The danger of a show like Ninja Kamui that prides itself in vicious violence is that characters can feel more like caricatures and...
There are certain anime evergreen customs that are omnipresent in the medium, with ninja and samurai right at the top of the list. Audiences have their share of options when it comes to such content, whether it’s established classics like Rurouni Kenshin, Jubei-chan: The Ninja Girl, and Ninja Scroll, or newer modern hits like Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku, Yasuke, and Blue Eye Samurai. It’s harder to stand out in a genre that’s done it all before, but this only makes Ninja Kamui’s success even more significant. Adult Swim is not one to chase trends, but they’ve tapped into an electric energy here and produced a powerful series that confidently slices its way through the competition.
The danger of a show like Ninja Kamui that prides itself in vicious violence is that characters can feel more like caricatures and...
- 2/9/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
The Skip City International D-Cinema Festival 2024 will celebrate its 21st edition from July 13th (Sat) to 21st (Sun), 2024 for 9 days at Skip City, which is an integrated institution for digital cinema production.
(See: https://www.skipcity-dcf.jp/en/)
Submission period: January 31st, 2024 (Wed) – March 1st, 2024 (Fri)
Skip City International D-Cinema Festival remains committed to discovering and nurturing new talent, with the aim of helping these filmmakers seize new business opportunities that have arisen in the changing landscape of the film industry. Now calling for works (60 min. or longer) that have been shot digitally and must be the director's 1st, 2nd, or 3rd feature film from all over the world for the International Competition section.
Call for entries for the International Competition!!
Entry Deadline: Must be received by March 1st, 2024 (Fri)
Submit via FilmFreeway
https://filmfreeway.com/Skipcityinternationald-CinemaFESTIVAL (Online registration / Free)
All nominated films in competition categories are eligible for the Festival Organizers awards.
(See: https://www.skipcity-dcf.jp/en/)
Submission period: January 31st, 2024 (Wed) – March 1st, 2024 (Fri)
Skip City International D-Cinema Festival remains committed to discovering and nurturing new talent, with the aim of helping these filmmakers seize new business opportunities that have arisen in the changing landscape of the film industry. Now calling for works (60 min. or longer) that have been shot digitally and must be the director's 1st, 2nd, or 3rd feature film from all over the world for the International Competition section.
Call for entries for the International Competition!!
Entry Deadline: Must be received by March 1st, 2024 (Fri)
Submit via FilmFreeway
https://filmfreeway.com/Skipcityinternationald-CinemaFESTIVAL (Online registration / Free)
All nominated films in competition categories are eligible for the Festival Organizers awards.
- 2/2/2024
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
“Audition” is quite a historic production (at least for its cult following), since it was the film that established Takashi Miike as a prominent member of the horror category and Eihi Shiina as a “priestess” of the grotesque.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Based on the homonymous novel by Ryu Murakami, who actually wrote it as a reaction to a failed love affair, “Audition” tells the story of Shigeharu Aoyama, a middle aged entrepreneur who has recently lost his wife and has been living a disinterested life ever since. His 17-year-old son, Shigehiko, who worries about the turn his father's life seem to have taken, prompts him to meet new women. Yoshikawa, a friend of Shigeharu and a film producer, proposes that he take part in a sham in order to meet women, an idea he agrees to. According to the plan, actresses would...
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Based on the homonymous novel by Ryu Murakami, who actually wrote it as a reaction to a failed love affair, “Audition” tells the story of Shigeharu Aoyama, a middle aged entrepreneur who has recently lost his wife and has been living a disinterested life ever since. His 17-year-old son, Shigehiko, who worries about the turn his father's life seem to have taken, prompts him to meet new women. Yoshikawa, a friend of Shigeharu and a film producer, proposes that he take part in a sham in order to meet women, an idea he agrees to. According to the plan, actresses would...
- 1/19/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Created by Sashti Nandani, and co-directed by Kamila Andini and Ifa Isfansyah, the five-episode series opens with flashbacks of a terminally ill Soeraja (Pritt Timothy) is visited by, and who ends up pleading his son Lebas (Arya Saloka) to find a woman called Jeng Jah (Dian Sastrowardoyo). The lad is given a tin jar which contains a key to a safe in his grandfather's office, but when he gets there, his only clues become an old photograph showing a big group of people, and a bunch of letters written to Soeraja by Dasiyah that happens to be Jeng Jah's second name.
Follow our tribute to Netflix by clicking on the image below
Based on the eponymous best-selling novel written by Ratih Kumala, the Netflix series “Cigarette Girl” is one of the most interesting shows currently showing on the popular streaming platforms, vintage not only in terms of the era it plays in,...
Follow our tribute to Netflix by clicking on the image below
Based on the eponymous best-selling novel written by Ratih Kumala, the Netflix series “Cigarette Girl” is one of the most interesting shows currently showing on the popular streaming platforms, vintage not only in terms of the era it plays in,...
- 1/14/2024
- by Marina D. Richter
- AsianMoviePulse
Looking back on the horror genre throughout time, there’s always been a period where certain sub-genres have been most prominent. The 70s and 80s were all about the slasher flicks, with masked villains marauding around sleepy suburbs or high school kids having their heads chopped off, while remakes such as House of Wax and Ring dominated the early noughties. There’s another sub-genre, however, that had its roots in splatter films such as Peter Jackson’s superbly gross Bad Taste and Braindead, plus ‘video nasties’ like 1978’s I Spit on Your Grave. That’s right folk, we’re talking about ‘Torture Porn’, an exploitation horror subgenre known for its nasty, gory, and violent films. Do a quick Google search for the sub-genre, preferably with safe-search activated if you’re at work or Uni, just in case, and you’ll more than likely find several Top 10 lists of the best...
- 1/10/2024
- by Adam Walton
- JoBlo.com
The “death game” sub-genre sees ordinary people fight for survival through murderous games, puzzles, and exercises. These heightened stories have become so popular because of their tendency to turn torture and suffering into a twisted form of entertainment — a concept that feels increasingly authentic with each passing year. There are dozens of anime that fit the murderous death game mold between Deadman Wonderland, Danganronpa, and Gantz. However, there are also a handful of series that specifically follow Takashi Miike’s As the Gods Will and Hwang Dong-hyuk’s Squid Game’s example, where childish recreational games and activities become the competitive tools of these characters’ destruction. Kaiji, Liar Game, Death Parade, Alice in Borderland, and Btooom! all follow this model to some extent. As the Gods Will predates Squid Game by six years, but there’s fascinating crossover between these two death game stories. As the Gods Will is the...
- 12/6/2023
- by Daniel Kurland
- bloody-disgusting.com
Starting his career with an uncredited role in Akira Kurosawa's “Ran” in 1985, the first role anybody would have noticed Susumu Terajima would have been in Takeshi Kitano's 1989 debut “Violent Cop”, as a drug addict henchman. Since then, he has been a notable face in many a cops vs. thugs film, among others, now with over 200 credits to his name.
Having been a regular with some of Japan's leading directors, notably Kitano, Takashi Miike, Hirokazu Koreeda and Sabu, to name but a few, he is typically always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Terajima's career has been one of support roles, not often taking the lead, but his face is a reliable one, with many top directors turning to him, and any Japanese cinema connoisseur will need more than 2 hands to count the number of roles of his they've seen.
Here are some standouts from his career that has seen him play: a likeable,...
Having been a regular with some of Japan's leading directors, notably Kitano, Takashi Miike, Hirokazu Koreeda and Sabu, to name but a few, he is typically always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Terajima's career has been one of support roles, not often taking the lead, but his face is a reliable one, with many top directors turning to him, and any Japanese cinema connoisseur will need more than 2 hands to count the number of roles of his they've seen.
Here are some standouts from his career that has seen him play: a likeable,...
- 11/24/2023
- by Andrew Thayne
- AsianMoviePulse
Michele Civetta is the director of feature films “Agony” and “The Gateway” and music videos for Lou Reed, Sean Lennon, and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros.
We came from a generation…
With aspirations of what cinema is as an art form, what it can do to provoke change, illuminate dreams of individual stories, and propel cultural narratives. Inspired by the American New Wave of Cinema, living under the banner of the Cahiers du Cinema auteur theory, a world where writers, directors, and producers created stories in the emerging screen revolution colliding between world cinema and the 90s independent film boom. Looking inside the cinematic kaleidoscope, imagining how to penetrate the dream factory, Kevin Turen was born to be a maverick as he surmounted this unpaved road for our generation of friends and filmmaking talent. As New York City Kids, we crossed the threshold into our professional years. Kevin helped out...
We came from a generation…
With aspirations of what cinema is as an art form, what it can do to provoke change, illuminate dreams of individual stories, and propel cultural narratives. Inspired by the American New Wave of Cinema, living under the banner of the Cahiers du Cinema auteur theory, a world where writers, directors, and producers created stories in the emerging screen revolution colliding between world cinema and the 90s independent film boom. Looking inside the cinematic kaleidoscope, imagining how to penetrate the dream factory, Kevin Turen was born to be a maverick as he surmounted this unpaved road for our generation of friends and filmmaking talent. As New York City Kids, we crossed the threshold into our professional years. Kevin helped out...
- 11/21/2023
- by Michele Civetta
- Indiewire
Onimusha is a supernatural action anime series directed by Takashi Miike. Based on a landmark action game of the same name, the Netflix series is set in Japan’s early Edo Period and it revolves around Miyamoto Musashi, who embarks on a secret mission armed with a mythical weapon to vanquish the demons lurking in the dark. So, if you loved the Netflix anime series here are some similar shows you could watch next.
Samurai Champloo (Hulu & Prime Video Add-On)
Synopsis: Gintama is a story of a handyman named Gintoki, a samurai with no respect for rules set by the invaders, who’s ready to take any job to survive. He and his gang, however, are also among the very few who have not forgotten the morale of a swordsman. Wherever they go, all they do is to create troubles. Troubles that they of course try to solve, but in reality…...
Samurai Champloo (Hulu & Prime Video Add-On)
Synopsis: Gintama is a story of a handyman named Gintoki, a samurai with no respect for rules set by the invaders, who’s ready to take any job to survive. He and his gang, however, are also among the very few who have not forgotten the morale of a swordsman. Wherever they go, all they do is to create troubles. Troubles that they of course try to solve, but in reality…...
- 11/14/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
While there’s plenty to be said and appreciated about cozy, comforting horror that offers catharsis, the genre’s ultimate aim is to terrify, shock, and even repulse. Of course, there is no shortage of ways that filmmakers accomplish this, frequently through gore, violence, and potent scare tactics, but transgressive horror is in a league of its own.
More than just gore, transgressive horror films revel in the taboo. Transgressive horror shatters cultural norms and seeks to explore beyond the boundaries of taste and social sensibilities, challenging viewers with shocking and sacrilegious imagery and themes. And yet, it’s not solely for shock value; transgressive horror has more on its mind than simply gore and depictions of depravity. There’s a purpose behind the pain. This week’s streaming picks are for the seekers of extreme cinema, unafraid to test their limits.
Here’s where you can stream them this week.
More than just gore, transgressive horror films revel in the taboo. Transgressive horror shatters cultural norms and seeks to explore beyond the boundaries of taste and social sensibilities, challenging viewers with shocking and sacrilegious imagery and themes. And yet, it’s not solely for shock value; transgressive horror has more on its mind than simply gore and depictions of depravity. There’s a purpose behind the pain. This week’s streaming picks are for the seekers of extreme cinema, unafraid to test their limits.
Here’s where you can stream them this week.
- 11/13/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Ryuhei Matsuda was born on the 9th of May, 1983, in Tokyo, to actress and producer Miyuki Matsuda and actor Yûsaku Matsuda, and only six years later he loses his father to cancer at the premature age of 40. At only 15, Ryuhei is approached by Nagisa Oshima with the life changing offer of a prominent role in his film Gohatto. Since then, Matsuda's magnetic charisma and remarkable versatility have allowed him to portray a wide range of characters, from brooding antiheroes to quirky and endearing figures, captivating audiences both in Japan and internationally.
With a unique ability to immerse himself in diverse roles, he has left an indelible mark on Japanese cinema and continues to be a beloved and influential figure in the world of acting. However, Matsuda's congenital air of disdain for the whole world, his glacial aloofness mixed with his innate handsomeness make him the prototype of effortless coolness,...
With a unique ability to immerse himself in diverse roles, he has left an indelible mark on Japanese cinema and continues to be a beloved and influential figure in the world of acting. However, Matsuda's congenital air of disdain for the whole world, his glacial aloofness mixed with his innate handsomeness make him the prototype of effortless coolness,...
- 11/9/2023
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Netflix is no stranger to bringing iconic video game adaptations to its platform. The latest to join the roster is ‘Onimusha,’ based on Capcom’s legendary action video game series. This isn’t just another action-packed series; it carries the rich historical backdrop of Japan’s Warring States period. It promises to blend history, action, and a touch of the supernatural in a captivating anime rendition.
Set in an age where swordplay was as much art as it was warfare, ‘Onimusha’ tells the tale of Miyamoto Musashi. This wandering swordsman isn’t your ordinary warrior. Armed with the mythical Oni Gauntlet, Musashi embarks on a perilous mission. His objective? To confront and defeat malevolent beings known as Genma. These are no mere foes, as they wield otherworldly powers, pushing Musashi to his limits.
The teaser offered viewers a tantalizing glimpse into Musashi’s world. The focus was clear – a relentless hunter of demons,...
Set in an age where swordplay was as much art as it was warfare, ‘Onimusha’ tells the tale of Miyamoto Musashi. This wandering swordsman isn’t your ordinary warrior. Armed with the mythical Oni Gauntlet, Musashi embarks on a perilous mission. His objective? To confront and defeat malevolent beings known as Genma. These are no mere foes, as they wield otherworldly powers, pushing Musashi to his limits.
The teaser offered viewers a tantalizing glimpse into Musashi’s world. The focus was clear – a relentless hunter of demons,...
- 11/1/2023
- by Hrvoje Milakovic
- Fiction Horizon
The great irony of Halloween is that in subjecting ourselves to scares of the kitschy seasonal-grocery-aisle variety, we somehow inoculate ourselves, for a moment, the Irl horrors that so consistently plague us each day online in the news each day. But horror movies and other October-end entertainments aren’t necessarily always simply a distraction. Just as often they’re an honest expression of universal human anxieties, dressed up in a foul-smelling rubber mask from the ad-hoc aisles of your local Spirit Halloween retail outlet.
Why we love it: October is the ideal and most obvious time to revisit Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Though each Halloween episode of the series is wonderful in its own way (shout-out to sexy-ghost Willow), it’s “Fear, Itself” that I still watch every year. The Scooby Gang finds themselves trapped inside a fraternity house of horrors, as fear demon “Gachnar” exploits their deepest anxieties I...
Why we love it: October is the ideal and most obvious time to revisit Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Though each Halloween episode of the series is wonderful in its own way (shout-out to sexy-ghost Willow), it’s “Fear, Itself” that I still watch every year. The Scooby Gang finds themselves trapped inside a fraternity house of horrors, as fear demon “Gachnar” exploits their deepest anxieties I...
- 10/31/2023
- by Film Independent
- Film Independent News & More
With a gory plot that unfolds across two timelines, this feels like a rebranding exercise for the grand ocean liner, turning it into a horror-themed adventure experience
This horror feature takes place largely on the Rms Queen Mary, the grand ocean liner built in Glasgow’s Clydeside docks in the 1930s which for many years now has been permanently moored in the harbour at Long Beach, California. In order to take advantage of both the ship’s vintage decor as well as its touristy gift shops and scale model displays, the screenwriters have crafted a plot that unfolds across two timelines. One is set in 1938 when a grisly, entirely fictitious murder takes place, while the other happens in the present day as a family interested in history and the supernatural gets caught up in the ship’s haunted legacy. The crisscrossing between the two periods is executed gracefully thanks to some nimble rhymed editing,...
This horror feature takes place largely on the Rms Queen Mary, the grand ocean liner built in Glasgow’s Clydeside docks in the 1930s which for many years now has been permanently moored in the harbour at Long Beach, California. In order to take advantage of both the ship’s vintage decor as well as its touristy gift shops and scale model displays, the screenwriters have crafted a plot that unfolds across two timelines. One is set in 1938 when a grisly, entirely fictitious murder takes place, while the other happens in the present day as a family interested in history and the supernatural gets caught up in the ship’s haunted legacy. The crisscrossing between the two periods is executed gracefully thanks to some nimble rhymed editing,...
- 10/4/2023
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
The Tokyo Film Festival has set the lineup for its bumper 2023 edition, running October 23 to November 1. Scroll down for the full list.
In the main competition, the festival has set 10 world premieres. The features include Japanese filmmaker Kishi Yoshiyuki’s latest pic (Ab)normal Desire and Gu Xiaogang’s Dwelling by the West Lake. Xiaogang is also set to receive the festival’s Kurosawa Akira Award alongside Mouly Surya.
Of the main competition titles, six are from East Asia, and there is noticeably a feature from Russia, with Alexey German Jr. screening his latest film, Air. Elsewhere, the festival’s Gala section is chock-full of audience favorites from fall festivals. Titles like Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things and All of Us Strangers by Andrew Haigh will screen alongside David Gordon Green’s remake The Exorcist: Believer. The Japanese films set for the Gala section include Kitano Takeshi’s Kubi, Miike Takashi’s Lumberjack the Monster,...
In the main competition, the festival has set 10 world premieres. The features include Japanese filmmaker Kishi Yoshiyuki’s latest pic (Ab)normal Desire and Gu Xiaogang’s Dwelling by the West Lake. Xiaogang is also set to receive the festival’s Kurosawa Akira Award alongside Mouly Surya.
Of the main competition titles, six are from East Asia, and there is noticeably a feature from Russia, with Alexey German Jr. screening his latest film, Air. Elsewhere, the festival’s Gala section is chock-full of audience favorites from fall festivals. Titles like Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things and All of Us Strangers by Andrew Haigh will screen alongside David Gordon Green’s remake The Exorcist: Believer. The Japanese films set for the Gala section include Kitano Takeshi’s Kubi, Miike Takashi’s Lumberjack the Monster,...
- 9/27/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
The Tokyo International Film Festival undertook a series of bold changes in 2020 to enhance its international reach, including a location change and major shakeups across staffing and programming. For the global film community, however, much of the overhaul went unfelt due to the travel restrictions of the pandemic. The Tokyo festival’s chairman, Hiroyasu Ando, emphasized at a press conference in the Japanese capital Wednesday that the event “aims to take a bigger leap” this year with its upcoming 36th edition, making good on its ambitions for a transformation.
“We’re really focussing on international interaction,” Ando said, noting that the festival would welcome some 600 overseas guests this year, including filmmakers, jury members and industry professionals, a major uptick from the 104 international industry VIPs who attended in 2022.
The Tokyo International Film Festival will open Oct. 23 with a gala screening of acclaimed German auteur Wim Wenders’ Tokyo-set drama Perfect Days, which...
“We’re really focussing on international interaction,” Ando said, noting that the festival would welcome some 600 overseas guests this year, including filmmakers, jury members and industry professionals, a major uptick from the 104 international industry VIPs who attended in 2022.
The Tokyo International Film Festival will open Oct. 23 with a gala screening of acclaimed German auteur Wim Wenders’ Tokyo-set drama Perfect Days, which...
- 9/27/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Equal numbers of Chinese and Japanese titles adorn the main competition section of the Toyo International Film Festival, which was announced on Wednesday – three each.
Among the Chinese films is “Snow Leopard,” the last feature by the late Pema Tseden, and “Dwelling by the West Lake,” directed by Gu Xiaogang, the surprisingly inexperienced joint recipient of this year’s Kurosawa Award.
The full competition with 15 titles, set to play between Oct. 23 and Nov. 1, includes the world premiere of Russian director Alexei German Jr.’s “Air” and Filipino director Sheron Dayoc’s “The Gospel of the Beast.”
The trio from Japan are: “(Ab)Normal Desire,” by Kishi Yoshiyuki; “A Foggy Paradise,” by Kotsijui Yohei; and “Who Were We,” by Tomina Tetsuya.
The festival’s gala selection appears designed for entertainment pleasure. In addition to the previously-announced “Perfect Days” and “Godzilla Minus One,” set as the festival’s opening and closing films,...
Among the Chinese films is “Snow Leopard,” the last feature by the late Pema Tseden, and “Dwelling by the West Lake,” directed by Gu Xiaogang, the surprisingly inexperienced joint recipient of this year’s Kurosawa Award.
The full competition with 15 titles, set to play between Oct. 23 and Nov. 1, includes the world premiere of Russian director Alexei German Jr.’s “Air” and Filipino director Sheron Dayoc’s “The Gospel of the Beast.”
The trio from Japan are: “(Ab)Normal Desire,” by Kishi Yoshiyuki; “A Foggy Paradise,” by Kotsijui Yohei; and “Who Were We,” by Tomina Tetsuya.
The festival’s gala selection appears designed for entertainment pleasure. In addition to the previously-announced “Perfect Days” and “Godzilla Minus One,” set as the festival’s opening and closing films,...
- 9/27/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Capcom’s “Onimusha,” the landmark survival action video game series set in Japan’s feudal Sengoku period, is being adapted into an anime series that will start streaming from Thursday, November 2, only on Netflix. Directed by Takashi Miike, this ambitious series will focus on Miyamoto Musashi, who is modeled after Toshiro Mifune, the Japanese film icon known around the globe. This is the beginning of an intense series full of realistic action in which Musashi’s blade slices through evil as he traverses a land plagued by poverty.
The Netflix Series “Onimusha” starts streaming Thursday, November 2, only on Netflix.
The Netflix Series “Onimusha” starts streaming Thursday, November 2, only on Netflix.
- 9/26/2023
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
For many cinephiles, especially those with a keen interest in Asian cinema, one of their first encounters with Japanese cinema comes in the shape of Takashi Miike’s works. Given the sheer number of features he has made ever since he got started at the beginning of the 1990s, this comes as no surprise. Movies such as “Ichi – The Killer”, “Dead or Alive” and “Audition” have cemented the reputation of Miike internationally and introduced many to his cinematic style, which has proven to very influential among his colleagues as well. However, with over 100 films directed, there are obviously a number of them which are either simply bad (“Salaryman Kintaro”) or have gone under the radar as Miike’s more popular works cast a shadow over them. One of these examples is “Blues Harp”, which is not only an overlooked gem in his filmography, but also, in my opinion, one...
- 9/25/2023
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
The anime adaptation of the Capcom game series "Onimusha", directed by Takashi Miike streams November 2, 2023 on Netflix:
"...'Musashi Miyamoto', at the beginning of the 'Edo' period is no longer a young man. He departs with the legendary 'Oni Gauntlet' to defeat the 'Genma', in which Musashi’s blade slices through evil as he traverses a land plagued by poverty..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...'Musashi Miyamoto', at the beginning of the 'Edo' period is no longer a young man. He departs with the legendary 'Oni Gauntlet' to defeat the 'Genma', in which Musashi’s blade slices through evil as he traverses a land plagued by poverty..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 9/20/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
While Konami seems to have been hogging all of the animated Netflix video game adaptations lately, Capcom has countered with a new trailer for Onimusha, which is set to start streaming on November 2. Set to “The Loneliest” by Måneskin, the trailer doesn’t get into the demon-slaying that the video games are known for just yet, but that’s quickly rectified.
Unlike the Castlevania Netflix adaptations, Onimusha instead utilizes 3D animation with a cel-shaded art style from animation studio Sublimation and director Shinya Sugai, whose work includes the CG anime adaptation of another Capcom property, Dragon’s Dogma.
Directed by Takashi Miike and featuring the voice talents of Akio Otsuka, Toshihiko Seki, Hochu Otsuka, Daiki Yamashita, Subaru Kimura and Katsuyuki Konishi, Onimusha will focus on Miyamoto Musashi, who is modeled after Japanese film icon Toshiro Mifune.
Set in the early Edo Period, a time when Japan was transitioning towards peace, and warfare was fading into history,...
Unlike the Castlevania Netflix adaptations, Onimusha instead utilizes 3D animation with a cel-shaded art style from animation studio Sublimation and director Shinya Sugai, whose work includes the CG anime adaptation of another Capcom property, Dragon’s Dogma.
Directed by Takashi Miike and featuring the voice talents of Akio Otsuka, Toshihiko Seki, Hochu Otsuka, Daiki Yamashita, Subaru Kimura and Katsuyuki Konishi, Onimusha will focus on Miyamoto Musashi, who is modeled after Japanese film icon Toshiro Mifune.
Set in the early Edo Period, a time when Japan was transitioning towards peace, and warfare was fading into history,...
- 9/20/2023
- by Mike Wilson
- bloody-disgusting.com
A number of people in Amp, including this author, have a soft spot for Kiyohiko Shibukawa, an actor who has proven a true chameleon in the way he jumps from one part to another, with equal success. Shibukawa, born July 2, 1974, actually started his career as a fashion model under the name Kee. He started acting in TV with “Twinkle”, in 1998, and he got his first role in cinema in Toshiaki Toyoda's “Pornostar”, with him actually accompanying the director in most of his later works, something that actually happened with the rest of the filmmakers he was casted by over the years. These include, among others, Takashi Miike, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, and Eiji Uchida. Currently, his credits number 160, with the majority of them being non-protagonist roles, which, still, though do not prevent him from shining quite brightly, particularly to the more “trained” eye.
Without further ado, here are 10 of his most iconic performances,...
Without further ado, here are 10 of his most iconic performances,...
- 9/19/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
This article contains spoilers for Netflix’s One Piece.
Film and television adaptations of stories from other media consistently face uphill battles. Even the most faithful of adaptations can ruffle the feathers of the source material’s die-hard fans or lead audiences to question the point of the adaptation in the first place. Anime and manga have had an even harder time on this front as their live-action adaptations not only have to figure out how to ostensibly bring cartoons to life, but also take into consideration a multitude of sensitive cultural issues.
Audiences are used to writing off live-action anime adaptations after decades of being burnt by projects like Dragon Ball Evolution, Death Note, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop, and this year’s Knights of the Zodiac, with live-action versions of Yu Yu Hakusho and My Hero Academia already in development. Even when Japan produces decent live-action anime features like Gintama,...
Film and television adaptations of stories from other media consistently face uphill battles. Even the most faithful of adaptations can ruffle the feathers of the source material’s die-hard fans or lead audiences to question the point of the adaptation in the first place. Anime and manga have had an even harder time on this front as their live-action adaptations not only have to figure out how to ostensibly bring cartoons to life, but also take into consideration a multitude of sensitive cultural issues.
Audiences are used to writing off live-action anime adaptations after decades of being burnt by projects like Dragon Ball Evolution, Death Note, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop, and this year’s Knights of the Zodiac, with live-action versions of Yu Yu Hakusho and My Hero Academia already in development. Even when Japan produces decent live-action anime features like Gintama,...
- 8/31/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Celebrity-fan encounters have become the internet’s bread-and-butter in 2023; every user-driven rabbit hole from Reddit to the gossip pages of Instagram (shoutout to deuxmoi) is full of supposed insider info on who’s a sweetheart, and who’s an Irl monster. There’s almost a currency to having met a famous person, and everyone online, anonymous or not, is keen to sell their story – mostly just for clout over any actual cash. So whether you’re an actor or a musician, or even just a familiar-face from a meme, the message is the same: play nice, or be prepared to face the social media backlash.
It’s a dangerous world to navigate, especially for working actors like Faceless After Dark star Jenna Kanell, who co-writes this sharp, scathing home invasion thriller about just that, an often deadly relationship with the spotlight.
Former Hollywood final girl Bowie (Kanell) is still followed everywhere she goes,...
It’s a dangerous world to navigate, especially for working actors like Faceless After Dark star Jenna Kanell, who co-writes this sharp, scathing home invasion thriller about just that, an often deadly relationship with the spotlight.
Former Hollywood final girl Bowie (Kanell) is still followed everywhere she goes,...
- 8/29/2023
- by Ben Robins
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Ever had that late-night itch for a cinematic scare, only to find yourself tired of the same old slashers and ghost stories? Enter J-Horror, the dazzling (and terrifying) world of Japanese horror. Filled with vengeful spirits, hair-raising urban legends, and a unique cultural zest, J-Horror has secured its spine-chilling reputation on a global scale.
If you’re not quite up-to-speed with terms like ‘Yūrei’* or haven’t been thoroughly traumatized by a cursed videotape yet, you’re in for a treat! We’re about to embark on a roller coaster ride of the very best Japanese Horror (or ‘J-Horror’ for those in the know) that promises more thrills than a Tokyo karaoke night gone awry. So grab your safety blanket; it’s about to get eerily entertaining!
*Yūrei (幽霊): spirits or ghosts in Japanese folklore, often likened to Western notions of restless ghosts. Characterized by white funeral garments, long unkempt black hair,...
If you’re not quite up-to-speed with terms like ‘Yūrei’* or haven’t been thoroughly traumatized by a cursed videotape yet, you’re in for a treat! We’re about to embark on a roller coaster ride of the very best Japanese Horror (or ‘J-Horror’ for those in the know) that promises more thrills than a Tokyo karaoke night gone awry. So grab your safety blanket; it’s about to get eerily entertaining!
*Yūrei (幽霊): spirits or ghosts in Japanese folklore, often likened to Western notions of restless ghosts. Characterized by white funeral garments, long unkempt black hair,...
- 8/27/2023
- by Kimberley Elizabeth
Along with Keishi Otomo and Takashi Miike, Shinsuke Sato completed the trio of Japanese directors who truly excel in action anime/manga adaptations, with his works in “Gantz”, “Library Wars”, “I am a Hero” etc speaking for themselves. “Kingdom 2: Far and Away”, which continues the adaptation of the homonymous manga by Yasuhisa Hara, highlights the fact in the most eloquent fashion as it currently streams on Netflix, just before the third part's release later this year.
Click the image below to follow our Tribute to Netflix
In a style that points more towards Chinese than Japanese epics (the original is actually based on the Warring States period), the sequel see the State of Qin, who is now governed by Eisei, after the events of the first movie, facing a new threat from a neighboring nation, the State of Wei. Headed by general Go Kei, a genius in military warfare,...
Click the image below to follow our Tribute to Netflix
In a style that points more towards Chinese than Japanese epics (the original is actually based on the Warring States period), the sequel see the State of Qin, who is now governed by Eisei, after the events of the first movie, facing a new threat from a neighboring nation, the State of Wei. Headed by general Go Kei, a genius in military warfare,...
- 8/21/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Earlier this year, Saban Films picked up the North American distribution rights to the Norwegian thriller Good Boy. Now it has been announced that they’ll be giving the film a theatrical, digital, and VOD release on September 8th – and with that date swiftly approaching, a trailer has arrived online! You can check it out in the embed above.
Good Boy, was written and directed by Viljar Bøe, who made his feature debut with the 2020 thriller Til Freddy. This one has the following synopsis: Sigrid thinks she’s met her perfect match with the charming and handsome Christian, but there is one catch- he lives with a man who acts like his pet dog. Trying to be open-minded, Sigrid continues the relationship but soon notices an insidious under-tone to Christian. Maybe ‘puppy play’ isn’t as innocent as it seems.
The film stars Gard Løkke, Katrine Lovise Øpstad Fredriksen, and Amalie Willoch Njaastad.
Good Boy, was written and directed by Viljar Bøe, who made his feature debut with the 2020 thriller Til Freddy. This one has the following synopsis: Sigrid thinks she’s met her perfect match with the charming and handsome Christian, but there is one catch- he lives with a man who acts like his pet dog. Trying to be open-minded, Sigrid continues the relationship but soon notices an insidious under-tone to Christian. Maybe ‘puppy play’ isn’t as innocent as it seems.
The film stars Gard Løkke, Katrine Lovise Øpstad Fredriksen, and Amalie Willoch Njaastad.
- 8/14/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: North America’s largest genre festival, Fantasia, is currently in full flow, but amid two Hollywood strikes, its staffers are speaking out about what they deem to be horror conditions.
“The SAG-AFTRA strike set the perfect tone,” one staff member told us this week after a petition for union certification was filed to represent about 50 workers at the Montreal event, which wraps Wednesday.
Organizers told us today that talks would begin with workers’ representatives “shortly after the end of the festival.”
The three-week festival, well-liked for its informal and down-to-earth vibe, is known as a mecca for genre movies and filmmakers. Guests at the event have included Guillermo del Toro, John Carpenter, Eli Roth, Mark Hamill, John Landis, Robert Pattinson, Nicolas Winding Refn, Takashi Miike and Ti West. The festival’s standing is such that its Frontières program has cemented a seven-year collaboration with the Cannes market.
But many...
“The SAG-AFTRA strike set the perfect tone,” one staff member told us this week after a petition for union certification was filed to represent about 50 workers at the Montreal event, which wraps Wednesday.
Organizers told us today that talks would begin with workers’ representatives “shortly after the end of the festival.”
The three-week festival, well-liked for its informal and down-to-earth vibe, is known as a mecca for genre movies and filmmakers. Guests at the event have included Guillermo del Toro, John Carpenter, Eli Roth, Mark Hamill, John Landis, Robert Pattinson, Nicolas Winding Refn, Takashi Miike and Ti West. The festival’s standing is such that its Frontières program has cemented a seven-year collaboration with the Cannes market.
But many...
- 8/4/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Takumi Saitoh is best known as an in-demand actor with an enormous list of credits, but he has also established himself as a filmmaker and photographer. After modeling in Japan and overseas in his teens, he made his acting debut in 2001, and has appeared in such heralded films as Takashi Miike's For Love's Sake (2012) Junji Sakamoto's The Projects (2015), Eric Khoo's Ramen Teh (2018), Last of the Wolves (Nyaff 2021), Shin Ultraman and The Legend and Butterfly (2023), among many others. Saitoh has been directing short films for several decades, and made his feature debut with blank 13 (2018), which won awards at film festivals in Japan and abroad, followed by the omnibus Zokki (Nyaff 2020). Home Sweet Home marks his third feature as director.
On the occasion of his film “Home Sweet Home” screening at New York Asian Film Festival, we speak with him about transitioning from actor to director, the filmmakers...
On the occasion of his film “Home Sweet Home” screening at New York Asian Film Festival, we speak with him about transitioning from actor to director, the filmmakers...
- 8/4/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
When Is The Anime Series Onimusha Coming? Well, get ready for an action-packed anime experience as Netflix prepares to release “Onimusha,” an exciting adaptation of Capcom’s beloved video game franchise.
Scheduled to grace the streaming service in November 2023, fans are eagerly anticipating this Japanese Netflix Original series.
The anime drawing inspiration from the critically acclaimed Onimusha games, promises to deliver an epic tale filled with samurai battles, dark forces, and otherworldly encounters.
The series will be brought to life by the talented duo of Takashi Miike and Shinya Sugai, known for their creative prowess at Sublimation Studio.
With over 8.6 million units sold worldwide, “Onimusha” secures its position as the 9th best-selling franchise in Capcom’s illustrious history, making it a beloved gem cherished by gaming enthusiasts.
Following Sublimation’s success with “Dragon’s Dogma,” expectations for “Onimusha” are soaring, and fans can’t wait to delve into this mesmerizing world of swords and sorcery.
Scheduled to grace the streaming service in November 2023, fans are eagerly anticipating this Japanese Netflix Original series.
The anime drawing inspiration from the critically acclaimed Onimusha games, promises to deliver an epic tale filled with samurai battles, dark forces, and otherworldly encounters.
The series will be brought to life by the talented duo of Takashi Miike and Shinya Sugai, known for their creative prowess at Sublimation Studio.
With over 8.6 million units sold worldwide, “Onimusha” secures its position as the 9th best-selling franchise in Capcom’s illustrious history, making it a beloved gem cherished by gaming enthusiasts.
Following Sublimation’s success with “Dragon’s Dogma,” expectations for “Onimusha” are soaring, and fans can’t wait to delve into this mesmerizing world of swords and sorcery.
- 8/3/2023
- by Om Prakash Kaushal
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
Reliably one of the most euphoric and rewarding events on the circuit, the New York Asian Film Festival emerged at a time when hardcore cinephiles were forced to import prohibitively expensive foreign-region DVDs if they wanted to watch the latest hits from the other side of the world, and the first editions of the fest — then hosted at the Anthology Film Archives — got a major boost by screening hard-to-find cult objects and/or future classics at a time when Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean cinema were all on the rise to one degree or another.
No disrespect to the prestigious New York Film Festival, but Nyaff beat them to the punch when it comes to major auteurs like Park Chan-wook, whose “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance” screened at the 2002 event alongside millennial breakouts like Corey Yuen’s “So Close,” unheralded pop masterpieces like Fumihiko Sori’s “Ping Pong,” and what the fuck did I just witness?...
No disrespect to the prestigious New York Film Festival, but Nyaff beat them to the punch when it comes to major auteurs like Park Chan-wook, whose “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance” screened at the 2002 event alongside millennial breakouts like Corey Yuen’s “So Close,” unheralded pop masterpieces like Fumihiko Sori’s “Ping Pong,” and what the fuck did I just witness?...
- 7/13/2023
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
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