Japanese Movies/Discussion/Recommendations

bmwracer wrote:
Haha.

Until they release an IMAX version, I'll wait. :mrgreen:

Yes IMAX is essential to properly make out the K on Kazuo's shirt. It looks stunning on 70mm film.

Nishida Toshiyuki to star in movie about 3/11 earthquake


Itfs been announced that a movie about the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, which occurred on March 11th of last year, will be released. The movie gItai ~Asu e no Tookakan~h will star Nishida Toshiyuki, and will be directed by Kimizuka Ryoichi.

The movie is based on non-fiction writer Ishii Kotafs report gItai Shinsai, Tsunami no Hate nih that he summarized after collecting data from the disaster areas for 3 months, and the story is set at the morgue in Kamaishi, Iwate. In the movie, Nishida will play a man named gAiba Tsuneoh who volunteered himself to be a manager at the morgue, since he used to work in a funeral related business, and led the people who were disturbed on-site. Reportedly, Nishida hesitated to appear in this movie at first when he read the script. He stated, gA thought that the real feelings of the victims and etruthf, which are different from the efactsf could be extracted by making it as a movie, welled up.h

The movie will depict the unknown 10 days for the people at the morgue in Kamaishi-city, Iwate, who came in touch with the remains, while retaining their dignity as human beings, and exerted themselves to send the remains back to their bereaved families.

According to Fuji TVfs Kameyama Chihiro, the managing director, he decided to make this movie when he was told by the news staff who had reported about the disaster, gUnfortunately, occurrences at the morgues were things we could not report about.h

Along with Nishida other cast members are, Ogata Naoto, Katsuji Ryo, Kunimura Jun, Sakai Wakana, Sato Koichi, Sano Shiro, Sawamura Ikki, Shida Mirai, Tsutsui Michitaka, and Yanagiba Toshiro. It was also announced that this movie will be shown at the 36th Montreal World Film Festival.

gItai ~Asu e no Tookakan~h will be released in March, 2013.

Source: eiga.com

ENTERTAINMENT AUG. 22, 2012 - 05:00AM JST ( 40 )

Ken Watanabe will play the Clint Eastwood role in the Japanese remake of "Unforgiven."
Japan Today
TOKYO \
For the first time in Japanese cinema history, an American-made film is being remade and released in Japan with award-winning director Lee Sang-ilfs Japanese-language motion picture gYurusarezarumono,h inspired by the Oscar-winning U.S. western gUnforgiven,h directed by and starring Clint Eastwood.

Released in the U.S. in 1992, gUnforgivenh was nominated for nine Academy Awards in 1993 and won four, including Best Picture. The announcement was made Monday by Richard Fox, Executive Vice President, International, Warner Bros Entertainment, and William J Ireton, President & Representative Director, Warner Entertainment Japan Inc.

Inspired by Eastwoodfs film, writer/director Lee Sang-il (the Japan Academy Prize-winning film gVillain,h gHula Girlsh) shifts the setting to Japan in retelling the epic, adapting the gUnforgivenh screenplay by David Webb Peoples. The film stars an ensemble including some of Japanfs most acclaimed actors, led by Ken Watanabe (gLetters from Iwo Jima,hgThe Last Samuraih) as Jubei Kamata, reinterpreting the role played by Eastwood in the original, with Akira Emoto (gVillain,h gDr Akagih) taking on the part played by Morgan Freeman, and Koichi Sato (gCrest of Betrayal,h gWhat the Snow Bringsh) reprising Gene Hackmanfs part.

Filming is set to commence in mid-September on location in Hokkaido. gYurusarezarumonoh is targeted for nationwide release in Japan in the fall of 2013.

The story is set in Hokkaido around 1880, the start of the Meiji period following the collapse of the Edo shogunate, at a time when the Japanese government is attempting to open the land (then named Ezo) populated by the indigenous Ainu people.

In the shogunatefs waning days, Jubei Kamata (Watanabe), a former swordsman of the shogunate, slaughters countless rebels under orders, earning a fearsome reputation in Kyoto. Following the governmentfs collapse, he takes part in a succession of bloody battles culminating in the decisive battle at Goryokaku, then vanishes without a trace, eluding the determined efforts of the new government to capture him.

More than a decade later, Jubei lives on in desolate isolation as a frugal rancher with an Ainu woman as his wife and their children. His wife \ who alone transformed a man whose only reason for existence was to kill \ dies, leaving him to guard over her grave with their children in sparse austerity.

However, the man who vowed never to take sword again finds himself driven by poverty to once again join battle as a bounty hunter. Together with a former comrade, he faces those convinced in their own justice. Another cycle of violence starts anew in another new era.

Men tossed in the wake of turbulent history stage their final battle in the immense natural environments of Hokkaido with exhilarating horseback action. The filmfs scale will emulate the immensity of American westerns.

Eastwood commented, gItfs an honor to know that Lee Sang-il and my good friend Ken Watanabe, with whom I worked closely on eLetters from Iwo Jima,f will be teaming on a Japanese rendition of eUnforgiven.fh

Sang-il said, gIt has been 20 years since the release of eUnforgiven.f People wander between egoodf and eevil,f no matter who you are \ this is the theme, which lies within this film and it speaks deeply to us even today, still unable to end the vicious cycle of violence. It is my belief to create films that people can relate to \ people who carry doubts and redemption, striving to be right, rather than people who insist they are right without any doubts.

gThe original film is acclaimed to be the masterpiece of western films. I am thrilled, happy, and overwhelmed with pleasure to be given this opportunity, as director Clint Eastwood, whom I highly respect, is a filmmaker with an unprecedented talent. Ken Watanabe, a man with definite presence, that makes one think there is no one but him. Akira Enomoto, a man Ifd like to call an old ally. Koichi Sato, a man who I had always wanted to work with for a long time. I strongly wish to create a film that will always be remembered, together with the help of the passion of above members and other wonderful cast and filmmakers.h

Watanabe stated, gClint Eastwood is like my father in the film industry and it will be challenging for me to remake one of his best known films. Wefd like to build our eUnforgivenf in our own way in this vast land of Hokkaido.h

Business Wire

^ Hmm, sounds very intriguing. :victory:

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I didn't even know this third and final installment in the film trilogy Always San-chome no Yuhi existed but fortunately I stumbled upon it.

Always San-chome no Yumi '64 which came out this past January continues the romanticized nostalgia of the first two films and the perhaps overly sentimental look at Japan's postwar recovery and growth but I found it an interesting look at a different time, with different people, and perhaps different values.

Mark Schilling of The Japan Times gave it an adequate rating. 3 out of 5 stars.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ff20120120a1.html

shin2 wrote:ENTERTAINMENT AUG. 22, 2012 - 05:00AM JST ( 40 )

Ken Watanabe will play the Clint Eastwood role in the Japanese remake of "Unforgiven."
Japan Today
TOKYO \
For the first time in Japanese cinema history, an American-made film is being remade and released in Japan with award-winning director Lee Sang-ilfs Japanese-language motion picture gYurusarezarumono,h inspired by the Oscar-winning U.S. western gUnforgiven,h directed by and starring Clint Eastwood.

Additional cast for 'Yurusarezaru Mono' announced

On September 10th, it was revealed which actors are going to make up the supporting cast for the upcoming Japanese remake of the multi-Academy Award-winning movie eUnforgivene (Japanese title: eYurusarezaru Monoe).

Previously it was already revealed that the story is going to be transported into the world of samurai. Watanabe Ken is going to take over the role of Clint Eastwood, while Sato Koichi is going to play the role of Gene Hackman and Emoto Akira the role of Morgan Freeman. The movie will be directed by Lee Sang-il (eAkuninf).

Today it was announced that other important characters will be played by Yagira Yuya, Kutsuna Shiori, Koike Eiko, and Kunimura Jun.

Yagira, who already won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in eNobody Knowse (2004), is going to play a young man named eSawada Gorof, who will help eJuubeef with the bounty hunting. It will be his first role in a period drama.

Actress Kutsuna is going to play a defaced prostitute named eNatsumef.

Koike is going to play an older prostitute named eOkajif, who puts a bounty on the heads of the two eHoritaf brothers who injured eNatsumef.

Kunimura is going to play a role similar to that of Richard Harris in the original, named eKitaoji Masaharuf.

The remaining characters will be played by Kondo Yoshimasa (owner of a tavern), Ozawa Yukiyoshi (one of the eHoritaf brothers), Miura Takahiro (the other eHoritaf brother), and Takito Kenichi (a follower of eKitaojif).

eYurusarezaru Monof is slated for a release sometime in fall 2013.

Watched Wolf Children tonight at a cinema. I like the slice of life parts, the animation were gorgeous, but the story was a bit too plain/quiet for me. I like the parts where the story focus on the mother making it on her own, but the stories of the children later felt slow and my interest waned considerably.

Tu_triky wrote:[image]

I didn't even know this third and final installment in the film trilogy Always San-chome no Yuhi existed but fortunately I stumbled upon it.

Always San-chome no Yumi '64 which came out this past January continues the romanticized nostalgia of the first two films and the perhaps overly sentimental look at Japan's postwar recovery and growth but I found it an interesting look at a different time, with different people, and perhaps different values.

Mark Schilling of The Japan Times gave it an adequate rating. 3 out of 5 stars.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ff20120120a1.html

Saw this a few weeks ago. It's a bloated, awkward mess of a movie. The two central plot lines are eye-rollingly ludicrous. It has none of the charm and nostalgic fun of the first movie--by far the best of the three--and falls way short of the second which was no better than a decent sequel.

With the backdrop of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the creators could have used that seminal event in Japan's post-WWII recovery as a basis for telling an interesting story; instead, it is only occasionally referenced, and what you have is scene after scene of Yoshioka Hidetaka's character whining and moaning and being such a loser you want to push him off a cliff.

shin2 wrote:

Saw this a few weeks ago. It's a bloated, awkward mess of a movie. The two central plot lines are eye-rollingly ludicrous. It has none of the charm and nostalgic fun of the first movie--by far the best of the three--and falls way short of the second which was no better than a decent sequel.

With the backdrop of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the creators could have used that seminal event in Japan's post-WWII recovery as a basis for telling an interesting story; instead, it is only occasionally referenced, and what you have is scene after scene of Yoshioka Hidetaka's character whining and moaning and being such a loser you want to push him off a cliff.

Haha. Yeah, I will readily agree the first film was definitely the best of the three. Moreover, I too found the novelist angst a bit much and hardly endearing.

You do this movie is based on a true story, right?

Just kidding.

Recently watched Saigo no Chushingura (2010). Different from the typical Chushingura movie in that this one takes place 16 years after that seminal event. In this version there are two surviving ronin: one (played by Sato Koichi) was present at the attack, but was ordered by Oishi Kuranosuke (leader of the 47 loyal ronin) to relay a first-hand account of the events to the families of the participating ronin and offer monetary compensation. As the film opens, it has taken him 16 years to fulfill this order. The other survivor, an Oishi retainer (played by Yakusho Koji), is ordered to leave the group on the eve of the attack to take care of and raise Oishi's orphaned baby daughter. The movie is primarily about him and the now teenaged girl.
The original meaning of the word "samurai" is "to serve" or "one who serves." The movie shows how these two surviving samurai take this definition to heart in carrying out their leader's orders.
What struck me about this movie was its strong sense of "Japaneseness." In tone, theme, behavior, and attitude the traits commonly associated with Japan and its people are clearly presented and positively embraced. This cultural recognition is further promulgated by the constant interjections of scenes from a bunraku (puppet theater) play which act as commentary and foreshadowing.
This is not a chambara film--the attack on Lord Kira is presented in a brief flashback, and there is only one other swordfight scene (also brief). It is deliberately paced (I suspect some would call it slow moving), wistful, and sad (although I think those Japanese who are traditionalists would consider the movie a celebration of the Japanese character).
In addition to Sato (whose role is somewhat limited) and Yakusho (who imo has not only been Japan's best actor over the last 30 years; he just might be Japan's best cinematic actor ever) there are some recognizable character actors like Fubuki Jun, Ibu Masato, and Tanaka Kunie. A young pretty actress, Sakuraba Nanami, turns in a serviceable performance as Oishi's daughter.
The film was directed by Sugita Shigemichi, a name not familiar with many people. In 1981 Sugita also directed Kita no Kuni Kara, one of the best and most beloved dorama of all-time.
Saigo no Chushingura is not a great film--it drags at times, is devoid of humor, and lacks the action normally expected in a jidaigeki--but I did like it.

Besides Odoru Daisousasen the Final I watched a few Japanese movies linked to dramas and anime.

Another: I had watched and enjoyed the anime version but the live action movie sucked so badly. It had a big release but disappeared really fast from the screens. I went during the second week and by that time user reviews had kicked in and it was shunned by audiences, rightfully so. Avoid if you can and stick to the anime.

Rinjo the movie: if you liked the series, it's worth a watch. Good but felt more like a TV production. It wraps up the two seasons nicely and I guess there won't be anymore sequels.

Rurouni Kenshin: one manga/anime adaptation I completely enjoyed. It only deals with the first story arc of the manga but it's fun to watch! I like the cast but I wasn't sure about Emi Takei and Sato Takeru as main leads. They fit the bill physically but they are more idols than great actors but they don't do to bad here.

Umizaru Brave Hearts (4): what a cheesefest. It can't get anymore corny and emotional buttons are shamelessly pressed. The audience sobbed and I rolled my eyes.

Spoiler — click to reveal

Also everybody survives - nobody dies in that bloody movie

But I would recommend the experience to see the Japanese let out all their emotions. I believe it's a catharsis for them.

Koki Mitani casts 26 actors for new movie 'Kiyosu Kaigi

Mitani Koki (eA Ghost of a Chancef) announced an ensemble cast of 26 starring actors for 26 leading roles in his new movie eKiyosu Kaigie (eKiyosu Conferencef), which is a live-action adaptation of his own novel of the same name.

The story revolves around a conference at Kiyosu Castle between Shibata Katsuie, Hashiba Hideyoshi, Niwa Nagahide, and Ikeda Tsuneoki after the Honnoji incident and the death of Oda Nobunaga. Itfs up to them to discuss the succession of leadership and the redistribution of the territories, which also creates a huge chance for those who want more than just a piece of the pie.

During the announcement of the movie earlier this year, Mitani already proclaimed that this is going to feature his best lineup of actors to date and he did not exaggerate. Shibata Katsuie will be played by Yakusho Koji, Hashiba Hideyoshi by Oizumi Yo, Niwa Hagahide by Kohinata Fumiyo, and Ikeda Tsuneoki by Sato Koichi.

Yakusho expressed, gIfm looking forward to this, since itfs been a while since Ifve worked together with Mitani. Katsuie has a bit of a plain image among those military commanders, but Ifm sure he was a really great guy. I want to enjoy myself portraying Katsuie as a lovable man.h

Oizumi commented on his role and laughed, gMitani made me feel a little uneasy when he told me that he wants to make Hideyoshi look like a real monkey.h

Kohinata stated, gI have to get myself completely fired up in order to live up to the standard of a Mitani production.h

Sato is just amazed by Mitani and said, gMitani-sanfs script that was written based on his own novelcthough both (original novel and the script) are in 2D, the story line has the extension as if itfs in 3D that makes me hard to believe itfs written by the same person. I canft wait to be part of of it.h

The remaining starring cast includes Suzuki Kyoka (as Oichi), Tsumabuki Satoshi (as Oda Nobukatsu), Iseya Yusuke (as Oda Nobukane), Bando Minosuke (as Oda Nobutaka), Gouriki Ayame (as Matsuhime), Sasai Eisuke (as Oda Nobunaga), Nakamura Kankuro (as Oda Nobutada), Asano Tadanobu (as Maeda Toshiie), Terajima Susumu (as Kuroda Kanbei), Anan Kenji (as Takigawa Kazumasu), Matsuyama Kenichi (as Hori Hidemasa), Denden (as Maeda Genfi), Ichikawa Shinpei, Asano Kazuyuki (as Akechi Mitsuhide), Sometani Shota (as Mori Ranmaru), Seto Catherine, Kondo Yoshimasa, Nakatani Miki (as Nene), Toda Keiko, Kajihara Zen, Amami Yuki (as a shinobi), and Nishida Toshiyuki (as the still alive Sarashina Rokubei from eA Ghost of a Chancef).

Mitani bluntly announced that he aims for eBest Foreign Language Filmf at the Academy Awards.

eKiyosu Kaigif is slated for a release in fall 2013, with the filming scheduled to begin in November.

Sources: Cinema Today, eiga.com

Finally went to see Outrage Beyond by Kitano. It finishes what Outrage started. I thought it was well acted out but to me it felt like I was watching a National Geographic show on baboons. You know, the strict dominance hierarchy baboons have, vocal exchanges to determine dominance, takeovers between troops etc. were recurring themes in Outrage Beyond. I personally was exhausted after two hours of Yakuza shouting and glad it was over.

EstherM wrote:Rurouni Kenshin: one manga/anime adaptation I completely enjoyed. It only deals with the first story arc of the manga but it's fun to watch! I like the cast but I wasn't sure about Emi Takei and Sato Takeru as main leads. They fit the bill physically but they are more idols than great actors but they don't do to bad here.

I was kinda undecided about seeing the movie since for some reason the live action movies/TV shows of manga I like usually disappoint. Will definitely be giving this one a watch. :say_cool:

Also looking forward to watching Ogon Wo Daite Tobe when it comes out on DVD.

Sadao Abe to star in 'Shazai no Oohsama'

Abe Sadao, Kudo Kankuro and director Mizuta Nobuo will work together for the third time in the new Kudo Kankuro movie "Shazai no Ousama" (The King of Apologies) which is due to be shown from 28 September next year. The trio had previously worked on 2007's Maiko Haaaan!! and 2009's Nakumonka.

This time, Abe will still be the lead as Kuroshima who is a professional apology advisor who helps people apologise in the best way possible. Besides Abe, co-stars include Inoue Mao, Takenouchi Yutaka, Matsuyuki Yasuko, Okada Masaki, Ono Machiko, Takahashi Katsumi, Arakawa Yoshiyoshi, Hamada Gaku, Ono Takehiko and Hamada Mari.

Inoue plays the role of Noriko, a young lady who has just come back to Japan after spending most of her life overseas and is forced to compensate a gangster-like man with a huge sum of money when she causes a traffic accident. Okada plays an employee of a lingerie company who's sued for sexual harrassment by an OL played by Ono. Takahashi plays a big-name actor who has to apologise in public for a scandal involving his son while Matsuyuki plays another big-name actress who is his ex-wife. Takenouchi plays a lawyer who has to apologise for a misdeed in the past which caused his daughter anguish. Last but not least, Arakawa plays a movie producer who mistakenly gets the prince of some country to act as an extra in his film and ends up having to apologise for that.

Source: Sanspo

My .02, I've always thought of Sadao Abe as a Japanese Jerry Lewis which means (for me) most of the time he's so over the top I can't stand the guy. But when he gets it right (Maiko Haaan!! and the drama Marumo no Okite) he can be pretty good.

Over at ADC.....

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Thermae Romae

A bath can soothe the body, the soul, and even an empire in Thermae Romae, the live-action adaptation of the popular manga series by Yamazaki Mari. The fantasy comedy stars Hiroshi Abe as an architect in the Roman Empire who finds inspirations for new baths after he accidentally time travels to modern Japan. In addition to adapting the architect's hilarious adventures from the manga, writer Muto Shogo (Crows Zero) also creates new characters and subplots to make Thermae Romae the greatest time-traveling Roman bath epic in cinematic history! To achieve authenticity, director Takeuchi Hideki (Nodame Cantabile: The Final Score) took the entire cast and crew to Rome's Cinecittà Studios, which has also hosted productions of films like La Dolce Vita, Cleopatra, and Gangs of New York. The quirky mix of irreverent humor and grand historical epic made Thermae Romae a massive box office hit in Japan, becoming one of the top grossing live-action Japanese films of 2012.

An architect in the Roman Empire, Lucius (Abe Hiroshi) is undergoing a creative crisis. After complaining about the appalling state of Roman baths, Lucius is sucked into a tunnel that takes him to present-day Japan. Emerging in a local Japanese public bath, Lucius is astonished by the achievements of those he calls the "flat- faced people". Upon returning, Lucius decides to apply those brilliant methods into his new bath. Every time he returns to Japan, he is amazed by the ideas modern Japanese have for hygiene. The more ideas he copies for his own bath, the bigger star Lucius becomes. However, with fame also comes danger, as Lucius is soon caught between a power struggle involving Emperor Hadrian and two of his most trusted men.

http://asiandvdclub.org/details.php?id=66483

^ Cool, it has English subs. :victory:

For those of you who frequent ADC.....

Invites? What's all this then?

http://asiandvdclub.org/

Masaharu Fukuyama to play father in upcoming movie


Actor/singer-songwriter Fukuyama Masaharu will be teaming up with director Koreeda Hirokazu for a new movie called eSoshite Chichi ni Narue.

In the film, Fukuyama will play his first father role and his wife will be played by actress Ono Machiko. The second couple will be played by Maki Yoko, who has co-starred with Fukuyama in eRyomadene, and Lily Franky.

The story of eSoshite Chichi ni Naruf will revolve around the growth and hardships of a man named Ryota (Fukuyama) and his family. One day, he receives a phone call from the hospital and finds out that his 6-year-old son is someone elsefs son.

The movie will also star Fubuki Jun, Kunimura Jun, Kiki Kirin, and Natsuyagi Isao. Filming for the movie started back on May 6th.

eSoshite Chichi ni Naruf is scheduled to open in theaters on October 5th of next year.

Source: EIGA

Due to my exams I missed out on a lot of Japanese movies on the silver screen in December and the only ones I watched are two fluffy Ayase Haruka movies: Hotaru no Hikari: the movie and Akko-chan: the movie.
Stick to series one of Hotaru as the movie is just silly nonsense in Rome.
Akko-chan is based on a 60ties manga and feels like that - through magic a ten-year old becomes an adult and starts to temp at a make-up company.