Well, well. I certainly didn’t expect this to come so fast. We first got word of the upcoming Ghost in the Shell 2.0 - a re-animated version of Mamoru Oshii’s classic scifi anime - back in June and while it will certainly be released here in North America in due course fans aren’t going to have to wait very long at all to lay their hands on an English friendly version. Regular reader and Oshii expert Brian Ruh just dropped a not pointing out that Japanese DVD and Blu-Ray editions have already been announced for release in December and that it will include an English language audio track. These will go nicely with the just released Japanese Blu Ray discs of the Stand Alone Complex movies and the upcoming Blu Ray of Innocence, all of which are also English friendly. Nice.
** UPDATE **
No English on the 2.0 release after all. Apparently there will be a Blu-Ray release that includes both the 2.0 and original versions of the film and the English dub will be included only on the original.
This one’s for our North American brothers and sisters. We’re aware that there are those in our community who shake their angry fists at the sky whenever we announce a DVD release and it is region coded for somewhere off our shores. Rather than scold you for not having that all important all-region DVD player we do keep a watchful eye out for domestic releases as well so one day you too can join in on the water cooler conversations about international cinema.
Immensely popular in its home Japan and on the festival circuit both Death Note films and the spinoff L: Change the World have enjoyed large success. VIZ Media announced that they will be bringing the first film to Region 1 DVD this September 16.
The DVD will include the uncut 126 minute-long film in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the original Japanese audio track, a brand-new English language dub, and removable English subtitles. Bonus features include an interview with director Shusuke Kaneko. Additional extras TBA. The suggested retail price is $24.98.
Still want to know what all the fuss has been about? On September 16 you can find out for yourself.
Japanese satirist and cult film director Minoru Kawasaki gets a lot of love around these parts from most of us. Kawasaki delivers a unique brand of satire and comedy to Japanese and international cinema. Just browse our archives and you can see for yourself. Now, those gentlemen with exquisite taste and an eye for unconventional yet damn entertaining cinema over at Synapse Films have announced that on November 18, just in time for the holiday shopping season, they will present The Minoru Kawasaki Collection. Not one, not two, but three Kawasaki films for your viewing pleasure. Executive Koala. Rug Cop. The World Sinks Except Japan.
Once purchasing details are announced you will be updated accordingly… all three covers here.
Thanks Blake for the heads up!
Good news for fans of Yosuke Fujita’s cult hit Fine, Totally Fine. The winner of the audience award at this year’s New York Asian Film Festival the film will be arriving on English-friendly DVD soon thanks to the UK’s Third Window Films, who have just announced their acquisition of the film.
Teruo, the eldest son of a used bookstore owner has a dream: to build the world scariest haunted house. About to reach his 30th birthday, Teruo is still idling away his life. One day, through the introduction of childhood friend Hisanobu, an extremely clumsy painter/artist comes to work at the bookstore. Meet Akari. A cute, attractive girl that both Teruo and Hisanobu soon fall for. This small bookstore could be in any town and becomes a refuge for these individuals that have fallen out of the mainstream society. What will become of this gentle, heartfelt love triangle?
Fujita’s film is a surprisingly quiet and heartfelt piece of work, one punctuated by hysterically funny bits of absurd humor delivered flawlessly by a fantastic cast. You can find the trailer and teaser for the film below the break.
Continue Reading "Japanese Cult Comedy FINE, TOTALLY FINE Finds A Home In The UK"...
It seems to be an obsession for Lee Joon-Ik, the maestro of cinematic pragmatism which brought us gems like 황산벌 (Once Upon a Time in the Battlefield), 왕의 남자 (The King and The Clown) and 라디오 스타 (Radio Star). Giving a voice to those outside the mainstream, a sort of revenge of the losers pulsating at 24 frames per second. Right as his latest 님은 먼 곳에 (Sunny) is continuing Lee’s amazing streak passing the 1 million admissions mark (particularly considering all his films dance with conventions, but they swim upstream for what concerns their message), we’re finally getting the chance to see 즐거운 인생 (The Happy Life), a sort of companion piece to Radio Star.
The film had its fans and detractors, and even lost a little money, uncharacteristic for a post 2003 Lee project, but it always screamed good old fun, with a band of losers flushing their stress and everyday problems down the toilet through the only thing that puts a smile on their faces: music. If last year’s 브라보 마이 라이프 (Bravo My Life) disappointed you despite the top notch cast, this might be the answer. The reason it took so long to surface on DVD goes down to the same reason 색즉시공 2 (Sex is Zero 2) still hasn’t made it past its rental-only status: there was a lawsuit going on between Art Service (the DVD company) and the producers (CJ) because the latter aired the two films on its IPTV platform before the sales DVD was out. It all seems to be solved now, as the film is slated for a release on August 20. Film stars Lee’s “persona” Jung Jin-Young, the great Kim Yoon-Seok, and young up and comer Jang Geun-Seok.
You can preorder the 2-disc Special Edition DVD here, and you’ll find a trailer below the break. It’s very likely this will get a long review after 추격자 (The Chaser), but we’ll see what pops up in between first.
Continue Reading "Lee Joon-Ik’s 즐거운 인생 (The Happy Life) Finally on DVD"...
Wellwellwell.
As one of the people who bought the lovely Korean boxset of the two “Death Note” movies, I was eagerly awaiting the Korean release for the Death Note spin-off “L: Change the World”.
And it arrived in a nice 3-disc edition, but to my dismay without English subtitles. Darn…
But loyal forumer “TheDoug” was kind enough to investigate, risking his own wallet. And he survived to tell us all that this edition does, in fact, have English subs, and showed the screenshots to prove it.
YesAsia has even changed their listing of this title thanks to the remarks he made to them.
Stellar job, thanks “TheDoug”! Most appreciated.
Changed dates and new additions:
July 28th: Missing [r3hk], 29th: Challenge of the Masters [r1], The Contact [r1], The Legend of Hero [r1], Puzzle [r1], Temptation of Eve [r1], 31st: The Chaser [r3k]
August 5th: Beautiful [r3k], 11th: Tropical Malady [r0uk], 12th: The Legend of the Shadowless Sword [r1], 23rd: Sparrow [r3hk], 25th: Valerie and Her Week of Wonders [r0uk], 26th: Mr. Cinema [r1], The Takashi Miike Omnibus [r1]
September 16th: Blood Simple [r1], Speed Racer [r1], 23rd: Seoul Raiders [r1], 30th: The Deadly Duo [r1]
October 7th: Paranoid Park [r1], 14th: Revenge of a Kabuki Actor [r1], 28th: Kitaro [r1]
Send in your suggestions:
Continue Reading "DVD Release Calendar"...
Hong Kong continues rushing along on to the high definition train and those of us here in North America are the lucky benefactors. Why? Because we’re in the same Blu-Ray region as Hong Kong and every Hong Kong release that I’ve come across so far has included English subtitles.
What’s coming next? Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution, for one, which means fans will now have the chance to view Tony Leung’s naughty bits with a frighteningly high degree of clarity. But if you prefer your action to be more of the punching variety, then may I suggest the upcoming Blu Ray release of SPL (or Sha Po Lang), still one of the best Hong Kong action films of recent years, to my mind. Nummy.
High School Girl Rika: Zombie Hunter (Saikyo Heiki Joshikousei Rika) is set for a Region 2 Japanese language DVD release from GP Museum on July 25, 2008. One can almost guess the story from the title: a surgically-enhanced high school girl fights off a plague of zombies. High School Girl Rika does not seem to offer much in the way of innovation but of course, that does not mean it will not be entertaining. The graphic trailer is cut for maximum effect and can be pursued beneath the fold (viewer discretion advised).
Continue Reading "HIGH SCHOOL GIRL RIKA: ZOMBIE HUNTER Set for R2 DVD Release"...
While his recent output has frustrated many, legenday Hong Kong director Tsui Hark still has legions of fans around the globe and those legions will be glad to know that Missing - the director’s horror themed, scuba diving movie with Tony Leung Ka Fai and Angelica Lee - will be arriving on DVD in Hong Kong July 28th. It’s a region three disc with English subtitles included and is available for pre-oder now.
Oh, this bit of news makes Todd a happy boy ... Miki Satoshi’s Adrift in Tokyo is a big favorite of mine and the Joe Odagiri - starring, gently absurd comedy will be getting a prompt R1 DVD release thanks to new Montreal-based start up Evokative Films. The deal is for Canada only - no idea at all if a US distrib has picked it up as well - but this means that it will at the very least be available for easy import on R1 DVD for our American neighbors. This is just the second pick up for Evokative but they’re looking to be an intriguing little imprint. Their first title is Cedric Anger’s Le Teuer and they’re negotiating now on some other interesting titles to round out the lineup ...
This fell a little under the radar, but looks to be well worth picking up.
If you’ve read comparisons between director Jeon Jae-Hong and Kim Ki-Duk, when the film was invited to Berlin in the Panorama section, there is a reason. Jeon grew under Kim’s wings, working as scripter in 시간 (Time) and on the production team for 숨 (Breath). Whether that means resembling the early, rugged and powerful Kim Ki-Duk of 나쁜 남자 (Bad Guy) or the insipid Festival-friendly version of his last five years, we’ll have to see. Story sounds like 미녀는 괴로워 (200 Pounds Beauty) all gone wrong, with a beautiful lady getting into a world of trouble because of her beauty, and the stalker who falls in love with her. The real interesting point is the young cast: Cha Su-Yeon might be nearly unknown, but she’s among the most interesting new talents in Korea. She was excellent as the decadent temptress in 개와 늑대의 시간 (Time Between Dog & Wolf), and in a completely different role in last year’s fabulous 별빛 속으로 (For Eternal Hearts). On the other side we have Lee Cheon-Hee, who found his footing in the masterpiece 한성별곡 正 (Conspiracy in the Court), and is currently starring in 대왕세종 (Sejong the Great) on TV. Among the interesting special features on the DVD set coming out on July 29 is a short film by director Jeon, Calling You. More info on this whenever preorders are available.
Possibly the most Impressive Danish film from last year was Prag from Ole Christian Madsen’s ( Nordkraft ) again staring Mads Mikkelsen. Although a very different film compared to the gritty crime world created in Madsen’s 2005 movie Nordkraft, Prag still has Madsens Impressive style of filmmaking etched into it, Prag was previously only available with English Subtitles on the Scandinavian releases. So if you held off purchasing the local Danish release, then fear not because again Madman, Australia’s main distributor of Foreign DVDS has released the DVD, again no Extras to be found on the release though, Check the links below for Details.
Synopsis:
“Prague" tells the story of Christoffer and his wife Maja, who go to Prague to bring back the remains of his recently deceased father. As Christopher learns more about his father’s life, he also tries to improve his relationship with his wife. He feels Maja is slipping away. The question is whether they will ever be able to retrieve their love for one another.
The first of a mini Mads Mikkelsen DVD update coming to you the Twitch viewers!. Last years Swedish Thriller ‘Exit’ a film that went under the radar really and was previously only available with English Subtitles on the Scandinavian releases, now there is a DVD release in Australia from the Madman who seem to keep releases to a high quality. The features on the DVD are very scarce no Extras, all thats found is a Original theatrical trailer and Dolby® Digital 5.1 surround sound, so for those who held off purchasing the local Danish DVD release then skip to the links section for DVD order details.
Synopsis:
Wealthy businessman Thomas (Mads Mikkelsen) seems to have it all: a beautiful wife, Anna (Kirsty Torhaug), a lovely daughter, Ebba (Johanna Dickson) and an expensive villa by the water. But when his business partner Wilhelm (Börje Ahlstedt ) is found dead at his desk, Thomas is viewed as the one most likely to profit from the murder and he becomes embroiled in a game of cat and mouse he can’t possibly win.
Good news for Johnnie To fans! His latest effort - the long in production pickpocket drama Sparrow - is due to hit DVD in Hong Kong on August 23rd and English subtitles are included. Do I like this movie? Why, yes I do, and rather a lot. You can check out the trailer below the break and hit the link below for my full review.
Continue Reading "Johnnie To’s SPARROW Available On DVD!"...
