Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Hacks and Feud: Capote vs. the Swans.
Feud: Capote vs. the Swans FYC event
Ryan Murphy joined the Feud cast, including Naomi Watts, Tom Hollander, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny and Demi Moore, at a For Your Consideration event in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Chloë Sevigny, Ryan Murphy, Demi Moore, Naomi Watts, Tom Hollander and Diane Lane
Bad Boys: Ride or Die premiere
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence celebrated their fourth Bad Boys movie at its L.A. premiere on Thursday, where Smith was supported by wife Jada Pinkett Smith and their three kids.
Jerry Bruckheimer, Adil El Arbi, Martin Lawrence, Will Smith and Bilal Fallah Trey Smith, Willow Smith, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jaden Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris Thomas Rothman, chairman and...
Feud: Capote vs. the Swans FYC event
Ryan Murphy joined the Feud cast, including Naomi Watts, Tom Hollander, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny and Demi Moore, at a For Your Consideration event in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Chloë Sevigny, Ryan Murphy, Demi Moore, Naomi Watts, Tom Hollander and Diane Lane
Bad Boys: Ride or Die premiere
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence celebrated their fourth Bad Boys movie at its L.A. premiere on Thursday, where Smith was supported by wife Jada Pinkett Smith and their three kids.
Jerry Bruckheimer, Adil El Arbi, Martin Lawrence, Will Smith and Bilal Fallah Trey Smith, Willow Smith, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jaden Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris Thomas Rothman, chairman and...
- 5/31/2024
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
George Lucas defends Marvel as cinema and says Scorsese “has kind of changed his mind” on his stance
George Lucas is part of the 70s class of filmmakers who reshaped movies. Lucas and his peers — Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola — have been back in the spotlight as of late. While Scorsese and Coppola have resided on the less commercial side of films for the majority of their legacy, they have also been the ones who have famously come out against the long-running popular genre of comic book superhero movies in recent years. Scorsese would not completely count out the entertainment of Marvel films, but the Killers of the Flower Moon director would make his statement that Marvel isn’t cinema. Coppola, however, would be less diplomatic about the matter and not only agree with Scorsese’s statement but also refer to them as “despicable.”
This year, at the Cannes Film Festival, George Lucas would be honored with a Palm d’Or for his contribution to...
This year, at the Cannes Film Festival, George Lucas would be honored with a Palm d’Or for his contribution to...
- 5/28/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ is an upcoming TV show created for Disney+ and a part of a Star Wars franchise. The show has been discussed since 2019, the premiere of ‘The Rise of the Skywalker’ when Leslye Headland expressed interest in the franchise as a massive fan.
In April 2020, it was announced that Headland would be writing and show-running a new Star Wars series centered around female characters for Disney+. Staffing for the series had already commenced, and it was anticipated to explore a distinct era within the Star Wars universe separate from other projects. Recently, a new trailer for the show dropped and over the course of numerous interviews, Headland revealed what fans can expect. If you don’t have time to comb through hours of text, we’ve summarized everything for you in this neat guide.
‘The Acolyte’ takes place during the High Republic Era, and focuses on bad...
In April 2020, it was announced that Headland would be writing and show-running a new Star Wars series centered around female characters for Disney+. Staffing for the series had already commenced, and it was anticipated to explore a distinct era within the Star Wars universe separate from other projects. Recently, a new trailer for the show dropped and over the course of numerous interviews, Headland revealed what fans can expect. If you don’t have time to comb through hours of text, we’ve summarized everything for you in this neat guide.
‘The Acolyte’ takes place during the High Republic Era, and focuses on bad...
- 4/29/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
“Why is it that only those who have never fought in a battle are so eager to be in one?” Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) asks at one point in FX’s Shōgun. It’s a question that resonates not only with the show’s characters but may strike at the heart of our long-standing fascination with samurai.
Its resonance is all the more profound because Shōgun is loosely — very loosely — based on real events from the end of Japan’s Warring States period that pushed the nation into a new era. Taking historical events and crafting drama from them is something the show has in common with many Chanbara or samurai films. The riveting and often bloody history has provided fodder for countless films, including Hiroshi Inagaki’s Samurai trilogy, Sekigahara, Samurai Assassin, and The 47 Ronin.
However, these narrative films can obscure the complex history behind the events. Fortunately,...
Its resonance is all the more profound because Shōgun is loosely — very loosely — based on real events from the end of Japan’s Warring States period that pushed the nation into a new era. Taking historical events and crafting drama from them is something the show has in common with many Chanbara or samurai films. The riveting and often bloody history has provided fodder for countless films, including Hiroshi Inagaki’s Samurai trilogy, Sekigahara, Samurai Assassin, and The 47 Ronin.
However, these narrative films can obscure the complex history behind the events. Fortunately,...
- 4/23/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
PlayStation is a brand that has fortified its quality in the console market multiple times. Despite Microsoft’s desperate attempts, the latter hasn’t been able to catch up, let alone beat the former. Since the sixth generation of consoles, Sony has foiled every attempt by its rival to dominate the market.
From incredible exclusives to a console that has become the standard for every Aaa console gamer, Sony seems not to stop winning battle after battle in the console wars. Now, another rumor has come out that could be the knockout blow in the bout between the two console brands.
The PlayStation State of Play is rumored to be happening in May 2024 The rumored PlayStation Showcase could shake things up in the industry.
According to critics and consumers, Sony’s console lineup exclusives have always been unbeatable in quality. Information and announcements regarding exclusives and first-party titles usually occur...
From incredible exclusives to a console that has become the standard for every Aaa console gamer, Sony seems not to stop winning battle after battle in the console wars. Now, another rumor has come out that could be the knockout blow in the bout between the two console brands.
The PlayStation State of Play is rumored to be happening in May 2024 The rumored PlayStation Showcase could shake things up in the industry.
According to critics and consumers, Sony’s console lineup exclusives have always been unbeatable in quality. Information and announcements regarding exclusives and first-party titles usually occur...
- 4/4/2024
- by Sparsh Jaimini
- FandomWire
Director Fumihiko Yasuda has revealed the games that served as an inspiration for Rise of the Ronin, his first-ever open-world game.
In a recent interview with Vgc, Yasuda mentioned he was playing games like Assassin’s Creed and Red Dead Redemption while conceptualizing Rise of the Ronin. The idea for developing an expansive open-world game while staying true to Team Ninja’s mastery in Ninja/ Samurai games was ruminating in Yasuda’s head around eight years ago.
While Team Ninja is popular for its high-stakes and fast-paced action games, Ronin is the developer’s first open-world title. In its previous titles, like Nioh and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Team Ninja focused on tight pacing, high-stakes, and parry-driven combat. It designed gameplay levels that would reflect and complement the developer’s focus on combat.
With Rise of the Ronin, the developer wanted to offer players the liberty to engage with the game...
In a recent interview with Vgc, Yasuda mentioned he was playing games like Assassin’s Creed and Red Dead Redemption while conceptualizing Rise of the Ronin. The idea for developing an expansive open-world game while staying true to Team Ninja’s mastery in Ninja/ Samurai games was ruminating in Yasuda’s head around eight years ago.
While Team Ninja is popular for its high-stakes and fast-paced action games, Ronin is the developer’s first open-world title. In its previous titles, like Nioh and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Team Ninja focused on tight pacing, high-stakes, and parry-driven combat. It designed gameplay levels that would reflect and complement the developer’s focus on combat.
With Rise of the Ronin, the developer wanted to offer players the liberty to engage with the game...
- 3/27/2024
- by Amar Deogaonkar
- GamesHorizon
UK actor Tim Roth has joined John Maclean’s survival thriller Tornado as principal photography gets underway in Scotland, with HanWay Films on board for sales.
Roth, whose credits include Pulp Fiction and TV series Tin Star, joins the previously announced cast of Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden, Giri/Haji’s Takehiro Hira and Koki, who will also appear in Baltasar Kormakur’s upcoming feature Touch.
Tornado has pre-sold in a raft of territories, including Lionsgate UK which has picked up UK and Ireland rights, The Jokers in France, September Films in Benelux, M2 in Central Europe, McF in former Yugoslavia,...
Roth, whose credits include Pulp Fiction and TV series Tin Star, joins the previously announced cast of Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden, Giri/Haji’s Takehiro Hira and Koki, who will also appear in Baltasar Kormakur’s upcoming feature Touch.
Tornado has pre-sold in a raft of territories, including Lionsgate UK which has picked up UK and Ireland rights, The Jokers in France, September Films in Benelux, M2 in Central Europe, McF in former Yugoslavia,...
- 1/23/2024
- ScreenDaily
Genndy Tartakovsky makes everything he works on better, but even he wasn't able to fix the hot mess that was "Iron Man 2." In Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards' book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios," the acclaimed filmmaker behind beloved titles like "Samurai Jack," "Dexter's Laboratory," and "Star Wars: Clone Wars" reveals that he was tapped by director Jon Favreau to help streamline the Marvel sequel's climax.
"Jon was a fan, and he liked the sensibility that I had on 'Samurai,'" Tartakovsky said in an interview for "MCU." "I know what I would want from this situation, so I just tried to give it to him — and he could use all of it or none of it." The scene in question takes place in a park in Queens, where a Japanese tea garden was digitally created. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Rhodey (Don Cheadle...
"Jon was a fan, and he liked the sensibility that I had on 'Samurai,'" Tartakovsky said in an interview for "MCU." "I know what I would want from this situation, so I just tried to give it to him — and he could use all of it or none of it." The scene in question takes place in a park in Queens, where a Japanese tea garden was digitally created. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Rhodey (Don Cheadle...
- 12/30/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
(Welcome to The Movies That Made "Star Wars," a series where we explore the films and television properties that inspired George Lucas' iconic universe. In this edition: The classic jidaigeki film "Three Outlaw Samurai.")
As the first feature film from the legendary Japanese filmmaker Hideo Gosha, "Three Outlaw Samurai," holds a special place in the pantheon of Japanese films. It tells the story of three samurai who battle corruption and balance their honor and obedience to the system that produced them with doing what's actually right — something that feels almost radical in this style of filmmaking. The movie's stars — Tetsurô Tanba, Isamu Nagato, and Mikijirô Hira as the titular samurai — were reprising their roles from a television show with the same name that had started the year before. According to the essay by Bilge Eberi that accompanies the Criterion Collection's excellent Blu-ray transfer of the film, the original show seems lost to time.
As the first feature film from the legendary Japanese filmmaker Hideo Gosha, "Three Outlaw Samurai," holds a special place in the pantheon of Japanese films. It tells the story of three samurai who battle corruption and balance their honor and obedience to the system that produced them with doing what's actually right — something that feels almost radical in this style of filmmaking. The movie's stars — Tetsurô Tanba, Isamu Nagato, and Mikijirô Hira as the titular samurai — were reprising their roles from a television show with the same name that had started the year before. According to the essay by Bilge Eberi that accompanies the Criterion Collection's excellent Blu-ray transfer of the film, the original show seems lost to time.
- 12/20/2023
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
Set in 17th-century Edo-period Japan, the new Netflix series "Blue Eye Samurai" follows Mizu (voiced by "Pen15" star Maya Erskine), a mixed-race master of the sword who lives a life in disguise seeking to deliver revenge. "It's an Edo-period tale of revenge — Kill Bill meets Yentl," co-creator Amber Noizumi told Tudum. During this time period, borders to Japan were closed to other countries, with the exception of illegal trade. Knowing that there were only four white men in Japan at the time of her conception, Mizu decides to track them down and kill them in the hopes of enacting revenge against the man who made her a "creature of shame." Her quest requires her to hide not just her blue eyes but also her gender, because as is narrated in the series' trailer, "Under the law, revenge is a luxury for men. Women must be practical."
/Film's own Jenna Busch-Henderson...
/Film's own Jenna Busch-Henderson...
- 11/7/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
To celebrate the release of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, available to own on 4K Uhd, Steelbook, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital from 23rd October, we are giving away Blu-Rays to 2 lucky winners!
Jim Jarmusch’s 90s classic Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai, gloriously restored in 4K and making its Uhd debut, is a superbly sharp, unique thriller featuring a magnificent lead performance from Forest Whitaker (Bird) in an iconoclastic mix of hip-hop, gangster movie and martial arts, with influences from Kurosawa, Suzuki and Melville.
Forest Whitaker (Ghost Dog) lives above the world, alongside a flock of birds, in a homemade shack on the roof of an abandoned building. Guided by the words of an ancient samurai text, Ghost Dog is a professional killer able to dissolve into the night and move through the city unnoticed. When Ghost Dog’s code is dangerously betrayed by the dysfunctional mafia family that occasionally employs him,...
Jim Jarmusch’s 90s classic Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai, gloriously restored in 4K and making its Uhd debut, is a superbly sharp, unique thriller featuring a magnificent lead performance from Forest Whitaker (Bird) in an iconoclastic mix of hip-hop, gangster movie and martial arts, with influences from Kurosawa, Suzuki and Melville.
Forest Whitaker (Ghost Dog) lives above the world, alongside a flock of birds, in a homemade shack on the roof of an abandoned building. Guided by the words of an ancient samurai text, Ghost Dog is a professional killer able to dissolve into the night and move through the city unnoticed. When Ghost Dog’s code is dangerously betrayed by the dysfunctional mafia family that occasionally employs him,...
- 10/18/2023
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The making of Apocalypse Now is the story of madness and disaster. As captured in the documentary Hearts of Darkness, the year plus filming saw every manner of bad luck, from conflicts with the Philippine government to massive storms to a constantly changing crew, to star Martin Sheen’s heart attack on set.
But the strangest behind the scenes tale of Apocalypse Now may actually be about the man who initially planned to direct it. The version of Apocalypse Now that hit theaters in 1979 matched the ambitions (and ego) of its director Francis Ford Coppola. But before Coppola took over, Apocalypse Now was actually the baby of the reserved and mild-mannered George Lucas.
Nirvana Now
Screenwriter John Milius wanted to go to war. One of the few conservatives within a group of lefty young filmmakers that included Martin Scorsese, Margot Kidder, and Paul Schrader, Milius had no interest in protesting the Vietnam War.
But the strangest behind the scenes tale of Apocalypse Now may actually be about the man who initially planned to direct it. The version of Apocalypse Now that hit theaters in 1979 matched the ambitions (and ego) of its director Francis Ford Coppola. But before Coppola took over, Apocalypse Now was actually the baby of the reserved and mild-mannered George Lucas.
Nirvana Now
Screenwriter John Milius wanted to go to war. One of the few conservatives within a group of lefty young filmmakers that included Martin Scorsese, Margot Kidder, and Paul Schrader, Milius had no interest in protesting the Vietnam War.
- 9/11/2023
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Ahsoka article contains spoilers.
Ahsoka Episode 4
Many of the things that were great about the first three episodes of Ahsoka are built upon in episode four, “Fallen Jedi.” Ahsoka and Sabine’s continue to mend their relationship, we get to see some much-anticipated lightsaber showdowns, and Ezra and Thrawn are teased…some more. In other words, the episode feels decidedly transitional.
But this isn’t a bad thing! Yes, “Fallen Jedi” isn’t as explosive as the episodes that have come before. It does, however, serve as a nice downshift in tempo for the season as a whole, setting up what is sure to be a pivotal episode five. After all, it ends with the Imperial Loyalists (and Sabine) finally making the hyperspace jump to wherever the hell Thrawn and Ezra are, and Ahsoka coming face to face with Anakin Skywalker in the World Between Worlds.
“Sabine,...
Ahsoka Episode 4
Many of the things that were great about the first three episodes of Ahsoka are built upon in episode four, “Fallen Jedi.” Ahsoka and Sabine’s continue to mend their relationship, we get to see some much-anticipated lightsaber showdowns, and Ezra and Thrawn are teased…some more. In other words, the episode feels decidedly transitional.
But this isn’t a bad thing! Yes, “Fallen Jedi” isn’t as explosive as the episodes that have come before. It does, however, serve as a nice downshift in tempo for the season as a whole, setting up what is sure to be a pivotal episode five. After all, it ends with the Imperial Loyalists (and Sabine) finally making the hyperspace jump to wherever the hell Thrawn and Ezra are, and Ahsoka coming face to face with Anakin Skywalker in the World Between Worlds.
“Sabine,...
- 9/6/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
In principle, using the rainy-day, kitchen-sink post-rock of Manchester band The Smiths so prominently in a film like The Killer seems incredibly perverse, given that it’s an exotic, globe-trotting thriller about an American assassin. But in reality, it’s actually a very sound choice indeed: legend has it that the band’s singer, Morrissey, had two reasons for naming his band so, the first being that “Smith” is one of the most common and thus unremarkable surnames in the world. The second, and much more subversive theory, suggests that it’s also a reference to David and Maureen Smith, brother-in-law and sister of ’60s serial killer Myra Hindley, the snappily dressed couple whose testimony blew open the Moors Murderers case and whose beatnik likenesses adorn the cover of Sonic Youth’s 1990 album “Goo”.
There’s a slight chance David Fincher and his creative team may not know these things,...
There’s a slight chance David Fincher and his creative team may not know these things,...
- 9/3/2023
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
“Battle Cry” is a very interesting film for Kihachi Okamoto. Considering that his most famous works in the beginning of the 60s, “Samurai Assassin” and “The Sword of Doom”, even though were critical of Bushido, were also chanbara epics, the fact that later in his career, he decided to mock the exact concept, comes as a surprise, particularly because he seems to mock his filmic past. Atg was the place to do so at the time, and after “The Human Bullet” which satirized WW2, Okamoto came up with “Battle Cry”, which does the same thing with the military phase of the Meiji Restoration of 1868.
Follow our coverage of Art Theatre Guild by clicking on the image below
The movie begins with a narrator that talks about a thug with a penis like a horse, instigating that this will be his story. The person in question is Sentaro, and as the movie begins,...
Follow our coverage of Art Theatre Guild by clicking on the image below
The movie begins with a narrator that talks about a thug with a penis like a horse, instigating that this will be his story. The person in question is Sentaro, and as the movie begins,...
- 8/30/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
By the time the samurai film genre, along with Japanese cinema itself, announced its presence on the global stage at the dawn of the 1950s with Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon, thousands of tales featuring the legendary warriors had already been filmed. Their popularity has experienced peaks and troughs in the 70 years since, but samurai have never come close to disappearing from the screen.
Now a new crop of productions explore themes both novel and traditional and are taking fresh perspectives and interpretations on the genre. Meanwhile, 21st-century technology, retellings of classic stories and protagonists with modern sensibilities promise to find new audiences for the world of topknot-wearing, sword-wielding warriors.
Part of the appeal of the samurai film is the thematic diversity and vast historical era that the genre spans. Rashomon was unusual not just for its seminal narrative structure but also for its setting in the 11th century, the early days of the samurai.
Now a new crop of productions explore themes both novel and traditional and are taking fresh perspectives and interpretations on the genre. Meanwhile, 21st-century technology, retellings of classic stories and protagonists with modern sensibilities promise to find new audiences for the world of topknot-wearing, sword-wielding warriors.
Part of the appeal of the samurai film is the thematic diversity and vast historical era that the genre spans. Rashomon was unusual not just for its seminal narrative structure but also for its setting in the 11th century, the early days of the samurai.
- 5/16/2023
- by Gavin Blair
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Slow Horses star Jack Lowden is leading a John Maclean-helmed survival thriller that will be taken to Cannes Market by HanWay Films.
Lowden is starring opposite Takehiro Hira (Giri/Haji) and Kōki (Touch) in Tornado.
Set in the rugged landscape of 1790s Britain, Tornado travelling puppet Samurai show crosses paths with a gang of ruthless criminals led by Sugarman and his ambitious son Little Sugar (Lowden). In an attempt to create a new life for herself, Tornado seizes the opportunity to take matters into her own hands and steal the gold from their most recent heist.
HanWay has boarded and will launch sales at next week’s Cannes.
Maclean is a BAFTA-winning director whose feature directorial debut, the Michael Fassbender-starring Slow West, won the World...
Lowden is starring opposite Takehiro Hira (Giri/Haji) and Kōki (Touch) in Tornado.
Set in the rugged landscape of 1790s Britain, Tornado travelling puppet Samurai show crosses paths with a gang of ruthless criminals led by Sugarman and his ambitious son Little Sugar (Lowden). In an attempt to create a new life for herself, Tornado seizes the opportunity to take matters into her own hands and steal the gold from their most recent heist.
HanWay has boarded and will launch sales at next week’s Cannes.
Maclean is a BAFTA-winning director whose feature directorial debut, the Michael Fassbender-starring Slow West, won the World...
- 5/10/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
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Genndy Tartakovsky has proudly become the auteur of adult 2D animation. His new “Unicorn Warriors: Eternal” steampunk series premieres May 4 on Adult Swim; he’s completing his R-rated dog comedy “Fixed” for release next year at Sony Pictures Animation; and he’s prepping for Season 3 of his Emmy-winning “Primal” series at Adult Swim, but departing from the prehistoric world.
With “Unicorn Warriors,” though, Tartakovsky combines his personal steampunk aesthetic with action and humor, going back to his old Cartoon Network days, but without the gore of “Primal” or “Samurai Jack.” It’s about three heroes — powerful sorceress Melinda (Hazel Doupe), cosmic monk Seng (Demari Hunte), and warrior elf Edred (Tom Milligan) — reawakened through eternity as teenagers to fight a mysterious supernatural force threatening humanity. In the first season, the three find themselves in industrial London, joined by a steam-powered robot, Copernicus.
“I started to develop it at the end of ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars,...
Genndy Tartakovsky has proudly become the auteur of adult 2D animation. His new “Unicorn Warriors: Eternal” steampunk series premieres May 4 on Adult Swim; he’s completing his R-rated dog comedy “Fixed” for release next year at Sony Pictures Animation; and he’s prepping for Season 3 of his Emmy-winning “Primal” series at Adult Swim, but departing from the prehistoric world.
With “Unicorn Warriors,” though, Tartakovsky combines his personal steampunk aesthetic with action and humor, going back to his old Cartoon Network days, but without the gore of “Primal” or “Samurai Jack.” It’s about three heroes — powerful sorceress Melinda (Hazel Doupe), cosmic monk Seng (Demari Hunte), and warrior elf Edred (Tom Milligan) — reawakened through eternity as teenagers to fight a mysterious supernatural force threatening humanity. In the first season, the three find themselves in industrial London, joined by a steam-powered robot, Copernicus.
“I started to develop it at the end of ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars,...
- 4/25/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Tired of these Mutha F*ckin Bears on this Mutha F*ckin ship! Bears on a Ship from filmmaker, Eduardo Castrillo is an animal attack / horror film launching a crowd-funding campaign on Indiegogo. Bears of a Ship stars Derek Crowe (The Longest Run), Jo’nez Cain (Fruitvale Station), Sherill Quinn …
The post “Bears on a Ship” Attack on Indiegogo appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
The post “Bears on a Ship” Attack on Indiegogo appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
- 4/22/2023
- by Mike Joy
- Horror News
This article contains spoilers for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always.
Bulk and Skull are titans of the Power Rangers franchise. There from the first episode in 1993 as the comedic bullies, the two characters grew and changed over the first seven seasons, outlasting any other original cast member. While Skull was written out at the start of Power Ranger Lost Galaxy, Bulk continued throughout the season. Later the two made a brief appearance in the 10th anniversary episode, “Forever Red.” Then Bulk returned as a main cast member in Power Rangers Samurai and Super Samurai (alongside a brief cameo by Skull.)
Sadly the two don’t make any direct appearances in the 30th anniversary special, Once and Always. How can you do a tribute to the original Power Rangers without Bulk and Skull? Thankfully, even without their appearance, the special doesn’t forget these two heroes of the franchise.
Bulk and Skull are titans of the Power Rangers franchise. There from the first episode in 1993 as the comedic bullies, the two characters grew and changed over the first seven seasons, outlasting any other original cast member. While Skull was written out at the start of Power Ranger Lost Galaxy, Bulk continued throughout the season. Later the two made a brief appearance in the 10th anniversary episode, “Forever Red.” Then Bulk returned as a main cast member in Power Rangers Samurai and Super Samurai (alongside a brief cameo by Skull.)
Sadly the two don’t make any direct appearances in the 30th anniversary special, Once and Always. How can you do a tribute to the original Power Rangers without Bulk and Skull? Thankfully, even without their appearance, the special doesn’t forget these two heroes of the franchise.
- 4/20/2023
- by Shamus Kelley
- Den of Geek
Star Wars Celebration is happening right now in the U.K. and we are learning an awful lot about the future of a galaxy far, far away, both on the big and small screen. The opening day panel was all about the future of "Star Wars," and those in attendance were treated to a first look at the upcoming series "The Acolyte," which is set in The High Republic era, long before the beginning of the prequels. We're going back hundreds of years in the timeline, and the furthest back we've ever seen in live-action.
/Film was in attendance at the panel, and we've got all the details shared by the cast and crew, as well as a description of the footage that was shown. Showrunner Leslye Headland stepped out on stage to share what she could about what they're cooking up. "This is when the bad guys are outnumbered,...
/Film was in attendance at the panel, and we've got all the details shared by the cast and crew, as well as a description of the footage that was shown. Showrunner Leslye Headland stepped out on stage to share what she could about what they're cooking up. "This is when the bad guys are outnumbered,...
- 4/7/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
The best "Star Wars" films or series are able to forge unique identities for themselves. "Andor" is a grounded espionage thriller; "The Empire Strikes Back" is a darker and more subversive take on the hero's journey or monomyth; "Star Wars Rebels" delves deeply into themes of nature, spirituality, and the Force; and so forth. In the case of "The Mandalorian," the show draws heavily from the same samurai movies and pulp sci-fi serials that inspired George Lucas to create "Star Wars," yet frequently tips its hat to the tropes of the Spaghetti Western. There's even more than a dash of Tolkien-esque fantasy mixed in there, especially in season 3.
With "Ahsoka," the impending "Mandalorian" spinoff series centered on Rosario Dawson's Force wielding Togruta, Ahsoka Tano, "Star Wars" looks to branch out into a genre it's only flirted with in the past: Wuxia. In an interview with the "Star Wars Sessions...
With "Ahsoka," the impending "Mandalorian" spinoff series centered on Rosario Dawson's Force wielding Togruta, Ahsoka Tano, "Star Wars" looks to branch out into a genre it's only flirted with in the past: Wuxia. In an interview with the "Star Wars Sessions...
- 3/29/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Stars: Go Ayano, Koen Kondo, Masahiro Higashide, Jun Kunimura, Etsushi Toyokawa, Masatoshi Nagase | Written by Kankurô Kudô | Directed by Gakuryû Ishii
”It was a somewhat gloomy day”. Thus begins Punk Samurai, director Gakuryû, formerly Sogo, Ishii and writer Kankurô Kudô’s adaptation of Kou Machida’s supposedly unfilmable novel.
Junoshin Kake wanders into the domain of the Kurokaze clan and promptly kills a beggar who approaches him. He tells Shume Nagaoka a low-level official in the clan, that the man was a member of a dangerous religious cult that only he can save them from. That’s enough to create the opening he needs to find a permanent position in Lord Kuroae’s employ.
Kake plans to exploit the rivalry between two of the clan’s top retainers Shuzen Oura and Tatewaki Naito to rise through the ranks. The only problem is, the cult, The Bellyshaker Party no longer exists and Naito knows it.
”It was a somewhat gloomy day”. Thus begins Punk Samurai, director Gakuryû, formerly Sogo, Ishii and writer Kankurô Kudô’s adaptation of Kou Machida’s supposedly unfilmable novel.
Junoshin Kake wanders into the domain of the Kurokaze clan and promptly kills a beggar who approaches him. He tells Shume Nagaoka a low-level official in the clan, that the man was a member of a dangerous religious cult that only he can save them from. That’s enough to create the opening he needs to find a permanent position in Lord Kuroae’s employ.
Kake plans to exploit the rivalry between two of the clan’s top retainers Shuzen Oura and Tatewaki Naito to rise through the ranks. The only problem is, the cult, The Bellyshaker Party no longer exists and Naito knows it.
- 3/22/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Digital effects have made a lot of advances in the last few decades, but not everyone prefers a computer-generated spectacle. Filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino prefer the grittier, traditional option — even when the practical effect is less practical than CGI. The "Kill Bill" director went to extreme lengths to avoid creating his gore in post. One effect, in particular, cost him hours on set, but his commitment to his creative vision paid off in the end.
"Kill Bill" might be the most violent movie in Tarantino's filmography, which is saying a lot. The film's most unforgettable moments were filled with blood and action, but what makes a fight scene really great is the sum of its parts. The director had a keen eye for details, and even the quick deaths of minor characters were shot to perfection. One such moment took the most takes that Tarantino had ever done on a single shot.
"Kill Bill" might be the most violent movie in Tarantino's filmography, which is saying a lot. The film's most unforgettable moments were filled with blood and action, but what makes a fight scene really great is the sum of its parts. The director had a keen eye for details, and even the quick deaths of minor characters were shot to perfection. One such moment took the most takes that Tarantino had ever done on a single shot.
- 2/21/2023
- by Shae Sennett
- Slash Film
Editor’s note: This review was originally published at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Magnolia Pictures releases the film in NYC theaters on Friday, September 15 with expansion to follow on Friday, September 22.
Progress in the face of systemic injustice does not occur naturally, it is urged along by sheer force of will — often by one radical visionary. In the case of the fashion industry’s racism, that person is Bethann Hardison. A trailblazing model in the 1970s, she became one of the most important agents of the ’90s, discovering the first male supermodel Tyson Beckford and mentoring Naomi Campbell and Iman. When fickle trends threatened to erase all of her hard work in the aughts, she boldly called out the industry’s blatantly racist casting practices, causing a seismic shift once and for all.
Hardison’s remarkable and fabulous life serves as an inspiring lesson in affecting radical change from within the system,...
Progress in the face of systemic injustice does not occur naturally, it is urged along by sheer force of will — often by one radical visionary. In the case of the fashion industry’s racism, that person is Bethann Hardison. A trailblazing model in the 1970s, she became one of the most important agents of the ’90s, discovering the first male supermodel Tyson Beckford and mentoring Naomi Campbell and Iman. When fickle trends threatened to erase all of her hard work in the aughts, she boldly called out the industry’s blatantly racist casting practices, causing a seismic shift once and for all.
Hardison’s remarkable and fabulous life serves as an inspiring lesson in affecting radical change from within the system,...
- 1/27/2023
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Amazon’s Prime Video is in production on “The Silent Service,” which will mark the streaming platform’s first original movie in Japan.
Separately, Amazon confirmed that it has picked up rights to the Japanese national team’s games in the upcoming 2023 World Baseball Classic.
“The Silent Service” is a popular manga series written and illustrated by artist Kawaguchi Kaiji, which was published in Kodansha’s Weekly Morning manga magazine from 1988 to 1996, and has sold a total of 32 million copies.
The story, set in Japan’s first nuclear submarine, depicts the unpredictable actions of its captain, Kaieda Shiro, as he attempts to realize his ideal world. The story makes audience think about true peace amidst the complexities of international relations.
The live-action film is directed by Kohei Yoshino (last year’s “Anime Supremacy”) and stars Osawa Takao (“The Kingdom”) as the captain. Osawa is also set as a producer, presenter...
Separately, Amazon confirmed that it has picked up rights to the Japanese national team’s games in the upcoming 2023 World Baseball Classic.
“The Silent Service” is a popular manga series written and illustrated by artist Kawaguchi Kaiji, which was published in Kodansha’s Weekly Morning manga magazine from 1988 to 1996, and has sold a total of 32 million copies.
The story, set in Japan’s first nuclear submarine, depicts the unpredictable actions of its captain, Kaieda Shiro, as he attempts to realize his ideal world. The story makes audience think about true peace amidst the complexities of international relations.
The live-action film is directed by Kohei Yoshino (last year’s “Anime Supremacy”) and stars Osawa Takao (“The Kingdom”) as the captain. Osawa is also set as a producer, presenter...
- 1/25/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Keep track of all the submissions for best international feature at the 2023 Academy Awards.
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
- 9/5/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
Keep track of all the submissions for best international feature at the 2023 Academy Awards.
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
- 9/2/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
Jesse V Johnson, the director of the Bruce Willis starrer action-thriller ‘White Elephant’, is a die-hard fan of Samurai films. He recently shared what fascinated him about the Samurai films of the 1950s.
Elaborating on the same, the director said: “As a young man, I was fascinated by the 1950’s Samurai films. They were very interesting to me as they not only embraced and were heavily influenced by Westerns and detective films that would be showing in post-war 1950s Japan.”
Giving a brief peek into the history behind such films, he added, “Films were being played by the US occupying force for US troops stationed there, but because they also have interwoven codes of warrior conduct and were statements on loyalty and honour, perspectives that were less apparent in American Cinema at the time.”
The director also mentioned how ‘White Elephant’ emanates from the genre of his liking and falls in the same category.
Elaborating on the same, the director said: “As a young man, I was fascinated by the 1950’s Samurai films. They were very interesting to me as they not only embraced and were heavily influenced by Westerns and detective films that would be showing in post-war 1950s Japan.”
Giving a brief peek into the history behind such films, he added, “Films were being played by the US occupying force for US troops stationed there, but because they also have interwoven codes of warrior conduct and were statements on loyalty and honour, perspectives that were less apparent in American Cinema at the time.”
The director also mentioned how ‘White Elephant’ emanates from the genre of his liking and falls in the same category.
- 8/30/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Although mostly known to the West for his samurai films, “Samurai Assassin” and “The Sword of Doom” among others, Kihachi Okamoto’s more than 40 long filmography also includes a cooperation with the Art Theatre Guild, in an anti-war satire that is as antithetical to the Toho’s commercially successful star-studded war epic “Japan’s Longest Day as possible.
Buy
“The Human Bullet” focuses on an unnamed soldier mentioned as Him, who undergoes a rather unusual trip from his training to his visit to various locations around the base, including a second-hand bookstore, the desert, and a village filled of prostitutes, before he is send off to serve his country as a Human Bullet, which is how the film refers to the Kamikazis.
Following a scene where Him is the only one training naked in explosives, the story then shows how this absurd event came to be, through a scene that might...
Buy
“The Human Bullet” focuses on an unnamed soldier mentioned as Him, who undergoes a rather unusual trip from his training to his visit to various locations around the base, including a second-hand bookstore, the desert, and a village filled of prostitutes, before he is send off to serve his country as a Human Bullet, which is how the film refers to the Kamikazis.
Following a scene where Him is the only one training naked in explosives, the story then shows how this absurd event came to be, through a scene that might...
- 3/6/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Illustration by Jeff CashvanMovie-lovers!Welcome back to The Deuce Notebook, a collaboration between Mubi Notebook and The Deuce Film Series, our monthly event at Nitehawk Williamsburg that excavates the facts and fantasies of cinema's most infamous block in the world: 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. For each screening, my co-hosts and I pick a title that we think embodies the era of 24-hour theater hopping, and present the venue at which it premiered...Since we began in 2012, we’ve had the extreme pleasure of inviting the occasional guest curator to take over for the night with a title of their choosing… Our friend Chris Poggiali of Temple of Schlock fame has been an annual visitor, and this month Chris has contributed to our column with a fabulous piece about Japanese samurai films and their entry into the US mainstream.Chris is an authority on genre films and theatrical distribution history,...
- 8/4/2021
- MUBI
Perhaps it is one of the great ironies in the career of Japanese director Kihachi Okamoto that a film he was forced to do was going to be his most memorable one. In a filmography consisting of titles such as “Samurai Assassin” (1965), “Kill!” (1968) and “The Human Bullet” (1968), the director’s 1966-film “The Sword of Doom” stands out as one of the bleakest jidaigeki movies. Based on the novel “Daibosatsu toge” by Kaizan Nakazato, which had already inspired many adaptations, for example, one by “Lone Wolf and Cub”-director Kenji Misumi, Kihachi Okamoto made a film which reflected the trends of the Japanese film industry of that time but is also one of the most interesting portrayals of a man, a world consumed by violence and madness.
At the center of the film, we have Ryunosuke Tsukue (Tatsuya Nakadai), a master swordsman wandering the country, and his life...
At the center of the film, we have Ryunosuke Tsukue (Tatsuya Nakadai), a master swordsman wandering the country, and his life...
- 10/29/2019
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Kurando Mitsutake is originally from Tokyo, Japan. He graduated with an Mfa from California Institute of the Arts and is a member of the Directors Guild of Japan and Screen Actors Guild. Mitsutake made his feature film directorial debut with “Monsters Don’t Get to Cry” in 2004. In 2008, he produced, wrote, and directed his second feature film, “Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf”. The film screened at more than ten film festivals around the world and won multiple awards. “Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf” was distributed in over 15 countries including the United States. “Gun Woman” was Mitsutake’s third feature film and it was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 24th Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Japan. It opened theatrically in Japan nationwide in July of 2014 and was distributed in the Us in 2015. His latest film is called “Karate Kill” and will will be available from 8 Films in May.
- 4/25/2017
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Movie sequels are big business for Hollywood. Many fans are getting burnt-out on sequels, especially since so many of them are unnecessary. Still, let’s not forget that when they’re done right, sequels can be great. Here are a dozen of the greatest sequels ever made.
12. Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan (1982): Still the best of all the Star Trek films, this excellent sequel corrected everything that went wrong with its disappointing predecessor, Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The action, the humor and the character interactions were all excellent. The comparisons to Moby Dick gave it a literary flavor, and Ricardo Montalban was fantastic as the villain, Khan Noonien Singh. The death of Spock was a surprise to long-time fans, even if it didn’t last. This film made the Trek film franchise fun and set the standard for the future films.
11. The Color Of Money...
12. Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan (1982): Still the best of all the Star Trek films, this excellent sequel corrected everything that went wrong with its disappointing predecessor, Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The action, the humor and the character interactions were all excellent. The comparisons to Moby Dick gave it a literary flavor, and Ricardo Montalban was fantastic as the villain, Khan Noonien Singh. The death of Spock was a surprise to long-time fans, even if it didn’t last. This film made the Trek film franchise fun and set the standard for the future films.
11. The Color Of Money...
- 1/7/2017
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
Dailies is a round-up of essential film writing, news bits, videos, and other highlights from across the Internet. If you’d like to submit a piece for consideration, get in touch with us in the comments below or on Twitter at @TheFilmStage.
Listen to an excerpt from the Francis Ford Coppola-narrated audiobook version of The Godfather Notebook (via Deadline)
On the heels of the announcement that Hayao Miyazaki will return to features, Gkids have announced that Spirited Away will return to U.S. theaters nationwide for its 15th anniversary. Screenings will be on Sunday, December 4th at 12:00p.m. (dubbed in English) and Monday, December 5th at 7:00p.m. (English language subtitles). See more information here.
See Cate Blanchett in the teaser for the short film Red:
David Bordwell has announced a collaboration with FilmStruck:
Coming up are Kristin on Kiarostami, and me on L’Avventura and Sanshiro Sugata.
Listen to an excerpt from the Francis Ford Coppola-narrated audiobook version of The Godfather Notebook (via Deadline)
On the heels of the announcement that Hayao Miyazaki will return to features, Gkids have announced that Spirited Away will return to U.S. theaters nationwide for its 15th anniversary. Screenings will be on Sunday, December 4th at 12:00p.m. (dubbed in English) and Monday, December 5th at 7:00p.m. (English language subtitles). See more information here.
See Cate Blanchett in the teaser for the short film Red:
David Bordwell has announced a collaboration with FilmStruck:
Coming up are Kristin on Kiarostami, and me on L’Avventura and Sanshiro Sugata.
- 11/14/2016
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
To star in nearly 170 films in your career is an incredible feat, and to have your performances influence the works of Hollywood giants like Clint Eastwood and George Lucas is almost unimaginable. That is, unless, you’re Toshiro Mifune.
Read More: 5 Things You May Not Know About Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Seven Samurai’
From Academy Award-winning director Steven Okazaki comes “Mifune: The Last Samurai,” a new documentary that chronicles the life of the famed Japanese actor, narrated by Keanu Reaves. Included in his resume are “Rashomon” and “Seven Samurai” (two of the sixteen collaborations with director Akira Kurosawa), and Hiroshi Inagaki’s “Samurai Trilogy.”
In the latest trailer for the upcoming film, fellow actors, directors and film aficionados discuss Mifune’s incredible impact on both Japanese and American cinema, as well as the actor’s battle with alcoholism. Included in the film are interviews with Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, who notes,...
Read More: 5 Things You May Not Know About Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Seven Samurai’
From Academy Award-winning director Steven Okazaki comes “Mifune: The Last Samurai,” a new documentary that chronicles the life of the famed Japanese actor, narrated by Keanu Reaves. Included in his resume are “Rashomon” and “Seven Samurai” (two of the sixteen collaborations with director Akira Kurosawa), and Hiroshi Inagaki’s “Samurai Trilogy.”
In the latest trailer for the upcoming film, fellow actors, directors and film aficionados discuss Mifune’s incredible impact on both Japanese and American cinema, as well as the actor’s battle with alcoholism. Included in the film are interviews with Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, who notes,...
- 10/21/2016
- by Mark Burger
- Indiewire
Craig Lines Oct 5, 2016
Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai trilogy is a feast best enjoyed in one go. We revisit the groundbreaking films right here...
The 1950s are widely regarded as a golden age of Japanese Cinema. To enormously simplify a complex period in history (so we can get talking about swords and duels and all that badass stuff), a lot changed between the end of WWII in 1945 and the end of the Allied Occupation of Japan in 1952. Censorship was simultaneously lifted and imposed. The Occupation restrained Japan in terms of what it could say in films being produced (for example, anything that 'promoted feudal values' was not allowed), yet at the same time, exposed it to all kinds of western material that had been forbidden in the pre-war years. When the Americans left, the restrictions were lifted but the new influences survived, unleashing a tsunami of innovative, passionate cinema, much of...
Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai trilogy is a feast best enjoyed in one go. We revisit the groundbreaking films right here...
The 1950s are widely regarded as a golden age of Japanese Cinema. To enormously simplify a complex period in history (so we can get talking about swords and duels and all that badass stuff), a lot changed between the end of WWII in 1945 and the end of the Allied Occupation of Japan in 1952. Censorship was simultaneously lifted and imposed. The Occupation restrained Japan in terms of what it could say in films being produced (for example, anything that 'promoted feudal values' was not allowed), yet at the same time, exposed it to all kinds of western material that had been forbidden in the pre-war years. When the Americans left, the restrictions were lifted but the new influences survived, unleashing a tsunami of innovative, passionate cinema, much of...
- 9/28/2016
- Den of Geek
Not for nothing is Toshiro Mifune one of the most renowned actors of world cinema. Known mostly for his many collaborations with Akira Kurosawa — including such classics as “Rashomon,” “Seven Samurai” and the “Yojimbo” cycle — as well as Hiroshi Inagaki’s “Samurai Trilogy,” the Japanese thespian appeared in nearly 170 films before his death in 1997. Steven Okazaki directed the new documentary “Mifune: The Last Samurai,” which just released its first trailer.
Read More: Morgan Spurlock’s New Documentary ‘Rats’ Will Definitely Make You Lose Your Lunch — Watch
Narrated by Keanu Reeves and featuring interviews with the likes of Martin Scorsese (who offers that “Mifune’s performance is layered, complex. He studied the movement of lions. He’s like a caged animal”) and Steven Spielberg, the trailer touches on Kurosawa and Mifune’s joint influence on American cinema as well as the actor’s two main vices: alcohol and cars.
Read More:...
Read More: Morgan Spurlock’s New Documentary ‘Rats’ Will Definitely Make You Lose Your Lunch — Watch
Narrated by Keanu Reeves and featuring interviews with the likes of Martin Scorsese (who offers that “Mifune’s performance is layered, complex. He studied the movement of lions. He’s like a caged animal”) and Steven Spielberg, the trailer touches on Kurosawa and Mifune’s joint influence on American cinema as well as the actor’s two main vices: alcohol and cars.
Read More:...
- 9/22/2016
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
★★★★★ Sadly overlooked by western audiences, Hiroshi Inagaki's superlative Samurai Trilogy is the definitive on screen depiction of legendary 17th-century swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. 1954's Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto begins with Takezo (Toshiro Mifune) losing the battle of Sekigahara with his friend Matahachi (Rentarô Mikuni) and on the run as a fugitive. Both men are brash and inexperienced, but where Matahachi is cowardly and lecherous, Takezo is full of inner turmoil, horribly aware of his inadequacies and lashing out at Matahachi and the women who shelter them after Sekigahara.
- 8/30/2016
- by CineVue
- CineVue
David’s Quick Take for the tl;dr Media Consumer:
Kill! is an entertaining and unusual take on the samurai/swordplay genre that plays for laughs many of the conventional tropes and set-ups common in the classic films from that tradition. I was fascinated observing how many of the fighting techniques, interpersonal conflicts, man vs. world showdowns and dramatic battle scenes that impact viewers with awe-inspiring tension can become a showcase of hilarity with just a slight exaggeration of tone, body language or facial expression (or simply cranking the fans that stir up dust clouds an extra notch or two.) Barking dialog that would come across as solemn and severe in more straightforward, traditional chanbara epics conveys much of the same surface meaning in advancing the story along in Kill! but also ends up generating a nice side helping of mirth in the process. Though at least one review considers...
Kill! is an entertaining and unusual take on the samurai/swordplay genre that plays for laughs many of the conventional tropes and set-ups common in the classic films from that tradition. I was fascinated observing how many of the fighting techniques, interpersonal conflicts, man vs. world showdowns and dramatic battle scenes that impact viewers with awe-inspiring tension can become a showcase of hilarity with just a slight exaggeration of tone, body language or facial expression (or simply cranking the fans that stir up dust clouds an extra notch or two.) Barking dialog that would come across as solemn and severe in more straightforward, traditional chanbara epics conveys much of the same surface meaning in advancing the story along in Kill! but also ends up generating a nice side helping of mirth in the process. Though at least one review considers...
- 6/5/2016
- by David Blakeslee
- CriterionCast
Samurai Rebellion (original title: Joi-uchi: Hairyo tsuma shimatsu)
Written by Shinobu Hashimoto
Directed Masaki Kobayashi
Japan, 1967
In 18th century Edo Japan, long-time friends Isaburo Sasahara (Toshiro Mufine) and Tatewaki Asano (Tatsuya Nakadai) of the Aisu clan joyfully anticipate a fast approaching annual festival, but all is not well. Isaburo’s son, Yogoro (Go Kato), needs to be wed soon, yet the perfect bride whose status would respect their family honour has yet to be found. This weighs on Isaburo’s wife, the severe Sugo (Michiko Otsuka), even more so than on Isaburo himself. Familial recognition and pride is at stake, two important factors put to the test when the Aisu clan lord, Masakata Matsudaira (Tatsuo Matsumura), decides that his former mistress, Ichi (Yoko Tsukasa), is to be given to them. Controversy stems from the fact that Ichi was actually dismissed from their lord’s court following a rather unorthodox and unexpected emotional outburst.
Written by Shinobu Hashimoto
Directed Masaki Kobayashi
Japan, 1967
In 18th century Edo Japan, long-time friends Isaburo Sasahara (Toshiro Mufine) and Tatewaki Asano (Tatsuya Nakadai) of the Aisu clan joyfully anticipate a fast approaching annual festival, but all is not well. Isaburo’s son, Yogoro (Go Kato), needs to be wed soon, yet the perfect bride whose status would respect their family honour has yet to be found. This weighs on Isaburo’s wife, the severe Sugo (Michiko Otsuka), even more so than on Isaburo himself. Familial recognition and pride is at stake, two important factors put to the test when the Aisu clan lord, Masakata Matsudaira (Tatsuo Matsumura), decides that his former mistress, Ichi (Yoko Tsukasa), is to be given to them. Controversy stems from the fact that Ichi was actually dismissed from their lord’s court following a rather unorthodox and unexpected emotional outburst.
- 1/15/2016
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
The bloody adventures of a swordswoman dedicated to murderous revenge provided Quentin Tarantino with a major inspiration. Director Toshiyo Fujita's impeccable images make the gorgeous Meiko Kaji into an almost abstract superheroine in beautiful cultured dress and hairstyles -- and soaked with sprayed blood. The Complete Lady Snowblood Lady Snowblood & Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance Blu-ray The Criterion Collection 790 & 791 1973/1974 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 97 & 89 min. / "Shurayukime" & "Shurayukihime: Urami Renga" / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date January 5, 2016 / 39.95 Starring Meiko Kaji, Toshio Kurosawa, Noboru Nakaya, Eiji Okada; Meiko Kaji, Juzo Itami, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Yoshio Harada. Cinematography Masaki Tamura; Tatsuo Suzuki Film Editor Osamu Inoue Original Music MasaaakiHirao; Kenjiro Hirose Written by Norio Osada, Kazuo Kamimura, Kazuo Koike Directed by Toshiya Fujita
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
A worldwide revolution hit the movies in the late '60s, with the relaxing of censorship in the west and the collapse of foreign film industries with the rise of TV.
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
A worldwide revolution hit the movies in the late '60s, with the relaxing of censorship in the west and the collapse of foreign film industries with the rise of TV.
- 1/9/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
George Lucas has often cited the classic Japanese Samurai film The Hidden Fortress as the main inspiration for his sci-fi epic Star Wars. With Star Wars: The Force Awakens opening this week, Cinelinx looks at the movie that inspired Lucas to make one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time.
George Lucas looked to several sources for inspiration when he was writing the script for the first Star Wars film. Flash Gordon was one of the stories he pillaged ideas from but he’s gone on record as saying that the main basis for Star Wars: A New Hope was the 1958 Samurai action film The Hidden Fortress, directed by the legendary Akira Kurosawa, one of the greatest directors in film history. Both Lucas and his mentor Francis Ford Coppola are huge admirers of Kurosawa, and Lucas has often spoken with great respect about his work. Not surprisingly, Lucas...
George Lucas looked to several sources for inspiration when he was writing the script for the first Star Wars film. Flash Gordon was one of the stories he pillaged ideas from but he’s gone on record as saying that the main basis for Star Wars: A New Hope was the 1958 Samurai action film The Hidden Fortress, directed by the legendary Akira Kurosawa, one of the greatest directors in film history. Both Lucas and his mentor Francis Ford Coppola are huge admirers of Kurosawa, and Lucas has often spoken with great respect about his work. Not surprisingly, Lucas...
- 12/15/2015
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
While much of the structure of the original Star Wars is based on traditional western mythology, that.s not the only place George Lucas looked for inspiration 40 years ago when he was creating Star Wars. Lucas was inspired by the work of acclaimed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa as well. This apparently led him to seek out Toshiro Mifune, the star of several Kurosawa films for a role in the original film. Primarily, that of the Jedi teacher Obi-Wan Kenobi. Toshiro Mifune starred in many Kurosawa classics like Seven Samurai and Yojimbo. He passed away in 1997, but according to his daughter Mika, Lucas originally offered him the Obi-Wan Kenobi role before going to Sir Alec Guinness. This had been rumored for years, and is now confirmed. The parallels between the Jedi and Samurai are obvious. However, that appears to have been the problem. Since Star Wars was an unknown quantity at...
- 12/4/2015
- cinemablend.com
In six decades of filmmaking and thirty plus titles in his filmography, it’s nearly impossible to determine the weighted importance concerning a number of the influential works from Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa, considered by many to be among the most notable directors from Japan, alongside peers such as Mizoguchi and Ozu. Instead, it’s easier to discuss his work in strategic measures regarding theme or motif, such as his famed Shakespearean adaptations or epic Samurai classics, pillaged endlessly by Western filmmakers in proceeding generations. But certainly a definite standout is his 1952 title, Ikiru, which roughly translates as “to live.” A powerfully humanistic title examining the significance of life as something only to be rightly cherished when seen through the lens of death, it stands at the slender end of a filmography generally examining human tendency for apathy, revenge, and other plateaus of self-destructive forces. Moving without being sentimental, Kurosawa...
- 12/1/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
(Region B) Akira Kurosawa's unquestioned top rank classic remains a fascinating study of truth and justice. A forest encounter left a man murdered and his wife raped. Or did something entirely different happen? The witnesses Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura and Machiko Kyo give radically differing testimony. This UK edition offers a full commentary by Japanese film expert Stuart Galbraith IV. Rashômon Region B UK Blu-ray BFI 1950 / B&W / 1.33:1 / 88 min. / Street Date September 21, 2015 / Available at Amazon UK / £15.99 Starring Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori, Takashi Shimura, Minoru Chiaki, Kichijiro Ueda, Fumiko Honma. Cinematography Kazuo Miyagawa Art Direction So Matsuyama Film Editor Akira Kurosawa Original Music Fumio Hayasaka Written by Shinobu Hashimoto, Akira Kurosawa from stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa Produced by Minoru Jingo, Masaichi Nagata Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
This reviewer doesn't review most foreign discs, but with major studios licensing out their libraries, there are...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
This reviewer doesn't review most foreign discs, but with major studios licensing out their libraries, there are...
- 11/3/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
While we often lament some of the films that end up stuck in development Hell, never to become realized on the big screen, there are some films we should all be glad never came to fruition.
Sometimes they don’t get it! We all know that the film industry is a business and they want to make money, but Hollywood doesn’t always realize that the best way to do that is to make a good film. Sometimes, Hollywood’s habit of taking a known property and stretching them out to absurd proportions proves that they just don’t get the point. Fortunately, there are times when someone recognizes a bad idea and puts on the brakes. Below is a list of 14 films where someone was smart enough to notice that they were making a pile of trash and threw in the towel.
Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian
Due to the success of Beetlejuice,...
Sometimes they don’t get it! We all know that the film industry is a business and they want to make money, but Hollywood doesn’t always realize that the best way to do that is to make a good film. Sometimes, Hollywood’s habit of taking a known property and stretching them out to absurd proportions proves that they just don’t get the point. Fortunately, there are times when someone recognizes a bad idea and puts on the brakes. Below is a list of 14 films where someone was smart enough to notice that they were making a pile of trash and threw in the towel.
Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian
Due to the success of Beetlejuice,...
- 7/5/2015
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
On the eve of its 40th anniversary special (though the anniversary itself isn't until October), what is left to say about "Saturday Night Live"? There have been multiple books written about the show, several documentaries, countless essays — riding the never-ending roller-coaster between "Saturday Night Dead" and "Saturday Night Lives Again!" — best-ofs, worst-ofs, and every other kind of list you can think of. I don't know that anything I write over the next few pages will provide new insight into one of the most influential comedy shows ever made, but I wondered if you could tell the story of the show — through good times and bad, through revolutions and evolutions and retrenchments — by looking at its sketches. I wound up picking 21 in all: some among the show's most famous, some obscure but important. These aren't meant as a definitive breakdown of the best "SNL" ever had to offer, but as a...
- 2/12/2015
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Hitfix
Not a single trip to the theater this week. I was going to see Before I Go To Sleep on Wednesday night, but they cancelled the screening only a few hours before it was to take place. However, at home I was able to see a few things. First off there was Samurai Assassin (1965) from director Kihachi Okamoto who also directed The Sword of Doom, which I've already professed my love for, Kill! and Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo. Samurai Assassin, in this case, is second to Sword of Doom and boy is it dark and rather disturbing by the end with yet another great performance from Toshiro Mifune. I also watched the new Blu-ray for A Most Wanted Man, which I ended up reviewing right here, and I also watched the Blu-ray for George A. Romero's The Dark Half, which I reviewed here. Other than that, I watched the opening...
- 11/2/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
I actually had a pretty good week of movie watching, not that I saw a ton of films, but that each movie I saw I actually enjoyed on some level or another, though one of them was pretty run of the mill. It began with the actioner John Wick (read my review here), continued with an at-home screener of Force Majeure (read my review here) and then I saw the Edward Snowden documentary Citizenfour and this weekend caught Disney's new animated movie Big Hero 6. In addition to these, at home I watched the first half of Samurai Assassin and for the last few nights have been trying to find the time to watch the second half. This is a title I've had at home since June 10 from Netflix, which goes to show how quickly I'm able to get to those DVDs when they arrive. Priorities man, they're a killer.
- 10/26/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
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