Kung Fu Cult Cinema

Seijun Suzuki returns with 'A Goldfish Of The Flame'

Japan Cinema

Posted on 09 01 08 by Aaron

Source: Screen Daily

The title says it all, really. Seijun Suzuki is set to make a return to cinema with a film entitled A Goldfish Of The Flame.

More information will be released at the 4th annual Tokyo Project Gathering which takes place October 21st through the 24th.

Because of his ailing health, many believed that the 85-year old director's previous film the 2005 release Princess Raccoon would be his last.

Artsmagic rises from the dead and goes blu with Miike's 'Bird People'

DVD Release

Posted on 08 29 08 by Aaron

Everyone assumed that Artsmagic, responsible for the release of some incredible Japanese films in the past, had gone and called it quits. Not the case. Instead, the company plans to make their first foray into the high definition world with a release of Takashi Miike's masterpiece The Bird People in China.

While currently no specs have been officially announced, one would assume that the Blu-ray disc would, at the very least, contain the extras found on the DVD release.

The Bird People in China Blu-ray hits shelves October 28th.

UK TO GET NEW KITANO BOX-SET

DVD Release

Posted on 08 28 08 by Martin

Arriving on October 6th, Second Sight are releasing Takeshi Kitano: Collection in the UK.

The six-disc set features Kitanos first six films, as a director; Violent Cop, Boiling Point, Sonatine, Getting Any?, A Scene At The Sea and Kids Return. The latter two making their UK DVD debuts. Also included are commentaries for Violent Cop and Sonatine from Chris D, author of Outlaw Master Of Japanese Film. All discs will be presented with 16:9 anamorphic transfers, with Violent Cop and Sonatine enjoying Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks.

The set also features a 68 minute documentary Takeshi Kitano � The Unpredictable.

Release Date: 6 October 2008
RRP: £49.99

Criterion announces Chungking Express details

DVD Release

Posted on 08 23 08 by adgy

Source: Criterion.com
Criterion has announced details for their upcoming release of Wong Kar Wai's Chungking Express. The film will be released on both DVD and Blu-Ray, have a new, restored high-definition digital transfer and a remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack supervised by Wong. Other special features include:

� Audio commentary by noted Asian cinema critic Tony Rayns
� U.S. theatrical trailer
� New and improved English subtitle translation
� A booklet featuring a new essay by critic Amy Taubin and excerpts from a 1996 Sight and Sound interview with Wong by Rayns

Both the DVD and Blu-Ray will be released on November 25th with a suggested retail price of $39.95.

Discotek to release The Storm Riders on Blu-ray

DVD Release

Posted on 08 21 08 by Aaron

Cliff Mac, the main man behind Discotek Media has broke some exciting news on the AV Maniacs forum a few days ago.

Discotek's first foray into the hi-def format will indeed be the famed Hong Kong Martial Arts/Fantasy extravaganza The Storm Riders.

The 1998 Hong Kong film directed by Andrew Lau was a landmark film in the development of Hong Kong cinema and should be a pleasure to see on Blu-ray.

Kino International to release Seijun Suzuki's 'Detective Bureau'

Japan Cinema

Posted on 08 20 08 by Aaron

Those wanting more after viewing the Criterion released Seijun Suzuki classic Youth of the Beast can now be relieved that the films follow-up will finally make its debut stateside hopefully in not so distant future.

Kino International has purchased the US rights to Detective Bureau 23: Go to Hell, Bastards! the Suzuki film starring Jo Shishido along with the Akira Kobayashi starrer Bakuhatsu Sanbyomae which translates to Three Seconds Before the Explosion.

No news, however, on Kino's release plans of these two Nikkatsu classics. One can only hope they will hit US shelves sometime in early 2009.

Thanks to the always stellar Marc Walkow over at Outcast Cinema for this exciting news!

Shochiku offers exclusive downloads of Tora-san series

Japan Cinema

Posted on 08 20 08 by Aaron

Source: Variety Asia Online

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Shochiku Studios famed Tora-san films, the film company is offering fans the choice to download the first 10 films in the long running Yoji Yamada directed series.

Shochiku Online will also give fans the pleasure of streaming interviews with Yoji Yamada along with other actors from the film series which consisted of 48 installments.

Fans can view one film over a seven-day period for 367 yen ($3.34) or purchase a monthly subscription for 1,050 yen ($9.55).

Shochiku Online, which is all in Japanese so one may want to brush up on the language before viewing, can be accessed here.

Criterion spreads more Kenji Mizoguchi with Eclipse Series 13

DVD Release

Posted on 08 14 08 by Aaron

The Criterion Collection has been kind enough to introduce the masses to Japanese legend Kenji Mizoguchi with Sansho the Bailiff and Ugetsu in the last several years.

Now the world-renowned company have chosen to bring to us four more works from the director's filmography with the "Eclipse Series 13: Kenji Mizoguchi's Fallen Woman" boxset.

The set contains Osaka Elegy, Sisters of the Gion, Street of Shame, and Women of the Night all of which represent some of his best work between the 30's and the 50's.

The boxset should hit shelves sometime in October.

Dai Nipponjin to hit US theatres in March

Theatrical Release

Posted on 08 14 08 by Aaron

Source: indieWIRE

I thought the day would never come but Magnolia Pictures/Magnet Releasing have finally released more information on its plans for Hitoshi Matsumoto's Dai Nipponjin known here as Big Man Japan. Grouped in with other international cult films and coined "Six Shooter Film Series", the releases will begin in October with a Swedish film called Let the Right One In and close in March 2009 with Big Man Japan.

Two months ago, it was reported that Matsumoto has already started preparation on his second directorial effort which is said to be a tearjerker about an unsuccessful entertainer who suddenly becomes burdened with a stranger's child.

Movie News & AsianMovieTrailers.net Updates

Theatrical Release

Posted on 08 12 08 by Brian

Official thread in the KFCCinema forum: Rough Cut

Official thread in the KFCCinema forum: Painted Skin

Official thread in the KFCCinema forum: Assassins

Official thread in the KFCCinema forum: Crush & Blush

Official thread in the KFCCinema forum: Ocean Flame

Official thread in the KFCCinema forum: Forgive And Forget

Official thread in the KFCCinema forum: Portrait Of A Beauty

Official thread in the KFCCinema forum: Susuk

Official thread in the KFCCinema forum: Witness

Movie News & AsianMovieTrailers.net: Your Source For Up To Date Movie News & Trailers: HERE