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Month: November 2009

Japan On Fire 6: Voices On Kaiju – Brian Kirby

podcast62Our special guests from the main Kaiju JOF’s get their own spotlight in an interview series (expanding our current JOF into a Kaiju in itself really). Brian Kirby is the head honcho over at Shelf Life Clothing and a passionate Kaiju-fan. We cover original introduction to the genre, Godzilla through the ages and further love directed towards Gamera of the 90s.  Here’s the link to Brians Online Store; http://www.shelflifeclothing.com/

Samurai Princess (2009)

samuraiprincessSamurai Princess is a lowish budget gore film directed by Kengo Kaji (co-writer of Tokyo Gore Police) and special effects produced by director and FX wizard Yoshihiro Mishimura (Tokyo Gore Police; Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl).

The story is set in an alternate world where andriods roam the countryside looking for victims they can rape (don’t worry it’s all insinuated) and turn into some kind of gore art. Adult film star (yes that’s correct) Ainu Kashi plays a young woman who was the victim of previously mentioned andriods and gets turned into one herself so she may seek vengence for herself and her friends.

Overall I would say this is a fun film. The low budget can be a bit off putting to be at first and 95% of it seems to have been shot in a generic woodland area which could’ve been somewhere in Japan or the southdowns. That makes it look even cheaper.

But as I said earlier don’t be put off. The film gathers pace and the fun begins in due time. You get some regular gore, garden shears for a foot, chainsaw leg, detachable breasts that become a powerful explosive, colourful and extravagant costumes, a mad scientist, guitar so powerful it can kill you, girls in different coloured tights (if that rocks your boat) and a sex scene for those of you who must see breasts in a film.

To put it bluntly Samurai Princess is a fun film where you can switch off and watch some gore action. If you enjoyed Tokyo Gore Police you will most likely enjoy this too. But take my advice and don’t get your expectations too high.

Oasis (2002)

Oasis

Written & directed by: Lee Chang-dong
Starring: Sol Kyung-gu, Moon So-ri

Plot: Released from prison after serving two-and-a-half years for involuntary manslaughter, Jong-du ill (Sol Kyung-gu – Voice Of A Murderer; Public Enemy) advisedly decides to pay a social visit to the family of the man he killed in a hit and run accident while drunk driving. He is given short shrift by the family but not before briefly meeting and becoming fascinated by the dead man’s severely disabled daughter, Gong-ju (Moon So-ri – Bewitching Attraction; A Good Lawyer’s Wife). Returning to the apartment to see the young woman when he knows she will be alone, Jong-du loses control of his feelings for the girl and sexually assaults her. Feeling guilty over the incident, he is amazed when Gong-ju telephones him at his place of work and invites him to come and visit her again. He accepts her invitation and their meeting leads them into a series of clandestine encounters during which the pair come to fall in love with each other. Read More

Cyborg She (2008)

cyborgshe

Plot: When lonely college student Jiro finds a young attractive female sitting beside him at a restaurant on his birthday, he thinks he has found his dream woman, but she’s actually a cyborg sent from the future to protect him. It turns out that the cyborg has been built Jiro’s elderly future self to help him lead the perfect life, thus creating future for him and to protect him from a imposing devastating natural disaster.

The only strain on their relationship is when Jiro believes that he is truly in love with her, but how could a machine handle emotion? Read More

Ghost in the Shell 2.0

ghost2.0

Plot: The years is 2029, the world is made borderless by the net; augmented humans who live in virtual environments. Watched over by law enforcement agents that are able to download themselves into super-powered, crime busting mecha.

The ultimate secret agent of the future is not human, has no physical body and can travel freely through the information highways of the world. Hacking and manipulating whatever, whomever and whenever required. Read More

UK Releases; The Beast Stalker, Love Exposure & Fireball

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fireballAsian Cinema in the UK starts January 2010 with a magnificent trio of movies. From Cine-Asia we have Hong Kong thriller “The Beast Stalker” (trailer) starring Nic Tse (Invisible Targets), Nick Cheung (The Exiled) and the pocket sized Zhang Jingchu (Seven Swords).

The two-disc THE BEAST STALKER (cert. 15) will be released on DVD (£17.99 or £11.99) on 4th January 2010.

Special Features include: Behind The Scenes ; Making Of; Interview Gallery; extended/alternate scenes; trailer gallery; Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 Cantonese and 5.1 English audio options; optional English subtitles.

Next up with the 237 minute running time we have Love Exposure (trailer), Winner of the FIPRESCI Prize and the Caligari Film Award at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival. We have director Sion Sono’s feature length debut.

The two-disc LOVE EXPOSURE (cert. 18) will be released on DVD (£14.99 or £9.99) by Third Window Films on 11th January 2010. Special Features include: anamorphic widescreen presentation; “Making of” featurette; trailer; optional English subtitles; trailers for other Third Window releases.

Last but not certainly least, we have the Muay Thai meets Basket Ball! Fireball (trailer) has been quoted as “The Most Mind Blowing Experience Since Ong Bak”, Fireball is released on DVD (£8.99) & Blu-Ray (£14.99) by E1 Entertainment on 18th January 2010. Prior to its DVD release the film will be showing at selected cinemas throughout the UK, courtesy of Premiere Films, from 8th January 2010.

Dragon Dynasty UK not dead yet! (updated)

Looks dead, but it's not...yeah I'm suprised too

Remember when Hong Kong Legends closed down and set up over there in the states with the title “Dragon Dynasty“. Dragon Dynasty was the brains behind Hong Kong Legends combined with The Weinstein Company and started re-releasing all the Jet Li flicks as well as half a dozen Shaw Brother flicks and a bunch of recent triad thrillers etc.

Caught up are we? Click bellow to read the full article Read More