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Takeshi Kitano More at IMDbPro »
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2003 | 1998 | 1997
1-20 of 24 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
Holiday Preview: Anywhere But a Movie Theater
4 November 2009 11:14 AM, PST | ifc.com | See recent IFC news »
More Holiday Preview: [Theatrical Calendar]
[Repertory Calendar] [Anywhere But a Movie Theater]
On Demand
IFC Films (with whom, full disclosure, we obviously share a parent company) will be delivering new films all holiday season to homes across the country through their Festival Direct and Sundance Selects labels. These include the cross-cultural romantic dramedy "I'll Come Running" (Nov. 4), Josiane Balasko's farce "A French Gigolo" (Nov. 6), the Inuit tribal drama "Necessities of Life" (Nov. 11), the Brit crime thriller "Adulthood" (Nov. 18), the Indian love story "Return to Rajapur" (Nov. 25), the Christopher Masterson-Bijou Phillips celibacy satire "Made for Each Other" (Dec. 2), "Harry Potter" helmer David Yates' gritty two-part drama "Sex Traffic" (Dec. 2 and 9), the Korean comedy "Night and Day" (Dec. 23) and "The Ghost" (Dec. 30).
Meanwhile, in the newly launched Sundance Selects series, there's a pair of harrowing documentaries VOD premieres: Kief Davidson's coming-of-age boxing doc "Kassim the Dream" (Nov. 27) and the unvarnished biopic "Nick Nolte: No Exit" (Dec. »
- Stephen Saito
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi - Blu-ray Review
30 September 2009 3:24 AM, PDT | Monsters and Critics | See recent Monsters and Critics news »
The Eastwood of Japan, Takeshi Kitano, tackles one of Japan.s most iconic figures with .The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi.. The film is a great take on the decades old property of a masterful blind swordsman in 19th century Japan who travels the land helping under the guise of a masseur. A great looking film . that comes recommended for its Blu-ray debut. Takeshi Kitano is mostly known for his outstanding early nineties yakuza pics like .Boiling Point. and .Sonatine. where he also starred in under his performing mark Beat Takeshi. Distinctive and stylish, these films established an international director to watch out for. Most recent yakuza pic, .Brother., which brought Takeshi to L.A. failed to measure up to earlier »
- Frankie Dees
DVD Playhouse--September 2009
26 September 2009 1:01 PM, PDT | The Hollywood Interview | See recent The Hollywood Interview news »
DVD Playhouse—September 2009
By
The Human Condition (Criterion) Masaki Kobayashi’s epic (574 minutes) adaptation of Junpei Gomikawa’s six-volume novel was originally made and released as three separate films (1959-61), and is rightfully regarded as a landmark of Japanese cinema. Candide-like story of naïve, good-hearted Kaiji (Japanese superstar Tatsuya Nakadai) from labor camp supervisor, to Imperial Army solider, to Soviet Pow, and Kaiji’s struggle to maintain his humanity throughout. Unfolds with the mastery of a great novel, beautifully-shot, and a stunning example of cinematic mastery on the part of its makers. Four-disc set bonuses include: Interview with Kobayashi; Interview with Nakadai; Featurette; Trailer; Essay by critic Philip Kemp. Widescreen. Dolby 3.0 surround.
State Of Play (Universal) Russell Crowe stars as a veteran Washington D.C. political reporter investigating the murder of an aide to a rising congressional star (Ben Affleck), who also happens to be an old friend. »
- The Hollywood Interview.com
[DVD Review] The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi
22 September 2009 11:00 AM, PDT | JustPressPlay.net | See recent JustPressPlay news »
When a movie tries to update an old beloved series into what is called a “re-imagining,” it often results in a disastrous effort that either loses the charm of the original(s) or becomes a pale imitation. Takeshi Kitano’s Zatoichi is one of those rare successes. While he’s made a number of incredible films meditating on the harshness of violence, Kitano at his heart still remains a playful comedian (Americans probably know him best as one of the two hosts of Takeshi’s Castle, better known in the U.S. as its Spike TV dubbed version called Mxc), and his Zatoichi is a reflection of that side.
The original Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman series spanned 26 movies and four TV seasons—all of them starring Shintaro Katsu. It would be hard for any other actor to fill those shoes if he wasn’t a giant like Kitano, who fearlessly »
- Arya Ponto
Blu-ray review: ‘The Ultimate Force of Four’ box set
21 September 2009 1:12 PM, PDT | ReelLoop.com | See recent Reel Loop news »
To the typical American mainstream movie fan, The Ultimate Force of Four Blu-ray box set may be a treasure trove of remastered “Kung Fu” flicks. Though not the best the genre has to offer, it does contain some of the biggest hits on these shores since Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon first arrived and opened the eyes of an unsuspecting populace.
Included in the Blu-ray set is the 1994 Jackie Chan film The Legend of Drunken Master which was released in the States in 2000. Directed by Chia-Liang Liu, Chan defends the honor of the Chinese people by kicking, punching and leaping off buildings in order to stop the heinous transfer of Chinese treasures by the evil British. Though The Legend of Drunken Master, isn’t the best example of the genre nor Chan’s best, it’s a favorite for easy Sunday afternoon movie watching. Considering Chan’s energy and dynamic action »
- Erik Buckman
Blu-Ray Round Up: Jet Li, Jackie Chan Highlight ‘Ultimate Force of Four’
21 September 2009 8:56 AM, PDT | HollywoodChicago.com | See recent HollywoodChicago.com news »
Chicago – Attention martial arts fans, Buena Vista Home Video recently released a wave of martial arts films on Blu-Ray under the title “The Ultimate Force of Four” box set, including one of Jet Li’s best films, the spectacular “Hero,” from director Zhang Yimou. “Hero” is easily the highlight of the quartet of recent HD releases but “Iron Monkey,” “The Legend of Drunken Master,” and “Zatoichi” will all satisfy fans in 1080p (as long as they’re not purists about audio tracks).
Three of the four titles are merely HD imports of special features and films already available on standard DVD. The exception is “Hero,” which includes an all-new featurette and a digital copy, but is actually one of the most divisive Blu-Rays of the year. Miramax/Buena Vista has made the baffling choice to include a higher caliber quality of audio for the dubbed tracks on “Hero,” “Iron Monkey, »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
400 Screens, 400 Blows - Asian Melodramas
20 September 2009 7:03 AM, PDT | Cinematical | See recent Cinematical news »
When the average American film fan thinks of Japanese movies, they'll probably picture one of three things: either a samurai or a gangster -- Toshiro Mifune and his sword, or Takeshi Kitano and his gun -- or a stringy-haired ghost girl. Die-hard fans will know that Yasujiro Ozu, Nagisa Oshima and Mikio Naruse also made contemporary dramas about modern-day citizens, often trying to figure out their lives in the post-wwii turmoil. But those dramas were hindered by the times, or by the censors; the characters were polite and functional and hid their own true emotions in an attempt to do what they were supposed to be doing. But there's something in the air over in Japan right now; they're making melodramas, big, roiling, red-blooded ones filled with anguish and torment and heartbreak.
Earlier this year, Kiyoshi Kurosawa -- who is thus far best known for his truly terrifying films like »
- Jeffrey M. Anderson
Legend Of Drunken Master, Iron Monkey, Hero and Zatoichi Blu-ray Reviews
19 September 2009 5:29 PM, PDT | Collider.com | See recent Collider.com news »
For the film fanatic, there was an evolution. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, Hong Kong cinema came to a prominence because of the great works of filmmakers like John Woo and actors like Jackie Chan. This was the second boom of the industry after Bruce Lee invigorated youths in the 70’s, but died all too young. And from that there was also a loyal following for the Shaw Brothers from some, and an interest in Chan - among others - but you had to live near a Chinatown or have a kick ass video store to find this stuff. Not everyone was so lucky. The crossover appeal was there, but mostly for film nerds willing to watch some shitty ass copies of great films. As time progressed Asain cinema of all stripes made a huge dent in nerd culture, with Japan and Korea following, as filmmakers like Takashi Miike, »
- Andre Dellamorte
Takeshi Kitano returns to Yakuza eiga
14 September 2009 1:57 AM, PDT | Affenheimtheater | See recent Affenheimtheater news »
Tokyograph has posted some first details for director/writer/actor Takeshi Kitano next project. According to the report, Kitano will finally return to “his” violent Yakuza eiga genre with this yet unnamed project after several years.
Filming has already started in August with Kitano starring next to Tomokazu Miura, Kippei Shiina, Ryo Kase, Soichiro Kitamura, Renji Ishibashi, Jun Kunimura and Fumiyo Kohinata. Distributed by Warner Bros. Japan, the film is supposed to open in Japan in 2010.
[via @wildgrounds] »
- Ulrik
Stallone To Be Honoured At Venice Film Festival
12 August 2009 11:56 AM, PDT | WENN | See recent WENN news »
Hollywood action man Sylvester Stallone will be feted at the upcoming Venice Film Festival with the prestigious Glory to the Filmmaker award.
The Rocky star's career as an actor and director will be one of the highlights of the Italian event as his peers celebrate his lengthy career in the movie industry.
Organisers have hailed Stallone as a "very original filmmaker" whose projects are "capable of tenderness even when dripping with blood".
They add in a statement, "(Stallone's work) has explored the brightest and darkest areas of the American dream."
And Stallone is delighted with the career recognition, because it fulfils one of his lifetime goals.
He says, "Being honoured at the Venice Film Festival is something I have always hoped would become a reality and now that it's actually happened, it's been well worth the wait."
The accolade is typically bestowed upon "a person who has left a mark on contemporary cinema" and previous honorees include France's Agnes Varda and Japan's Takeshi Kitano.
The 66th Venice Film Festival kicks off on 2 September and runs until 12 September. »
Yay! Sylvester Stallone to be Honored at Venice Film Festival! Parts of "The Expendables" to be Shown!
12 August 2009 10:47 AM, PDT | Manny the Movie Guy | See recent Manny the Movie Guy news »
Sylvester Stallone is set to be awarded with the, repeat after me, Jaeger-lecoultre Glory To The Filmmaker Award, at this year's Venice Film Festival.
It's an "auteur" award "dedicated to an artist who has left his mark on contemporary cinema." I agree with that about Stallone, don't you?
Takeshi Kitano, Agnes Varda, and Abbas Kiarostami were previous Jaeger-Lecoultre awardees.
Why are the event's organizers giving Stallone the award? They said:
"Through all of his movies -- even the ones he has not directed or are considered 'less important' -- Stallone has shaped his own character with much care, and reflected upon it, giving us an iconic exploration among the most coherent and lucid of contemporary America cinema.
"Stallone has shown an original eye and an auteur's determination. His is a cinema capable of tenderness even when dripping with blood."
Go Rocky!
The best part? There will be a sneak preview »
- Manny
Remains of the Day: Mamet Does Anne Frank, Sly Does Venice, Avatar Does August 21st
12 August 2009 | ioncinema | See recent ioncinema news »
- A bizarre kind of news day highlighted by House of Games/The Spanish Prisoner/State and Main/Spartan and Redbelt helmer taking on Anne Frank, followed by Rocky/Rambo director Sylvester Stallone joining previous winners Takeshi Kitano, Agnes Varda and Abbas Kiarostami for the Glory to the Filmmaker Award at the upcoming edition of the Venice Film Festival. Here is a look at eight and 1/2 news items that we didn't have enough time to cover but are worth mentioning here for the 12th of August. 1. The 2nd Best Selling Book Heading Back to the Big Screen Disney has set David Mamet to direct The Diary of Anne Frank. No joke. (Via Variety) 2. Thrifty "Beeswax" Reverse Shot’s Eric Hynes interviews filmmaker Andrew Bujalski in a unique setting. (Via IndieWIRE) 3. Now You See them, Now you Don'tControl + Left Click for Atom Egoyan's Chloe. Via ThePlaylist) 4. After the Run David Schwimmer (Run, »
Big Directors Small Films: The Coen Brothers Short Film ‘World Cinema’
11 August 2009 7:53 AM, PDT | Slash Film | See recent Slash Film news »
In 2007 an omnibus film called Chacun son cinema (To Each His Own Cinema) played at festivals. Made to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, the collection featured short films about cinema made by an amazing variety of directors: Takeshi Kitano, Gus Van Sant, Zhang Yimou, Jane Campion, Atom Egoyan and many more. Among those 'many more' were Joel and Ethan Coen, who enlisted their recent star Josh Brolin in a three-minute movie called World Cinema. Problem was, World Cinema didn't show up on either of the DVD releases of Chacun son cinema, making it very difficult to see. (I was lucky enough to see it at Toronto that year.) But now it has found its way onto YouTube, and you should watch it after the break, right now, before it goes away again. World Cinema features Brolin as a rancher named Dan (who looks a lot like »
- Russ Fischer
A closer look at South Korean Cinema at Fantasia
17 July 2009 11:31 PM, PDT | SoundOnSight | See recent SoundOnSight news »
Far from being one-dimensional, South Korean cinema is recognized for tackling every possible genre with intelligence and success. The industry continues to prove itself as a cradle of creativity as confirmed by the numerous selections and awards garnered by South Korean movies on the international circuit this year. Hailing from The Land of the Morning Calm we here at Sound On Sight have decided to focus on some fresh works from renowned veterans such as Lee Yoon-ki and newly discovered classics in the making . Here's an overview of must-see debut features in 2009: Crush And Blush South Korea Dir: Lee Kyoung-mi A side-splitting burlesque comedy from newcomer Lee Kyoung-mi, this movie credits Park Chan-wook (Thirst) as producer and co-writer. Kong Hyo-jin, winner of the best actress prize at this year's Korean Film Awards, shines in a stellar cast in a performance that is somewhere between Almodovar's first works and a »
- Ricky
Is Takeshi Kitano heading back to his yakuza ways?
12 July 2009 10:10 AM, PDT | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »
Not sure how this one got past us here at Twitch, but it seems like Takeshi Kitano is back to his usual ways with a return to form for his next film. While nothing is yet set in stone, several sources have pointed out that the director’s 15th film will indeed be a modern yakuza film.
This is a sigh of relief for many followers of Kitano whom were beginning to grow tire of his last few self-loathing films. I for one thoroughly enjoyed Takeshis’ but felt Glory to the Filmmaker! and Achilles and the Tortoise were borderline disasters.
It is also said that the investors of his latest opus want him to cast the likes of Shiina Kippei, Miura Tomokazu and Kase Ryo in place of his regular players. As with most of his pictures, Mr. Beat Takeshi, will step in front of the camera in the lead role. »
- Aaron Fowler
Cannes #5: Even now already is it in the world
18 May 2009 3:49 PM, PDT | blogs.suntimes.com/ebert | See recent Roger Ebert's Blog news »
There's electricity in the air. Every seat is filled, even the little fold-down seats at the end of every row. It is the first screening of Lars von Trier's "Antichrist," and we are ready for anything. We'd better be. Von Trier's film goes beyond malevolence into the monstrous. Never before have a man and woman inflicted more pain upon each other in a movie. We looked in disbelief. There were piteous groans. Sometimes a voice would cry out, "No!" At certain moments there was nervous laughter. When it was all over, we staggered up the aisles. Manohla Dargis, the merry film critic of The New York Times, confided that she left softly singing "That's Entertainment!"
Whether this is a bad, good or great film is entirely beside the point. It is an audacious spit in the eye of society. It says we harbor an undreamed-of capacity for evil. It »
- Roger Ebert
Takashi Miike to remake Eiichi Kudo’s 1963 film ‘Thirteen Assassins’!
12 May 2009 4:35 PM, PDT | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »
The ever diligent Japanese director is lacing up his sandals and brandishing a katana sword for an upcoming remake of Eiichi Kudo’s 1963 film Thirteen Assassins
The two producers behind this project are based in Japan and the UK. Japan’s Toshiaki Nakazawa picked up this year’s foreign-language Oscar for Departures, you might have heard of it, and has worked with Miike on Sukiyaki Western Django and The Bird People in China. The UK’s Jeremy Thomas has a extensive experience with Asian cinema. He made Nagisa Oshima’s Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence and brought Takeshi Kitano’s Brother to the international marketplace. Having a western based producer behind the production should mean a greater chance of Miike’s film traveling outside of Japan. Toho Studios has already bought the rights for the Japanese theatrical release.
Receiving a confidential order from a senior executive of the Tokugawa Sshogunate, 13 samurai »
- Mack
Thirteen Assassins gets the green light
12 May 2009 5:14 AM, PDT | FilmShaft.com | See recent FilmShaft.com news »
Oscar winning producers Toshiaki Nakazawa and Jeremy Thomas have teamed up to produce a remake of the 1963 classic martial arts film Thirteen Assassins.
Director Takashi Miike will be helming the picture, due to begin shooting in Japan in July this year.
I've never seen the original movie it has to be said, but I'm liking the sound of it without a doubt. The Hollywood Reporter had more to say on the picture, stating:
The Japanese director is sharpening up plans to helm the shogun-era tale about 13 assassins, an evil lord and their secret mission to take him out. But unbeknownst to them, the assassins are outnumbered 10 to one by the lord's team of crack bodyguards. Swords, sandals and blood fly.
Thomas' sales and finance arm HanWay Films is handling international sales here in Cannes. Toho has prebought rights for a theatrical rollout in Japan. The slash fest will be produced »
- info@originalsharpsays.com (Craig Sharp)
Full Cast for Zatoichi The Last announced!
23 April 2009 11:57 AM, PDT | Affenheimtheater | See recent Affenheimtheater news »
While it has been known for some time that Shingo Katori from the Japanese Pop-group Smap (jup, the one from the Ninja Scroll live-action adaptation) will continue the work of Shintaro Katsu and Takeshi Kitano and will play the role of Ichi, the full cast has just been announced. Tokyograph mentions Takashi Sorimachi (Fulltime Killer, Yamato) and Satomi Ishihara (The Climber’s High) in supporting roles and Chieko Baisho, Youki Kudoh, Koichi Iwaki, Yoshio Harada, Kanzaburo Nakamura and Seishiro Kato in smaller roles.
But I think more interesting than all these names is the fact that Sorimachi will play a close friend of Ichi while cute Ishihara will be his wife!
Looks like director Junji Sakamoto (Children of the Dark, Chameleon) wants to show another side of the lone wolf Ichi, who already went through a sex change in 2008 when Haruka Ayase played his/her part in Ichi.
The shooting began in early March, »
- Ulrik
Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman
19 April 2009 4:51 AM, PDT | Latemag.com/film | See recent LateFilmFull news »
In this the *final entry in the long running Zatoichi series released some 15 years after the previous entry we catch up with the character as he enters his twilight years. A living legend and master of the quick draw sword technique Zatocihi continues to roam the dusty tracks of Edo Period Japan. To most who pass him he is just another blind masseur. How ever though blind from the age of 2, his other senses have been heightened to near supernatural levels and this makes him not only a formidable swordsman, but also a gambler with few piers. While these skills have enabled Ichi to wander as he wished making a living from gambling and massage and safe from anyone who would underestimate his bumbling walk and lack of vision as a weakness he has also built a reputation that follows him where ever he goes.
The Zatoichi movies made their »
- Leigh
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2003 | 1998 | 1997
1-20 of 24 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
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