Dear Fathergeek-san,
I have been on vacation, and am now back in business here at AICN-Japan Headquarters!
Here is this week's report.
NEWS
NEWS
* Kitano Takeshi's "Zatoichi" has been completed this week and started showing for the press the following day. Most of the local critics said Boo to "Zatoichi". "Zatoichi" has been selected for competition on next month's Venzia Film Festival.
* Actor, Masatoshi Nagase's new movie, "Love Gun" has been completed. For Masatoshi, this is first movie in 3 years. This action packed movie is directed by Kensaku Watanabe and will be released next spring.
* In the 60's one of the most popular TV shows was,"Ninja Hattori-kun" It will be shooting as a live action movie". Shingo Katori, a member of popular singing group, SMAP will be Ninja Hattori. Modern day Ninja comes down from the mountain to Tokyo for learning life in the city. Toho produced and this film has been started shooting and will be released next summer.
* The Samurai movie is big boom for last couple of years in Japan.Zatoichi comes back to big screen ,now Tangesazen comes back to big screen as well."Tangesazen -Hiyakuman Riyo No Tsubo" is based on 1930's same title of the movie. Before Zatoichi, Tangesazen was big samurai hero. Wearing white based kimono and one eyed-patch looks make very cool. Etuji Toyokawa will play Tangesazen and this movie will start on production next January.
SHORT REVIEWS
*"Tenshi No Kiba"(Warner Brothers Japan)
...directed by Ryo Nishimura This is a uniqe SF/Police action movie.Asuka,female detective was working for the protection of Hatsumi who is a mistress of drug king Kimikuni.When Asuka was shot dead by the mistress' hit man, a special police medical team transplanted Asuka's brain into Hatsumi's head whose brain was dead at same time. Now Asuka lives as Hatsumi in her body, she goes undercover and seeks revenge. Well written script and great directing makes 2 hours fly by without a blink. This is second Warner Brothers Japan produced movie and there is a slight chance it will show in the US.
BOXOFFICE
For 2nd week in raw,"Bayside Shakedown 2" gets number one spot."T3" closes to number 2 .
