Category: Chambara

Distributor Revolver Entertainment have uploaded the UK trailer for Takashi Miike’s Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai to their YouTube channel in preparation for its upcoming theatrical release on May 4th and DVD/Blu-ray release on May 7th.

The film is a remake of a classic 1962 film by Masaki Kobayashi which starred Tatsuya Nakadai. It was notable for its subversive theme, depicting what amounted to a scathing indictment of the samurai code which was typically glorified in Japanese films of the era.

Set in the 17th century, the remake stars kabuki actor Ebizo Ichikawa as a destitute samurai named Hanshiro Tsukumo who asks to commit seppuku at the compound of a feudal lord named Kageyu (Koji Yakusho). Assuming Hanshiro is simply another dishonorable ronin who’s arrived with the bluff of seppuku in order to get a handout, Kageyu tells the story of a young ronin named Motome (Eita) who recently arrived under similar circumstances, leading to his brutal and painful end. Instead of accepting the obvious warning, Hanshiro insists on telling his own story—one that’s destined to end with vengeance and bloodshed.

The other day, Universal Pictures pushed back Carl Rinsch’s feature-length debut 47 Ronin from November 21, 2012 to February 8, 2013 to polish up special effects, but that didn’t stop the company from showing off a little bit of footage at CinemaCon 2012 in Las Vegas.

Edward Douglas of ComingSoon.net was in attendance and although he’s under a press embargo, he was able to give a brief overview of what was shown.

Apparently the film will feature a heavier dose of fantasy elements than previously expected. In the reel shown, Keanu Reeves’s character Kai was shown fighting in a ring on a ship. Afterward, co-star Hiroyuki Sanada is shown asking him how he learned to fight like that. “By fighting demons”, he responds—followed by a montage of various creatures and fights. Some of the creatures included Oni (ogres) and lightning-fast monks referred to as the Kangu Warlords.

That’s about it. Unfortunately, it will probably be a while before any footage is officially released to the public. According to Eric Eisenberg of Cinema Blend, the need for more special effects work was evident.

Deadline is reporting that New York-based Kamala Films has acquired the movie rights to Lone Wolf and Cub, with the previously-announced director Justin Lin (Fast Five) still attached to the project. David and Janet Peoples will handle the script.

Director Darren Aronofsky has been attached to several past plans to make a Lone Wolf and Cub movie over the years, but he could never secure the rights from Japan.

The original manga was created by Kazuo Koike and serialized from 1970-1976. The story features a skilled samurai named Ogami Itto who serves as the Shogun’s executioner until the Yagyu clan frame him for treason and murder everyone in his family except for his newborn son, Daigoro. When Daigoro is old enough to crawl, Ogami gives him the choice of a sword or a ball to decide his own fate: life with his father or death with his mother. Daigoro chooses the sword, essentially committing himself to the life of a wandering ronin with his father. Ogami travels the land while pushing Daigoro along in a baby cart, determined to get vengeance against anyone and everyone from the Yagyu clan.

The story was later adapted to six movies starring Tomisaburo Wakayama, but most in the west are probably more familiar with the 1980 dubbed and re-edited version, Shogun Assassin, by Robert Houston and David Weisman. It featured a vastly simplified mash-up of the first two movies and became popular in grindhouse theaters.

Kamala Films will be collaborating with 1212 Entertainment on the new film. No word yet on casting decisions, production schedules, or release windows.

via ANN

A new teaser has been released for Keishi Otomo’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin. This is the same teaser that aired on the NTV morning show ZIP! last week, minus the overlay and reaction shots. The first teaser was released back in December.

Based on a manga by Nobuhiro Watsuki, the movie stars Takeru Sato as Kenshin Himura, a once-feared swordsman who was formerly known as “Battosai” before becoming a wanderer and taking an oath not to kill anymore. During his travels, he helps Kaoru (Emi Takei)—an instructor at a kendo school called Kamiya Kasshin-ryu—and she invites him to stay at her dojo. Meanwhile, someone else using the name “Battosai” has been committing murders throughout the city.

“Rurouni Kenshin” will be released by Warner Bros. in Japan on August 25, 2012.

via Cinema Today

Update: The movie’s official YouTube channel now has versions of the video subtitled in English, French, and Spanish.