Juri Ueno’s next film project, tentatively titled Gorilla Butterfly, is now in the process of casting extras for various scenes. I don’t think the initial press conference has been held yet so details are sparse, but we do know it’s being distributed by Toho and co-produced by Altamira Pictures and Ueno’s talent agency, Amuse.

continue reading »

Permalink      0 Comments

Hirokazu Kore-eda‘s upcoming documentary on singer songwriter Cocco. The film covers her “Kira Kira Live Tour” as well as her life in Okinawa and her concern for the environment. Slated for Japanese release in December.

watch »

Permalink      0 Comments

Atsushi (Junpei Mizobata) and Mei (Nao Minamisawa) first met as young children and were each other’s first love. After that puppy love ends they each go through their own trials and tribulations in their own lives and deal with issues like drugs, suicide, and domestic violence—but through it all they seem to be connected by a thread of fate. Based on a popular mobile phone novel and slated for release in Japan on December 20, 2008. For the first teaser, see this link.

watch »

Permalink      1 Comment

After a bullying victim at Higashigaoka middle school named Noguchi attempts suicide, a new teacher named Murauchi (Hiroshi Abe) takes over class 1 for the second term. At first the class is taken by surprise by his severe stutter, and even giggle. However, on the very first day he orders that Noguchi’s desk be returned to its original position in the classroom. Every morning from that point on he takes a moment to walk up to the vacated desk and say “Good morning, Noguchi-kun” in front of all the students that tormented him. Slated for release on November 29, 2008.

watch »

Permalink      0 Comments

Kitaro and the Millennium Curse, the sequel to 2007’s Kitaro, will be coming to Japanese R2 DVD with English subtitles on January 9, 2009.

The movie screened at Cannes back in May and was publicly released in Japan on July 12th. The story revolves around a series of mysterious disappearances which trace back to a forbidden love between a human and yokai approximately 1,000 years earlier. Kitaro and his friends must seek out 5 treasures to put an end to this millennium curse and defeat the evil yokai who’s responsible.

Standard Edition specs
Premium Edition specs
Watch trailer

Permalink      1 Comment