upcoming Japanese/Korean/Chinese movies

[thedude57]

'Children...'

 

just been told about 'Children...', the new Korean crime thriller from director Lee Kyoo-man ('Return'). The film is based on the heartbreaking true story of five school children who went out to pick frog eggs from Ryong Mountain but never returned.

 

Synopsis

 

On March 26, 1991, five children from Daegu *Sengse* elementary school went out to pick frog eggs from Ryong Mountain but never returned. Despite prayers across Korea for the children to return safely, in 2002 their bodies were discovered on the mountain. As of March 2006, the prosecution prescription expired and the case remains unsolved.

 

'Children...' stars Park Yong-woo, Ryoo Seung-yong, Seong Dong-il, Joo Jin-mo-I, Seong Ji-roo and Kim Yeo-jin. It is scheduled for release across Korea sometime in 2011.

[thedude57]

'Gokutsuma Deka'

 

a live-action adaptation of the manga by Masahito Kagawa and Issaku Wake. Directed by Takeshi Yokoi, the film stars Rio Matsumoto as the wife of a yakuza boss who is forced to infiltrate the criminal underworld to help her husband.

 

Synopsis

Sakura (Matsumoto) is the manager of a high-class club and the wife of a yakuza boss. When her husband gets arrested, the police strike a deal with her to reduce his sentence, one which involves her going undercover in the criminal underworld to investigate an unsolved crime.

 

'Gokutsuma Deka' will be released in Japan on the 30th October, 2010.

[thedude57]

The long-awaited bio pic "Bruce Lee, My Brother" recently started filming in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.

 

The movie, based on reminiscences by Lee's young brother, Robert, details the legend's early years in Hong Kong. It will depict his experiences as a kung fu student, cha cha champion and child actor.

 

Bruce Lee is played by actor/singer Aarif Lee,

 

Lee's first love is played by newcomer Jennifer Tse, (daughter of Hong Kong screen legend Patrick Tse Yin, a contemporary of Lee's who knew the kung fu idol, though they never worked together.)

 

playing Bruce's father, the opera star and movie actor Lee Hoi-chuen, is veteran thespian Tony Leung Kar-fai.

 

recent photos and posters have been released for this upcoming bio pic of the legend

 

 

 

the full trailer has been released - really looking forward to this movie - opens in HK in November

[thedude57]

'A Liar And A Broken Girl'

 

 

The trailer has been released for 'A Liar And A Broken Girl', a new live-action adaptation of Hitoma Iruma’s controversial light novel. The story centres around two high school children who suffer significant trauma, causing them to have severe mental problems that are carried over into their adult life.

 

Synopsis

Ten years ago, Maa-chan (Aya Omasa) and Mii-kun (Shota Sometani) were kidnapped and forced to endure tremendous trauma. They both survived the ordeal, but were left with mental scars that haven’t exactly healed with time; Mii-kun is a habitual liar and Maa-chan routinely flies into violent rages. One day, Mii-kun hears about another kidnapping of a young brother and sister on the radio. Instinctively, he decides to track down Maa-chan again after years apart. When he finds her, his suspicions are confirmed and he begins living with his childhood friend… as well as the two kidnapped kids. With Mii-kun around, Maa-chan is able to snap out of her psychotic episodes by reverting back to a child-like state. However, a detective begins snooping around Mii-kun after speaking to his psychiatrist and a string of strange serial killings in the area threaten to disturb their little world.

 

'A Liar And A Broken Girl' will be screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival on the 25th October, 2010. It will be released across Japan on the 22nd January, 2011.

[nicky]

What's the movie with Donnie Yen that came out in Sept in HK> 'Detective...' something or other? He looks like he's some kinda masked vigilante like Kato in the 1940s.

 

I have Flashpoint but havent got round to watching it yet.

[thedude57]

What's the movie with Donnie Yen that came out in Sept in HK> 'Detective...' something or other? He looks like he's some kinda masked vigilante like Kato in the 1940s.

 

I have Flashpoint but havent got round to watching it yet.

 

'Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame', (see page one of this thread (post #15) for a film poster and description

Edited November 5, 2010 by the dude

[thedude57]

'Just Call Me Nobody'

 

 

The trailer has been released for 'Just Call Me Nobody', a new wuxia comedy directed by Chu Yen Ping.

 

The film stars Xiao ShenYang as a shoemaker who studies martial arts from a hermit after he falls into a valley. Other cast members include Jacky Wu Jing, Kelly Lin, Eric Tsang and Zhao BenShan.

 

'Just Call Me Nobody' is due for local release in December, 2010.

[thedude57]

this is certainly topping my Christmas list (if i had one - bah humbug)

 

'Battle Royale: LImited Edition ' On UK DVD And Blu-Ray

 

Arrow Video have announced the UK DVD and Blu-Ray releases of 'Battle Royale: Limited Edition' for the 13th December, 2010. The 3-disc boxsets include high definition transfers of both the Theatrical and Director's Cuts, new subtitle translations, limited edition packaging and a whole host of new extras.

 

no need for a Synopsis, Batlle Royale is truely one of the greatest movies of all time

 

this Limited edition DVD includes the following features

 

*Theatrical and Director's Cuts of the film

*Making Of Battle Royale: The Experience of 42 High School Students

*Conducting Battle Royale with the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra

*Shooting the Special Edition

*Takeshi Kitano interview

*The correct way to make Battle Royale (Birthday version)

*Tokyo international film festival presentation

*Original theatrical and Special edition trailers

*TV Spot: Tarantino version

*Opening day at Maro No Uchi Toei movie theatre

*The slaughter of 42 high school students

*Premier press conference

*The correct way to fight in Battle Royale

*Royale rehearsals

*Masamichi Amano conducts Battle Royale

*Special effects comparison

*Behind the scenes featurette

*Filming on set

*TV spots, promos and commercials

*Kinji Fukasaku trailer reel

 

excitement overload

[thedude57]

'Tofu Boy'

 

a teaser trailer has just been released for 'Tofu Boy' a new 3D anime film from director Gisaburo Sugii. Based on a novel by Natsuhiko Kyogoku, the film centres around a yokai (demon/spirit) who is unable to scare humans because of his timid appearance and personality.

 

Synopsis

Set in Edo period Japan, the young son of the leader of all yokai is given the task of carrying a plate of tofu to the festival of Obon. Although he begins his journey as a feeble weakling with a silly outward appearance and no discernible talents other than carrying tofu, he experiences a number of adventures along the way that help him to experience significant growth.

 

the movie features the vocal talents of Fukada Kyoko and Takeda Tetsuya. It is scheduled for release in Japan during April/May 2011.

[thedude57]

'Ashi ta no Joe'

 

 

a teaser trailer has recently been released for 'Ashi ta no Joe' (AKA 'Tomorrow's Joe') , this is a live-action adaptation of the classic boxing manga by Asao Takamori and Tetsuya Chiba's . Fumihiko Sori ('Ichi') directs and the film stars Tomohisa Yamashta as the orphan-turned-prizefighter Joe Yabuki.

 

Synopsis

 

Joe, a teenage orphan in the slums of the Doya streets, meets Danpei, a homeless, alcoholic ex-boxing coach. Danpei, seeing Joe's boxing talent, decides to train him. When Joe is sent to a terrible juvenile home for petty crimes, he meets Rikiishi who becomes his boxing rival. Danpei arrives at the home to help Joe to train in order to defeat Rikiishi. When Joe decides to seriously pursue boxing, Danpei cannot get a coaching license because of his reputation as a drunk.

 

due for release in Japan early 2011.

 

 

The full trailer has been released for 'As hita No Joe' (AKA 'Tomorrow's Joe') 'Ashi ta No Joe' is due for release across Japan on the 11th February, 2011.

[thedude57]

The Kidnap'

 

a trailer has been released for 'The Kidnap', the new Chinese gangland thriller from director Gu Yu. The film centres around two young women who both aspire to become famous singers, one of whom succeeds while the other finds herself mixed up in the world of organised crime.

 

Synopsis

 

Nana and Lin Bingqi are both aspiring singers who see their dreams come true when they sign record deals with the same company. For Nana, the road to superstardom is an easy one as she chooses to compromise her morals by sleeping with the boss. Unfortunately, Lin's career faces a crisis when she refuses to do the same and is kidnapped by gangsters.

 

'The Kidnap' stars Qu Ying, Ye Yiqian, Chapman To and Sun Xing. due for release across China on the 31st December, 2010.

[thedude57]

would recommend the AXIS OF WAR trilogy - based around the Red army rising in 1920/1930's China

 

so far i have watched parts 1 (August 1st) and part 2 (my long march) - just need to watch Night raid

 

worth a watch by fans of chinese and war movies

[thedude57]

'Space Battleship Yamato'

 

just watched a trailer for "Space Battleship Yamato', looks good - it is a live-action adaptation of the space opera anime classic. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the film stars Takuya Kimura, Meisa Kuroki, Toshiro Yanagiba and Naoto Ogata.

 

Synopsis

In the distant future, the war between the human race and the Gamilon has taken its toll on the planet Earth. Constant bombardment of radioactive asteroids has rendered the planet's atmosphere uninhabitable. As a means of relief aid, Queen Starsha of the planet Iscandar offers the Earth Forces a device that can completely neutalize the radiation off the planet. For this task, the space battleship Yamato is launched from the remains of its World War II ancestor on a 148,000 light-year journey. However, the crew of the Yamato has only one Earth year to travel to Iscandar and back, or the human race will come to an end.

 

'Space Battleship Yamato' is out in Japan in December 2010.

 

 

 

straight in at no1 in the japanese box office with $11m first week

 

this is certainly topping my Christmas list (if i had one - bah humbug)

 

'Battle Royale: LImited Edition ' On UK DVD And Blu-Ray

 

Arrow Video have announced the UK DVD and Blu-Ray releases of 'Battle Royale: Limited Edition' for the 13th December, 2010. The 3-disc boxsets include high definition transfers of both the Theatrical and Director's Cuts, new subtitle translations, limited edition packaging and a whole host of new extras.

 

no need for a Synopsis, Batlle Royale is truely one of the greatest movies of all time

 

this Limited edition DVD includes the following features

 

*Theatrical and Director's Cuts of the film

*Making Of Battle Royale: The Experience of 42 High School Students

*Conducting Battle Royale with the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra

*Shooting the Special Edition

*Takeshi Kitano interview

*The correct way to make Battle Royale (Birthday version)

*Tokyo international film festival presentation

*Original theatrical and Special edition trailers

*TV Spot: Tarantino version

*Opening day at Maro No Uchi Toei movie theatre

*The slaughter of 42 high school students

*Premier press conference

*The correct way to fight in Battle Royale

*Royale rehearsals

*Masamichi Amano conducts Battle Royale

*Special effects comparison

*Behind the scenes featurette

*Filming on set

*TV spots, promos and commercials

*Kinji Fukasaku trailer reel

 

excitement overload

 

 

my copy of this has just arrived in the post this morning

[thedude57]

'Be My Guest'

 

The trailer has been released for 'Be My Guest', a new South Korean drama helmed by Park Soo-yeong ('No Doubt'). The film centres around a disgruntled ex-employee who kidnaps one of the company president's family and demands an apology and compensation for his dismissal.

 

Synopsis

president of a large company, goes on a picnic with his family. Suddenly, ex-employee, Mr. Kim appears and grabs a member of his family. In exchange for their safe release, Mr. Kim demands an apology and compensation for his dismissal. Uhm's family members plead with him to appease the angry man by giving him what he wants. However, Mr. Uhm has other ideas on how to deal with the problem...

 

'Be My Guest' stars Lee Kyeong-yeong, Kim Byeong-choon, Kim Jin-soo, Kim Kkot-bi, Lee Hyeon-jeong and Kang In-hyeong. It is scheduled for release across Korea on the 20th January, 2011.

[thedude57]

'Heart Is Beating'

 

The trailer has been released for 'Heart Is Beating', a new South Korean drama written and directed by Yoon Jae-geun. The film stars Kim Yoon-jin (aka Yunjin Kim from Lost) as a mother who is forced to turn to a family of gangsters when her daughter is diagnosed with critical heart disease.

 

Synopsis

 

One night, a middle-aged woman is carried into hospital in a coma. Yeon-hee, who has been searching for a suitable doner for her daughter with critical heart disease, begs the woman’s gangster son, Whee-do, to take her off life support. But when the reasons for the woman's hospitalisation are revealed one by one, Yeon-hee, who is now becoming increasingly desperate, suddenly realises she is teaming up with some very dangerous people...

 

'Heart Is Beating' also stars Park Hae-il, Jeong Da-hye and Kim Sang-ho. It is scheduled for release across Korea on the 6th January, 2011.

[thedude57]

'The Warring States'

 

check out the recently released trailer for 'The Warring States', a new Chinese war epic directed by Jin Chen. Set during China's Warring States Period more than two thousand years ago, the film centres around the rivalry between military strategists Sun Bin and Pang Juan.

 

'The Warring States' stars Sun Honglei, Kim Hee-seon, Jing Tian, Francis Ng and Kiichi Nakai. It is due for release across China in early 2011.

[echo faith]

'The Warring States'

 

check out the recently released trailer for 'The Warring States', a new Chinese war epic directed by Jin Chen. Set during China's Warring States Period more than two thousand years ago, the film centres around the rivalry between military strategists Sun Bin and Pang Juan.

 

'The Warring States' stars Sun Honglei, Kim Hee-seon, Jing Tian, Francis Ng and Kiichi Nakai. It is due for release across China in early 2011.

 

looks goods - i enjoy the chinese war epics

[thedude57]

The upcoming period martial arts actioner Shaolin, starring Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse, tops the Hong Kong media's list of eagerly awaited 2011 releases.

 

In a poll taken by a local newspaper, filmgoers said that the upcoming Benny Chan kung fu drama is the film they have highest hopes for. It will be released in Hong Kong on the 27th of January.

 

Set during the Republic era, the film pits veteran leading man Andy Lau against teen idol turned bad guy Nicholas Tse.

 

The film will be released in the UK by Cine Asia later in the year.

[thedude57]

'K-20: The Legend Of The Black Mask'

 

Manga Entertainment have announced the UK DVD and Blu-Ray releases of 'K-20: The Legend Of The Black Mask' for the 10th January, 2011. Adapted by writer-director Shimako Sato from a novel by So Kitamura, . Starring Takeshi Kaneshiro of red cliff fame

 

Synopsis

 

It's 1949 and World War II never happened. Nikola Tesla has just won a Nobel Prize rather than dying in obscurity and the Japanese Empire is an undying aristocracy where the rich sip tea out of bone china, while the poor die in the gutters. K-20, the Fiend with Twenty Faces, steals from the rich and gives to himself. But now, on the eve of the marriage between society princess, Yoko Hashiba, and chief of police, Kogoro Akechi, the fiend frames simple circus acrobat Hekichi Endo (Takeshi Kaneshiro) for his crimes and the poor sap is arrested and sentenced to death. But he escapes at the last minute and assumes the guise of K-20 in order to clear his good name.

Edited December 29, 2010 by the dude

[thedude57]

'Manzai Gang'

 

 

The trailer has been released for 'Manzai Gang', a new Japanese comedy written and directed by Hiroshi Shinagawa ('Drop'). The film stars Ryuta Sato ('Gachi Boy') as a struggling comedian who, after being locked up in a detention centre, suddenly discovers the perfect partner for his routine.

 

Synopsis

 

Tobio (Ryuta Sato), who has been the "funny man" in a manzai (stand up comedy) duo for ten years, finds himself in trouble after his partner quits due to their declining popularity. He attempts to drink his problems away but finds himself locked up in a detention centre. At the centre Tobio meets a deliquent (Yusuke Kamiji) who has an uncanny knack for comedy. Thus a new manzai duo is created!

 

'Manzai Gang' is due for release across Japan on the 19th March, 2011.

[thedude57]

'The Grandmasters'

 

just watched the teaser trailer 'The Grandmasters', director Wong Kar Wai's long-awaited and long delayed Ip Man biopic. The film, which stars Tony Leung Chiu Wai in the leading role, focuses around Ip Man's life in Hong Kong just as he was establishing himself as a martial arts master to be reckoned with.

 

Synopsis

With martial arts getting more popular in the 1930s, people flocked to learn them from the professionals at Foshan in Southern China. In an attempt to prove their worth, some of the experienced masters like to challenge their counterparts and take part in a series of battles. To help retain their concentration, it is their practice to lock up the venues and no one is allowed to leave until it is over. No food and no rest before reaching any results.

 

Ip Man is a young, rich man who is extremely talented in martial arts, but he chooses to keep a low profile. However, this doesn’t keep him out of trouble as one day he is trapped in this battleground and he has to use every means in order to get out of there. After comfortably winning his encounter, the masters are amazed by his abilities. Master Kung and his daughter Kung Yi are amongst the crowd, and the latter is attracted to the mysterious newcomer.

 

Meanwhile, when a high warlord is assassinated by his own guard Yi Xian Tian, all of the masters in Foshan vow to take Tian down no matter what...

 

just don't wait for the release just yet, if the director Wong Kar Wai is ever actually satisifed with the production, 'The Grandmasters' may be released in December, 2011.

[thedude57]

The long-awaited bio pic "Bruce Lee, My Brother" recently started filming in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.

 

The movie, based on reminiscences by Lee's young brother, Robert, details the legend's early years in Hong Kong. It will depict his experiences as a kung fu student, cha cha champion and child actor.

 

Bruce Lee is played by actor/singer Aarif Lee,

 

Lee's first love is played by newcomer Jennifer Tse, (daughter of Hong Kong screen legend Patrick Tse Yin, a contemporary of Lee's who knew the kung fu idol, though they never worked together.)

 

playing Bruce's father, the opera star and movie actor Lee Hoi-chuen, is veteran thespian Tony Leung Kar-fai.

 

recent photos and posters have been released for this upcoming bio pic of the legend

 

 

 

the full trailer has been released - really looking forward to this movie - opens in HK in November

 

early reviews include:

 

Media Asia serves up this modestly budgeted ($5 million) semi-biopic on the life of the young Bruce Lee. Ace period detail and a commanding performance by Big Tony (Leung Ka Fai) as Bruce’s dad serve the film well, and newcomer Aarif Lee is fine in the title role. Those jonesing for action may feel the pace sag, but ‘Bruce Lee, My Brother’ is a brilliant period family drama.

 

The approach of realism is, for me, the correct one. If you want wall to wall action and copious questionable embellishments in your Bruce Lee biopic, Rob Cohen’s ‘Dragon’ will be a better bet. Does a kung fu film audience really want to see a film where the biggest win is of a Cha-Cha dancing trophy? Probably not. But for anyone who’d enjoy a touching, intimate and visually gorgeous drama about a young man who would one day give a nation, and fans around the world, a hero, I think ‘Bruce Lee, My Brother’ is a good place to start.

 

4/5 stars average

 

takings have been modest (approx $3m) but with only a limited release in HK, Australia, china, Malaysia and Singapore it is what is expected

[thedude57]

'Bad Boys'

 

 

The trailer has been released for 'Bad Boys', a live-action adaptation of Hiroshi Tanaka's motorcycle gang manga. Directed by Takashi Kubota ('Yesterdays'), the film stars Shogo Suzuki as the son of a wealthy family who rebels against his parents by joining a motorcycle gang.

 

Synopsis

Tsukasa Kiriki is a naive son who rebels against his rich parents by joining a motorcycle gang called the Paradise Butterflies. Together with his friends, Yoji, Hisao, and Eiji, the group try to be the most powerful gang on the streets of Hiroshima.

 

'Bad Boys' is due for release across Japan on the 26th February, 2011.

[thedude57]

Confessions

 

the latest masterpiece from 'Memories of Matsuko' and 'Kamikaze Girls' director Tetsuya Nakashima starts its theatrical run on February 18th at various cinemas across the UK.

 

The DVD and Blu-ray release is tentatively set for April 11th, though this is subject to change.

[thedude57]

'The Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate'

 

 

Jet Li stars in Tsui Hark's upcoming 3D martial arts movie 'The Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate' The project is a reinterpretation of Hark's own 1992 film 'New Dragon Gate Inn' and will mark the first time that this type of action movie has been shot in 3D.

 

In the film, Li plays a Ming Dynasty general who must do battle with a power-hungry eunuch, played by Chen Kun. The action choreography is being handled by Yuen Bun, who says that the fight scenes won't disappoint as he has designed some difficult but novel actions for Li.

 

'The Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate' is due for release in late 2011.