Akira (Live Action) Coming 2011
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Remember that extremely bad ass Anime film from 1988 called 'Akira'? Katsuhiro Otomo is currently dipping hands with Hollywood for a live action version of it via DiCaprio in the production seat with uncle Warner flipping the bills. First-timer, Ruairi Robinson, is said to be directing; the Warners liked his adaptation. This is going to be a 2-film release with the first one to come out sometime in 2011. Amazing, I am excited but also afraid that they might butcher it. The revealed plot actually sounds quite good, check this out: "Set in 2019, Akira follows a group of motorcycle riding teens in Neo-Tokyo that get wrapped up in a government conspiracy that threatens the world with annihilation." What is Neo Tokyo you ask? well instead of being set in Tokyo, the film takes place in Manhattan?!?! What? But it's like a post-apocalyptic New York where it had a mega economic crash and it gets bought out by the Japanese. NYC becomes a place where Americans and Japanese heavily roam the island. Sounds dope.
The animated Akira had it's toll and influence on Hollywood. How and what will the new Akira films do? I personally think this is going to be a super rad little series. The animated Akira was a cult classic and I'm way interested in seeing what a Neo-Tokyo holds! And yes I know it's not just a comic book or animation but a real dope graphic novel! We'll be posting the trailer as soon as it is available. Aww Can't wait!
Labels: Film
TOKYO! The Movie
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Whether you're an indie film geek or the casual fan, you have probably heard about Tokyo!; the new 3-part film by directors Bong Joon Ho (The Host), Leos Carax (Bad Blood) and Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine). Tokyo! is about just that, Tokyo! It's a 3-fold film with 3 directors envisioning 3 different stories that take place in Tokyo. Let's break it down by film shall we?
Michel Gondry's Interior Design is based on a comic book written by Gabrielle Bell called “Cecil and Jordan in New York” from “Kramer’s Ergot #5″. The film is about a young couple who is trying their luck at a happy future in the big city. The guy follows his ambitions to make films and sadly the couple starts to peel a part. The girl, played by Steven Seagal's Japanese daughter Ayako Fujitani, begins to turn into a CHAIR! WHAT?! Heck Yea!
French born Leos Carax’s Merde is still quite a mystery to me. It involves a perhaps crazy and demented individual who causes a stir up in Tokyo. Apparently this Merde attacks people and blows things up with grenades. He gets captured and justice has its way on him. The media gets heavily involved and creates kookoo craze and I think you are going to have to watch this one a few times!
In Bong Hoon Jo's Tokyo! finisher, Shaking Tokyo, Teruyuki Kagawa plays a Hikikomori, yea read all about that. It's a strange yet intensely interesting topic. Kagawa lkives off of pizza and when a beautiful young pizza delivery girl gets knocked out from an earthquake in his apartment, he begins to fall in love. And if I tell you anymore of the story you will probably punch me and turn me into a Hikikomori too so I'll leave it up to your imagination for now!
"In the tradition of such films as New York Stories, Night On Earth, Paris Je Taime and its forthcoming sequel New York I Love You, TOKYO! addresses the timeless question of whether we shape cities, or if cities shape us — while in the process, revealing the rich humanity at the heart of modern urban life." Ooh we dig that. Tokyo! will be screening in various cities and will be showing in Los Angeles in March at the Nuart Landmark Theatre.
Labels: Film
Sergei Bodrov's Mongol, In Theatres June 6!
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Last night GiantRobot held a special screening of Sergei Bodrov's Mongol at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles! Tadanobu Asano stars as Temudjin, the inevitable Kahn of all of the Mongols. I thought it was very interesting for production companies in Germany, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia to all come together for this production. The film was nominated for the 2007 Academy Award for Best Foreign Languange film as a submission from Kazakhstan.
The film begins with a young Temudjin and follows his earl years and a semihistorical, near accurate portrayal of ancient Mongolia. This film is definitely epic with battle scenes worth of 300 and Gladiator. Loads of blood and barbaric sword slashin' depicts the first disorder and separation of tribes during those early times. It was survival of the fittest of sorts. But with beautiful cinematic scenes of large open mountain ranges, plains, and deserts, it was easy to find a contrast between a land of plunder and deception in a setting so breathtaking.
With the help and unconditional love of his wife Borte (whose role is completely vital, cause she's got strong legs), Temudjin is able to continue on amidst slavery, humiliation and devastating family hardships. It was interesting to see a visualization of all the things I learned about in my history class on that region. It was a great cultural window and the young actors are so great! Look out for Picture House's Mongol in theatres tomorrow June 6th in New York and Los Angeles.
Full Trailer in HD
When will I get to choose my bride?
Labels: Film
New York's Rooftop Films!
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
I just discovered something super rad! Rooftop Films! These guys put on awesome independent film screenings, sometimes the world premieres on about a dozen rooftops all over NYC. The Rooftop Films 2008 Summer Series will run every weekend from May 31-September 27 with the opening night coming up this Friday June 6th, with special live music by Dirty on Purpose, presented by Sound Fix! Be sure to check them out! They'll be reelin' 19 feature lengths and over 150 short films throughout the summer series. Check out all the deets and schedule here.
Sound Fix Presents: Rooftop Films Opening Party
@ The Open Road Rooftop Project at New Design
350 Grand Street (btwn Essex and Ludlow) New York, New York
All Ages! Doors at 8pm, Music at 8:45, Films at 9:30
Cost: $8 <---that's cheap fun!
p.s....we need one of these in LA. Feel me?
Wong Kar Wai's My Blueberry Nights OST!
Monday, April 07, 2008
The internationally branded filmmaker, Wong Kar Wai's first English speaking, U.S. shot film, My Bluberry Nights opened Friday in Los Angeles! After a nomination for the Golden Palm and opener at the 60th Annual Cannes Filmfest last year in France, I was for sure this film would be picked up for distro sooner or later, and I was in ultra anticipation for it's release. I finally got to see the film and I thought it was totally awesome and I think what did it for me was Norah Jones' character Elizabeth but I won't give anything away!
One really strong aspects before even viewing the film is the eclectic edge that the film's soundtrack really pushes on. This jazzy blues country pop collage is nothing short of an amazing album. With Wong filming all over the U.S. including LA to NY and Memphis in between, the tones and the imagery are completed with the likes of Norah Jones (duh!), Cat Power, Composer Ry Cooder and Gustavo Santaolalla (+more). Just a great soundtrack to hang out with.
Cat Power - The Greatest
Norah Jones - The Story
Hello Stranger - Devil's Highway
Natalie Portman played a larger role than I previously imagined but she did really great pulling off her character. Others in cast: Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, David Strathairn and Cat Power. Go watch the trailer and check out the film at the Landmark!
Labels: blues, Film, jazz, sountracks
2nd Annual Talent 1 Media Film Fest in Little Tokyo
Friday, July 13, 2007
Talent1Media is the non-profit (503)c organization behind the 2nd Annual Tom Film Fest. Last year's TOMfest was focusing on AIDS in Africa, and they worked with several organizations including World Vision. This year the issue we tackled: Human Trafficking. We invited several organizations including ICare Community, World Vision, Oasis USA, LA Loves, LA Unity Coalition with it's members and JustOne. They were all a great resource for attendees to get involved in practical ways here in the U.S. and over seas.
The festival was held at the George & Sakaye Aratani Theatre in the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles on July 7th. With over 600 in attendance, 9 Films, Free Appetizers & Refreshments, neat Lights (one of them splashing our logo on the theatre), 15 volunteers, our friend DJ Seanzerelli (spinnin' bossa to hiphop) and some well committed individuals, the festival was a success! People were connecting with eachother, resources, speakers and of course the Films! Tan Panda was on the scene as well to help. Come January and We'll be planning the 3rd annual. I'm very excited about it!
bbqchickenrobot
WideEyedEggplant
The GOOD Pants
2Scoops
El-izzle
Open Mike
