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Cinema: Rashomon

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

Akira Kurosawa’s classic Rashomon is released at the BFI Southbank and key cities around the UK from 18 June.

Posted in Calendar, Japan, News, Releases, UK | No Comments »

On DVD and Blu-ray from today: Ichi

Monday, August 24th, 2009

Ping Pong director Fumihiko Sori’s enjoyable, if a little long, take on the Zatoichi character get’s released on DVD and Blu-ray today by Manga Enertainment.

»You can read our full review here…

Posted in News, Releases, UK | No Comments »

At selected UK cinemas today: Ichi

Friday, July 10th, 2009

On release today at selected cinemas around the UK, Fumihiko Sori’s enteraining revamp of blind swordsman Zatoichi, Ichi, starring Haruka Ayase…

» Read our full review of Ichi here…

Posted in Japan, News, Releases, UK, _Clips and trailers | No Comments »

Ichi

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Novelist Kan Shimozawa’s famous blind swordsman Zatoichi, recently brought to the screen by Beat Takeshi, gets a feminine makeover courtesy Fumihiko Sori, director of Ping Pong and the Anime Vexille… (more…)

Posted in Action / Thrillers, Films, Japan, Martial arts, Reviews, Wuxia / Swordplay | No Comments »

DVD/BLU-RAY: Ichi

Saturday, July 4th, 2009

From Fumihiko Sori, the director of Vexille and Ping Pong, comes the period martial arts action saga, ICHI, a bold, gender-bending reimagining of the classic Zatoichi series of films and TV shows. Originally created by novelist Kan Shimozawa, the eponymous hero – a blind masseur and master swordsman – has traditionally been a male character (previously played by stars such as Shintaro Katsu, Takeshi Kitano and, in Blind Fury, by Rutger Hauer). In a refreshing break from tradition that adds an intriguing twist to the story, Sori’s ICHI stars actress Haruka Ayase (Hero) in the title role playing a young and beautiful blind musician who also happens to be an adept swordswoman.

Travelling the country in search of the blind swordsman who raised her as a child and passed on his fighting skills to her before mysteriously leaving her life, Ichi is constantly struggling to deal with those eager to take advantage of her disability. During her quest she encounters and is threatened by a brutal gang of bandits. Another passing wanderer, Toma (Takao Osawa), steps in to rescue Ichi but finds he is the one being saved when she reveals a samurai sword hidden inside her walking stick and effortlessly despatches their attackers. The slaying of the bandits brings the wrath of their leader, Banki (Shido Nakamura), down upon Ichi and Toma and they reluctantly become embroiled in a battle for control of a village between Banki’s gang and the local yakuza. However, Ichi’s initial feelings about her involvement changes when she discovers Banki may know the whereabouts of the man she is seeking.

Co-starring Shido Nakamura (Red Cliff; Letters From Iwo Jima), Yosuke Kubozuka (Ping Pong) and Takao Osawa (Sky High), and with fight choreography by Hiroshi Kuze (responsible for the amazing sword fights in many of Akira Kurosawa’s epics, including Ran) and a superb musical score by award winning composer Lisa Gerrard (Gladiator), ICHI is a sublime and welcome addition to the Zatoichi movie canon.

ICHI (cert. 15 tbc) is released on DVD by Manga Entertainment on 24 August 2009.

Posted in Calendar, News, Releases | No Comments »

Coming soon: Fumihiko Sori’s Ichi

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

Here’s a clip from the new Fumihiko Sori (director of Ping Pong and Vexille) reimaging of the infamous Zatoichi character, this time as a female blind musician who also happens to be a master swordsman. Haruka Ayase (Hero) stars in the title role, with support from Shido Nakamura (Red Cliff; Letters From Iwo Jima), Yosuke Kubozuka (Ping Pong) and Takao Osawa (Sky High). Fight choreography is by Hiroshi Kuze, resonsible swords fights on many of Akira Kurosawa’s later films, including Ran, so expect some old school action.

Ichi will be released by Manga Entertainment and opens at ICA London from 7 July, and selected UK cinemas on 10th July 2009.

Posted in News, Releases, _Clips and trailers | No Comments »

Cinema: Ichi

Friday, June 12th, 2009

From Fumihiko Sori, the director of Vexille and Ping Pong, comes the period martial arts action saga, ICHI, a bold, gender-bending reimagining of the classic Zatoichi series of films and TV shows. Originally created by novelist Kan Shimozawa, the eponymous hero – a blind masseur and master swordsman – has traditionally been a male character (previously played by stars such as Shintaro Katsu, Takeshi Kitano and, in Blind Fury, by Rutger Hauer). In a refreshing break from tradition that adds an intriguing twist to the story, Sori’s ICHI stars actress Haruka Ayase (Hero) in the title role playing a young and beautiful blind musician who also happens to be an adept swordswoman.

Travelling the country in search of the blind swordsman who raised her as a child and passed on his fighting skills to her before mysteriously leaving her life, Ichi is constantly struggling to deal with those eager to take advantage of her disability. During her quest she encounters and is threatened by a brutal gang of bandits. Another passing wanderer, Toma (Takao Osawa), steps in to rescue Ichi but finds he is the one being saved when she reveals a samurai sword hidden inside her walking stick and effortlessly despatches their attackers. The slaying of the bandits brings the wrath of their leader, Banki (Shido Nakamura), down upon Ichi and Toma and they reluctantly become embroiled in a battle for control of a village between Banki’s gang and the local yakuza. However, Ichi’s initial feelings about her involvement changes when she discovers Banki may know the whereabouts of the man she is seeking.

Co-starring Shido Nakamura (Red Cliff; Letters From Iwo Jima), Yosuke Kubozuka (Ping Pong) and Takao Osawa (Sky High), and with fight choreography by Hiroshi Kuze (responsible for the amazing sword fights in many of Akira Kurosawa’s epics, including Ran) and a superb musical score by award winning composer Lisa Gerrard (Gladiator), ICHI is a sublime and welcome addition to the Zatoichi movie canon.

ICHI (cert. 15 tbc) is released by Manga Entertainment and opens at ICA London from 7 July, and selected UK cinemas on 10 July 2009.

Posted in Calendar, News, Releases, UK | No Comments »

King Boxer

Friday, March 20th, 2009

Better known under its deliriously exploitative US title Five Fingers Of Death, another kung fu bona fide classic finally makes its way onto UK DVD – bring it on…! (more…)

Posted in Films, Hong Kong, Martial arts, Reviews | No Comments »

Sukiyaki Western Django

Monday, November 24th, 2008

Takashi Miike’s first English language film is a stylish Spaghetti Western homage with a thickly accented Japanese cast and a cameo by Quentin Tarantino – well really, what did you expect…? (more…)

Posted in Action / Thrillers, Films, Reviews | No Comments »

The Guard Post

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

Director Su-chang Kong re-enters R-Point territory with this impressive shocker… (more…)

Posted in Films, Horror, Reviews, South Korea | No Comments »

Hana

Tuesday, November 28th, 2006

Writer/director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s thoughtful and hilarious take on the samurai genre… (more…)

Posted in Cinema Club – The finest in Asian film, Comedy, Drama, Films, Japan, Japanese classics, Reviews, Wuxia / Swordplay | No Comments »

The Assassin

Tuesday, October 10th, 2006

Director Zhang Che on top form with a real gem of a film, but if you’re expecting the usual bloodthirsty, simplistic, macho approach, think again!… (more…)

Posted in Films, Hong Kong, Reviews, Wuxia / Swordplay | No Comments »

Whispers on the wind: an exclusive interview with Jun Ichikawa

Monday, April 24th, 2006

Jun Ichikawa speaks exclusively to easternKicks about directing Tony Takitani, and just how he managed to get permission from the story’s author, Haruki Murakami, to make the film in the first place… (more…)

Posted in Directors, Features, Filmmakers, Interviews, Japan | No Comments »

Lone Wolf and Cub

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004

The groundbreaking manga that influenced generation upon generation of comic book creators and inspired the notorious ‘Baby Cart’ series that began with Shogun Assassin… (more…)

Posted in Books, Japan, Manga, Reviews | No Comments »

Come Drink With Me

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004

If you ever wanted to know where Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon came from you only need to know one name, King Hu. This ground breaking film, possibly one of the greatest of the martial chivalry genre, started it all… (more…)

Posted in Cinema Club – The finest in Asian film, Directors, Filmmakers, Hong Kong, Hong Kong classics, Reviews, Wuxia / Swordplay | No Comments »

Hero

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004

Nominated for an Oscar, Jet Li stars in director Zhang Yimou’s (Raise The Red Lantern, Not One Less) first foray into the swordplay genre, and it’s one of the most beautiful and offbeat yet… (more…)

Posted in China, Chinese classics, Cinema Club – The finest in Asian film, Films, Hong Kong, Reviews, Wuxia / Swordplay | No Comments »
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