13 Assassins
Director: Eiichi Kudo
Writer: Kaneo Ikegami
Staring: Chezo Kataoka, Ko Nishimura and Ryohei Uchida
Origianl Release: Dec. 7th, 1963
U. S. Re-Release Date: June 5th, 2012
U. S. Distributor: AnimEigo
Format: DVD / 126 minutes
Genre: Period Piece, Historical Drama, Samurai
Age Rating: Not Rated (suggested PG 13 due to violence)
Overall Personal Rating: B+
Similar Titles: Sword of Desperation, Revenge, The Loyal 47 Ronin
Synopsis:
Sword of Desperation
Directed By: Hideyuki Hirayama
Written By: Based on Novel by Shuhei Fujisawa
Staring: Etsuhi Toyokawa, Chizuru Ikewaki and Koji Kikkawa
U. S. Distributor: AnimEigo
U. S. release date: Feb. 14th, 2012
Format: DVD / 114 minutes
Genre: Edo Period, Drama
Age Rating
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar Titles: The Samurai I Loved
Synopsis:
Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City Blu-ray
Director: Takashi Miike
Writer: Kankuro Kudo
Actors: Show Aikawa, Riisa Naka, Masahiro Inoue, Naoki Tanaka and Guadaicanai Taka
U.S. Distributor: FUNimation
U. S. Release Date: Nov. 29th, 2011
Format: Blu-ray/ 106 minutes
Genre: Sci Fi, Comedy, Gothic Fantasy, Super Hero
Age Rating: TV-14
Overall Personal Rating: B
Similar Titles: Mercury Man
With Zebraman gone missing after his heroic battle that saved the earth from the invading aliens, who will protect us?
Synopsis:
The Treasure Hunter Blu-ray and DVD
Director: Chu Yin-Ping
Actors: Jay Chou, Chiling Lin and Eric Tsang
U.S. Distributor: FUNimation
U.S. Release Date: Nov. 15th, 2011
Format: Blu-ray / DVD / 106 Minutes
Genre: Action / Adventure, Supernatural
Age Rating: TV 14
Overall Personal Rating: B
Similar Titles: Indiana Jones films, The Mummy and National Treasure
Some things you just shouldn’t mess with and hidden cities with ancient cursed treasures are at the top of the list.
Synopsis:
Higanjima: Escape From Vampire Island DVD/Blu-ray Combo
Director: Tae-gyun Kim
Actors: Dai Watanabe, Asami Mizukawa, Koji Yamato, Hideo Ishiquro and Tomohisa Yuge
U.S. Distributor: FUNimation
U.S. Release Date: Oct. 4th, 2011
Format: DVD / Blu-ray / 122 minuets
Genre: Triller
Overall Personal Rating: C+
Nothing good can come when the village says stay away from the shrine yet you disobey and end up opening the one thing that will ruin your life. But in most films like this, there is one arrogant punk that just won’t listen.
The Sword With No Name
Director: Kim Yong-Gyun
Actors: Soo-Ae, Cho Seung-Woo and Choi Jae-Woong
Production Company: SidusFNH
U. S. Distributor: FUNimation
U.S. Release Date: September 20th, 2011
Format: Blu-ray / 124 minutes
Genre: Romance, Period Piece
Age Rating: TV MA
Overall Personal Rating: B+
In world full of intrigue and political struggles, an unlikely romance develops between two who can never be together. The love that blossoms appears strong enough to overcome almost any obstacles.
Synopsis:
Title: Goemon [Blu-ray]
Director: Kazuaki Kiriya
Actors: Yosuke Eguchi, Takao Osawa, Ryoko Hirosue
U. S. Distributor: FUNimation
U. S. Release Date: April 19th, 2011
Format: Blu-ray / 127 minutes
Genre: Historical Early Edo Period, Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Age Rating: TV 14
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar Title: Kamui Gaiden, Ip Man
In a time of dreams just before the Tokugawa Shogunate came to power and united the nation, there was a famous Thief, or should I say Master Thief. He was the hope of the poor and downcast, a thing to be feared by the rich and powerful. Once aroused his might and fury would become legend.
Director/Studio/Authors: Hideo Gosha/Toei Co Inc./Hideo Gosha and Kei Tasaka
Distributor: AnimEigo
American release date: April 12, 2011
Format/Genre/Length: DVD/Samurai/91 minutes
Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Not rated/contains violence, treachery and pottery
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar series or titles to check out: Samurai Vendetta
Kamui Gaiden on Blu-ray
Director: Yoichi Sai
Writers: Kankuro Kudo (Screenplay), Shirato Sanpei (Manga)
Actors: Kenichi Matsuyama, Koyuki, Hideaki Ito, Kaoru Kobayashi
U. S. Release Date: Dec. 28th, 2010
U. S. Distributor: FUNimation
Format: Blu-ray / 120 minutes
Genre: Edo Period Historical Fiction, Ninja, Action/Adventure
Overall Personal Rating: B
Similar Titles: Ichi
Once an Shinobi always a Shinobi, or that is the saying. A young aspiring Shinobi learns that saying in person as he watches a rouge Shinobi try to escape that way of life.
Gantz, The Movie part 1 (World Premier)
Director: Shinsuke Sato
Writer: Hiroya Oku (manga)
U.S. Distributor: Viz Pictures /New People Cinema
Release Date: Jan 29th, 2011 in Theaters in Japan (U.S. TBA)
Genre: Sci Fi, Action, Psychological Triller
Age Rating: R
Overall Personal Rating: B+
Similar Series: Death Note and 20th Century Boys
You just died and now you find yourself in a room full of other people and a large black ball. Suddenly the ball starts playing a morning exercise song and then distributes funny tight jump suits and strange weapons. You then find yourself out in the world looking to kill aliens. What happened to just going to heaven?
Samurai Spy
Director/Studio/Author: Masahiro Shinoda/Criterion/Koji Nakada, Yoshiuka Fukuda
Distributor: AnimEigo
American release date: October 25, 2005
Format, Genre and length: DVD/Samurai/99 minutes
Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Not Rated
Overall Personal Rating: A
“Seal your lips tight.”
Fourteen years have passed since the Tokugawa clan were victorious at the Battle of Sekigahara, but that does not mean that there are still not factions which oppose the new regime. Battle lines are drawn between the supporters of Tokugawa and the supporters of Toyotomi. In broad geographical terms, the Kanto region, which contains the city of Edo, is pro Tokugawa, while those in the Kansai, where Osaka can be found are in favor of Toyotomi. Not everyone has chosen a side. One of these is Sasuke Sarutobi, who belongs to the Sanada clan. He believes that wars are good for no one.
Ping Pong the Movie
Director: Fumihiko Sori
Writer: Taiyo Matsumoto
Actors: Yosuke Kubozuka, Shidou Nakamura, Sam Lee and Koji Ohkura
Distributor: Viz Pictures
U. S. Release Date: Sept. 4th, 2007
Format: DVD / 114 minutes
Genre: Seinen, Slice of Life, Sports, Drama
Age Rating: Not Rated (PG suggested)
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar Titles: Taste of Tea and Train Man
In a world gone made from the drudgery of every day life, there is one constant guarantee, Mr. Peco has an Ego that will engulf all who surround him.
Death Note: L change the World
Director: Hideo Nakata
Distributor: Viz Pictures
U.S. Release Date: Sept. 16th, 2009
Format: DVD / 129 minutes
Age Rating: 13+
Overall Personal Rating: A-
Similar Titles: Death Note 1 & 2
The Death Note franchise takes on the question of what L did with his last 23 days. Of course this storyline is unique to the live action series, not the manga or anime series. Death Note: L change the World is fun, fantastic, full of action and lots and lots of L being L.
Director/Studio/Author: Kazuro Mori/Daei Studios/Kosuke Gomi and Daisuke Ito
Distributor: AnimEigo
American release date: October 12, 2010
Format, Genre and length: DVD/Samurai/109 minutes
Overall Personal Rating: A-
Publisher/Industry Age Rating: 18+
Similar series or titles to check out: Samurai Banners, Samurai Assassin, 47 Ronin
Two’s company, three’s a crowd, even in feudal Japan. What you want isn’t necessarily what you get, especially when forces that are greater than you, conspire against you. But isn’t that always the way?
Synopsis:
Title: Honey and Clover
Director: Masahiro Takata
Written by: Masahiko Kawahara and Masahiro Takata
Based on the series by manga artist Chika Umino
Distributor: Viz Pictures
American release date: 5/13/08
Format, Genre and length: DVD, Romantic Comedy, 116 minutes
Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Teen
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar series or titles to check out: Honey and Clover (manga), Honey and Clover (anime), Makoto Aida: Cynic in the Playground
Train Man: Densha Otoko
Director: Shosuke Murakami
Written by: Arisa Kaneko
U. S. Distributor: Viz Pictures
U. S. Release Date: Feb. 6th, 2007
Format: DVD / 101 minutes
Genre: Shojo, Romance, Comedy
Age Rating: Not Rated, (PG 13 )
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar Titles: Love*Com and The Taste of Tea.
Many of us look to find the courage to step out and find our place in the world, finding the first step to be the most difficult. For some, it will be a stumble that gets them moving and for Densha Otoko, Train Man, this is just the case.
The Taste of Tea
Written and Directed by: Katsuhito ISHII
Distributor: Viz Pictures, Inc.
American Release Date: July 3rd, 2007
Format: DVD / 143 minutes
Genre: Comedy
Age Rating: Not Rated, but Parental Guidance Suggested for language.
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar Titles: Funky Forest and Departures
To be 8 years old and have a giant version of yourself pop up and just watch, can be very unnerving and would drive a young lady to want this apparition to go away. Sachiko is one such girl and her days are filled with thoughts of how to rid herself of this giant, this is just the tip of the iceberg for her family and their unusual existence.
This is a joint review by Julie and Sarah Hayes
Inception
Director/Studio: Christopher Nolan/Warner Brothers
American release date: July 16, 2010
Format/Genre/Length: Theatrical Release/Fantasy/148 minutes
Age Rating: PG13
Overall Personal Rating: A+
Similar titles: What Dreams May Come, Brainstorm, Paprika
The fluidity of time and the permeability of dreams is tested in the new fantasy/sci fi/high tech thriller Inception.
Synopsis:
SHINIGAMI DEATH GODS AND THE HUNT FOR A SERIAL KILLER CONSPIRE IN NEW BLUE-RAY DEATH NOTE COLLECTION
Highly Anticipated Double-Feature Release Is Based On Popular Manga And Anime Series And Includes Death Note,
Death Note II: The Last Name Feature Films And Bonus Disc
San Francisco, CA, August 10, 2010 – VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, will debut the Blu-ray Death Note Collection on August 24th, 2010. The 3-disc set includes 2 feature films – Death Note and Death Note II: the Last name – as well as a bonus disc containing more than two hours of all new behind-the-scenes footage. Both films feature Japanese audio with English subtitles as well as an English dubbed dialogue track. MSRP for the Death Note Collection is $39.98 U.S. / $57.99 CAN.
VIZ CINEMA OFFERS TALES OF VENGENCE, CONFLICT, REDEMPTION AND RECONCILIATION IN NEW AUGUST FILM PRESENTATIONS
The Japanese American Experience In World War II Is Explored In Poignant Documentaries; Action Fans Can Sample Akira Kurosawa Samurai Classics And Gritty Tales Of Betrayal And Vengeance From Korean Director Park Chan-Wook
San Francisco, CA, July 27, 2010 – VIZ Cinema, the nation’s only movie theatre dedicated to Japanese film, opens August with a theme of “The Winding Road to Peace” in a month that marks the 55th Anniversary of both the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the end of World War II.
