takashi miike

FIRST LOVE: Win A Takashi Miike-Signed Copy Of The Official Poster From Well Go USA And Hi-YAH!

Most of my e-mail alerts nowadays pertaining to the new crime thriller, First Love, all have much to do with critical responses that are nothing short of positive. That’s just the kind of delightful narrative that makes Well Go USA’s own release of the film all the more pleasant following their acquisition from the summer, and I’ll be sure to turn my own review in soon. In the meantime, the martial arts action-loaded Hi-YAH network is launching an exclusive GIVEAWAY for a copy of the film’s official poster, signed by the film’s legendary filmmaker himself, Takashi Miike. Sample it below! The film is the prolific auteur, Takashi Miike, at his most fun and anarchic, a noir-tinged yakuza film blending genres in the story of a young boxer and a call girl, who fall passionately in love while getting innocently caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one […]

FIRST LOVE: Catch The First Official Teaser For The New Takashi Miike Action Thriller!

Lee B. Golden III

Yes, Takashi Miike is back and the buzz he’s earned since premiering his new action thriller at Cannes and Neuchâtel this year with First Love all but suggests this. The film is finally poised for a theatrical relsase on September 27 and we now have an official teaser making the rounds to get the word out. The film is the prolific auteur, Takashi Miike, at his most fun and anarchic, a noir-tinged yakuza film blending genres in the story of a young boxer and a call girl, who fall passionately in love while getting innocently caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo. First Love stars Masataka Kubota, Nao Omori, Shota Sometani and Sakurako Konishi among the roster. Take a gander at the official teaser above stay tuned for more exciting Miike movie news!

FIRST LOVE: Takashi Miike’s Cannes Hit Action Thriller Picked Up By Well Go USA For Late 2019

Lee B. Golden III

Takashi Miike’s newest Cannes darling, First Love, is coming to North America, and Well Go USA is all but on-top of things with its acquisition reported on Wednesday from THR. The film had its Directors’ Fortnight run in France and stars Masataka Kubota (Tokyo Ghoul, Tokyo Ghoul: S), and actress Sakurako Konishi with Nao Omori (Ichi The Killer), Shota Sometani (Legend Of The Demon Cat), actress and singer Becky (Eight Ranger, Eight Ranger 2), and actors Jun Murakami (Aircraft Carrier Ibuki), Sansei Shiomi (Beyond Outrage, Outrage Coda) and Seiyo Uchino (13 Assassins). First Love marks the fourth collaboration between Academy Award® winning producer Jeremy Thomas (THE LAST EMPEROR) and Takashi Miike (BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL, HARA-KIRI and 13 ASSASSINS). Set over one night in Tokyo, we follow Leo (Kubota), a young boxer down on his luck as he meets his ‘first love’ Monica (Konishi), a call girl and an addict […]

The Final Trailer For YAKUZA APOCALYPSE Is A Montage Of Violent Anarchy!

Lee B. Golden III

There’s no doubt that director Miike Takashi‘s latest action horror endeavor, Yakuza Apocalypse, revives the usual eccentricities his fanbase has gotten so used to in his career. The reviews off of its Cannes premiere come mixed for a film that encompasses what The Guardian‘s own Andrew Pulver concluded in his review as “A very acquired taste.”, and that isn’t exactly a secret for folks familiar with movies like manga adaptation, Ichi The Killer and Izo. Nonetheless, the latest trailer is circling the internet with one last push to get your attention; Suffice it to say this one is a frenetic orchestra of kicks to the face, stabbing, screaming, biting and bloodsucking, and crescendos galore with Indonesian action star import, Yayan Ruhian, and lead actor Ichihara Hayato front and center for the film’s June 20 release in Japan. And for an acquired taste, I think it’s safe to say the dinner […]

The New Trailer For Miike's YAKUZA APOCALYPSE Bites Back!

Lee B. Golden III

It’s only a matter of time before director Miike Takashi steps into the summer season with his latest vampire action thriller, Yakuza Apocalypse. It’s only his latest effort in keeping a promise to his long-celebrate signature style of film while we await further info on his future endeavors, and while the most recent teaser gained the film some publicity to start, we now have a minute-long trailer that lends a little more to the eye. It’s got yakuzas, vampires, some gore, badass tattoos, a better look at Yayan Ruhian in a film outside his normal Indonesian bearings…and a killer frog-suited..thing. Indeed, this looks hella fun. And random! SYNOPSIS: In the ruthless underground world of the yakuza, no one is more legendary than boss Kamiura. Rumored to be invincible, the truth is he is a vampire—a bloodsucking yakuza vampire boss! Among Kamiura’s gang is Kageyama, his most loyal underling. However, the […]

Mankind To Battle Mutant Cockaroaches On Mars In Miike Takashi’s Live-Action TERRA FORMARS Movie

Lee B. Golden III

Japanese film auteur Miike Takashi (Crows, Yatterman, Ichi The Killer) is still on par to release his latest self-described return to form with the upcoming action horror, Yakuza Apocalypse. Obviously based on the most recent teaser, such a film will delve into the usual gonzo array of gory imagery and wackiness to accomdate the creative vision planned here, but that’s Miike for you, and to suggest there’s a limit to his style would be the equivalent of expecting gravity to work in outer space, which reminds me… Terra Formars (テラフォーマーズ) is a 2011 Japanese sci-fi manga written by Yū Sasuga and illustrated by Kenichi Tachibana. The story follows that in an attempt to colonize Mars, 21st century humanity first sought to terra form the planet by sending modified algae to change the planets atmosphere. Cockroaches were cleverly used as the method to transport the algae across the planet. Five hundred […]

YAKUZA APOCALYPSE: THE GREAT WAR OF THE UNDERWORLD Gets A New Promo Image And Teaser

Lee B. Golden III

The Mole Song and As The Gods Will helmer, director Miike Takashi‘s work is not without a following of its own. He’s got a fanbase he listens to-so indicated last Spring when he formally announced a “rampaging” return to the basics with the production of his newest action horror romp, Yakuza Apocalypse: The Great War Of The Underworld. Miike reunites with lead actor Ichihara Hayato following their pairing on the 2008 film God’s Puzzle, with a brand new promotional image now available online just below, as well as a new teaser. SYNOPSIS: Kagayama is a feeble but loyal underling to legendary yakuza boss Kamiura, who turns out to be a vampire. When an assassin from an international syndicate arrives in Japan to deliver an ultimatum, Kamiura is killed. But, not before he manages to bite Kagayama, and the transformed underling sets out to get revenge against a formidable team of […]

JAPAN CUTS 2014 Announces 27 Titles And Much More!

Lee B. Golden III

There’s a great line-up awaiting those who will be able to attend this summer’s events at the Japan Cuts 2014, now well on its way to an eighth year run in light of what’s happening over at NYAFF. I’ve written about a few of these titles before and I personally look forward to catching some of them on my own time, including the festival’s newest announcement, the Mo’ Brothers Sundance 2014 favorite, Killers, starring lead actor Kazuki Kitamura who is also attending this year’s festivities among a handful of other guests. For tickets and other information, head over to Japan Society’s official website to glance at their coverage. Otherwise, check out the press release below! New York, NY — North America’s largest showcase of Japanese film and “One of the loopiest… and least predictable of New York’s film festivals” (New York Magazine), JAPAN CUTS: The New York Festival of Contemporary […]

Yayan Ruhian Set To Star In Takashi Miike's YAKUZA APOCALYPSE

Lee B. Golden III

Attendees of the New York Asian Film Festival will likely find themselves in front of Ichi The Killer and 13 Assassins helmer Takashi Miike‘s latest manga-based action comedy, The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji this summer. But for those who follow his work in hopes of him returning to darker, more violent movies, as of last month, fans are bound to get exactly that. Following initial reports in April of the film’s principal photography kickoff on April 17 for his latest action horror production, Yakuza Apocalypse: The Great War Of The Underworld, reports are now saying that Indonesian action star Yayan Ruhian has joined the cast of the new film, now set for a 2015 release. Based on an original screenplay by Yoshitaka Yamaguchi, Ruhian will be joining lead actor Hayato Ichihara who plays Kageyama, a yakuza subordinate forced to take on a group of deadly international assassins and avenge […]