Notizie

When we asked our staff to vote on the best comic book movie adaptations, we were afraid the results would consist only of superhero films. While there are many superhero movies listed below, it is great to see a bulk of non-Hollywood films appearing on the list as well. We set out to compile a list of 50 movies but as it were, we ended up with 5 ties, and so the list consists 55 films instead. Let us know if you think we missed something. Enjoy!

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55. The Adventures of Tintin

Spielberg’s first venture into animation is one of his best. Taking notes from the classic Raiders of the Lost Ark playbook, Spielberg crafted another spirited, thrilling, and always entertaining adventure. The Adventures of Tintin is one of the most pleasurable, family-friendly experiences, that boils down to one grand treasure hunt. There’s much to admire on-screen, but it is the spectacular...

According to The Tracking Board, the long gestating Us adaptation of the popular Japanese manga Death Note may be getting new director. Shane Black (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Iron Man 3) had been attached to direct for the last couple years, but now that he is working on the Predator reboot sequel it appears he has had to drop out. They report that Gus Van Sant (Psycho, Good Will Hunting) has been tapped to take over.

For those unfamiliar, Death Note “follows the story of a high school student who finds a mysterious notebook that lets him instantly kill any person by writing their name in the book. As the student’s body count piles up, a nameless FBI agent begins tracking him.”

The Death Note series has spawned 3 live action movies in Japan; Death Note, Death Note: The Last Name, L: Change The World.

Death Note trailer

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A live-action Death Note movie has been in development at Warner Bros. since 2009 and at one time, had Shane Black attached to write and direct the project. However, the latest from The Tracking Board has director Gus Van Sant jumping on board to take the reins. Most of the Western audience probably knows the property best as an anime that ran on Cartoon Network's Toonami and Adult Swim programming block from 2007 - 2010. There have been three live-action Death Note films produced from Japanese film studio Nippon Television - Death Note (June 2006), Death Note: The Last Name (November 2006) and the spinoff film, L: Change the World (February 2008). As recent as April 2013, Shane Black confirmed that he was still attached to helm the project, however, it was also revealed around the same time that there were creative differences between he and WB regarding Light's mission and...

Special Mention: The Fake Trailers from Grindhouse (2007, USA): The four fake trailers featured in the otherwise disappointing Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino double-feature: Machete by Robert Rodriguez, Werewolf Women of the SS by Rob Zombie, Thanksgiving by Eli Roth and Don’t by Edgar Wright-are all very entertaining trips down horror/exploitation film memory lane and are easily the best part of the film.

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2) Other Notable Horror Films Of The 2000’s:

This list focuses on films that are partially successful and even touch on brilliance at times but ultimately don’t pull everything together to fully deliver on their promise.

Intacto (Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, 2001, Spain):

This film about a group of people blessed with supernatural good luck has a great premise, several great scenes-the revelation of the plane crash early in the film, the blindfolded race through the trees and the Russian roulette climax-plus the welcome presence of...

Texas Frightmare Weekend has established itself as one of the biggest and best conventions in the country, stacked top to bottom with some of the genre's biggest stars, and this April they're looking to tear the roof off of the place!

From the Press Release

Texas Frightmare Weekend announced Audition star Eihi Shiina and Tokyo Gore Police director and special effects artist Yoshihiro Nishimura are confirmed to attend this year’s edition of the popular horror and genre convention (April 29 – May 1). This will mark the first time that Shiina has made an appearance of this nature in the United States.

They join other high profile recent additions including influential horror and genre author and filmmaker Clive Barker (Hellraiser, Midnight Meat Train), independent filmmaking legend Roger Corman and Tom Six and Dieter Laser, the director and star of last year’s hit and much-talked about cult film The Human Centipede. In addition,...

In two days, Death Note: L, Change the World hits theaters in limited via Viz Pictures. This is the third film in the series stemming from the popular manga. MTV is showing off the first ten minutes. Give it a look below. For more details click here ! A spin-off of the popular Death Note films, L: Change The World focuses on the legendary detective L as he uses his final 23 days to solve crimes all over the world. When a young girl and boy come to him for aid, L is soon faced with what may be his most difficult case yet: stopping a group of corrupted scientists from spreading a lethal virus throughout the earth. null | MTV Music...

For a limited time, beginning April 13th, F.Y.E. and Suncoast customers who purchase any Death Note DVD or Death Note related merchandise (in-store only) will receive a free ticket to attend the English-dubbed screening of Viz Pictures' Death Note L: Change The World on April 30th, while supplies last.

For store locations please visit www.fye.com or Suncoast.com.

Hideo Nakata’s L: Change the World has had a healthy life on the festival circuit, and has recently been released on Region 3 DVD. L is a sequel to the popular Death Note series, which explains why the film might be a popular programming choice. On an overall level, however, it is somewhat difficult to see the appeal of L: Change the World to anyone beyond young people, and hardcore fans of the original films and the manga upon which it is based.

HK Filmart HAS Screenings

Screen representations of relationships between a younger woman and an older man, like Last Tango in Paris, Stealing Beauty or Elegy, are often taken for granted and their massaging of male egos readily indulged. Second-time director Nami Iguchi offers a refreshingly moral-free alternative in Sex Is No Laughing Matter, in which an older woman is the elusive object of desire.

When "Sex" had its domestic release in Japan earlier this year, it was highly regarded among critics and scored excellent boxoffice for an independent film of its kind. The universal appeal of sexy comedies and the casting of internationally known young stars Kenichi Matsuyama ("Death Note I & II," L:Change the World) and Yu Aoi (Hula Girls), the film has good prospects in selected overseas Art House niches.

There's certainly a touch of Rohmer in this mischievous and observant sex comedy-drama, and some may even proclaim that Iguchi is Japan's answer to Hong Sang Soo, except that she choreographs amorous encounters from a sly female perspective. But anyone who's seen her award-winning debut feature, The Cat Leaves Home, will recognize a voice and film language all of her own -- a voice that's full of good-humored wisdom about the little ironies in life and a film language that elegantly expresses feelings and situations with quirky gestures and conversational dialogue. Her shooting style is a little detached, with longish takes and mostly medium shots that capture a politely distant suburban campus town.

After two chance encounters, student Mirume begins a fling with Yuri, who teaches lithography at an art college. The rookie lover becomes putty in the hands of the self-assured and coltish woman of 40 in some marvelously wry and tastefully racy scenes, which combine refined skills of seduction with childish pranks. Iguchi even makes cavorting inside a canvas camper's sleeping bag on the hard wooden floor with no central heating look sensuous!

Just when Mirume is beginning to find his sexual groove, Yuri does a disappearing act. When he looks up her permanent address, he receives a minor shock or two.

A subplot that enhances the centerpiece is Mirume's classmate En's unrequited love for him. En, in turn, has a secret admirer in fellow student Domoto but he too is frustrated. Iguchi shows that personal ticks and mannerisms often achieve more dramatic effect and verbal outpouring, so she makes all of En's romantic frustrations quirkily physical -- like her nervous kicking about whenever Mirume's around, her thrashing him when she gets rejected inside the cable car, or jumping up and down the bed when he falls asleep next to her in the love hotel.

With red-hot idols Matsuyama and Yu at her disposal, Iguchi tones down their glamour and makes them adopt bashful, emotionally inarticulate personas. But it is Hiromi Nagasaku who offers a wonderfully upbeat image as a woman who knows what she wants and gets it with no consequences. Better still, she doesn't eat little boys for breakfast because of marital discord, family trauma, personal insecurity or even mid-life crisis. Best of all, contrary to the film's tongue-in-cheek title, she encourages everyone to laugh about sex. How else are you supposed to enjoy it?

SEX IS NO LAUGHING MATTER (Hito no sekusu ni warau na)

Happinet, Tokyo Theatre, WOWOW

Credits:

Writer-Director: Nami Iguchi

Writer: Yuka Honcho

Based on the novel by: Naocola Yamazaki

Director of photography: Akikhiko Suzuki

Music: Hakase-sun

Production designer Takeo Kimura

Cast:

Yuri: Hiromi Nagasaku

Mirume: Kenichi Matsuyama

En: Yu Aoi

Running time -- 137 minutes

No MPAA rating...

The continuing appeal of broad French comedy in Europe pushed Asterix at the Olympic Games to the No. 1 overseas spot for the second consecutive weekend with estimated boxoffice of $18 million from six territories, lifting its total international take to about $56 million.

Oscar-related titles and other international newcomers also commanded weekend attention.

20th Century Fox's Juno with its four nominations opened in seven new territories and drew an estimated $8.7 million from 1,138 screens in 15 markets, enough to qualify for fifth place. The film's international total stands at $17.7 million, $135.3 million worldwide. A U.K. bow produced $4 million from 363 spots.

Paramount's No Country for Old Men, the Coen brothers' crime drama, opened at No. 2 in Spain with $2.2 million from 307 spots for an overall estimate of $5.3 million from 1,352 screens in 15 markets.

Following its Friday bow at the Berlin International Film Festival, Disney premiered another best picture contender, Miramax's There Will Be Blood, in the U.K. and Australia for a combined $717,000 from two days worth of showings at 93 screens.

Newcomers included Warner Bros.' Fool's Gold, the action comedy with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. The film, which was the weekend's No. 1 domestic title, opened in Australia and another undisclosed market for an estimated $1.9 million from 250 sites. Universal premiered the father-daughter romantic comedy Definitely, Maybe in the U.K. for $1.5 million from 331 situations, enough to rank No. 5 in the territory.

Warners' L: Change the World (Death Note 3), the latest in the Japanese-language horror series co-produced by Warner Bros. Japan and commercial broadcaster Nippon TV, had a dominant No. 1 opening in Japan with an estimated $4.9 million from 398 screens.