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By now everyone should know The Ring (2002) is a remake of Ring (1998). Less known is the fact that Hideo Nakata’s momentous film was not the first on-screen appearance of the vengeful Japanese ghost who spreads her curse by video — in 1995, Fuji Television aired its own take on Sadako Yamamura’s story. Of course, this made-for-tv version has since been overshadowed and, in some circles, dismissed. Yet for all its many odd decisions, Chisui Takigawa and Jōji Iida’s collaboration still follows its source material a good deal more closely than subsequent films, particularly where its spectral antagonist is concerned.

Those new to Ring ’95 (also known as Ring: Kanzenban or Ring: The Complete Edition on home video) will immediately notice its protagonist is not a female divorcée and single mother, but rather a married man. Indeed, like in Kōji Suzuki’s ‘91 novel, the main character here is a male reporter named Kazuyuki Asakawa.

Kintaro Yajima (Katsunori Takahashi) once was the leader of an infamous biker gang, but as he became a father, he exchanged his bike for a business suit and began working for Yamato Construction. Behind the scenes, a politician along with a rival company schemes to destroy Kinatro’s employer by taking away or canceling all government contracts the firm has or competes with alongside other companies. During this time, Kintaro’s boss sends his employee to work with Igo (Tsutomu Yamazaki), a former friend of Yamato and manager of the company, who over the years has been more fond of gambling and/or drinking than taking care of business affairs.

While Kintaro has trouble getting through to Igo, Yamato loses more contracts, which jeopardizes the company as a whole along with the livelihood of its employees. Brave and confident in his abilities, Kintaro tries to fight what he sees as...

When it comes to Venice Film Festival, Japanese director Takeshi Kitano is definitely not a stranger. I’m sure you all remember his Hana Bi from 1997 (for which he recevied the Golden Lion), or 2003 Zatoichi project (Silver Lion statue).

Well, guess what, Kitano is now back In Competition with his completely new project, titled Outrage Beyond. And, in case this sounds like it has something to do with Kitano’s Outrage movie from last year’s Cannes film festival – relax, you’re not tripping – it’s just a sequel to the original story…

So, this time we have the Sanno crime family all grown into a huge organization, expanding its power into politics and legitimate big business. The Sanno’s upper ranks are now dominated by young executives, and the old-guard members are penting up resentment while being pushed to the sidelines.

This vulnerable spot in the Sanno hierarchy is...

The upcoming sequel to Takeshi Kitano's 2010 gangster film Outrage has been a tough one to figure, and fair warning -- the reason for that involves some spoilers from the original.

On Tuesday, a press event was held at Seimei no Mori Resort in Chiba Prefecture to present the cast of the second film, now titled Outrage Beyond. New additions Toshiyuki Nishida, Yutaka Matsushige, Katsunori Takahashi, Kenta Kiritani, and Hirofumi Arai were in attendance along with returning cast members Kitano, Tomokazu Miura, Ryo Kase, and Fumiyo Kohinata.

There has been some question about how a sequel might work, simply because the first film was a complete blood bath. Most of the main characters were killed and it ended with Kitano's character, Otomo, getting stabbed and then later being confirmed dead by Kohinata's character, a crooked detective named Kataoka.

Producer Masayuki Mori confirmed that Otomo is in fact alive, but was...

[Once again, thanks goes to the intrepid, Christopher Bourne for the following review.]

Hideyoshi Date (Katsunori Takahashi) is at his wits' end when we first meet him in Hideo Sakaki's Accidental Kidnapper. Deep in debt, with no job, no prospects, and no family, he's ready to end it all, and tries to do so, but he doesn't even have the nerve to commit suicide.

Wacky events are set in motion when Densuke (Roi Hayashi), a grade school boy, gets into Hideyoshi's cab and demands to be taken to his prep school. Hideyoshi at first tries to get rid of him, but when he learns that Densuke comes from a rich family, he seizes on the opportunity to get himself out of his financial hole. Recalling the advice of an old prison mate (Takashi Sasano) who pops up now and then to give fantasy pep talks, Hideyoshi hits upon the idea of demanding ransom from Densuke's parents. Densuke is also on the run...

Cinema Today recently posted an alternate trailer for Hideo Sakaki‘s Yuukai Rhapsody, which will be released by Kadokawa in Japan this Saturday. It’s the exact same length as the original version, but this edit seems faster-paced and less like a plodding TV drama.

The film was originally supposed to be released back in December, but when actor Manabu Oshio was involved in a serious drug scandal (see Tokyograph for details), the drastic, but understandable decision was made to take the time to edit out his scenes. However, these scenes of Oshio as a gangster were ultimately deemed too integral to the film to simply be left out, so Sakaki was forced to take over the role himself due to his history as an actor and the obvious time constraints involved.

The film stars Katsunori Takahashi as a down-and-out ex-con named Hideoyoshi Date with no girlfriend, no money, and no life.