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The Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- anime film touted as Japan's first theatrical "interactive movie", where audience members will decide the outcome of rap battles through a smartphone app in real time, today celebrated its "big hit" status with a brand-new visual. The film opened on February 21 and debuted in eighth place at the Japanese box office for its opening weekend. Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Anime "Big Hit" Visual Related: Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Anime Film Unveils New Trailer Adding to the multimedia franchise developed by King Records and Idea Factory since 2017, Takanori Tsujimoto ( Resident Evil: Vendetta ) directed the Hypnosismic -Divison Rap Battle- anime film at studio Polygon Pictures ( Kaina of the Great Snow Sea ), with a script by Yuichiro Momose ( The Witch and the Beast ) and character designs by Kazui. Katsumi Ono directed the first anime season, which premiered in October 2020, at studio A-1 Pictures. Crunchyroll streams the series and its 2023 sequel,...

The Osaka Expo is only a few months away and one of the most interesting pavilions just got much more enthralling. The previously announced Gundam Next Future Pavilion released more details on what is happening inside the space, revealing that a new anime attraction will be available to experience. The anime, titled Gundam: Next Universal Century , released a trailer, a key visual and cast and staff members. Gundam: Next Universal Century Trailer and Visual Related: Gundam Unveils First Life-Size Statue for Osaka The Gundam: Next Universal Century attraction will immerse people in the world of Gundam’s main timeline. The anime portion is directed by tokusatsu director Takanori Tsujimoto ( Ultraman Arc ) based on a story and concept by Shigeru Morita ( Mobile Suit Gundam Seed ) and music by Evan Call. The animation is produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks and its sub-brand Sunrise. The star-studding cast list from Japanese...

The debut of the interactive Hypnosismic anime film is less than a week away, and the hype isn't dying down anytime soon. Today, we get our first look at the first battle stage: three new songs, the battlefield itself and the screen that will be displayed while voting. The first battle kicks off with a message from the Party of Words, announcing the rap battle to end all rap battles. The six groups will square off in three new songs: Buster Bros!!! vs. Bad Ass Temple in "Last Man Standing," Mad Trigger Crew vs. Dotsuitare Hompo in "Out of Harmony" and Fling Posse vs. Matenrou in "I Stick to My Mic." The new video also shows the footage that will play while the audience votes: Related: Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Anime Film Teams up with Creepy Nuts for New "Second Stage" Track Adding to the multimedia franchise developed by...

Nagoya Division is reporting in! The upcoming interactive film installment of Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- has been releasing trailers for the six new "Second Stage" songs viewers will hear as the rap battle progresses. Today, we wrap things up with the boys from Bad Ass Temple. The new song, titled "Shinjiru Chikara," was composed by Micro, Kuro and DJ U-ichi—better known collectively as Japanese hip-hop group Home Made Kazoku. The trio has performed theme songs for Naruto , Bleach and Eureka Seven . Related: Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Anime Film Teams up with Creepy Nuts for New "Second Stage" Track Only three of the "second stage" tracks will be heard at any given screening of the interactive film, and will be shown based on who clears the first round of rap battles according to a live audience vote. Other second stage tracks previewed so far include: Buster Bros!!!:...

The trailers for the upcoming Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- interactive anime film continue. Today, we get a taste of the new track from Osaka's Dotsuitare Hompo. And the beat comes from a name that anime fans may already know! The new track, "Shomon Raifuku," takes its title from a Japanese proverb that roughly translates to "fortune comes through the gates of laughter." The track was written and composed by R-Shitei and DJ Matsunaga—better known collectively as Creepy Nuts, the duo behind the hit openings to Mashle: Magic And Muscles and Dan Da Dan . Related: Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Anime Film Blesses Us with "Second Stage" Trailer for Matenrou Only three of the "second stage" tracks will be heard at any given screening of the interactive film, and will be shown based on who clears the first round of rap battles according to a live audience vote. Other...

The Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- interactive anime film continues to tease its new "Second Stage" songs—one every other day—leading up to the release of the movie. Today, Matenrou takes the stage with their new track "Bless You." The soulful new track is composed and arranged by Salu and Jigg, two big names in the Japanese hip-hop scene who have collaborated together on prior projects. Check out out: Related: Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Anime Film Drops "Second Stage" Trailer for Fling Posse Only three of the "second stage" tracks will be heard at any given screening of the interactive film, and will be shown based on who clears the first round of rap battles according to a live audience vote. Other second stage tracks previewed so far include: Buster Bros!!!: "Three Kings" Mad Trigger Crew: "Choice Is Yours" Fling Posse: "Bara no Taba" Adding to the multimedia...

The upcoming interactive anime film based on the Hypnosismic rap battle franchise continues to offer tastes of its new "second stage" songs. Every other day, a new trailer is released for one of the new tracks appearing in the film. Today, we lighten things up a bit with a new offering from Shibuya's Fling Posse. The track is titled "Bara no Taba" ("Bunch of Roses") and is paired with retro video game imagery and classic city pop vibes. The three members of hip-hop group Kick the Can Crew—Kreva, MCU and Little—composed the new rap. Related: Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Anime Film Explains Its Flow in New Video Only three of the "second stage" tracks will be heard at any given screening of the interactive film, and will be shown based on who clears the first round of rap battles according to a live audience vote. Other...

This past Thursday, the upcoming Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- interactive anime film started giving fans a taste of the new music coming to its second stage. Every other day, a new video will be released, teasing one of the new tracks performed in the latter part of the movie's real-time rap battle. Today, we hear from Mad Trigger Crew with their new song, "Choice Is Yours." The new track is composed by YamaArashi and Han-kun and arranged by YamaArashi. Kojima, KAI_SHiNE and Han-kun provide the lyrics. Check it out (warning for flashing lights): Related: Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Anime Film Releases First "Second Stage" Music Trailer Adding to the multimedia franchise developed by King Records and Idea Factory since 2017, Takanori Tsujimoto ( Resident Evil: Vendetta ) directs the Hypnosismic -Divison Rap Battle- anime film at studio Polygon Pictures ( Kaina of the Great Snow Sea ), with a script by...

Japanese moviegoers are famously well-behaved, even carting out their empty soda cups and popcorn containers after the screening. They also tend to make few sounds beyond titters for comedies or snuffles for tear-jerkers.

But the full-house crowd at the Feb. 5 world premiere of the animation “Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle” at Toho Cinemas Hibiya cheered, applauded and waved multicolored light wands as the on-screen action unfolded.

The 300 fans, who had been selected by lottery, were already excited by the presence of the film’s voice actors and director, Tsujimoto Takanori, on stage prior to the screening in the trendy Tokyo Midtown shopping and entertainment complex. But another, more important reason for their audible enthusiasm was the film itself, the first Japanese feature to be fully interactive. Prior to the start of the story, set in an alternative future where the women who rule central Tokyo have channeled male aggression into rap battles,...

Later this month, Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- leaps to the big screen in its highly-anticipated interactive anime film. Can't wait to hear the songs? You don't have to! Starting today, trailers for new songs from the film will be released every other day on the official Hypnosismic YouTube Channel . The new releases will tease "Second Stage" songs: tracks audiences will only get to hear once the first round of voting is done. Only three of the six divisions can make it to the second stage, meaning only three of these tracks will appear in each showing of the film. Today's track is "Three Kings," performed by the Ikebukuro Division group Buster Bros!!!. The track is composed by K Dub Shine, Zeebra, and DJ Oasis. Related: Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Anime Film Explains Its Flow in New Video It's also been announced that Creepy Nuts, the hip-hop duo behind the...

By now, we all know the main conceit of the upcoming Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- anime film : Moviegoers can vote on the outcome in real time, making each viewing a unique experience. But how does that actually look in practice? Series star Subaru Kimura is here to explain! A new video released today breaks down the flow of the interactive film, complete with a map of the film's rap battles and the path to each screening's unique ending. Kimura, who voices Ichiro Yamada (a.k.a. Mc.B.B of Buster Bros!!!), explains each phase. Related: Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Anime Film Unveils New Trailer As previously announced, the interactive film boasts 48 different story patterns and seven endings — one for each of the major Divisions. Voting will be done in real-time using the Ctrl Movie app. A Qr code will be shown at the beginning of each screening,...

The recently announced Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- anime film touted as Japan's first theatrical "interactive movie", where audience members will decide the outcome of rap battles through a smartphone app in realtime, today unveiled a brand-new trailer boasting 48 different route patterns, 16 new songs and seven endings. The film is slated to release in Japanese theaters on February 21, 2025 . Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Anime Film Trailer Related: Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Franchise Gets 'Interactive' Anime Film Adding to the multimedia franchise developed by King Records and Idea Factory since 2017, Takanori Tsujimoto ( Resident Evil: Vendetta ) directs the Hypnosismic -Divison Rap Battle- anime film at studio Polygon Pictures ( Kaina of the Great Snow Sea ), with a script by Yuichiro Momose ( The Witch and the Beast ) and character designs by Kazui. The first anime season, which premiered in October 2020 with a simulcast on Funimation, was directed by Katsumi Ono at studio A-1 Pictures.

The "Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- in AGF2024" event held in Ikebukuro today revealed that the multimedia franchise has an anime film in production for a planned February 21, 2025 release in Japan. The announcement trailer describes the feature as the country's first theatrical "interactive movie", where audience members will decide the outcome of rap battles through a smartphone app in realtime. Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Anime Film Reveal Trailer Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Anime Film Poster Related: Enter the Hip-Hop World of Hypnosismic -Division Rap Battle- Rhyme Anima Adding to the multimedia franchise developed by King Records and Idea Factory since 2017, Takanori Tsujimoto ( Resident Evil: Vendetta ) directs the Hypnosismic -Divison Rap Battle- anime film at studio Polygon Pictures ( Kaina of the Great Snow Sea ), with a script by Yuichiro Momose ( The Witch and the Beast ) and character designs by Kazui. The first anime season, which premiered in October 2020 with a simulcast on Funimation,...

Kensuke Sonomura is a household name in the Asian Action cinema. Starring as a stunt double and action director in many movies across the continent, Sonomura is ready to enter the stage with his own feature film. His debut film “Hydra” screened at the Japan Filmfest Hamburg and we had the pleasure to get an interview with him.

Before producing your own movies, you were an action choreographer. Can you tell us more about your background as a choreographer and the kind of work that comes with it? And how was the collaboration with John Woo and Mamoru Oshii?

First of all, about my career path, it started when I joined Kurata Action Club in Osaka run by Mr. Yasuaki Kurata at 16. There I learned the basics of stunts and got to experience some actual stunt work on some television/commercial projects. When I turned 18, I left them and became...

After her father disappears, Rina is left behind with his bar “Hydra”. Besides Kenta, waiter and ladiesman, Rina hires a chef named Takashi. He is a silent character but has hidden talents that unfold as the story continues. Director Kensuke Sonomura (“Nowhere Girl” 2015) creates a multilayered thriller dominated by criminal organizations and the actions of ice-cold killers. The dystopian atmosphere poses questions about revenge and its justification.

In the beginning, “Hydra”, is setting up a big blown up 80s vibe all over the screen. Flashy neon lights and a super cool score introducing the first seconds of the film. Here you would expect the movie to continue as an over the top homage to B-movie genre classics, but that’s wrong. Instead, we follow a more serious storyline with a modern screenplay and natural acting. Nothing, but the constant synthy soundtrack reminds of the initial retro approach. This inconsistency of...

Now available on Blu-ray is Resident Evil: Vendetta, the latest CG-animated action-horror flick based on the smash-hit Capcom survival game franchise. The new release from director Takanori Tsujimoto follows fan-favorite heroes Chris Redfield (Kevin Dorman) and Leon S. Kennedy (Matthew Mercer) as they team up with Dr. Rebecca Chambers (Erin Cahill) to take down the vengeful villain Glenn Arias (John DeMita) before his deadly virus can turn New York City into a war zone. It's a crazy, action-packed ride that pays homage to the games while also offering up a thrilling adventure for …...

The Latest Installment in the Iconic CG Animated Franchise Resident Evil: Vendetta Debuted on Digital June 20th On 3-Disc 4K Ultra HD™/Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, 2-disc Blu-ray & DVD July 18 4K Ultra HD to include both Dolby Vision™ and Dolby Atmos. Loaded with Action-Packed Bonus Materials, Including Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes featuring the Filmmakers and Cast.

Resident Evil: Vendetta, the action-packed third installment in the state-of-the-art CG animated franchise from executive producer Takashi Shimizu (director of The Grudge), debuts on digital June 20 and on 3-Disc 4K Ultra HD™/Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, 2-disc Blu-ray™ and DVD July 18 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The 4K Ultra HD disc will feature both Dolby Vision™ high-dynamic range (Hdr) and Dolby Atmos® immersive audio, making it the first title from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to feature both technologies. Based on “Resident Evil™,” one of the bestselling video game franchises of all time, the film...

Before it hits theaters for one night only tonight and digital platforms tomorrow, check out what's in store for Chris Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy in the first nine minutes of Resident Evil: Vendetta.

Previous Press Release: Culver City, Calif. (May 1, 2017) – Resident Evil: Vendetta, the action-packed third installment in the state-of-the-art CG animated franchise from executive producer Takashi Shimizu (director of The Grudge), debuts on digital June 20 and on 3-Disc 4K Ultra HD™/Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, 2-disc Blu-ray™ and DVD July 18 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The 4K Ultra HD disc will feature both Dolby Vision™ high-dynamic range (Hdr) and Dolby Atmos® immersive audio, making it the first title from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to feature both technologies. Based on “Resident Evil™,” one of the bestselling video game franchises of all time, the film will also be released in select movie theaters nationwide June 19 for a special one-night event from Fathom Events,...

We may have seen Alice's last ride in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, but a trio of the franchise's other familiar faces are getting ready to grace the big screen for one night only on June 19th in the CG movie Resident Evil: Vendetta, which is further teased in a new trailer.

You can view the new trailer and previous press release below, and, in case you missed them, check out a clip and home media release details for Resident Evil: Vendetta.

Previous press Release: "Denver – March 20, 2017 – Based on the worldwide videogame phenomenon, the CG animated film “Resident Evil: Vendetta”will hit movie theaters worldwide this year. The film will be released internationally on May 27, 2017, and in the U.S. and Canada on Monday, June 19 for a special one-night event from Fathom Events, Park Circus and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions.

“Resident Evil: Vendetta” is the third installment in the massively popular CG animated film franchise,...

If you can't catch the return of Chris Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy on the big screen, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has you covered with their June 20th digital release of Resident Evil: Vendetta, followed by a 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD release on July 18th, and we have a look at the lists of special features for the CG movie's home media release.

Check out the official press release with full details below, and in case you missed it, watch a zombie-packed clip from Resident Evil: Vendetta and learn more about the movie's one-night-only theatrical release.

Press Release: Culver City, Calif. (May 1, 2017) – Resident Evil: Vendetta, the action-packed third installment in the state-of-the-art CG animated franchise from executive producer Takashi Shimizu (director of The Grudge), debuts on digital June 20 and on 3-Disc 4K Ultra HD™/Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, 2-disc Blu-ray™ and DVD July 18 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Armed with their guns and savvy survival skills, Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield tag team to take down a horde of zombies in a new clip from the CG movie Resident Evil: Vendetta, which will be released in theaters for one night only in the Us and Canada on June 19th.

Previous press Release: "Denver – March 20, 2017 – Based on the worldwide videogame phenomenon, the CG animated film “Resident Evil: Vendetta”will hit movie theaters worldwide this year. The film will be released internationally on May 27, 2017, and in the U.S. and Canada on Monday, June 19 for a special one-night event from Fathom Events, Park Circus and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions.

“Resident Evil: Vendetta” is the third installment in the massively popular CG animated film franchise, following “Resident Evil: Degeneration” (2008) and “Resident Evil: Damnation” (2012). Derived from Capcom’s “Resident Evil™,” one of the bestselling video game franchises of all time (72 million...

Want to see Leon S. Kennedy, Chris Redfield, and Rebecca Chambers on the big screen? Fathom Events is teaming up with Park Circus and Sony Pictures to release the new CG movie Resident Evil: Vendetta in theaters for one night only on June 19th:

Press Release: Denver – March 20, 2017 – Based on the worldwide videogame phenomenon, the CG animated film “Resident Evil: Vendetta”will hit movie theaters worldwide this year. The film will be released internationally on May 27, 2017, and in the U.S. and Canada on Monday, June 19 for a special one-night event from Fathom Events, Park Circus and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions.

“Resident Evil: Vendetta” is the third installment in the massively popular CG animated film franchise, following “Resident Evil: Degeneration” (2008) and “Resident Evil: Damnation” (2012). Derived from Capcom’s “Resident Evil™,” one of the bestselling video game franchises of all time (72 million + copies sold), “Resident Evil: Vendetta” features the fan-favorite characters...

Another new Resident Evil movie is coming out, but this one doesn't star Milla Jovovich. Yes, 2017 will see the release of another live-action Resident Evil movie but there is also a new CG movie set in that universe called Resident Evil: Vendetta. Now the first trailer has landed online.

Resident Evil: Vendetta is set to be released in Japan next year and the first trailer has been uploaded to YouTube, giving us our first look at the third CG Resident Evil movie. The first, Resident Evil: Degeneration came out in 2008, followed by Resident Evil: Damnation in 2012. This new movie will be taking place in the video game universe after the events of Resident Evil 6 and before the events of the upcoming Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.

This new CG Resident Evil movie will feature characters from the video game series including Leon Kennedy, Chris Redfield, and Rebecca Chambers. The trailer looks...

Resident Evil: Vendetta has officially been announced as the title for Marza Animation Planet’s new CGI movie featuring Leon S. Kennedy. In addition to the title reveal, Marza also set the film for a 2017 debut and unveiled a look at Kennedy and his sleek two-wheeled ride.

According to Marza, Takanori Tsujimoto is directing Resident Evil: Vendetta from a screenplay by Makoto Fukami. Takashi Shimizu executive produces the project, which features music by Kenji Kawai.

At the Tokyo Motorcycle Show, it was revealed that Kennedy will ride Ducati’s XDiavel motorcycle (shown with Kennedy in the teaser image below) in the new movie. Further plot information and the film’s voice cast have yet to be unveiled, although Chris Redfield and Rebecca Chambers are expected to appear in Vendetta.

Previous CG-animated Resident Evil movies include 2008’s Degeneration and 2012’s Damnation, both of which also featured the highly skilled Kennedy.

A brand-new CG-animated movie based on Resident Evil is coming.

The forthcoming film's working title is Resident Evil CG 3 and will be the third animated adaptation of Capcom's long-running horror series - following suit of Biohazard 4D-Executer and Resident Evil: Damnation.

The movie will be written by Psycho-Pass's Makoto Fukami and directed by Hard Revenge Milly's Takanori Tsujimoto.

In addition, The Grudge director Takashi Shimizu is attached as an executive producer - allowing him to oversee the production.

Resident Evil game producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi is on board as well as an executive supervisor for the project.

Resident Evil CG 3 is slated for a 2017 worldwide release.

Meanwhile, Capcom's Resident Evil division is reportedly focusing on virtual reality and working on a new engine designed for the tech.

Mamoru Oshii's live-action Patlabor anthology series has revealed its list of directors. The anthology series consists of 12 episodes that will be released in Japanese theater in seven parts. Each of the 12 episodes are said to be 48 minutes long. It's currently unknown how many episodes each part will contain. Takanori Tsujimoto (Bushido Man) will direct episodes two, four and eight. Kiyotaka Taguchi (Neo Ultra Q) will direct nine and ten. Hiroaki Yuasa (Iron Girl, Monster Killer) will direct three, five and eleven. Oshii will handle directing duties for episodes one and six. Here's a full breakdown of the release schedule for the live-action episodes for Patlabor: Part 1: April 5, 2014 Part 2: May 31, 2014 Part 3: July 12, 2014 Part 4: August 30, 2014 Part 5: October 18, 2014 Part 6: November 29, 2014 Part 7: January 1, 2015 Once the anthology series is...

Reviewed as part of the 27th Leeds International Film Festival (6-21 Nov, 2013)

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Dir: Takanori Tsujimoto, 2013

Weary samurai Toramaru (Mitsuki Koga) has returned from his year-long pilgrimage, having travelled across Japan and fought against seven formidable foes. Now, kneeling before his sensei Gensai (Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi), he relates the challenges through flashback, with each of his enemies representing a different martial art and, crucially, a telltale dish. Toramaru begins every account with a description of his preparatory meal, with Gensai excitedly trying to piece together the clues like a culinary Clouseau. Welcome to the Cosmic Way, where honour and enlightenment can be achieved through one sacred tenet: know your opponent through what he eats.

It may be a gimmick, but then the martial arts/cuisine comedy crossover is hardly a crowded field. Although the film’s low budget is plain to see, such financial restraints have doubtless forced...

The line-up of the 2nd edition of the Dharamshala International Film festival has been announced. The festival will showcase feature films, documentaries and short films.

Organised by White Crane Arts & Media; the festival will be held from October 24 – 27, 2013 in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala.

This year, a new section ‘Art and Film’ has been introduced at the festival in collaboration with Vienna-based Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Foundation. The section will feature art films made by international artists Sean Snyder, Wael Shawky, Marine Hugonnier, Omer Fast, Walid Raad and Rabih Mroué.

The Best of recent Indian Shorts curated by filmmaker Umesh Kulkarni will also be showcased.

Besides, Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky’s Watermark will make its world premiere at the festival.

Some of the film personalities who will attend the festival are: Jacek Borcuch (Lasting), Nishtha Jain (Gulabi Gang), Nitin Kakkar (Filmistaan), Avijit Mukul Kishore (To Let the World In), Nagraj Manjule (Fandry...

As of Thursday morning, August 8th 2013, the most recent edition of the Fantasia Film Festival will be a thing of the past. What began with some major, exciting announcements in late June, a press conference on July 9th and tons of public screenings from July 18th to August 7th is in the history books. With so many films shown (around 120), festival veterans and newcomers alike had a stunning choice of movies to discover, be amazed by, be provoked by or just have a great time with.

Naturally, some films will leave an indelible mark on those privileged to see them, whereas others might have left the bitter taste of disappointment in mouths. Having seen just over 30 movies myself, there are definitely a handful which proved to be exceptional examples of filmmaking and may very well offer serious challenge to other movies hoping to make an end of the year list come late December.

Bushido Man

Written by Takanori Tsujimoto

Directed by Takanori Tsujimoto

Japan, 2013

Ingenuity can go a long way in filmmaking. It is one thing to have a large budget and get creative, it is an altogether different matter to be forced into creative thinking and film techniques because a team of creative minds have no serious budget to speak of. Perhaps it is in those instances that the fruit born out of the efforts of filmmakers shines brightest. When one has no money to spend freely, one must think a bit outside the box after all. Enter Bushido Man, which had its North Ameican premier at the 2013 Fantasia Film Festival, a movie displaying a feverish amount of exuberance.

It is after a long and arduous journey of personal discovery that Toramaru (Mitsuki Koga) returns to the Cosmic Way school of martial arts. His master (Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi) is especially pleased to see...

In conjunction with Bushido Man’s North American premier at the 2013 Fantasia Film Festival on July 27th, director Takanori Tsujimoto, action choreographer Kensuke Sonomura and star Mitsuki Koga sat down the morning after for an interview about the film itself, action movies and food.

Edgar Chaput: First I’d like to thank you very much for sitting down with us on this Sunday morning.

Translator Hidetaka Yoneyama: They could go to your home after!

EC: (chuckles). Thank you for yesterday’s screening, it was very entertaining. And, honestly, I was quite surprised at how good looking the movie was considering you kept saying it had no budget.

Takanori Tsujimoto: But you understand that it had no budget?

EC: Yes.

(Group laughs)

EC: Here in Canada and the U.S., many of the samurai and Bushido movies we watch are set in the past. Why was it decided to set...

Writer / director Takanori Tsujimoto's (who brought us such exploitation cinema delights as ‘Hard Revenge, Milly: Bloody Battle’ and ‘Monster Killer’) is back with Bushido Man a tale of intense martial arts combat, and good food!? Bushido Man will have its North American Premiere on Satuday, July 27th at 4:30pm, as part of the Fantasia International Film Festival 2013. And the good folks at Fantasia dropped us a link for the films international trailer. Suffice to say it bears all of Tsujimoto's hallmarks aka Low budget hard core action, and oddity, combined. Long may he continue. Synopsis: Toramaru (Mitsuki Koga), a student of "bushi," the martial way, is formidable fighter - and a formidable eater. He is on a quest to seek seven scrolls containing the fighting secrets of seven different disciplines: stick, knife, sword, kung fu, nunchaku, firearm, and special weapons. Along the way, he must learn his enemy's ways by what they eat,...

With the Fantasia Festival only a day away from starting with a bang (a new Takashi Miike film, in this case Shield of Straw, will always have film buffs drooling), the anticipation amongst genre film fanatics in La Belle Province’s metropole is palpable, unbearable one might say. Not quite as insufferable as the 40 degrees Celsius courtesy of the humidity blanketing the city over the past week or so, but pretty darn close. Thankfully, as of Thursday July 18th, movie goers will be able to cool off inside theatre rooms and watch some quality genre fair.

Speaking of anticipation and quality films, it feels like the right time to count down some movies of particular interest playing at this year’s edition just as the clock continues to count down until Thursday evening. Reading the following list, it is very easy to ask questions along the lines of ‘Where is The World’s End?...

The full Fantasia 2013 lineup has now been revealed, and we have here the third and final wave of titles to share. Prepare to drool!

From the Press Release:

The Fantasia International Film Festival is proud to announce the rest of our 120-feature lineup that comprises our 2013 event, along with a string of additional details that mark our 17th edition as a standout. Fantasia will engulf the city of Montreal from July 18-August 6, 2013. Be sure to visit the Fantasia Film Festival website for detailed essays on every title announced here, as well as all films previously disclosed over the last weeks.

Before we get started on titles... Meet Our 2013 Juries

Main Competition For The Cheval Noir Award For Best Film

Jury President: Laura Kern (Critic, Curator, managing editor, Film Comment)

Jean-Pierre Bergeron (Actor, Director, Screenwriter)

Samuel Jamier (Co-Director of the New York Asian Film Festival, Programmer at Japan Society)

Jarod Neece (Senior Programmer and Operations Manager,...

The Fantasia Film Festival is taking place from July 18th to August 6th in Montreal and will feature over 100 films from around the world. We gave you a look at the initial lineup last month and now have an additional list of Fantasia 2013 films that will be screening, including Curse of Chucky, You’re Next, and Frankenstein’s Army:

Horror Is Child’S Play – Don Mancini’S Curse Of Chucky (World Premiere)

A rarity among genre franchises, the Child’S Play series (begun in 1988) has retained the sure-handed guidance of original screenwriter/creator Don Mancini throughout killer doll Chucky’s decades’-long reign of horror. Mancini, who will be hosting our “scar-studded” world premiere, graduated to the director’s chair with 2004’s Seed Of Chucky, after having co-written or written every entry in the series. His longevity with the project is, of course, matched by the fiendish voiceover work by...

Coincidentally or not, two films by Japanese crazy man Noboru Iguchi that played fests together this year will come out on the same day in early 2013 from two different companies. Dead Sushi (pictured), about a girl whose martial-arts skills outshine her ability to concoct fishy treats and finds they come in handy when the seafood turns savage, and Zombie Ass: Toilet Of The Dead, in which a vanload of friends have a crappy time thanks to ghouls who rise from an outhouse, will both make their U.S. DVDebuts January 22. Sushi will be released by Millennium Home Entertainment, priced at $14.99, while Ass will be issued by Media Blasters on the Tokyo Shock label, for $16.98; further details are forthcoming. See our review of both flicks here.

A little further down the road, on February 26, Xenon Pictures sheds Red Tears on DVD. A.k.a. Monster Killer, it’s a high-powered hybrid...

Coincidentally or not, two films by Japanese crazy man Noboru Iguchi that played fests together this year will come out on the same day in early 2013 from two different companies. Dead Sushi (pictured), about a girl whose martial-arts skills outshine her ability to concoct fishy treats and finds they come in handy when the seafood turns savage, and Zombie Ass: Toilet Of The Dead, in which a vanload of friends have a crappy time thanks to ghouls who rise from an outhouse, will both make their U.S. DVDebuts January 22. Sushi will be released by Millennium Home Entertainment, priced at $14.99, while Ass will be issued by Media Blasters on the Tokyo Shock label, for $16.98; further details are forthcoming. See our review of both flicks here.

A little further down the road, on February 26, Xenon Pictures sheds Red Tears on DVD. A.k.a. Monster Killer, it’s a high-powered hybrid...

Coincidentally or not, two films by Japanese crazy man Noboru Iguchi that played fests together this year will come out on the same day in early 2013 from two different companies. Dead Sushi (pictured), about a girl whose martial-arts skills outshine her ability to concoct fishy treats and finds they come in handy when the seafood turns savage, and Zombie Ass: Toilet Of The Dead, in which a vanload of friends have a crappy time thanks to ghouls who rise from an outhouse, will both make their U.S. DVDebuts January 22. Sushi will be released by Millennium Home Entertainment, priced at $14.99, while Ass will be issued by Media Blasters on the Tokyo Shock label, for $16.98; further details are forthcoming. See our review of both flicks here.

A little further down the road, on February 26, Xenon Pictures sheds Red Tears on DVD. A.k.a. Monster Killer, it’s a high-powered hybrid...

Director: Takanori Tsujimoto. Review: Adam Wing. Fans of Japanese splatter movies waiting impatiently for the next release from the makers of Tokyo Gore Police listen up; it’s time to embrace the spirit of vengeance with this action-packed double feature directed by Takanori Tsujimoto. Spilling over with gruesome effects courtesy of Yoshihiro Nishimura (The Machine Girl), Hard Revenge Milly takes us to a post-apocalyptic Japan, where an ordinary woman is transformed into a sword-wielding angel of death, after vicious gangsters slaughter her husband and daughter before leaving her for dead. Milly sharpens her fighting skills, not to mention her sword, before venturing out to settle the score. The action continues in volume two’s Bloody Battle, where our bloodthirsty vixen battles a powerful cyborg and joins forces with a young girl seeking revenge for the murder of her boyfriend. Volume one comes in at just over forty minutes, but don...

Director: Takanori Tsujimoto. Review: Adam Wing. Fans of Japanese splatter movies waiting impatiently for the next release from the makers of Tokyo Gore Police listen up; it’s time to embrace the spirit of vengeance with this action-packed double feature directed by Takanori Tsujimoto. Spilling over with gruesome effects courtesy of Yoshihiro Nishimura (The Machine Girl), Hard Revenge Milly takes us to a post-apocalyptic Japan, where an ordinary woman is transformed into a sword-wielding angel of death, after vicious gangsters slaughter her husband and daughter before leaving her for dead. Milly sharpens her fighting skills, not to mention her sword, before venturing out to settle the score. The action continues in volume two’s Bloody Battle, where our bloodthirsty vixen battles a powerful cyborg and joins forces with a young girl seeking revenge for the murder of her boyfriend. Volume one comes in at just over forty minutes, but don...

Written and directed by Takanori Tsujimoto (Kill) and starring Miki Mizuno (Sasori; Carved) as the eponymous heroine, the extreme Japanese splatter action-thriller Hard Revenge Milly and its sequel Hard Revenge Milly: Bloody Battle come to DVD in April as a special double-bill release courtesy of Cine Asia.

Following in the bloody footsteps of The Machine Girl and Tokyo Gore Police by way of Mad Max, Robocop and The Bionic Woman, Hard Revenge Milly is a hyper-violent tale of vengeful retribution garnished with geysers of gore and viscera dished out by a heroine who is to die for. Boasting incredible, over-the-top special makeup effects by the Japanese king of gore, Yoshihiro Nishimura (the man responsible for the breathtaking effects seen in RoboGeisha, Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl, Samurai Princess, The Machine Girl and Tokyo Gore Police), superbly choreographed sword and fist fight sequences and introducing a hot new female action star in the form Miki Mizuno,...

More low budget Japanese mayhem arrives in the form of “Hard Revenge Milly” and “Hard Revenge Milly: Bloody Battle”, originally released a couple of years back and now slicing their way onto region 2 DVD as a double bill via Cine Asia. The two were written and directed by Takanori Tsujimoto, who also worked on “Ghost in the Shell” legend Mamoru Oshii’s sword fighting omnibus “Kill”, along with Kenta Fukasaku (“Battle Royale 2”, “X-Cross”) and Minoru Tahara. Both feature Miki Mizuno (“Carved”) in the titular lead role, and revolve around the usual tales of revenge and spurting geysers of blood. The films should also be of particular interest to aficionados since the special effects were provided by Yoshihiro Nishimura, quickly becoming one of the best known figures in the Japanese gore business, having worked on key genre hits “The Machine Girl”, “Tokyo Gore Police”, and more recently “Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein...

Director: Takanori Tsujimoto. Review Tim Irwin. Milly is back, in a slightly longer story than her previous outing, Hard Revenge Milly. ’Bloody Battle’ is about twice as long as the first movie and still a wonderfully short feature, clocking in at just over 70 minutes. The perfect length to tell a quick story, provide some action, and not dawdle on the way. This second instalment takes the opportunity to expound on the subjects and characters in the first movie. There is a short recap at the beginning, for those who may not have seen Hard Revenge Milly. It isn't necessary to have seen the first to enjoy the second, but some of the plot points will be more easily understood. This time around, more is learned about Milly and her strange cybernetic body as she attempts to protect herself from another roving band of killers.

This is a massive week of releases featuring a handful of films even I have to catch up with (not to mention there’s something for everyone in today’s line-up). But enough rambling, on to the goods!

Finally on DVD in the Us this week is the Canadian pseudo-zombie film Pontypool (review, amazon) from one of my favourite Canadian directors Bruce McDonald. Be sure to watch through the end credits! And by the way, the Us DVD cover art is pretty awesome.

Highlander director Russell Mulcahy’s private investigator drama Give 'em Hell, Malone (amazon) hits store shelves. It stars a great cast featuring Thomas Jane, Doug Hutchison and Ving Rhames. Fans of hard-boiled revenge thrillers may want to take a peek at Takanori Tsujimoto’s Hard Revenge Milly (amazon).

If a gorgeous looking prison escape drama is more your cup of tea, Rupert Wyatt’s The Escapist (amazon...

Takanori Tsujimoto's Hard Revenge Milly (2008) and its follow-up Hard Revenge Milly: Bloody Battle (2009) are part of the growing trend of low-budget Japanese splatter action flicks. This trend, which was arguably kicked into high gear by Tokyo Gore Police, has lead to plenty of indistinguishable films, but the Hard Revenge Milly series rise above the pack due to Tsujimoto's skills in staging action and Yoshihiro Nishimura's typically berserk effects. Well Go USA has released both titles on a single Region 1 DVD that should satisfy those seeking a taste of two of the better films in this style.

In Hard Revenge Milly, fictional post-apocalyptic Yokohama City is overrun with violence with the Jack Brothers being the worst of numerous criminal gangs. Milly (Miki Mizuno) is one of the many victims of the Jack Brothers (Mitsuki Koga and Tetsuya Nakamura). The brothers kill her husband and baby for no reason, which...

Director: Takanori Tsujimoto. Review Tim Irwin. It's a shame, in some ways, that films of this length are not commercially viable on their own. Hard Revenge Milly clocks in a mere 43 minutes. Discount credits and the film is barely 35 minutes long. You would have good reason to ask why I might review such a short film, and the answer is simple. The DVD from Well Go USA contains both Hard Revenge Milly and its sequel, Hard Revenge Milly: Bloody Battle. Together they clock in at a respectable two hours, meaning that the sequel alone barely reaches feature length. But I like short films, often finding they offer a lot of value in a small package. Hard Revenge Milly is no exception, at least for fans of the new Japanese shock cinema. One of the primary selling points for the film is that the special effects were done by Yoshihiro Nishimura,...

Now here's some great news! Us film distributor Well Go USA is going to be releasing Hard Revenge Milly and it's sequel Hard Revenge Milly: Bloody Battle on R1 DVD in January of 2010! Violent martial arts action directed by Takanori Tsujimoto, starring Miki Mizuno and with Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police, The Machine Girl, Robogeisha, etc) doing the effects!! Can't wait! Synopsis: Hard Revenge Milly. In post a apocalyptic Japan, Yokohama City has become an epicenter of violence ruled by a vicious gang. The worst of the new breed of criminals, The Jack Brothers . When The Jack Brothers viciously murder Milly's husband and daughter leaving her to die, she vows revenge. She learns the art of sword combat from a master swordsman named Jubei, and eventually sets off to confront The Jack Brothers and fulfill her destiny.

• IFC Films and Mpi Media Group gave Fango the first look at cover art for their DVD release of Pontypool (pictured), the acclaimed and unusual zombie thriller starring Stephen McHattie. Also coming this winter from the two companies is another well-received genre film, the Argentinean ghost story The Appeared.

Directed by Bruce McDonald and scripted by Tony Burgess from his book, Pontypool (streeting January 26; see our review here) casts McHattie as a shock jock who, one cold early winter morning, starts receiving mysterious reports from outside about violent and frightening acts committed by the local townspeople. It turns out that they’re infected with a spreading plague that is transmitted via speech and turns them into bloodthirsty killers. In The Appeared (a.k.a. Aparecidos, out January 12), writer/director Paco Cabezas spins the tale of a brother and sister who discover a diary documenting horrific murder and torture 20 years before.

The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia announces its complete program. There are still a few surprises to be confirmed, like the closing gala, but they have already put together the final list of films that will be screened at Sitges 09. Below you’ll find the titles of each film and their sections as well as links for the films that we have already reviewed here on Sound On Sight. Opening Film [Rec]2. Paco Plaza and Jaume Balagueró. 2009. Official FANTÀSTIC In Competition Section Accident. Soi Cheang. 2009. Accidents Happen. Andrew Lancaster. 2009. The Children. Tom Shankland. 2008. [1] Cold Souls. Sophie Bartes. 2009. The Countess. Julie Delpy. 2009. Les Derniers Jours Du Monde. Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu. 2009. Dogtooth (Kynodontas). Yorgos Lanthimos. 2009. Dorian Gray. Oliver Parker. 2009. Enter The Void. Gaspar Noé. 2009. Grace. Paul Solet. 2009. [2] Heartless. Philip Ridley. 2009. Hierro. Gabe Ibáñez. 2009. La Horde. Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher. 2009. Ingrid. Eduard Cortés. 2009. Kinatay. Brillante Mendoza. 2009. Metropia. Tarik Saleh. 2009. Moon.

The full lineup has been announced, and among the load of genre fare that's been running the fest circuit are the world premiers of:

Vincenzo Natali's latest, Splice, which we're all excited about.

Simon Fellows twisted adaptation Malice in Wonderland (trailer)

Along some of our personal favorites:

Black Dynamite (friggin awesome)

Swiss scifi flick Cargo (trailer)

Pater Sparrow's incredible Stanislaw Lem adaptation 1 (review)

The Mo Brothers Indonesian slasher Macabre (review)

Atm (get it?) horror-comedy The Human Centipede (review)

Full list after the break.

Opening Film

[Rec]2. Paco Plaza and Jaume Balagueró. 2009.

Official FANTÀSTIC In Competition Section

Accident. Soi Cheang. 2009.

Accidents Happen. Andrew Lancaster. 2009.

The Children. Tom Shankland. 2008.

Cold Souls. Sophie Bartes. 2009.

The Countess. Julie Delpy. 2009.

Les Derniers Jours Du Monde. Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu. 2009.

Dogtooth (Kynodontas). Yorgos Lanthimos. 2009.

Dorian Gray. Oliver Parker. 2009.

Enter The Void. Gaspar Noé. 2009.

Grace. Paul Solet. 2009.

Heartless. Philip Ridley. 2009.

Hierro. Gabe Ibáñez. 2009.

La Horde. Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher.