Wildgrounds

The Asian Cinema in the West

Michael — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:56:44 PDT

AHT has found an interesting article about the state of the Asian Cinema in the USA. I don’t know about the rest of Europe, but in France, I’ve seen that: • The market was clearly over-flooded by many bad films (Asian Star releases); • There are still many asian films reaching theaters, differents genres, but not [...]

English Subs for Akio Jissoji’s Mandara!

Michael — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:53:13 PDT

While some people were working on Crows Zero 2, some other were crazy enough to sub a forgotten masterpiece from the 70’s called Mandara (Trailer). An indie film, produced by the famous Art Theater Guild, about the japanese tradition and eroticism. More or less in the same vein that Kiju Yoshida’s films. ■ Download the English [...]

Tora-san Coming to America this November!

Michael — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:44:24 PDT

Tora-san, the most famous traveling salesman of Japan is finally coming to America, thanks to Animeigo. So this November, you can expect a 4-film boxset with the first 4 films of the series (48 films total!). Watch the trailer from the 1st film!

OST – The Film Music By Masaru Sato (Vol.1)

Michael — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:30:40 PDT

This hard-to-find CD should interest any chambara fans. It includes OST from some classics like Sword of Doom, The Ambitious and many others. ☛ Download this OST Thanks N.S.

Trailer: The Last Samurai (1974, Kenji Misumi)

Michael — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:25:30 PDT

Usually, the end of the samurai era is seen as a violent and cynical time where men are wolves. Well, The Last Samurai chooses a different way where some samurais are wise enough to see beyond their own beliefs and so, to become friends. For his last film, Misumi shows (again) the human side of [...]

Wild Side Video gets a new website!

Michael — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:43:43 PDT

French distributor Wild Side Video, mostly known here for having released rare japanese films, has just got a new and improved website. Where you can find free images. Where you can subscribe to podcast…

Trailer: Take Aim at the Police Van (1960, Suzuki)

Michael — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:15:02 PDT

Here’s an unknown early Seijun Suzuki’s film about a penitentiary guard, suspended after a deadly incident, who decides to find the truth about it. [Vidéo]

J-Cinema Blogathon 2009: OVER!

Michael — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:39:33 PDT

THANK YOU ALL I hope you all enjoyed this week, and discovered some good things (films, blogs…). The blogathon it’s more than 80 articles written, 20 participants, and I don’t know how many readers! You can still check every articles published during the event. ■ So, what do you think of this past week? Again, thank you all.

RIP Yasuharu Hasebe (1932-2009)

Michael — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:18:47 PDT

Director Yasuharu Hasebe died from pneumonia on June 14th. He worked at Nikkatsu where he directed Black Tight Killers, Bloody Territories, Stray Cat Rock films, Assault! Jack the Ripper… which are among his most famous works in the West. RIP. Via KineJapan

Trailer: Rusty Knife (1958, Toshio Masuda)

Michael — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:45:48 PDT

This Nikkatsu Action Film stars Yujiro Ishihara and Akira Kobayashi “playing former hoodlums trying to leave behind a life of crime, but their past comes back to haunt them when the authorities seek them out as murder witnesses.” [Vidéo] Via @Criterion