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Showing posts with label comedy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comedy. Show all posts

Sunday, November 13

ACF 1236: Sentai Filmworks licenses comedy series A-CHANNEL


Sentai Filmworks has announced the acquisition of A-CHANNEL, a cutting edge, slice of life comedy series based on the popular four panel comic by bb Kuroda.  Helming the task of adapting the four panel strip into linear story are director Manabu Ono (Transformers: Cybertron, Dragonaut, Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere,) and lead writer Tatsuhiko Urahata (Strawberry Panic, Murder Princess, Monster).

Animation director and character designer Masakatsu Sasaki (Saki, Erotic Torture Chamber) adapts Kuroda’s designs for the animation medium while music is in the hands of Satoru Kousaki (Lucky Star, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya),

A-CHANNEL will be available digitally through many outlets and on subtitled DVD next February.

Synopsis: Toru and Run have been best friends forever, so when Toru learns that she’s managed to get into the same high school as Run, she runs to tell her… only to find Run in a compromising position with yet another girl, Yuko.  Needless to say, that makes things a bit awkward at school, with Toru fending off those who might be interested in Run while Yuko and their other girlfriend, Nagi, have to deal with Run’s own penchant for drama.

But it’s not all angst all the time, and as the school year progresses the four girls and their many classmates find time to laugh, play and figure out how to handle unexpected problems life likes to throw at them.  Like bugs in the house, accidentally giving each other horrible haircuts, freezing up at karaoke or forgetting to put your underwear on in the morning.   When it comes to learning about the real world, there’s always something ‘educational’ to be found in A-CHANNEL!


Sunday, November 7

ACF 761: Detroit Metal City due on DVD November 9th, 2010 from VIZ Pictures

HEAVY METAL SINGER FROM JAPAN IS UNLEASHED
ON THE U.S. IN HILARIOUS COMEDY
DETROIT METAL CITY
ON DVD FROM VIZ PICTURES

Film Based On A Popular Manga Series And Features Appearances
By Gene Simmons Of KISS And Marty Friedman Of MEGADETH

VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced the DVD release of Detroit Metal City this coming Tuesday, November 9th. The live-action comedy, directed by Toshio Lee and based on the popular manga comic created by Kiminori Wakasugi, is presented in Japanese with English subtitles and will carry an MSRP of $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN.

Detroit Metal City takes the zany rock antics inspired by films like Spinal Tap to hilarious new extremes in this story, based on a popular manga comic created by Kiminori Wakasugi that has sold more than 4.5 million copies in Japan (and published in North America by VIZ Media). It features notable appearances by Gene Simmons from the legendary band, KISS, and Marty Friedman of Megadeth, and stars Kenichi Matsuyama, one of the most adored actors in Japan today and known widely for his role as 'L' in the Death Note films (also available from VIZ Pictures).

“Detroit Metal City is a delightfully funny film that is a must-see for any rock fan,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO of VIZ Pictures. “Actor Kenichi Matsuyama brings the character of Johannes Krauser II to life in an inventive slapstick performance takes hints from Jim Carrey, Johnny Rotten and Alice Cooper. We look forward to audiences discovering this hilarious comedy that shows how fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when you’re the most diabolical, foul – and popular – heavy metal singer in Japan.”

In the film, Soichi Negishi (played by Kenichi Matsuyama) is a sweet and shy young man who dreams of becoming a trendy singer songwriter. But for some reason, he is forced into joining the devil worshiping death metal band “Detroit Metal City” (DMC). In full stage make-up and costume, he transforms into Johannes Krauser II the vulgar-mouthed lead vocalist of the band. But he must keep this a secret from his crush, Yuri Aikawa, who despises death metal. What would she think if she found out? But against Negishi’s will, DMC rises to stardom. Things get even more complicated when the legendary king of death metal, Jack IL Dark (played by Gene Simmons), challenges DMC to a duel in the film’s climatic finale. What will be the fate of innocent Negishi as he climbs to the top of the death metal world?

ACF comment: Like Negishi, I'm not a big fan of Heavy Metal. But I really enjoyed this movie. I even got some understanding of why this musical genre appeals to a certain audience . For me the film really worked at several levels. I give it an ACF rating of 3.5 out of 4 stars (highly recommended)

More information on Detroit Metal City and other VIZ Pictures titles is available at www.viz-pictures.com.

Tuesday, September 21

ACF 687: Japan Society co-presents "Cast Me If You Can" on September 25th at 7:00 PM

Cast Me If You Can / Wakiyaku Monogatari
Written & Directed by Atsushi Ogata
With Toru Masuoka, Hiromi Nagasaku,
Masahiko Tsugawa, and Keiko Matsuzaka
Japan, 2010, 97 min.
In Japanese with English subtitles
Showtime: Saturday, September 25th, 7:00 PM
East Coast Premiere

Director Atsushi Ogata's first feature film tells the story of a supporting actor, always mistaken for others, who longs to be a leading man and gets his break when cast in a Woody Allen remake. But a series of misadventures throw his dream into chaotic disarray. When a fellow female character actor enters the picture, he wonders if he even has what it takes to be the leading man in his own life. A charming romantic comedy from Japan with excellent performances supporting a sweet, subtle story that will leave you smiling.

Director Atsushi Ogata will be in attendance at the screening.

TICKETS:
$9.99 ($10.98 w/service fee) for the general public
$5 ($5.99 w/service fee) for Japan Society members

Japan Society members, please enter the code: Japan Society to receive the discount at: Friars Club Comedy Film Festival box office.

Co-presented with the Friars Club Comedy Film Festival.

Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street (between 1st and 2nd avenues), New York, NY 10017

Wednesday, November 19

ACF 179: Best of Tora-san series continues at Japan Society on Fri., Nov. 21, 2008

Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again
Episode 15 - Otoko wa Tsuraiyo: Torajiro aiaigasa
Directed by Yoji Yamada
With Kiyoshi Atsumi, Chieko Baisho and Ruriko Asaoka
Japan, 1975, 90 min.

Japan Society's current Monthly Classics series Best of Tora-san continues this Friday, November 21st, 2008 with Episode 15 of the long-running series. Like all eight episodes being showcased, it was personally selected by director Yoji Yamada, who helmed 46 of the 48 films in the series.

Storyline:
Disgruntled with his life in Tokyo as an established business man with a family, Hyodo escapes to Hokkaido to look for his high school love, with Tora-san (Kiyoshi Atsumi) in tow. On the way, Tora-san runs into the beautiful singer, Lily, who has divorced her husband since she last saw Tora-san. Can Tora-san hold onto her this time? Ruriko Asaoka stars as Lily, who played the “Madonna” in five of the Tora-san films- the most of any other Madonna in the series.

Screening & Ticket Info:
Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again will be shown at Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenues, NY10017. Showtime Friday night is 7:30 PM.

Tickets$11/$7 Japan Society members, students & seniors

Buy Tickets Online or call the Japan Society Box Office at (212) 715-1258, Mon. - Fri. 11 am - 6 pm, Weekends 11 am - 5 pm.

Thursday, February 14

ACF 071: Horror & Comedy

Our Baseball Match

Demon's Monster Hunt at Shojoji

Globus Film Series - Dawn of Japanese Animation continues at Japan Society tonight with Part 2: Horror & Comedy. The program, which begins at 7:00 PM and runs approximately 80 minutes, includes six animations and the live action film Kid Commotion.

For more information, click here.

Pictures copyright Matsuda Film Production, Digital Meme

Wednesday, February 6

ACF 066: Dawn of Japanese Animation

Japan Society is presenting a four part program of Japanese animations from the 1920s-40s, plus live-action add-ons for each program.

Part 1 : Chambara Action & Adventure
- Twelve animations and Fighting in Ashura Town (Program approximately 95 min.)
- Live benshi narration of some animations!
- Reception to follow screenings!
- Wednesday, February 13 at 7:00 PM

Part 2: Horror & Comedy
- Six animations and Kid Commotion (Program approximately 80 min.)
- Live benshi narration of some animations!
- Thursday, February 14 at 7:00 PM

Part 3: Propaganda
- Eleven animations and Mother of the Nation (Program approximately 75 min.)
- Live benshi narration of some animations!
- Friday, February 15 at 7:00 PM

Part 4: Music & Dance
- Nine animations and Singing Lovebirds (Program approximately 115 min.)
- Saturday, February 16 at 5:00 PM

Special Screening - Orochi (1925, 75 min.)
- An epic film about an innocent samurai falsely accused of a crime
- Live benshi narration in English by New York-based theater director & actor Leon Ingulsrud!
- Saturday, February 16 at 7:30 PM

All screenings will be at Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017

For further information or to order tickets online, go to www.japansociety.org/film, or call 212.715.1258.
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