宍戸錠とピストルとファンキーハット
Shishido Joe, a pistol, and a funky hat.
"This is the real picture of Hell"
Hey sinners. It's Halloween and I have a J-horror themed show (and a cold, and jet-lag) at ATA's Other Cinema tonight in San Francisco. I'm basically going to run through excerpts from the major works of director Nobuo Nakagawa before capping it off with a screening of his 1960 masterpiece Jigoku (Hell). Above is a behind-the-scenes shot thereof. All remaining known facts about the show are here. The other hot ticket today in SF is, of course, Matt Alt's yokai lecture at New People.
2009 is 1979: Truck Yaro - Hometown Express
NOW PLAYING AT THE TOEI SHINJUKU PALACE!
Wolfguy -- Enraged Wolfman - 1975 - Sonny Chiba
The incredible Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba is WOLFGUY, the only survivor of a clan of rural werewolves who relies on his feral, full-moon-activated superpowers to solve mysterious crimes. Horror, SF, and Action collide when a bizarre and bloody death in the Tokyo streets plunges Wolfguy into a far-reaching conspiracy populated by crooked politicians, naked white women, bit-players like Hideo Murota, a phantom tiger, and -- best of all -- a shadowy organization (called the J-CIA) out to steal the secret of Wolfguy's powers and the blood right out of his veins. Based on the novels and manga by Kazumasa Hirai, who also gave the world ADULT WOLFGUY. Directed by Toei action great Kazuhiko Yamaguchi (Sister Streetfighter, Karate Bullfighter).
Stadium Jumper
The new issue of Eiga Hiho features a bevy of 10 best and "tohoho" movies of 2008 lists compiled by mag contributors both past and present, myself among them. The Dark Knight (perhaps you've heard of it) takes top honors overall, while Rambo: Saigo no Senjyo makes a barely coherent and mumbling acceptance speech as the greatest cinematic experience of '08 in my book.
Oh, and there's lots of pics of Kyoko Fukada both in and out of Yatterman garb as part of the regular "Hiho Girls Shooting" photo spread. So here's some of that action...oh, and best to read Joey Coco's advance review of the film at the Otaku USA website.
What else? A round-up of new Teruo Ishii DVDs, Tomo Machiyama on the crime that inspired Clint the Squint's Changeling, the terrifying Devilpress Movie Awards, and even a full page ad for シルバーストリーク, the latest film from the FOX/MGM Cult Collection!
"Fight at Kobe Dock/Helga"
The January release of Quantum of Solace in Japan means that super-spy-movie tie-up madness has begun in earnest. Would-be secret agents can now enjoy covert sips of MI-6 approved Coca Cola Zero Zero and skilfully blend into the background of the nearest pachinko parlor in any number of new 007 Japan collaboration T-shirts. It's like, "Bond and Beyond".
50 limited edition shirts from 12 brands will be available in all including items from Shibuya 109's much-loved moussy and designs overseen by the Men's Non-No mafia. But right now, the heavy hitters are coming from host/dandy/gigolo clothiers VANQUISH. Their trio of shirts show them to be staunch Connery purists and skillfully mix up the sex and snobbery side of Our Man's screen exploits with Shinjuku back alley street playboy style...yet only the Big Three (Dr. No, Goldfinger, Thunderball) are represented. Maybe they thought that You Only Live Twice was "too oriental"? Then again, we're talking bikini Ursula, Domino, and Aston Martin shirts here.
The shirts can be purchased at brand stores or on-line. They are not cheap. International shipping is unlikely at best (even from Universal Exports). You can view all the currently available designs here.
Bonus semi-related fun facts from imdb trivia:
"Sean Connery caused quite a commotion with the Japanese press when he revealed that he didn't find Japanese women sexy. This later turned out to be a misinterpretation due to incorrect translation, and took place on a day when Connery was exhausted after an intensive day's filming. Never overly keen on doing interviews, Connery didn't go out of his way to be too personable with the interviewer who was aghast that the actor showed up in a casual T-shirt with baggy trousers and sandals. "Is this how James Bond dresses?" he asked, to which Connery replied tersely 'I'm not James Bond, I'm Sean Connery, a man who likes to dress comfortably.'"
Cherries Were Made for Eating
From the "we didn't see this coming" department: Nobuhiko Obayashi's astonishing debut film HOUSE, one of the lost jewels of the Toho school of '77, will be airing twice this weekend w/ subs on the Independent Film Channel for the very first time. I think you should probably watch it. Links to the showtimes here.
I dug up the review that appeared in issue 15 of the Japanese Fantasy Film Journal (1983) by Greg Shoemaker which I still think does the best job of trying to get to the bottom of the immense "what-the-fuck" quality that pervades every barking mad hook and crook of HOUSE.
"Formerly a director of television commercials, Obayahshi in his first film assignment, led seven young women on summer holiday to a mansion where the guests disappear one by one via living, devouring, home furnishings."
"Many points of the production are striking: an actress with a slow, exaggerated stride, her hair and scarf blown about by a breeze which affects no one but her; mass produced food names used as nicknames for several of the victims; the coordination of color between the costumes of the players and the definitely unnatural pastel tinted environment."
"In viewing these moments and others, Bail in Variety offers the possibility that HOUSE might be Obayashi's indictment of the excesses of Japanese commercialization. The director's tack is to draw attention to his cleverness, but is he kidding? Is the dialog banal purposely like so much ad copy? Is the intrusive music performed by the pop rock group Godiego calculated or accidental? Obayashi's debut is a puzzling one to which Bail adds, 'Obayashi is either a brilliant conscious satirist or a brilliant unconscious satirist.'"
The Greatest Team in the History of Mass Slaughter
I just got my comp copy of the new Shogun Assassin 5-film Collector's Set in the mail today from AnimEigo. I contributed a slightly revised version of my "Samurai & Son" chapter from my book TokyoScope along with a brand new essay concerning 'Three Decades of Shogun Assassin'. Popped the first disc in the player, and it's looking and sounding pretty nice. I don't have all the individual releases of the Lone Wolf films, so I can't tell you what's in here that's not elsewhere, but you can count on the usual allotment of (as the AnimEigo spin machine puts it) VIOLENCE, NUDITY, & RIVERS OF BLOOD.
The Young Sonny Chiba Chronicles
With Your Captain, "Six-Foot-Six of Half-Breed Fury."
But still, you gotta wonder, what's in that pipe?
Cause when it comes to smokin' chiba You know my sh*t is legit
Man, I almost forgot I had these: photo stills from that Toei golden oldie やくざ刑事 マリファナ密売組織 / YAKUZA COP - MARIJUANA SMUGGLING OPERATION (AKA The Assassin, 1970, Yukio Noda). And there's Sonny Chiba down in front about to toot on a funny smelling cheroot . Crazy, man. I got the complete set at Mandarake Nakano for like 15 bucks or something.
They break out and twirl the color light wheel for the scene itself, although the set of pics only comes in black and white. The rolling paper ready bag they come wrapped in smells like old movie theaters with more than just a smoky hint of the home office itself. Thank god customs never found this in my luggage!
Star of David - Beauty Hunting
Ohmygod, you guys! It's Norifumi Suzuki (Sex and Fury, Truck Yaro, School of the Holy Beast, Sukeban Guerrilla)!
We talked about Sonny Chiba Vs. Mikio Narita while he brazenly molested every single young woman within reach. As well he should. The greatest living director of his generation (R.I.P. Kinji and Teruo Ishii) is currently rocking a career retrospective at Cinemavera in Shibuya.
Too bad they won't be showing Roaring Fire, though...
Saigo no Senjyo
Come 5.24, RAMBO, the greatest American movie in recent memory will finally explode across Japan like a carefully placed Claymore mine. The extensive PR and tie-up campaigns have begun in earnest and the only way to keep up with the dizzying amounts of promotions, posters designs, and celebrity endorsements is the official blog WE WILL BE RAMBO. As a result, the entire country is literally starving for action and only a Guy Named Sly can satisfy their hunger pangs via such delicacies as...
The Rambo Hot Dog, deployed on camouflage cardboard for "sneaking snacking." More deadly than a .50 caliber machine gun at close range. Free limited-edition button with purchase. Available only at participating Toho chain theaters!
The Rambo Set, now available at Janqoo restaurants - a giant fucking beer and your choice of sizzling hormone guts or Genghis Khan-style lamb. Free bandanna and stickers for the first 100 customers or until someone dies of food poisoning.
Not to be outdone, Sly's Planet Hollywood Tokyo (wow, it really is the '80s all over again) is offering their own Rambo Last Battlefield Original Menu...an incredible CROCODILE BURGER served on an eco-friendly palm leaf! Advertised rightfully as "a violent challenge to the food and beverage."
These Rambo umaibo snacks for the kiddies and mentally handicapped "rise to the battlefield with an exciting flavor...HOT!" Can probably cauterize an open wound better than gunpowder, ala Rambo III.
Rambo has also teamed up with delicious Kyokyodaha carbonated coffee-based energy drinks for "a tie-up promotion of hard blow destruction". More or less guaranteed to keep you from "breaking down on the battlefield". No word on how it will help you deal with impotence, Brigitte Nielsen, or a really bad hangover. Look for these awe-inspiring ads on over 2000 taxi cabs in Tokyo and Osaka and on the Marunouchi line subway.
Stay tuned to this blog for more highlights from the front. And always remember, WE WILL BE RAMBO!
The Real Shinjyuku Violence Legend
I used to watch yakuza movies, like, all the time. Old Kinji Fukasaku flicks, new shot-on-video cheapies about “outlaw” pachinko and mahjong players, anything really. I wasn’t picky. As long as there were tough guys, just out of jail, strutting around Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima in bad suits and expensive sunglasses, I wanted to be there right alongside them with a punch perm hairdo shouting "Aniki!"
But like I was trying to let on in that post about Riki Takeuchi below, they really don’t really make them like they used to. In fact, they barely make them at all! Following the hearty “V-cinema” boom of the ‘90s, lead by directors like Takashi Miike and Shigeru Ozawa, the turn of the century has seen yakuza movie output slow to barely a trickle. And I’m not sure who to blame. Could it be the film industry’s fault for allowing the TV producers to take over the racket? Had the Japanese people wimped out by betraying the burning flame of manly passion? Or was it just a matter of time until the cycle began anew?
Such were the questions I was asking myself when I stumbled across a copy of the new YAKUZA MOVIE COMPLETE GUIDE last month at Tower Records in Shibuya. Produced by Cosmicpub, a 1500 yen investment gets you 80 full color pages of scowling street punks and troubled men in power. Think lots of grainy, high contrast pin-up shots of Hiroki Matsukata , Show Aikawa, and the ever-enigmatic “Hakuryu” (but no Riki Takeuchi, oddly enough).
Detailed coverage of series like Waru, New Don of Japan, and Osaka Yakuza War makes it easy to get caught up on the V-Cinema turf battles of the last few years. Helping much in this area is the overwhelming bonus DVD that comes packaged with the Complete Guide (Otaku USA style), which runs nearly three hours and contains 101 trailers in all. That's a lot of sake cup ceremonies, fake pistol gunfire, and filmed-in-public beatdowns!
Now the bad news…The majority of the titles in the Complete Guide hover around the 2002-2005 mark. Passing mention of five new productions for '08 aside, there's not much to do except to push the back catalog titles. It's pretty clear we are well past midnight on the doomsday clock. Someone needs to hit the reset button on this genre, and fast.
If I sound desperate, it’s only because of how much the last page of the Yakuza Movie Complete Guide bodes ill for the future. It's a full page ad for a new Hitoshi Ozawa movie called Unregistered Daycare (think: “Kindergarten Yakuza”). But flip the pages back a bit, and see if you don't disagree that Ozawa and his gang are much more warm and lovable when stabbing someone in the stomach with a dosu sword. Now that's entertainment!
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