The program of the 24th Japanese Film Festival Nippon Connection is complete! From May 28 to June 2, the festival offers the opportunity to delve into Japan's film and cultural scene. The festival presents around 100 short and feature-length films at eight venues, including numerous premieres. Over 60 filmmakers and artists will travel from Japan to Frankfurt am Main, Germany, to present their works to the audience. At the freely accessible grounds of the festival centers Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm and Produktionshaus Naxos, visitors can enjoy the festival atmosphere with a large Japanese market featuring numerous food and craft stands. Detailed information and tickets for all films and events are available at NipponConnection.com.
This year's film selection promises exciting discoveries. Fans of genre films can enjoy Shinji Araki's acclaimed time-loop thriller Penalty Loop, Kaz I Kiriya's apocalyptic drama From The End Of The World, and Shimako Sato's action-packed fantasy adventure The Yin Yang Master Zero.
This year's film selection promises exciting discoveries. Fans of genre films can enjoy Shinji Araki's acclaimed time-loop thriller Penalty Loop, Kaz I Kiriya's apocalyptic drama From The End Of The World, and Shimako Sato's action-packed fantasy adventure The Yin Yang Master Zero.
- 5/13/2024
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
The 44th edition of genre film festival Fantasporto, which runs in Portugal’s second city Porto from March 1-10, has bestowed its best film award on Japanese sci-fi fantasy pic “From the End of the World,” directed by Kaz I Kiriya.
The movie follows 10-year-old Hana, whose dreams transport her across various eras in Japanese history, and have the ability to save humanity.
The jury’s special award went to “The Complex Forms,” Italian director Fabio D’Orta’s debut feature. The sci-fi horror centers on a man who has sold his body so it can be possessed by a creature of unknown nature.
The prize for best direction was nabbed by Spanish filmmaker Gonzalo López-Gallego for horror movie “The Shadow of the Shark” (La Sombra del Tiburon). In the film, a young woman, Alma, is undergoing therapy as she is unable to sleep. With the help of surveillance cameras, she...
The movie follows 10-year-old Hana, whose dreams transport her across various eras in Japanese history, and have the ability to save humanity.
The jury’s special award went to “The Complex Forms,” Italian director Fabio D’Orta’s debut feature. The sci-fi horror centers on a man who has sold his body so it can be possessed by a creature of unknown nature.
The prize for best direction was nabbed by Spanish filmmaker Gonzalo López-Gallego for horror movie “The Shadow of the Shark” (La Sombra del Tiburon). In the film, a young woman, Alma, is undergoing therapy as she is unable to sleep. With the help of surveillance cameras, she...
- 3/9/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
We are living with a generation that is increasingly obsessed with multiverses and the fluid concept of time, so it was only genius for Kazuaki Kiriya to hop on the bandwagon and deliver his rumored ‘final piece of work', set in Japan of the near future. Working with concepts along the veins of his previous apocalyptic “Casshern (2004)”, the director known for his outlandish ideas, takes us on a time-bending journey of samurais, nuclear attacks, and magical grimoires.
From the End of the World is screening at Japan Cuts
As the great expanse of earth gives way to a bleak forest fire, a child suddenly appears and finds herself in the fray of death and destruction in Edo Japan. Everything is a picture of charcoal-blackness but the blood that flows around her is a sea of striking red (expertly manipulated by cinematographer Chigi Kanbe). Color then returns as the picture transitions to the modern world.
From the End of the World is screening at Japan Cuts
As the great expanse of earth gives way to a bleak forest fire, a child suddenly appears and finds herself in the fray of death and destruction in Edo Japan. Everything is a picture of charcoal-blackness but the blood that flows around her is a sea of striking red (expertly manipulated by cinematographer Chigi Kanbe). Color then returns as the picture transitions to the modern world.
- 8/1/2023
- by Leon Overee
- AsianMoviePulse
Sci-fi fantasy stars Aoi Ito from Katayama Shinzo’s ’Missing’.
Japan’s Free Stone Productions is launching sales at Hong Kong Filmart on sci-fi fantasy drama From The End Of The World, starring Aoi Ito from Katayama Shinzo’s Missing.
Directed by Kazuaki Kiriya, whose credits include the post-apocalyptic epic Casshern and English-language action film Last Knights, the film also stars Mari Natsuki and Shunji Iwai, the writer/director of films such as Love Letter and All About Lily Chou-Chou.
The story follows a seemingly normal high school girl who wakes from a dream about a 10-year-old girl living in...
Japan’s Free Stone Productions is launching sales at Hong Kong Filmart on sci-fi fantasy drama From The End Of The World, starring Aoi Ito from Katayama Shinzo’s Missing.
Directed by Kazuaki Kiriya, whose credits include the post-apocalyptic epic Casshern and English-language action film Last Knights, the film also stars Mari Natsuki and Shunji Iwai, the writer/director of films such as Love Letter and All About Lily Chou-Chou.
The story follows a seemingly normal high school girl who wakes from a dream about a 10-year-old girl living in...
- 3/13/2023
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Written, directed and choreographed by Kazuaki Kiriya (Casshern). Goemon tells the story of Japanese folk legend Goemon Ishikawa, a Ninja/Samurai bandit who stole valuables from the rich and gave them to the poor.
Quick Plot Summary – The year is 1582. For the first time since the dawn of civilization, Japan has been united under a single leader. For years, the warlord Nobunaga Oda has battled in order to unite the country only to be betrayed and killed by one of his military commanders, Mitsuhide Akechi , shortly before achieving his goal. Mitsuhide is soon after slain (literally during his escape from the battle that claimed Nobunaga’s life) and Nobunaga’s successor, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, takes on the reigns of the military campaign and fulfils his former master’s dream and the country finds itself in a state of peace for the first time in a hundred years.
As with Kiriya’s previous movie,...
Quick Plot Summary – The year is 1582. For the first time since the dawn of civilization, Japan has been united under a single leader. For years, the warlord Nobunaga Oda has battled in order to unite the country only to be betrayed and killed by one of his military commanders, Mitsuhide Akechi , shortly before achieving his goal. Mitsuhide is soon after slain (literally during his escape from the battle that claimed Nobunaga’s life) and Nobunaga’s successor, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, takes on the reigns of the military campaign and fulfils his former master’s dream and the country finds itself in a state of peace for the first time in a hundred years.
As with Kiriya’s previous movie,...
- 9/3/2016
- by Tiger33
- AsianMoviePulse
With Last Knights, Kazuaki Kiriya retells Japan's treasured story of loyalty, revenge and sacrifice, 47 Ronin. Moving the action away from his native country to a medieval European land, the masterless samurai of the true life story have become disavowed soldiers of an unfairly disgraced lord. Kiriya is right at home in the fantasy epic genre after helming 2004's Casshern and 2009's Goemon but this time the director has abandoned the digital backlots of his previous work to shoot on location in the Czech Republic. The film features Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman at the head of a cast of actors gathered from around the world.Before the film's opening in Japan, Kiriya attended the Foreign Correspondent Club to show his film and talk about its production....
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 11/13/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Stars: Clive Owen, Morgan Freeman, Aksel Hennie, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Ahn Sung-ki, Giorgio Caputo, Daniel Adegboyega, Shohreh Aghdashloo, James Babson, Brian Caspe, Cliff Curtis, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Ayelet Zurer | Written by Michael Konyves, Dove Sussman | Directed by Kazuaki Kiriya
Set in an age of honour and justice by the sword, Last Knights tells the story of Raiden (Owen) – a fallen warrior who must rise up against a corrupt and sadistic ruler to avenge Bartok (Freeman), his dishonoured master. Think of the film as something akin to Seven Samurai but set in the middle ages and you’ll be somewhere close.
If I’m honest, I’m not the biggest fan of historical epics – give me a down and dirty, straight to DVD schlockfest over one any day. However when said historical epic the English language debut of famed Japanese director Kazuaki Kiriya (Casshern, Goemon), I can’t help but put my prejudices aside.
Set in an age of honour and justice by the sword, Last Knights tells the story of Raiden (Owen) – a fallen warrior who must rise up against a corrupt and sadistic ruler to avenge Bartok (Freeman), his dishonoured master. Think of the film as something akin to Seven Samurai but set in the middle ages and you’ll be somewhere close.
If I’m honest, I’m not the biggest fan of historical epics – give me a down and dirty, straight to DVD schlockfest over one any day. However when said historical epic the English language debut of famed Japanese director Kazuaki Kiriya (Casshern, Goemon), I can’t help but put my prejudices aside.
- 4/19/2015
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
About Last Knight: Kiriya’s Culture Club Reimagining of the Feudal System
It’s unclear for who or for what reason Japanese director Kazuaki Kiriya decided to undertake his English language debut, Last Knights, a convoluted pseudo-revenge flick that plays like some very watered down version of the classic 47 Ronin mythos but reconstituted within a parallel universe’s sci-fi inspired Crusades tale. A gig is a gig, so we can’t blame the poo poo platter of multicultural actors portraying peoples we’re supposed to believe all resided in the same place (not to mention, fought for the same cause), each with varying degrees of accented and/or broken English. Incredibly flaccid and late staged action sequences following a baffling revenge plot don’t help matters, except maybe to say that even if the world had known an age of such incredible diversity we still wouldn’t be able to all just get along.
It’s unclear for who or for what reason Japanese director Kazuaki Kiriya decided to undertake his English language debut, Last Knights, a convoluted pseudo-revenge flick that plays like some very watered down version of the classic 47 Ronin mythos but reconstituted within a parallel universe’s sci-fi inspired Crusades tale. A gig is a gig, so we can’t blame the poo poo platter of multicultural actors portraying peoples we’re supposed to believe all resided in the same place (not to mention, fought for the same cause), each with varying degrees of accented and/or broken English. Incredibly flaccid and late staged action sequences following a baffling revenge plot don’t help matters, except maybe to say that even if the world had known an age of such incredible diversity we still wouldn’t be able to all just get along.
- 4/1/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
We've had First Knight, now prepare for Last Knights, an altogether more doom-laden, Game Of Thrones-like affair in which Clive Owen gets early-medieval in the name of vengeance and there’s minimal jousting. The film has a new trailer and poster to share below.brightcove.createExperiences();A mash-up of European epics and Japanese samurai adventure (overseen by a veteran of the latter), Last Knights introduces Owen as Raiden, member of a warrior caste in service to a worthy nobleman played by Morgan Freeman. All’s well in this unnamed if wintry land until Headhunters’ Aksel Hennie appears as the emperor’s emissary and skulls start getting seriously dugged.Hennie is the big bad here, boasting a snarly visage, terrible villain hair and a sinister henchmen in Tsuyoshi Ihara (Letters From Iwo Jima). Behind you can say “get busy living or get busy dying”, Morgan has got busy dying and Owen...
- 4/1/2015
- EmpireOnline
The glum revenge epic Last Knights is a timeworn tale that, when you squint, looks like the future. Established Hollywood stars Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman are there onscreen clutching swords and intoning dramatic pledges of fealty and death. But the money for the film came from South Korea — and in the movie business, money is always the A-plot.
In Asia, South Korean culture reigns supreme. Its pop albums and makeup styles are even cropping up — illegally — on the streets of Pyongyang. Last Knights is Seoul's first big step toward making movies for the rest of the world. It's shot in English, filmed in the Czech Republic, and every frame of it is a round-the-globe mash-up. The director, Kazuaki Kiriya, is Japanese. The producers are from ...
In Asia, South Korean culture reigns supreme. Its pop albums and makeup styles are even cropping up — illegally — on the streets of Pyongyang. Last Knights is Seoul's first big step toward making movies for the rest of the world. It's shot in English, filmed in the Czech Republic, and every frame of it is a round-the-globe mash-up. The director, Kazuaki Kiriya, is Japanese. The producers are from ...
- 4/1/2015
- Village Voice
Plot: A group of knights, led by the noble Raiden (Clive Owen) avenge their master's (Morgan Freeman) disgrace as the hands of a tyrant (Aksel Hennie). Review: Well, this is a weird one. You'd think that a large-scale fantasy epic starring Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen would get a higher-profile release than the quiet VOD bow it's getting Friday . and sure enough the final product hints at a somewhat uneven production history. Directed by Japanese director Kazuaki Kiriya, the helmer...
- 3/30/2015
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
While the bulk of you may be waiting for the summer movie season to kick in on May 1st, here's an action flick that's done a pretty good job of flying under the radar. As you no doubt have noticed, Last Knights stars Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman, with the story following a fallen warrior who rises against a corrupt and sadistic ruler in order to avenge his dishonored master. Director Kazuaki Kiriya (Casshern) gives the action/drama some Asian flair, and you can check out some...
- 3/23/2015
- by Sean Wist
- JoBlo.com
Lionsgate is diving into the genre of revenge films with “Last Knights,” starring Clive Owen, Morgan Freeman, Cliff Curtis, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Ayelet Zurer. The film, directed by Kazuaki Kiriya, features Owen as a warrior who has must fight for his master. “Academy Award® Nominee Clive Owen (Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Closer) delivers an electrifying performance as a fallen warrior who rises against a corrupt and sadistic ruler to avenge his dishonored master, Academy Award® Winner Morgan Freeman (Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Million Dollar Baby) in this epic, sword-clashing adventure of loyalty, honor, and vengeance.” The film will come to [ Read More ]
The post Last Knights, Starring Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman, Comes to VOD and Select Theaters This April appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Last Knights, Starring Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman, Comes to VOD and Select Theaters This April appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 3/17/2015
- by monique
- ShockYa
Clive Owen leads a revolution in a new trailer for Last Knights.
The feudal action film centres on Owen portraying the knight Raiden, who has a fierce loyalty to his master Bartok (Morgan Freeman).
When Bartok is betrayed by a corrupt emperor (Peyman Moaadi), Raiden leads a group of knights into a battle of vengeance.
Last Knights's international cast includes Iranian actress Shohreh Aghdashloo (Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters), Norwegian actor Aksel Hennie (Hercules), South Korea's Ahn Sung-ki (The Tower) and Italian star Giorgio Caputo (The Hideout).
The film is directed by Japanese filmmaker Kazuaki Kiriya, who reached international audiences with anime adaptation Casshern and fantasy epic Goemon.
Last Knights opens on April 3 in the Us.
The feudal action film centres on Owen portraying the knight Raiden, who has a fierce loyalty to his master Bartok (Morgan Freeman).
When Bartok is betrayed by a corrupt emperor (Peyman Moaadi), Raiden leads a group of knights into a battle of vengeance.
Last Knights's international cast includes Iranian actress Shohreh Aghdashloo (Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters), Norwegian actor Aksel Hennie (Hercules), South Korea's Ahn Sung-ki (The Tower) and Italian star Giorgio Caputo (The Hideout).
The film is directed by Japanese filmmaker Kazuaki Kiriya, who reached international audiences with anime adaptation Casshern and fantasy epic Goemon.
Last Knights opens on April 3 in the Us.
- 3/4/2015
- Digital Spy
Today we have the trailer for the upcoming "Last Knights" action adventure, starring Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman. Check it out below. Plot: A fallen warrior (Owen) rises against a corrupt and sadistic ruler to avenge his dishonored master (Freeman) in this epic, sword-clashing adventure of loyalty, honor, and vengeance. The new movie is directed by Kazuaki Kiriya (Goemon) and is set to be released on VOD and in select theaters on April 3rd. Trailer:...
- 2/13/2015
- WorstPreviews.com
Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen star in Japanese photographer-turned-filmmaker Kazuaki Kiriya's "Last Knights," which centers on a band of warriors who seek to avenge the loss of their master at the hands of a corrupt emperor. Owen plays Raiden, a hero who rises up with his men on a mission of revenge for their dishonored master, played by Freeman, and take on a corrupt ruler in Aksel Hennie. It's a project that's actually been sitting around for a few years (it was initially announced, and shot in 2012). Director Kiriya's last 2 films - "Goemon" (based on a Japanese folk legend that echoes the story of Robin Hood) and...
- 2/11/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman are two of my favorite actors. While Freeman has garnered the critical acclaim and trophies to make any number of bad movies, Clive Owen has yet to maintain the A-list status deserving of his acting talents. Last Knights doesn't look like it will do much to turn that around for either of them. Directed by Kazuaki Kiriya (Casshern), Last Knights looks like a cross between King Arthur and the recent Nicolas Cage movie Outcast. Clive Owen plays Raiden, a...
- 2/11/2015
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Though filmed two years ago, the Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman-led "Last Knights" looks to be finally arriving on screens. Set in a medieval fantasy-land, Owen plays a swordsman hired by a dishonoured Lord (Freeman) to lead a band of warriors against corrupt ruler (Aksel Hennie). Kazuaki Kiriya ("Casshern," "Goemen") directed the project which will get a day-and-day limited theatrical and VOD release in the United States on April 3rd.
- 2/11/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman join forces for Kazuaki Kiriya's (the Japanese language Casshern and Geomon) medieval action movie Last Knights, following Owen's fierce warrior as he leads a small force to avenge his dishonoured master (Freeman, sporting some fantastic facial hair). The trailer, via USA Today, may have the feeling of low rent Game of Thrones about it, but you do get the feeling there is fun action movie hidden in there. Check it out below. Released: April 3rd (U.S.)/ ? (Irl/U.K.)...
- 2/11/2015
- by noreply@blogger.com (Tom White)
- www.themoviebit.com
Game of Thrones might be one of the most popular medieval-esque epics ever, as it counts the likes of Diana Rigg, Charles Dance, Natalie Dormer, and Peter Dinklage among its cast. But does it have Morgan Freeman? No? Well, Last Knights does, so you should watch it instead.
Last Knights features Morgan Freeman as…someone with a very deep and pleasant voice, who may or may not be the antagonist. It also has Clive Owen brandishing a sword and looking very dark and grimy. The plot consists of a tale of a warrior (Owen) who leads a band to avenge their dishonored master. It looks somewhat like a medieval English version of a samurai flick, which makes sense when we realize that the director is Kazuaki Kiriya, who did Goemon, based on a Japanese folk legend that sounds a lot like Robin Hood.
The trailer for Last Knights does seem...
Last Knights features Morgan Freeman as…someone with a very deep and pleasant voice, who may or may not be the antagonist. It also has Clive Owen brandishing a sword and looking very dark and grimy. The plot consists of a tale of a warrior (Owen) who leads a band to avenge their dishonored master. It looks somewhat like a medieval English version of a samurai flick, which makes sense when we realize that the director is Kazuaki Kiriya, who did Goemon, based on a Japanese folk legend that sounds a lot like Robin Hood.
The trailer for Last Knights does seem...
- 2/11/2015
- by Lauren Humphries-Brooks
- We Got This Covered
Filmed a full two years ago, Last Knights has been inhabiting a misty limbo-land waiting for release. It seems it's finally emerging, blinking into the sunlight of 2015, however, and to prove it here's a trailer to show us what we've been missing while we watched Game Of Thrones instead. Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman are the stars, both upstaged by Freeman's moustache.Shot in and around Prague but set in a medieval fantasy-land, Last Knights is the story of Owen's Raiden, a swordsman employed by Freeman's dishonoured Lord Bartok to lead a band of warriors against corrupt ruler Gezza Mott (Headhunters' Aksel Hennie).Kazuaki Kiriya is the director, making his first film on actual sets and locations, following the entirely green-screen antics of Casshern and Goemon. Michael Konyves (Barney's Version) and Dove Sussman worked on the screenplay, and Last Knights gets an online and limited theatrical release in the Us...
- 2/11/2015
- EmpireOnline
It's been 11 years since Clive Owen strapped on some armor as King Arthur in the 2004 medieval action drama of the same name, and now he's picking up the sword again in The Last Knights. The film was shot in 2012 by Japanese filmmaker Kazuaki Kiriya (The Legend of Goemon), but it's been sitting on a shelf waiting for release since then. And now that the first trailer has arrived, it's easy to see why no one has been clamoring to get this movie on the big screen. The epic follows Owen as a fallen warrior who rises against a corrupt and sadistic ruler (Aksel Hennie) to avenge his dishonored master (Morgan Freeman). Watch? Here's the first trailer for Kazuaki Kiriya's The Last Knights from USA Today: The Last Knights is directed by Kazuaki Kiriya (The Legend of Goemon) with a script from Michael Konyves (Barney’s Version). The film follows Clive Owen (Sin City,...
- 2/10/2015
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
If it wasn't for Steven Soderbergh's "The Knick" what would Clive Owen have to cling toc For now he has Last Knights in which he plays Raiden, a fallen warrior who rises against a corrupt and sadistic ruler to avenge his dishonored master. Morgan Freeman co-stars and Kazuaki Kiriya directs a script by Michael Konyves (Barney's Version). Lionsgate will release the film, which began production in 2012, in theaters and On Demand on April 3. Man, I remember the days when it seemed a sure thing Clive Owen would become the next James Bond. Back in 2005, Owen was said to be in the running alongside Daniel Craig and "nip/tuck" star Julian McMahon. As we all know, the role went to Craig and now look what has happened to the two other contenders... though Owen does contend we was never offered the part.
- 2/10/2015
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Surely nothing could be wrong with the shot-over-two-years-ago "Last Nights," right? We can't fault the the casting —Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen are great when you give them something decent to work with. But that appears to be the problem with this medieval misfire, with the first trailer pointing towards a movie that perhaps everyone involved would hope stayed forgotten. Penned by Michael Konyves ("Barney's Version") and directed by Japanese filmmaker Kazuaki Kiriya ("The Legend of Goemon"), the story follows Raiden and his band of honorable dudes who seek to avenge their master and give the baddie played by Aksel Hennie a hard time. It looks like your stand clanging-swords-raid-the-castle type deal, and you probably find more satisfying drama and action on "Game Of Thrones." "Last Knights" arrives in theaters and on demand on April 3rd. Watch below. [USA Today]...
- 2/10/2015
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
TF1 handles international sales on Saul Dibb’s Second World War romance starring Michelle Williams and Matthias Schoenaerts, set to make its market world premiere in Santa Monica next month.
Other anticipated selections include Hyde Park International’s 99 Homes directed by Ramin Bahrani starring Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon and WestEnd Films’ Michael Winterbottom drama The Face Of An Angel with Daniel Bruhl, Kate Beckinsale and Cara Delevingne.
The Solution Entertainment Group screens How To Make Love Like An Englishman from Tom Vaughan starring Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek and Jessica Alba.
Vmi Worldwide presents the drama Any Day from Rustam Branaman with Sean Bean, Kate Walsh and Eva Longoria and buyers will also get the chance to see Arclight’s action adventure The Last Knight starring Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman and directed by Kazuaki Kiriya.
More than 415 films will screen at the market, including 331 market premieres and 91 world premieres.
Afm is set...
Other anticipated selections include Hyde Park International’s 99 Homes directed by Ramin Bahrani starring Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon and WestEnd Films’ Michael Winterbottom drama The Face Of An Angel with Daniel Bruhl, Kate Beckinsale and Cara Delevingne.
The Solution Entertainment Group screens How To Make Love Like An Englishman from Tom Vaughan starring Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek and Jessica Alba.
Vmi Worldwide presents the drama Any Day from Rustam Branaman with Sean Bean, Kate Walsh and Eva Longoria and buyers will also get the chance to see Arclight’s action adventure The Last Knight starring Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman and directed by Kazuaki Kiriya.
More than 415 films will screen at the market, including 331 market premieres and 91 world premieres.
Afm is set...
- 10/16/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
‘Camp X-Ray’ trailer 2014: Kristen Stewart and Payman Maadi in Guantanamo’s ‘war zone’ (photo: Kristen Stewart in ‘Camp X-Ray’) The official Camp X-Ray trailer is out. "Make no mistake about it. This is a war zone," a male voice tells the recruits (and us) at the start of the movie trailer, set in Guantanamo’s temporary detention center Camp X-Ray. A "war zone" in more ways than one; he’s referring not only to the physical danger faced by the U.S. military guards (and their Muslim prisoners — or rather, "detainees"), but also, and more ominously, to a war of minds and mindsets between the two groups, who may have more in common with each other than is apparent on the surface. Private Amy Cole aka Kristen Stewart is forewarned: "You can talk to ‘em, but do not let these guys learn anything about you. Do not let them get inside your head.
- 8/8/2014
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Odd List Ryan Lambie Simon Brew 9 Jan 2014 - 06:25
We head back a decade to look at a few films that deserve more attention. Here’s our list of 25 underappreciated movies of 2004...
Think back to 2004, and you might dredge up hazy memories of the computer-generated fairytale sequel Shrek 2, Alfonso’s Harry Potter installment, The Prisoner Of Azkaban, or maybe Mel Gibson’s phenomenally successful Passion Of The Christ.
It’s rather less likely that you’ll remember some of the films on this list. You’re probably aware of the drill by now: we’ve gone back into our distant, beer-addled memories to find 25 of the less commonly-lauded movies from the year 2004.
Some of them did reasonably well at the time, but appear to have been forgotten since (especially the one eclipsed by its own internet meme), while others were coolly received by the public or critics (and sometimes...
We head back a decade to look at a few films that deserve more attention. Here’s our list of 25 underappreciated movies of 2004...
Think back to 2004, and you might dredge up hazy memories of the computer-generated fairytale sequel Shrek 2, Alfonso’s Harry Potter installment, The Prisoner Of Azkaban, or maybe Mel Gibson’s phenomenally successful Passion Of The Christ.
It’s rather less likely that you’ll remember some of the films on this list. You’re probably aware of the drill by now: we’ve gone back into our distant, beer-addled memories to find 25 of the less commonly-lauded movies from the year 2004.
Some of them did reasonably well at the time, but appear to have been forgotten since (especially the one eclipsed by its own internet meme), while others were coolly received by the public or critics (and sometimes...
- 1/8/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Kristen Stewart movie Camp X-Ray reportedly gets leading man: Peyman Moaadi Two Kristen Stewart movie projects were announced a couple of weeks ago: Olivier Assayas’ psychological drama Sils Maria, to co-star Juliette Binoche and Chloë Grace Moretz, and writer-director Peter Sattler’s political drama Camp X-Ray. The latter movie reportedly has found its leading man: Best Foreign Language Film Oscar winner A Separation star Peyman Moaadi. According to TheWrap, in Camp X-Ray the 43-year-old (or 42, or 41, depending on the source) Moaadi will play Ali, a Muslim inmate who has been languishing in Guantanamo for eight years. Kristen Stewart is set to play an American soldier recently assigned to the American concentration camp, where she strikes an unusual friendship with Ali. Could there be hope for the world? Don’t hold your breath, but one never knows… TheWrap adds that Joseph Julian Soria, among whose credits are Fast & Furious and the television series Army Wives,...
- 6/24/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
A Separation star Peyman Moaadi is set to join Kristen Stewart in the upcoming Camp X-Ray , The Wrap reports. Peter Sattler is both writing and directing the drama, which stars Stewart as a new soldier, Cole, who forms an unusual friendship with an eight-year Guantanamo Bay detainee, Ali (Moaddi). Moaadi can be seen coming up in Kazuaki Kiriya's action adventure The Last Knights . Camp X-Ray will be produced by Gina Kwon and Sophia Lin with Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, David Gordon Green and Lindsay Williams executive producing.
- 6/24/2013
- Comingsoon.net
Since his breakout in the Norwegian thriller Headhunters, actor Aksel Hennie has been making his way deeper and deeper into the Hollywood system. He recently made his English-language debut alongside Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen in the Kazuaki Kiriya-directed action/adventure film The Last Knights, and now he's landed his first blockbuster part: starring alongside Dwayne Johnson in Hercules. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news of the casting, saying that Hennie will play a key supporting role in the Brett Ratner film, which will be his first studio gig. Playing right alongside Johnson, who will star as the titular hero, the actor will play a character named Tydeus, Hercules' right-hand man who "wields twin axes and is such a madman that he needs to be chained up at night when he sleeps." As previously reported, the new take on the classic tale will be based on the graphic novel...
- 2/21/2013
- cinemablend.com
We previously reported that Clive Owen is set to star in the upcoming adventure drama The Last Knights which comes from Japanese director Kazuaki Kiriya.
But today, we’re here to add another great name to this project, because we’ve just learned that Morgan Freeman is on board as well! If you ask me – revenge never looked better!
Kiriya directs the movie from a script written by Barney’s Version scribe Michael Konyves and at this moment we know that the whole thing will center on band of warriors who seek to avenge the loss of their master at the hands of a corrupt emperor.
That’s pretty much everything about the plot so far, but you must admit that it already sounds interesting. Just imagine Owen and Freeman in Feudal Japan for a moment. Ok, we all agree that’s not bad picture at all!
Production on The...
But today, we’re here to add another great name to this project, because we’ve just learned that Morgan Freeman is on board as well! If you ask me – revenge never looked better!
Kiriya directs the movie from a script written by Barney’s Version scribe Michael Konyves and at this moment we know that the whole thing will center on band of warriors who seek to avenge the loss of their master at the hands of a corrupt emperor.
That’s pretty much everything about the plot so far, but you must admit that it already sounds interesting. Just imagine Owen and Freeman in Feudal Japan for a moment. Ok, we all agree that’s not bad picture at all!
Production on The...
- 11/2/2012
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
Pairing up for the upcoming genre film The Last Knights are Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen. The Kazuaki Kiriya-directed flick will follow “a band of warriors who seek to avenge the loss of their master at the hands of a corrupt emperor.”
We know, doesn’t exactly sound like a flick that these two well respected thespians would place themselves in but hey, you can’t blame them for wanting the easy paycheck, can you?. Production is set to begin this month in Czech Republic so expect more news shortly.
For now though, the film does have me interested. I’m not expecting anything of Oscar quality with this one (despite each actor’s reputation), but still, to see Owen and Freeman in the same film, likely going head to head, is an exciting idea.
As mentioned above, this is likely just a quick and easy paycheck for the...
We know, doesn’t exactly sound like a flick that these two well respected thespians would place themselves in but hey, you can’t blame them for wanting the easy paycheck, can you?. Production is set to begin this month in Czech Republic so expect more news shortly.
For now though, the film does have me interested. I’m not expecting anything of Oscar quality with this one (despite each actor’s reputation), but still, to see Owen and Freeman in the same film, likely going head to head, is an exciting idea.
As mentioned above, this is likely just a quick and easy paycheck for the...
- 11/2/2012
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman will star in The Last Knights. Screen Daily reports that the pair have signed on for the upcoming adventure drama, which will centre on a band of warriors who set out to avenge their leader's murder. Japanese helmer Kazuaki Kiriya will direct from a screenplay by Barney's Version scribe Michael Konyves. Owen is currently filming Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, in which he reprises his role as (more)...
- 11/2/2012
- by By Emma Dibdin
- Digital Spy
Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman, both no strangers to bladed weapons in medieval settings, will headline a new action-adventure movie called “The Last Knights of Ako” for If Entertainment. The studio is currently selling the title over at the American Film Market. “The Last Knights of Ako” would star Owen and Freeman as “a band of warriors who seek to avenge the loss of their master at the hands of a corrupt emperor.” Huh. Sounds a bit like a fantasy movie and less historical epic. We shall see, I guess. The film is currently targeting a November start on location in the Czech Republic. That is, if their foray at the Afm proves fruitful. If not, it would end up like most movies that didn’t sell — unmade. For now, though, the film will be directed by Kazuaki Kiriya, the visually stimulating director of 2004′s “Casshern” and 2009′s “Goemon”. I’m not his biggest fan,...
- 11/2/2012
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
The last time Clive Owen picked up a sword – aside, that is from his turn as Sir Walter Raleigh in Elizabeth: The Golden Age – we got the underwhelming King Arthur. But we’re hoping for better things from his latest armoured turn, as he signs on to star alongside Morgan Freeman in The Last Knights.Michael Konyves, who wrote Barney’s Version, has cooked up a script that finds a band of warriors looking to avenge the death of their master by hunting down a corrupt emperor and his forces.Kazuaki Kiriya is handling directorial duties, and we’re already wondering whether it will be similar to the troubled Keanu Reeves pic 47 Ronin, which finds a band of Samurai looking to avenge the death of their master by hunting down a corrupt court official.Luka Production International is backing this one, which should start filming this month in the Czech Republic,...
- 11/1/2012
- EmpireOnline
Well, here's a pairing of actors in a genre movie that we weren't expecting at all. And not only that, it's going to start shooting very soon... Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen are to set to star in "The Last Knights." Penned by Michael Konyves ("Barney's Version") the film will be directed by Japanese filmmaker Kazuaki Kiriya ("The Legend of Goemon"), and tell the tale of "a band of warriors who seek to avenge the loss of their master at the hands of a corrupt emperor." No word yet on their roles, but again, Freeman and Owen? Okay. Production is supposed to start later this month, so either this is an easy paycheck or some really good material or maybe just something in between. But yeah, we're indeed curious. Here's the interesting thing though: filming will take place in the Czech Republic. Why does that matter? Well, Robert Rodriguez has...
- 11/1/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman are attached to star in the action adventure "The Last Knights Of Ako" at If Entertainment.
The story centers on a band of warriors who seek to avenge the loss of their master at the hands of a corrupt emperor.
Kazuaki Kiriya will direct from a screenplay by Michael Konyves ("Barney’s Version"). Shooting aims to begin early November in the Czech Republic.
Source: Screen Daily...
The story centers on a band of warriors who seek to avenge the loss of their master at the hands of a corrupt emperor.
Kazuaki Kiriya will direct from a screenplay by Michael Konyves ("Barney’s Version"). Shooting aims to begin early November in the Czech Republic.
Source: Screen Daily...
- 10/31/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen have signed on to star in Japanese photographer-turned-filmmaker Kazuaki Kiriya's The Last Knights. Little info is currently available on the project, other than that it centers on "a band of warriors who seek to avenge the loss of their master at the hands of a corrupt emperor," says Screen Daily. It's not yet public info what roles exactly Freeman and Owen will play in the upcoming movie, although it sounds like a period piece. However, director Kiriya's last 2 films - Goemon (based on a Japanese folk legend that echoes the storyof Robin Hood) and Casshern (a live-action sci-fi movie based on...
- 10/31/2012
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Everyone's going Mortal Kombat crazy now that the new Mortal Kombat web series has premiered, so I'm not surprised to see these Blu-ray releases timed accordingly. Paul Ws. Anderson's 1995 Mortal Kombat was fairly corny even back in 1995, but it was extremely popular and epitomizes a 90s tone with its reliance on practical FX and techno-heavy score. It's little brother, the sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation also hits Blu-ray along with an all new edition to the video game series.
Also out this week is IP Man 2 starring the great Donnie Yen as the real-life kung fu Grandmaster who is widely known as the man who brought Wing Chun to the world with the help of his star pupil, Bruce Lee. The first film was stellar, so I'm looking forward to this one.
Goemon is from Casshern director Kazuaki Kiriya so you can just image how cool this movie looks. The Crystal...
Also out this week is IP Man 2 starring the great Donnie Yen as the real-life kung fu Grandmaster who is widely known as the man who brought Wing Chun to the world with the help of his star pupil, Bruce Lee. The first film was stellar, so I'm looking forward to this one.
Goemon is from Casshern director Kazuaki Kiriya so you can just image how cool this movie looks. The Crystal...
- 4/20/2011
- QuietEarth.us
The most famous superheroes may hail from the Us, but that doesn’t mean world cinema doesn’t have plenty of its own...
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's... probably a character you've never heard of, actually. Welcome to the world of the international superhero. For all of Matthew Vaughn's apocalyptic comments regarding the end of superhero and comic book movies, the truth remains that they have fuelled the international box office of the last decade.
They remain in rude health, and the bread and butter of sites such as our own. But along with the Western, they are most definitely an American genre, representing the American worldview and touching upon American concerns.
But, while the USA may, indeed, be the birthplace of the genre, it by no means has a monopoly on the ideas, as there is an international community of celluloid heroes and villains out there,...
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's... probably a character you've never heard of, actually. Welcome to the world of the international superhero. For all of Matthew Vaughn's apocalyptic comments regarding the end of superhero and comic book movies, the truth remains that they have fuelled the international box office of the last decade.
They remain in rude health, and the bread and butter of sites such as our own. But along with the Western, they are most definitely an American genre, representing the American worldview and touching upon American concerns.
But, while the USA may, indeed, be the birthplace of the genre, it by no means has a monopoly on the ideas, as there is an international community of celluloid heroes and villains out there,...
- 8/11/2010
- Den of Geek
Director: Kazuaki Kiriya. Review: Dan King. The ambitious nature of ‘Casshern’, Kazuaki Kiriya’s debut feature, showed promise, with jaw-dropping visuals and groundbreaking CGI sequences, although this was to the detriment of the films narrative – a case of style of substance, not unexpected from a former fashion photographer and music video director. Goemon has the same stunning aesthetics, but this time Kiriya has much needed restraint from the source material. Having said that, the film is a fast-paced action adventure, with the best elements of the greatest swordplay epics, and the spirit of Goemon is far from ‘restrained’! The film follows the story of the eponymous hero, an explosive mix of Robin Hood, Spiderman and ninja bandit, whose quest for a life of ‘freedom’, stealing from the rich and sharing the wealth amongst the poor, inadvertently gets him wrapped up in the bloody politics of the country’s rulers, past and present.
- 6/29/2010
- 24framespersecond.net
Six years ago Japanese photographer and music video director Kazuaki Kiriya exploded on to the scene with his directorial debut Casshern, which was based on the 1973 (later remade in 1993) anime series of the same name. Now Kiriya is back with another movie, which this time takes it inspiration from Japanese folklore and the same legendary historical figure that inspired a whole series of Super Nintendo games, Goemon…
The year is 1582 and the ruler of Japan, Oda Nobunaga, has been brutally murdered leaving the country in a state of political chaos. Meanwhile, a chivalrous thief known as Goemon, whose loyalties lay with Nobunaga, has risen as a hero figure amongst the populace thanks to his propensity for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Goemon’s latest haul, stolen from one of his arch-enemies, includes a small wooden box of Western origin which he believes to be worthless and...
The year is 1582 and the ruler of Japan, Oda Nobunaga, has been brutally murdered leaving the country in a state of political chaos. Meanwhile, a chivalrous thief known as Goemon, whose loyalties lay with Nobunaga, has risen as a hero figure amongst the populace thanks to his propensity for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Goemon’s latest haul, stolen from one of his arch-enemies, includes a small wooden box of Western origin which he believes to be worthless and...
- 6/13/2010
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Japanese photographer and music video director Kazuaki Kiriya made an explosive and groundbreaking assault on the movie world five years ago, with his directorial debut feature, the visually stunning sci-fi epic, ‘Casshern.’ Yes on the down side the plot made virtually no sense whatsoever, but the eye-popping design, visuals and action more than made up for it and hooked us in as fans of his style. Now over a year after it wowed Japan, it looks like we are finally get the chance to see his equally spectacular follow up movie Goemon. The period, fantasy action-adventure is set to hit UK theatres next month followed by DVD and (joy of joys) Blu-ray a month later in August!
- 6/12/2010
- 24framespersecond.net
Some things that popped up during last week and would have gotten their own entries if I weren’t such a real-life loving slack…
(Almost) Ten Minutes from Wilson Yip’s Ip Man 2
Watch Donnie Yen kick some ass (including Sammo Hung’s)…or skip it, if you don’t want to spoil the (probably) best scenes of the film.
Promo Footage/Trailer for Hobo with a Shotgun
Another one of those fake trailer thingies that gets turned into “full” movies and even feature a known name with Rutger Hauer.
Second Teaser for Live-Action Beck
UK Blu-ray Disc releases of Goemon and Casshern announced
Good news for those who cursed their lack of German tongue after Splendid Entertainment announced their German Blu-ray Disc release of Kazuaki Kiriya’s Casshern and Goemon. Momentum UK will bring both films in an English friendly version to Blu-ray Disc. Goemon will be released in...
(Almost) Ten Minutes from Wilson Yip’s Ip Man 2
Watch Donnie Yen kick some ass (including Sammo Hung’s)…or skip it, if you don’t want to spoil the (probably) best scenes of the film.
Promo Footage/Trailer for Hobo with a Shotgun
Another one of those fake trailer thingies that gets turned into “full” movies and even feature a known name with Rutger Hauer.
Second Teaser for Live-Action Beck
UK Blu-ray Disc releases of Goemon and Casshern announced
Good news for those who cursed their lack of German tongue after Splendid Entertainment announced their German Blu-ray Disc release of Kazuaki Kiriya’s Casshern and Goemon. Momentum UK will bring both films in an English friendly version to Blu-ray Disc. Goemon will be released in...
- 4/26/2010
- by Ulrik
- Affenheimtheater
Good news for fans of Kazuaki Kiriya. German distributor Splendid Film announced to release all films (yes, that’s two) from the Japanese director on Blu-ray Disc in Germany on May 28, 2010. While Kiriya’s 2004 debut Casshern will only come in a standard amaray, Splendid will release Goemon in a limited edition steelbook (without those garsty rating logo on the front) as well. All releases will include the original Japanese audio track, but as expected from Splendid, Casshern will only include German subtitles while Goemon is supposed to also have Dutch subtitle options.
So far there are no English subtitled Blu-ray Disc releases of these films available. Casshern has been released in Italy in 2008 and Goemon has already plundered Japan and France.
So far there are no English subtitled Blu-ray Disc releases of these films available. Casshern has been released in Italy in 2008 and Goemon has already plundered Japan and France.
- 4/15/2010
- by Ulrik
- Affenheimtheater
Directors Kazuaki Kiriya and Gary Shore are sitting in a tree…K I S S I…but seriously, the first trailer for Shore’s The Cup of Tears could as well be a preview for a new film from the director of Casshern and Goemon. There’s little known about the film currently under production at the Irish One Punch Films studio, but if the full the full film will bring more overstylized samurai action and swordfights in outer space, I’m on board!
Update: Synopsis via Quiet Earth:
The narrative follows a scorned geisha who creates a magical cup made of tears that causes any man who drinks from it to fall under a stasis of permanent sleep. One night the cup is stolen, setting off a chain of events that threatens civil war amongst the clans. Taro, a once gifted samurai, and his companion Jin set out to...
Update: Synopsis via Quiet Earth:
The narrative follows a scorned geisha who creates a magical cup made of tears that causes any man who drinks from it to fall under a stasis of permanent sleep. One night the cup is stolen, setting off a chain of events that threatens civil war amongst the clans. Taro, a once gifted samurai, and his companion Jin set out to...
- 10/25/2009
- by Ulrik
- Affenheimtheater
For some time we’ve been waiting for some bright spark of a film buyer (in an English speaking country) to pick up the rights to “Casshern” director Kazuaki Kiriya’s latest eye candy of an opus, the martial arts, Ninja filled Goemon. So far….a big fat nothing. The movie has just aired at this years Sitges film festival so that could offer another opportunity for sales, but in the mean time we’ve been looking further afield for English subbed options, and Taiwan could just be the ticket. Goemon opens there on October 16th and fingers crossed we should be seeing a reasonably priced/quality DVD release to tide us over, until an English subtitled Blu-ray finally arrives. Synopsis: Goemon is a legendary master thief who roams at will throughout the chaotic world of the “Sengoku - Warring States” period. A hero to the populous, he steals from...
- 10/9/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
For some time we’ve been waiting for some bright spark of a film buyer (in an English speaking country) to pick up the rights to “Casshern” director Kazuaki Kiriya’s latest eye candy of an opus, the martial arts, Ninja filled Goemon. So far….a big fat nothing. The movie has just aired at this years Sitges film festival so that could offer another opportunity for sales, but in the mean time we’ve been looking further afield for English subbed options, and Taiwan could just be the ticket. Goemon opens there on October 16th and fingers crossed we should be seeing a reasonably priced/quality DVD release to tide us over, until an English subtitled Blu-ray finally arrives. Synopsis: Goemon is a legendary master thief who roams at will throughout the chaotic world of the “Sengoku - Warring States” period. A hero to the populous, he steals from...
- 10/9/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
For some time we’ve been waiting for some bright spark of a film buyer (in an English speaking country) to pick up the rights to “Casshern” director Kazuaki Kiriya’s latest eye candy of an opus, the martial arts, Ninja filled Goemon. So far….a big fat nothing. The movie has just aired at this years Sitges film festival so that could offer another opportunity for sales, but in the mean time we’ve been looking further afield for English subbed options, and Taiwan could just be the ticket. Goemon opens there on October 16th and fingers crossed we should be seeing a reasonably priced/quality DVD release to tide us over, until an English subtitled Blu-ray finally arrives. Synopsis: Goemon is a legendary master thief who roams at will throughout the chaotic world of the “Sengoku - Warring States” period. A hero to the populous, he steals from...
- 10/9/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
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.
- 9/19/2009
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.