Newly released in Japan: Ultraman Saga, Take the ‘A’ Train, Salvage Mice Trailers

No Akira Kurosawa films tonight. Instead I’m kicking off a mini-season devoted to the Japanese auteur Sion Sono where I review some of his works that I have on DVD. There’s a reason I’m starting this season now but I’m going to keep it under my hat. Let me just say that I am very excited about an event taking place next week.

In any next week will feature nothing but film reviews which comes as a relief because this week was a bit light on them despite getting off to a strong start with Starfish Hotel. Enough retrospective chit-chat, what’s happening in Japan this week?

The Japanese box-office charts for this week feature a mix of anime movies like Precure All Stars and Strike Witches at numbers 3 and 11 respectively while the live-action adaptations of the manga We Were Here and Ouran entered at 2 and 12.

Today sees an interesting variety of films released including Salvage Mice which looks like heaps of fun. It is produced by the Director of High Kick Girl and has a similar feel.

 

Salvage Mice

Release Date: 24^th March 2012 (Japan)

Running Time: 81 mins.

Director: Ryuta Tasaki

Writer: Kei Taguchi

Starring: Mitsuki Tanimura, Tomohito Sato, Julia Nagano, Seiya Osada

 

Mai (Tanimura) is part of a team of robbers named the Salvage Mice. They are nice robbers since they steal lost treasure and return it to its rightful owner. All of this changes when she is betrayed by her partner Mariku (Sato) and she is placed on a wanted list. Mai decides to take revenge and with tough brawler Mio (Nagano) she is about to bring a world of hurt to Mariku.

 

Take the ‘A’ Train

Release Date: 24^th March 2012

Running Time: N/A

Director: Yoshimitsu Morita

Writer: Yoshimitsu Morita

Starring: Kenichi Matsuyama, Eita, Shihori Kanjiya, Pierre Taki

Yoshimitsu Morita who directed ‘Crying Out Love in the Centre of the World’ helms this film which stars Kenichi Matsuyama. Tragically he died last December which makes this his last film.

Kei Komachi (Matsuyama) is an office worker who loves trains. One day he meets a fellow  railroad otaku named Kenta Kotama (Eita) who works at his family’s iron foundry. The two enjoy their lives as train-spotters and come to appreciate each other.

 

The Lies of Locke Lamora Readalong Part Three

The third week of the Lies of Locke Lamora readalong is upon us and I’m ahead of the game for once. I was tempted to read ahead but decided to rein it in and watch some movies because I’m behind on my viewing… Anyway check out Little Red Reviewer, the lynch mob leader, for more information and opinions.

1. This section is where we finally get to sneak a peek at the magic in The Gentleman Bastards books. From what we read, what are your initial impressions of the magic Lynch is using? Is there any way that Locke and Company would be able to get around the Bondsmage’s powers?

I found the introduction of magic very intriguing. The Bondsmagi are NOT glass cannons. They seem over-powerful and I love the way that they have seemingly created a monopoly over magic. They even manipulate the genetics of creatures which means they breed interesting beasts. I want to find out how they do these things! Overall to get around the Bondsmage they’ll need one of their own.