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Movie Going Madness in Japan

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  • #46
    In fact, I'm going to see Evil Dead Trap on 35mm next week!
    TAKUMA....do you keep mentioning these cool things that you do just to annoy me?????

    Well, it's working!!!!

    I might just hop on an airplane and see you at the screening!!!!

    But maybe TWO Gaijin in the theater at the same time might cause some kind of atomic reaction!!!!

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    • #47


      I don't think I've ever seen two gaijin in any of these screenings...

      Wanna be annoyed more? After Evil Dead Trap I'll head to Shin-Bungeiza for Norifumi Suzuki retrospective: Dolls of the Shogun's Harem (1986) and Ninja's Mark (1968). Then next day it's gonna be more Suzuki (Onsen Mimizu Geisha and Onsen Suppon Geisha), Akira (1988), and finally some Nikkatsu and Teruo Ishii action films in Laputa. And because I have some free time on Monday morning I plan to drop by for a Roman Porno triple feature: Star of David: Beauty Hunting (1979), Runa's Confession: "Men Crawling All Over Me" (1976) and Young Beast: Secret Pleasures (1978).

      Tokyo Drifter, Fighting Elegy and Crazed Fruit (1981) are also playing but I simply can't fit them into the schedule

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      • #48
        LOL....at least you are not wasting your time!!!

        You must have skin the same color as a vampire....You DO actually get out into the sunshine SOMETIMES right????


        Star of David: Beauty Hunting (1979)

        GGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

        Gonna check how much a flight is right NOW!!!

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        • #49
          Originally posted by sukebanboy View Post
          LOL....at least you are not wasting your time!!!

          You must have skin the same color as a vampire....You DO actually get out into the sunshine SOMETIMES right????
          I do have the same skin color as vampires, but that's just because I come from the country of polar bears (and polar beers)

          Luckily for me, Japanese girls love white skin :gory:

          I do get a bit of sunlight too, cause the films are playing all around Tokyo so I have to run from one theater to another. Though June-August in Tokyo I'd rather stay somewhere inside with air conditioning than be out in the sun...

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          • #50
            Last Hurrah for Shimbashi Bunka

            The last two days in Shimbashi Bunka (mainstream side) and Roman Gekigo (pink side) were just amazing! So many people showed up!

            The 81 seat Roman Gekijo played at heavy over-capacity, with up to 30 people standing! There were 8 seats reserved for ladies, but I counted 17 women in some of the Sunday screenings, so most of them were sitting on the danger zone! Actually, these last few days the audience profile was relatively normal with only a few creepy old men in the theatre, so rather safe for ladies!

            Mainstream side was just as popular. Again more than 20 people standing in Taxi Driver on Saturday and long lines of people queuing on the street! In Death Proof the audience was having a blast and even applauded twice at the end of the film (extremely rare among Japanese audiences!).

            As usual, the theatre interiors were decorated with movie posters… First Blood, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Phenomenon, Game of Death, etc. on the mainstream side, and Secret Honeymoon: Rape Train etc on the pink side.

            Tokyo is literally losing a part of its culture with this theatre taken down.

            Outside the pink theater


            Secret Honeymoon: Rape Train (1977), Rape and Death of a Housewife (1978), Rape Ceremony (1980)


            Love Hunter (1972), Lovers are Wet (1973), Wandering Lovers: Dizziness (1978)


            Secret Chronicle: Prostitute Market (1972), Secret Chronicle: Prostitute Hell (1973), Secret Chronicle: She Beast Market (1974)


            Inside the pink theater. White seats are lady seats


            Outside the mainstream theater


            Outside the mainstream theater


            Taxi Driver and Death Proof


            Inside the mainstream theater


            Inside the mainstream theater


            Inside the mainstream theater


            Inside the mainstream theater
            Takuma
            Senior Member
            Last edited by Takuma; 09-01-2014, 05:05 AM.

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            • #51
              Awesome pictures!
              Rock! Shock! Pop!

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              • #52
                From the side the guy in the yellow shirt/glasses sort of looks like Miike.
                LA PASIÓN ESPAÑOL: THE EROTIC MELODRAMAS OF VICENTE ARANDA (1991-1999)

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                • #53
                  Originally posted by Ian Jane View Post
                  Awesome pictures!
                  Thanks

                  Originally posted by Tom Clark View Post
                  From the side the guy in the yellow shirt/glasses sort of looks like Miike.
                  Yeah, but the real Miike is probably too busy to go to the movies. I'm sure he's working on 5 different movies right now

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                  • #54
                    Originally posted by Takuma
                    I like this one a lot
                    LA PASIÓN ESPAÑOL: THE EROTIC MELODRAMAS OF VICENTE ARANDA (1991-1999)

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                    • #55
                      Theater Introduction

                      Jinbocho Theater (part 1)

                      This is a nice, modern looking theater that shows only Japanese cinema retrospectives. They focus on the classier stuff, so it may not be the first choice for a genre film buff. They are more likely to screen a Kenji Mizoguchi series, or retrospectives dedicated to some other classic directors, actors or composers from the 1940s to 1960s.

                      However, more recent films, and genre films, do often find their way into the program as parts of the retrospectives. For example, while the Yuzo Kayama retro focused on his comedies, dramas and music films from the 1950s and 1960s, it also included the hard boiled professional killer film The Creature Called Man (1970) which was probably a big influence for John Woo. Similarly, while their Eros series focused on the classier stuff from the early 1960s, it also included three Roman Pornos and one 1990's Takashi Ishii thriller. They also screened a complete Godzilla retrospective.

                      Jinbocho only screens one retrospective at a time. Usually there are 4 films playing each day, and they will be played in different order each day for about one week, so the film that screened at 15:00 today might screen at 19:00 the day after tomorrow. Unfortunately there tends to be a rather long break, e.g. 40 min, between the films.

                      The lobby is no great thrills, but they put up some original posters of the film that are playing, a fun little box with movie memorabilia, and a theme wall with information and stills from the ongoing retrospective.

                      As typical to theatres of this kind, tickets are numbered in the order or purchase. You will get to enter and freely choose your seat in that order. The screen is medium size (7.2mí—3m) and there are plenty of seats (99) so it's unlikely to sell out. As far as I know, all movies screen from 35mm as they should.

                      Opposite to the theatre entrance there is a small book store selling movie memorabilia. You can pick up advertising booklets (pamphlets) for 1980s idol films, 1980s Kinji Fukasaku films, 1980s and 1990s slasher and zombie films etc. They even had some Roman Porno video cassettes for sale. Highly recommended if you visit the theatre, and a great way to kill time between the movies.

                      Access: Jinbocho subway station. You can access for example from Shibuya (Hanzomon line) or Ueno (Ginza line, change to Hanzomon line at Mitsukoshimae). Once you're at Jimbocho take Exit A7, go left for a couple of small blocks, and turn left again one mini-block before a kind of mini-part. You can see the end of the road as it's only about 200 metres and there should be a brown (or grey) building at the end of it. There's also a convenience store on the street. Jimbocho Theater is the strange looking grey building near the end of the street on the left.

                      Theater website: http://www.shogakukan.co.jp/jinbocho-theater/index.html

                      Eros Retrospective


                      Eros Retrospective: "Memorabilia Box"


                      Eros Retrospective: Distant Thunder (1981) on the left


                      Eros Retrospective: Theme Wall


                      Eros Retrospective: Virgin Blues (1974)
                      Takuma
                      Senior Member
                      Last edited by Takuma; 09-11-2014, 02:45 AM.

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                      • #56
                        Jinbocho Theater (part 2)

                        Yuzo Kayama Retrospective + ads from earlier retrospectives


                        Yuzo Kayama Retrospective


                        Yuzo Kayama Retrospective


                        Yuzo Kayama Retrospective


                        Yuzo Kayama Retrospective: "Memorabilia Box"


                        Composer Sei Ikeno Retrospective: Yokai Monsters (1968) on the right


                        And here's the bookstore I mentioned


                        Some of the stuff I bought: Pamphlets for three great Hiroko Yakushimaru films:
                        Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (1981), School in the Crosshairs (1981) and Legend of the Eight Samurai (1983)


                        The still with Hiroko sitting on Shinji Somai's lap is my favourite behind the scenes still of all time.
                        A genius director thinking of the next scene, with the greatest idol of all time waiting for his decision.


                        The greatest idol movie of all time in the making!


                        And while we're at it, I gotta link this great tribute video to Sailor Suit and Machine Gun. It's made up of scenes in chronological order and will spoil the ending, so you may not wish to watch it beyond the 2 minute mark if you haven't seen the film.



                        Damn this film is great. One of my greatest wishes, aside Blade Runner, is to get to see this on 35mm some day...
                        Takuma
                        Senior Member
                        Last edited by Takuma; 09-11-2014, 02:56 AM.

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                        • #57
                          Some good stuff in there Takuma...I too loved SAILOR SUIT AND MACHINE GUN...but not as much as you I think!!!

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                          • #58
                            Just when I was talking about the film, Kadokawa announced a 4K Scan Blu-Ray of Sailor Suit and Machine Gun for December 5th. If I understood correctly, it should include both versions (the 112 min 1981 theaterical version and the 131 min 1982 extended version). The 112 min version was released on BD a few years ago, but the picture quality didn't seem so good, so I never boght it. I'll be sure to pick up this new version, though.



                            Unfortunately these new Kadokawa BDs don't include any extras other than trailers, even though many of their original DVD editions had great extras. So, I won't be getting rid of my dvds. I have the Hiroko Yakushimaru Premium Box Set which includes Tonda Couple (Somai, 1980), Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (extended version, 1982) and Main Theme (Morita, 1984) + bonus disc and 1/6 size sailor suit (no kidding!). I should have pictures somewhere...





                            Sailor Suit and Machine Gun(1981)


                            Main Theme (1984)


                            Tonda Couple (1980)

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                            • #59
                              Continued

                              Bonus disc

                              The bonus dvd contains two features. The first one is 'Sensational Hiroko' music video, which is basically just three guys singing ”senzeezonal HIROKO” with short clips of Hiroko edited in. It's sillybut works like a drug. Watch it a few times and you won't be able to live without it anymore.











                              The main feature is a 43 minute interview with Hiroko. She discusses about her Kadokawa films and singing career. Plenty of great behind the scenes stills are shown during the interview but unfortunately there isn't any behind the scenes video footage.


















                              (director shinji somai in the middle)





                              Takuma
                              Senior Member
                              Last edited by Takuma; 09-12-2014, 05:54 AM.

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                              • #60
                                continued

                                So what's different between the two versions?

                                1981 Theatrical Version: 112 min
                                1982 Extended Version: 131 min

                                Scene 1 (2:50)
                                Extended scene. After Hiroko returns to her apartment, which has been turned upside down, she goes to a cafe with the detective to talk about her dad.





                                Scene 2 (1:15)
                                New scene. Hiroko drying her hair. Any footage of Hiroko drying her hair makes a film automatically better, so this is a good addition.





                                Scene 3 (0:30)
                                New scene. Hiroko and and the young gang member crossing the street. This is a nice little addition, partly thanks to the music.





                                Scene 4 (9:38 )
                                New scene. This is the biggest addition. Hiroko goes to meet a gangster alone and almost gets raped. Doesn't really suit the film, and Hiroko gets in trouble too many times in the film anyway.









                                Scene 5 (3:14)
                                New scene. Hiroko waiting for the ganster to arrive after she has been kidnapped. Has some nice moments but isn't really necessary.





                                Scene 6 (1:13)
                                Extended scene. Not really necessary.





                                Bottom line: some good additions, some not so good additions. It's not really better or worse than the theatrical version.

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