Asian Cinema Thread

Coming soon from Radiance Films are a few more Japanese films:

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Daiei Gothic - Japanese Ghost Stories (Limited Edition)
Release Date: 28th October 2024

Collection includes:
Kenji Misumi directed The Tale of Zatoichi, available on Blu-ray by Criterion as part of the Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman collection in the UK for those interested.

Tokuzō Tanaka directed New Tale of Zatoichi, available on Blu-ray by Criterion as part of the Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman collection in the UK for those interested.

Satsuo Yamamoto directed Ninja: A Band of Assassins, available on Blu-ray by Radiance Films as part of the Shinobi collection, and Zatoichi's Cane Sword, available on Blu-ray by Criterion as part of the Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman collection in the UK for those interested.

Audio/Specs:​
All three films:
  • New 4K restorations of The Bride from Hades and The Snow Woman
  • High-Definition digital transfer of The Ghost of Yotsuya
  • Uncompressed Japanese mono PCM audio for each film
  • Optional English subtitles for all films
On-Disc
Extras:​
The Ghost of Yotsuya:
  • New interview with filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa
  • A visual essay on the history and adaptations of the classic Ghost of Yotsuya story by author Kyoko Hirano
  • Trailer
The Snow Woman:
  • New interview with filmmaker Masayuki Ochiai
  • A visual essay on writer Lafcadio Hearn by Paul Murray
  • Trailer
The Bride from Hades:
  • Audio commentary by author Jasper Sharp
  • New interview with filmmaker Hiroshi Takahashi
  • Trailer
Physical
Extras:​
Limited Edition Exclusive:
  • Newly designed box and booklet artwork by Time Tomorrow
  • Six postcards featuring original archive imagery from the films
  • 80-page perfect bound book featuring new writing by authors Tom Mes, Zack Davisson and Paul Murray, newly translated archival reviews and ghost stories by Lafcadio Hearn
  • 4,000 copies presented in a rigid box with full-height Scanavo cases for each film and removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Filippo Di Battista

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Dogra Magra (Limited Edition)
Release Date: 28th October 2024

Dogra Magra (ドグラ・マグラ), directed by Toshio Matsumoto, 1988.

Toshio Matsumoto directed Funeral Parade of Roses, available on Blu-ray by BFI in the UK for those interested.

Audio/Specs:​
Film:
  • High-Definition digital transfer supervised by director of photography Tatsuo Suzuki and producer Shuji Shibata
  • Japanese audio
  • New and improved English subtitles
On-Disc
Extras:​
Dogra Magra:
  • Audio commentary by director Toshio Matsumoto (2003)
  • Interview with Toshio Matsumoto (2003, 21 mins)
  • A visual essay by programmer and curator Julian Ross (2024)
  • Instructions on Ahodara Sutra (a popular Japanese chant delivered by Dr. Masaki in the film) by legendary street performer Hiroshi Sakano (16 mins)
  • Trailer
Physical
Extras:​
Limited Edition Exclusive:
  • Booklet featuring new writing by Hirofumi Sakamoto, president of the Postwar Japan Moving Image Archive and author Jasper Sharp on screenwriter Atsushi Yamatoya plus an interview with producer Shuji Shibata and Matsumoto’s director’s statement
  • 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow

For those interested I compiled a list of upcoming Asian Cinema releases for the UK on my blog that are arriving this month, August & September from 88 Films, Arrow, Radiance, Second Sight, Third Window Films and more.
 
NormanicGrav said:
Coming soon from Radiance Films are a few more Japanese films:

For those interested I compiled a list of upcoming Asian Cinema releases for the UK on my blog that are arriving this month, August & September from 88 Films, Arrow, Radiance, Second Sight, Third Window Films and more.
Click to expand...

they also announced a Nagisa Oshima box for next year via the email, which I'm pretty excited about. (nice blog btw!)

"We are delighted to present Nagisa Oshima's masterpiece The Man Who Left His Will on Film in collaboration with Oshima Productions and Carlotta Films at the Venice Film Festival later this year.

This will be part of an Oshima collection coming from Radiance in 2025!"
 
As a heads up, 88Films are running a storewide sale if you’re subscribed to their newsletter you’ll get a 25% discount code. Used it to get a few Asian Cinema titles and am rather annoyed in myself that I didn’t hold off on last month’s purchases. Live and learn I suppose and I did get a healthy amount of points,
 
Arrow just announced a slew of new releases for October 2024, which were leaked last night by a US/Region A leaker. So I was a bit nervous this would be a region A only release, but thankfully it's multi-territory.

J-Horror Rising Limited Edition Blu-ray
  • Shikoku (1999)
  • Isola: Multiple Personality Girl (2000)
  • Persona (2000)
  • Inugami (2001)
  • St. John’s Wort (aka Otogirisou) (2001)
  • Noroi: The Curse (2005)
  • Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman (2007)
I think the stand out film here is definitely Noroi: The Curse.


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88 Films have now made The Project A Collection (4K UHD + BD Deluxe Limited Edition) release available to order on their webstore. Unlike their earlier Region A releases, you are able to order this directly from the store in the UK (though it seems they'll do it for the first initial batch of stock or something).

Also available to order in case you missed it are:
Coming soon to the 88 catalogue in the coming months are:
  • Erotic Ghost Story I-III collection (BD: Category III No. 7)
  • Facets of Love (BD First Print Edition: Shaw Bros No. ??)
  • Gaira's Guts Trilogy (BD Limited Edition: Japanarchy No. 4)
  • Kid From Kwangtung (BD First Print Edition: Shaw Bros No. ??)
  • The Kung Fu Instructor (BD First Print Edition: Shaw Bros No. ??)
  • Magnificent Bodyguards (BD + BD 3D Limited Edition)
  • Miracles: The Canton Godfather (4K UHD)
  • Sex and Zen (BD Deluxe Limited Edition: Category III No. 8)
 
Cine Asia are putting out 'Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In' on Oct 14th.
I caught it on it's VERY limited cinema release and it is easily one of the best Hong Kong films of the last decade (expect numerous sequels).
Not available to pre order yet or really promoted is the fact they're also putting out a 4K at the beginning of November if that's your thing.

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In https://amzn.eu/d/1Ws2xyb
 
Jon O Fun said:
Cine Asia are putting out 'Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In' on Oct 14th.
I caught it on it's VERY limited cinema release and it is easily one of the best Hong Kong films of the last decade (expect numerous sequels).
Not available to pre order yet or really promoted is the fact they're also putting out a 4K at the beginning of November if that's your thing.

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In https://amzn.eu/d/1Ws2xyb
Click to expand...
Bit frustrated with how they're handling their home video releases tbh. Feels very limited and 4K is barely available.
 
Jon O Fun said:
Cine Asia are putting out 'Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In' on Oct 14th.
I caught it on it's VERY limited cinema release and it is easily one of the best Hong Kong films of the last decade (expect numerous sequels).
Not available to pre order yet or really promoted is the fact they're also putting out a 4K at the beginning of November if that's your thing.

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In https://amzn.eu/d/1Ws2xyb
Click to expand...
Thanks for the mention.
I don't keep up with future releases, usually spot these things on the shelf at HMV. Trailer looks great.

Found it on HMV for £17.99 for Blu-ray pre order. DVD £9.99 but no booklet.
 
Think I prefer this to CineAsia's regular steelbook for 4K's.
Also seems the 4K is exclusive to Zavvi unless others are going to sell it without the slip & book maybe? 🤷‍♂️

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BrokenPhoenix said:
The three new Director's Company films from TWF have been revealed:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1858859340775715110

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Click to expand...
I've heard VERY good things about Mermaid Legend and was 100% expecting 88 films to get it after they did Evil Dead Trap.
I'm sure third window will do a great release though!

On a side not they did also say these will be available on Amazon at some point so maybe that signals an Arrow return there as well?
(I'm sure their sales have taken a MASSIVE hit since departing)
 
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