Crows: Episode 0

A punk’s gotta do what a punk’s gotta do in “Crows: Episode 0,” the third picture by prolific Japanese maverick Takashi Miike to hit the fest circuit in as many months, following “Like a Dragon” and “Sukiyaki Western Django.” Recalling any number of brawling student pics from Asia — and playing sometimes like a serious version of the South Korean “Conduct Zero” (2002) — this prequel to a planned adaptation of the manga by Hiroshi Takahashi, which sold more than 32 million copies in Japan,

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lLpQuo8fh4

Suzuran Boys’ High, aka School for Crows, has a rep as the toughest educational institution in town (not that we ever see the students getting any education). Thither goes beanpole punk Genji Takaya (Shun Oguri, “Sukiyaki,” “Azumi”) to prove to his dad, yakuza boss Hideo (Goro Kishitani), that he has the smarts to eventually take over papa’s operation.

Arriving at the rundown school, Genji is mistaken for its numero uno fighter, Tamao Serizawa (Takayuki Yamada), by smalltime gangleader Ken Katagiri (Kyosuke Yabe). After Genji whips Ken & co.’s asses without breaking a sweat, Tamao realizes the school has a new pretender to his throne.

http://www.crows-zero.jp/index.html

edit @ 30 Nov 2007 12:25:02 by Q(^_^)9

Sakigake!! Otokojuku
THE MOVIE!!!

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Sakigake!! Otokojukuwas (and still is) a long selling best-seller comic book series, which conquered Japan in the latter half of the 1980s as well as established the Sakigake age in the world of Manga.

It has been said to be a textbook for young Japanese men, and the story laden with dreams, friendship and love was impossible to be translated on film as a live action.

Director Tak Sakaguchi astonished the world with his action sequences in VERSUS/The Ultimate Versus.

With comedy element of the original comic book in mind, Sakaguchi adds his own aesthetics to construct a narrative of extremely cool men, who dance beautifully in life and death battles.

Inheriting the Samurai Spirit, Otokojuku is a private boys school to nurture true men. As usual, 1st-year students enroll this year. What awaits them is grilling training by Drill Master Onihige. Momotaro is professed in both academics and martial arts. Hidemaro is a puny coward. 300 push-ups, Oil Bath punishment, Disciplinary Twin Cells are just examples of what the newcomers experience. With blood and sweat, Momotaro and Hidemaro live through the Otokojuku days, but during that time, they become true friends as well as pitch friendship with their other classmates. Meanwhile, Omito Date, a former Otokojuku 1st-year student leader, carrying a grudge on this school, now leads the evil army of Kanto Gogakuren school, is ready for a pay back. He conspires to take over Otokojuku and sets out to their school ground. The Otokojuku principle, Heihachi Edajima, appears and utters: No personal vendetta is allowed on the grounds of Otokojuku, but its a different story elsewhere. Thus, Otokojuku versus Kanto Gogakuren.

edit @ 2007/09/06 08:52:58

Hellsing

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Somewhere in future England, Vampires and Ogres are common creatures in the underground world, and a source of terror. To protect United Kingdom and the Anglican church, Integra Hellsing, a heiress of the legendary vampire buster founded The Hellsing Agency, and sets on crusade with Allucard, one of the famous Vampire slayer nationwide. Little does people know, except Lady Hellsing herself and few close friends, that Alucard himself is actually a demon. The battle heated with the participation of theCatholic and political issues behind the vampire - human war.