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• Yama no Anata - Tokuichi no Koi (DVD) (Standard Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2 Kusanagi Tsuyoshi | Kase Ryo | Hirota Ryohei | Douguchi Yoriko

  Acclaimed director Ishii Katsuhito returns to the silver screen with his first film since the force of nature that was 2005's Nice no Mori - The First Contact. Known for oddball genius works like The Taste of Tea, Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl, and his recent animation projects, Ishii throws something of a curveball by playing it straight with Yama no Anata - Tokuichi no Koi (a.k.a. My Darling of the Mountains - Tokuichi in Love), a remarkably faithful remake of Shimizu Hiroshi's 1938 black-and-white classic Anma to Onna. Playing for both laughs and pathos with its simple yet telling narrative, the film gently peeks in and out of the winsome life and burgeoning love of a blind masseur portrayed by Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (The Sinking of Japan) of SMAP. Maiko (In the Pool) plays the woman who brings love and trouble to Kusanagi, while Kase Ryo (I Just Didn't Do It) and Tsutsumi Shinichi (Always - Sunset on Third Street) co-star as a fellow traveling blind masseur and a troubled hotel guest, respectively. Taking a break from the frantic stories and offbeat pacing of Ishii's previous films, Yama no Anata is a pleasant, subtle, and handsomely shot film sprinkled with physical comedy and quiet sentiments, and beautifully backdropped by pastoral scenery and sets that epitomize the calm elegance and charm of the film. Traveling blind masseurs Tokuichi (Kusanagi Tsuyoshi) and Fukuichi (Kase Ryo) are on the go from season to season, offering their services at hot spring mountain resorts and spas. Though unable to see, Tokuichi is extremely sensitive, able to deduce intimate details about people from sounds, scents, and touch. Arriving at his latest inn, Tokuichi takes an interest in two mysterious clients - Tokyo beauty Michiho (Maiko) who slowly steals his heart, and Omura (Tsutsumi Shinichi), also from Tokyo, who is accompanied by his bored, mischievous nephew Kenichi (Hirota Ryohei, A Tale of Mari and Three Puppies).
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• Shaolin Girl (DVD) (Collector's Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2 Shibasaki Kou | Nakamura Toru | Tian Qi Wen | Kitty Zhang

  Bayside Shakedown director Motohiro Katsuyuki and Hong Kong comedy king Stephen Chow join forces for the Shaolin Soccer spin-off Shaolin Girl. Though Stephen Chow himself only clocks in as executive producer, he's lent his usual cast members to the film including Lam Chi Chung and Tin Kai Man from Shaolin Soccer and Kitty Zhang from CJ7. To seal the friendly crossover of Chinese and Japanese cinema, there's also Eguchi Yosuke who recently appeared in Silk, Okamura Takashi from No Problem 2, and Nakamura Toru from Gen-X Cops in deliciously evil mode. Of course, pride of place goes to popular actress Shibasaki Kou (Dororo) who stretches her legs and hams it up with utmost sincerity. Add in the colorful comedic support, galore of straight-faced ridiculousness, and blowout finale, and this over-the-top Japanese take on Hong Kong action comedy deserves a genre of its own. After completing her training at Shaolin Temple, kung fu disciple Rin (Shibasaki Kou) returns to her quiet Japanese hometown hoping to spread Shaolin kung fu to the masses. But it turns out her former master Iwai (Eguchi Yosuke) has long closed the dojo and is now running a Chinese noodle dig instead. Waitress Minmin (Kitty Zhang) convinces Rin to join her university's lacrosse team instead where she can apply her kung fu to sports. Rin, however, isn't very good at lacrosse or at controlling her own powers, a weakness that could spell disaster if exploited by the wrong people. Recognizing her great power, the phenomenally (and inexplicably) evil university president (Nakamaru Toru) launches a nefarious plan to bring Rin to the dark side. The Collector's Edition of Shaolin Girl comes with a 16-page booklet and the following special features: Making Of Spin-off Chapter Special Effects Making Of Interviews Press Conference Gala Premiere Trailer, Teaser & Spots
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• The Magic Hour (DVD) (Special Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2 Sato Koichi | Tsumabuki Satoshi | Fukatsu Eri | Nishida Toshiyuki

  Applying the same formula that made Suite Dreams a critical and commercial success, director Mitani Koki rounds up an all-star cast and even constructs his own town for his hilarious fourth film The Magic Hour. Unable to find a real location that matched his imagination, Mitani built from scratch the nostalgic fictional port town of Sucago, complete with main street and pier, once again enlisting the services of production designer Taneda Yohei, who created the lavish hotel in Suite Dreams and has worked on films like Swallowtail and Kill Bill. One could say that the set is the true star of the film, if not for the star-studded ensemble cast of Tsumabuki Satoshi (Nada Sou Sou), Sato Koichi (Sukiyaki Western - Django), Ayase Haruka (Cyborg She), Fukatsu Eri (Bayside Shakedown), and veteran actor Nishida Toshiyuki (Sukiyaki Western - Django) as the town's mob boss. Like Suite Dreams, The Magic Hour weaves idiosyncratic people and stories together in amusing and unexpected manners, charming audiences with a delightful scramble of jaunty nostalgia, yakuza gunfights, and sitcom suspense. In deep waters for stealing the boss's girlfriend (Fukatsu Eri), nightclub manager Bingo (Tsumabuki Satoshi) has been ordered to find legendary hitman Della Togashi, or face a very painful death. With time running out, Bingo desperately hires failed stunt actor Murata Taiki (Sato Koichi) to pose as the hitman. Strolling casually into town for his big break, Murata thinks he's shooting a gangster movie, but he's actually walked into a gang war. The Special Edition of The Magic Hour includes the following special features: Audio Commentary The Magic Hour Show (Making Of) Mitani Koki's Magic Surprise (Sato Koichi, Tsumabuki Satoshi, Fukatsu Eri, Ayase Haruka, Kohinata Fumiyo) Meet & Greet (Preview Showcase, Asahi Hall Preview Event, Gala Premiere) Previews (Teaser, Trailer, TV Spot) Tanada Yohei's World of Art Making Of Deleted Scenes (with Director's Commentary) Storyboard Comparisons Cast Interviews Location Map
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