It has been announced that the CG-animated movie take on Osamu Tezuka’s Astroboy will be released on October 23, 2009.

I’m reserving my thoughts on this matter, but it’s safe to say that this could definitely fare better than that other movie we love to hate, being CG and not trying to do a live-action of it.

There have been no concept arts and photos released yet, so maybe I can reserve my judgement until then?

Astroboy is directed by David Boyers and stars the voices of Freddie Highmore, Nicholas Cage, Kristin Bell, Donald Sutherland, Nathan Lane and more. The film is produced by Imagi Studios and will be released by Summit Entertainment.

Source: Comingsoon.net

Film geeks and otakus unite! You can now watch Japanese films and anime for free, only this July!

Click image for larger version.

In celebration of Philippines – Japan Friendship Month, the Japan Foundation, Manila, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan, the Shangri-La Plaza Mall, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the UP Film Institute presents a glimpse of the Japanese culture in Eiga Sai ’08.

This year’s offering brings together 5 contemporary, 1 classical and 2 animae/manga films in 35mm format that would surely amuse Japanese film enthusiasts and the general public as well. An invitational screening of We Shall Overcome Someday (Pacchigi) by director Kazuyuki Izutsu will be held on July 8, 2008 (Tuesday) at 7:00 p.m. at the Shangri-La Plaza Cinema 3, Edsa, Mandaluyong City.

In line with the celebration, the J-Pop Anime Matsuri to be hosted by the Embassy of Japan will be held on July 26 and 27 and the event includes the preview screenings of Chibi Maruko Chan (1990, written by Momoko Sakura) and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Toki o Kakeru Sh?ujo, 2001, directed by Mamoru Hosoda), a multi-awarded animae film that received the Grand Prize Award in the animation division of the 2006 Japan Media Arts Festival and the Special Distinction for Feature Film Awards at France 31st Annecy International Film Festival in June 2007.

All films will be shown with English subtitles. Screening venues are at the Shangri-La Plaza Cinema 3 (July 8 to 13, 26 & 27), CCP Dream Theater (August 7 to 10), and UP Film Institute (August 11 to 14 & 16). ADMISSION IS FREE. For detailed screening schedules and inquiries, please check the Japan Foundation, Manila website: www.jfmo.org.ph or call the JFM telephone numbers 811-6155 to 58.

See the full screening schedule here

WTF?!

First time I heard the news I was like, NOOOOOOOO!!!

I mean, it was already bad when I heard of the rumors about this:

And now *gasp* maybe this?!

Oh, shirt!

[More]

From Nausicaa.net

Oricon has released its most interesting anime survey:

10 Evangelion: 1.0 You Are
9 The Castle of Cagliostro
8 Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo
7 Kiki’s Delivery Service
6 Doraemon
5 Spirited Away
4 My Neighbor Totoro
3 Detective Conan
2 Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
1 Laputa: Castle in the Sky

Who would expect less from Miyazaki Hayao anyway?

Before we move on to the more scandalous part of this news bit, let’s start with the basics first. So the Justice League Mortal movie rumors that have been around for quite sometime might not be rumors anymore with director George Miller and team skipping from down under to Canadian north to scout for locations. I’m not really a big fan of the Justice League but hey, something as big as this definitely is worth the attention.

Then again, there’s the second part of this news bit. A Cinema Blend reader has this scoop from Adam Brody who is supposed to play The Flash has this to say:

“I asked Brody to sign a napkin, and asked what he/they were doing here. They’re in BC to check out locations for their new superhero movie Justice League is Mortal. Brody pointed at Miller and said “George is our director”. He said he’s playing The Flash, Common is playing Green Arrow (or Lantern, one or the other), Armie Hammer (sounded like Arm and Hammer) is Batman, someone from “mad max” is Martian Man-hunter (didn’t catch the name) and Hayden Christensen is Superman.

Okay, replay that. That was definitely a what the F moment, hands down. No doubt about it. Crapakin Crapwalker to play Superman? OH. COME. ON!!!

Brandon Routh has been decent enough to reprise a movie role that has been left vacant for years. And I’d have to say, he gave the spot some justice. But Hayden Christensen? Does he even pack any star power to make this decent? I mean he totally ruined Star Wars with his crappy acting and I refuse to believe that he’s decently acted ever.

Please let this be a rumor!

Source: Cinema Blend

Mainstream Hollywood has really taken a liking to anime that they’ve considered to use it to enhance their own films. Take Matrix for example where they used Animatrix to use as a filler in between Matrix and Matrix: Reloaded. And how about Kill Bill with those anime sections.

Now how about this? A Batman anime. Yes, you read that right. They’ll be release an anime feature dubbed as Batman: Gotham Knight which will serve as the filler between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight with the latter due this year.

Okay, so everyone’s too damn depressed with Heath Ledger’s passing. Still, who wouldn’t want to get a piece of his final work in The Dark Knight?

[More]

Photo from Wiki D-addicts

Matsumoto Jun of recent Bambino and Hana Yori Dango fame, has sure come a long way. I remember watching this skinny, curly-haired, buck-toothed teen on NHK saying to myself, “What the hell am I watching this for (did I just say something self-incriminating?)?” Ahh… those were the days!

Anyway the kid, will be starring in a remake of the 1958 Kurosawa Akira film Kakushi Toride no San-akunin (The Hidden Fortress) which is slated for a May 2008 release.

Nagasawa Masami (Proposal Daisakusen) and comedian Miyagawa Daisuke will be co-starring with him in this picture.

The story is about a defeated general who is assigned to secretly escort a princess to safety. Along the way, he is joined by two peasants – one of which is the protagonist which Jun (close kami eh) will portray.

But really, I’ll watch it only for one reason – Abe Hiroshi in the role of the general played by Mifune Toshiro in the original.

Special effects genius Higuchi Shinji is tapped as the director with Nakashima Kazuki writing the adaptation.

News in Japanese from Sanspo.com.

Following his 2000 film, “Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey,” Hiroshi Nagano of V6, will reprise his role as Ultraman Tiga. The movie will be under the helm of Director Takeshi Yagi. Aside from Tiga, seven other Ultraman (Ultramen?) will be included, the identities of which are still unknown. The title of the film is said to be “Daikessen! Cho Ultra 8 Kyodai” and will be released next year.

More in Japanese site Sponichi Annex.