Kite Live Action Trailer Up.

Ah, finally the Hollywood adaptation of infamous anime 2 ep OVA with hentai element , "Kite" is up. The development of adaptation is been a long, long time, I heard about live action adaption for 1st time in 2006, I think. The director of the anime OVA is Yasomi Umetsu, the dude who gave us Mezzo Forte and Wizard Barrister Cecil.



Let's see how good this is but I would expect the explicit underaged sex scene to be snipped off.

Live Action Ghost in the Shell is Gaining Momentum

According to this site, Dreamworks is getting serious in adapting the most famous Japanese cyberpunk science fiction, GITS. Apparently one of the actress, Margot Robbie (Wolf of Wall Street) in talks to be the female lead.

Directed by the dude who did Snow White and the Huntsman, no timeline has been given yet. Honestly speaking, I am not too impressed with Snow White so I getting a bit leery about this adaptation.

Time will tell if this movie will be something or not.

Awww Yes.

Best news to confirm my hopes. Pacific Rim 2 scheduled for 2017 release. Muahahhaha!

Sidenote: Animated series is coming out but I am not holding much hopes for it.

Ghost in the Shell Live Action Video. (NSFW)

Check this out. Looks pretty cool. 

Micheal Bay Wants to Direct Evangelion?

To be honest, I am not too keen on this prospect despite his commercial success with Transformers franchise (it made billions for the movie studio) because I don't think he is the right guy to handle something like Evangelion. It is not a direct to toy mecha show and it is very stylistic discourse of self existenalist by Hideaki Anno. He is very commercial, action orientated with big love for explosives plus unmistakable love for US militaria. I just can't see how the live action Evangelion can do justice with his handling. Big time.

If he wants to do an adaptation then Macross maybe more suitable since it is a very commercial friendly mecha saga. Not Evangelion, it is a very personal work.

I really don't like the shakey cam action sequences where I don't know what the heck is going on. I hate it with my passion. I already can see it when this news came up few days ago.

So yeah, that's my take on this rumour now.

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Fan Made Akira Kicks Ass.

Perhaps one of the best live action Akira to date. I wonder if the upcoming Warner Bros project can equal to this short fan made trailer or not.

If that project ever becomes realized that is.

Ghost in the Shell Live Action is Happening?

Alright, I read the headlines and frankly speaking, I am not too comfortable with the choice of the director since I found Snow White and the Huntsmen (2013) suck balls.

Fine, my opinion is premature given he is doing 1 movie only so far. Maybe. I am not so sure. All being said, I am excited to see the project finally going somewhere now. Just hope it won't suck.

Link.

Rurouni Kenshin Live Action Movie Part 2 - Kyoto Arc

The ever popular Kenshin now have 2nd live action incarnation. Looks great, to be honest.

Patlabor Live Action Movie Teaser is Out.

What else need to say? Here we go.

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HBO and De Toro is doing Monster? Fuck yeah!

One of the best news in early 2013 (yes I am slowpoke) is De Toro working with Stephen Thompson ( Dr Who, Sherlock) on Urasawa Naoki's Monster for HBO. However no other details are available nor airing date. We can only wait for now.

Cool shit indeed.

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Shingeki no Kyojin Live Action Movie? Really?

Okay, I dunno if this is true or not but apparently there is a movie based on famous manga/anime series coming soon in 2014. Unfortunately this is all I got so far, no announcement of cast or director etc.

I will take this news with a grain of salt.

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Imagine De Toro Directing Live Action Madoka. Wow!

Hoah! Just saw this picture and immediately I can imagine him directing a live action version of Madoka. Seriously! Imagine it done in Pan's Labyrinth's style. That will be quite something.

Well, he could be just teasing and having fun, maybe bought for his own geeking time or maybe something more? You never know.

Source.

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Patlabor Live Action Alphonse spotted at Yokohama.

Remember the live action movie of Patlabor?

Well, these are photos taken at Yokohama not long ago, apparently it is from filming site. Check it out. The movie is slated for release in 2014 with participation of Mamoru Oshii. As a mecha geek, this is an awesome news indeed.

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Review on Pacific Rim (2013). Spoilers AHOY!

Okay this is it. SPOILERS warning for Pacific Rim (2013).

Pac Rim (2013) delivers on gigantic scale in terms of action and sheer size, especially Battle of Hong Kong which going non stop for 30-40 mins straight of pure mecha vs monster action. I mean old timer mecha/kaiju fans will immediately spot few homages such as Serizawa Scale (a direct nod to Japanese scientist who killed Godzilla in 1950s movie) and the striking resemblance of Striker Eureka to VF-1 Valkyrie Battriod Armored/ Armoured from Macross , complete with missile barrage system. Needless to say, the old Mazinger Z and Tetsujin 28 Rocket Punch which is used by Gipsy Danger in smacking Leatherback for good old fashioned American punch make me guffaw and giggle with unrestrained joy.

The monsters themselves are nod to Japanese famous monsters such as Rodan (Otani) or even Baltan (Onibaba), the nemesis of Ultraman. Heck few battles are settled with good old fashioned sword finisher, a homage to Japanese superhero mecha signature finisher. The last boss, Slattern, a category 5 on Serizawa Scale is quite scary and imposing - a worthy opponent of tried and tested Gipsy Danger in the last brawl underwater.

The mecha/monster did not disappoint at all, as I said earlier, I was crying with joy at the sights - cheering and hollering like a kid, complete with punching in the air as the Jaeger and Kaiju going for smackdown.

Yes, the glorious scene of Gipsy Danger slapping Otani silly with a ship is a sight to behold too. 

Aesthetic wise, Gipsy Danger reminds me of US industrial war machine image like B-17 or M4 Sherman - tough, reliable and industrial funk feel. Striker Eureka is the most modern, sleek looking - you can feel it has iPhone inside it as one of the instruments. Very Gundam feel, as if it is designed by Katoki Hajime. The Russian's Cherno Alpha is the personification of Soviet style brutal, simple engineering like T-34 merged with RBMK nuclear reactor. The Chinese Jaeger is very agile and practical but a bit bare on its range. So is Cherno Alpha which leads to their destruction as the Kaiju actually evolved and learning on how to fight them. Unpredictable and well equipped Gipsy and Striker managed to survive because it did not rely on one sole technique to destroy the Kaijus.



Personally I would love if there is more scenes of absolute destruction like Man of Steel but at this point, I can't complain too much.

The composer of HBO Game of Thrones, Djawadi is delivering a catchy soundtrack for the movie - each Jaeger have their own signature leitmotif, Cherno Alpha with vocal male orchestra singing in gloomy Gregorian, Crimson Typhoon resounding big drum music and the cowboy like swag theme for Gipsy Danger.

Character wise....okay....the hero guy is kinda meh to me. When I look at him, I am just not convinced that he is a badass mecha pilot. He looks more like office worker than a Jaeger pilot. His partner, Mako have problems to give full emotion to her lines, she is trying her best to enunciate her lines which is not bad but at the cost of emotional range that she could have deliver. The little girl in her memories is more convincing than the adult version. Idris Alba as Marshall simply rocks, he is the backbone of human side in the narrative. This man commands respect and presence in all of the scenes that he is in. The crew of Striker Eureka have an interesting Aussie accent, I think some of my Aussie friends will cringe hearing them speak. Their presence is okay, serves as a foil to returning Jaeger pilot hero in the movie.

The scientist duo is the comic relief, they adequate enough for what they supposed to be. Other Jaeger crews of Cherno Alpha and Crimson Typhoon is not given enough time, I wish they have some human scenes in the flick. I believe it will make their deaths more poetic and human.

Ron is Ron, he exudes cool charisma all the time. His role is pretty small but still important, I believe he might be key character in the sequel. A big maybe. I chuckled at most of his lines, he is funnier than the scientist duo IMHO.

I just don't get why some people trying so hard to compare this film to Evangelion, it is totally different like comparing a durian to fried chicken. Pac Rim story is about desperate humanity in face of relentless Kaiju attack, battling it out in giant mechas whereas Evangelion is a psychological drama with broken people insulate themselves in giant titans, cutting themselves off from humanity and slowly weans into connection or rejects it thru EVA. Different feel, different beast altogether.

Overall, maybe biased but I would consider this movie as the best in 2013 summer blockbuster. This is the only movie that make me go nuts and cheering in the cinema since long, long time. Anime mecha otakus must watch this, this is the movie for us as Hideo Kojima asserted. This movie worth multiple rewatch because it is just so awesome.

Just go and watch this already!



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Black Swan (2010) and Perfect Blue (1998)

Now I know why I keep having deja vu while watching Black Swan (2010) few months ago. I also found this interesting link.

The scene resemblance is uncanny. Very uncanny.

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Kenshin real live action? Hmmmmm...

Can you see Kenshin in this guy? Maybe. Takeru Sato will be Kenshin in live action adaptation. Supposedly he is a big fan of the anime/manga while he is growing up. Warner Bros Japan is willing to invest on the movie, produced by this studio called Swan.

Seen Space Battleship Yamato and I am not too impressed by the movie. Most of my friends did not survive Gantz live action either so I am kinda cool to this development. It is about time, I suppose.

The buzz is high since this is highly regarded franchise.

Time will tell if this movie going suck like the examples I mentioned or not. 2012 release.

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Live Action Akira male leads is shortlisted...and Justin Timberlake?

Hooyah,

Looks like the script is done and list of actors were released few days ago. Let's breathe slowly yes? Here it comes...

For Kaneda role: Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake and Joaquin Phoenix.

Justin Timberlake?! Ouch. Other than acting as Napster founder in Social Network, I am not too sure if he can carry the role. Joaquin Phoenix inspires more confidence from me, he has the intensity and seriousness about him. Plus, his role as Commodus in Gladiator (2000) is awesome. Pine is also an interesting choice, considering I enjoyed his Captain Kirk immensely in last Star Trek movie. No comment on Fassbender or Hedlund though.

Now Tetsuo... Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield and James McAvoy.

I am kinda okay with James McAvoy and I do enjoy his acting, but let's see the rest. Pattinson...yeah...that Twlight guy. Horrors. No shiny chest and emo stalking please! I am ambivalent about Garfield, I only seen him in Social Network so far. But hey, he is new Spidey by the way!

The studio was prioritizing this adaptation since they paid quite a sum to Kodansha. They got Harry Potter writer to work on the script which the director (Book of Eli director) and studio excited enough to push the project. I will still watch it but I going in the cinema, tabula rasa style. Not going to compare it with original material. I hope it will not suck like Godzilla.

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Noir / ノワール will be remake into live tv series.

Tinseltown just got into another anime adaptation, this time is Noir / ノワール (2001) the famous Bee Train work that shows their signature slow pace and eye shot camera pan emo scenes. This anime is the progenitor to many Bee Train "chicks with gun cool killer" genre such as Madlax and Cazador. When it is came out at first, many fans hailed it as an artistic and fascinating story of semi lesbian pair of Kirika and Mirelle. However, personally I think it overstays its welcome with 26 formulaic and predictable episodes ( the music cue did not help to hide the suspense). I do liked the soundtrack a lot though. (by Yuki Kaijura no less)

Sam Raimi and Starz will be making the live action adaptation, curiously, it gave me hope since I enjoyed the visceral and bloody Spartacus: Blood and Sand immensely. So my anticipation is there as how they will approach this anime and turn it into live action series. Since it is cable company, it will be more for mature audiences and less concerned with TV censorship.

I find it interesting.

Source News

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Zac Efron as Kaneda in Akira? Really?!

Oh no. According to this website, the dude that once rumored to be Sousoke in Full Metal Panic live action might be possibly casted as famous Kaneda in live action Akira. Talks are still in progress though.

Albert Hughes (Book of Eli) will be directing it. Leo Dicaprio denied any rumors that he might acted as Kaneda in the adaptation.

As expected, it is "Americanized" by setting it in New Manhattan instead of Neo Tokyo in original movie.

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Live Action Bleach?

A big rumor flying around now, Warner Brothers is negotiating for rights of Bleach franchise. I can foresee a massive outcry from the Bleach fans since the adaptation experience is less than stellar (anyone remembered Legend of Chun Li?). No updates on US version of Death Note surfaced lately despite its massive popularity in USA, so now this talk might just fell through. I am sure some Bleach fans wished for that.

Me? I will just watch it for LOL factor. Not in cinema though.

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