Father Geek here with pigmon and the latest from Japan...

Fathergeek-san...

We are in the middle of the rainy season, here in Tokyo. It is sooooo damn humid. Best way to escape from this weather, of course, is to go to the movie theaters.

Here is this week's report...

NEWS

* Most disappointing news of this week in Japan comes from Bandai Visual president, Kazumi Kawashiro who announces that Katsuhiro Otomo's "Steam Boy" will not be completed by its original October release date. It will be postponed until next year. The reason why this project is delayed is that the ending sequence required more complex work. Toho co. which is the distribution company for "Steam Boy" is giving it more time to complete the needed sequences. Now "Steam Boy" will release early next year.

* The remake of "Cutie Honey" which is popular TV Anime series in 1973 to 1974 will be directed by "Evangelion"'s Hideaki Anno. Cutie Honey will be played by sexy Eriko Sato. This movie will be for the first time in 4 years for the director, Mr.Anno(his last film,"Shikijitu" was my best Japanese movie in 2000). Film stars shooting next month and is produced by Warner Japan.

* Ryuhei Kitamura("Versus"&"Azumi")appears at Tokyo Shinjuku Cinema Square Tokyu for openig day of his new film, "Alive". He promises to the audience that he will difinetaly make a film in Hollywood next year. One of the possiblities is the remake of "Versus".

* On June 22nd, "Battle Royale II" appears for the first time in public in Tokyo. Before showing the film, a 70 piece orchestra performs 3 songs and then director, Kenta Fukasaku and rest of cast will come to the stage in front of the 2000 audience members.

* Climax scene of upcoming "Kamen Rider 555" has been shot with 11,000 extras at Saitama Super Arena. About 90,000 people came to appy as extras for this sequence.

* Director Shinji Aoyama("Eureka") is shooting his new film,"Lakeside Murders" now. Koji Yakusho("Tampopo") and Etsuji Toyokawa are playing major roles. This film will be completed this fall.

* One of hottest Japanese director,Junji Sakamoto("KT"&"Face") is also shooting his new film, "Club Shinchugun ,Out Of This World".It is story about young jazz musicians at a US military camp ,just after WWII. This film will be at Japanese theaters early next year.

NO SHORT REVIEWS for this week

(Next week:"Battle Royale II",Boku No Songoku(remake of samu Tezuka's"Songoku',and "Robokon")

BOXOFFICE

And the winners this week are:

1 (1) The Matrix Reloaded

2 (2) The Core

3 (New ) The Italian Job

4 (4) Spy Sorge

5 (5) $B#C#o#l#l#a#g#e!!#o#f!!#O#u#r!!#L#i#f#e

6 (3) $B#8#M#i#l#e(J

7 (New ) Solaris

8 (7) Niju Spy

9 (6)Two Weeks Notice

10 (9) The Hour

See ya at the movies!

Coolpigmon@aol.com