Father Geek here with ol' pigmon to post up for all of you a new edition of AICN's weekly column on what all is happening in the world of Japanese film. So with no more from me, here's pigmon and...

The AICN-Japan Report...

*NEWS

“T3” press conference was held in Tokyo with Arnorld Schwazenegger, Kristanna Loken and Jonathan Mostow in front of 1200 press at Park Hyatt Shinjuku on July 2.

Most of questions were boring.There was only one question from the press Was interesting,” How about “T4”,do you have any idea?,Jonathan Mostow answeres that “T3” will be opened this week on most of countries,and if fans demand,there will be “T4” and he has some idea. After the press conference,Arnold,Kristanna and Jonathan appeared at Ariake Arena for “T3” Japan premire with 6,000 scream fans.Next day only Arnold flew to Osaka ,for another premire at Universal Studio Japan.After finising all his activiy in Japan,Arnold headed to Iraq to visit American military camp for showing “T3 ” to all the soldiers!

* Actress Shinobu Otake received best actress award for “Owl” at the 25 th Moscow International Film Festival.This was third year in row for Japanese actress to get best actress award at this festival.

* Up coming Mamoru Oshii’s “Innocence:Kokaku kidotai 2”aka “Innocence:Ghosi in the shell”,some of Toho staff have seen one of the sequence.Nobody can’t express the word.One guys said,”You have never seen like this !and VFX,animation ,robot models are outstanding!.Shortly trailer will be on line soon.

* Advance ticket sales for “Pocket Monster:Advance Generation” has passed more than 0ne million ticket.

* “Tetugin 28 Gou(tell me,what is an English tilte?)” which was very popular both comics and TV series in 60’s will start produciton soon as live action movie.The final battle in the movie will be Testujin 28 Gou against Black Ox!Director is Shin Togashi(“Gomen”)and VFX supervior is Hajime Matsumoto(“Gamera” series).

*SHORT REVIEW

"Battle Royale II" (Toei)directed by Kinji Fukasaku and Kenta Fukasaku:July 5th

This is a great battle movie! So far both audiences(at advance screening)and critics give positive opinion.Actually Kinji Fukasaku directs only one day of shooting but Kenta,a son of Kinji Fukasaku directs the rest of film and result turns to good .This time another whole class mates(submitted by Takeshi's daughter) are choosen to battle under new rule:kill Shuya who becomes terrosit after the first film within 3 days.Yes ,of course all students have neck choker with new feature.All the students ship to isolated island where Shuya and his company Wild Seven hide.The battle sequence is so similar to "Saving Private Ryan" but camera moves too much which makes us dizzy.After war begins ,film goes to end so fast.Takeshi Kitano and Sonny Chiba appears on flash backs.I don't go to more details on this film because,Toei is hard to bring this movie to the US now.This movie could be big hit on Japanese movies in this summer. www.BR-NEW.JP

"9 Souls"(Tohokushinsha)directed by Toshiaki Toyoda:July

This is funny road movie.9 inmates(including Yoshio Harada("Azumi")and Ryuhei Matsuda("Collage of Life") )succesfuly escape from the prison and steals the van to look for big money which is hidden in school yard.When they find the box and opens,money is not there.They find only crystal key.They continue journey to look for their past....This movie will appear many film festivals from now on. www.9souls.com

"Robocon(Robot Contest)(Toho)directed by Tomoyuki Furumaya:September

Robot contest is well known competition among enginering high school student in Japan.Each school makes robot to participate competition.This movie focus on 4 student to challenge local Robot competition.Competition sequence is very interesting.They use 2 cameras so real time they could film.Each competition has 3 minitues and there are 3 spots and put box on each spot.If your robot put boxes 2 out of 3 spot,you win.You can put box as high as 8 horizontally. This movie carries good tradition of "Rocky" and "Karate Kid". You can get idea from this website. www.robocon-movie.com

"Killers"(Toho)directed by Mamoru Oshii and 4 other directors:June 14~27

"Kilers" has 5 short stories which are directed by 5 directors:Kazuhiro Kuchi,Hidemichi Okawa, Takanori Tsujimoto,Shuji Kawada and Mamoru Oshii.These short movies are about guns.".50 Woman" ,Mamoru Oshii ("Avalon" and "Ghost in the Shell")makes small budget and funny little movie.Beautiful lady(played by guy!) pulls big wooden box into the big building.Other side building is big hospital.She watches small TV which news is on.News tells that bad producer(played by Studio Ghibuli's Toshio Suzuki!) who earns 20 million dollers illegaly from the movie,is about leaving hospital.She opens the box and we see big gun.While she waits until producer comes out the hospital,just keep eating rice balls and pastries.Whenever she eats them,Oshii shows the brand of product,callories,and price She eats around 30 rice balls ans sandwiches,producer comes out the hospital and then shoot the head.He instantly kills.VFX is done by Koga who also done "Avalon".After viewing this movie,I run to Seven Eleven to get rice balls .This movie will be released on DVD in US near future.

"Boku No Songoku"(Shochiku)directed by Akio Sugino,Fumihiro Yoshimura:July 12th

It was fun to watch the remake of 1960's "Songoku" which was made by new generation of animators from Tezuka produciton company.It is based on Osamu Tezuka's story ,this famous Chinese rock monkey will rock the world again.With lots of good CG effects,monsters looks more scarey than original.Kids and adult will love this movie.Check this site:www.tezuka.co.jp/songoku

*BOXOFFICE

And The Leaders Are:

• 1(NEW) Charlie’s Angels :Full Throttle
• 2(1) The Matrix Reloaded
• 3(2)The Core
• 4(4)The Italian Job
• 5(5) Spy Sorger

See ya at the movies!

Coolpigmon@aol.com