I had a chance to catch a special preview of Astro Boy on Tuesday night. In the Hollywood adaptation of the legendary manga/anime, Astro Boy is a robot built by Dr. Tenma that is powered by a special “Blue” energy. Astro Boy has super strength, the ability to fly and even possesses human emotions. During this adventure-filled movie, Astro Boy encounters some friends and obstacles along the way. Vocal actors include Hollywood stars. For those who are wondering whether this movie stays true to the 40 year old manga, I cannot answer that question. But overall, I found the movie to be entertaining and I felt that it met the standards of a good CGI movie (this is coming from someone who has never read the manga nor watched the animated series). Though this movie isn’t a Japanese style anime, the American CGI animation style was executed well by IMAGI Studios from Hong Kong. For those of you who are curious to see this film, Astro Boy premieres this Friday October 23rd. You can check out the Astroboy website for more information:
http://www.astroboy-themovie.com

Ryan Arreola

PRESENTS
NIPPON EIGA SERIES: PART #21

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF
GOEMON
Japan | 2009 | 128 min. | 35mm film | Japanese with English Subtitles

Wednesday, November 4th – Doors open 6:15pm – Film starts 7:00pm
The ImaginAsian, 239 East 59th Street (Bet. 2nd & 3rd Ave.), NYC
For RSVP: http://www.newyork-tokyo.com/wp/goemon

Previously we introduced that SMAP member Takuya Kimura (Hero, I Come With The Rain) was confirmed for the live-action adaptation of SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO to play the lead role of Susumu Kodai. Now the Sankei Sports newspaper in Japan has listed the main cast for the film with Takashi Yamazaki (Always – Sunset on Third Street, The Returner) directing. Scheduled for a December 2010 release, the TBS broadcasting company has been working on this project for the last five years.

Estimated at a budget of 2 billion yen ($22 million), the live-action adaptation of Space Battleship Yamato starts filming in the middle of this month. On a side note, 74 year old producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki is reviving the anime franchise this December with the animated Uchuu Senkan Yamato Fukkatsu-hen film.

Set in a nameless coastal town, Ponyo tells the timeless tale of “boy befriends goldfish, boy promises to protect goldfish, goldfish sprouts arms and legs and then accidentally floods town with her magic powers.” Okay, so maybe not that timeless, but that’s essentially what happens here. Ponyo (whose real name is Brunhilde until Sosuke dubs her Ponyo when he first rescues her) is the daughter of a man who gave up his life on land to be with a sea goddess and in turn also became a father of a thousand little goldfish babies. This would explain why Ponyo has a goldfish body (sort of) and a human head with hair, though only one person in the whole film seems to notice this.

Here is more good news about STILL WALKING for our readers! NYT is inviting 10 pairs to the STILL WALKING screening which will be held 2 days before the theatrical opening. Information is as follows:
Date/Time: Aug. 26th (Wed) at 7:30pm.
Venue:  IFC Center: 323 Avenue of the Americas, NYC

Send your entry by 5pm on Aug.24th (Mon). Will send the confirmation to lucky 10 pairs Aug.25th (Tue) morning.
Entry form is after the jump!

We recently announced the theatrical release of STILL WALKING. IFC Fillms is having a few screenings before the official release. Director Hirokazu Kore-eda will be in NY and present at the screenings for a Q&A!  To attend the BAM screenings of STILL WALKING  and NOBODY KNOWS this weekend. Here is the info:

http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=1434
http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=1435