Third Window Films Discussion Thread

[magnetiques]

i just saw the error_4444 news and thought these releases (i assume, i've only seen funky forest) would be perfect for TWF.

[NormanicGrav]

I see details are on their official website.

Six years after directors Shunichiro Miki, Katsuhito Ishii and Hajime Ishimine teamed up to deliver Funky Forest: The First Contact, Shunichiro Miki, flying solo this time, is back to deliver THE WARPED FOREST, a film full of nipple guitars, giant store owners, weiner guns and the Pinkie Pankie monster.

wat

[magnetiques]

well that was quick

[thenexus6]

I'd never heard of Funky Forest until someone I follow on Insta imported a DVD a few weeks back and was singing its praises. This release now on my radar.

[Justin101]

For some reason I totally got Funky Forest confused with Sono's Forest of Love but I can see I was very wrong haha. I've not seen or heard of these films but they sound interesting so I'll be getting my order in

[Rutger Lundgren]

This is such amazing news, TWF is on fire!

[Ben_C]

I spent a silly amount on the special edition Japanese dvd of Funky Forest back in the day, but seem to remember not being overly impressed with it, especially compared to something like The Taste of Tea. Maybe a lot of it was a bit too quirky/odd seemingly just for the sake of it.
That being said, I’ll still buy a TWF release .

[floor pie]

I saw Sion Sono's Red Post on Escher Street a little over a week ago, and I want to sing its praises. A truly great, one-of-a-kind experience. Hopefully TWF or someone else will release it!

[li303ve]

Originally Posted by floor pie

I saw Sion Sono's Red Post on Escher Street a little over a week ago, and I want to sing its praises. A truly great, one-of-a-kind experience. Hopefully TWF or someone else will release it!

Couldn't agree more. I saw it as part of Japan Society's 21st Century Japan series and it immediately became one of my favorite Sono films.

[thirdwindowfilms]

Originally Posted by floor pie

I saw Sion Sono's Red Post on Escher Street a little over a week ago, and I want to sing its praises. A truly great, one-of-a-kind experience. Hopefully TWF or someone else will release it!

Been thinking of it, but with its lengthy running time (and therefore expensive BBFC costs) along with the fact it's been massively pirated, it's something that's a little further down the list.

Though, have a BUNCH of films which have never had a Western release (in any format) which have gone ahead of it in negotiations, so focusing on them first at the moment!

[finishominis]

Although I'm loving Third Window's higher profile releases, I've loved from the start all of the under the radar releases no-one else would touch (Instant Swamp, Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers, etc.)

[jonboy24]

Originally Posted by finishominis

Although I'm loving Third Window's higher profile releases, I've loved from the start all of the under the radar releases no-one else would touch (Instant Swamp, Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers, etc.)

This is the reason I started purchasing all Third Window releases for more of these types of quirky comedies.

I genuinely think that Third Window are one of the very few physical media companies that are irreplaceable if they were to stop releasing titles.

And I think they are correct picking hard to find Japanese films to release. English friendly Japanese dvd/blu-ray releases are very rare and expensive in Japan whereas Korean/Hong Kong films are more accessible with English subtitles included.

[jonboy24]

Originally Posted by thirdwindowfilms

Been thinking of it, but with its lengthy running time (and therefore expensive BBFC costs) along with the fact it's been massively pirated, it's something that's a little further down the list.

Though, have a BUNCH of films which have never had a Western release (in any format) which have gone ahead of it in negotiations, so focusing on them first at the moment!

This sounds very promising!

I can never have enough Sion Sono though

[Ben_C]

Recently watched Arrow’s release of Burst City, and whilst I didn’t really care for it, it did make me long for a blu-ray of Ishii’s Electric Dragon 80,000V. Definitely the kind of title I’d love to see TWF release.

[thirdwindowfilms]

Originally Posted by jonboy24

This is the reason I started purchasing all Third Window releases for more of these types of quirky comedies.

I genuinely think that Third Window are one of the very few physical media companies that are irreplaceable if they were to stop releasing titles.

And I think they are correct picking hard to find Japanese films to release. English friendly Japanese dvd/blu-ray releases are very rare and expensive in Japan whereas Korean/Hong Kong films are more accessible with English subtitles included.

Personally preferred releasing those sort of comedies myself, but in the age of bluray it's neigh on impossible to even come close to breaking even on them. Even the more 'genre' quirky releases like TASTE OF TEA and FISH STORY take like 3 years to break even on, so you can imagine what tiny comedies like 'Turtles' would nowadays. Pining for the 'easier' days of DVD releases...

[thirdwindowfilms]

Originally Posted by Ben_C

Recently watched Arrow’s release of Burst City, and whilst I didn’t really care for it, it did make me long for a blu-ray of Ishii’s Electric Dragon 80,000V. Definitely the kind of title I’d love to see TWF release.

Electric Dragon is a complicated one as the rights for some reason are handled by a major studio who not only don't seem too interested in making a new master, but at the same time told us we weren't allowed to make a new scan from our own accessible 35mm print of the film...

Though, after 2+ years of negotiations, it's looking like we may finally be able to release his film CRAZY THUNDER ROAD on bluray (though if you're not a fan of Burst City it may not interest you)

[magnetiques]

Memories of Matsuko is fantastic, rewards the viewer's time by the end with an emotional crescendo. Also that song in the middle is so good, had to rewind.

[NormanicGrav]

The @toyodatoshiaki bluray box PART 2 coming soon!
Watch this space!

Part 1 - 'Toshiaki Toyoda: The Early Years' bluray box set is nearly OOP so pick it up before you're too late!

Oh wow a second Toyoda box set? The first one was surprisingly solid (9 Souls is very good) and I look forward to more of his works coming to the UK.

[logboy]

Originally Posted by NormanicGrav

Oh wow a second Toyoda box set? The first one was surprisingly solid (9 Souls is very good) and I look forward to more of his works coming to the UK.

i'm surprised it was one of those sets that hung around - i expected it to sell out very very quickly.

ive seen one or two of the later films likely to come in a second set (if there is one) and i'd buy that quickly, too.

[Grethiwha]

Originally Posted by thirdwindowfilms

Electric Dragon is a complicated one as the rights for some reason are handled by a major studio who not only don't seem too interested in making a new master, but at the same time told us we weren't allowed to make a new scan from our own accessible 35mm print of the film...

Though, after 2+ years of negotiations, it's looking like we may finally be able to release his film CRAZY THUNDER ROAD on bluray (though if you're not a fan of Burst City it may not interest you)

Burst City was my first Ishii film and a blind buy – loved it, so I'm super excited to hear you might be releasing Crazy Thunder Road!

Interested in the Toyoda boxset too!