Third Window Films Discussion Thread

[Yami]

Originally Posted by NormanicGrav

From the looks of it, it's the Animerama collection that's now out of print. Was a nice collection in general. Discotek did rescue those two films (and even found the once-lost international English dub for 1001 Nights which is neat) so there is an alternative available for those who can access Region A on their Blu-ray players.

On another note I listened to the latest TWF podcast episode. Entertaining listen about Ishii's collection and they also talked about GO. At the end they mentioned Guard from Underground is around September, Door & Door II in October and then Typhoon Club after that, then some newer films planned for 2024.

Link to Podcast

Great new episode. It sounds like there's the potential for more films from the Director's Company as well, which would be very exciting. I'm not sure if any of Somai's other films would be a possibility, but it would be great to get Kiyoshi Kurosawa's The Excitement of the Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Girl (maybe as a double-bill with his debut, Kandagawa Pervert Wars?).

Speaking of Somai and Venice, a new restoration of his other masterpiece, Moving, is going to be screening as part of the Venice Classics line up. Hopefully TWF can snap it up.

[T4ffer]

I just finished watching the last Tsukamoto Blu-Ray I have. My personal ranking:

* Tetsuo: The Iron Man
* Kotoko
* Bullet Ballet
* Gemini
* A Snake of June
* Hiruko the Goblin ½
* Killing ½
* Tetsuo: Body Hammer ½
* Fires on the Plain ½
* Tokyo Fist
* Haze
* The Adventure of Denchu-Kozo

Anything I've missed that's also available on Blu-Ray?

[Tuc0]

Interesting. Mine would go like this:

*Tetsuo: The Iron Man 4,5/5
* Kotoko 4/5
* Bullet Ballet 3,5/5
* Gemini 4/5
* A Snake of June 4/5
* Hiruko the Goblin 3,5/5
* Killing 3/5
* Tetsuo: Body Hammer 3/5
* Fires on the Plain 3/5
* Tokyo Fist 4,5/5
* Haze 3/5
* The Adventure of Denchu-Kozo 3/5
* Vital 4/5

Edit. Forgot to add Vital!

[Cinematt]

I think that's everything that's out here. Vital is in the US Arrow set but I don't think it has a standalone release, and I think the Nightmare Detective movies are on disc somewhere in the world (the first one is on iTunes in the UK) but TWF have definitely led the way on his movies!

[everyeating]

Originally Posted by theosh

Excitingly, Shinya Tsukamoto's new film "Shadow of Fire" has been announced as part of the Venice Film Festival, although other than its title and 93 minute run-time, there are no details on the film (at least that I could find).

Does anyone (Adam?) have any extra info on the film by chance, like what it's about? I'm just rapt to know that he has a film in the can, ready to go. Can't wait!

That's so exciting! I found this here:

"Hokage" is a work that depicts the pain and trauma of the survivors immediately after the end of world war II. Shuri plays a woman who lost her family in the war and makes a living by selling her body in a burnt-out pub, while Moriyama plays a mysterious man who cannot move his arm. "Hokage" will be released domestically on November 25.

[Cinematt]

Adam replied to someone on twitter saying he'd want to release Hokage if it was possible, which I assume will end up meaning if the rights aren't prohibitively expensive, so fingers crossed it has a reasonable sales agent that realises TWF are the only company putting Tsukamoto films out here!

[CelestialAgent]

Another JFF+ streaming season begins on August 1st, 5pm Japanese time

https://jff.jpf.go.jp/watch/ic2023/

[thenexus6]

I'm glad Shin'ya is back. Has been a favourite of mine for a while now.

[roguejp]

According to Instagram, Kamikaze girls is coming back into print (for those who don't have it)!

[Magna]

Originally Posted by roguejp

According to Instagram, Kamikaze girls is coming back into print (for those who don't have it)!

Just bought that a week ago

No need to thank me guys

[Yurakucho]

Kamikaze Girls Blu escaped me - will it finally be mine?

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by T4ffer

I just finished watching the last Tsukamoto Blu-Ray I have. My personal ranking:

* Tetsuo: The Iron Man
* Kotoko
* Bullet Ballet
* Gemini
* A Snake of June
* Hiruko the Goblin ½
* Killing ½
* Tetsuo: Body Hammer ½
* Fires on the Plain ½
* Tokyo Fist
* Haze
* The Adventure of Denchu-Kozo

Anything I've missed that's also available on Blu-Ray?

Nightmare Detective - Only a non-English German BD
Nightmare Detective 2 - Only a non-English German BD
Tetsuo: The Bullet Man
Vital

[fatboyslim142]

Adam, is there any chance of releasing Tetsuo star Kei Fujiwara's films Organ & Ido?

[thirdwindowfilms]

Originally Posted by fatboyslim142

Adam, is there any chance of releasing Tetsuo star Kei Fujiwara's films Organ & Ido?

I've not looked into it, but I'm sure if the chance arises I'll give it some thought

[roguejp]

After 3 months there's a new podcast for those who also listen. It focuses in the new Katsuhito Ishii box, which I recently got (had to wait with ordering till after my holiday).

What a fantastic looking box! Maybe the best looking one yet.

I just dove into the first disc. It's been many years (at least 15) since I've seen Shark Skin Man & Peach Hip Girl on DVD, but I enjoyed it a lot. The movie Promise of August is added as a special feature (runtime 50 min). A funny little movie with twists, with humor and a heart. The other special features are also not to be missed, an interview with Ishii and a video essay. There's also a commentary for those who have more time.

On to disc 2!

Btw, I saw that this was limited to 2000, I can't imagine it will last really long.

[thenexus6]

They packed so much into that podcast I was impressed!

[Yami]

Shinji Somai’s beloved cult film Typhoon Club is widely heralded as the director’s seminal feature and considered to be one of the greatest Japanese films ever made.

Offering a caustic immersion into the lives of disaffected junior high students on the cusp of adulthood, Typhoon Club features a lively cast of young talent including idol Youki Kudoh (The Crazy Family, Mystery Train) facing existential intrigues, budding sexuality, and rising social tensions in the days leading up to a typhoon’s arrival. Stranded in their schoolhouse as the storm settles in, the group undergoes an awakening as they dispel all insecurities, fear and desire under the swell of the tempest.

BLU-RAY CONTENTS

New 4K digital remaster from the original negatives
Feature audio commentary by Tom Mes
Selected audio commentary by Josh Slater-Williams
Assistant Director Koji Enokido Talk Event
Introduction by Ryusuke Hamaguchi at the Berlin Film Festival
Trailer
Slipcase with artwork from Gokaiju
‘Director’s Company’ special edition featuring insert by Jasper Sharp - limited to 2000 copies

Typhoon Club �風クラブ (Directed by Shinji Somai, Japan 1985) Trailer - YouTube

DOOR
The first Japanese ‘Giallo’ slasher film!

Yasuko lives in a high-rise apartment in the city with her husband and her son. Being nervous about prank calls and salesmen's solicitations, she slams the door on a salesman's finger when he tried to forcibly insert a pamphlet through her door chain. This leads him to start harassing her, starting off with obscene letters written on her door then steadily escalating to full on stalking, building up to an unbelievable last 20 minutes of chaos!

Bonus Feature: DOOR 2

Ai is a call girl whose job involved a lot of risk. Every time she goes through a door, she has no idea what type of man is on the other side. Some are sweet, some are violent and some are just full-on crazy! One day she meets Mr.Mamiya, a strange and captivating artist who gradually will initiate her into SM pleasures.

BLU-RAY CONTENTS

New digital remasters from the original negatives
DOOR 1 audio commentary by Jasper Sharp
Interview with director Banmei Takahashi
Trailers of both features
Slipcase with artwork from Gokaiju
Reversible sleeve featuring both DOOR 1 and 2 artworks
‘Director’s Company’ special edition featuring insert by Jasper Sharp - limited to 2000 copies

DOOR (directed by Banmei Takahashi) English subtitled trailer - YouTube

Before becoming one of Japan’s most well-known horror directors through films like Cure, Pulse and Creepy, Kiyoshi Kurosawa started off his career in horror with 1992’s The Guard from Underground, the final film of the ‘Director’s Company’.

Kiyoshi Kurosawa here fashions a dark tale that is both a sharp satire of corporate life and a B-movie thriller. A former sumo wrestler now working as a security guard goes on a murderous rampage in the company that’s employed him.

BLU-RAY CONTENTS

New digital remaster from the original negatives
New audio commentary by Tom Mes
Interview with producer Takashi Ikoma
Kiyoshi Kurosawa talk show at the premiere of the new master
Trailer
Slipcase with artwork from Gokaiju
‘Director’s Company’ special edition featuring insert by Jasper Sharp - limited to 2000 copies

The Guard from Underground (地ç�„ã�®è*¦å‚™å“¡ directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 1992) Trailer - YouTube

All now up for pre-order at Terracotta!

[hanz0]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by Yami

Typhoon Club �風クラブ (Directed by Shinji Somai, Japan 1985) Trailer - YouTube





DOOR (directed by Banmei Takahashi) English subtitled trailer - YouTube





The Guard from Underground (地ç�„ã�®è*¦å‚™å“¡ directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 1992) Trailer - YouTube

All now up for pre-order at Terracotta!

nice! will grab all of them, those covers look like they may come with obi strips like Radiance releases.

[Cinematt]

Really lovely work on the design of those slipcases, the obi style is catching on! I'm assuming they're styled to look like them rather than actual removable strips but I'd be happy to be wrong, perhaps now Radiance have got someone doing it it's a service that's on offer for other labels? Either way the slip art is fantastic (and, without meaning to be rude, a lot better than the sleeve art) so I hope these get snapped up fast like Electric Dragon was. TWF's packaging has been going from strength to strength this year.

I'd like to order from Terracotta but I've got nothing to pair these with to get over the free shipping level (and it's £3.95 for a single release) and I don't think I'm patient enough to wait until they're all out to get them shipped together.

[thirdwindowfilms]

Originally Posted by Cinematt

Really lovely work on the design of those slipcases, the obi style is catching on! I'm assuming they're styled to look like them rather than actual removable strips but I'd be happy to be wrong, perhaps now Radiance have got someone doing it it's a service that's on offer for other labels? Either way the slip art is fantastic (and, without meaning to be rude, a lot better than the sleeve art) so I hope these get snapped up fast like Electric Dragon was. TWF's packaging has been going from strength to strength this year.

I'd like to order from Terracotta but I've got nothing to pair these with to get over the free shipping level (and it's £3.95 for a single release) and I don't think I'm patient enough to wait until they're all out to get them shipped together.

They're styled to look like them but they're not removable as aiming more for a 'Director's Company strip' rather than a general packaging idea.
In fairness, if you've lived in Japan or bought any Japanese products from the last 60+ years, you'll realise that obis aren't exactly new...