If you’re an anime fan, and further familiar with the films of Studio Ghibli, you’ll know Grave of the Fireflies is one of the best (but also the most depressing) animated films of all time. The story follows two siblings, 14 year old Seita and his 4 year old sister Setsuko, struggling to survive in the aftermath of the 1945 bombing of Kobe. It’s an affecting film to say the least and even for a so-called cartoon, it really gets the waterworks going as it shows the real cost of war. Well news has surfaced about live-action remake of the film only this new film, like the Japanese reinterpretation of Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven, will…
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First Look – Japanese Remake of 'Unforgiven'
This Summer we reported about Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winning Western Unforgiven being remade and set in Japan. Taking the lead for the film is celebrated Japanese actor Ken Watanabe playing the iconic Eastwood role. Lee Sang-il is set to direct the film which takes place in 1880 around the time that the country is (like The Last Samurai) becoming more Westernized. In this similarly themed film Watanabe plays a “samurai with a violent past, who lives on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido with his aboriginal wife, but is brought out of retirement for one last job.” The first set shots have been released and even though they only started shooting this month it’s still enough to…
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Sweet (Teaser) Trailer…Fede Alvarez's 'Evil Dead'
Sam Raimi‘s original Evil Dead is getting an overhaul from one Fede Alvarez. Based on the buzz from NY Comic-Con and the insanity of this teaser trailer, it looks like this might impress all the naysayers…like every. single. one. Now necessity of remakes are subjective and an argument best held elsewhere because today we’re just giving the facts; yes it’s happening and yes it looks good (the latter being the main reason we’re posting it). Then there’s the little added bonus of this getting the seal of approval from Raimi, but we’ll get to that. For now, enjoy!! FYI, it is gruesome so beware!! In the much anticipated remake of…
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Ken Watanabe Cast In Japanese Remake of 'Unforgiven'
Japanese actor Ken Watanabe, of hit films like Inception and The Last Samurai, has just signed on to Warner Bros’ remake of Clint Eastwood‘s western Unforgiven. Likened to a film like Seven Samurai being adapted into The Magnificent Seven for Western audiences, this time the source material is going to be transplanted and set in Japan. Variety reports that this remake, headed up by WB’s Japanese division, will similarly take place in the 1880s but will find Watanabe as a “samurai with a violent past, who lives on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido with his aboriginal wife, but is brought out of retirement for one last job.” Directed by Lee Sang-Il,…
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Sweet Trailer…'Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai'
Takashi Miike isn’t known for pulling his punches and his films aren’t for the faint of heart. In 2010, the man who gave us Ichi The Killer and Audition did a 180 and gave us one of the most surprising remakes in the last few years with his version of 13 Assassins. Well it’s good to see he’s still got the samurai bug and this time he’s giving us his version of Masaki Kobayashi’s 1962 film Harakiri (Criterion Files write up coming soon). Based on the trailer, it looks like we can expect another solid effort…and this time in 3D. Man I sure could have used 3D for that 45 minute…
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Hugh Laurie Cast In MGM/Sony Remake of 'RoboCop'
TV’s one and only “shock Doc” Hugh Laurie has been officially cast in and Jose Padilha’s remake of Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 classic RoboCop. Laurie, 53, now free from the enormously successful “House M.D.”, will be playing the villain/super-rich CEO of Omni Corp. For those who missed out on the paragon of 80’s awesomeness that is Robocop (so awesome in fact that it’s in the Criterion Collection) O.C.P. is the company responsible for the inception of the program that turns Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) into RoboCop. No stranger to controversy and having people just hate him (well it’s a love/hate relationship) Laurie will be upping the ante to bring some true villainy to his role. Ronny Cox was Verhoeven’s go…
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G-S-T Review…The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
In film circles there’s that age old remake question: How do you take something that already has a following and in one sweep appease fans of the original and bring on a whole new audience? Well, most directors would find themselves painted in a corner, but not David Fincher. With his first stab at a remake he effectively translates this dark and unsavory story into something that really pulls you into the mix and rises above being another bland retread. He can chalk up another win to his near perfect scorecard but he’s only half of the equation that makes this work. Noomi Rapace is a very tough act to follow…
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Sweet (4 Minute) Trailer…'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'
Earlier this year the red band trailer for the remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo hit the web. It surprised most everyone and received quite a lot of praise (even so far as to inspire a brilliant parody trailer). As it’s one of our most anticipated films this Winter we at G-S-T decided to ignore anything and everything TGwtDT, taking a firm stance to severely stay in the dark until its release. Now I had heard about the 8 minute trailer and as such chose to ignore it. Buuuut at the screening of Moneyball on Tuesday (review up Friday), the film was headed by the same 8 minute trailer I was hoping…
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G-S-T Review…Straw Dogs
Let’s get the first bits out of the way; Straw Dogs is a remake and like any remake it’s all about going beyond what was established with the original and how can the basic story be improved/retooled for a newer audience. Usually I do my homework before seeing any remake however I just couldn’t find the time. So while I may have the luxury of going in unbiased I still wish I’d seen Peckinpah’s film just so I could better grade this nose-dive. While I can’t compare apples to apples for you fans of the original, beyond wondering about the necessity of this remake, I bet you’re morbidly curious to know if this is…
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Newest Additions To 'Total Recall' Remake (UPDATED)
While I still just don’t understand the need for this remake, one of the latest actors cast really intrigues me. For months there has been development on the remake of the sci-fi actioner Total Recall and recent news has just about summed up the major casting. Kate Beckinsale, it has been confirmed will play Lori, Quaid’s wife. The second female lead, Jessica Biel will play Melina, the woman from his dreams and soldier of the resistance (well that’s if elements of the Verhoeven film are repeated here).