[Fantasia 2024] When A Samurai in Time Isn’t Like Enemy Mine. It’s About Absolutes.

What’s unique to this dramatic comedy is that we’re left wondering what caused A Samurai in Time to travel to the future and decide to remain?

A Samurai in Time Movie Poster
Played at Fantasia Film Festival 2024 on July 28, 2024

Even if you know nothing about Jidaigeki, a genre of Japanese action films set during the Meiji period, A Samurai in Time will make you a fan! It’s twice as good as Rurouni Kenshin and as a modern day drama about what’s worth fighting for, that’s up to Shinzaemon Kosaka (Makiya Yamaguchi) to decide. After his warrior class got disbanded, he’s a soldier without a cause. After a lightning storm interrupted a duel he was going to have with Yamagata Hikokuro of the Choshu Clan (aka Kazami Kyoichiro), just where he lands is modern day Kyoto.

All those conflicts between the factions from his days are now the stuff of entertainment. And sometimes, we delve into the historical significance of who is in the right for the unification, but what matters more is what this warrior class does if any individual loses that stewardship. This theme gets a soft exposition as Kosaka finds a new career as a Yamaguchi, a type of stuntman who performs an absurd pose as he dies.

Continue reading “[Fantasia 2024] When A Samurai in Time Isn’t Like Enemy Mine. It’s About Absolutes.”

[Fantasia 2021] I Want to Break Free! Prisoners of Ghostland

Instead of storming the fort, this champion better live up to the label of “Hero” in Prisoners of the Ghostland.

Prisoners of the Ghostland (2021)Playing Aug 20, 9:45 PM
Cinéma Impérial
Montreal, Quebec
Tickets available to purchase online here.

Online Screening on 
Aug 23, 2021, 7:00 PM
Geolocked to Canada
Tickets can be bought here.

Also coming to theatres and VOD Sept 17, 2021

Nick Cage will always be Nick Cage. He’s quite the “national treasure” in that regard. He’s a very versatile actor and I really have to wonder if he’s ever declined a role. These days, we’ve seen him as a butcher, baker, and candlestick mak—ok, perhaps not. The films of 2021 have made him a chef–and he’s an onary one in Pig–and Willy’s Wonderland. It’s amazing in how he carries this film without really speaking a lot. In his latest, Prisoners of Ghostland, he’s a bank robber turned soft.

He gets caught, and Cage’s character is given a chance at freedom if he can locate Bernice (>Sofia Boutella). She ran away from her tormentor, The Governor (>Bill Moseley) who rules Samurai Town. She went into hiding the neighbouring territory, Ghostland. This wasteland is where many refugees like to hide.

Continue reading “[Fantasia 2021] I Want to Break Free! Prisoners of Ghostland”

That Crazy Samurai is Headed to Home Video March 2nd!

Anyone who missed out in seeing Crazy Samurai Musashi at film festivals can now see it on streaming or on home video!

Crazy SamuraiAvailable on
Hi-YAH! Streaming Service.

WELL GO USA
Physical/VOD/Digital
Release Date: March 2, 2021

Please click on this link to read a review of this movie.

Anyone who missed out in seeing Crazy Samurai Musashi at film festivals can now see it on streaming or on home video! This film has been renamed though, and anyone feeling confused at why Crazy Samurai: 400 vs 1 is used for the Well GO USA release is best to ask this company.

Perhaps it’s to ideally identify what this movie is about. It’s a one take slug-fest of one man versus an entire village. Although this company doesn’t always offer extras in every Asian cinema release, this work is one I wished it had additional material from the Japanese physical media release.

 

I’d love to see what was needed to prepare for filming this movie in one long take. There’s hardly time to breathe given the amount of battles Musashi (Tak Sakaguchi) have to endure. Yuji Shimomura’s film is unique such that he has to coordinate everything through walkie-talkie and hidden headphones. The Japanese home video release offers more and can be purchased through YesAsia, This edition includes a bonus DVD of special features including making-of, audienceless event, first day press meet and trailer.