To promote release of Re-Cutey Honey series on DVD in Japan, goo is planning to post three episodes prior to its release date of 9-21-2005. Re-Cutey Honey is directed by Hideaki Anno, famously known for his brilliant work Neon Genesis Evangelion. He also directed a live-action version of Cutey Honey last year. The first episode is already online. It is 45 mins long and fee is about 5 dollars. So all you Honey fans and Anno fans, click on a link and check it out. Honey Flash!

Also Toei Anime BB is posting the original 1973 Cutey Honey starting 6-16-2005.

I read an interesting article in a Japanese magazine called INVITATION a while ago. It was about Otaku. How many of you are familiar with the word Otaku? It originated sometime in the 80s. It refers to those with an obsession for Anime and video games… basically in English, it means Nerd, or Geek or whatever it is to refer those, well, most of us who come visit this site or any other geek site daily.

Anyhow, the article looks deep into the meaning of the word. What is an Otaku? It is commonly used in Japan in everyday life now. But what does it really mean? How do we know who is and who isn’t? There was an interview with the guy who actually gave birth to the word Otaku. I loved it. It is very funny and informative. Perhaps for those who don’t wanna admit that he or she is actually an Otaku can read this and know if he or she is or not. So here it is, it is a loose translation of interview.

Accoording to Dark Horizons, Producer Samuel Hadida announced that he has acquired the remake rights to the South Korean film BUNSHINSABA (Ouija Board) entitled THE SPELL. The story follows a teenage girl who moves with her family to a small village from a big city. She soon finds small town life is not so easy when she is bullied by her classmates. As the bullies become more brutal she decides to put a curse on the girls tormenting her, but she is shocked to discover her curse actually works, bringing about horrors far beyond her imagination. Hadida is currently in production on the video game adaptation of SILENT HILL for his Davis Films, preparing the release of Tony Scott’s DOMINO, planning international co-productions later in the year for a feature based on Japanese video game ONIMUSHA.

As you all know, they just can’t remake Asian Films enough. These are some of the titiles that are in any stages of works now. PHONE, TALE OF TWO SISTERS, IL MARE (with Keanu and Sandra), MY SASSY GIRL, THE EYE, MY WIFE IS A GANGATER. I have said it before, they can’t remake any films that starred Jeon ji-hyeon. IL Mare and Sassy Girl...she was the heart of these films. Sandra is no Jeon. she is too old for one. she doesn’t have screen charisma like Jeon. Soon we will see Windstruck added to the bunch. 

Here are some good trailers that will excite all your need.

First off, a live action version of beloved 80’s romantic sports drama, TOUCH. The comic spawned popular anime and finally a live action. It stars Masami Nagasawa of CRYING OUT LOVE IN THE CENTER OF THE WORLD and will open in Japan this fall. click on a link to check it out. Touch Teaser Trailer

Next, all you geeks have been waiting for almost two years. FINAL FANTASY 7: ADVENT CHILDREN. this is what FINAL FANTASY SPIRIT WITHIN should have been. Here is trailer. FF7 Trailer

After twenty years, they finally done it! Z GUNDAM trilogy! Just like what they did for original GUNDAM trilogy, they have reedited 50 episodes in three film with newly recorded sound and newly created scenes. A must-see for anime fans and for those who simply likes great story. Z-GUNDAM:New Translation 1 Trailer!

and here is Rei Ayanami of Evangelion. I thought you might just enjoy it.

The theatrical release dates in the mainland China for Zhang Yimou’s Qiang Li Zou Dan Ji and Chen Kaige’s The Promise have announced.

The Promise(无极), a mega budget production about a love story with sowrd play, will be released in the mainland China on December 15. and amazingly Weinstein Co. has promised to open it in North America the day after.

Zhang Yimou’s Qiang Li Zou Dan Ji(千里走单骑), a small budget drama about a Japanese old man traveling to the southwestern China for fulfilling the last wish of his dying son, will be released in the mainland China on December 16. 

Kaige’s last film Together was a small film that contains nice drama. Yimou’s last film, House of Flying Daggers was a big budget epic martial arts film. Interestingly enough their tables are turned around this time. But for us, cinema fans, it doesn’t really matter what they make. We will be there to check them out. no word on When Yimou’s film will be out in North America.