I’ve added a new picture of the Norwegian Wood flyer so check it out!

[001x] Movies > 2010 > Norwegian Wood > Promotional Photos > Flyers & Pamphlets

Just added 2 scans from the Gantz flyer.

[002x] Movies > 2010 > Gantz > Promotional Photos > Flyers & Pamphlets

This year’s Venice Film Festival (September 1-11) will have two Japanese movies in the competition section, vying for the prestigious Golden Lion award. One is Tran Anh Hung’s “Norwegian Wood,” adapted from Haruki Murakami’s novel of the same name, and the other is Takashi Miike’s “13 Assassins” remake.

American director Quentin Tarantino is heading this year’s judging panel, who will decide the Golden Lion recipient on the festival’s final day. The award has been won by three Japanese films so far: Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashomon” in 1951, Hiroshi Inagaki’s “Rickshaw Man” in 1958, and Takeshi Kitano’s “HANA-BI” in 1997.

“13 Assassins” (starring Koji Yakusho) is opening in Japan on September 25, while “Norwegian Wood” (starring Kenichi Matsuyama and Rinko Kikuchi) is slated for December.

UPDATE: It has also been announced that Sion Sono’s “Cold Fish” will compete in the Orizzonti section of the festival.

A teaser trailer for the movie Gantz has been featured on the Official Gantz Website and can now be viewed here by clicking the link below.

Gantz Trailer 07-17-2010 [video - 1]

The first trailer for Norwegian Wood has been released. Check it out!

Norwegian Wood Trailer 07-17-2010 [video - 1]

07 Norwegian Wood news segments including movie clips have been added to the media site!

Norwegian Wood News Segments 07-15-2010 [video - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7]

The live-action movie adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s popular novel “Norwegian Wood” has actually received approval to use the original Beatles song of the same name as its theme song.

The song “Norwegian Wood,” first recorded on the 1965 Beatles album “Rubber Soul,” inspired the title of Murakami’s novel when he published it in 1987. The song is a thematic element of the story, and the film will faithfully include it in multiple scenes. Although director Tran Anh Hung felt it was only natural to use “Norwegian Wood” as the movie’s theme song, negotiations were still incomplete by the time filming wrapped up last August.

Apple Records, which owns the rights to the Beatles catalog, initially refused. The film’s producer considered having another artist cover the song, but Hung insisted that the original should be used. His perseverance paid off, as he finally secured approval in December. Apple had a policy against using the Beatles’ version of the song in a commercial work, but the company ultimately made an exception for the “Norwegian Wood” adaptation, reportedly taking into account the tremendous popularity of the Murakami novel. So far, it has been translated into 36 languages and has sold 10 million copies in Japan alone.

The last time a Beatles tune was the theme song for a Japanese film was nearly 30 years ago in 1981, when “Let It Be” was used in “Akuryou Tou.”

The “Norwegian Wood” movie, which stars Kenichi Matsuyama (25) and Rinko Kikuchi (29), opens in theaters this December.

The live-action “GANTZ” movies, starring Kazunari Ninomiya (27) and Kenichi Matsuyama (25), are reportedly getting screened overseas. The first country confirmed is France, though an exact date has not been announced. It also not yet clear whether it will be a limited screening or a theatrical run.

“GANTZ,” which is based on a sci-fi manga by Hiroya Oku, is being released as two films. The first is scheduled to open in Japan in early 2011, followed by the second movie in the spring.

Negotiations for a screening in France started in May during the Cannes Film Festival, and a deal was successfully made in mid-June. It has also reportedly been decided that the films will be shown in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Indonesia.

I’ve added in the gallery over 3000 captures from Ultra Miracle Love Story.

[3949x] Movies > 2009 > Ultra Miracle Love Story > Captures > Movie Captures

Clips from the movie can be viewed here.

[004x] Movies > 2010 > Gantz > Set Pictures > Set Pictures

[007x] Movies > 2010 > Gantz > Stills > MQs Stills

[002x] Scans > 2010 > H – June

[001x] Movies > 2010 > Gantz > Promotional Photos > Posters

Check out some new stills from Gantz.

[004x] Movies > 2010 > Gantz > Stills > MQs Stills

Two pictures have been moved to Set Pictures.