In theaters this weekend is the adaptation of popular manga and later j-drama series, Arakawa Under the Bridge THE MOVIE.

Arakawa is a drama-comedy following the story of rich boy, Riku, who has been tasked to survey the site of a new development project by his father’s company.

Riku finds that the site, located on the Arakawa River, is already occupied by a strange community of people: a “mayor” who dresses in a kappa suit, a musician who wears a star shaped mask, a former soldier-for-hire who dresses as a nun, and more. At first, he’s taken aback by the odd bunch. Over time, through interacting with them, he begins to understand and grow attached to them, despite the fact that the inevitable date when these quirky residents must be kicked out looms ahead.

The entire cast of the popular drama that aired in the summer of 2011 reprise their roles in this film: Hayashi Kento plays Riku, Oguri Shun plays the kappa, Yamada Takayuki plays the star-headed musician, and Kiritani Mirei plays the beautiful heroine.

As you can see, Arakawa features some of Japan’s heavy-hitters: Oguri Shun of Hana yori dango and Yamada Takayuki of Densha Otoko or Train Man. However, instead of placing them in leading roles, they’re relegated to supporting characters and wearing humiliating costumes. Oguri and Yamada take their parts seriously, though, and deliver passionate, sometimes hilarious performances. This is one of Arakawa’s charms.

The drama’s success lay in its inventive characters and unexpectedly heartwarming plot. The film promises to bring back all the elements that made the drama so popular, as well as tell stories original to the film. There’s something to look forward to for new audiences and old fans.

Arakawa Under the Bridge THE MOVIE hits theaters in Japan on February 4th. Let us know in the comments what you think of the trailer and more.

Every year, Japan churns out a major romance tear-jerker which becomes an Asia-wide phenomenon. In the past, these films have included Hanamizuki (2010), Koizora (2007), and Crying out Love, in the Center of the World (2004). This year, that film will be the two-parter Bokura ga Ita or We were there.

Bokura stars Yoshitaka Yuriko, the indisputably most popular actress in Japan today, of such films as Himizu (2012), Robo-G (2012), Cannonball Wedlock (2011), and Snakes and Earrings (2008). Yoshitaka’s costar is Ikuta Toma, a j-drama giant and heart throb from Hanamizuki (2010) and Hanazakari no kimitachi e (2007).

The two play high school sweethearts Nanami and Yano. Nanami is a straightforward and pure girl, while Yano is the popular boy with a slightly mysterious side. Yano is closed off to others because he hasn’t gotten over his previous partner’s death. But, Nanami’s honest, genuine feelings for him slowly open up Yano’s heart again. Of course, as with any of these fateful romances, something goes wrong and they are separated.

The film takes place 6 years after high school when the lovers met. Nanami is with another man but she cannot forget Yano. One day, Nanami’s high school classmate tells her that she saw Yano. As the story unfolds, we are slowly treated with the answers to the questions: why were they separated and will they get back together?

Finally, supporting the story and the actors is king of sappy j-drama theme songs, Mr. Children, with their new song “Inori ~ Namida no Kido.”

Everything about this film looks solid. The Japanese have perfected the formula for producing the perfect “pure love” stories, as they’re called there. The producers have taken the plot from a successful girl’s comic that’s grossed over 10 million copies and brought on director Miki Takahiro of the 2010 success Solanin. And they even seem to be confident enough in this thing to make it into a two-parter.

So, if you’re a girl, be ready at the movie theater with a box of tissues because you know this is one of those sad Japanese movies you can’t stop crying over. If you’re a guy, be prepared to see this film with your girlfriend or on a date and try not to show the horror you feel as you peek into a girl’s romantic fantasy world.

The first part of Bokura ga ita comes out in theaters in Japan on March 17th. It’s concluding second part follows on April 21st. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

World renowned Japanese independent filmmaker, Ishii Gakuryu, is returning to the big screen for the first time in ten years with his new film Ikiterumono wa Inainoka. Japan Flix takes a look at the new trailer.

First of all, who is Ishii Gakuryu? Formerly known as Ishii Sogo, Ishii is a filmmaker of the Japanese New Wave. He debuted with his 8mm student film Koukou Dai Panic. In the ’80s, his stylish punk films Crazy Thunder Road (1980), Burst City (1980), and The Crazy Family (1984) won him worldwide acclaim. More recently his filmography includes Angel Dust (1994), August in the Water (1995), Labyrinth of Dreams (1997), the samurai epic Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle (2000), and the low-budget black and white 50 minute short Electric Dragon 80.000 V (2001). His films are typically high-paced, visually impressive, and genre-defying.

Ikiterumono wa Inainoka is Ishii’s long-awaited triumphant return to feature-length films. Ikiterumono is an adaptation of a comedy play written by young, up-and-coming writer Maeda Shiro. The film is set in a college campus as a strange urban legend spreads. One by one, the 18 protagonists come to meet strange “ends.”

Overall, Ikiterumono is creepy, eerie, and oddly humorous. The screenplay is filled with nonsensical comedy and combines with Ishii’s characteristic punk style. According to press materials, the film presses the audience to profoundly question the relationship between life and death.

The trailer introduces us to the weird characters and situations the film will present: News of a train driver inexplicably passing out while operating his train, a boy confronted by his two girlfriends, a brother and sister reuniting, a famous idol on the college campus clutching his butt, an elevator that never comes, and characters suddenly dying in crazy fits. The title cards ask, “When urban legends come true and the world ends, what’s most important? Love? Friendship? Dance? Probably love? Is this punk or is this just a gag?”

So far, the film looks promising. The trailer is reminiscent of Higuchinsky’s creepy 2000 horror Uzumaki. Overall, you can’t help but wonder what the hell is going on in this trailer and you’ll want to see the film to find out. However, as a last note, the film also shows potential for becoming M. Night Shyamalan’s terrible 2008 sci-fi thriller, The Happening.

Ikiterumono wa Inainoka hits theaters in Japan on February 18th. Let us know what you think of the trailer or the film in general in the comments below.

If you’re a film buff who loves Takashi Miike or you’re a Nintendo gamer who reads all the gaming blogs, you have likely already heard the news: Miike will be directing the live action adaptation of the popular Gameboy game, Ace Attorney.

Ace Attorney is a unique “judicial battle game” whose original game play, inventive setting and captivating plot has captured audiences in Japan, as well as overseas.

The plot is set in a fictional court system in the near future. In this universe, court cases last only 3 days due to the overwhelming number of cases. The defense attorney must prove the defendant’s innocence within that time or else the defendant is found guilty. The protagonist is one such defense attorney named Phoenix Wright, or Naruhodo Ryuichi in Japanese. He starts off a rookie lawyer, fresh out of law school. However, with the support of Maya Fey, his assistant, and her spiritual powers, Pheonix wins case after case.

Takashi Miike, who will be directing the film, is globally renown for his gore-filled films such as Audition and Ichi the Killer and more recently for his mainstream films such as Crows Zero. Miike has also had experience adapting a video game to the silver screen. In 2007, he directed the well-received Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Japan Flix is a big fan of Miike and carries many of his films here on the site.

In the lead will be jdrama hearthrob Narimiya Hiroki. You may have seen Narimiya in the 2002 Nakama Yukie jdrama Gokusen, as the character Noda. He’s also made appearances in the 2004 Shibasaki Ko jdrama Orange Days, the 2005 Nakajima Miyuki film Nana, the 2007 Kimura Takuya jdrama Karei naru ichizoku, amongst others.

Joining Narimiya in the main cast are up-and-coming actor Saito Takumi of Shun Kin Sho and popular fashion model, Kiritani Mirei. Supporting them are a slew of solid actors such as: Emoto Akira, Dan Rei, Yo Kimiko, Ishibashi Ryo, and Kohinata Fumiyo.

Unfortunately, while Ace Attorney has exciting source material, director, and cast, the trailer is astonishingly bad.

Firstly, Phoenix’s hair looks like, at best, a disastrous cosplay and, at worst, a terrible porno.

I understand that the artists are trying to stay true to the look of the original game graphics, which are in a manga style. But any manga enthusiast knows that the characters are not drawn to be photorealistic. Manga uses its own language with medium-specific symbols and hyperbole. For example, when you see vertical lines drawn on a characters face, it represents despair, not actual physical lines. Likewise, no one expected Phoenix’s hair in the movie to stick up exactly as its drawn in the game.

This film is not the first of its kind to be guilty of this crime. 20th Century Boys immediately comes to mind. It’s especially disappointing to see Miike commit this error because Crows Zero was a brilliant adaptation.

Secondly, I’m concerned with the gimmicky action CG effects. Phoenix and his opponents throw blue, floating images of evidence at each other while they “battle” in court. While the trailer tries to maintain an air of realism in this dystopian sci-fi future, I cannot suspend my disbelief… nay, laughter at this hilarious showmanship.

Again, Miike was very successful at taking unrealistic manga violence and turning it into suspenseful and believable action in Crows Zero and Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Why did Ace Attorney end up this way?

Perhaps Miike will surprise us. Maybe Ace Attorney will pull off the funny hair, CG effects, and action. For now, don’t hold much hope for this film.

Ace Attorney comes out nationwide in theaters in Japan on February 11th. Let us know if you’re looking forward to it or not in the comments below.