Takenaka, Naoto

Shall We Dance?

On his evening commute, bored accountant Sugiyama (Koji Yakusho) always looks for the beautiful woman who gazes wistfully out the window of the Kishikawa School of Dancing. One night he gets off the train, walks into the studio, and signs up for a class. Soon Sugiyama is so engrossed in his dancing he practices his steps on the train platform and under his desk, and becomes good enough for competition, compelling his wife to hire a private investigator to find out why he stays out late and returns home smelling of perfume. Among the colorful characters Sugiyama meets is his coworker Aoki (Naoto Takenaka), who transforms himself from geeky systems analyst to hilariously flamboyant (and bad-wigged) lounge lizard. Aoki explains to Sugiyama, "When I finish work, put on the clothes, the wig and become Donny Burns, Latin world champion, and I start to move to the rhythm, I'm so happy, so completely free." Here lies the chief charm of Shall We Dance, the contrast between the ultracompetitive women of the studio--including the one who caught Sugiyama's eye, Mai (Tamiyo Kusakari)--and the men who dance simply because they enjoy it. This 1996 film is somewhat comparable to the flamboyant Aussie favorite Strictly Ballroom, but Shall We Dance is especially noteworthy for contrasting the boldness of social dance with the buttoned-up societal mores of Japan, where people avoid public displays of emotion. Even in Japan, the joy of dance is irresistible. --David Horiuchi

Here's the irresistible comedy treat that had critics and audiences cheering all across America ... and inspired the new Hollywood hit starring Richard Gere (CHICAGO), Jennifer Lopez (MAID IN MANHATTAN), and Susan Sarandon (DEAD MAN WALKING). A middle-aged workaholic's incredibly dull life takes a funny turn when he signs up for a ballroom dance class -- just to meet the sexy dance teacher. But when he finally muscles up the nerve for lessons he winds up with a different instructor and her colorfully eccentric class of beginners! And now he'll have to step lightly -- and do some fancy footwork -- if he expects to keep his new secret passion from his family and friends! You'll love every minute of this crowd-pleasing motion picture!

Ghost in the Shell 2 - Innocence

Mamoru Oshii's landmark Ghost in the Shell (1995) largely defined the cyberpunk genre and influenced the Matrix films in the U.S. The long-awaited sequel continues the adventures of Batou, Major Kusanagi's former assistant, who was left behind when she disappeared into the cyber-realm of the Net. With his new human partner, Togusa, Batou investigates a series of bloody murders involving gynoids, robots with sexual functions. The case leads them to the headquarters of the Locus Solus company, where Batou uncovers the evil secret behind the creation of the gynoids. Innocence includes some staggeringly beautiful CG images, especially a parade depicting characters from Chinese mythology. Oshii contrasts this glittering beauty with a Blade Runner-esque dystopia. But even his skill as a director can't disguise the fact that the underdeveloped story and flat characters are far less interesting than the opulent visuals. (Rated PG-13: graphic violence, violence against women, brief nudity, profanity, alcohol and tobacco use.) --Charles Solomon

Azumi

The Great Yokai War

A young boy becomes an unlikely hero when he is chosen as the "Kirin Rider" and must lead Japan's ancient Yokai spirits in their apocalyptic war against the evil monsters. A lavish remake of the 1968 film "Yokai Daisenso" from acclaimed director Takashi Miike (ICHI THE KILLER, AUDITION).

Patlabor 2 - The Movie

The neglected masterpiece of internationally-acclaimed director Mamoru Oshii and one of the finest Anime films ever made Patlabor 2 is completely remastered for this DVD edition. This disc features enhanced visuals together with new Dolby 5.1 surround sound for both English and Japanese. Additional ancillary materials included on the DVD were not available at press time.Set three years after the first film Patlabor 2 draws police commanders Ki'ichi Gotoh and Shinobu Nagumo into the hunt for Tsuge a rogue officer of the Japan Self-Defense Force connected with an escalating wave of terrorist attacks. But the investigation into the plot is guarded by secrets both personal and political as the awakening fear of terror in Tokyo is slowly answered by the dream-like fade of democracy into martial law. Ominous beautiful suspenseful and poetic Patlabor 2 deserves the term visionary in every sense of the word.Tokyo rush hour: the dead of winter. A terror strike from the air shatters the Bay Bridge. When news footage shows an unidentified F-16 fighter jet in the vicinity the investigation takes a darker turn as the cops of the Second Unit begin to trace the outlines of the shadowy military and political coalition behind the incident. But the conspiracy itself is out of control and what began as a gesture is becoming a game where the peace the freedom and the very lives of the people of Tokyo are at stake!Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: FOREIGN/LATIN Rating: NR UPC: 858604001035 Manufacturer No: BUDH0103DVD

Labors are giant construction robots piloted by humans, and the Patlabor team is a mobile police force whose job is to protect the population from people who might hijack or sabotage these powerful tools. Though events of the first movie called Labor technology into question, the needs of big business outweighed the concerns of citizens, and eventually they came back into common use. The military had also begun to adopt and adapt the technology, amidst some controversy. The story picks up with a terrorist attack on a Tokyo city bridge. The suspects include Americans who want to destabilize the Japanese government, corrupt forces within the Japanese government who want to increase military spending, and Tsuge, the genius of labor technology who was misused by the government three years prior. The animation is gorgeous, particularly the cityscapes and long shots, but that's not surprising coming from director Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell). Sparkling animation would mean very little without a good story or good characters, which Patlabor 2 has in spades. At the core of the story is a quiet dialogue about the nature of peace in post-WWII Japan--how the peace has been unjust because they've ignored poverty-stricken countries in times of prosperity. Then it's back to unraveling the conspiracy and the requisite action-packed ending. These Patlabor movies are excellent, and not just for fans of anime. --Andy Spletzer

The Mystery of Rampo

Hailed by critics around the world, this "exciting and impressive." (Variety) tale of love and obsession based on the writings of Rampo EdogawaJapan's answer to Edgar Allan Poeis "an astonishing, first-rate achievement on all fronts Not to be missed" (Boxoffice)! Although Rampo is the literary toast of Japan, the government has banned his latest manuscript: a dark tale about a woman who suffocates her husband inside a hope chest. And when a local man is murdered by his wife in the same manner, Rampo becomes obsessed with her and embarks on a quest to unlock the truth about the crime. But as he traverses the line between his fantasy and her reality, is Rampo really trying to save the woman of his dreams or simply destroying the fragile shell of his own sanity?

Devil Doctor Woman/Guinea Pig's Greatest

The final film and DVD in the Guinea Pig series, Devil Doctor Woman is a wacky and outrageous gore comedy that follows the exploits of peter, the Devil Doctor Woman, in the underground surgery scene in Tokyo where the craziest patients are skillfully manipulated and cut up in the wackiest bedside manner this side of the Rising Sun. Also included on this special North American release is the Guinea Pig's Greatest Cuts, an anthology of the most memorable scenes from all of the films that embody the Guinea Pig series.

Gemini

A startling vision of horror and passion from the director of Tetsuo the Iron Man and A Snake of June! Yukio (Shall We Dance's Masahiro Motoki) enjoys a seemingly successful life with his family including a beautiful but fragile wife whom he met under strange circumstances by a river. However everything changes one night with the arrival of terrifying stranger who looks just like him... with a terrifying secret that will change their lives forever. System Requirements:Running Time 84 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: FOREIGN/LATIN Rating: NR UPC: 014381298925 Manufacturer No: CH2989DVD

Patlabor 2 - The Movie (Limited Collector's Edition)

The Limited Collector's Edition is a numbered edition with only 10,000 created and boasts an illustrated cover designed especially for this release by illustrator Yutaka Izubuchi (mecha designer of the Patlabor series and creator and director of the hit anime series RahXephon).
This impressive Limited Collector's Edition contains:

Disc 1: The full-length animated Patlabor 2 The Movie in Japanese and English with optional English subtitles (with new English translation and dubbing), newly remastered anamorphic transfer (first US release), new authentic 5.1 channel sound (first US release) and includes Japanese trailers and assorted television commercials.

Disc 2: "Making of Patlabor 2 The Movie" (Japanese with English subtitles)

Book 1: Archives (144 pages, 4 color and black & white) containing * Exposition and criticism of the film (character, story background, artwork, etc.) * Interviews with director Mamoru Oshii * Tokyo Location Map, Location Scouting * Key animation drawing samples with explanatory notes and more!

Book 2: Storyboard by Mamoru Oshii (300 pages, with English translation)

Format: DVD MOVIE

The second Patlabor feature shifts the focus from Noa Izumi, the heroine of the previous film and the broadcast series, to Kiichi Gotoh, the understated commander of Division #2. Gotoh may never have been a boy scout, but he believes in being prepared. With the assistance of Commander Shinobu, he outwits the officers of the Japanese Self-Defense Force, the police commanders, and the U.S. military to foil a terrorist's attempt to stage a coup d'etat in Tokyo. Noa and the other irregulars of Division #2 make brief appearances, but Gotoh carries the film in his quiet, unassuming way. If the plot feels less intriguing than the race against the dead genius in the first Patlabor feature, Patlabor 2: The Movie showcases director Mamoru Oshii's skill as a moviemaker. Oshii can make an ordinary conversation fascinating by staging it in a moving car at night, with the lights and shadows playing over the characters' faces. His use of flares and explosions turns a standard mecha battle into a striking visual experience. Oshii once again makes the city of Tokyo as much a part of the story as the characters. But instead of the crumbling warehouses of the first film, he offers peaceful yet ominous shots of the city on a snowy night.

The Limited Collectors Edition offers a second disc of making-of interviews originally released in 1993 and 1994. Most of the discussions are narrated by a very young-looking Oshii, a few years beforeGhost in the Shellpropelled him to international fame.(Unrated, suitable for ages 10 and older: occasional profanity and robot vs. robot violence.) --Charles Solomon

Happiness of the Katakuris