Third Window Films

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

You may have to rip the DVD -- and then play the rip in VLC (using an external subtitle file). Never found a way to use the external subtitle file along with playing the DVD itself.

It's not quite the same thing, but you can use Vob2MPG to convert the movie to a single .MPG file (a quick and painless process that requires no re-encoding), then play it with external subs in Media Player Classic (or theoretically any player with FFmpeg or DirectVobSub support). VLC can also overlay subs on an .MPG file, but for some reason it loses sync if seek backwards or forwards while playing.

[Finch]

Thanks everyone for your feedback which is very much appreciated but I think I'll hold out on a possible Korean or HK english-friendly disc of Symbol or get the Japanese disc when my Japanese is up to scratch.

zombeaner, looking forward to the final TWF piece on twitch (enjoyed the last few).

It's a pity TWF don't seem interested in picking up classic jidaigeki films. Eiichi Kudo's oeuvre needs some serious exposure, not just the better known titles but little-seen films like 1969's The Fort of Death with Tomisaburo Wakayama. The film was shown at Italian and US festivals in recent years so the print must be in decent shape (there isn't even a Japanese DVD!).

[Finch]

Sion Sono's Cold Fish opened in Japan yesterday and gets 3.5 out of 5 stars in the Japan Times

[TonyleStephanois]

Really pleased to see Cold Fish coming to the UK, a really fun film with an incredible dark wit.

[John Edmond]

Any word on Sono's adaptation of Lords of Chaos?

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

As of November he was still "piecing together financing" and had gone on to yet another project. That one's finished, but I haven't seen anything about his next film.

[Finch]

Confessions collected Best Picture and three other awards at the Japanese Oscars. I hope I'll be having a better experience with this film than with Matsuko which I couldn't get into at all.

[zombeaner]

Thanks everyone for your feedback which is very much appreciated but I think I'll hold out on a possible Korean or HK english-friendly disc of Symbol or get the Japanese disc when my Japanese is up to scratch.

zombeaner, looking forward to the final TWF piece on twitch (enjoyed the last few).

Wrote that last piece up a few days ago. No big earth shattering news to report yet.

[manicsounds]

Digital Fox reviews "Confessions Of A Dog" (Gen Takahashi, 2005)
Good review, and with the misleading "BANNED IN JAPAN" on the cover...
It's rare that films are outright banned in Japan. Mostly just distributors not wanting to touch it or release it, and that's what happened for 4 years.

Blu-ray.com reviews "Confessions" (2010) Blu-ray

[manicsounds]

Surprised that "Confessions" still hasn't received a US release. Maybe nobody wants to touch it, as with "Battle Royale", students killing might be a sensitive subject matter.

[Finch]

Another 2010 title, Villain, which did pretty well in the Japanese End of Year polls, is due for TWF distribution theatrically and then Blu/DVD later this year.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

Surprised that "Confessions" still hasn't received a US release. Maybe nobody wants to touch it, as with "Battle Royale", students killing might be a sensitive subject matter.

There were multiple U.S. distributors interested in Battle Royale -- I think the blame there belongs with Toei. Haven't heard anything about Confessions, but something similar could be at work. (By the same token, I've read Norwegian Wood doesn't have a U.S. distributor yet because they're holding out for a better deal.)

[manicsounds]

Third Window says there are compatibility issues with "Confessions Of A Dog" on Sony players, but there will not be a recall, as it would not be cost effective.

[colinr0380]

The latest films coming from Third Window:

24.11.2011

Third Window Films are pleased to announce the acquisition of Sion Sono's latest work 'Himizu' and Yuya Ishii's latest 'Mitsuko Delivers' (Hara ga Kore Nande)

Sion Sono's 'Love Exposure' and 'Cold Fish' have both been previously released by Third Window Films, and we are proud to continue promoting the works of one of the most talented directors in contemporary Japanese cinema. 'Himizu' had its world premiere at the 2011 Venice Film Festival where it played in competition and won awards for Best Young Actor and Best Young Actress. It is based on the famous Manga of the same name and will have its theatrical release in Japan in January 2012 and April 2012 in the UK. DVD release date will be in July.

Another of the most promising young talents to emerge from Japan in recent years is that of Yuya Ishii, the director of 'Sawako Decides', a previous Third Window Films release. With 'Mitsuko Delivers', he continues his trend seen in 'Sawako Decides' and 'Girl Sparks' looking at women who are struggling to come to terms with themselves and the situation they are in. 'Mitsuko Delivers', is a heart-warming comedy that is recommended to all people who liked 'Sawako Decides'. It will be released in UK cinemas in May of 2012

[manicsounds]

Sucks that they are now going back and doing DVD-only, as opposed to Blu-rays. First "Villian" Blu-ray gets cancelled now these will be DVD-only...

[zombeaner]

Third Window are at a huge disadvantage after the Sony fire this summer. They lost a huge amount of money on the theatrical release of Villain at a time when they really needed a bump. The decision to shelve that release was in response to it's awful theatrical performance. I suppose there is still a slight chance that these films, primarily Himizu, will end up on Blu-ray, but it all depends on how well TWF recovers in the next few months.

[zombeaner]

Third Window are at a huge disadvantage after the Sony fire this summer. They lost a huge amount of money on the theatrical release of Villain at a time when they really needed a bump. The decision to shelve that release was in response to it's awful theatrical performance. I suppose there is still a slight chance that these films, primarily Himizu, will end up on Blu-ray, but it all depends on how well TWF recovers in the next few months.

BTW, I had the exclusive on those acquisitions about two weeks ago:
http://twitchfilm.com/news/2011/11/excl ... -films.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Calvin]

Himizu and Love Exposure on Blu-Ray August 6th, Tetsuo 1/2 and KOTOKO in October, Isn't Anyone Alive? later in 2012

[bigP]

Himizu and Love Exposure on Blu-Ray August 6th, Tetsuo 1/2 and KOTOKO in October, Isn't Anyone Alive? later in 2012

Wow! Tetsuo: Iron Man and Body Hammer on Blu-ray with The Adventures of Electric Rod Boy as an extra This is already looking like my favourite release of the year. Also fantastic news on Kotoko in October and I'll almost certainly pick up the Love Exposure and Himizu Blus. What with the announcements from MOC and New Wave releasing 3 Svankmajers in June, this is probably the best day's announcements in years for me.

[Adam X]

Fantastic news! Glad I held off on getting Love Exposure now. Here's hoping that Isn't Anyone Alive? does well enough for TWF that they release Ishii Sogo's August in the Water & Labyrinth of Dreams too.

[colinr0380]

Very excited for all of the films, but especially the Tsukamotos! This may be the time to finally upgrade my VHS copies of the first two films (While Bullet Ballet is probably my favourite Tsukamoto film Tetsuo II: Body Hammer comes a close second).

[MichaelB]

I've never forgotten seeing Tetsuo: The Iron Man for the first time, at a Young Japanese Cinema festival at the ICA. It didn't have subtitles, but as Tony Rayns pointed out in his intro, it didn't really need them - though it was certainly clearer when I caught a fully-subtitled version on VHS.

[Finch]

Definitely getting the Love Exposure Blu - being able to watch it without interrupting the flow by switching to the second DVD is a nice bonus on top of the AV upgrade. Shame Sono hasn't done anything near as good since. Curious about the Tetsuos, time for a rental..

[colinr0380]

I've never forgotten seeing Tetsuo: The Iron Man for the first time, at a Young Japanese Cinema festival at the ICA. It didn't have subtitles, but as Tony Rayns pointed out in his intro, it didn't really need them - though it was certainly clearer when I caught a fully-subtitled version on VHS.

Tetsuo: The Iron Man is certainly an impactive experience! Though I think Tetsuo II, while superficially slicker and more polished, so losing some of that dangerously grimy 'handmade' feel, still contains just as many transgressive elements as the first in the series and gains a strange kind of detached, dreamy quality which contrasts nicely against the visceral, jagged editing and score of the the first film

It was amusing to find that someone else must have been transfixed by the hypnotic "Moshi Moshi" telephone conversation from the first Tetsuo, to the extent of having created a kind of video art piece involving it! And on doing a search, the dialogue from that scene has even been sampled!

[zedz]

My first encounter with Tetsuo was an unsubbed print as well, and I think it only reinforced the alienation of it all, particularly when, as in the "moshi moshi" sequence, you knew what they were saying but still had no idea what was going on.