Cowboy Bebop Goes Live

On November  27, 2018 Netflix announced  its approval of the 10-episode live action series of the Japanese hit animated series Cowboy Bebop.  To refresh the fans memories of the animated series, Cowboy Bebop centers around the characters of Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine, Ed and Ein, and their space adventures as bounty hunters.

The synopsis is as follows;

In the year 2071, humanity has colonized several of the planets and moons of the solar system leaving the now uninhabitable surface of planet Earth behind. The Inter Solar System Police attempts to keep peace in the galaxy, aided in part by outlaw bounty hunters, referred to as "Cowboys." The ragtag team aboard the spaceship Bebop are such individuals.

Mellow and carefree Spike Spiegel is balanced by his boisterous, pragmatic partner Jet Black as the pair makes a living chasing bounties and collecting rewards. Thrown off course by the addition of new members that they meet in their travels—Ein, a genetically engineered, highly intelligent Welsh Corgi; femme fatale Faye Valentine, an enigmatic trickster with memory loss; and the strange computer whiz kid Edward Wong—the crew embarks on thrilling adventures that unravel each member's dark and mysterious past little by little.

Well-balanced with high density action and light-hearted comedy, Cowboy Bebop is a space Western classic and an homage to the smooth and improvised music it is named after. ---     MAL

 Cowboy Bebop has been an international hit since it first aired on Tokyo TV back in 1998. A few years back the web was all a buzz with the rumor of a live-action movie with Keanu Reeves possibly starring as Spike Spiegel. Yet, to the disappointment  of Cowboy Bebop's many fans nothing more was said about the making of the movie.  However, this 10-episode live-action series  from Netflix will be a welcome treat.

It is too early in the production  of Cowboy Bebop  for there to be an announcement of an air date at this time, but at the rate in which Netflix produces series a late 2019 air date could be possible. In addition, who will play the main characters is also unknown at this time.

Care to speculate on which actors are best suited to step into the shoes of Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine, Ed and Ein?

Those in charge of putting live flesh on Cowboy Bebop are as follows:

1. Co-Production: Netflix and Tomorrow Studios (a partnership between Marty Adelstein and ITV Studios). Netflix will handle physical production.
2. Showrunners / Executive Producers: Andre Nemec, Josh Appelbaum, Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg of Midnight Radio
3. Executive Producers: Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements of Tomorrow Studios (Snowpiercer, Good Behavior); Yasuo Miyakawa, Masayuki Ozaki, and Shin Sasaki of Sunrise Inc; Tetsu Fujimura and Matthew Weinberg.
4. Writer/Executive Producer: Christopher Yost (Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok) will write the first episode.
5. Consultant: Shinichiro Watanabe (director of the original anime)

To date the Cowboy Bebop series consist of 26 animated episodes, one special and one animated movie, known in Japan as Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door (no US release).

Related: Cowboy Bebop

Pokémon Detective Pikachu Coming May 2019

Pokémon Detective Pikachu
The world of Pokémon comes to life!

Friday, May 10, 2019.


The first-ever live-action Pokémon adventure, “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” stars Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu, the iconic face of the global Pokémon phenomenon—one of the world’s most popular, multi-generation entertainment properties and the most successful media franchise of all time. Fans everywhere can now experience Pikachu on the big screen as never before, as Detective Pikachu, a Pokémon like no other.  The film also showcases a wide array of beloved Pokémon characters, each with its own unique abilities and personality.

The story begins when ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim to find out what happened.  Aiding in the investigation is Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu: a hilariously wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who is a puzzlement even to himself. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to communicate with one another, Tim and Pikachu join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City—a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world—they encounter a diverse cast of Pokémon characters and uncover a shocking plot that could destroy this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe.

“POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” also stars Justice Smith (“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”) as Tim; Kathryn Newton (“Lady Bird,” TV’s “Big Little Lies”) as Lucy, a junior reporter following her first big story; and Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe (“Godzilla,” “The Last Samurai”) as Lt. Yoshida.

 Directed by Rob Letterman (“Goosebumps,” “Monsters Vs. Aliens”), the “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” creative filmmaking team includes two-time Oscar nominated director of photography John Mathieson (“The Phantom of the Opera,” “Gladiator”), production designer Nigel Phelps (“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Lies”) and Oscar-winning editor Mark Sanger (“Gravity”). Visual effects are by Moving Picture Company (“Wonder Woman”) and Framestore (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”).

Launched in 1996 to overwhelming response, the Pokémon brand is a global sensation that now encompasses a robust video gaming fandom with over 300 million units sold worldwide; trading card games available in 11 languages with more than 23.6 billion cards purchased; an anime television series in its 21st season that is available more than 160 countries; and over 20 animated films; as well as books, manga comics, music, toys, merchandise, and apps, including the wildly popular Pokémon GO, that has been downloaded over 850 million times and is enjoyed across the globe by fans of all ages.

“POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” is set for release on Friday, May 10, 2019. The film will be distributed outside of Japan and China by Warner Bros. Pictures, in Japan by Toho Company, Ltd. and by Legendary East in China.

Genre: Sci-Fi/FantasyAnimationFamilyMysteryAction/Adventur

The New City Hunter Movie

If you missed seeing Lee Min-Ho in the live action television series City Hunter, which is based on Tsukasa Hojo's  manga, well, you can always watch it again on DramaFever. However, if you are looking for more from the City Hunter saga, then prepare yourself to enjoy the new animated City Hunter series set for release on February 8, 2019 JST.

This new animated adaptation of City Hunter is not the first. The first

City Hunter anime ran from April 6, 1987 up until  March 28, 1988 with 51 episodes.  In addition, the first live action movie was release in China in  1993. Then in 2011, the most memorable adaptation of Tsukasa Hojo's  City Hunter manga was the live action television series that aired in South Korea and starred Lee Min-Ho  in a dual role as Lee Yoon-sung and Poochai, alias the City Hunter. While loosely based on the manga and its previous incarnations, the series still stands out today as very popular worldwide.

 

While there is not a synopsis available for this new anime version of City Hunter at this time; having it based on the 2011 live action television series would be great.

Tsukasa Hojo's  City Hunter manga was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1985 to 1991 and collected into 35 volumes.

 

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Mystery, Police

Get Ready For Three New Psycho-Pass Movies

The creator of the Psycho-Pass, Gen Urobuchi, creation is heading to the theaters beginning in January 2019. There will be three movies in all. They are as follows:

Psycho-Pass: Sinners of the System Case.1: Tsumi to Bachi

 Psycho-Pass: Sinners of the System Case 2.: First Guardian

Psycho-Pass: Sinners of the System Case.3: Onshuu no Kanata ni

The storylines for each of the films have not been disclosed as of this writing; however, for the fans of the anime below is the series synopsis to refresh your memories on just what the Psycho-Pass team is about.

Psycho-Pass  Anime Synopsis

Justice, and the enforcement of it, has changed. In the 22nd century, Japan enforces the Sibyl System, an objective means of determining the threat level of each citizen by examining their mental state for signs of criminal intent, known as their Psycho-Pass. Inspectors uphold the law by subjugating, often with lethal force, anyone harboring the slightest ill-will; alongside them are Enforcers, jaded Inspectors that have become latent criminals, granted relative freedom in exchange for carrying out the Inspectors' dirty work.

Into this world steps Akane Tsunemori, a young woman with an honest desire to uphold justice. However, as she works alongside veteran Enforcer Shinya Kougami, she soon learns that the Sibyl System's judgments are not as perfect as her fellow Inspectors assume. With everything she has known turned on its head, Akane wrestles with the question of what justice truly is, and whether it can be upheld through the use of a system that may already be corrupt.

Bleach the Live-Action Movie, A Review

Just what was Warner Bros in Japan thinking when they made and released Bleach the Live-Action Movie. It was suppose to be based on Tite Kubo's popular  manga and equally successful anime series "Bleach". However, it did not seem like it.

Most manga/anime that go from print/television to live action movie's adaptations usually follow the series in the order is which the manga/anime was created by the artist. However, with bleach several scenes were out of place. Like the opening scene in the movie of the young Ichigo Kurosaki and his mother. This scene in anime came near the close of the first season as a way to explain to Rukia Kuchiki why he was reluctant to attend his mother annual funeral ceremony. 

In addition, some of the dialog was changed and many scenes and the relationships with the character appeared forced. The close bonds between the characters did not mesh as well as in the anime. And the actor who played Chad could have looked more Mexican and Japanese descent, as in the series, but he did not. In fact in the movie, he looked short, slim, shaggy and demented.

As a diehard Bleach fan on my second viewing of the anime, Warner Bros should have remain faithful to the manga and the anime. However, what we as fans got was a very loosely based and choppy viewing of a still very popular international work of creative art.

This film deserves a makeover to make it into what Tite Kubo created and what we as fan expected.

If you are new to Bleach and would not mind the inconsistencies with the film, it is streaming now on Netflix.

In addition, I have not been able to find the film on sale.

Widescreen Online Review

Your Heroes Are Playing Now In Pinellas Park, Florida

That's right! Being on Sept 25th at the Park Place Stadium 16 In Pinellas Park, Florida, Funimation Film's My Hero Academia The Movie is now showing for your enjoyment. 

PARK PLACE STADIUM 16
7200 US HWY 19 NORTH
PINELLAS PARK, FL 33781
Distance: 3.85 miles
Start Date: 2018-09-25


Click here for showing and tickets.

Yukito Kishiro's Famed Manga "Battle Angel Alita" Hits Theaters on December 21, 2018

In Theaters December 21, 2018

From visionary filmmakers James Cameron (AVATAR) and Robert Rodriguez (SIN CITY), comes ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, an epic adventure of hope and empowerment. When Alita (Rosa Salazar) awakens with no memory of who she is in a future world she does not recognize, she is taken in by Ido (Christoph Waltz), a compassionate doctor who realizes that somewhere in this abandoned cyborg shell is the heart and soul of a young woman with an extraordinary past. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious history while her street-smart new friend Hugo (Keean Johnson) offers instead to help trigger her memories. But it is only when the deadly and corrupt forces that run the city come after Alita that she discovers a clue to her past – she has unique fighting abilities that those in power will stop at nothing to control. If she can stay out of their grasp, she could be the key to saving her friends, her family and the world she’s grown to love.

Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Screenplay by: James Cameron and Laeta Kalogridis
Based on the Graphic Novel ("Manga") Series: "Gunnm" By Yukito Kishiro
Produced by: James Cameron and Jon Landau

Cast: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, Jackie Earle Haley, Keean Johnson

Netflix to Stream Tite Kubo's Live-Action Movie "Bleach" This September 2018

According to Otaku USA online magazine, Netflix, in a surprising move so fast that they have not even posted it within the their latest press release yet, is all set to begin streaming the "Bleach" live action movie beginning Friday, September 14, 2018.

Main Characters:

    Sota Fukushi as Ichigo Kurosaki

    Hana Sugisaki as Rukia Kuchiki

    Ryo Yoshizawa as Uryu Ishida

    Taichi Saotome as Renji Abarai

    Miyavi as Byakuya Kuchiki

For those who are unfamiliar with Tite Kubo's "Bleach" manga and anime series (Oh, and how could you not be?!!!) here is a brief summary of what to look forward to in the live-action movie. 

Ichigo Kurosaki is a teenager from Karakura Town who can see ghosts, a talent which lets him meet Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper whose mission is to ushering the souls of the dead from the World of the Living to the Soul Society while fighting Hollows, monstrous lost souls who can harm both ghosts and humans. When Rukia is severely wounded defending Ichigo and his family from a Hollow she is pursuing, she transfers her powers to Ichigo so that he may fight instead of her, while she recovers her strength. But Ichigo finds himself in a fight beyond imagination as he contends with both a pair of Soul Reapers sent to retrieve Rukia against her will and the monstrous Hollow known as Grand Fisher.

Happy Streaming!