Tag: Big Man Japan

Columbia Pictures Options Remake Rights To Japanese Film BIG MAN JAPAN

CULVER CITY, Calif. (June 2011) – Columbia Pictures has optioned remake and sequel rights to Big Man Japan, which will be developed and produced into a new feature film by Neal H. Moritz through his Original Film banner, it was announced by Hannah Minghella, president of production for Columbia Pictures. Big Man Japan was a breakthrough hit in Japan in 2007 and a cult hit in the United States in 2009. Phil Hay & Matt Manfredi will write the new adaptation.

Set in a world where monsters wreak havoc, there’s one man who can protect the citizenry: Big Man Japan, who runs the Department of Monster Prevention. Using electricity, he can grow to be 10 stories tall and fight off the most menacing of monsters. The problem is that he’s not very good at his job and often causes as much damage as he prevents. The people believe he’s a joke – and not nearly as good at the job as his father and grandfather were before he took over the family business.

The option for all non Japanese language rights to the film were secured through Yoshimoto Kogyo Co, Ltd, and their affiliate Yoshimoto Creative Agency, Ltd, producers of the original film that was directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto.

Toby Jaffe will oversee development for Original.

NEAL H. MORITZ is the founder of Original Film. His most recent releases include Fast Five, which has taken in more than $540 million worldwide to date, making it the most successful film in the franchise, and Battle: Los Angeles, which has grossed more than $200 million worldwide so far. His next film is Universal Pictures’ comedy The Change Up. He is currently in production on 21 Jump Street and Total Recall, and he is in pre-production on Warner Bros.’ Jack the Giant Killer. His past titles include The Green Hornet, The Fast and Furious series, I Am Legend, XXX, S.W.A.T., Made of Honor, Gridiron Gang, Bounty Hunter, Evan Almighty, Sweet Home Alabama, Click, Vantage Point, Out of Time, Blue Streak, Cruel Intentions, I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Skulls, Volcano, Urban Legend, and Juice.

PHIL HAY & MATT MANFREDI most recently wrote the screenplay for the box office hit Clash of the Titans; they previously wrote the screenplay for the 2005 sci-fi thriller Aeon Flux. The writing partners made their screenwriting debut in 2001 with the critically acclaimed drama Crazy/Beautiful. Manfredi also wrote and co-directed with Hay the independent feature Bug, starring John Carroll Lynch, which garnered multiple film festival awards in 2002. Upcoming projects for Hay and Manfredi include the comic book adaptations R.I.P.D. and The Boys, both for producer Neal H. Moritz.

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Review: ‘Big Man Japan’

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‘Big Man Japan’ follows the exploits of a middle-aged man whose job entails being occasionally shocked with electricity that turns him into Dai Nipponjin, a several stories tall behemoth that defends Japan from a variety of giant monsters. Think of Ultraman as a blue-collar worker and you’re on the right track. Instead of being a revered hero of the people, Dai Nipponjin is reviled as a noisy and destructive oaf.

‘Big Man Japan’ is a clever satire, a deconstruction of the Japanese super hero but also a decidedly acute dissection of Japan itself, the influence of American culture and the relationship between Japan, the United States and North Korea. It’s a lot to pack into one movie, but creator/director/star Hitoshi Matsumoto pulls it off without a hitch. Admittedly, if you go into this film with little or no knowledge of the above, then prepare to be baffled at some points, but know that much of the comedy is born out of the characters.

Matsumoto is a renowned Japanese comic and ‘Big Man Japan’ is his first feature film. Shot in the style of a documentary, Matsumoto litters the movie with a kind of dry, self-deprecating humor that reminds me very much of Brit comic, Ricky Gervais. Like Gervais, Matsumoto is most interested in the kind of sad, pathetic character that surrounds his self in denial, yearns for entitlement and skirts responsibility. The main character in ‘Big Man Japan,’ Daisato, is exactly that type of character, a pariah in the eyes of the people he has sworn to protect.

The film shifts style and focus from the understated moments with Daisato to highly absurd comic fantasy featuring giant CGI monsters. The creature designs never fail to amuse and the effects work in service of the story. Monsters range from giant demons to massive hoping legs topped with human heads to skyscraper-sized old men in diapers.

It is possible to come to this movie green and be entertained, though it is definitely skewed towards an audience that is familiar with daikaiju (giant monster) cinema.

‘Big Man Japan’ is the sixth and final film for Magnet Releasing’s Six Shooter Film Series, and it is a satisfying end to a remarkably successful slate of movies.

‘Big Man Japan’Â  opens in Los Angeles at Landmark’s Nuart Theatre and in New York on May 15

[Overall: 4 stars out of 5]

WAMG at Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors – Chicago

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Just as the forecast for Saint Louis was announced to be sunny and in the 70’s this past weekend, I packed my bags and prepared to head into the big windy city of Chicago, and windy it was! And†¦ wet and cold! So, what could have possibly convinced me to leave the often rare and unseasonably beautiful weather promised to me back home and instead travel six hours north to freeze in the rain?

The answer to that question is the 30th anniversary of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors. Presented by Creation Entertainment, the three day long fan-fest for all things horror is perhaps the longest running event of it’s kind. The weekend extravaganza focuses on the genre of gore, thrills, scares and just all things taboo and bizarre. One thing is for sure, the fans were dedicated to appearing in massive numbers, braving bitter cold wind, non-stop rain and insanely long lines to meet their favorite genre filmmakers and celebrities.

I attended the Weekend of Horrors with my brother Adam, an immigrant to Chicago from his native land (Saint Louis) and we took in many of the freaky festivities. Now, due to scheduling and (honestly) the fact that the weather was a real bi***, I was unable to cover the entire event. With that said, I will remain honest and only talk about what I did take in this weekend. To read all about my weekend in Chi-town and see some cool and creepy photos from the event, click below to read the whole story†¦

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