Damn. Wanted these to be separate releases. Instead, those that were charmed by 'Shall We Dance?' and wanting decent issues of 'Sumo Do, Sumo Don't' and 'Fancy Dance' - both also from the Director Masayuki Suo - will have to buy then as a box. No signs yet of exactly how much this set will cost, considering it's HK-issued and the previous run of titles (in August) worked out at something like £5 plus postage each, it's perfectly reasonable to buy them again. Shame though. Full run-down of specifications below...
Synopsis and Specifications for 'Shall We Dance?' (1996), "13 Japanese Academy Awards Including Best Director, Best Picture, Best Actor/ Actress & Best Screenplay. A businessman Syohei (Koji Yakusyo) is living in a comfortable life but he feels something is missing. One day, he sees a beautiful lady (Tamiyo Kusakari) looking pensively from a ballroom dance studio. Intrigued, and looking for a way to meet her, he begins to take lessons at the studio and finds something he does not expect..."
Letterboxed, Japanese, Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles, 137 minutes, Region 3, Extras : Interviews of Hiromasa Taguchi, Naoto Takenaka, Tamiyo Kusakari, American Video Diary, Artwork Gallery, Trailers.
Synopsis and Specifications for 'Sumo Do, Sumo Don't' (1992), "A heart-warming, touching and humorous story, "Sumo Do, Sumo Don't" depicts the dilemma faced by a college student Shusei. Shusei has a fine job waiting for him before his graduation. However, he is blackmailed by a professor into joining the nearly terminated sumo team. He is aided by a group of misfits who must team together to defeat their rivals or face disgrace and the disbandment of the sumo club. How does Shusei work hard to beat odds and graduate on schedule?".
Full Screen, Japanese, Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles, 103 minutes, Region 3, Extras : Interview With Hiromasa Taguchi, Interview With Naoto Takenaka, Trailer.
Synopsis and Specifications for 'Fancy Dance' (1989), "Yohei, a punk rocker, has to struggle between the appeal of modern life in Tokyo and his obligation as an eldest son to take over his father's position as abbot of a rural Zen temple. Though initially rebelling against the tough monastic discipline, Yohei learns to adjust. However his girlfriend shows up, enticing him to return to his rock 'n' roll roots...How can the Zen monk successfully adapt an age-old tradition to his modern life?".
Full Screen, Japanese, Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles, Region 3
101 minutes, Extras : Interview With Naoto Takenaka, Interview With Hiromasa Taguchi, Highlights Of 'Fancy Dance' That The Director Describes, Trailer.
Also out September 21st in the same Kadokawa / Daiei remasters range from IVL in HK, 'Suicide Club' from Sion Sono (2002), 'The Inugami Family' by Kon Ichikawa (1976), and 'Kekkon Annai Mistery' by Yoshikuni Matsunaga (1985).
[Soure : Asian DVD Guide].
Too bad that there's only one movie presented in its oar :( (Sumo Do, Sumo Don't).
muldoon at asiandvdguide is convinced (as am i) that the specifications are wrong in the IVL press release - often 35mm transfers to what appears to be a fullscreen presentation because the bars are so small, hence the mix-up that we often get of 35mm prints both being described as fullscreen or widescreen by individual interpretation. these discs should be straight ports of the japanese release, offering great vfm, and i'm buying them for sure...
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