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Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike has made so many films across so many genres that it may surprise fans that he had never made a sports drama. Blazing Fists is Miike’s first foray into the genre, and while fans are undoubtedly hoping that he would bring something fresh to the table, the result is shockingly uninspired.

Blazing Fists Review

Inspired by the autobiography “Street Legend” by Japanese Mma fighter Mikuru Asakura, Blazing Fists follows two best friends who meet in juvenile reform and are inspired by Asakura to take up Mma fighting with the dream of winning Asakura’s popular tournament. The conceit behind Blazing Fists — eschewing the traditional biopic in favor of a story where Asakura plays himself — would be intriguing were it not for the fact that the result is just as conventional (if not more so) than the alternative.

Blazing Fists unfortunately underwhelms as a sports film.

Summer is (almost officially) here! That means the Fantasia International Film Festival is inching ever closer. This year, the festival, which was recently included on Dread Central’s best film festivals on earth, will celebrate its upcoming 29th edition from July 16 through August 3, 2025, and today, we’re excited to share the second wave of titles coming to this year’s festival, as well as the recipient of their Canadian Trailblazer Award.

First, the festival opens with Ari Aster’s latest feature film, Eddington, which our Managing Editor, Josh Korngut, gave five stars out of Cannes. The film begins in May of 2020 when a standoff between a small-town sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor (Pedro Pascal) sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico.

Canadian Tralblazer Award: George Mihalka

Fantasia will honor filmmaker George Mihalka with a 2025 Canadian Trailblazer award. Mihkala’s 40-year career in cinema...

As I recently mentioned, the Fantasia International Film Festival is one of the very best events to experience the latest and greatest genre films from around the world, and after having announced an impressive first wave last month, they're back with a second wave announcement that is packed with must-see offerings, from Ari Aster's Eddington to the world premiere of the Nyaight of the Living Cat anime series, and much more:

From the Press Release: The Fantasia International Film Festival will celebrate its upcoming 29th edition with an electrifying program of screenings, workshops, and launch events running from July 16 through August 3, 2025, returning to the Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas, with additional screenings and events at Montreal’s Cinéma du Musée. Please note that the festival is now starting one day earlier than previously announced. The full film lineup will be revealed in early July, but in the meantime,...

The Fantasia International Film Festival will celebrate its upcoming 29th edition with an electrifying program of screenings, workshops, and launch events running from July 16 through August 3, 2025, returning to the Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas, with additional screenings and events at Montreal’s Cinéma du Musée. The full film lineup will be revealed in early July, but in the meantime, Fantasia is excited to announce its select second wave of features.

All The Asian Titles In The Second Wave

A Takashi Miike Triple Threat! “Nyaight Of The Living Cat“, “Blazing Fists” And “Sham“

A perennial of the festival’s programming since its earliest days, and recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, maverick, genre-jumping Japanese director Takashi Miike makes his mark at Fantasia again this year with not one but three titles—including an adorable J-horror anime series, with World Premiere episodes!

Adapting the manga written by Hawkman and drawn by Mecha-Roots,...

The 29th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival is set to run from from July 16th (one day earlier than previously announced) through August 3rd at the Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas in Montreal, with additional screenings and events at Cinéma du Musée. The first wave of titles that will be shown at the festival this year were revealed four weeks ago, and now the second wave of titles has been unveiled! The full line-up will be announced in early July, but for here’s some information on what attendees can expect to see there, directly from the Fantasia press release:

Official Opening Film: Ari Aster’S Eddington: Fantasia’s 29th edition will open with a special screening of Ari Aster’s Eddington. In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor (Pedro Pascal) sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington,...

The Fantasia International Film Festival will be celebrating its 29th edition with another densely packed slate of events and programming running from July 17 through August 3, 2025, returning to the Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas and presented by Mels, with additional screenings and events at Montreal’s Cinéma du Musée.

The festival’s full lineup will be announced in early July, but in the meantime, Fantasia 2025 has revealed its second wave of premiere titles. Highlights include Ari Aster’s Eddington as the opening film, a trio of new releases from prolific filmmaker Takashi Miike, festival favorites like upcoming body horror movie Together, and so much more. Also be sure to catch up on the first wave of programming here.

The second wave of select titles, from the press release:

Official Opening Film: Eddington

Fantasia’s 29th edition will open with a special screening of Ari Aster’s Eddington. In...

One of the most eclectic lineups in genre cinema each year, Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival will celebrate its upcoming 29th edition this summer. Ahead of the festival, running July 16 through August 3, they’ve unveiled their second wave of titles, including three new films by Takashi Miike, Ari Aster’s Eddington, the Sundance hits Together and Lurker, Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani’s Reflection in a Dead Diamond, and more.

Rory O’Connor said in his Cannes review of Eddington, “In Eddington, Ari Aster’s latest doom spiral, the proposed building of a data center in nowhere New Mexico provides the catalyst for a long-overdue psychological breakdown. The man in question is Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix), whose perceived list of ills includes a worryingly online mother-in-law (Deirdre O’Connell), a disinterested, catatonic wife (Emma Stone), a woke mayor (Pedro Pascal) with plans to build a state of the art data centre,...

Billed as “Blue Fight” in Japan, “Blazing Fists” is inspired by Mma fighter Mikuru Asakura’s autobiography “Street Legend” but also retains intense anime/manga elements, as much as a subtle homage to Japanese cinema of the 90s and 00s, including Miike’s own works.

Blazing Fists is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam

While in juvenile prison, Ryoma meets the strongest individual there, Ikuto and the two soon become best friends, even though their relationship owes a lot to the fact that the latter does not know the role the former played in his arrest. Inspired by a lecture by martial artist Mikuru Asakura, the two soon decide to join Breaking Down, a fighting tournament he organizes. Before they do that though, they have to train, pass an audition, and deal with Jun, the guy who has taken Ikuto’s place as the strongest in the area, and his gang.

It’s hard to say what’s more endearing about Takashi Miike these days: that the director of Audition and Ichi The Killer is still out there producing work at the same, alarming rate or the clear sense that he’s still enjoying himself. Miike’s one-hundred-and-somethingth film, Blazing Fists, is a story about honor and loyalty that opens on Ikutu (Danhi Kinoshita), a youth punching another through a glass door. We’re in a juvenile detention center, and this showdown will lead Ikutu and the man he’s defending, Ryoma (Kaname Yoshizawa), on the road to becoming best friends. This relationship will continue in the outside world, where a shared dream of competing in a televised UFC style event called Breaking Down awaits. Yagura is the film’s sometimes narrator. He is also, unbeknownst to his new pal, serving time for holding up Ikutu’s dad with a flick knife.

Tonde Saitama (“Fly Me to The Saitama”), released in 2019 and directed by Hideki Takeuchi, was based on the 1980s unfinished manga series of the same name by Maya Mineo. It was the story of a fictional world where discrimination was applied, based on birthplace and residence, and Saitama (always been looked down by Tokyo residents) was at the bottom of the rank. Playing on the stereotypes and memes that see Saitama prefecture as the “poor cousin of Tokyo”, the film proved very successful with audiences – local and foreigner alike – making it the third top-grossing Japanese live-action film of 2019.It was indeed a hilariously silly film, and the in-jokes and local references were understandable enough to be enjoyed fully by non-Japanese crowd. The success, the laughs and standing ovation it received when presented in Udine Far East Film Festival 2019 where a proof of its transnational allure.

Its sequel “Fly Me To...

A sequel to the 2019 hit comedy “Fly Me to the Saitama” has been announced. Stars Nikaido Fumi and Gackt will return, as will director Takeuchi Hideki.

Details about the production start date and story are sparce, though Takeuchi earlier told “Variety” that he was thinking of setting the sequel in the Kansai region. Release is set for 2022.

The first film, distributed by Toei, made $34 million at the Japanese box office and received 12 Japan Academy Prize nominations. It won three awards, including best script and best director honors.

Based on a 1980s comic series of the same name by Maya Mineo, the story begins in the present as a family from Saitama, a much-mocked prefecture adjacent to Tokyo, listen to a radio drama as they drive to a ceremony marking the daughter’s engagement to another Saitama native.

The drama is set in alterative Japan where the humble Saitama-ese are treated...

Born 1966 in Chiba, Hideki Takeuchi joined Fuji TV in 1990 and directed his first drama series, “The Ugly Duckling”, 1996. His drama “God, please give me more time” (1998) won the Best Director Prize at the 18th Television Drama Academy Awards. Until today, he has produced 19 television dramas, including the otaku cult series “Densha Otoko” (2005).

Following the success of the drama, the Japanese director made his feature film debut with the cinematic spin-off “Nodame Cantabile” in 2009. Since then, he produced box office hits like “Thermae Romae” (2012) and “Color me True” (2018).

On the occasion of Japannual Film Festival , Hideki Takeuchi came back to the roots of his cinematic oeuvre to talk about his newest feature, “Fly Me to the Saitama“.

Since we are in Vienna, let me take up the opportunity first to ask you about the work that you have done here?

I came to Vienna 10 years ago to shoot “Nodame Cantabile” (2009). For the movie,...

After the “Thermae Romae” (2014) & “Thermae Romae II” (2016) extravaganza, director Takeuchi Hideki is back on his familiar ground of live action manga adaptation with “Fly Me To The Saitama”. If you thought the Thermae Romae saga or his 2018’s fairy tale “Tonight, At The Movies” was crazy, well … watch this one and think again!

“Fly Me To The Saitama” screened at Udine Far East Film Festival

It is more than 40C in Kumagaya, capital city of Saitama, the Prefecture that is the northern neighbour of Tokyo, and you can literally fry an egg on the concrete. For the Sugawara family, it is a big day as proud Saitanese Dad is driving with Mum and Daughter to the latter’s engagement party. The young woman is looking forward to getting married, especially because the couple has plans to go to live in Tokyo and escape the provincial stigma that hangs on Saitama...

Welcome to the latest installment in our regular Movies You May Have Missed series here on Nerdly, in which I highlight some of, what I think, are the best movies that have flown under the radar of many or have been “forgotten” in the intervening years since its release. This time round its the amazing “balletic” action flick Bunraku…

Stars: Josh Hartnett, Gackt, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd, Demi Moore | Written and Directed by Guy Moshe

Official Synopsis:

A mysterious drifter (Hartnett) and an ardent young Japanese warrior Yoshi (Japanese superstar Gackt), both arrive in a town that is terrorized by outrageous and virulent criminals. Each is obsessed with his separate mission, and guided by the wisdom of The Bartender (Harrelson) at the Horseless Horseman Saloon, the two eventually join forces to bring down the corrupt and contemptuous reign of Nicola (Perlman), the awesomely evil “woodcutter” and his right...

[Congratulations to our six winners, they have been notified and their prize be be going out shortly! Thanks again to Arc Entertainment for their participation!]The fine people at Arc Entertinament and XLRator Media have provided Twitch readers with the opportunity to win one of six signed one sheets from Guy Moshe's neo-noir/western/action/samurai film, Bunraku!  The posters are signed by director Guy Moshe and star Ron Perlman and will be shipped in poster tubes, unfolded to you, the winner!Bunraku is a hyper-stylized post-apocalyptic fantasy film that meshes elements from different avant garde film and theater styles to create something new. The film is very daring visually, and brings together a pretty damned impressive main and supporting cast, including: Josh Hartnett, Gackt, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd, Woody...

Rank the week of November 1st’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time: New Releases Cars 2

(Blu-ray & DVD | G | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #2213

Win Percentage: 48%

Times Ranked: 3502

Top-20 Rankings: 35

Directed By: John Lasseter

Starring: Larry the Cable Guy • Owen Wilson • Michael Caine • Emily Mortimer • Eddie Izzard

Genres: Action Comedy • Adventure • Adventure Comedy • Animation • Comedy • Family • Family-Oriented Adventure • Family-Oriented Comedy

Rank This Movie

Water For Elephants

(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #3022

Win Percentage: 51%

Times Ranked: 2226

Top-20 Rankings: 17

Directed By: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Reese Witherspoon • Robert Pattinson • Christoph Waltz • Paul Schneider • Hal Holbrook

Genres: Animal Picture • Drama • Romance • Romantic Drama

Rank This Movie

Crazy Stupid Love

(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #816

Win Percentage: 57%

Times Ranked: 3830

Top-20 Rankings: 19

Directed By: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

Starring: Steve Carell • Ryan Gosling • Julianne Moore • Emma Stone • Marisa Tomei

Genres: Comedy Drama • Comedy of Manners • Drama • Romance • Romantic Comedy

Rank This Movie

Snow Flower And The Secret Fan...

An old tale is told in a visually bold manner in Guy Moshe's Bunraku.  Revenge is always a good starting point for any story, and in this case, it helps the odds as two men, a drifter played by Josh Hartnett, and a young Japanese played by pop star Gackt, seek vengeance from The Woodcutter, played by Ron Perlman.  Bunraku takes a lot of chances, the film is staged in such a way that the viewer will either jump on board or become disillusioned very quickly.  I found myself in the former camp, after aligning myself with the illusion.  Arc Entertainment bring Bunraku to Blu-ray and DVD in a very capable digital presentation with the stylized visuals holding their own and the sound keeping up...

The fine people at Arc Entertinament and XLRator Media have provided Twitch readers with the opportunity to win one of six signed one sheets from Guy Moshe's neo-noir/western/action/samurai film, Bunraku!  The posters are signed by director Guy Moshe and star Ron Perlman and will be shipped in poster tubes, unfolded to you, the winner!Bunraku is a hyper-stylized post-apocalyptic fantasy film that meshes elements from different avant garde film and theater styles to create something new. The film is very daring visually, and brings together a pretty damned impressive main and supporting cast, including: Josh Hartnett, Gackt, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd, Woody Harrelson, Demi Moore, and Shun Sugata. What do you have to do to win?  That's easy!  Just send me an e-mail with Bunraku Poster...

Quentin Tarantino has a lot to answer for. The success of both his Kill Bill films has in turn opened the floodgates for a number of copycat movies to emerge in recent years attempting to blend the genres of the Japanese samurai film with American Westerns all with varying degrees of success. The latest to join the list is Bunraku, released on Blu-ray and DVD today, written and directed by Guy Moshe who made the film on a budget of just $25million.

A mysterious drifter (Josh Hartnett) and an ardent young Japanese warrior Yoshi, played by Gackt in his international film debut, both arrive in a town that is terrorised by outrageous and virulent criminals. Each is obsessed with his separate mission, and guided by the wisdom of The Bartender (Woody Harrelson) at the Horseless Horseman Saloon, the two eventually join forces to bring down the corrupt and contemptuous reign...

There are so few films that get made these days in which a director, writer, and cast genuinely stretch themselves to try and make something different. Bunraku is one of those films. And it is awesome almost beyond words.

Writer-director Guy Moshe clearly had a vision for his film, and together with a fantastic cast led by Josh Hartnett and international newcomer Gackt (though he’s already a famous Japanese musician/actor) and supported by Woody Harrelson, Kevin McKidd, Ron Perlman, and Demi Moore, he saw the realization of that vision into an utterly creative film that just doesn’t stop giving. From start to finish, it’s an explosive film that will blow your mind.

Much like Sin City has been praised for the creativity of its production and has gained cult status, Bunraku is just as worthy of such praise and status, and not only because Hartnett is...

Bunraku

Stars: Josh Hartnett, Gackt, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd, Demi Moore | Written and Directed by Guy Moshe

A mysterious drifter (Hartnett) and an ardent young Japanese warrior Yoshi (Japanese superstar Gackt), both arrive in a town that is terrorized by outrageous and virulent criminals. Each is obsessed with his separate mission, and guided by the wisdom of The Bartender (Harrelson) at the Horseless Horseman Saloon, the two eventually join forces to bring down the corrupt and contemptuous reign of Nicola (Perlman), the awesomely evil “woodcutter” and his right hand man Killer #2 (McKidd).

Take one part Sin City, one part Kill Bill, add a dash of Django and a splash of Cool World, mix together with copious amounts of mood lighting, martial arts and Marvel Comics and you have Bunraku – an awesome mix of both the Samurai and Western genres wrapped up in the stylings of Japanese puppet theatre (yes fact fans,...

Roundups on some of the more interesting titles opening this weekend have been updated through today: The Last Picture Show, 50/50, Margaret, Take Shelter and My Joy — see, too, Daniel Kasman's review — as well as another on the documentaries.

"Hillbilly horror is nothing new," writes Cheryl Eddy in the San Francisco Bay Guardian. "Some might mark its heyday as the 1970s, a decade containing Deliverance (1972), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), The Hills Have Eyes (1977), and I Spit On Your Grave (1978). Others might point to Herschell Gordon Lewis's immortal Two Thousand Maniacs! (1964), probably cinema's most persuasive example of why Yankees road-tripping below the Mason-Dixon Line should never, for any reason, detour off the main highway…. But what if, asks Eli Craig's Tucker and Dale vs Evil, you were totally misjudging those sinister-seeming whiskey-tango yokels? What if, despite being a little unwashed and fond of sharp objects and power tools, they...

“Bunraku,” director Guy Moshe’s latest picture, is, as leading man Gackt so eloquently (and confusingly) described to MTV News in an exclusive interview, “a Cowboy meets Samurai meets Mafia action flick. It’s an action-packed movie unlike any other, mixing various genres in the style of Japanese puppetry.” Confusing, yes, but pretty much spot on: no matter how you slice it, “Bunraku” is nothing if not unique.

In a future where bullets have been outlawed and hand-to-hand combat has become the primary method of conflict resolution, the ruthless Nicola the Woodcutter (Ron Perlman) rules the world east of the Atlantic with the aid of nine deadly assassins. But Nicola has a target on his back as well: a Drifter (Josh Hartnett) wanders into town with a thirst for whiskey and a hunger for blood, while the samurai Yoshi (Gackt) also comes calling with his sights set on the Woodcutter.

The film Bunraku took the art of filmmaking to a whole new level with the Bunraku Art Experience in Los Angeles this week. The film stars Josh Hartnett, Ron Perlman (fresh off of Drive -- don't miss our Drive review) and is directed by Guy Moshe.

The event celebrated the September 30 release of Bunraku with mixed media artist Jeremy Kenyon Lockyer Corbell. The artist unveiled a series of original art pieces that were inspired by the film.

The Bunraku Art Experience took place at the famed Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard and celebrity guests abounded including Grey’s Anatomy’s Kevin McKidd and legend Mario Van Peebles.

Bunraku is the story of what happens when a drifter (Hartnett) and a Japanese warrior (Gackt) arrive in a town marred by extreme violence. Woody Harrelson plays The Bartender, a man who distills wisdom with his drinks. Perlman is the leader of all that is evil,...

Director Guy Moshe's "Bunraku" isn't all about fighting, but you could certainly be forgiven for thinking otherwise. Set in a future where bullets have been outlawed and conflicts are started and finished with fists, "Bunraku" follows two men — a Drifter played by Josh Hartnett and a samurai, Yoshi, played by Gackt — out on a deadly mission with a mutual goal… one that's destined to end in blood.

We have an exclusive clip from "Bunraku" for your viewing pleasure today, but that's not all. We also spoke with Japanese singer-songwriter and actor Gackt, who makes his English language debut in "Bunraku," about playing the even-tempered Yoshi, working with Hartnett and shooting the film's most grueling fight sequences. See what he had to say after the jump!

MTV News: What drew you to "Bunraku"?

Gackt: [Director Guy Moshe's] passion. He flew all the way to Japan to see me, and the vision he...

In anticipation of Bunraku's theatrical debut this Friday, mixed media artist Jeremy Kenyon Lockyer Corbell unveiled a series of pieces inspired by the film. The exhibition was held at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles and featured appearances by the cast including Josh Hartnett, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd and Director Guy Moshe. Bunraku is the story of a mysterious drifter (Josh Hartnett) and an ardent young Japanese warrior Yoshi (Gackt) both arrive in a town that has been terrorized by outrageous and virulent criminals. Each is obsessed with his separate mission, and guided by the wisdom of The Bartender (Woody Harrelson) at the Horseless Horseman Saloon, the two eventually join forces to bring down the corrupt and contemptuous reign of Nicola (Ron Perlman), the awesomely evil "woodcutter" and his lady Alexandra (Demi Moore), a femme fatale with a secret past.

Check out the photos below.

Read more...

Ron Perlman discusses playing the villain Nicola in Bunraku, working with such a diverse cast, Sons of Anarchy, Hellboy 3, and more

Ron Perlman is an actor who never seems to stop working. He manages to find time between his hit FX series Sons of Anarchy to fit in movie projects such as Conan the Barbarian and Drive. He has even recently provided his trademark voice to animated TV shows such as Adventure Time, American Dad!, and SpongeBob SquarePants. The actor will next be seen on the big screen as the villain Nicola in the stylish action project Bunraku, which is currently available on VOD formats and will debut in theaters September 30. I recently had the chance to speak with Ron Perlman over the phone to discuss Bunraku and much more. Here's what he had to say below.

I spoke with Josh (Hartnett) and Kevin (McKidd) for this movie, and they...

Title: Bunraku Directed By: Guy Moshe Starring: Josh Hartnett, Gackt, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd, Demi Moore, Emily Kaiho Based on Transformers: Dark of the Moon‘s performance, there’s clearly a nice chunk of moviegoers who are okay with feature films that are visual spectacles and nothing more. However, not only isn’t Bunraku a Michael Bay blockbuster, but it’s highly stylized, instantly narrowing its target audience. Then again, by focusing on the fans of artistic hand-to-hand combat, Bunraku is poised to head right into more open arms. But, for the rest of us, while the visuals may be like nothing we’ve ever seen and downright incredible, it’s just not enough...

Take a liberal hint of a Samurai movie, add a large dash of Western and action fantasy - them mix it all together - and you’re sort of coming close to describing Guy Moshe’s eye popping (literally) Bunraku. Loaded with a stellar cast including Josh Hartnett, Woody Harrelson, Demi Moore and Ron Perlman, Bunraku is set for a limited release in the Us this month, but those in UK will be able to get their hands on a copy sooner, as its heading for DVD and blu there on October 10. Synopsis: A mysterious drifter (Hartnett) and an ardent young Japanese warrior Yoshi, (played by Gackt in his international film debut), both arrive in a town that is terrorized by outrageous and virulent criminals. Each is obsessed with his separate mission, and guided by the wisdom of The Bartender (Harrelson) at the Horseless Horseman Saloon, the two eventually join...

Take a liberal hint of a Samurai movie, add a large dash of Western and action fantasy - them mix it all together - and you’re sort of coming close to describing Guy Moshe’s eye popping (literally) Bunraku. Loaded with a stellar cast including Josh Hartnett, Woody Harrelson, Demi Moore and Ron Perlman, Bunraku is set for a limited release in the Us this month, but those in UK will be able to get their hands on a copy sooner, as its heading for DVD and blu there on October 10. Synopsis: A mysterious drifter (Hartnett) and an ardent young Japanese warrior Yoshi, (played by Gackt in his international film debut), both arrive in a town that is terrorized by outrageous and virulent criminals. Each is obsessed with his separate mission, and guided by the wisdom of The Bartender (Harrelson) at the Horseless Horseman Saloon, the two eventually join...

Yesterday I had the chance to speak with Ron Perlman, who stars in the upcoming action-adventure Bunraku, which hits theaters on September 30 and is currently available on VOD formats. After we spoke about his hit FX series Sons of Anarchy, I also asked him about some of the numerous movie projects he has lined up in various stages of development. It seems that the one he is most excited about is a unique comedy entitled Frankie Go Boom, which also stars his Sons of Anarchy cast mate Charlie Hunnam. While we are used to seeing Ron Perlman as the larger-than-life tough guy, he shows a different side in this project... where he plays a woman. Here's what he had to say about Frankie Go Boom below.

"I'm really excited about this project I did with Charlie Hunnam in the off-season called Frankie Go Boom. Hopefully it's going to be playing at the Sundance Film Festival.

I recently had the privilege of speaking with Ron Perlman, who is promoting the theatrical release of the stylized action movie Bunraku, which hits theaters on September 30 and is currently available on VOD formats. We also spoke about his hit FX series Sons of Anarchy, which is currently airing new Season 4 episodes on Tuesday nights at 10 Pm Et. Here's what the actor who plays Clay Morrow had to say about this season, and how long he wants the series to run for.

"Well, I would say that after this season plays out, I can't imagine what there is to tell (Laughs). So much is dealt with and so much is unearthed, it's mind-boggling. It feels like the end, but, hopefully, we still have three more years to go. (Series creator) Kurt (Sutter) is a whole lot smarter than I am. He uses something that feels like a denouement, but it...

We're proud to premiere six new stills - courtesy of our friends at Arc Entertainment -  for the upcoming action fantasy film, Bunraku, starring Josh Hartnett as a drifter and Gackt as a samurai who are out to kill Nicola, a crime lord who happens to be the most powerful man east of the Atlantic, played by Ron Perlman.   Set in a time following a global war where guns have been outlawed and people fight using knives and fists. Thrown into the mix are Demi Moore as Nicola's love, Alexandra, and Kevin McKidd as Perlman's right hand man. The citizens of the town live in fear and wait for a hero to defeat Niocola.   Enter Hartnett who walks into Woody Harrelson's Horseless Horseman Saloon one night and demands two things - a shot of whiskey and...

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Directed by Guy Moshe on a budget of $25 million and loaded with an all star cast including Josh Hartnett (Black Hawk Down, 30 Days of Night), Woody Harrelson (Natural Born Killers, Zombieland), Demi Moore (A Few Good Men, GI Jane) and Ron Perlman (Hellboy, City of the Lost Children), Bunraku is an all action fantasy western that blends Sin City with Kung Fu Hustle.

A mysterious drifter (Hartnett) and an ardent young Japanese warrior Yoshi, played by Gackt in his international film debut, both arrive in a town that is terrorized by outrageous and virulent criminals. Each is obsessed with his separate mission, and guided by the wisdom of The Bartender (Harrelson) at the Horseless Horseman Saloon, the two eventually join forces to bring down the corrupt and contemptuous reign of Nicola (Perlman), the awesomely evil “woodcutter” and his lady Alexandra (Moore), a femme fatale with a secret past. The film...

Clips from Guy Moshe's Bunraku, starring Josh Hartnett, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd and Gackt. The action fantasy pic opens via Arc Entertainment on September 30th and tells of a young man who has spent his life in search of revenge, only to find himself against a bigger challenge than he expected. Bunraku marks Moshe's sophomore time at the helm of a feature film, the first being 2006's Holly, starring Ron Livingston, Chris Penn, Udo Kier and Virginie Ledoyen.

Clips from Guy Moshe's Bunraku, starring Josh Hartnett, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd and Gackt. The action fantasy pic opens via Arc Entertainment on September 30th and tells of a young man who has spent his life in search of revenge, only to find himself against a bigger challenge than he expected. Bunraku marks Moshe's sophomore time at the helm of a feature film, the first being 2006's Holly, starring Ron Livingston, Chris Penn, Udo Kier and Virginie Ledoyen.

How would today's action movies look if there were no guns?

The answer is Bunraku, a martial arts movie that takes place in a world where guns are banned, giving way to some pretty spectacular fight scenes. Though it's an import, the movie boasts a stellar American cast, including Josh Hartnett, Woody Harrelson, Demi Moore, and Ron Perlman. The movie also stars Japanese singer and actor sensation Gackt. Bunraku is the first international movie for Gackt.

And we have eight exclusive clips from the movie, which is screening at this year's Toronto International Film Festival (the movie made the festival's Midnight Madness selection).

Here is a synopsis:

In a hyper-saturated, hyper-driven dystopia, guns are banned and the sword is king.

In a world with no guns, a mysterious drifter (Hartnett), a young samurai and a bartender (Harrelson) plot revenge against a ruthless leader (Perlman) and his army of thugs, headed...

We’ve got some exclusive images from the upcoming film Bunraku for you. In the vein of Sin City and 300, the story centers on a mysterious drifter and a young Japansese warrior who wander into a town that has been terrorized by criminals. The two set out on their separate quests, encountering a number of strange and fantastical characters and situations along the way. Directed by Guy Moshe, the film stars Josh Hartnett, Woody Harrelson, Demi Moore, Ron Perlman, and Gackt. Hit the jump to check out the images. Bunraku is currently available VOD and hits theaters September 30. Here's the trailer: Here’s the official synopsis: A mysterious drifter (Josh Hartnett) and an ardent young Japanese warrior Yoshi (Gackt) both arrive in a town that has been terrorized by outrageous and virulent criminals. Each is obsessed with his separate mission, and guided by the wisdom of The Bartender (Woody Harrelson) at the Horseless Horseman Saloon,...

Actor Kevin McKidd discusses playing Killer 2 in Bunraku, working with director Guy Moshe, his voice role in Pixar's Brave, and more.

Actor Kevin McKidd was on his way to becoming an engineer at the University of Edinburgh before being bitten by the acting bug in college. After making his big-screen debut in Small Faces, the actor broke out with his second movie, the British classic Trainspotting, where he portrayed Tommy. The actor hasn't stopped working since with roles in movies such as Dog Soldiers, Nicholas Nickleby, Kingdom Of Heaven, and Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Sea Monsters. He has also starred on the small screen as well, with memorable roles as Lucius Vorenus in the HBO drama Rome and his current role as Dr. Owen Hunt on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. Kevin McKidd will next be seen as Killer 2 in Bunraku, which will be released on VOD formats September 1 ahead...

Bunraku is a western set within an ultra-stylized cartoon world without guns. It’s an inspired and attention-grabbing idea right off the bad. In execution, only some of that wonder makes it to the screen. However, what’s there makes for a mildly enjoyable, unique mess.

It’s all about two lone rangers: The Drifter (Josh Hartnett) and The Samurai (Gackt). They are both seeking revenge on the same man, Nicola (Ron Perlman), the powerful overlord who everyone fears. Gackt is adequate as The Samurai, while Hartnett is the true screen presence, offering appeal action-hero traits to his role. He’s tall, no longer boyish-looking and doesn’t take himself too seriously in the role. The whole ensemble understands the specific tone of the film, and Hartnett makes the most of playing around in a playful environment.

The story is that of a traditional western. With that sensibility, director Guy Moshe...

Josh Hartnett discusses his role in Bunraku, working with this ensemble cast, future projects, and much more.

I have followed actor Josh Hartnett's career ever since the Halloween: H20 days for a couple of reasons. One is that we both hail from that frozen tundra of a state known as Minnesota, and two, he always makes intriguing choices as an actor from big-budget blockbusters like Pearl Harbor to indie's like Lucky Number Slevin and stylized genre fare like Sin City and 30 Days of Night. The actor's next project is the upcoming indie Bunraku, which will be available on VOD platforms September 1 before its theatrical release on September 30. Josh Hartnett stars as a mysterious unnamed drifter, who rolls into a town which has become terrorized by demons and other supernatural forces. I recently had the chance to speak with Josh Hartnett over the phone about this new movie. Here's what he had to say.

Borrowing its name from a 400-year-old art of Japanese puppetry, the fantasy drama Bunraku (available on VOD on September 1st and in theaters on September 30th) is about a mysterious drifter (Josh Hartnett) and a passionate young Japanese warrior named Yoshi (Gackt), that both arrive in a town that has been terrorized by extreme criminals. Each man is obsessed with his own separate mission, and are guided by the wisdom of The Bartender (Woody Harrelson), but they eventually join forces to bring down the corrupt Nicola (Ron Perlman), who is at the root of each of their problems. Set in a unique world of hyper-real colors and locations, and combining the themes of Samurai and Western films, it gives the story’s classic conflict a vitality and imagination that makes the dynamic fresh. To promote the film’s release, Josh Hartnett did this exclusive phone interview with Collider, in which...

All Josh Hartnett needs is his fists to kick some serious butt in the newest teaser for "Bunraku."

Who needs set-up for a movie when a minute-long video clip can just show Hartnett beating up on baddies left and right? Clearly his character, The Drifter, has some anger issues to deal with. "Bunraku" first premiered as an official selection during Midnight Madness at 2010's Toronto International Film Festival, and is slated to hit theaters on September 30. Though this trailer only shows off Hartnett's skills fighting his enemies, the movie does have a lot more to offer -- "It's not all about fighting," Woody Harrelson's character tells The Drifter, though he doesn't exactly agree.

Coming from director Guy Moshe, "Bunraku" is inspired by the style of Japanese puppet theater from which it got its name. The CGI-heavy film mixes shadow-play fantasy with the reality that we saw in this teaser.

Everything we’ve seen from Guy Moshe’s upcoming Bunraku has looked absolutely awesome. The first trailer was one of my favourites of the year, followed by a brilliant poster, and recently a great clip of Ron Perlman itching for a fight.

With its Us Video on Demand release just around the corner on 1st September, we’ve now got another awesome clip promoting the film via Yahoo Movies, entitled Take It Outside, that sees Josh Hartnett and Gackt throw down.

“In a world with no guns, a mysterious drifter (Josh Hartnett), a young samurai (Gackt) and a bartender (Woody Harrelson) plot revenge against a ruthless leader (Ron Perlman) and his army of thugs, headed by nine diverse and deadly assassins. This visually stunning film is filled with uniquely choreographed action sequences of a new style that melds east with west and old school with new.”

It was clear right...

“Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover” is a proverb whose simple existence proves the fact that impressionable souls will do so without fail. This monthly column focuses on the film industry’s willingness to capitalize on this truth, releasing one-sheets to serve as not representations of what audiences are to expect, but as propaganda to fill seats. Oftentimes they fail miserably.

September is the start of the film festival season. Unsurprisingly, while Toronto, Venice, and New York debut the flicks we’ve been waiting all year to see, the box office decides to finally give the public a glimpse at what’s been making the rounds since last September. There are also some bigger studio works on the way and almost all are sadly lacking on marketing aesthetic. It’s a better month for posters than the last, but bad still reigns supreme. Hopefully the upcoming Oscar season...

See Josh Hartnett's The Drifter take on Yoshi (Gackt) in this fight scene clip from Bunraku! Arc Entertainment releases the action pic to theaters on September 30th and you can catch Bunraku on Video on Deman on September 1st. Guy Moshe (Holly) directs from his own script with a well known cast for the most part, including Josh Hartnett, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd, Gackt, Jordi Mollà, Emily Kaiho and Shun Sugata. Check out the clip below the plot for Bunraku and let us know what you think. Cheesy or are you up for it?...

See Josh Hartnett's The Drifter take on Yoshi (Gackt) in this fight scene clip from Bunraku! Arc Entertainment releases the action pic to theaters on September 30th and you can catch Bunraku on Video on Deman on September 1st. Guy Moshe (Holly) directs from his own script with a well known cast for the most part, including Josh Hartnett, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd, Gackt, Jordi Mollà, Emily Kaiho and Shun Sugata. Check out the clip below the plot for Bunraku and let us know what you think. Cheesy or are you up for it?...

A mysterious drifter (Josh Hartnett) and an ardent young Japanese warrior named Yoshi (Gackt) both arrive in a town that has been terrorized by outrageous and virulent criminals. Each is obsessed with his separate mission, and guided by the wisdom of The Bartender (Woody Harrelson) at the Horseless Horseman Saloon, the two eventually join forces to bring down the corrupt and contemptuous reign of Nicola (Ron Perlman), the awesomely evil woodcutter and his lady Alexandra (Demi Moore), a femme fatale with a secret past. Guy Moshe writes and directs Bunraku, which comes to theaters on September 30th, and will be made available on VOD September 1st. We have seven exclusive behind-the-scenes character photos from the film featuring cast members Josh Hartnett, Kevin McKidd, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Demi Moore, and Larnell Stovall. Check them out below.

Bunraku comes to theaters September 30th, 2011 and stars Woody Harrelson, Demi Moore, Josh Hartnett,...

We got a scorcher of a first trailer for the upcoming Bunraku last month that showed Josh Hartnett absolutely on top of his game in this little-known, but highly anticipated, film.

We then got a poster that looks simply awesome at the start of the month, and now we have a great new clip, entitled ‘You Want A Shot At The Title’, focusing on Ron Perlman and Kevin McKidd’s characters, courtesy of Ain’t It Cool News.

Starring alongside Hartnett, Perlman, and McKidd in Bunraku will be Woody Harrelson, Demi Moore, and Japanese musician/actor, Gackt, directed by Guy Moshe from his own script. It was shot back in 2008, so you can understand why it’s so highly anticipated for me; it’s been a long time coming.

“In a world with no guns, a mysterious drifter (Josh Hartnett), a young samurai and a bartender (Woody Harrelson) plot revenge...

Director Guy Moshe's feature debut, Bunraku, a four color fantasy with a pretty darned impressive cast, dropped a new one sheet today. Photoshop quickie? Asian action homage masterpiece? Have your say!See Banraku Sept. 1'st on VOD, and in select theatres  on Sept. 30'th. For now, check out the synopsis and the trailer below!You can follow Bunraku on Facebook Here. A mysterious drifter (Josh Hartnett) and an ardent young Japanese warrior Yoshi (Gackt) both arrive in a town that has been terrorized by outrageous and virulent criminals. Each is obsessed with his separate mission, and guided by the wisdom of The Bartender (Woody Harrelson) at the Horseless Horseman Saloon, the two eventually join forces to bring down the corrupt and contemptuous reign of Nicola (Ron...