Because I am going to be unemployed for quite some time, I gave
myself a task (with Barb's permission). I'm tired of missing films.
Are you? Wish you'd even been aware of them in the first place?
It's a relatively simple matter for me to get information about
what's coming up on certain channels, so I'll be posting a monthly
heads up on what's coming on. Look for it on the 15th of each
month. I'll also be constantly updating the SHQ Calendar as I gather
the information.
Because I don't want you to miss out on a chance to see "Sword of
Doom" tomorrow, this month's list only includes fare from the
Independent Film Channel (IFC) and the Sundance Channel, the two
channels that show the most Japanese film I can access. In future,
it will also include the HBO & Cinemax family of channels, Showtime &
The Movie Channel family, and the Starz family. If anyone has access
to other cable or dish networks with different channels than these,
please feel free to join me in keeping our fellow wolves fed with
Japanese fare.
pachi (or phil)
***
Below is a listing of films being shown on US cable channels from
March 21, 2004 to April 20, 2004. All times are Eastern Standard
Time (EST). Always check your own local schedules for show dates and
times in your area
there are variations in cable feeds and the
problem that I'm human and prone to err.
The schedule is available in the Calendar in the Web Features on the
SHQ yahoogroup site. If you receive individual e-mails, link to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shq/cal . The calendar is set to
reflect the day starting at 12:00AM and ending at 11:00PM. Times for
films have been incorporated into a calendar set for EST. You can
import calendar entries into your own personal calendar (but pay
attention to whether or not it changes show times to your time zone
I'm not sure if it does or not). When you click on the title of the
film, it will give you more information, including an option to
import the entry. Film show times and lengths have been rounded down
or up where necessary (if it starts at 1:50, the start time shows
1:45; if it lasts 88 minutes, it's shown to last 1 hour 30 minutes).
Play with it and see if it will help you not miss any more of those
wonderful films!
All films are subtitled unless otherwise indicated.
Samurai Films:
SWORD OF DOOM (1966)
Directed by Kihachi Okamoto, 119 minutes, B/W
Shows beginnings of the Shinsengumi and the assassination of Serizawa
Kamo in the tale about a warped swordsman
IFC 3/21: 6:00AM
SAMURAI TRILOGY: PART I (1954)
Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, 93 minutes, color
17th century drama starring Toshiro Mifune.
IFC 3/27: 8:00AM, 3/28: 6:OOAM
SAMURAI TRILOGY: PART II (1955)
104 minutes, color
IFC 4/3: 8:00AM, 2:00PM
SAMURAI TRILOGY: PART III (1956)
115 minutes, color
IFC 4/10: 8:00AM, 1:45PM
HIDDEN FORTRESS (1958)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, 139 minutes, B/W
IFC 4/17: 8:00AM, 1:45PM
ONIBABA (1964)
Directed by Kaneto Shindou, 103 minutes, B/W
IFC 3/29: 12:00PM, 6:00PM
Other Japanese films:
KIKUJIRO (1999)
Directed by Takeshi "Beat" Kitano, 121 minutes, color
Some of us know Kitano as Hijikata in "Gohatto." Delightful tale of
a man taking a lonely little boy to his mother.
IFC 3/29: 8:00AM, 1:45PM
RHAPSODY IN AUGUST (1991)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, 98 minutes, color, English and Japanese
Revisiting Hiroshima and Nagasaki through the eyes of a widowed
survivor and the American nephew (Richard Gere) who visits.
Sundance Channel repeats throughout the month: check the Calendar
on 4/2, 4/3, 4/6, 4/11, 4/12, 4/15, 4/21
AUDITION (1999)
Directed by Takashi Miike, 115 minutes, color
Sundance Channel 4/3: 12:00AM 4/8: 2:30AM 4/20: 3:45AM
CURE (1997)
Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 111 minutes, color
A killer is loose in Tokyo who leaves a cross-shaped scar on his
victims
the ghost of Kenshin??
Sundance Channel 4/6: 2:00AM 4/17: 12:00AM
MT. HEAD (2002)
Directed by Koji Yamamura, 10 minutes, animated short
Japanese fable about a miserly man who gets into trouble when a
cherry tree sprouts from his head.
Sundance Channel 4/8: 7:15PM 4/10: 1:20PM 4/14: 7:45AM
DEAD OR ALIVE: FINAL (2002)
Directed by Takashi Miike, , color
Yokohama in the year 2346
Saitou must've missed a few --- they still
have yakuza problems.
Sundance Channel --- 4/12: 4:00AM
SPIRAL (UZUMAKI) (2000)
Directed by Higuchinsky (aka Akihiro Higuchi), 91 minutes, color
Based on the graphic novel by Junji Ito.
Sundance Channel 4/13: 4:30AM 4/18: 3:35AM
GHOST ACTRESS (aka DON'T LOOK UP) (1996)
Directed by Hideo Nakata, 74 minutes, color
Modern mystery set in a historical theatre --- didn't someone talk
about this film on the list?
Sundance Channel 4/3: 11:00AM 4/6: 8:00AM 4/14: 6:30AM
KENJI'S FAITH (1994)
Directed by Eric Byler, 13 minutes, color, may be in English if
there's any dialogue.
Sorry, it's not Kenshin's son.
Sundance Channel 4/15 12:15PM 4/19: 11:45AM