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| Created on Februay 12, 2007 Updated on March 1, 08 |
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| March 1 The about us page of Film Bridge International needs attention. It says: "Combining with top Directing and Producing talent, FBI has expanded its feature film business. Along with noted producer Jonathan Sanger (producer of gVanilla Sky,h gMission Impossible II,h gElephant Manh and the musical, gThe Producersh), FBI is overseeing the financing for the WW II courtroom drama, gBeast of Bataanh to be directed by Fred Schepisi (gEmpire Falls,"gA Cry in the Darkh gIt Runs in the Family,h gPlentyh). Koji Yakusho will star in an ensemble cast." February 28 Hayden Christensen's role in " Beast of Bataan" On this website there is a detailed story about "Beast of Bataan". It is certain that there will be no shooting of this film in March, 2008, but before long a decision will be taken about when production can commence, with Koji Yakusho portraying General Homma. Hayden Christensen himself has announced that in his role he will portray Major Skeene, Gen. Masaharu Homma's young American military lawyer. February 25 Please open the "Beast of the Bataan" site of Film Bridge International. You will not find the names of Hayden Christensen, William Hurt, and Willem Defoe on the cast any more. Only Koji Yakusho's name is listed there. Reportedly this film is due to begin shooting late in February 2008 in Australia. Has filming schedule been postponed again, I wonder? I am quite puzzled about this film. February 16, 2008 According to the IMDb, the role of Ken in "Hachiko: A Dog's Story", the Hollywood remake of the Japanese film called, "Hachiko monogatari" will be taken by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who played the role of the Baron in "Memoirs of a Geisha". November 23 Here you can read the article (from Empire Magazine) on Hayden Christensen talking about "Beast of Bataan" and his role in this film. "... The World War II movie, directed by Fred Schepisi and co-starring Willem Defoe and William Hurt, tells the true story of the trial of Masaharu Homma, a Japanese general implicated in the Bataan Death March, in which around 100,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war were marched by Japanese soldiers to prison camps and violently mistreated along the way. Christensen will play Homma's lawyer and filled us in on a few more details about the movie. " "It's essentially a courtroom drama," he says. "Itfs a very powerful story. It comments on how war is wrong and there is no right side and itfs all sort of fucked up...I play an American solider coming back from the war who is assigned to defend this Japanese general simply because he studied law before he went into service. The Americans are trying to set him up for the fall. My character becomes aware of that and really does his best to get him off the hook. Because of the corruptness of war, it doesnft really work out for him...It felt like a good way of commenting on what is going on around the world without actually saying what is going on around the world.h... (Thanks, hydnfnevr) November 12 Director Fred Schepisi reports on his official website (Current projects): "Beast of Bataan " Pre-production due to start late Nov, filming in late Feb. Set in the Phillippines at the end of the second world war, the war crime trials of a Japanese General who was known as the Beast of Bataan explores who is ultimately responsible for the actions of the common soldier. November 7 Here is the latest info on this film. It is the REUTERS/Hollywood Reporter news under the title of "Christensen retained for Bataan Death March film" dated on Nov. 6. It says, Koji Yakusho, who played the father of Rinko Kikuchi's character in "Babel," is in negotiations to portray Homma. Willem Dafoe and William Hurt also are in talks to join the film. Regarding the film shooting time and place, it says, "The independently financed production is eyeing a February start date in Australia. Fred Schepisi will direct from an adaptation of Lawrence Taylor's tome "A Trial of Generals."" Here's another news site on this film. November 7 I have just found a list of the cast members for this film on Hollywood.com: Koji Yakusho Masahura Homma William Hurt - Cast Charlie Hunnam - Cast Willem Dafoe - Cast Hayden Christensen - Cast On the Koji Yakusho page on the Hollywood com website, I have also found info on Koji's new film, entitled, "Hachiko: A Dog's Story", co-starring with Richard Gere. This film is listed below "Beast of Bataan". The IMDb site for this film is here. September 5 On September 4 Koji Yakusho was officially appointed to become "the symbolizing main character" for the first Japan International Contents Festival (CoFesta) to be held from September 19 to October 28. Answering the press, Koji mentioned that from this year to 2009 he would have three overseas filming projects. What is the first film? The answer may be the "Beast of Bataan". August 17 The Film Bridge International put the name of Hayden Christensen instead of Charlie Hunnam on their "Beast of Bataan" page. The names of the other three actors, Koji Yakusho, William Hurt and Willem Dafoe are still there. What does this mean, I wonder? July 6 The Tokyograph reported the following info on Koji Yakusho today. "Actor Koji Yakusho has been chosen as the "main character" of the Japan International Contents Festival (also known as CoFesta), a 40-day festival encompassing the Tokyo Game Show, ASIAGRAPH, the Tokyo International Film Festival, DiGRA, the Tokyo Asia Music Market, and other media-related events. Yakusho has gained international recognition through his films and other appearances in media, which led to his selection for the duty. He will be present at the opening ceremony and at events throughout the festival, which takes place from August(Correction: September) 19 to October 28." This means that there won't be any shooting for "Beast of Battaan" until at least November. The Sankei Sports newspaper, which reported the same news, however, referred to the fact that after this event, Koji Yakusho would participate in shooting a certain film overseas. This film may possibly be "Beast of Bataan". May 30 The film that Koji Yakusho has been shooting has turned out to be a Japanese film entitled, "Pako to Mahou no Ehon" ("Pako and the Magical Picture Book") by Tetsuo Nakashima. Here is the info from TOKYOGRAPH. I wonder what sort of role Koji will play in this film. May 23 Plot summary of "Beast of Bataan" based on IMDb "Philippines. 1946. After four long years at war, Major John Skeen is about to ship home when he receives his final assignment. At a military tribunal created by General Douglas MacArthur, he will head the defense team representing Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma, the notorious 'Beast of Bataan' and presumed architect of the Bataan Death March. With no experience in criminal law and little time to prepare, he and three other GIs must find a way to defend their enemy. Written by Anonymous" May 9 In Koji Yakusho's updated blog, Koji has mentioned that the film in which he is now participating would soon be announced. He says that this is a type of a film quite different from his former films; and he is performing the role with much strain but at the same time enjoying doing so. Let's wait and see. What is it actually, I wonder. May 5 The IMDb's "Yellow Handkerchief" (starring William Hurt) site reports that this film is now a post-production. According to an unconfirmed report, "Beast of Bataan" in which Koji Yakusho is to star in the role of Gen. Masaharu Homma has already started filming! April 30 I was astonished to open the IMDb's "Beast of Bataan" site this morning. The cast of this movie was announced and I found that Koji Yakusho would perform the role of Gen. Masaharu Homma! On April 18 Koji's office announced that he had started shooting a new fim. IMDb still says that "Beast of Bataan" is in the "pre-production" stage. Has the production of this film really started? I wonder if it is true. One clue is that Koji Yakusho did not turn up at the Japan premiere of "Babel" which was held in Tokyo on April 26. Koji may be overseas now. April 21 Koji Yakusho's official website was renewed on April 18. The press have previously announced that Koji Yakusho's next film, "Zo no Senaka" (The Back of the Elephant) is due to be filmed in early July. However, the April 18 news is that there was actually another film planned prior to "Zou no Senaka" and that Koji had already participated in shooting this film. His site says that this other film will be released in 2008 and that Koji's role is a type that he has never performed before. Let's wait and see what sort of movie this new film will prove to be! March 30 I found an interesting English message board on General Masaharu Homma on the historychannel.com For General Homma's background information, please read "The Trial of General Homma" on the page of the American Heritage Com. |
| February 12, 2007 On February 7, 2007, I was astonished to find the info on this film on the internet (Film Bridge International). "1945 Tokyo/Philippines. Four young military lawyers receive the least desirable assignment in the entire postwar occupation of Japan from Supreme Commander Douglas MacArthur - they are to represent a Japanese General (Koji Yakusho) who has been accused of being responsible for the notorious Bataan Death March. At first they do their best to evade their new career-destroying assignment. Then they begin to discover that General Homma, known as the gBeast of Bataan,h is a good and honorable man who was not, in fact, involved with the crimes for which he was accused. But MacArthur, bears a secret grudge against Homma, who was the only Japanese officer to ever defeat him in battle. The young American military lawyers endeavor to save Homma from his obvious fate, fighting not only their own commanding officers but also Homma himself, who knows he is destined to die. This is a story in which villains turn out to be heroes, heroes turn out to be villains, and a group of young soldiers, along with an imprisoned alleged war criminal, provide a lesson in courage." The news has not been confirmed by Koji Yakusho's office as of today, but I would like to glean from the internet various pieces of info about "Beast of Bataan". |
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| Beast of Bataan |