Welcome to the first of three trailer posts this week
You can find the previous second one following this one tomorrow.
So I cranked out a lot of reviews for the Chicago International Film Festival 2023 and I have to wait for embargoes to lift before I can post them. Now, with the approach of Halloween, I’m watching more horror movies while finishing off the rest of the reviews since some of these titles don’t release until the end of the year.
That written. I’ve got two other festivals I’m working on, so there’s another busy period ahead and I better get going!
What are the first batch of Japanese films released this weekend?
Confess to Your Crimes / Omae no Tsumi o Jihaku Shiro 
おまえの罪を自白しろ 「Omae no Tsumi o Jihaku Shiro」
Release Date: October 20th, 2023
Duration: 101 mins.
Director: Nobuo Mizuta
Writer: Shinichi Hisamatsu, (Screenplay), Yuichi Shinpo (Original Novel),
Starring: Kento Nakajima, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Elaiza Ikeda, Minami, Ikusaburo Yamazaki, Ayumu Nakajima, Machiko Ono,
Synopsis: Kouji Uda is the second son of a political dynasty. Following the failure of his construction company, he works as the political secretary of his father, Seijirou, a powerful member of the Diet who has been embroiled in a political scandal. Someone tries to force a confession of a crime out of Seijirou by kidnapping his granddaughter and demanding a press conference by 17:00. the next day to confess the “crime” but the old man refuses. It comes down to Kouji to save his family by confronting his father!
Resort Beit 
リゾートバイト 「Riso-to Baito」
Release Date: October 20th, 2023
Duration: 86 mins.
Director: Jiro Nagae
Writer: Takeshi Miyamoto (Screenplay), Yuichi Shinpo (Original Novel),
Starring: Rikka Ihara, Taiyu Fujiwara, Shiori Akita, Yuuya Matsuura, Mamoru Tsubouchi, Hinako Saeki, Zen Kajihara,
Synopsis: The film is based on an internet urban legend. We get the spooky stuff through the perspective of a shy university student named Sakura Uchida. Through a friend, she gets a job at a Japanese inn on an island and she begins to feel like she fits in somewhere. When she catches her boss delivering meals to a secret door late at night, that feeling of belonging soon goes out of the window…
The Concierge 
北極百貨店のコンシェルジュさん 「Hokkyoku Hyakkaten no Concierge-san」
Release Date: October 20th, 2023
Duration: 70 mins
Director: Yoshimi Itazu
Writer: Satomi Ooshima (Screenplay), Tsuchika Nishimura (Original Creator),
Starring: Natsumi Kawaida (Akino), Ayumu Murase (Barbary Lion), Danshun Tatekawa (Laughing Owl (Husband)), Eiji Yoshitomi (Maruki), Kana hanazawa (female Japanese wolf), Megumi Han (Mori), Jun Fukuyama (Head Waiter),
Animation Production: Production I.G
This is screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Synopsis: Akino is a new concierge at the saleswoman at the Hokkyoku Department Store, a place where the staff are all humans and the customers are all animals. The V.I.As (Very Important Animals) are the extinct species, including sea minks, laughing owls, Japanese wolves, even an enormous mammoth. Each has their own personality and Akino works hard to understand them and fulfil their requests, all while her cost-cutting boss keeps a close eye on her.
Boku no Hero Academia: UA Heroes Battle 
僕のヒーローアカデミア 「雄英ヒーローズ・バトル」「Boku no Hi-ro Akademia (Takahide Hi-ro-zu Batoru)」
Release Date: October 20th, 2023
Duration: N/A
Director: N/A
Writer: Kouhei Horikoshi (Original Creator)
Starring: N/A
Animation Production: BONES
No Trailer
Synopsis: The first-year students in Class A are bored during their downtime during winter break. Stuck in the dorm, call they can do is play a card game and, thus, a fierce battle involving cards begins…
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny Special Edition Respective Swords HD Remaster 
機動戦士ガンダムSEED DESTINY スペシャルエディション それぞれの剣 HDリマスター HDリマスター 「Kidou Senshi Gundam Seed Supesharu Edishon: Sorezore no Ken HD Rimasuta-」
Release Date: First Broadcast in 2006
Duration: 93 mins
Director: Mitsuo Fukuda
Writer: Chiaki Morosawa (Series Composition),
Starring: Akira Ishida (Athrun Zala), Souichiro Hoshi (Kira Yamato), Rie Tanaka (Lacus Clyne, Meer Campbell), Kotono Mitsuishi (Murrue Ramius),
Animation Production: Sunrise,
This is the second of four movies that are HD remasters of TV movies that were compiled from Kidou Senshi Gundam SEED Destiny series that was first broadcast in 2004. Said TV movies were screened in 2006. This movie consists of episodes 14 to 28 out of 50 episodes.
With that out of the way, what was different from the TV movies and the series? A shift in perspective, telling the story from the POV of side characters so that the story is more neutral. Also new scenes and tweaks to animation and dub.
The four films go under the titles:
1. The Broken World (Kudakareta Sekai)
2. Respective Swords (Sorezore no Ken)
3. The Hell Fire of Destiny (Sadame no Goka)
4. The Cost of Freedom (Jiyuu no Daishou)
They will open on October 06th, October 20th, November 03rd, and November 17th, respectively
They run ahead of the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed FREEDOM film project which will open in Japan on January 26, 2024.
Synopsis: The war between the Earth Alliance and ZAFT comes to a halt but when Earth Alliance special forces steal ZAFT Gundams, conflict erupts again. Athrun decides to return to ZAFT in order to restore peace but has to cross swords with Kira…