Welcome to the first of two trailer posts
Come back tomorrow for the second trailer post
Since I am waking up at 02:00 in the morning I have been watching lots of films from France and Spain and Hong Kong in the extra time I have. The highlights have included The Cat (1992), The Beast (2023) and Black Hat (2015).
What is the first batch of films released this week?
カミノフデ ～怪獣たちのいる島～ 「Kami no fude ~ Kaiju-tachi no iru shima ~」
Release Date: July 26th, 2024
Duration: 74 mins.
Director: Keizo Murase
Writer: Ken Nakazawa (Screenplay),
Starring: Rio Suzuki, Takeru Narahara, Takumi Saitoh, Shinji Higuchi, Yumiko Shaku, Shiro Sano,
Website Twitter: @Kaminofude IMDB
My review for this film went live yesterday ahead of an interview that I hope to publish soon.
Brush of the God is billed as the first and last movie by MURASE Keizo, the veteran sculptor, suitmaker who has made monster suits for many tokusatsu and kaiju classics including Godzilla, Gamera, and Kamen Rider.
His story follows a schoolgirl named Akari Tokimiya and the fantastical adventure which occurs when she visits the memorial service of her grandfather Kenzo, a master special effects man. She has unhappy memories of the old man and his passion projects, the last of which he died during the making of. At the memorial service, she meets classmate Takuya, a tokusatsu superfan, and a strange person named Hozumi, the star of the movie Kenzo was making when he died. Hozumi has with him a prop from the film, the titular “Brush of the God,” which transports Akari and Takuya into the world of the movie where they face fearsome Kaiju, including the legendary Yamata-no-orochi who is attempting to destroy everything. If they are to survive and get back to their homes, Akari and Takuya must find out the secret of the movie.
Moshimo Tokugawa Ieyasu ga sori daijin ni nattara 
もしも徳川家康が総理大臣になったら 「Moshimo Tokugawa Ieyasu ga sori daijin ni nattara」
Release Date: July 26th, 2024
Duration: 110 mins.
Director: Hideki Takeuchi
Writer: Yuichi Tokunaga (Screenplay), Akihito Manabe (Original Story),
Starring: Minami Hamabe, Eiji Akaso, Mansai Nomura, Noriko Eguchi, GACKT, Mijika Nagai, Naoto Takenaka, Alisa Mizuki,
Website Twitter: @moshi_toku
Synopsis: The year is 2020 and Covid-19 is raging across the world. One of its victims is the prime minister of Japan. In response, the Japanese government initiates a programme involving bringing back major figures from history via AI holograms. These names include Ieyasu Tokugawa, Nobunaga Oda, and Hideyoshi Toyotomi, and they immediately start issuing all sorts of laws. Curious about this situation, a reporter named Risa Nishimura starts to investigate.
Bakuge sentai Boonboomger GekijoBOON! Promise the Circuit 
爆上戦隊ブンブンジャー 劇場BOON！ プロミス・ザ・サーキット 「Bakuage Sentai Bunbunja- GekijouBOON! Puromisu za Sa-kitto」
Release Date: July 26th, 2024
Duration: 110 mins.
Director: Shojiro Nakazawa
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka (Screenplay), Saburo Yatsude (Original Story),
Starring: Haruhi Iuchi, Yuki Hayama, Miu Suzuki, Ryu Saito, Satoru Soma, Yu Miyazawa,
Website Twitter: @toeiHERO_movie Power Rangers Fandom
Synopsis: The Boonboomgers and HIKAKIN are filming a collaboration at a racing circuit when they are suddenly involved in protecting a princess from the planet Trickle from the Hashiriyan, a group of space ruffians, who threaten to destroy Earth to get her back.
Kamen Rider Gotchard: The Future Daybreak 
仮面ライダーガッチャード ザ・フューチャー・デイブレイク 「Kamen Raida- Gatcha-do: Za Fu0cha- Deibureiki」
Release Date: July 26th, 2024
Duration: 110 mins.
Director: Ryuta Tasaki
Writer: Keiichi Hasegawa (Screenplay), Shotaro Ishinomori (Original Story),
Starring: Junsei Motojima, Reiyo Matsumoto, Yasunari Fujibayashi, Seiichiro Nagata, DAIGO,
Website Twitter: @toeiHERO_movie Power Rangers Fandom
Synopsis: Houtaro Ichinose/Kamen Rider Gotchard and his friends set off on the Gigantliner on a great adventure across time and space to save the world from time travelling enemies.
DitO 
ディト 「Deito」
Release Date: July 26th, 2024
Duration: 118 mins.
Director: Takashi Yuki
Writer: Kenji Qurata (Screenplay),
Starring: Takashi Yuki, Momoko Tanabe, Machiko Ono, Mon Confiado, Lou Veloso, Buboy Villar, Manny Pacquiao,
Website Twitter: @ditofilm IMDB
Actor Takashi Yuki makes his directorial debut and stars in this Japanese-Philippine co-production. Machiko Ono co-stars as the main character’s wife and former world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao makes a special appearance. The title “DitO” means “here (here)” in Tagalog. It’s a solid film.
Synopsis: Eiji Kamiyama is a professional boxer in the Philippines. He works at a gym as a trainer and lives in a rundown home while his wife and daughter have remained in Japan. The three once lived in the Philippines together but have been separated for a while until his daughter visits him and decides to stay. Culture clashes and meetings with shady Japanese ex-pats happen for the daughter while the father tries to find his boxing mojo, a task that will be difficult considering that he is 40 years old, but a family bond is re-established through their struggles.