Summer Wars (Mamoru Hosoda, 2009)

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Cde. · #1 Post by **Cde.** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:07 am

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time has a few fans around here, so I thought this might be of some interest.

Mark Schilling has written a rave review of Hosoda's new anime film.

Here's the trailer.
It looks pretty fantastic.
Hopefully we won't be waiting too long for distribution outside of Japan.

Michael Kerpan · #2 Post by **Michael Kerpan** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 12:19 pm

I can't recall the last time Mark Schilling awarded 5 stars to a film. ;~}

Right now, I consider Hosoda to show a lot more promise than Studio Ghibli. (Also hoping it will be possible to see this film before too long -- but expecting at least a 6 month wait).

akaten · #3 Post by **akaten** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:39 pm

Summer Wars is being shown at the Leeds International Film Festival (also had three Rene Laloux features put out by MOC shown last week) as well as Ponyo and Angel's Egg (Mamoru Oshii, 1985) really wish all of these had been at the London Film Festival, I'm sure any northern Englanders able to attend will delight in this southerner turning green with envy!

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davebert · #4 Post by **davebert** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:05 pm

It's got a really great look to it, with Internet scenes that remind me of Murakami and should look great in theaters, with colors splashed everywhere.

However, the central plot is a tad dull, as I think it's really hard to make an action movie where many of the scenes feature characters anxiously sweating over keyboards. Will be interested to see what others think once it's more widely seen, given Hosoda's rising star. It's certainly beautiful to look at.

jojo · #5 Post by **jojo** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:34 pm

I wasn't too impressed with The Girl Who Leapt Through Time but I'm always able to get excited for younger animation directors. We'll see how this goes over with me.

Cde. · #6 Post by **Cde.** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:14 am

davebert wrote:It's got a really great look to it, with Internet scenes that remind me of Murakami and should look great in theaters, with colors splashed everywhere.

It's worth noting that Hosoda directed Superflat Monogram for Takashi Murakami.

Captain Bracegirdle · Fri Mar 12, 2010 1:43 pm

DVD out in Japan now. Japanese subtitles only. Great stuff.

Michael Kerpan · #8 Post by **Michael Kerpan** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 8:02 pm

I enjoyed this -- even if it was busier and more talky than Girl Who Leapt Through Time.

manicsounds · #9 Post by **manicsounds** » Sat Mar 13, 2010 1:30 pm

Korean DVD and Bluray out in April, most likely with English subtitles, and more likely cheaper.

knives · #10 Post by **knives** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 5:57 am

I should thank my sister for dragging me to this(I probably would've stalled until it was too late to see in theaters). Hosoda has learned a hell of a lot since his Digimon days. Now of this is really new, but it's done with such gusto and likability that I'm willing to let that pass. Beyond that and some iffy techno-babble I can't really spot a flaw. what makes me respect this the most though is how he's able to combine too disparate genres(action and family drama) in a way that fully compliments both. I'm also grateful for a film maker finally understanding the weight of a cyber terrorist. You won't believe how many films I've walked away in from because it treats this sort of thing as a momentary harm with no long term repercussions. Really just a great deal of fun that hits the balance of entertainment and emotion just right.

#11 Post by **Finch** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:24 am

manicsounds wrote:Korean DVD and Bluray out in April, most likely with English subtitles, and more likely cheaper.

The film hits DVD and Blu in the UK in late March, and could even be a little cheaper than importing the Korean discs. I am looking forward to seeing the film the first time but have to say it's a little appalling that it's taking some of the best reviewed Japanese films of recent years so long to be released outside of Japan (the April UK releases of Confessions and 13 Assassins are a good example of how it ought to be done, in both cases just 6 months or so after their Japanese openings).

dad1153 · #12 Post by **dad1153** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:27 pm

Saw this on New Year's weekend during its limited theatrical run in Gotham (IFC Center). They had English dubbed (afternoon) and subtitled showings (evening) and I went to the latter. Imagine the relationship between the fictitious Erica Albright character and Mark Zuckerberg from "The Social Network" (if these two were Japanese high-school students) at the heart of an anime crossover between "War Games," "South Park's" Cartoon Wars episodes and Ozu's "Tokyo Story" (?!?!) that takes place both (a) inside a virtual OZ that's like a cross between Facebok & Hello Kitty as well as (b) a traditional & laid-back Japanese Villa. That's "Summer Wars" and, though it has its fair share of gigantic explosions and over-the-top anime action set-pieces, there's a surprisingly restrained touch and sincere attempt to keep the human drama of an extended family gathering for the Matriarch's 90th birthday as prominent and important as the plunging satellite from outer space (or the accounts-gathering cybermonster that threatens all of humanity). There are moments when the director can't shake his roots as the helmer of "Digimon" animated features (especially the climactic scene involving the all-bets-are-off virtual playing of a Hanafuda Koi Koi card game) but the unique look of OZ and its millions of avatars, interesting premise and see-saw between all-out action and pathos (if you've seen "Tokyo Story" I don't need to tell you what happens) makes up for the overwhelming number of characters to keep track of (way too many Jinnouchi family members) and seen-it-a-million-times-before romance between beauty and the geek. Surprised Warner brought this over to the States for a limited theatrical release; there were only three paying customers (including me) on the Saturday night showing I attended.

Michael Kerpan · #13 Post by **Michael Kerpan** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:05 pm

Any word of a US BRD/DVD release yet?

dad1153 · #14 Post by **dad1153** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:15 pm

February 15th for both.

manicsounds · #15 Post by **manicsounds** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 12:08 am

For $19.99 for the US version is a steal. And Ozu directing a Facebook / WarGames movie is exactly what I thought while watching it. And by the way, the Korean disc doesn't have English. The Taiwan disc did, but it was ridiculously expensive.

Michael Kerpan · #16 Post by **Michael Kerpan** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 1:25 am

manicsounds wrote:For $19.99 for the US version is a steal. .

Guess it's time to pre-order!

Jean-Luc Garbo · #17 Post by **Jean-Luc Garbo** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:48 am

Michael Kerpan wrote:
manicsounds wrote:For $19.99 for the US version is a steal.
Guess it's time to pre-order!

I just ordered mine! On Amazon, it's $16.99. The second disc is separate interviews with the Japanese voice cast and the director.

knives · #18 Post by **knives** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:48 am

The Bluray is the one going for twenty.

#19 Post by **Finch** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 10:32 am

The UK Blu/DVD is out in late March and is sold individually and in a twin pack with the Blu/DVD of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time for £17.85. Pretty good value.

manicsounds · #20 Post by **manicsounds** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 6:30 am

UK disc extras:
•Interview with director at Locarno (13 mins);
•Stage greeting (20 mins);
•Cast interview (25 mins);
•Trailer (4 mins);
•Teaser trailers;
•TV spots.

US disc:
6 Interviews: Mamoru Hosoda, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Nanami Sakuraba, Mitsuki Tanimura, Ayumi Saito, Sumiko Fuji
Teasers, Trailers, TV Spots

Looks like the audio commentary and the bonusview extras are not being carried over to these versions.

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