RHUHEI KITAMURA
This exciting director first caught my attention with his cult hit Versus. His style is influenced strongly from western cinema and in particular the work of Sam Rami. Versus was a low budget project which quickly gained wide acclaim on the internet catapulting it into cult status. On the back of this success Kitamura was given the opportunity to direct Azumi. The film was adapted from the graphically violent Manga novel. His high energy and stylized brand of filmaking was just what Azumi needed to transfer it successfully from the page to the big screen. The movie did well in Japan and satisfied fans of the original Manga series.
His next feature was Sky High, another Manga adaptation in 2003. However Kitamura's greatest honour was still to come, directing the next installment of Japan's much loved Godzilla. In 2004 Godzilla: Final Wars was released and was well received by Japanese audiences. He is currently working on his next movie Bandage which is due for release in 2008.My personal favorites from Kitamura are Versus [2000] and Azumi [2003]. I look forward to seeing more of his work!
SHINYA TSUKAMOTO
Tsukamoto is one of Japan's most talented and versatile directors. He also writes and acts in many of his films aswell as starring in some of the best films to come from Japan over the past two decades. He made his first huge impact with Tetsuo - The Iron Man [1989]
an intensely surreal story of a man who's body is being transformed into scrap metal! This Cronenberg-esque style continued in Tetsuo 2 - Body Hammer [1991]
which confirmed Tsukamoto's status as a master of extreme cinema. His successes continued with a hardcore boxing picture; Tokyo Fist
and the twisted erotica of A Snake Of June [2003].
His most interesting movie since than is undoubtedly Vital which I really enjoyed.As an actor Tsukamoto is amply skilled. His performances in Tetsuo, Tokyo Fist, Dead or Alive 2 and A Snake Of June are of a high calibre. However I think his finest role is in Ichi The Killer. He also puts in a fine performance in Takashi Shimizu's Marebito.
It is evident that Tsukamoto played an important role in rejuvenating Japanese cinema at a time when it needed it most. His work has inspired many of the next generation of filmakers working in Japan. It is with influences such as this that will keep Japanese cinema as wonderfully unpredictable and challenging as it is today!
For those of you who wish to delve a little deeper into the world and work of Tsukamoto-san take a look at this excellent book; Iron Man: The Cinema of Shinya Tsukamoto
