Legend of the Demon Cat

[GeneChing]

This might not have any martial arts in it, but it's Chen Kaige, so worthy of tracking here.

Tokyo: Japanese Actress Keiko Matsuzaka Joins Chen Kaige’s ‘Kukai’
Mark Schilling
Japan Correspondent


COURTESY OF KADOKAWA
OCTOBER 28, 2016 | 01:23AM PT
Veteran Japanese actress Keiko Matsuzaka (“The Sting of Death,” “The Happiness of the Katakuris”) has joined the cast of Chen Kaige’s Chinese-Japanese co-production “Kukai.” The film is now in production in China and scheduled for release in 2018.

The period drama is based on a novel by Yumemakura Baku and stars Sometani Shota and Huang Xuan. Production is by China’ New Classics Media and Japan’s Kadokawa Corp. Toho and Kadokawa will jointly handle distribution in Japan.

The news was announced Friday at an event during the Tokyo Film Festival. It was attended by Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, chairman of Kadokawa, Yoshishige Shimatani, president & CEO, of Toho Co., as well as Matsuzaka and the author Yumemakura. Chen sent a video message from China.

First published in 2004, the four-volume novel tells the story of a young Buddhist monk (played by Sometani) who journeys to China during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) and befriends poet Rakuten Haku (Huang). Together they try to get to the root of an historical mystery. Matsuzaka plays a Japanese woman who encounters the monk in China.

This reminds me vaguely of Temptation of a Monk (1993). It's probably nothing like that. That was a really unique film.

[GeneChing]

Kukai, my original thread title, is short for the Japanese title Samon Kukai Tou no Kuni nite Oni to Utagesu. The English title is Legend of the Cat Demon.

Legend of the Cat Demon (Movie)
posted by Anne J on October 16, 2016



Yao Mao Zhuan 妖猫传 also known as Legend of the Cat Demon is a Chen Kai Ge film adapted from Japanese writer Yumemakura Baku's 夢枕 獏 series of fantasy novels titled Samon Kukai Tou no Kuni nite Oni to Utagesu.

Due to the breadth of the source material, the movie focuses on the chapters surrounding the demon cat and it begins with the death of Yang Gui Fei of the Tang Dynasty. A monk and poet subsequently join hands to uncover the mysteries behind the chilling deaths.

It is an ambitious project boasting the biggest Chinese-Japanese collaborations to date starring Sometani Shota, Huang Xuan (Hunter) and Liu Hao Ran (Nirvana in Fire 2).

[GeneChing]

Kukai, my original thread title, is short for the Japanese title Samon Kukai Tou no Kuni nite Oni to Utagesu. The English title is Legend of the Cat Demon.

Or maybe it's Legend of the Demon Cat?

[GeneChing]

[GeneChing]

I'm changing the title from 'Legend of the Cat Demon'



According to the official website:

coming to theaters february 5, 2019
Just in Time for Chinese New Year, Get Ready to Indulge in A Visual Feast for Your Eyes

coming to theaters february 5, 2019
Just in Time for Chinese New Year, Get Ready to Indulge in A Visual Feast for Your Eyes

A THOUSAND YEAR OLD LEGEND
A film about Love, Death and Revenge. LEGEND OF THE DEMON CAT is set over a thousand years ago, during the Tang Dynasty. A Chinese poet and a Japanese monk join forces to investigate a demonic cat who has possessed a general’s wife and wreaked havoc on the imperial court. The investigation takes some gruesome and unexpected twists, leading the monk and the poet to unravel the mystery behind the decade’s old death of the legendary, beautiful concubine Yang Guifei.

UNLOCK EXCLUSIVE TRAILER

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
With an estimated production cost of US$200 million, Chen Kaige arranged the construction of the entire city set with lakes, rivers, palaces, caves, glamorous buildings and parks - providing the audience with a time machine to go back to the ancient city of Chang'an.

"I think I can get the proper atmosphere and feel of the place only if I use real sets and locations, and audiences deserve that sense of authenticity.”- Chen Kaige

"This $170 million supernatural historical fantasy from Chinese auteur Chen Kaige is a visual feast."
Maggie Lee,
Variety

"...Chen Kaige never lets go of the fantasy and dark elements of Baku Yumemakura's bestselling novel The Legend of the Demon Cat. The result is an entertaining and heartfelt fantasy mystery that feels part Sherlock Holmes, and part The Woman in Black."
Rafael Motamayor,
BloodyDisgusting

Rotten Tomatoes members rave "Stunning blockbuster...", "...As luxuriant as an MGM picture of old" and "...Crammed so full with dazzling visuals..." and give it 86% 'Fresh' rating.

There's an exclusive trailer on the website if you sign in.

[GeneChing]

From Legendary Director Chen Kaige - READ LEGEND OF THE DEMON CAT: Chinese Cinema’s Cat’s Meow by Gene Ching