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Matsumo Koshiro to play KimuTaku’s rival on “HERO” the movie

Matsumoto Koshiro (61) was announced that he will be playing an attorney that will be one of Kimura Takuya’s (34) rivals in the upcoming film “HERO” based on the Japanese drama.

The drama received huge ratings when it debuted back in January of 2001.

“HERO” is about Kohei Kuryu, played by Takuya Kimura, a former juvenile delinquent that drops out of junior high and goes on to earn a high school equivalency diploma. After passing the law board exams, Kuryu becomes a prosecutor and surprises and proves to his colleagues that despite not having the degree, he can perform possibly better than them because of his street smarts, quick thinking and cleverness.

Source: J!-Ent News

The premiere of the movie 'Hero' starring Kimura Takuya was held successfully on the 6th at Tokyo's Budokan.

With all major media reporting the event, many forecasted that the movie would break previous records of "Bayside Breakdown: the Movie 2" at 17.3 billion yen.

With 5,000 guests invited to the premiere, more than 200,000 entered to be selected. Kimura Takuya and other cast walked down a 50 meter red carpet after the screening greeted by the crowd.

The movie "Hero" is based upon the drama series that aired in 2001 on Fuji Television. All episodes of the series had viewer ratings higher than 30% with the final episode reaching 36.8%. These are the highest numbers for any drama series Kimura Takuya starred in, and was a first of all television series where all episodes exceeded 30% viewer ratings. The special episode aired in 2006 had a 30.9% viewer rating and with the special appearance of Lee Byung Heon, the movie is expected to surpass all movie attendance records in Japan.

Japanese newspapers reported that the movie will open on more than 470 screens on the 8th, the most ever for any movie opening in Japan.

The head of the movie production division at Fuji TV, Gameyama, says, "With Kimura Takuya's acting and the growth of co-stars from the series, the movie has a great potential to break records. Because the quality of the overall movie is so great, it will be able to break records of 'Bayside Breakdown: the Movie 2' as well."

broasia

Source: http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/2010/1/ 

TOKYO -- "Hero," Fuji TV's suspense/drama about a rebel prosecutor that will open in Japan on September 8, is also getting a wide release around Asia, Fuji sources have revealed.

The pic, which is headlined by Japanese megastar Takuya Kimura in the prosecutor role, will open in Korea on October 25 on 250 screens -- a local record for a Japanese pic. Keowon Film, which handled also "Sinking of Japan" -- a made-in-Japan hit in Korea last year -- is the distrib.

Panasia Films, a subisdiary of Golden Harvest Entertainment Holdings, will distrib the pic both Hong Kong, starting on October 18, and Taiwan, while Encore Films is handling it in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

The pic will also bow in Hong Kong on October 18, as well as in Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. "Hero" will open on 20 screens or more in most of these territories, a large number given the small local market share of Japanese pics. Finally, the pic will not be dubbed anywhere, on the assumption that fans will want to hear Kimura's real voice.

"Hero" is based on a Fuji TV series, starring Kimura as a rule-breaking delinquent-turned-prosecutor, that racked up stupendous 30-plus ratings for every episode when it was broadcast from January to March 2001. Instead of signing Kimura and company to another season, however, Fuji dropped the show for five years, reviving it for a special that aired in July of 2006 -- and also scored over 30.

By this time, Fuji producer Chihiro Kameyama -- the mastermind behind the smash "Bayside Shakedown" cop thriller franchise and many other hit films, was developing a "Hero" feature. Set for release on 470 screens on September 8, "Hero" is expected to equal or surpass the spectacular take of the two "Bayside Shakedown" films, the second of which grossed Y17.35 billion ($151 million) in 2003, more than that year's "Harry Potter" entry.

In August Kimura signed to star in the Anh Hung Tran psychothriller "I Come with the Rain," a pan-Asian production that is expected to raise his regional profile. He also appeared in Wong Kar-wai's mood romance "2046," as well Yoji Yamada's period drama "Love and Honor," a major hit for Shochiku in 2006.

TOKYO -- "Hero," a courtroom-drama-***-romance based on a hit Fuji TV series about a rebel prosecutor, finished its first weekend at the number one spot, earning Y1.08 billion ($9.5 million dollars) on 750,000 admissions.

Released on 475 screens by distrib Toho -- a record for a Japanese pic -- "Hero" scored a sky-high screen average of $19,790. Toho now predicts the pic will finish north of $88 million and may even surpass the current number one for the year: "Pirates of the Caribbean: World's End."

Fuji TV producer Chihiro Kameyama, the mastermind behind both "Hero" and the smash hit "Bayside Shakedown" pics about cops in the trendy Tokyo Bay area, is even more upbeat, saying that "Hero" may beat "Bayside Shakedown 2," which set a record for a live-action local pic in 2003 with $152.6 million. "I am in the fortunate position of being able to break my own record," Kameyama said in a statement. "If any title, "Hero" has a great chance to be the one to achieve that status, so I'm really excited."

"Hero" began as a Fuji TV series, starring local megastar Takuya Kimura as a rule-breaking delinquent-turned-prosecutor, that racked up stupendous 30-plus ratings for every episode when it was broadcast from January to March 2001. Instead of signing Kimura and company to another season, however, Fuji dropped the show for five years, finally reviving it for a two-hour special that aired in July of 2006 -- and also scored over 30. By this time, a "Hero" feature was in the works.

In addition to Kimura and most of the original TV series cast, the pic stars Korean heartthrob Lee-Byung Hung and was shot partly in Busan. Not surprisingly, the pic will screen at the upcoming Pusan film festival and is skedded to be released on 250 screens in Korea -- a record for a Japanese pic in the territory. Other theatrical releases throughout Asia are also planned.

Variety Asia Online

http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-1700

The "HERO" movie opened this weekend on 475 screens, the most ever for a domestic film in Japan. As expected, it took the top spot at the box office, with a gross of 1.08 billion yen.

Distributor Toho believes the film may be able to surpass "Pirates of the Caribbean: World's End," which is the #1 film so far this year. Producer Chihiro Kameyama is even more optimistic, hoping to earn more than the 2003 hit "Odoru Daisousasen 2," which set the record for a domestic live-action film. That movie was also produced by Kameyama.

"HERO" has its sights set on Korea next. It will screen at the Pusan International Film Festival before being released on 250 screens, the biggest opening for a Japanese movie in that country.

The "HERO" drama franchise, starring Takuya Kimura and Takako Matsu, is still running strong, according to recent numbers.

On the 23rd, Fuji TV aired "Drama Legend HERO," a director's cut that added new scenes to last year's special episode. While ratings failed to meet the original's 30.9% viewership, the program still averaged a healthy 22.1%.

Meanwhile, the film version topped the box office for its third consecutive week. So far, it has grossed about 4.8 billion yen on 3.75 million admissions.

tokyograph

jeez... i can't remember when i watched this. long time ago, i guess.

but what i remember is that there are a lot of bureaucracies in this jdrama. if i compare it with all the jdramas i've watched so far this has the most in it.

sino na po nakapanood ng special and movie nito? may subs na ba ang movie? thanks in advance!  

Dapat ngang abangan ang movie nito. gusto ko rin!

totoo kaya na ganito sa japan? parang tamad din yung mga tao sa gobyerno?

doraman:

totoo kaya na ganito sa japan? parang tamad din yung mga tao sa gobyerno?

Oo naman! Kahit saan naman di ba? ^_^ Pero generally, the Japanese are a cut above the rest ^_~ 

I've worked with the Japanese government at nakita ko na mapulitika rin sa kanila at meron din inefficient pero mostly masisipag at efficient sila. Above the rest nga tulad ng sabi ni Maneki Neko-san.

konnichiwa.. di pa ako nakakita ng lawyer na ganito ka-composed.. ^*^ siguro nga sa totoong buhay walang ganitong lawyer pero bagay kay kimura-san ang ganitong role..

Maneki Neko:

The ending theme is Can you keep a secret? by Utada Hikaru, who also makes a cameo appearance on Episode 8. She was that waitress at the restaurant where Kuryu and the female lawyer had dinner.  Ha! I knew it was her!!

ayuuuuuuuuuun! all this time ay inaalala ko kung soundtrack ng ano itong Can you keep a secret!!! ^.^  Well, I finally found the answer!

Uh, kailangan mapanood uli ang episode 8. salamat!