Miike's "Crows Zero 2" to open the 2009 Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival

by Chris MaGee

The highly-anticipated sequel to Takashi Miike's blockbuster movie adaptation of Hiroshi Takahashi's manga "Crows Zero" will be opening this year's Yubari Interntational Fantastic Film Festival on February 26th. The film, which continues to chronicle the rise of young thug Takaya Genji (Shun Oguri) and his gang of juvenile delinquents at Suzuran High School, heads up a programme of over 20 films from a half dozen different countries. It's a bit of a mixed bag, really, with other high points being the world premiere of the Yojiro Takita helmed manga-adaptation "Tsurikichi Sanpei" and screenings of Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" and Ron Howard's "Frost/ Nixon". There are a few head-scratching low points as well, though, like the inclusion of "The Pink Panther 2" and "Marley & Me" (?!?) Granted Yubari had to pull itself back from oblivion two years ago after the bankruptcy of the town in Hokkaido that hosts it, so any films screening there is very good news.

The Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival runs from February 26th to March 2nd. Check out their official bilingual site here. Thanks to Variety Japan for the above image.