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'Shark Night 3D' Director David R. Ellis to Remake Anime Movie 'Kite'

by Ethan Anderton
September 2, 2011
Source: Variety

With his sadly PG-13 underwater horror flick Shark Night 3D hitting theaters this weekend with less than lukewarm reception, what better time to find out about another project from director David R. Ellis? Taking a step away from deadly animals and horror, Variety reports Ellis will next direct a live-action remake of the Japanese anime movie Kite which was released back in 1998. In a rare instance of having an action film follow a female lead character, the story focuses on a young woman living in a failed state, post-financial collapse, where the corrupt security force profits on the trafficking of young women.

Continuing the plot description from the original Yasuomi Umetsu film, when her father, a cop, is slain by someone dirty inside the force, she vows to track the murderer down with the help of her father's ex-partner never realizing he is actuall the man who had her father killed. We don't get much of Ellis' connection to the material other than him saying, ""I am a big fan of Yasuomi Umetsu and honored to bring the amazing world of 'Kite' to the big screen." Ellis has directed plenty of action, but this is the first film in awhile where heroes and villains are both people as opposed to the terror coming from animals or the invisible hand of death in The Final Destination. Frankly, I'm not a fan of Ellis' work or the original anime, but I'm at least up for seeing how this turns out down the road.

Filed under Development, Movie News

From around the web:

JT

Here is another one that Hollywood is gonna destory. Kite has some adult themes that will NEVER make it into the American version. Without these themes the movie will be trash and not even remotely close to the original. I actually had a hard time watching it back when I was younger and the plot and characters resonate with me to this day. Along with Oldboy, this movie will be destroyed by Hollywood.
- Anonymous
  
  Hollywood isn't going to "destroy it". It'll still be there on DVD for people to pick up. And I'm sorry to remind you, but for the record, not everyone finds KITE to be worthwhile. And what themes are you talking about? And this is NOT the first time Hollywood has tried to bring KITE to the live-action screens. Years ago, Rob Cohen was working on a live-action version of KITE. That never came to fruition. If you're going to gripe, fine. Just don't watch it, and quit the "Hollywood's going to destroy it!!" bully-bull. The copies of the film on VHS and DVD aren't going to vanish in a puff of dust.
  - Herpderp
    
    I'm pretty sure the theme he's going to miss is the child rape that happens in the movie.
    - Anonymous
      
      Which was a controversial element of the original anime that a lot of people did not like.
  - JT
    
    Why do they have to adapt the story to film anyways? Can't they come up with original content? Kite is not an anime suited to being turned into a film anyways. What I don't understand, is why you defend Hollywood massive lack of creativity lately. I'll give you that remakes have been going on for years, but as of late it has become a massive trend. There is no reason for this movie to become a live action. The only reason it is even good and still on the radar is because of the so called "child rape" mentioned in Herpderp's post. Like it or not, the entire theme of the movie revolves around how one guy twists and controls a girl's body and mind to become an assassin. Without these themes the movie will be nothing. Hollywood will cast some teen hearthrob and remove all the gritty twisted drama that makes it unique. Not once have I seen foreign film that hollywood has taken and made better. Not ONCE!
  - JT
    
    Why do they have to adapt the story to film anyways? Can't they come up with original content? Kite is not an anime suited to being turned into a film anyways. What I don't understand, is why you defend Hollywood massive lack of creativity lately. I'll give you that remakes have been going on for years, but as of late it has become a massive trend. There is no reason for this movie to become a live action. The only reason it is even good and still on the radar is because of the so called "child rape" mentioned in Herpderp's post. Like it or not, the entire theme of the movie revolves around how one guy twists and controls a girl's body and mind to become an assassin. Without these themes the movie will be nothing. Hollywood will cast some teen hearthrob and remove all the gritty twisted drama that makes it unique. Not once have I seen foreign film that hollywood has taken and made better. Not ONCE!
    - Anonymous
      
      "Not once have I seen foreign film that hollywood has taken and made better. Not ONCE!" Let's see....A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, THE DEPARTED, THREE MEN AND A BABY, TRUE LIES, SORCERER, STAR WARS (containing elements of THE HIDDEN FORTRESS), THE RING, LET ME IN, THE LIMEY (an American take on GET CARTER)--yeah, Hollywood can NEVER take a foreign film and make it better (or make an equally good film). Next time you make a claim like that, try to back it up, okay? And as for KITE, I reserve the right not to see it. I've already seen the original and the uncut version. But if I'm going to have an honest opinion on this one, I would rather bite the bullet and see it myself. Just my 2 cents.
      - JT
        
        And like I said, none of those films you mentioned are superior to the originals.
    - Ceazar_s
      
      I agree, BUT will probably still watch it just to say "yep, wasn't as good as the original"
- trekki
  
  im sorry to say but your right, this kind of thing brings tears to my eyes, i swear that its like hollywood is TRYING to kill and maim animes rep in america, no better way to do it then this folks!
Darrenlives

"Ellis has directed plenty of action, but this is the first film where heroes and villains are both people as opposed to the terror coming from animals or the invisible hand of death in The Final Destination" One of the best films (the best film?) Ellis directed was 'Cellular' that starred Chris Evans, Jason Statham and Kim Basinger.
- Anonymous
  
  Hmmm....never knew he did CELLULAR....
Katnip

LOL at Scopedoggy