PSP World

AM2 Announces US Premiere of the Manga Based Live Action Film ACE ATTORNEY

One of Many U.S. Film Premieres Happening this June 15-17, 2012 at the
Anaheim Convention Center and Anaheim Hilton! Get your Passports Today and
Experience the Difference!

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (February 15, 2012) ­ The ever popular ACE ATTORNEY
(Gyakuten Saiban-2012/Mystery, Drama/Approx. 130 min) manga and video game
comes alive in this live action feature film to be screened EXCLUSIVELY at
this summer¹s most anticipated Anime, Manga and Music event AM2. Two
screenings will be available-one EXCLUSIVELY for Passport holders ONLY and
the second for Passport holders preferred (with general attendees as seating
permits). More info and attendee registration can be found at
www.am2con.org

First released in 2001 for the Nintendo ³GAME BOY², ACE ATTORNEY was ported
for the DS, PC, Wii. With four games in the series, Ace Attorney has sold
over 4.2 million copies worldwide. The series has been further popularized
and continues to build a new fan base via the advent of spinoff series Ace
Prosecutor (gyakuten-kenji in Japanese) to the game appearing on GREE,
Japan¹s leading social networking service and in comic book form. In 2008,
the Tokyo Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra performed a concert based on the
game, and the following year, the Takarazuka Revue Company started their
live musical performance of the series.

Set in a futuristic, fictional Japan courtroom where ³bench trials² have
been implemented to fight rising crime, the appealing amusement of Ace
Attorney has to be its leading character, hot-blooded, sometimes
4th-down-and-long-Hail-Mary rookie defense lawyer, Phoenix Wright. The
speedy storyline, filled with twists and turns of sheer enjoyment, unfolds
as Phoenix finds the truth and wins his case. Rising from the ashes when the
chips are down, he challenges the court with ³evidence² collected through
his own investigations and exposes the actual criminals and their pack of
lies.

The story structure of the film is based on the characters and amusing story
twists from the first work in the series. Penning the screenplay are none
other than the cop and courtroom drama master Takeshi Iida (writer for
SHINZANMONO and PARTNERS) as well as Sachiko Oguchi (KAIJI 2) who is popular
for her fast paced scripts. The director is hit-maker Takashi Miike,
world-renowned for his talent and the pride of the Japan filmmaking world
whose latest works always attract attention. In this film, Miike depicts a
heated courtroom battle by evoking his novel visual sense with VFX and CG
and his unique ³Miike magic² directing of actors from films like YATTERMAN,
the CROWS ­ Episod 0, CROWS and Thirteens Assassins. While most films set in
courtrooms tend to offer low-key, pedestrian visuals, the courtroom scenes
in this film are amazingly attractive for audiences.

Hiroki Narimiya, the talented young actor whose performances in Drop and the
TV series Bad Boy & Good Girl resonated with a new generation of young
people, plays the hot-blooded, rookie lawyer Phoenix Wright. His childhood
friend and ultimate rival Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth is played by Takumi
Saitoh (medical TV series Saijo no Meii), a younger actor in the limelight.
Extremely popular, teenage actress Mirei Kiritani plays the damsel in
distress Maya Fey, a spirit medium in training. Veteran actors from the
Japanese film world and regular Miike Takashi film actors including Ryo
Ishibashi (Audition, Ju-On The Grudge), Rei Dan (Kabei: Our Mother), Fumiyo
Kohinata, Kimiko Yo (Departures), Akira Emoto, round out the cast. Court is
in session for this ³courtroom battle² entertainment film at theatres
nationwide on February 11, 2012. Don¹t miss it!

SYNOPSIS
In 20XX, to prevent the rise of vicious crimes the government introduces
"bench trials" a new justice system where the defense and prosecutor go
head-to-head in open court. Within just three days, a guilty or not guilty
verdict is decided.

Talented attorney Mia Fey, who shows understanding for her junior lawyer,
Phoenix Wright (Hiroki Narimiya), is murdered. Arrested for the murder is
her spirit medium in training sister Maya Fey (Mirei Kiritani). Phoenix
believes in Maya¹s innocence and takes the case where he meets Prosecutor
Miles Edgeworth (Takumi Saito), a level-headed, prodigy attorney and
childhood friend. An intense courtroom battle unfolds as testimony and
evidence are presented.

After the trial, Phoenix receives word that Miles has been arrested for
murder! Phoenix steps forward to defend Miles. Opposing council is none
other than Miles¹s master, legendary prosecutor von Karma (Ryo Ishibashi)
who has been undefeated in court for 40 years. As the trial goes on, the 15
year old DL-6 case, where Miles¹s father Gregory Edgeworth was shot and
killed in the evidence room, is examined closely.

What will become of Phoenix, Miles and Maya? What dangerous truth lies
behind this mysterious case?

Staff and the Cast

Directed by Takashi Miike

Screenplya by Takeshi Iida, Sachiko Oguchi

Music by Koji Endo

Theme Song by pronograffitti (SME Records)

CHARACTERS (Japanese name follows the English name)

- Hiroki Narimiya as Phoenix Wright (Ryuichi Naruhodo) A hot-blooded,
rookie lawyer.

- Takumi Saitoh as Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth (Reiji Mitsurugi) A
calm, cool genius prosecutor. Phoenix¹s childhood friend and fateful rival.

- Mirei Kiritani as Maya Fey (Mayoi Ayasato) Phoenix¹s client. A
spirit medium in training. Mia¹s younger sister.

- Akiyoshi Nakao as Larry Butz (Masashi Yahari) Phoenix¹s childhood
friend. A good-for-nothing loveable guy.

- Shunsuke Daito as Detective Dick Gumshoe (Keisuke Itonokogiri) A
shoot-from-the-hip cop who places his trust in Miles¹s ability to convict
felons.

- Akira Emoto as The Judge aka Your Honor (Saibancho) A veteran judge
who calls, ³Order in the court.²

- Rei Dan as Mia Fey (Chihiro Ayasato) A talented lawyer. Phoenix¹s
boss and sister to Maya.

- Mitsuki Tanimura as Lotta Hart (Natsumi Osawagi) A would-be
cameraman and witness to the alleged shooting. She speaks in an Osaka
dialect which is translated as a Southern dialect.

- Takehiro Hira as Attorney Gregory Edgeworth (Shin Mitsurugi) Miles¹s
father and role-model reason for becoming a lawyer. He was a victim in the
DL-6 case.

- Esuke Sasai as Robert Hammond (Yukio Namakura) The defendant lawyer
in the DL-6 case who represented Yanni Yogi.

- Makoto Ayukawa as Redd White (Masaru Konaka) Freelance magazine
writer, wiretapper, witness to Mia¹s murder and possibly more.

- Kimiko Yo as Misty Fey (Maiko Ayasato) A spirit medium. Mother to
Mia and Maya.

- Ryo Ishibashi as Prosecutor von Karma (Gou Karuma) Miles¹s master, a
legendary prosecutor who has not lost a case in 40 years. He turns out to be
the true criminal behind the DL-6 case.

- Fumiyo Kohitani as Yanni Yogi (Koutarou Haine) Former court agent. A
defendant in the DL-6 case. His wife Polly later committed suicide. He also
has a pet parrot named after his wife.

Attendees can avoid the anticipated huge lines at autographs, premiere
screenings, workshops, main events, concerts and panels by purchasing a
Passport fast pass for the event. The Passport fast pass will also provide
holders with premier seating options at Main Events and at Concert events as
well as major discounts with theme parks, retailers and local restaurants.
Bypass the lines and get your Passport today and experience the difference!

AM2 current activities include Exhibit Hall, AMV¹s, Arcade, Summer Festival,
Behind the Voice Actors Studio, Masquerade, Dances, Fashion Shows, Table
Top, Console Gaming, Workshops, Panels, Concerts and more!

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