【Saturday Cinema】"Thermae Romae II": Ancient Roman Abe Hiroshi bares his chest and wiggles his hips again
Last updated 2026-09-24 — The story of "Thermae Romae II" follows Lucius (played by Abe Hiroshi), who is tasked with creating a therapeutic bathhouse for the gladiators in the arena. Struggling for inspiration, he decides to time-travel once again to seek help from Real (played by Eri Fukatsu), who works at a bathhouse design magazine...
The story of "Thermae Romae II" follows Lucius (played by Abe Hiroshi) who is tasked with creating a therapeutic bathhouse for the gladiators in the arena. Struggling for inspiration, he decides to time-travel once again to seek help from Real (played by Eri Fukatsu), who works at a bathhouse design magazine, and the Flat-Face Tribe. This time, as he creates yet another brand-new bathhouse, tensions rise between Roman Emperor Hadrian and the Senate, plunging the Roman Empire into a crisis that threatens to split it in two. Can Lucius save the empire from extinction?
Abe Hiroshi shows off his toned physique again in "Thermae Romae II" with his signature chest-baring and hip-wiggling. (Image provided by FANTASY PICTURES INTERNATIONAL)
The film is adapted from the popular bestselling manga series, where ancient Romans from the Western civilization time-travel to modern-day Japan, a nation known for its Eastern inventions. The first "Thermae Romae" movie conquered Japanese audiences (the Flat-Face Tribe), grossing an impressive 6 billion yen, making "Thermae Romae II" the most anticipated sequel of the year. Abe Hiroshi continues to flaunt his impressive pecs in this installment, not only clashing again with the Flat-Face Tribe and bidets but also encountering "puffy-faced" sumo wrestlers. The fun and hilarity are amped up to the next level.
In "Thermae Romae II," the director has specially crafted numerous jokes to tease the good-natured Abe Hiroshi. In the previous film, to showcase the athletic build of ancient Romans, Abe had to run around in just a tiny loincloth. In the sequel, the director doesn’t let him off the hook and even pits him against sumo wrestlers in a chest-size competition. Even Japan’s Academy Award-winning actor Abe Hiroshi takes it all in stride. At the Japanese promotional event, newcomer and renowned sumo wrestler Kisenosato boldly claimed that the depth of his facial contours rivals Abe’s, and the two even engaged in an on-stage “match,” with Kisenosato effortlessly lifting the 189-cm-tall Abe Hiroshi, clearly winning the bout and leaving Eri Fukatsu in fits of laughter.
Due to the huge success of the first "Thermae Romae," the production company promptly announced plans for a sequel, so Abe Hiroshi was mentally prepared to keep training his muscles and glutes for another whole year without slacking off. Recent trailers have shown the results, stunning many viewers who exclaimed, “Is this CGI?!” But the director quickly clarified: “Our budget went to Bulgaria’s exteriors and the time-travel special effects, not Abe’s body!” The beloved Abe Hiroshi is back leading the original cast in "Thermae Romae II," which will be released nationwide on May 1st to "bare it all for the Earth."
"Thermae Romae" made Abe Hiroshi a superstar again, with his bare-butt bathing scenes sparking “Flat-Face Tribe” trends in both Taiwan and Japan. "Thermae Romae II" has audiences even more curious about how far he’ll go this time. The main character Lucius, played by Abe Hiroshi, along with the hilarious Flat-Face Tribe, are set to deliver another wave of Roman fever and unexpected surprises that everyone is eagerly awaiting. Taiwan and Japan will release the film simultaneously on May 1st.
Romans Bathhouse 2
Thermae Romae II
Release Date: 2014-05-01
Runtime: 1 hour 53 minutes
Director: Hideki Takeuchi ("Thermae Romae")
Cast: Abe Hiroshi, Eri Fukatsu, Kazuki Kitamura, Masachika Ichimura
Seer Number Big Movie 3: League of Heroes
Seer Movie 3
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So Young
SO YOUNG
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Release Date: 2014-05-01
Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes
Director: Wang Zhangjun, Yin Yuqi
Cast: (Voice) Yang Ou, Zhang Anqi, Fan Junhang
The Agiya tribe on Planet Narsee has guarded the Tree of Life for generations. Just before the sacred tree awakens and glows, numerous space pirates infiltrate the planet and secretly send a strange and fierce spirit to attack the tribe and the Tree of Life. Coincidentally, the Pioneer Team from the Seer spacecraft, including Xiao Xiyi, passes by and immediately protects the tree, eventually defeating the spirit and returning it to its essence. Princess Moya of the Agiya tribe tells the Seer kids that this spirit is actually the ancient evil god Kubeiduo, who disappeared tens of thousands of years ago, and his awakening will bring great danger to the universe. The prophecy says only by uniting the powers of five heroes can the evil god be defeated. However, due to Xiao Xiyi’s momentary carelessness, the essence of Kubeiduo is stolen by the space pirate Dean. The Pioneer Team then seeks help from the four great spirits—Rai, Gaea, Black, and Cassius—but Gaea and Black fall out due to a misunderstanding, and the group falls into Dean’s trap. In a critical moment, Xiao Xiyi sacrifices himself to resolve the conflict between Gaea and Black, and the fifth hero finally arrives. The Crystal of Ares shines again, and together they defeat Kubeiduo’s super-evolved form, Kubesha, protecting the peace of Planet Narsee. At the farewell, Rai gives the Crystal of Ares to Captain Roger, allowing Xiao Xiyi to recover. The four great spirits then form the "League of Heroes" to continue guarding the universe’s peace.
Seer is a children's sci-fi-themed brand, evolving from an online entertainment platform to comics, cartoons, and movies, aiming to bring exciting adventure stories to growing children. This is the third movie in the Seer series, presented with more advanced 3D technology. Join the characters of Seer on a new adventure journey.
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Release Date: 2014-05-01
Runtime: 2 hours 12 minutes
Director: Zhao Wei
Cast: Mark Chao, Han Geng, Yang Zishan, Jiang Shuying, Bao Bei’er, Huang Ming
At 18, Zheng Wei (played by Yang Zishan) steps into university full of hope, beginning her journey of love. As a child, she was inseparable with her neighbor Lin Jing (played by Han Geng), but he ends up studying abroad with no contact. Devastated, Zheng Wei finds solace in friendships with her roommates Ruan Wan (Jiang Shuying), Zhu Xiaobei (Liu Yase), Li Weijuan (Zhang Yao), and senior Lao Zhang (Bao Bei’er). Among them, she slowly overcomes her heartbreak. In this male-dominated engineering school, Zheng Wei and Ruan Wan, both beauties, attract much attention. Rich boy Xu Kaiyang (Zheng Kai) pursues Zheng Wei passionately, while Ruan Wan remains indifferent to the attention, quietly cherishing her unique love.
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Super Draft Day
Draft Day
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Brick Mansions
Brick mansions
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Release Date: 2014-05-01
Runtime: 1 hour 50 minutes
Director: Evan Goldberg of "Superbad"
Cast: Kevin Costner from "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit", Jennifer Garner from "Dallas Buyers Club"
On the day of the NFL Draft, General Manager Sonny Weaver Jr. holds the first-round pick for the Cleveland Browns. With limited time to make the right decision, he must weigh professional judgment against personal emotions, especially when facing hundreds of hopeful young athletes. Amid pressure from the team, schemes from rival managers, and even threats of being fired, how will Sonny navigate this high-stakes draft day to build his dream team?
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Release Date: 2014-05-01
Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes
Director: Camille Delamarre
Cast: Paul Walker from "Fast & Furious", David Belle from "District B13"
★ A major action release for early 2014, produced by Luc Besson, the acclaimed director behind the hit franchises "Transporter" and "Taken".
★ Hollywood remake of the French action film "District B13", now with double the firepower and upgraded thrills – guaranteed to blow your mind on the big screen.
★ The final film of action star Paul Walker.
A stash of weapons of mass destruction is stolen by a gangster from Chicago’s slums. An undercover detective (Paul Walker) goes deep into the neighborhood to investigate...
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The Most Beautiful City in the World
La Grande Bellezza
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The Great Passage
The Great Shu Ra Ra Boom |
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Release Date: 2014-05-01
Runtime: 2 hours 22 minutes
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Cast: Toni Servillo from "Gomorrah", Carlo Verdone from "Il Divo", Sabrina Ferilli
Brief years flicker like sparks, igniting the glamour and loneliness of Rome
Lose faith in the future, and nostalgia becomes the only feeling...
A charming writer arrives in Rome at age 26 and achieves fame and fortune with his sole novel. Like a playboy, he indulges in decadent parties, fine wine, and beautiful women, scaling the heights of a luxurious life. But as old age approaches and he recalls those passionate times, peeling back the glamorous facade of this most beautiful city, a long-buried loneliness quietly emerges...
The director uses a richly expressive narrative style to depict modern Rome, exploring this captivating ancient capital with quiet reverence. In contrast to the elegance of daylight, the hedonistic nightlife of Rome seduces, luring people to lose themselves in her dazzling splendor, willingly becoming a stroke in this decaying tableau.
A brilliant chapter in Italian cinema following Fellini, showcasing the pinnacle of cinematic aesthetics
The 21st-century "La Dolce Vita", creating a new classic of Italian cinema
Directed by Italy’s most talked-about contemporary filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino, "The Great Beauty" won Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs, along with four European Film Awards including Best Film and Best Director. It has received widespread critical acclaim and is hailed as the modern-day "La Dolce Vita".
Sorrentino describes love, art, and life with immense beauty (La Grande Bellezza), ultimately embodying Rome itself. The wild nocturnal revelry juxtaposed with the solemn beauty of daytime reveals the shifts of the era, portraying the emptiness and sorrow of a lavish lifestyle. The film’s distinctly Italian flavor unfolds through choirs, symphonies, and modern electronic music. Through the writer’s sharp yet romantic lens, the camera follows the protagonist as he wanders among majestic architecture and opulent mansions. With outstanding performances by lead actor Toni Servillo, stunning cinematography, and perfectly matched music, audiences are taken through a series of hedonistic parties, deeply feeling the melancholy of time slipping away.
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Release Date: 2014-05-09
Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes
Director: Shizuku Suga (?)
Cast: Masaki Okada from "Space Brothers", Gaku Hamada from "The Apology King", Kyoko Fukada from "The Haunted Dorm"
A supernatural force throws two ancient families into a crisis of survival!
Stay or be driven away?
This is their life-or-death rite of passage—a youth’s ultimate test!
In Ishizuwari City by Lake Biwa in Japan’s Kansai region live the “Sunrise” and “Date” families—two clans said to have inherited mysterious powers since the 1300s... Freshman Ryosuke (played by Masaki Okada) has just arrived here to begin his boarding life at the main family house, and he can’t help but be amazed by the bizarre behavior of his eccentric new relatives—like the carrot—no, red-uniformed Tantaro (played by Hiroshi Hamada), or his sister known as the “Elegant Kyoko” (played by Kyoko Fukada) riding a white horse through the castle grounds or going to school by boat.
Constantly bewildered, Ryosuke is forced to become the attendant of Tantaro, the heir to the family. Unexpectedly, the two end up in the same class as Date Hiromi, the eldest son of the Date family. On the first day of school, Ryosuke gets off on the wrong foot with Date Hiromi, and the short, chubby, and gloomy Tantaro is completely outshined by the handsome and sunny Date Hiromi—even the girl Tantaro has a crush on falls for him, dealing a major blow to the self-proclaimed “prince” Tantaro. These two families, who have been at war for 1,300 years, reignite hostilities over Tantaro’s minor heartbreak. No one could have imagined this would be the prelude to a catastrophe with world-destroying potential.....
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