Logo for Atari’s new video game GODZILLA: UNLEASHED. Photo courtesy of Atari, Inc. © 2007 Atari, Inc./© 2007 Toho Co., Ltd.

Atari Unveils it’s New Godzilla Game at New York Comic Con 2007
Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis
Source: Atari, Inc.
Special Thanks to Jeremiah Cohn and Alissa Bell of Atari, Greg Cordaro, Kevin Frederick

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

The King of the Monsters returns in Atari’s third Godzilla video game, GODZILLA:
UNLEASHED. Photo courtesy of Atari. © 2007 Atari, Inc./© 2007 Toho Co., Ltd.

This past weekend at New York Comic Con, Godzilla fans jam packed the Classic Media booth for chances to win great raffle prizes, find out the skinny on the new Godzilla DVDs and– most of all– be witness to an early demonstration that Atari was so kind to put together for their upcoming game for Nintendo Wii, GODZILLA: UNLEASHED. The demonstrations were held throughout all three days that the show was going on.

SciFi Japan’s John DeSentis was on hand to catch the GODZILLA: UNLEASHED demo and speak with Atari representatives about the game. Atari has also provided screen shots and a video clip of Godzilla 2000 battling Kiryu. Check out everything here.

Source: ADV Films
Official Site: Newtype USA

© 2007 Newtype USA, Inc.

The March 2007 issue of Newtype USA covers everything anime, from classics reborn to exclusive sneak peeks at the latest shows still in development. The cover feature this time out is GUNBUSTER 2, a retro-future classic from renowned anime studio GAINAX. Go behind the scenes with the creators of this series, including Yoshiyuki Sadamoto and Hideaki Anno, and find out what it takes to become an alien-busting Topless pilot in this thrilling feature!

There are also exclusive previews and full-spread art of anime straight from Japan, including cutting-edge shows like LUCKY STAR, DARKER THAN BLACK and IDOL MASTER XENOGLOSSIA, plus the latest on the new EVANGELION films; features on .hack//Roots, KURAU PHANTOM MEMORY and COYOTE RAGTIME SHOW; the Official Art of COMIC PARTY REVOLUTION; game reports and reviews of all the latest anime, manga, video games, music and toys. The extras include the manga insert, Once Upon a Glashma —a rollicking tale of two young magic investigators bumbling through a world where all the girls have disappeared— and an AIR GEAR double-sided poster. The March DVD features episodes of the anime Le CHAVELIER D’EON and PEACH GIRL.

Newtype USA Vol. 6, Issue 3 is available March 1, 2007.

Catch MATANGO at a Special Benefit Screening March
22, 2007.

See a rare 35mm print of Toho’s classic ATTACK OF THE MUSHROOM PEOPLE on the big screen and support a good cause
Source: Bay Area Film Events

Bay Area Film Events proudly presents two shows commemorating the career of the career of Northern California TV legend Bob Wilkins and 40 plus years of hosting horror films, including the 35th anniversary of CREATURE FEATURES. Both shows will benefit and bring attention to the Alzheimers Aid Society of Northern California. The feature film for the El Cerrito show will be the first movie Bob ever hosted back in 1966, ATTACK OF THE MUSHROOM PEOPLE (aka MATANGO).
Continued…

Source: The Korean Society

Director Bong Joon-ho at work on THE HOST.
Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. © 2006
Chungeorahm Film

The Films of Bong Joon-Ho
Monday & Tuesday, February 26 & 27!
Bong in person Tuesday, February 27 at 8:30pm with THE HOST!

Acclaimed South Korean director Bong Joon-Ho took the 2006 Cannes Film Festival by storm with his smart, terrifying new monster movie THE HOST (Gwoemul). In anticipation of the film’s American release on March 9, the Korean Society and the IFC Center present a mini-fest of the director’s signature cinema — black comedies, gritty crime dramas and horror thrillers with a comic book feel. The special line-up of box-office mega-hits will include showings of BARKING DOGS NEVER BITE (Flandersui Gae, 2000) and MEMORIES OF MURDER (Salinui Chueok, 2003), and shorts INCOHERENCE (1994) and SINK AND RISE (2004)– and Bong himself in person for the closing screening of THE HOST.

All films at the IFC Center, 323 Sixth Ave (Ave of the Americas), New York, NY 10014. Tickets can be purchased in-person at the box office or online.

The complete schedule and show times can be found here.

Soldiers in gas masks hunt a man-eating monster in THE HOST.
Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. © 2006 Chungeorahm Film

Source: Magnolia Pictures
Official Site: The Host Movie

Magnolia Pictures has added several new theaters and show dates for the American theatrical release of THE HOST. We’ve updated our previous coverage to include the new information, so please visit THE HOST US Trailers article for the latest theater schedule for the film… and be sure to check back for future updates!

THE HOST opens at theaters across America on March 9.

UPDATED MARCH 9 WITH NEW THEATERS AND SCREEN DATES

Ishiro Honda shows he’s a “hands on” filmmaker
in one of the many behind the scenes photos on
the Ishiro Honda Official Site. MONSTER ZERO
© 1965 Toho Co., Ltd.

Source: Ishiro Honda Official Site

A new Japanese language website for legendary filmmaker Ishiro Honda (1911-1993) recently went online. Honda co-wrote and directed the original GODZILLA (Gojira, 1954) and directed seven Godzilla sequels from 1962-1975. His other credits include such classics as EAGLE OF THE PACIFIC (Taiheyo no Washi, 1953), RODAN (Sora no Daikaiju Radon, 1956), THE MYSTERIANS (Chikyu Boeigun, 1957), MOTHRA (Mosura, 1961), GORATH (Yosei Gorasu, 1962), ATRAGON (Kaitei Gunkan, 1963), FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD (Furankenshutain tai Chite Kaiju Baragon, 1965) and WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS (Furankenshutain no Kaiju: Sanda tai Gaira, 1966). In his later years, Honda collaborated with his lifelong friend Akira Kurosawa on KAGEMUSHA (1980), RAN (1985), DREAMS (Yume, 1990), RHAPSODY IN AUGUST (Hachi-gatsu no Kyoshikyoku, 1991) and MADADAYO (1993).

The Ishiro Honda Official Site features photos and information on the director’s works, his life, and messages from some of the people who knew and worked with him, including his widow Kimi Honda, actress Kumi Mizuno (MATANGO, MONSTER ZERO), actor Akira Kubo (DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, SPACE AMOEBA) and more.

J-Horror: The Definitive Guide to The Ring,
The Grudge and Beyond author David Kalat
will discuss Japanese horror movies at NYCC.
© 2007 Vertical, Inc.

Source: Vertical, Inc.

Movie historian David Kalat and publisher Vertical, Inc. will host a presentation on Japanese horror films this Saturday February 24, from 8-9pm at New York Comic Con 2007. Kalat’s latest book, J-Horror: The Definitive Guide to The Ring, The Grudge and Beyond, will be released by Vertical on February 27.

Kalat is president of the independent DVD company All Day Entertainment, as well as the author of numerous books including A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series. He also supplied the audio commentary for Classic Media’s upcoming DVD of GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER. New York-based Vertical, Inc. publishes English translations of Japanese books. Among their many titles are such horror novels as Hideaki Sena’s Parasite Eve and Koji Suzuki’s Dark Water and Ring trilogy.

The NYCC presentation will feature a talk about the horror genre and screen clips from Japanese horror films.

Source: ShoWest, Variety

© 2007 Toho Co.,Ltd.

Next month ShoWest, the annual film convention organized by the National Association of Theatre Owners, will present its International Lifetime Achievement Award to Isao Matsuoka, chairman of Toho Co., Ltd. Mr Matsuoka is also chairman of the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan.

The ShoWest award comes on the heels of a banner year for the Japanese film industry. In 2006, Japanese-produced movies earned a record-breaking 107.75 billion yen (approximately $905,462,100 US) at the Japan box office and outperformed import films for the first time in 21 years. While the American pictures HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (Japanese ticket sales: $92,436,900 US) and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST ($84,117,600) were the year’s top earners, six Japanese films passed the 5 billion yen mark. Four of those titles were Toho releases; TALES FROM EARTHSEA (Gedo Senki) was the top Japanese film with $64,285,700 US, the action sequel LIMIT OF LOVE: UMIZARU earned $59,663,800, SUITE DREAMS (Uchoten Hoteru) brought in $51,092,400, and the disaster movie SINKING OF JAPAN (Nihon Chinbotsu) made $44,873,900. Toho also scored with POKEMON RANGER AND THE TEMPLE OF THE SEA (Gekijoban Poketto Monsuta Adobansu Jenereshon Pokemon Renja to Umi no Oji Manafi), DOREAMON: NOBITA’S DINOSAUR (Doraemon: Nobita no Kyoryu), FALLING TEARS (Nada Soso), and DETECTIVE CONAN: REQUIEM OF THE PRIVATE EYES (Meitantei Konan Tantei tachi no Requiem), which each earned between $25-30 million at the box office.

NTV/Warner’s DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME (Desu Noto 2) was the number four Japanese film of the year with $46,298,400, and Toiei/TV Asahi’s YAMATO earned $42,773,100 for sixth place. Other big hits for 2006 include DEATH NOTE (Desu Noto), KISARAZU CATS EYE: SAYONARA GAME, and LOVE AND HONOR (Bushi no ichibun).

At a press conference last month, Isao Matsuoka explained that Japanese filmmakers “have come to produce many films that are beloved by the audience. Also, gigantic US movies made with computer graphics have lost their initial impact.”

For more details on the International Lifetime Achievement Award, please see the press release from ShoWest.

Source: Plaza Theatre
Thanks to Sean Linkenback

MOTHRA attacks Atlanta next weekend.
© 1961 Toho/Advertising art © 2007 Silver
Scream Spook Show

MOTHRA (Mosura, 1961), one of the true classics of Toho’s Golden Age, will be shown twice Saturday, February 24 at the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta. The theater is screening a 35mm print of the uncut, original Japanese version with English subtitles, courtesy of Sony Pictures Repertory, as part of their sixth Silver Scream Spook Show.

Directed by Ishiro Honda with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, MOTHRA was a smash hit in its original release. The film stars fan favorite Frankie Sakai as Senichiro “Bulldog” Fukuda, Hiroshi Koizumi as Dr Shinichi Chujo (a role he would reprise 42 years later in GODZILLA: TOKYO SOS), Jerry Ito as the villainous Clark Nelson, and singing duo the Peanuts (Emi and Yumi Ito) as the Shobijin, Mothra’s twin priestesses. Most importantly, it introduced one of Toho’s most popular creations; the giant insect has appeared in thirteen movies and become one of Godzilla’s greatest foes/allies.

In addition to MOTHRA, the Silver Scream Spook Show will feature live burlesque by the Blast Off girls, and amazing feats of supernatural science by host Professor Morte.

The 1:00pm Kids Matinee has free admission for everyone 12 and under, and Adult tickets for $6.00. Tickets to the 9:30pm evening show are $10.00 each. The Plaza Theatre is located at 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306. Check the theater’s official site or call 404-873-1939 for more information.

AFRO SAMURAI © 2006 Takashi Okazaki, GONZO/Samurai Project; THE BURMESE HARP © 1956 Nikkatsu Corp.; Max Headroom © 1985 Chrysalis Visual Programming/Channel 4/All3Media; Spectreman © 1971 P Productions; CUTIE HONEY © 2004 Dynamic Planning, Inc./Warner Bros. Ent.

As SciFi Japan approaches our first anniversary, we’ve expanded and improved the site with several new features. Complete details can be found here.

Source: San Diego Asian Film Foundation

These ladies will rock the UltraStar Cinemas on March 1. Photo courtesy of Viz
Media. © 2005 LINDA LINDA LINDA partners (Covers & Co., Vap, Bitters End, Cave)

The San Diego Asian Film Foundation (SDAFF) begins their quarterly screenings for 2007 with a 35mm print of LINDA LINDA LINDA:

Only three days before their high school festival, guitarist Kei (Yuu Kashii), drummer Kyoko (Aki Maeda), and bassist Nozumi (Shiori Sekine) are forced to recruit a new lead vocalist for their band. They choose Korean exchange student Son (Bae Doo-na), though her comprehension of Japanese is a bit rough! It’s a race against time as the group struggles to learn three tunes for the festival’s rock concert—including a classic ’80s punk-pop song by the Japanese group The Blue Hearts called “Linda Linda Linda”…

LINDA LINDA LINDA will be shown at 7:30pm on Thursday, March 1 at UltraStar Cinemas, Mission Valley at Hazard Center (7510 Hazard Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92108).
Continued…

Japanese poster art for CUTIE HONEY. © 2004
Dynamic Planning, Inc./Warner Bros. Ent.

Source: Bandai Entertainment

On April 17, Warner Bros. Japan’s CUTIE HONEY (Kutei Hanii, 2004) will be released on DVD in America by Bandai Entertainment. The movie was directed by Hideaki Anno (NEON GENESIS EVANGELION) and stars fashion model Eriko Sato (a.k.a. “Sato Eri”) as the flesh and blood incarnation of Go Nagai’s famous manga and anime character. CUTIE HONEY is a fun and fast-paced film in which the super-heroine goes through more than thirty different costume changes as she battles a host of bizarre and silly villains.

Bandai has announced that there will be two different releases of CUTIE HONEY. The standard DVD release will retail for $29.98 and includes the 93 minute long feature with the original Japanese audio, an English dub and English subtitles, plus the theatrical trailers, a promo video, and a “Making of CUTIE HONEY” documentary.

The Limited Edition CUTIE HONEY Set will include the DVD and a keychain, all packaged inside a Cutie Honey lunchbox. Only 5000 sets will be manufactured. SRP is $49.98.

Source: FUNimation Entertainment

International publicity flyer for SHINOBI. Photo
courtesy of Shochiku Co., Ltd. © 2005 SHINOBI
Partners

The year is 1614. Japan has been united under Tokugawa Ieyasu, first of the Tokugawa Shoguns and the land is beginning to feel at peace. Two remote ninja villages, Manjidani in the land of Koga and Tsubagakure in Iga, are ancient enemies but have long been bound by a peace agreement pressed on them by the first Hattori Hanzo forbidding them to fight. The heirs to the leadership of both clans, Gennosuke of Koga and Oboro of Iga, have fallen in love but a tragic fate awaits them in Ieyasu’s cruel plot to wipe these two clans from existence by breaking the peace agreement and forcing the two clans to battle.

Five Ninjas of each the Koga and Iga clans will battle against each other to the death. As a great war begins it brings the two young heirs together again… but this time as enemies.

As Shochiku’s 2005 feudal romantic fantasy SHINOBI: HEART UNDER BLADE comes to Region 1 DVD, FUNimation Films has scheduled the last few theatrical screenings in the United States. For a list of theaters and screen times for SHINOBI, please go here.

The makers of AFRO SAMURAI will attend
New York Comic Con this month. © 2006
Takashi Okazaki, GONZO/Samurai
Project

Source: FUNimation Entertainment

The team behind the anime series AFRO SAMURAI– creator Takashi Okazaki, director Fuminori Kizaki, and co-producers Taito Okiura and Eric Calderon– will attend New York Comic Con 2007. The convention takes place February 23-25 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan.

Okazaki’s Afro Samurai manga told the story of a samurai hunting down his father’s killer in a futuristic version of feudal Japan. In 2005, the Japanese animation studio GONZO began work on a 5 episode AFRO SAMURAI mini-series. Later that year, actor Samuel L Jackson (PULP FICTION, SNAKES ON A PLANE) signed on as a co-producer and to provide the voice for the lead character of Afro. The series premiered on the US cable channel Spike TV on January 4, 2007 and will be released on DVD by FUNimation on May 22.

Further information on AFRO SAMURAI and the creative team’s appearance at NYCC can be found in FUNimation’s press release.

Source: John DeSentis
Official Site: The Criterion Collection

© 1956 Nikkatsu Corp / 2007 Criterion

The Criterion Collection has announced the March 13, 2007 DVD releases of two classic war dramas by director Kon Ichikawa, THE BURMESE HARP (Biruma no tategoto, 1956) and FIRES ON THE PLAIN (Nobi, 1959). Both are newly restored high-definition digital transfers presented in their original aspect ratios (1.33:1 and 2.35:1, respectively) and feature newly remastered soundtracks. MSRP for both titles is $29.95 each.

THE BURMESE HARP stars Shoji Yasui (THE FALL OF AKO CASTLE) as Mizushima, a POW at the end of World War II sent on a mission that will change his very identity. Music plays a key role in the film, which features a score by the late Akira Ifukube (GODZILLA, DAIMAJIN). The DVD also features interviews with director Kon Ichikawa and veteran actor Rentaro Mikuni (KWAIDAN), and an essay by film historian Tony Rayns.

FIRES ON THE PLAIN is another story near the end of the war, this time of remnants of the Japanese Imperial Army in the jungles of the Philippines. Private Tamura (Eiji Funakoshi, GAMERA and GAMERA VS. GUILLON) struggles to retain his humanity as he watches fellow soldiers descend into desperation, madness and even cannibalism. The DVD features an introduction by film historian Donald Richie, new interviews with director Kon Ichikawa and actor Mickey Curtis (GUNHED, COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE), and an essay by film critic Chuck Stephens.

The Konami SF Movie King Kong Collection. Photo by John DeSentis. © 1933 RKO Pictures, Inc./ © 2006 Konami

Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis
Special Thanks to Kevin Frederick

A SciFi JAPAN RETROSPECTIVE

Japan has always been renowned for the great wealth of collectibles and toys that have been manufactured there over the decades. While the United States is certainly not lacking its own heap of quality items, there is one character that the Japanese have lately seemed to get right when the US has dropped the ball considerably: King Kong, or more specifically the 1933 incarnation of King Kong. There have been many attempts in the form of model kits to try and render a strong likeness of the 1933 version and some are quite good, but there is yet to be a definitive toy produced in America that captures the awe of the original beast that took his beauty to the top of the Empire State Building. Japan, on the other hand, has made some good representations of the original Kong as well as the versions from the two Toho King Kong movies. This is a look at some of the great King Kong toys made in Japan, both old and new.
Continued…

Theatrical poster for THE GRUDGE 2. Photo courtesy
of Sony Pictures. © 2006 GHP 4-Grudge 2, LLC.

The Cast and Crew go behind the scenes for the horror sequel
Source: Sony Pictures
Official Site: Do You Have A Grudge

The following production notes were created by Sony Pictures for the October 13, 2006 theatrical release of THE GRUDGE 2. The text is © 2006 Sony Pictures. THE GRUDGE 2 will be released on DVD on February 6 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

From Sam Raimi and Columbia Pictures comes the eerie thriller THE GRUDGE 2, which explores the dark secrets behind the revenge-seeking grudge’s wrath as the terrifying supernatural curse is unleashed on a group of seemingly unrelated victims, moving out of the burned-out house and spreading everywhere.

The much-anticipated sequel to the 2004 hit THE GRUDGE, which earned over $188 million in worldwide box office receipts, stars Amber Tamblyn (JOAN OF ARCADIA), with Sarah Michelle Gellar returning briefly in the memorable role of Karen, once again under the direction of Takashi Shimizu, from a screenplay written by Stephen Susco. The producers are Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Taka Ichise.
Continued…

Ren Osugi and Chiaki Kuriyama in the weird new
horror film EXTE — HAIR EXTENSIONS. © 2007
Toei Co.,Ltd

Ghostly women with long, flowing hair are a tradition in Japanese horror stories. The new movie EXTE — HAIR EXTENSIONS (Ekusute) eliminates the ladies but keeps the hair with a tale of extensions that start randomly attacking the people who wear them. In true JU-ON fashion, the hair extensions carry the grudge of the individuals to which the hair originally belonged.

EXTE is the latest film from Shion Sono, director of SUICIDE CLUB (Jisatsu Saakuru, 2002) and STRANGE CIRCUS (Kimyo no Sakasu, 2005). It stars fan favorite actress Chiaki Kuriyama (BATTLE ROYALE, KILL BILL VOL 1, AZUMI 2, THE GREAT YOKAI WAR) as Yuko, a trainee hair stylist who is menaced by Yamazaki, a morgue attendant dealing with a black market organ ring. Yamazaki is played by the popular character actor Ren Osugi (BODYGUARD KIBA, SHALL WE DANCE?, WEATHER GIRL, CURE, AUDITION, UZUMAKI, THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI, NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE).

Check out the EXTE — HAIR EXTENSIONS official site for the theatrical trailer and the bizarre music video “My Hair” (My Hea), performed by Ren Osugi. The film opens in theaters in Japan on February 17. We expect Roy Lee will announce a US remake entitled THE WEAVE sometime in the next 30 seconds.

© 2004 Masamune Shirow/Seishinsa/Apple
Seed Film Partners

Source: Herald Sun, Federation Square

The Federation Square in Melborne, Australia will open their new theater with a series of free cult movie screenings courtesy of Madman Entertainment, Saturday nights at 10:00pm. The program kicks off this weekend with the anime classic AKIRA (1988). Upcoming screenings will include the CGI anime movie APPLESEED (Appurushido, 2004), ESCAFLOWNE (2000), GHOST IN THE SHELL (Kokaku Kidotai, 1995), and Godzilla’s 50th anniversary film GODZILLA: FINAL WARS (2004).

Opened in 2002, Federation Square is an open air courtyard with ACMI (the Australian Centre for the Moving Image), Champions: Australian Racing Museum, Federation Wharf, The Ian Potter Centre: National Galley of Victoria Australia, the Special Broadcasting Service TV and radio system, and the Melbourne Tourist Information Centre.

Additional information on scheduled films and screen dates is now available on the Federation Square Upcoming Events page.

MASKED RIDER THE FIRST, one of a dozen upcoming
DVDs from Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock. Photo
courtesy of Media Blasters. © 2005 Masked Rider
the First Production Committee

New DVD Info, Cover Art, and Release Dates for the ‘Tokyo Shock’ Label
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Media Blasters, Inc.

A new month is here, so it’s time for a new Tokyo Shock update. Media Blasters has provided the latest cover art and information on their upcoming DVD releases. For a look at such titles as MASKED RIDER THE FIRST, ULTIMATE VERSUS, KAZUO UMEZZ’S HORROR THEATER, the ONE MISSED CALL Collection, ZOO, KUNOICHI, the FEMALE PRISONER #701 SCORPION Triple Feature, and TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO please go here.