A Look Back at Asian SciFi Throughout the Year
Author: Aaron Cooper
Special Thanks: The entire staff of SciFi Japan

2007 was an interesting year in the landscape of Japanese science fiction and fantasy films. With Godzilla appearing only in a cameo and no Gamera films to be seen, Korean studios stepped up to the plate with their own brand of monster madness. Tokusatsu television programming was as strong as ever, the DVD market boomed, studios saw major changes, and yet another year with the unfortunate passing of far too many industry greats. The staff of SciFi Japan took another moment to ponder over the events of the past year, and attempted to come up with the most defining moments of the year. You may agree or disagree but regardless, 2007 held moments for everyone in all demographics of fandom.
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Left: Lim Su-jeong, Yeom Jeong-ah, and Moon Keun-young in the 2003 Korean psychological horror film A TALE OF TWO SISTERS. Right: Emily Browning and Arielle Kebbel in the upcoming American remake from DreamWorks Pictures. A TALE OF TWO SISTERS photo courtesy of Tartan Film USA. © 2003 Bom Film Production Co., Ltd./ © 2004 Tartan Film USA. TALE OF TWO SISTERS photo courtesy of DreamWorks/Paramount. © 2007 DreamWorks LLC.

US Version of the Korean Horror Hit Coming in 2008
Author: Keith Aiken and Kim Song-ho (Loomis)
Source: DreamWorks/Paramount, Tartan Films USA

TALE OF TWO SISTERS revolves around Anna (Emily Browning), who returns home after spending time in the hospital following the tragic death of her mother. Her recovery suffers a setback when she discovers her father (David Strathairn) has become engaged to her mother’s former nurse (Elizabeth Banks). That night, Anna is visited by her mother’s ghost, who warns of Rachel’s intention. Together, Anna and her sister Alex (Arielle Kebbel) try to convince their father that his current fiancee is not who she pretends to be, and what should have been a happy family reunion becomes a lethal battle of wills between stepdaughters and stepmother.
-Synopsis from the DreamWorks/Paramount presskit.

The trend of remaking popular Asian horror movies continues with DreamWorks’ TALE OF TWO SISTERS, based on the acclaimed 2003 Korean psychological chiller.
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©2007 Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. /
Ultraseven X Project

Your Guide To Ultra Seven’s 40 Anniversary Series!
Author: James Ballard
Official Website: Ultraseven X
Special Thanks to Keith Aiken, Jared Foust, Ed Godziszewski, Takeshi Yagi

Last year saw the 40th anniversary of the original ULTRAMAN (Urutoraman, 1966), and with it the new television series ULTRAMAN MEBIUS (Urutoraman Mebiusu, 2006) and its accompanying theatrical adaptation ULTRAMAN MEBIUS & ULTRAMAN BROTHERS (Urutoraman Mebiusu ando Urutora Kyoudai, 2006). Following up this year, Tsuburaya Productions began their celebrations for the 40th anniversary of ULTRA SEVEN (Urutorasebun, 1967), which is still viewed by many as the apex of the Ultra series.

Join SciFi Japan as we look back on one of this year’s freshest sci-fi series from Japan!
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SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, It Ain’t!
Author: Michael Kure
Source: ADV Films

DVD cover art for the anime film JING, KING OF BANDITS: SEVENTH HEAVEN.
Photo courtesy of ADV Films. © 2004 Aniplex

ADV Films presents JING, KING OF BANDITS: SEVENTH HEAVEN (O Dorobou Jing:Seventh Heaven, 2004), a feature length animated movie animated by Aniplex (RUROUNI KENSHIN) and directed by Hiroshi Watanabe (MYTHICAL DETECTIVE LOKI RAGNAROK, SLAYERS)

Synopsis: They call it Seventh Heaven: an asylum of a prison roasting on the lowest ring of Hell. Run by a psychotic warden and his army of hockey-masked guards, it’s a festering pit filled with thousands of hardened criminals… plus one very unfortunate Bandit King and his loyal, feathered sidekick!

And as if THAT didn’t suck enough for our heroes, toss in a magician who uses stolen dreams to trap his victims in bizarre worlds of illusion who then sets his beady eyes on Jing and Kir! So how does the star of a hit anime series escape from the biggest bird cage ever when “the Man’s” locked the door and thrown away the key? Find out as the boys (and bird) behind bars take on the big house in JING, KING OF BANDITS: SEVENTH HEAVEN!
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Godzilla joins deer hunters and bikini girls in Vue
— America’s Photo Digest. © 1955 Actual Publishing
Company, Inc. GODZILLA © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd.

Author: Keith Aiken
Special Thanks to Brad Warner

In 1948, the Actual Publishing Company, Inc. in New York launched the “men’s magazine” Vue— America’s Photo Digest. While nearly forgotten today, for more than twenty years Vue covered sports, cars, movies, adventure, hunting, travel and (of course) beautiful women. Publisher Allen Stearn devoted nearly half an issue to photographs of bathing suit and lingerie-clad ladies, from young hopefuls to established stars like Marilyn Monroe, Mamie Van Doren and Bettie Page.

Vue Volume 7, Number 2 ran 130 pages and had a cover price of 25 cents. In addition to page after page of cheesecake photography, the issue featured a look at Thai kickboxing, showgirls competing for a part on THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW, survivors of an avalanche in the Alps, bow hunting, the Winchester ghost house, a behind-the-scenes report on Orson Welles’ ballet THE LADY IN THE ICE, salmon fishing, a successful attempt to break the world speed record, and a new Japanese monster movie called GOJIRA.
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A brief look at Noboru Iguchi’s upcoming film
Author: Elliot Gay
Source: Richard York, Twitch, Fangoria, Fever Dreams LLC, Gomorrahy
Special Thanks to Keith Aiken and Sheldon Warnock

AFM poster for THE MACHINE GIRL. © 2007 Fever Dreams

Director Noboru Iguchi’s latest film effort, THE MACHINE GIRL (Kataude Mashingaru, THE ONE-ARMED MACHINE GIRL, 2008), will be seeing its theatrical release in Japan in 2008. Written by Iguchi himself, the film follows the story of Ami, a young high-school girl who sets out to take revenge on a gang of bullies after they kill her little brother. On the way to revenge, Ami loses an arm and replaces it with a high powered gun. Insane foes armed with their own bizarre weapons meet a violent end as Ami seeks vengeance for the deaths of those she cares about most.

THE MACHINE GIRL is a co-production between the US company Fever Dreams, LLC and Media Suits, a Japanese production house that merged with Nikkatsu Corporation (Nikkatsu K.K.) in 2006. Fever Dreams and Media Suits had previously partnered on DEATH TRANCE. The film’s international distribution rights were put up for sale by Nikkatsu at this year’s American Film Market. Media Blasters may be releasing THE MACHINE GIRL in America as a “Tokyo Shock Original” sometime in 2008.

Additional information and the film’s trailer are available here.

In 2009, Gwoemul will once again menace Korea for the first time. © 2006 Chungeorahm Film

Producer provides new details on the upcoming sequel to the Korean monster hit
Author: Kim Song-ho (Loomis)
Source: Money Today Star News

This past summer, the Korean studio Chungeorahm Film announced that they would be making a follow-up to their international success THE HOST (Gwoemul, 2006). Now Choi Yong-bae, CEO of Chungeorahm and producer of THE HOST has revealed some interesting tidbits for the upcoming sequel.
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GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH © 1995 Toho Co., Ltd.

Latest news on the next Godzilla CD collection
Author: James Ballard
Official Website: Toho Music

Following the release of the GODZILLA SOUNDTRACK PERFECT COLLECTION BOX 4 in October 2006, Toho Music have at long last decided that the release date for GODZILLA SOUNDTRACK PERFECT COLLECTION BOX 5 will be January 31st 2008. Altogether there will be 9 CDs in the set, with a list price of 10,500 Yen (approx US$90.) Pre-orders will begin early in the new year. The CD set will cover the music from the films GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA II (Gojira tai Mekagojira, 1993), GODZILLA VS. SPACEGODZILLA (Gojira tai Supeesugojira, 1994), GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH (Gojira tai Desutoroia, 1995) and GODZILLA 2000 (Gojira Ni-Sen Mireniamu, 1999). Also included is the first performance of the “SF Symphonic Fantasia” (1983) and “Ostinato”, both re-issues of discs previously released by King Record.
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ALL MONSTERS ATTACK and TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA are now available as part of Classic Media’s GODZILLA COLLECTION DVD box set.
The two movies will be sold separately in 2008. © 2007 Classic Media, Inc./© 1969, 1975 Toho Co., Ltd.

The Classic Media Godzilla Collection is Complete
Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis
Source: Classic Media, Inc.
Official site: Godzilla on DVD

So here we are, just over one year since the release of Classic Media’s GOJIRA/GODZILLA Special Edition. Since then we have seen the release of no less than four Showa Godzilla movies— all given deluxe treatment with dual versions of each film plus special features. Now with the Christmas holiday approaching, the release of Classic Media’s Godzilla Collection box-set has heralded the final two DVDs in the catalog. ALL MONSTERS ATTACK (Oru Kaijiu Daishingeki aka: Godzilla’s Revenge, 1969) and TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (Mechagojira no Gyakushu, 1975) come with the same great attention to detail as the previous discs. Although the fact that they are only available for now in the Godzilla Collection box-set may be a turn off to people that bought all the other discs already, fear not as they are expected to hit the shelves separately shortly into the new year.
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Source: iMages from the iD
Official Site: The iDol

It’s here! The very first trailer for THE iDol has arrived on the film’s homepage. Click below and enjoy!

© 2007 iMages from the iD

Where No Manga Has Gone Before
Author: Michael Kure
Source: TOKYOPOP

Cover for Star Trek: the Manga, Kakan ni Shinkou.
© 2007 CBS Studios Inc./TOKYOPOP

I remember getting annoyed after STAR TREK ENTERPRISE met its demise on UPN. I wasn’t so upset about the series getting cancelled since most of the episodes I saw were either just plain lame or were so far removed from Star Trek that it wasn’t Star Trek. No, I was mad at the powers-that-be at Paramount who claimed that the low ratings for STAR TREK ENTERPRISE and box-office death of the STAR TREK NEMESIS movie proved that we, the fans, were tired of it all and that the franchise needed to rest and take a break for a couple years.

I was, in fact, dying for more Star Trek. Good Star Trek. And I wasn’t alone.

Thankfully,TOKYOPOP understood that and has published a pair of thick trade paperback books (each over 200 pages), featuring a collection of new stories done in the Japanese manga style. Star Trek: the Manga, Kakan ni Shinkou (meaning “To Boldly Go”) is the second of the two stand-alone volumes, and features five new adventures of the crew of the original Enterprise during their original five-year mission. But hold on, you say? Isn’t there a new TOS comic book series being published right now by another publisher? And isn’t the manga style too cartoony for Star Trek? Whatever your perceptions are of the manga form, or whatever your reading experiences have been, disappointing or otherwise, with other Star Trek comics past and present, you may want to give Star Trek: the Manga, Kakan ni Shinkou some minutes from your clock because you might surely find that gnawing itch for “good Star Trek” finally scratched.
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The Rescue Force, ready for action! ©2007 Tomica Hero Rescue Force Production Committee

New SPFX drama to re-invent image of a “hero”
Author: James Ballard
Source: Press Release

On December 5th, Japanese toy manufacturer Takara Tomy issued a press release announcing their participation in the production committee of a new special effects TV drama, TOMICA HERO RESCUE FORCE (Tomika Hiiroo Resukyuu Foosu), scheduled to be broadcast nationwide in Japan from Spring 2008.

Until now, Japanese heroes have always been depicted fighting against aliens, monsters and other adversaries. But TOMICA HERO RESCUE FORCE aims to create a new image of a hero. An “exhilarating” action series, the Rescue Force will utilize many “Super Vehicles” and “Super Tools” (based on Takara Tomy’s toys) in order to rescue people in need. The team’s battles will be against an outbreak of super disasters all over the world. The idea behind the series is to communicate the important message of pollution and the state of the global environment to children though an engaging special effects TV series.
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Poster art for Rialto Pictures’ 2004 theatrical release
of GODZILLA. Photo courtesy of Lee Kaplan and Rialto
Pictures. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd./© 2004 Rialto Pictures

A Look Back at GODZILLA’s 2004 Theatrical Release
Author: Steve Ryfle with Bruce Goldstein
Source: Rialto Pictures

On December 7, the original Japanese version of GODZILLA (Gojira, 1954) will be screened at the Dryden Theatre in Rochester, New York as part of the theater’s “Ten Years of Rialto Pictures” tribute. Introducing the film and taking part in a post-screening presentation will be Rialto’s Bruce Goldstein, the man who supervised the 50th Anniversary US theatrical release of GODZILLA. For complete details on the screening please see the earlier report here on SciFi Japan.

In celebration of tomorrow’s event, we take a look back at the GODZILLA pressbook prepared by Rialto Pictures in 2004, which includes a detailed look at the making of the movie that launched Toho’s kaiju eiga series.
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Cover for Tokyo Underground. © 2007 Super7 Media, Inc.

Great New Travel Guide for Toy Collectors
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: CollectionDX
Special Thanks to Joshua Bernard

For decades, Godzilla, Ultraman, Gundam, and scores of other tokusatsu and anime characters have inspired an unending wave of merchandising and memorabilia. Toys and figures are particularly popular, with collectors in the United States constantly searching out items through stores and online retailers, or even taking pilgrimages to Japan to track down the new and the rare.

For anyone planning such a trip to Japan— whether for the first time or the tenth— Super7 Media, Inc. has published the invaluable travel guide Tokyo Underground. The hardcover book was written by Brian Flynn, co-owner of Super7 (Super7 magazine, toy line, and San Francisco store) with the assistance of Joshua Bernard of the website CollectionDX, and full color photographs by Jeff Dey.
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The Dryden Theatre Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of Rialto Pictures with GODZILLA on December 7
Source: John Yeara
Official Site: George Eastman House

The original Japanese GODZILLA will be playing at the Dryden
Theatre this Friday night. Photo courtesy of Rialto Pictures.
© 1954 Toho Co., Ltd./© 2004 Rialto Pictures

GODZILLA (Gojira) returns to Rochester, New York this week with a special screening of the original, uncut Japanese version of the 1954 classic. The film is being shown as part of the “Ten Years of Rialto Pictures” tribute at the historic Dryden Theatre.

Founded by Bruce Goldstein in 1997, Rialto Pictures specializes in re-releases of classic movies. Starting with the Mike Nichols hit THE GRADUATE (1967), the company has released some of the most acclaimed films in international cinema— Jean-Luc Godard’s CONTEMPT (Le Mepris, 1963) and BAND OF OUTSIDERS (Bande a Part, 1964), Federico Fellini’s JULIET OF THE SPIRITS (Giulietta degli Spiriti, 1965) and NIGHTS OF CABIRIA (Le Notti de Cabiria, 1957), Jean-Pierre Melville’s LE CERCLE ROUGE (1970), Carol Reed’s THE THIRD MAN (1949), and Jean Renoir’s GRAND ILLUSION (La Grande Illusion, 1937) among them. Their efforts won them both the Heritage Award from the National Society of Film Critics in 1999 and a special award from the New York Film Critics in 2000. In 2004, Rialto gave the unedited GODZILLA it’s first ever theatrical run in the United States in honor of the film’s 50th anniversary. Bruce Goldstein negotiated the deal with Toho Co., Ltd. and was directly involved with the translation, subtitles, distribution, and promotion of the movie.

GODZILLA will be shown at 8:00pm this Friday, December 7. Bruce will introduce the film and provide an informative post-screening lecture with clips to illustrate the differences between the Japanese version and the 1956 American re-edit, GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS.
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