Another classic Marvel superhero flies onto the silver screen with Paramount Pictures’ new release, IRON MAN.
Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures. © 2008 MVLFFLLC & Marvel Entertainment.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Upcoming Marvel Superhero Movie
Source: Paramount Pictures
Official Website: Iron Man Movie

Key theatrical poster art for IRON MAN, opening
this Friday. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
© 2008 MVLFFLLC & Marvel Entertainment.

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment Present Marvel Studios’ soaring action-adventure IRON MAN, the story of billionaire industrialist and genius inventor Tony Stark (ROBERT DOWNEY JR.). As CEO of Stark Industries, the U.S. Government’s top weapons contractor, Tony has achieved celebrity status by protecting American interests around the globe for decades. Tony’s carefree lifestyle is forever changed when his convoy is attacked following a weapons test he oversees and he is held hostage by a group of insurgents. Injured by life-threatening shrapnel embedded near his already weakened heart, Tony is ordered to build a devastating weapon for Raza (FARAN TAHIR), the mysterious leader of the insurgents. Ignoring his captors’ requests, Tony uses his intellect and ingenuity to build a suit of armor that keeps him alive and enables him to escape captivity.

Upon his return to America, Tony must come to terms with his past and vows to take Stark Industries in a new direction. Despite the resistance from Obadiah Stane (JEFF BRIDGES), his right-hand man and top executive, who has taken over the reigns of the company in his absence, Tony spends his days and nights in his workshop developing and refining an advanced suit of armor that gives him superhuman strength and physical protection. With the help of his longtime assistant Pepper Potts (GWYNETH PALTROW) and his trusted military liaison Rhodey (TERRENCE HOWARD), Tony uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications. Donning his powerful new red and gold armor, Tony vows to protect the world and right its injustices as his new alter-ego, Iron Man.

IRON MAN opens in the United States on Friday, May 2.
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ALL MONSTERS ATTACK and TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA are now available separately from retailers. © 2007 Classic Media, Inc./© 1969, 1975 Toho Co., Ltd.

Source: Classic Media, Inc.
Official site: Godzilla on DVD

A quick reminder that Classic Media’s last two Godzilla DVDs— ALL MONSTERS ATTACK (aka GODZILLA’S REVENGE) and TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA— went on sale today. The discs were originally released last November as part of THE GODZILLA COLLECTION DVD box set but are now available separately for the first time from stores and online retailers.

ALL MONSTERS ATTACK and TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA have a suggested retail price of $16.93 each.
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Wading through the city in CLOVERFIELD. © 2008 Paramount Pictures.

The Highly Popular CLOVERFIELD End Credits Music to Be Released on iTunes
Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis
Source: Soundtrack Net, Film Score Monthly Online, CLOVERFIELD DVD
Official site: iTunes

On April 29th, iTunes will make available for download “ROAR!” the CLOVERFIELD overture. Written by frequent J.J. Abrams composer Michael Giacchino, “ROAR!” is a tribute to the classic style of monster movie scoring and has become a much sought after track among fans who enjoyed it during the closing credits of the 2008 film.
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Front and back packaging art for the ONE MISSED CALL DVD. Photos courtesy of Warner Home Video. © 2007 Warner Bros.

Source: Warner Home Video
Official website: One Missed Call Movie

For those who missed the American remake of ONE MISSED CALL during it’s theatrical release— and we’re guessing that would be most of you— the film is now available on Region 1 DVD from Warner Home Video. ONE MISSED CALL quickly disappeared from theaters in January, but was released on DVD and Blu-Ray this past Tuesday, April 22. The HD DVD is scheduled to street on May 13.
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Site Launched for New Kaiju-Themed Collectible Miniatures Game and Comic Book Series
Source: Privateer Press
Official Site: Monsterpocalypse.com
Introduction: Kevin de’Antonio

Packaging artwork for MONSTERPOCALYPSE. Photo courtesy of
Privateer Press. © 2008 Privateer Press, Inc.

The MONSTERPOCALYPSE Collectible Miniatures Game (CMG) brings the giant monster genre – a pop culture favorite – to the tabletop in the form of a fast-paced, action-packed game for two players ages 10 and up. Designed by Matt Wilson, the award-winning creator of WARMACHINE and HORDES, MONSTERPOCALYPSE leverages the critically acclaimed abilities of Privateer Press as a leading miniatures manufacturer to enter a new category of product with a property that appeals to a worldwide fan base of all ages.

Privateer Press has launched a special preview site for MONSTERPOCALYPSE, which will feature updates, artwork, coverage of playtesting sessions, and preview images of figures and game components. The site, Monsterpocalypse.com, will also issue news regarding events and organized play, as well as product release information. The coverage will be an ongoing countdown to the launch of the MONSTERPOCALYPSE CMG, set to release this fall, along with a comic book miniseries.

MONSTERPOCALYPSE features high-quality pre-painted plastic monsters, vehicles, and interactive city structures that impact and shape game play. The CMG will launch with over 60 figures in the initial set, sold in randomized starter sets and booster boxes. Special figures will be available at events and through other promotions throughout 2008.
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Title card from the beginning of MACH GO GO GO.
©2008 Tatsunoko Productions and Speed Racer Enterprises.

How it All Began!
Author: James Long

Most SPEED RACER fans know that the series was originally released in Japan as MACH GO GO GO and was the creation of Tatsuo Yoshida and his animation studio, Tatsunoko Productions. Beyond that, many fans know very little about Yoshida himself, his studio, and the efforts that went into creating MACH GO GO GO.

Join James Long and SciFi Japan for the second part of our SPEED RACER coverage… how it all began!
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Pianist Reiko Yamada

Reiko Yamada Plays Ifukube’s “Ritmica Ostinata”
Author: Ed Godziszewski
Japanese Giants

On the evening of March 28, 2008, a rare performance of one of Akira Ifukube’s classical works, “Ritmica Ostinata”, was held in the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Seldom performed stateside, on this night Ifukube’s “Ritmica Ostinata” was tackled by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, featuring former Ifukube pupil Reiko Yamada as the orchestra’s principal pianist, as part of a program titled ‘Japanese Garden’.
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Speed Racer leaps from the Mach 5!
©2008 Tatsunoko Productions and Speed Racer Enterprises.

An Introduction to SPEED RACER
Author: James Long

“Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer. He’s a demon on wheels.”

We’ve all heard that theme song, and more than likely have it indelibly etched into our brains. As memorable as the song is, how often have you thought about the series that it represents, and the long history that led it to being one of the best remembered animated series of the 1960s? Our goal here is to lead you through that history, from the origins of the series up to and including the upcoming live action SPEED RACER feature film! So sit back and buckle in, cuz’ “Adventure’s waiting just ahead…”

Before we get too deeply into the history of this anime classic, we should remember that there are those out there who aren’t familiar with the world of Speed Racer. So, for both of those people, let’s take this opportunity to remind everyone just what it was all about.
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SPEED RACER Coverage Starts Here.
Author: Bob Johnson
Source: Warner Brothers’ Press Release

With a number of anticipated films being released in 2008, from Batman to Bond and beyond, Warner Brothers is banking on one of Japan’s most recognizable cartoon characters to grab their portion of the box office. In the weeks that lead up to the release of SPEED RACER, SciFi Japan will be taking a look back at the original series, as well as some of its other incarnations, courtesy of Tatsunoko historian James Long.

So relive the most dangerous races, the mammoth cars, the car acrobatic teams, the desert races and much much more with SciFi Japan as we gear up to celebrate all things SPEED!

In the meantime, here is an initial peek at the new movie, with much more coverage to come!
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Hobby Japan Brings Back Classic Japanese Magazine.
Author: Bob Johnson

In January of 1980, a new magazine was published in Japan covering Science Fiction films, television, books and other media. Called “Space Magazine Uchusen”, this publication grew over 25 years to become a leading source of information on the latest Japanese films and television series, as well as an authoritative resource on classic movies and TV from not only Japan, but all over the world.

First released as a quarterly magazine, Uchusen would switch between quarterly and bi-monthly over the years, finally settling on bi-monthly status shortly before its demise in July of 2005 after 119 issues. Now, three years later, Hobby Japan brings Uchusen back to life!
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