Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment. © 2008 Warner Bros. Ent.

Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Warner Bros. Home Video
Official Site: Speed Racer The Movie
View the Theatrical Trailer

Warner Bros’ live action big screen version of SPEED RACER was the first major flop of the 2008 summer season. Produced at a budget of approximately $120 million, the film earned less than $43 million at the US box office. It was savaged by critics and ignored by moviegoers, which is a shame since it was actually a pretty good film.

Now that SPEED RACER is available on DVD and Blu-ray it has a chance of reaching a wider audience. Warner Bros’ DVD presents the film in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The picture quality is excellent, presenting the candy-colored CG world with stunning clarity. Audio options are Dolby Digital 5.1 English, French and Spanish with matching subtitles. The soundtrack is also top-notch, particularly during the film’s many racing sequences.
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Front and back outer packaging art for the IRON MAN: 2-DISC ULTIMATE EDITION DVD; front cover for the Blu-ray edition.
Photo courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment. IRON MAN, the Movie © 2008 MVL Film Finance LLC. Iron Man, the Character: TM & © 2008 Marvel Entertainment

Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Paramount Home Entertainment and Click Communications
Official Website: Iron Man Movie
Special Thanks to Scott Neumyer

Marvel Studios got off to a tremendous start this year with IRON MAN, the critically acclaimed box office blockbuster. Smartly directed by Jon Favreau and featuring a cast made up of Oscar nominated and winning actors Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, and Jeff Bridges, IRON MAN thrilled audiences to the tune of $575 million worldwide. Tomorrow, Paramount Home Entertainment will release the film in a 2-DISC ULTIMATE EDITION on both DVD and Blu-ray. Both are stellar presentations for one of the best movies of 2008.
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Uncut Episodes of NARUTO, DEATH NOTE and BLEACH Available for Free
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press release
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen

See uncut episodes of NARUTO and other VIZ anime series
online for free. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 1999
Masashi Kishimoto/SHUEISHA Inc.

VIZ Media has had a busy week. On Tuesday, the publishing, animation and licensing company announced that Joost, the world’s first broadcast-quality internet television service, will carry the original Uncut (Japanese version/English subtitled) episodes of the hit animated series NARUTO, DEATH NOTE and BLEACH. Yesterday came word that the original uncut Japanese versions of those three series will also be available subtitled in English on Hulu.

NARUTO, DEATH NOTE, and BLEACH have emerged as three of the world’s most popular Japanese animated series, each attracting millions of devoted viewers with a blend of stylish animation, multi-faceted characters and riveting story lines. Each series is based on a popular manga series and enjoys tremendous international popularity.

Joost brings video and social interaction together online. All of the video on Joost is professionally produced and streams on-demand to people around the world for free in a high-quality format. Today, Joost has more than 30,000 program elements, including more than 400 television series and 1,200 movie and short film titles. For more information, visit joost.com.

Hulu.com is an online video service that offers hit TV shows, movies and clips at Hulu.com and other online destination sites — all for free, anytime in the U.S. Hulu has more than 100 content partners and offers nearly 900 show and movie titles, including 200 full-length feature films and 400 television series with hundreds of videos added to the service each week.
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Star-Studded Line Up at 2008 Event
Source: Roger Bilheimer Associates press release
Official Site: New York Anime Festival

© 2008 Reed Exhibitions

The second annual New York Anime Festival (NYAF), which will take place in New York City September 26 – 28 at the Jacob K. Javits Center, boasts a wide cross-section of prominent guests from the worlds of fashion, music, food, as well as comics, fulfilling the festival’s goal of expanding beyond anime specifically to embrace many aspects of Japanese pop culture. In its first year in 2007, the New York Anime Festival became an immediate success, playing host to thousands of fans and instantly becoming the fourth largest anime festival in the United States.
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Cover art for the MONSTERPOCALYPSE: Rise Strategy Guide.
Photos courtesy of Privateer Press. © 2008 Privateer Press, Inc.

Source: Privateer Press press release
Official Site: Monsterpocalypse.com
Special Thanks to Bobby Stickel

Privateer Press has announced additional products for its new collectible miniatures game, MONSTERPOCALYPSE. These products include the MONSTERPOCALYPSE Series 1: Rise Strategy Guide, two varieties of Accessory Packs and the MONSTERPOCALYPSE: Rise Map Pack.

The MONSTERPOCALYPSE Series 1: Rise Strategy Guide contains 64 full-color pages of tips, tactics, spoilers, and commentary. It will be available in October.

The Accessory Packs contain color-coded ID rings, an extra Monster Health Tracker and full set of Power, Action and Boost dice. The Monsterpocalypse: Rise Map Pack contains 3 double-sided maps plus the EXCLUSIVE “Government Building” figure. The Accessory Packs and the Map Pack will be arriving in stores in time for the Holidays.
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Ultraman Mebius, Ultraman Gaia, Ultraman Dyna, Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman, Ultra Seven, Ultraman Jack, and Ultraman Ace join forces in the new movie.
©2008 GREAT DECISIVE BATTLE! THE SUPER 8 ULTRA BROTHERS Production Consortium

Author: James Ballard
Official Website: Great Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers

Early promotional design for GREAT DECISIVE BATTLE! THE SUPER 8 ULTRA BROTHERS.
©2008 GREAT DECISIVE BATTLE! THE SUPER 8 ULTRA BROTHERS Production Consortium

It’s Saturday morning on September 13th, and despite a late night out I’ve woken up unusually early, as today is the premiere of the latest Ultraman feature, entitled GREAT DECISIVE BATTLE! THE SUPER 8 ULTRA BROTHERS (Daikessen! Chou Urutora Hachi Kyoudai).

I’m looking forward to seeing my second Ultraman movie in Japan, following 2006’s ULTRAMAN MEBIUS & ULTRAMAN BROTHERS (Urutoraman Mebiusu & Urutora Kyoudai).

After kicking off with a bowl of pork udon in Ueno, I make the ride over to Shinjuku station, where I meet the film’s director Takeshi Yagi just before 8:00am. I first met Yagi through my good friend Norman England almost two years ago, and in that time he has simply been one of the nicest and most generous people I’ve had the pleasure to be acquainted with.

Although he has had a long association with Ultraman — working as a director, FX director, producer and series organizer on many of the TV shows over the past decade — this film is his first theatrical feature. Although almost unheard of in the Godzilla series, he took on the dual role of both Director & Director of Special Effects as normal for the Ultraman movies.
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Advertisement for the Yokohama Ultraman Exhibit
running through October. ©2008 GREAT DECISIVE BATTLE!
THE SUPER 8 ULTRA BROTHERS Production Committee
/Yokohama Doll Museum

Author: James Ballard
Official Website: Yokohama Doll Museum
Official Movie Website: Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

With Yokohama as the setting for the latest Ultraman feature film, the Yokohama Doll Museum is currently running a special - albeit very small - exhibition entitled “Great Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers in the Yokohama Doll Museum”. The event will be open every day from 6:00-18:30 until October 13th.

Most of the items on display come from the latest film GREAT DECISIVE BATTLE! THE SUPER 8 ULTRA BROTHERS (Daikessen! Chou Urutora Hachi Kyoudai) which opened in theatres nationwide in Japan on September 13th.

SciFi Japan takes a look at “Great Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers in the Yokohama Doll Museum” with information on the exhibit and exclusive photos by James Ballard.
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Both Titles Now on Sale
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press release
Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen

Cover art for Black Lagoon Volume 1. Photo courtesy
of VIZ Media and MediaLab. © 2002 by Rei Hiroe

VIZ Media has announced the North American debut of the manga series Black Lagoon, as well as the DVD debut of BLUE DRAGON, a new animated series based on the popular Microsoft Xbox 360 Role Playing Game.

Black Lagoon by Rei Hiroe follows a misfit group of mercenaries and their adventures on the high seas of Southeast Asia. Black Lagoon is available now from the VIZ Media imprint and is rated “M” for Mature audiences. It carries an MSRP of $12.99 U.S./$15.00 CAN.

Readers will lock ‘n’ load with Dutch the Boss, Benny the Mechanic, Revy Two Hand, and Rock as they seek adventure and fortune aboard their World War II-era torpedo boat, the Black Lagoon. In the treacherous underworld of the Russian Mafia, Chinese triads, Colombian drug cartels, crazed assassins, and ruthless mercenaries, it’s hard to know who to trust. But if you’ve got a delivery to make, and you don’t mind a little property damage along the way, you can count on the crew of the Black Lagoon!

Also hitting store shelves this week is the BLUE DRAGON Volume 1 DVD. The disc is rated A for All Ages, features five anime episodes, and carries an MSRP of $14.98 (U.S.)/$19.99 (CAN). Brought together by fate, Seven Soldiers of Light must awaken the Shadow within themselves in time to overcome a despotic power and bring peace to their land. Their ensuing journey through a rich fantasy world is also an internal journey to awaken the great power within each of them.
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Writer/Producers Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski detail the making of the new Japanese special effects documentary BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE.
© 2008 Toho Co., Ltd./Classic Media, Inc.

A Conversation with Documentary Writer/Producers Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski
Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis
Special Thanks to Bill Gudmundson and Matthew Buzzell

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Tuesday, September 9th saw the release of Classic Media’s final two movies in their Toho Master Collection DVD series: RODAN and WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS, which if you don’t have by now then you might want to get on that. For those that do have it, you have no doubt seen the extra treat that is included with the movies; BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE: The Art of Japanese Special Effects. Shot in Japan in 2007, the documentary is a very enlightening film for those unfamiliar with just how tricky the craft of Japanese special effects is. It was directed by longtime Godzilla set journalist Norman England and features interviews with many of the most recognizable names in Toho history including Akira Takarada, Hiroshi Koizumi, Yoshio Tsuchiya, and the men who played Godzilla.

You may ask yourself what it took to put something this big together. Indeed, BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE wasn’t just a simple “cut and paste” series overview but rather something unique from the start right up to the special effects demonstration that concludes the documentary. Well look no further as SciFi Japan presents the first of two interviews with the people involved in making it all come together. We begin with an exclusive conversation with Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski (both longtime contributors to SciFi Japan), who shared writing and production duties and explain just what it takes to bring Godzilla down to size.
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These limited edition Mega Form figures of Defender X, Cthugrosh, and Gorghadra will be sent to retailers who have ordered the
MONSTERPOCALYPSE Launch Event Kit. Photos courtesy of Privateer Press. © 2008 Privateer Press, Inc.

Giant Monsters Attack in new Collectible Miniatures Game
Source: Privateer Press press release
Official Site: Monsterpocalypse.com
Special Thanks to Bobby Stickel

Privateer Press has announced that MONSTERPOCALYPSE, their new collectible miniatures game, has an official street date of October 10th, 2008. The long-awaited, action packed strategy game has already riveted the attention of the hobby game industry, making a big impression at the GAMA Trade show, International Comic Con in San Diego, Gen Con in Indianapolis and PAX in Seattle.

“We have set the stage for a highly successful launch and everyone is very excited,” said Matt Wilson, Creative Director for Privateer Press. Not wanting to give everything away at once, Wilson also added “This is really only the beginning for MONSTERPOCALYPSE, we have some great surprises we’ll be unveiling soon.”
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Rare 35mm German Prints of MONSTER ZERO and THE MYSTERIANS to be Shown at the 3001-Kino in Hamburg
Source: Der Hamburger Monsterfilm, PRANKE Film Magazine
Official Event Site: PRANKE-Filmnacht Vol.3

On October 3, the 3001-Kino in Hamburg, Germany will screen
rare 35mm prints of classic Toho sci-fi films. © Toho Co., Ltd.

On October 3, PRANKE Magazine hosts a night of classic Toho sci-fi films at the 3001-Kino in Hamburg, Germany. The theater will screen rare 35mm prints of the German versions of MONSTER ZERO and THE MYSTERIANS plus a selection of monster movie trailers.

1. BEFEHL AUS DEM DUNKEL (Kaiju Daisenso)
An orgy of annihilation that brings death and downfall over all humanity! Dangerous adventures in the inconceivably gigantic universe. From here frights and mortal dangers threaten even the most daring astronauts! Unbelievable monster action from Japan’s Toho Studios!

2. WELTRAUMBESTIEN aka PHANTOM 7000 (Chikyu Boeigun)
Does one shock surpass the other, a thrill outdo the next – earthly women soon in the power of extraterrestrial charlatans? One simply must see this Japanese Sci-Fi hit… the very first Toho classic that was made in Cinemascope and Technicolor!

Read on for complete details on the PRANKE Toho Film Night in both German and English.
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Light Yagami wonders whose names were chosen as winners for VIZ Pictures
and SciFi Japan’s DEATH NOTE movie ticket giveaway. Photo courtesy of VIZ
Media. © 2006 [Death Note] Film Partners

Who Will See the DEATH NOTE Movies for Free, Courtesy of VIZ Pictures and SciFi Japan?
Source: VIZ Media
Official Movie Site: Death Note Films
Special Thanks to Manami Iiboshi

Thank you to everyone who entered VIZ Pictures and SciFi Japan’s contest for free passes to see DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME.

THE LAST NAME will be shown at nearly 400 theaters across the United States on October 15 and 16 at 7:30pm local time. The following randomly drawn entrants correctly answered all contest questions:
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The main characters of KITARO. From left to right: Konaki Jiji (Kanpei Hazama), Neko Musume (Rena Tanaka), Kitaro (Eiji Wentz),
Medama Oyaji (voiced by Isamu Tanonaka), Mika Miura (Mao Inoue), Nezumi Otoko (Yo Oizumi), and Sunakake Baba (Shigeru Muroi). © 2007 KITARO Film Partners.

The Popular Yokai Manga is Adapted as a Live Action Film
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: BCI Eclipse LLC, Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Official Movie Site (Japan): GeGeGe
Special Thanks to Amy Killian, Brooke Carney, Cliff MacMillan, and Dan Ross

DVD cover art for the upcoming US release of KITARO.
Photo courtesy of BCI Eclipse. © 2007 KITARO Film
Partners.

In modern-day Japan, the worlds of the humans and the yokai often collide, and usually not in the most pleasant of manners.

But when a magical ball of power ends up in the wrong hands, Kitaro must recover it or both worlds could fall into grave danger…

KITARO (GeGeGe no Kitaro, 2007) is a live action fantasy film based on the beloved manga series of the same name by the “father of yokai tales”, Shigeru Mizuki. The movie is set in a world populated by Japanese folklore creatures with supernatural powers, with everything from cat spirits to walking eyeballs roaming through ancient forests and modern Japan.

KITARO was a big box office hit in Japan, and now comes to Region 1 DVD and Blu-ray from Ronin Entertainment, an imprint of BCI Eclipse.
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A Missed Opportunity: Where No Man Has STILL NOT Gone Before
Author: Michael Kure
Source: TOKYOPOP

Star Trek: the Manga – Uchu cover art by Felipe Smith.
Photo courtesy of TOKYOPOP. © 2008 CBS Studios Inc.
/TOKYOPOP

Star Trek the Manga – Uchu (which loosely translates to “universe” or “space”) continues TOKYOPOP’s trek into the final frontier with their third volume of the original series (TOS) tales, drawn in manga style. Ahhh, but there’s the rub, for only HALF of the stories in this volume were drawn that way.

Yes, you read that right – only two of the four stories published herein were illustrated in the manga style! Um, what’s the title of this book again?

I was hoping, actually, expecting, that TOKYOPOP would break out and offer new stories of the Federation illustrated by different manga artists, offering readers a whole new perspective on the art form. I don’t know how many other fans of Star Trek have been exposed to manga beyond this anthology series, or what their notion of manga might be after going through the first two volumes. But here was TOKYOPOP’s opportunity to present favorite Trek characters portrayed by talented manga artists from the global Trek community. How awesome would it be to see these new Trek adventures illustrated in various manga styles by talents from, say, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, or Brazil?

Instead, TOKYOPOP gives us the same old-same old and even disregards its own editorial directive by inexplicably publishing two non-manga stories. TOKYOPOP could have taken us to where no one has artistically gone before. Could have, but did not. What a major missed opportunity.
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Twenty years later, he still wants to play!
Author: Aaron Cooper
Source: MGM Home Entertainment, Fox Home Entertainment
Special thanks to Scott Neumyer

Cover art for the CHILD’S PLAY- CHUCKY’S 20TH BIRTHDAY
EDITION DVD. Photo courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment.
© 1988 MGM

Yes, demonic doll Chucky is still alive and kicking 20 years after the first CHILD’S PLAY was released to theaters. Finally MGM has graced the horror loving public with a definitive edition DVD after too long of bare bones editions.

CHILD’S PLAY hit all the right beats on its initial release in 1988. In a time when creepy “My Buddy” dolls were sought after by kids, and talking “Teddy Ruxpin” bears were the latest in toy tech, little murderous Chucky gave decent frights to a new generation of horror fans raised on a steady diet of Talking Tina reruns on THE TWILIGHT ZONE (influences acknowledged on this new DVD). Even today, it still holds up well with a nice mix of shock and dark humor and its understandable how this film spawned a handful of sequels. There are some really well done shots and great pacing, as well as memorable characters and a monstrous (then-new) icon that takes the film above 80’s schlock.

Until now though, CHILD’S PLAY had seen the most basic of editions on DVD, and full-screen at that. Fortunately, with the release of this “Chucky’s 20th Birthday Edition”, the film finally gets a widescreen release with lots of cool extras.
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