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In this week’s episode of SciFi JAPAN TV, we visit the Tokyo Big Sight for the 2014 International Tokyo Toy Show, one of the world’s most important toy exhibitions. From Godzilla and Sentai to Star Wars and Gundam, you can find all your favorite characters on display here every year. So come with us as we take a look at all the goods and toys coming soon here in Japan!
Come back for new episodes of SciFi JAPAN TV every Thursday! Continued…
Two New Science Fiction Action Titles Timed to Release With the Summer Blockbuster Movie
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: haikasoru.com
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen
VIZ Media’s Haikasoru literary imprint supports the upcoming release of the gripping sci-fi action film, EDGE OF TOMORROW with the release of an official movie tie-in novel on April 29th. The new Edge of Tomorrow paperback release will carry an MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN. The book features a cover with the official movie poster featuring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt in their title roles from the film. The Edge of Tomorrow novel was written by Japanese author Hiroshi Sakurazaka, and was previously published as All You Need is Kill.
The Haikasoru imprint has also announced the May 6th release of the All You Need is Kill official graphic novel adaptation. Written by Haikasoru editor and noted sci-fi author, Nick Mamatas, and featuring full-color artwork by popular comic book artist Lee Ferguson (Green Arrow, Miranda Mercury), the new graphic novel offers a single-volume retelling of the original All You Need is Kill novel that inspired the EDGE OF TOMORROW movie. The graphic novel carries an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $17.99 CAN, and features an oversized North American graphic novel trim size of 6 5/8″ x 10 ¼”. An eBook edition will also be available worldwide for $8.99 (U.S. / CAN) for the Amazon Kindle, Apple’s iBooks Store, Barnes & Noble’s Nook Book Store, and the Kobo eBooks Store. North American fans can also access the graphic novel digitally on the VIZ Manga App as well as through VIZManga.com. Continued…
Roll out with the highly popular feature-length epilogue to Hasbro Studio’s Emmy Award-winning series TRANSFORMERS PRIME on a variety of digital entertainment platforms in North America. Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios invite loyal fans, invite families and kids to further venture into the awe-inspiring world of TRANSFORMERS PRIME with TRANSFORMERS PRIME: BEAST HUNTERS – PREDACONS RISING, a special original feature presentation, now available on Digital HD for rental and purchase on iTunes, VUDU, CinemaNow, Google Play, Rovi, Sony PlayStation Network and Xbox, as well as available through Amazon Instant Video on April 1.
Brimming with spectacular CG animation, a captivating storyline and unforgettable characters from the TRANSFORMERS PRIME lore, TRANSFORMERS PRIME: BEAST HUNTERS – PREDACONS RISING delivers entertaining cinematic adventure the whole family will enjoy. Continued…
Keanu Reeves stars in the action-adventure epic, 47 RONIN, coming to DVD and Blu-ray Combo Packs April 1, 2014 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
After a treacherous warlord kills their master and banishes their kind, 47 leaderless samurai vow to seek vengeance and reclaim their honor. This band of ronin must seek help from Kai (Reeves) — an enslaved half-breed they once rejected — in their ultimate fight for redemption in a savage world of mythic and wondrous terrors. Kai becomes their most deadly weapon and the heroic inspiration for these outnumbered warriors to confront their enemy and seize eternity. Continued…
American Remake of Korean Hit Opens November 27th
Source: FilmDistrict, Strategy PR press release
Official Movie Site: OldboyFilm.com
Special Thanks to Jonathan Epstein
FilmDistrict has stepped up their promotional campaign for OLDBOY, Spike Lee’s (DO THE RIGHT THING, INSIDE MAN) reinterpretation of the acclaimed 2003 Korean film. Written by Mark Protosevich (I AM LEGEND, THE CELL, THOR), the movie stars Josh Brolin (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, TRUE GRIT), Elizabeth Olsen (GODZILLA) and Sharlto Copley (DISTRICT 9, ELYSIUM). OLDBOY will open November 27, 2013 in theaters.
On October 15th, Warner Home Video will release Guillermo Del Toro’s big budget giant monster movie PACIFIC RIM in several different Blu-ray and DVD editions. Read on for product specs, high-res cover art and a look at in-store displays. Continued…
Guillermo del Toro’s widely praised action adventure PACIFIC RIM has crossed $400 million dollars at the worldwide box office, becoming the director’s highest grossing film ever. The announcement was made August 30 by Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President, International Distribution, and Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures; and Legendary Pictures.
Internationally, PACIFIC RIM is still in release in a number of territories and has grossed $302 million thus far. In China alone, the film is the biggest of any Warner Bros. Pictures release ever and the fifth-biggest MPA film gross in China’s cinema history. The film’s record-breaking release in China also furthers Legendary’s growing presence in the territory. Continued…
American Remake of Korean Hit Opens November 27th
Source: FilmDistrict, Strategy PR press release
Official Movie Site: OldboyFilm.com
Special Thanks to Rachel Allen
FilmDistrict has released new publicity materials for OLDBOY, starring Josh Brolin (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, TRUE GRIT), Elizabeth Olsen (GODZILLA) and Sharlto Copley (DISTRICT 9, ELYSIUM). A unique reinterpretation of the 2003 Korean film, OLDBOY is written by Mark Protosevich (I AM LEGEND, THE CELL, THOR) and directed by Spike Lee (DO THE RIGHT THING, INSIDE MAN). Continued…
New Release Date Announced for American Remake of Korean Hit
Source: FilmDistrict, Strategy PR press release
Official Movie Site: OldboyFilm.com
Special Thanks to Rachel Allen
FilmDistrict has released the uncensored trailer for OLDBOY, starring Josh Brolin (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, TRUE GRIT), Elizabeth Olsen (GODZILLA) and Sharlto Copley (DISTRICT 9, ELYSIUM). Written by Mark Protosevich (I AM LEGEND, THE CELL, THOR) and directed by Spike Lee (DO THE RIGHT THING, INSIDE MAN), the film is a remake of the South Korean hit OLDBOY (올드보이, Oldeuboi, 2003) by director Park Chan-wook.
Previously announced for October 25th, OLDBOY will now open November 27, 2013 in theaters. Continued…
Special Original CG Animated Action Adventure Produced by Hasbro Studios
Source: Shout! Factory, Click Communications press releases
Special Thanks to Tom Chen and Collin Yarusso
This Fall, the eagerly anticipated conclusion of Hasbro Studios’ Emmy Award-winning series will finally unleash in a special TRANSFORMERS PRIME original feature presentation for home entertainment. On October 8, 2013, Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios, invite kids, families and loyal fans to further venture into the awe-inspiring world of TRANSFORMERS PRIME when TRANSFORMERS PRIME BEAST HUNTERS – PREDACONS RISING debuts as a special original feature on Blu-ray + DVD combo pack and on DVD. Continued…
NECA has created a merchandise and collectible program featuring characters and themes from the much-anticipated Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures film, PACIFIC RIM. The program features items from various product categories, including: Action figures, HeroClix (the most popular collectible miniatures tabletop game on the market), mini-game, card game, cuffs and bracelets, dog tags, back packs, baseball hats, key chains, buttons, stickers, magnets and pins. PACIFIC RIM is also featured in NECA’s online store, Mock.com as well as mobile applications Shuffling the Deck and Connect With Pieces. Continued…
FilmDistrict has released the official one sheet poster for OLDBOY, starring Josh Brolin (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, TRUE GRIT), Elizabeth Olsen (GODZILLA) and Sharlto Copley (DISTRICT 9, ELYSIUM). Written by Mark Protosevich (I AM LEGEND, THE CELL, THOR) and directed by Spike Lee (DO THE RIGHT THING, INSIDE MAN), the film is a remake of the South Korean hit OLDBOY (올드보이, Oldeuboi, 2003) by director Park Chan-wook. OLDBOY was produced by Roy Lee (THE RING), Doug Davison (THE GRUDGE, THE DEPARTED) and Nathan Kahane (50/50, EVIL DEAD).
OLDBOY is a provocative, visceral thriller that follows the story of advertising executive Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin) who is abruptly kidnapped and held hostage for 20 years in solitary confinement. When he is inexplicably released, he embarks on an obsessive mission to discover who orchestrated his bizarre and torturous punishment only to find he is still trapped in a web of conspiracy and torment.
The OLDBOY logo itself is Josh Brolin’s handwriting — inspired by the letters his character writes to his daughter while imprisoned in the film.
OLDBOY opens October 25, 2013 in theaters. Continued…
In support of the upcoming theatrical release of Guillermo del Toro’s new sci-fi action adventure “Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures PACIFIC RIM,” eight North American coastal cities along the Pacific Rim are joining in to host monster-sized, family-friendly beach clean-up events on Thursday, July 11.
Warner Bros., along with local media partners, RealD, various eco-friendly organizations and local parks and recreation departments, is encouraging people to join the clean-up efforts. They will award the first 100 participants at each local clean-up event two tickets to see the film in RealD 3D on opening weekend, as well as a special PACIFIC RIM t-shirt made of recycled materials, courtesy of RealD, and other prizes. Continued…
Warner Bros. Pictures has provided the complete final credits for Guillermo del Toro’s sci-fi action adventure PACIFIC RIM, opening July 12, 2013. Monster movie fans should take note of the dedication at credits’ end.
From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes the sci-fi action adventure “Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Pacific Rim.”
When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are synched via a neural bridge, called “The Drift.” But as the enemy grows more powerful with each attack, even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju.
On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes — a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) — who are teamed to drive a seemingly obsolete Jaeger. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse.
Oscar nominee Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) directed the epic sci-fi action adventure from a script by Travis Beacham and del Toro, story by Beacham. Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, del Toro and Mary Parent produced the film, with Callum Greene serving as executive producer and Jillian Zaks co-producing. Continued…
Warner Bros. Pictures Japan has released a theatrical trailer and images for PACIFIC RIM, the upcoming giant monster movie from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, the film stars Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Ron Perlman, Robert Kazinsky, Max Martini, Clifton Collins, Jr., Burn Gorman, Larry Joe Campbell, Brad William Henke and Diego Klattenhoff. Continued…
Ray Harryhausen, the pioneering filmmaker and special effects master of such classic films as THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, VALLEY OF GWANGI, and JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS, passed away peacefully Tuesday May 7th in London England from an undisclosed illness. He was 92 years old.
With Ray Harryhausen’s passing came an instantaneous ritual litany of recognizable names testifying to his influence — Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, to name a few. But by the same token, there was practically no real discussion of why he had that impact.
That’s predictable, really. For most people, this is just a news sidebar, including the legions of web-bound entertainment beat writers frantically culling fragmentary and unchecked sources to adopt a posture of authority for his impromptu obituary. Harryhausen is simply not familiar to most of the new breed of writers cluttering online news services and blogosphere. He outlived his career by 30 years, and for the bulk of the obit writers, his death detoured them from their real concerns, like whether Mylie Cyrus is hotter than Lindsey Lohan.
But, the simple fact that Harryhausen’s death resides largely on entertainment pages betrays how poorly his contributions are understood. Continued…
Warner Bros. has released advance images from director Guillermo del Toro’s giant monster action adventure PACIFIC RIM, opening in 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX on July 12, 2013.
When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes — a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) — who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse. Continued…
Fever Dreams, LLC., the New York City based independent production company responsible for such popular cult Asian movies as THE MACHINE GIRL, TOKYO GORE POLICE and DEATH TRANCE, presents SHINOBI GIRL, an all-new American action web series exclusively on Hulu!
Hulu, the leading on-demand internet streaming video service that features movies, network TV shows and original programming, kicked things off August 31st with “Some Kind Of Super Hero” the first full throttle episode of SHINOBI GIRL. Five episodes are currently available, with new episodes premiering every other Friday. Continued…
DVD Set Includes an Exclusive Alternative Art “Kenina” Trading Card
Source: Shout! Factory, Click Communications press release
Official Site: kaijudo.com
Special Thanks to Tom Chen, Scott Neumyer and Tyler Gagnon
This holiday season, kids and families are invited on a wondrous journey into the imaginative world of KAIJUDO: RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS, a current animated hit series produced by Hasbro Studios and Wizards of the Coast. Featuring the voice talent of popular actors Scott Wolf, Freddy Rodriguez, John DiMaggio, Oded Fehr, Phil LaMarr, David Sobolov, Kari Wahlgren and Jason Marsden, this popular action-fantasy series offers an inspiring story about a young hero, Ray, who possesses the rare ability to befriend and duel alongside fantastical creatures from a parallel dimension. It’s up to Ray to master the ancient art of KAIJUDO in order to protect both worlds. Moreover, this adventure-filled series highlights the tales of friendship, loyalty and determination, and further addresses the show’s central theme of anti-bullying.
On December 4, 2012, the whole family will be highly entertained by the exciting storytelling, incredible action and awesome creature combats when KAIJUDO: RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS – CREATURES UNLEASHED DVD hits store shelves in the U.S and Canada from Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios and Wizards of the Coast. Featuring five adventurous episodes, an exclusive alternative art “Kenina” playable trading card, and special bonus feature A Look at KAIJUDO: Rise of the Duel Masters, this DVD is priced to own with a suggested retail price of $14.97. Continued…
From the creators of TRANSFORMERS PRIME comes an all-new animated series TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS, created specifically for the younger generation of TRANSFORMERS fans by Hasbro Studios. Emphasizing the importance of teamwork and heroism, this hit show brings action, adventure, heart and humor, and follows a group of AUTOBOTS assigned by OPTIMUS PRIME to serve and protect mankind. On October 2, 2012, kids and families will be entertained by the adventures of the RESCUE BOTS – HEATWAVE, BOULDER, BLADES and CHASE when TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS: ROLL TO THE RESCUE DVD hits store shelves everywhere from Shout! Factory Kids, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios. Featuring five fun-filled episodes, special DVD bonus content and coloring sheets, this DVD is priced to own with a suggested retail price of $14.93. This DVD is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com.
Executive produced by Jeff Kline (TRANSFORMERS PRIME), TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS features the vocal talents of LeVar Burton (STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION), Lacey Chabert (PARTY OF FIVE), Steve Blum (TRANSFORMERS PRIME), Maurice LaMarche (Emmy Award winner for FUTURAMA) and the legendary Peter Cullen who voices OPTIMUS PRIME when he makes cameo appearances in the series. The TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS series is currently airing on The HUB TV Network in the U.S. and on Treehouse in Canada. Continued…
Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) are joining the worldwide celebration of Tolkien Week with the debut of the highly anticipated theatrical trailer for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” on September 19, 2012. The first in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is directed by Oscar winner Peter Jackson, who previously brought to the screen the blockbuster “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy. The week-long Tolkien Week celebration encompasses the 75th anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit novel and the worldwide celebration of Hobbit Day. Continued…
Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence, fresh off her success in the worldwide hit The Hunger Games, and Oscar nominee Elisabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas, Piranha 3D) star in this edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller about a teenager, Elissa, and her divorced mom, Sarah, who move into an upscale neighborhood to start a better life. But after they learn of rumors that the nearby woods are haunted by a homicidal killer, and Elissa befriends the mysterious sole survivor of a grisly double murder that took place in the house next door, their dreams for a brighter future spiral into a twisted nightmare.
Things go smoothly at first: Sarah (Elizabeth Shue) finds a good job and meets a nice guy while Elissa (Jennifer Lawrence) settles in at school and finds herself drawn to the boy next door, Ryan (Max Thieriot, My Soul to Take). Ryan seems like a kindred spirit, misunderstood and passionate, and Elissa sympathizes with his isolation—he is still shunned by the town years after his deranged sister Carrie Anne murdered their parents in a fit of inexplicable rage.
But as Ryan and Elissa spend more time together, details of his past come to the surface. Finding out the truth could be the worst thing that ever happened to Elissa. Continued…
On October 30th, 2012, ROSEMARY’S BABY will be released in digitally restored DVD and Blu-ray editions by The Criterion Collection.
Terrifying and darkly comic, ROSEMARY’S BABY marked the Hollywood debut of Roman Polanski (REPULSION, CHINATOWN). This wildly entertaining nightmare, faithfully adapted from Ira Levin’s best seller, stars a revelatory Mia Farrow (HANNAH AND HER SISTERS) as a young mother-to-be who grows increasingly suspicious that her overfriendly elderly neighbors, played by Sidney Blackmer (HIGH SOCIETY) and an Oscar-winning Ruth Gordon (HAROLD AND MAUDE), and self-involved husband (actor and filmmaker John Cassavetes) are hatching a satanic plot against her and her baby.
In the decades of occult cinema Polanski’s ungodly masterpiece has spawned, it’s never been outdone for sheer psychological terror. Continued…
Source: Shout! Factory press release
Special Thanks to Tom Chen
The truth is more than meets the eye. You’ve been listening to their speeches and watching them on TV. They influence our decisions without us knowing it. Think again and the choice is yours! On November 6, 2012, SCREAM FACTORY presents horror master John Carpenter’s (HALLOWEEN, THE THING) politically-charged science fiction thriller THEY LIVE Collector’s Edition Blu-ray and DVD.
Featuring anamorphic widescreen presentation of this cult classic movie, this special collector’s edition home entertainment release of THEY LIVE boasts a bounty of special bonus content, a collectible cover featuring newly rendered retro-style artwork, a reversible wrap with original theatrical key art and much more! THEY LIVE Collector’s Edition Blu-ray has a suggested retail price of $29.93 and $19.93 for the DVD. Fans and collector’s can pre-order now at ShoutFactory.com and Amazon.com. Continued…
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from an upcoming movie.
The Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of increasingly lethal Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, Alice (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s most impenetrable operations facility. Attempting a death-defying escape from the vast, high-tech complex with the help of a crew of elite commandos, Alice battles her way through the cityscapes of Tokyo, New York City, Moscow and Washington, D.C. Along the way, she encounters a series of mind-blowing revelations that will force her to rethink everything she once believed. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice finds a new reason to fight for the survival of a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun. Continued…
If you think you know the story, think again. Experience the film that critics and audiences are raving about when THE CABIN IN THE WOODS arrives on Blu-ray Disc (plus Digital Copy), DVD (plus Digital Copy) and On Demand and Pay-Per-View September 18 from Lionsgate. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS is also available on EST Stwo weeks prior to the Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand release. Co-written by fan favorites, Joss Whedon (THE AVENGERS, TV’s BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) and Drew Goddard (CLOVERFIELD) and directed by Goddard, THE CABIN IN THE WOODS is a film that “horror fans will be gushing about for years” (FearNet).
THE CABIN IN THE WOODS Blu-ray Disc (plus Digital Copy) and DVD (plus Digital Copy) will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.99 and $29.95, respectively. Continued…
It seems to be a pretty dry year for genre films. Sure, we’ve had the biggies like THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, PROMETHEUS, THE AVENGERS, etc. and a couple sleepers such as CABIN IN THE WOODS, but I’m speaking about genre films of the indie variety. For people who don’t always want to venture out to the theater and have their faces smashed into a bucket of popcorn with alien invasion and superhero epics, it has been kind of a boring year. We haven’t gotten a whole lot of truly exciting and original indie and foreign science fiction and horror films so far this year. There hasn’t been another MONSTERS or TROLLHUNTER yet. That is, until now. Behn Zeitlin’s directorial debut, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD is exactly the kind of film I was waiting to discover this year.
The film chronicles the journey of a young girl named Hushpuppy (played by Quvenzhané Wallis), who lives in a fictional southern bayou community known as “the Bathtub.” The Bathtub is located on a small part of land surrounded by rising waters after a previous natural disaster. Recent natural disasters have also unfrozen giant, prehistoric cow-like creatures called Aurochs, who are making their way towards the Bathtub. Although it is said in the film that this is related to the melting of the polar ice caps, the community and their treatment from the outside world is a clear stand-in for the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Continued…
BRANDED is a dark, mind-bending journey into a surreal, dystopian near future where corporate brands have unleashed a global conspiracy to control who we are and keep the population disillusioned, dependent and passive. One man, Misha (Ed Stoppard) is passionate to take back control, uncover the truth behind the conspiracy and lies and try to stop it from destroying our world. Continued…
The Spanish horror film [REC]3: GENESIS is being distributed in the United States by Magnet Releasing, a division of Magnolia Pictures (THE HOST, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, MONSTERS, TROLLHUNTER). The film is now available on Video On Demand and starts a limited theatrical run on September 7th. Check the Magnolia Pictures website for theater locations and dates.
Koldo and Clara are about to celebrate the most important day of their lives: their wedding. Everything appears to be running smoothly and the bride, the groom and their families are enjoying a wonderful day in the countryside until some of the guests start showing signs of a strange illness. Before they know what’s happening, the bride and groom find themselves in the middle of a hellish ordeal, as an uncontrollable torrent of violence is unleashed on the wedding. What started off as an idyllic day quickly descends into a nightmare of the worst kind. Continued…
