Veteran homicide detective Cho Sang-gil (Song Kang-ho) and eager rookie detective Cha Eun-young (Lee Na-young) investigate a series of bizarre murders.
Photo courtesy of CJ Entertainment and Opus Pictures. © 2011 CJ Entertainment, Opus Pictures

Additional Promotional Materials for the Upcoming Korean Thriller
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: CJ Entertainment, Opus Pictures
Official Website: howling2012.co.kr

Korean theatrical poster for HOWLING. Photo courtesy
of CJ Entertainment and Opus Pictures. © 2011 CJ
Entertainment, Opus Pictures

CJ Entertainment and Opus Pictures recently released a new trailer, behind-the-scenes clip and several new stills for HOWLING (하울링), a new thriller that opens February 9 in Korea.

HOWLING is about a series of murders, presumably committed by a wolfdog, and two detectives who pursue the real culprit. Song Kang-ho, of MEMORIES OF MURDER (살인의 추억, Salinui chueok, 2003), THE HOST (괴물, Gwoemul, 2006), SECRET SUNSHINE (밀양, Milyang, 2007) and THIRST (박쥐, Bakjwi, 2009) fame, stars as Cho Sang-gil, a veteran detective and Lee Na-young, who is well known for her starring roles in WHO ARE YOU? (후아유, 2002), SOMEONE SPECIAL (아는 여자, Aneun yeoja, 2004) and MAUNDY THURSDAY (우리들의 행복한 시간, Urideul-ui haengbok-han shigan, 2006), plays Cha Eun-young, a rookie detective.

HOWLING is based on the Japanese novel The Hunter (凍える牙, Kogoeru Kiba, 1996) by Asa Nonami, which won Naoki Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards of Japan. It is the new film by poet-turned-director Yoo Ha, whose filmography includes ONCE UPON A TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL (말죽거리 잔혹사, Maljukgeori janhoksa, 2004), A DIRTY CARNIVAL (비열한 거리, Biyeolhan geori, 2006) and A FROZEN FLOWER (쌍화점, Ssang-hwa-jeom, 2008).
Continued…

One-eye the Tyrannosaur corners two young Tarbosaurs. Photo courtesy and © 2012 Dream Search C&C, Inc., EBS and Olive Studio, Inc.

New Korean 3D Dinosaur Feature Debuts this Month, International Release to Follow
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: Dream Search C&C Inc., EBS, Olive Studio Inc.
Official Website: blog.naver.com/jumbagi2012

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Theatrical poster art, courtesy and © 2012 Dream
Search C&C, Inc., EBS and Olive Studio, Inc.

The production companies Dream Search C&C, Inc., EBS and Olive Studio, Inc. have jointly announced the release of SPECKLES THE TARBOSAURUS¹ (점박이: 한반도의 공룡 3D, Jumbagi: Hanbandoui gongryong 3D, literal translation “Speckles: Dinosaurs in the Korean Peninsula 3D”), which opens January 26, 2012 in Korea.

SPECKLES THE TARBOSAURUS is a 3D, computer-animated feature based on KOREANOSAURUS (한반도의 공룡, Hanbandoui gongryong, Dinosaurs in the Korean Peninsula), a 2008 nature documentary that aired on the Korean TV channel EBS (Educational Broadcasting System). Both the documentary and the new film follow the life of Speckles (Jumbagi in Korean), a fictional Tarbosaurus that lived in Korea during the Cretaceous period (about 70 million years ago). Speckles must protect his family, not only from One-eye (Aekunun in Korean), a violent, vengeful Tyrannosaurus, but also an impending disaster that could change the face of the planet.

The film will be distributed in Korea by CJ Entertainment. The North American theatrical, DVD/Blu-ray, digital, Video on Demand, and television rights for SPECKLES THE TARBOSAURUS have been acquired by distributor Well Go USA Entertainment.
Continued…

Rookie homicide detective Cha Eun-young (Lee Na-young) joins veteran Cho Sang-gil (Song Kang-ho) to solve a string of killings that may have been caused by an animal.
Photo courtesy of CJ Entertainment. © 2011 CJ Entertainment

New Trailer and Photos for Film Based on Best-Selling Japanese Crime Novel
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: CJ Entertainment
Official Howling Facebook pages: Sang-gil Version and Eun-young Version

Song Kang-ho, the prolific Korean actor who starred in MEMORIES OF MURDER (살인의 추억, Salinui chueok, 2003), THE HOST (괴물, Gwoemul, 2006), SECRET SUNSHINE (밀양, Milyang, 2007) and THIRST (박쥐, Bakjwi, 2009), among others, leads a new thriller called HOWLING (하울링), which opens in February in Korea.

Song plays Cho Sang-gil, a veteran homicide detective who is under pressure for his low arrest record. Because of this, he desperately seeks clues to a series of murders, presumably committed by a wolfdog. Joining Sang-gil on the investigation is rookie detective Cha Eun-young (Lee Na-young), who suspects there is something elusive behind the case.
Continued…

Optimus Prime leads the Autobots in the computer animated film TRANSFORMERS PRIME – DARKNESS RISING, coming to DVD on December 6th.
Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 2011 Hasbro, Inc.

Source: Shout! Factory press release
Special Thanks to Tom Chen

On December 6, 2011, Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro, Inc, will release the CGI animated film TRANSFORMERS PRIME – DARKNESS RISING on DVD. Celebrate the triumphant return of the Autobots through cutting-edge CGI animation, combining all five action-packed episodes of the TRANSFORMERS PRIME television series currently airing on The Hub television network. Delivering a new level of heavy metal action and family entertainment for all ages, this highly collectible DVD is priced to own with a suggested retail price of $14.97.
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Flesh-eating zombies have overrun Northern Japan in HELLDRIVER. © 2010 Sushi Typhoon/ Nikkatsu

Japanese Splatter King Yoshihiro Nishimura Delivers a Blood-Soaked Gore Fest on November 22
Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications press release
Special Thanks to Chrissy Walker, Doris Pfardrescher and Leif Hellend

Cover art for the HELLDRIVER Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack. Photo
courtesy of Well Go USA. © 2010 Sushi Typhoon/ Nikkatsu

From director Yoshihiro Nishimura (TOKYO GORE POLICE, VAMPIRE GIRL VS. FRANKENSTEIN GIRL) comes the epic, apocalyptic Zombie-fighting road movie HELLDRIVER (日本分断 HELL DRIVER, Nihon Bundan: Heru Doraibaa, 2010), featuring non-stop, over-the-top splatter action debuting November 22 from Well Go USA. HELLDRIVER will be available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack for $29.98 SRP and on DVD for $24.98 SRP.

The latest cult film from the prolific Japanese production company Sushi Typhoon, HELLDRIVER takes place in a Japan where half the population has become not-so-sexy flesh eaters and the economy has gently withered away… until Kika (Yumiko Hara) arrives. A stunning high school girl armed with an artificial heart-powered chainsaw sword, she leads a motley crew of desperados on a secret mission into the zombie-infected wilds to exterminate zombie queen Rikka (Eihi Shiina, TOKYO GORE POLICE) and put an end to the plague of the living dead.

The extensive bonus features include three exclusive short films set within the HELLDRIVER universe: HELLDRIVER DAKOTA (directed by HELLDRIVER First Assistant Director Jun Shiozaki), CATCH ME IF YOU CAN! (directed by Lighting Director Hiroshi Ota), and BAILOUT! (directed by poster designer Yoshiki Takahashi).
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Cha Hae-joon (Ha Ji-won) comes face to face with a deadly deep-sea creature in the new 3D Korean monster movie SECTOR 7.
Photo courtesy of CJ E&M Pictures and JK Film. © 2010 JK Film / CJ E&M Pictures

Korean 3D Creature Feature Doesn’t Live Up to it’s Potential
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: CJ E&M Pictures, JK Film
Official Movie Site: 2011sector7.co.kr

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images for a new movie.

Main theatrical poster for SECTOR 7. Photo courtesy of
CJ E&M Pictures and JK Film. © 2010 JK Film / CJ E&M
Pictures

The title of the new Korean 3D monster movie, SECTOR 7 (7광구, Chil gwanggu), refers to a real-life mining area that lies between the south of Jeju Island, Korea and the west of Kyushu, Japan. It is a continental shelf where great amounts of petroleum and natural gas are thought to be buried. Korea is not an oil-producing country, so it heavily relies on imported petroleum. To many Koreans, the real sector 7 means a dream that has not come true yet… someday, Korea could produce oil. Setting the plot against a place like that many Koreans feel strongly about, could give the movie SECTOR 7 a very realistic, emotional edge. Even the workers, who are the characters of the movie, could have eclectic sense of existence. Then, instead of petroleum, they encounter a monster— and a horrible one at that. No other monster movie from Korea has had a more promising premise than this.

But, unfortunately, SECTOR 7 could not demonstrate the full potential of its setup. There were many holes in the script and direction, and sometimes those holes were big ones. The monster shows itself quite a bit earlier than expected (though its full version would not be revealed until later in the film), but those early episodes regarding it were not brought into the central story— like oil and water, the monster and the plot did not interact well with each other.
Continued…

New poster for the 3D Korean monster movie SECTOR 7, focusing on the main cast and characters. Photo courtesy of CJ E&M Pictures.
© 2010 JK Film / CJ E&M Pictures

New Promotional Materials for the Upcoming Korean 3D Creature Feature
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: CJ E&M Pictures
Official Movie Site: 2011sector7.co.kr

The Korean film company and distributor CJ E&M Pictures, the film department of CJ E&M which was previously known as CJ Entertainment, has released two new teaser posters and an advance trailer for the 3D monster movie SECTOR 7 (7광구, Chil gwanggu).

The first poster design is basically the same as the advance teaser image which was released last December, but with slightly revised artwork, the Korean title logo and a tag line which reads “Off the southernmost tip of Jeju-do, 2,500 meters below in the ocean depths… something is there (or ‘something exists’).” The other teaser poster is specifically designed to introduce Korean audiences to the main characters from the film. And the trailer does finally show some brief glimpses of the creature.
Continued…

North American Release on December 28
Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Movie Site: kamuigaiden.jp (Japan), funimation.com/kamui (US)
Special Thanks to Manny Alcala

Blu-ray cover art for KAMUI GAIDEN. Photo courtesy of
FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009 Kamui Film Partners

FUNimation Entertainment will release the live-action dramatic epic KAMUI GAIDEN on Region 1 DVD and Blu-ray on December 20th. Produced by Shochiku Co. Ltd., the film was released in September 2009 in Japan. An adaptation of Sanpei Shirato’s 1964 manga series of the same name, the movie is directed by Japanese Academy Award winner Yoichi Sai (BLOOD AND BONES), written by Kankuro Kudo (PING PONG) and stars Kenichi Matsuyama (DETROIT METAL CITY, DEATH NOTE).

Both the DVD (SRP $24.98) and Blu-ray ($29.98) present KAMUI GAIDEN in its original 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio with both Japanese and English dubbed audio tracks. There are also 45 minutes of extras, including “Making Of” and behind the scenes footage.
Continued…

See the New Movie Before It Opens in Japan, Courtesy of VIZ Pictures and SciFi Japan!
Source: VIZ Pictures
Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan)
Premiere Event Page: GANTZ
Special Thanks to Rieko Fuji and Erik Jansen

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Promo art for the world premiere of GANTZ. Photo
courtesy of VIZ Pictures. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha
© 2011 Gantz Film Partners

The live-action feature GANTZ, based upon the popular Japanese manga and anime series, will be screened in American theaters nine days before the film opens in Japan. NEW PEOPLE and NCM Fathom are bringing the world premiere of GANTZ to cinemas nationwide for a one night live event on Thursday, January 20th at 8:00 pm ET/ 7:00 pm CT/ 6:00 pm MT/ 8:30 pm PT (tape delayed). It will be English over-dubbed exclusively for this big screen event.

Following the feature, the two stars, Kazunari Ninomiya (LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA) and Kenichi Matsuyama (DEATH NOTE, DETROIT METAL CITY) will participate in an exclusive live interview that can only be seen at this premiere.

Tickets for this special event are available at participating theater box offices and online now. For a complete list of theater locations and ticket information, please visit FathomEvents.com/Gantz.

As an added bonus, our friends at VIZ Pictures have offered SciFi Japan readers a chance to win free tickets to see this film on the big screen. We have three passes to give away… and here is your chance to grab one for yourself!
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Asian Studios Remake Patrick Swayze/Demi Moore Romantic Fantasy
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: CJ Entertainment
Official Movie Site: ghost-movie.jp (Japan), naver.com/ghost_2010 (Korea)

Matsushima and Song re-enact one of the most famous scenes from the original
GHOST. Photo courtesy of CJ Entertainment. © 2010 Ghost Film Partners

In 1990, Paramount Pictures’ fantasy/romance hit GHOST earned more than $500 million worldwide and was nominated for five Academy Awards (winning two). Two decades later, Paramount Pictures Japan has remade the film for Asian audiences.

The new version is a co-production between various Japanese companies such as NTV, Vap, and Shochiku plus Korea’s CJ Entertainment, along with its Japanese branch CJ Entertainment Japan. Marketed with the same English title as the original, the film was released in Japan as GHOST: IN YOUR ARMS AGAIN (ゴースト もういちど抱きしめたい, Gosuto: mou ichido dakishimetai) on November 13th, and in Korea on November 25th as GHOST: LOVE AND SOUL (고스트 : 보이지 않는 사랑, Ghost: Boiji Anneun Sarang).
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Director of DRAGON WARS Returns to His Comedic Alter-Ego for New English Language Movie
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: Younggu Art and CJ Entertainment official press materials
Official Movie Site: THE LAST GODFATHER

DRAGON WARS director Shim Hyung-rae’s bumbling character Young-gu visits
America. Photo courtesy of Younggu Art and CJ Entertainment. © 2010 Younggu
Art

Shim Hyung-rae, the comedian-turned-director who brought us such SFX-monster films as YONGGARY (aka REPTILIAN, 1999/2001) and DRAGON WARS (D-WAR, 2007), travels to the United States in the 1950s and becomes the son of a mob boss! This hilarious premise comes true as Shim’s new comedy, THE LAST GODFATHER (라스트 갓파더), has officially set its release date in Korea for December 30.

Directed by and starring Shim himself, the film also features such American actors as Harvey Keitel (TAXI DRIVER, RESERVOIR DOGS), Michael Rispoli (THE SOPRANOS, KICK-ASS), Jocelin Donahue (THE BURROWERS), Jason Mewes (CLERKS, JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK) and Jon Polito (THE CROW, THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE).
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American and Korean Promotional Materials for New Adventure Film
Introduction: Kim Song-ho
Source: Relativity Media
Official Movie Site: iamrogue.com/thewarriorsway (US), ww2010.co.kr (Korea)

US theatrical poster for the film. Photo courtesy of
Relativity Media. © 2010 Laundry Warrior Ltd.

The action/adventure film THE WARRIOR’S WAY opens today in the US. The film was produced by Barrie M. Osborne (of THE LORD OF THE RINGS fame) and written and directed by Korean filmmaker Sngmoo Lee. In Korea, the film has been much anticipated because not only was it a major studio production directed by a Korean, but also the first English-language feature of Jang Dong-gun, who happens to be the superstar of the superstars in his native country. The film opened December 2 in Korea.

Set in the American West, this stylish-looking martial arts film is about Yang, a master swordsman. Seeking refuge in a rundown town, Yang is unexpectedly involved a feud between the locals. Kate Bosworth, Geoffrey Rush, Danny Huston, and Tony Cox also star.

The world premiere and red carpet ceremony for THE WARRIOR’S WAY were held on November 22 in Seoul with Jang, Bosworth and director Lee in attendance. It remains to be seen whether the film is strong enough to match the large amount of hype surrounding it.

The following US production notes are courtesy of production company and distributor Relativity Media. Accompanying the article are images, advertising art, and video providing by Relativity and the Korean company SK Telecom.
Continued…

DVD Sequel Contains Unrated Footage Not Seen on SyFy
Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, MPRM press releases
Special Thanks to Leif Helland and Corrie Hirokawa

Cover art for LAKE PLACID 3, the new DVD sequel to the
monster crocodile movie series. Photo courtesy of Sony
Pictures Home Entertainment. © 2010 Sony Pictures
Worldwide Acquisitions Inc.

The monster crocodiles return in a frightening new installment of the successful horror franchise when the unrated LAKE PLACID 3 debuts on DVD October 26 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Colin Ferguson (TV’s EUREKA), Yancy Butler (KICK-ASS), Kacey Barnfield (RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE), and Michael Ironside (TERMINATOR SALVATION) star in the latest incarnation of the campy, blood-thirsty horror series. Fans will eat up the steamy, sexy and gory LAKE PLACID 3 when it arrives on DVD for $24.96 SRP, boasting unrated, unreleased scenes suitable only for adult audiences.

Get ready for a living, feeding nightmare when a swarm of gigantic crocodiles terrorizes a secluded country lake. When local wildlife is brutally mauled and campers are reduced to carcasses, biologist Nathan Bickerman (Colin Ferguson) knows a voracious predator is on the loose. So does a feisty female hunting guide (Yancy Butler) out for her next trophy. As the body count rises, the local sheriff tries to keep things quiet and keep the tourists coming. But when the horrifying, hulking truth emerges, can anyone stop these cold blooded killers before they claim their next victim? Lake Placid 3 is pulse pounding, adrenaline pumping, pure horror film fun.

LAKE PLACID 3 has a running time of 93 minutes and is unrated. The film contains graphic violence and full frontal nudity, has a running time of 93 minutes and is unrated. LAKE PLACID 3 contains graphic violence and full frontal nudity.
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Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Movie Site: funimation.com/vampiregirl
Special Thanks to Manny Alcala and Jackie Smith

Cover art for the new 2 disc DVD set of VAMPIRE GIRL VS
FRANKENSTEIN GIRL. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Ent.
© 2009 Pony Canyon /Concept Film /Excellent Film Partners

The deranged genius behind TOKYO GORE POLICE (Tokyo Zankoku Keisatsu, 2008) is back with a chilling new flick that’s re-writing the hallowed history of the horror genre. VAMPIRE GIRL VS FRANKENSTEIN GIRL (Kyuketsu Shojo tai Shojo Furanken, 2009) is the terrifying story of two classic monsters re-imagined as super hot – and extremely lethal – Japanese school girls. Gore rules supreme in this blood-cake cavalcade of carnage chosen as the winner of the Audience Award at the 2009 NY Asian Film Festival and also took home the Guru Prize for Most Energetic Film at the Fantasia Festival. Fan boys and movie blogs are already buzzing over this bloodbath du jour, and aficionados of psychedelic blood-filled chocolates, mad scientist principals, sumo wrestlers from hell, and sex-crazed school nurses are guaranteed to lose their heads over this old school splatter-fest.

VAMPIRE GIRL VS FRANKENSTEIN GIRL has now been released on 2-disc Blu-ray and DVD in North America by FUNimation Entertainment.
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Indie UK Sci-Fi Thriller Now on Video On Demand; Opens Theatrically October 29
Source: Magnolia Pictures
Official Movie Site: monstersfilm.com (US), monstersthemovie.com (UK)
Special Thanks to Brandon Nichols

Magnolia Pictures has provided clips from their new movie, MONSTERS. The film is now available through Video On Demand, iTunes, Xbox Live, Playstation Marketplace, Amazon and Vudu. MONSTERS opens in US theaters October 29, 2010.
Continued…

Indie UK Sci-Fi Thriller Opens October 29
Source: Magnolia Pictures
Official Movie Site: monstersfilm.com (US), monstersthemovie.com (UK)
Special Thanks to Brandon Nichols and Corrie Hirokawa

Alternate US poster for MONSTERS, courtesy of Magnet
Releasing. © 2010 Vertigo Films, Ltd.

Six years ago NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed upon re-entry over Central America. Soon after, new life forms began to appear there and half of Mexico was quarantined as an INFECTED ZONE.

Our story begins when a US journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through the infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border.

The low budget indie UK film MONSTERS will be distributed in the United States by Magnet Releasing, a division of Magnolia Pictures (THE HOST, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN). The picture will first be available on Video On Demand, iTunes, Xbox Live, Playstation Marketplace, Amazon and Vudu starting September 24th, with a limited theatrical run beginning in Los Angeles and New York on October 29th.
Continued…

Source: 4Digital Media, Organic Marketing press releases
Official Movie Site: Death-Note-Movie (Japan), 4digitalmedia.com/deathnote (UK)
Special Thanks to Steve Beecham and Andy Green

Cover of the UK DEATH NOTE 1 & 2 Blu-ray Collection. Photo
courtesy of 4Digital Media and Organic Marketing. © 2006
[Death Note] Film Partners

Light Yagami is good looking, a great student, and rich. But it’s not enough. His attitude is about to change when a Shinigami death god accidentally drops his notebook down into the human world and into Light’s hands. The thing about this notebook is that whoever’s name is written down in the book dies. Now the death games begin as Light decides to use his new power to rid the world of evil. But is he doing more harm than good in his quest to kill off every criminal? And when the talented and mysterious L is brought in to solve the mystery behind all this death, will Light be able to outsmart him or end up in prison?

With over 25 million copies sold, Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s hit manga series Death Note has spawned an internationally successful anime series, and been adapted into two box office smash live-action feature films directed by Shusuke Kaneko, widely known for the popular Gamera monster film series.

Now British distributor 4Digital Media will release a 4 disc special edition box set with both feature films in Blu-ray; DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME, plus two discs packed full of extras on DVD.
Continued…

Crime Thriller Streets October 4th
Source: Organic Marketing
Official Movie Site: office-kitano.co.jp/brother (Japan)
Special Thanks to Andy Green

DVD cover art for the UK release of BROTHER. Photo
courtesy of Park Circus and Organic Marketing.
© 2000 Little Brother, Inc./Office Kitano

Internationally acclaimed Japanese media phenomenon ‘Beat’ Takeshi Kitano’s (ZATOICHI, BATTLE ROYALE) 2000 crime thriller BROTHER will be released on DVD in the United Kingdom by distributor Park Circus on October 4th. Kitano wrote, directed and starred in this straight-ahead gangster saga with a cross-cultural twist.

The film focuses on Yamamoto (Kitano), a Yakuza gangster, who is forced out of the country when a gang war all but wipes out his clan. Armed with a fake credit card, a forged passport and a bag of money, he travels to Los Angeles, where he organizes one of the most powerful criminal syndicates in the city. Yamamoto seems unstoppable, until his gang runs afoul of the Mafia. Soon all that he built quickly and bloodily starts to unravel, as every member in his gang is marked for death.
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The LORD OF THE RINGS films will be released individually on Blu-ray this week. Warner Bros. is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win all
three Blu-ray discs and a selection of LOTR prizes. Photo courtesy of Warner Home Video. © 2010 New Line Productions, Inc.

Source: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Official Website: LordOfTheRings.net
Special Thanks to Bridget Groller

THE LORD OF THE RINGS Blu-ray Prize Pack contains three
movies, a jade necklace, an ornament, a poster, playing
cards, and more! Photo courtesy of Warner Home Video.
© 2010 New Line Productions, Inc.

The award-winning, international blockbuster THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy will be released individually on Blu-ray for the first time on September 14th. The Blu-ray discs have a MSRP of $24.98 each.

Warner Bros. is giving SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a great THE LORD OF THE RINGS Blu-ray Prize Pack containing all three films and host of cool LOTR collectibles. THE LORD OF THE RINGS Blu-ray Prize Pack contains…

• THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING Blu-ray disc
• THE TWO TOWERS Blu-ray disc
• THE RETURN OF THE KING Blu-ray disc
• Two Bookmarks
• One New Zealand Jade Necklace
• One Navy Blue Ornament
• One Deck of LOTR Playing Cards
• One Travel Candle
• One Poster

Read on for contest details and to view clips from all three films.
Continued…

Stella Star (Bond girl Caroline Munro) has some problems with space amazons in STARCRASH, coming this month to DVD and Blu-ray.
Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory and New Horizons

Roger Corman, Caroline Munro, David Hasselhoff, Marc Singer, MST3K on DVD and/or Blu-ray
Source: Shout! Factory press releases
Special Thanks to Tom Chen

B-movie fans are in for a treat as Shout! Factory prepares to unleash several Roger Corman films and another MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 DVD collection in the coming weeks and months. Look for the STARCRASH 2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION on Blu-ray and DVD, NOT OF THIS EARTH SPECIAL EDITION DVD, THE TERROR WITHIN / DEAD SPACE DOUBLE FEATURE DVD, and MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: Volume XIX (with ROBOT MONSTER, BRIDE OF THE MONSTER, DEVIL DOLL and DEVIL FISH).
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Anime Jungle is giving SciFi Japan readers a chance to win KIKAIDA BROTHERS posters personally signed by the shows’ stars Ban Daisuke and the late Shunsuke Ikeda.
Photo courtesy of Anime Jungle. © Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Posters Signed by Lead Actors Ban Daisuke and Shunsuke Ikeda, courtesy of Anime Jungle
Source: Anime Jungle
Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota and Yoichi Kakuma

A look at the complete poster. Photo courtesy of Anime Jungle.
© Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Ban Daisuke, star of KIKAIDA (Jinzo Ningen Kikaida, 1972), KIKAIDA 01 (1973), and INAZUMAN (1973) will visit Los Angeles this upcoming weekend for Japantown’s annual Nisei Week Festival. Sponsored by the popular collector’s shop Anime Jungle, Ban Daisuke will take part in autograph sessions, the Nisei Week Parade, and a special dinner and talk show on the weekend August 14-15.

In celebration of the Nisei Week events, Anime Jungle is giving SciFi Japan readers in the United States a chance to win a free KIKAIDA BROTHERS Poster, signed by both Ban Daisuke and the late KIKAIDA-01 star Shunsuke Ikeda (who sadly passed away June 11, 2010).
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Piano Rendition of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Source: Nancy Hirsch Group press release
Official Site: elewrockjazz.com
Special Thanks to Rebekah Stein and Teddy Getz

Japanese filmmaker Ryuhei Kitamura— director of such movies as VERSUS, AZUMI, GODZILLA: FINAL WARS, and MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN— has directed the debut music video of Rockjazz Pioneer ELEW; a cover of Nirvana’s iconic rock anthem “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
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J-Pop Idol Erina Mano Wows Fans at Premiere Screening of Her Feature Film Debut
Source: Japan Film Society
Additional Material: Kai Saari
Official Site: Facebook.com/TalesofTerror (US), shinmimi.net (Japan)
Official Twitter Profile: Twitter.com/ShinMimi

After the screening, Erina Mano serenaded fans
with the film’s theme song. Photo courtesy of
Japan Film Society. © 2010 BS-i, King Records

On July 1st, J-Pop’s #1 idol and Hello! Project singing sensation Erina Mano attended the world premiere of her feature film debut, KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO (怪談新耳袋-怪奇), at the world famous Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California. KAI-KI is the latest in series of films based on the hit Japanese TV franchise TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO AND ALL OVER JAPAN (怪談新耳袋*, Shin Mimi-Bukuro), which adapts actual urban legends collected from across the country by writer Kihara Hirokatsu.

Club Nokia hosted two screenings of KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO. A mini-concert followed each showing in which Erina Mano sang the film’s them song “Returning Home” as well as “Sekai wa Summer Party”, a happy pop song that from her first tour album. Both Miss Mano and Tales of Terror creator Kihara Hirokatsu took part in an autograph signing.

In addition, there was also a Q&A featuring Erina Mano, J-Idol producer Tamon Andrew Niwa and representatives from the Toyota Creative Lounge who financed the project. Toyota Creative Lounge reps included the prominent designers Agga B., Anna Fong, Melissa Serpico Kamhout (Serpico), and Lidia Wachowska (evil kitty); all of whom designed exclusive outfits for Mano-san to wear during her stay in Los Angeles.
Continued…

Minya, the Son of Godzilla, confronts the giant mantis Kamakiras in SON OF GODZILLA, playing this month at The Colonial Theatre in New Hampshire.
© 1967 Toho Co., Ltd.

The Colonial Theatre Presents Its Fourth SPOOKTACULAR
Source: The Colonial Theatre press release
Official Site: Spooktacular IV
Special Thanks to Mark Nelson

Advertisement for SPOOKTACULAR IV, courtesy of Mark
Nelson. SON OF GODZILLA © 1967 Toho Co., Ltd.

Giant monsters once again return to Keene, New Hampshire at The Colonial Theatre’s SPOOKTACULAR, Saturday, July 31st 2010 at 2PM. Curated by SATURDAY FRIGHT SPECIAL, New Hampshire’s first home-grown horror host TV show, the event features a rare 35mm screening of the 1967 Japanese monster melee SON OF GODZILLA (English dubbed version). In addition to the main feature, vintage monster movie previews, a cartoon, and snack bar ads will precede the film, along with prize giveaways and on-stage appearances by Scarewolf and other SATURDAY FRIGHT SPECIAL characters. The event will be the finale of the Colonial’s annual Family Film Series, and will be an all-ages event, bringing back the feel of an old-time kiddie matinee.

“We’re thrilled to be able to present a Godzilla film to the Colonial audience on a Saturday afternoon, the same way that so many kids in the 70s first saw these films, both in the theater and on TV,” said Mark Nelson, SATURDAY FRIGHT SPECIAL curator for the event. “In fact, we’re giving fans an opportunity they never had back then to see SON OF GODZILLA on the big screen, as the film was released directly to television in the US.”
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More than 50 Asian Films to Screen at Huge Festivals in New York City
Source: Subway Cinema, Japan Society
Special Thanks to Kristen Osborne, Grady Hendrix, Tahmid Mannan, and Shannon Jowett

Beginning June 25th, New York City once again plays host to America’s leading large-scale festival of popular Asian cinema. Subway Cinema’s New York Asian Film Festival (June 25- July 8 ) and Japan Society’s JAPAN CUTS: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema (July 1-16) combined will feature more than 50 movies, world and US premieres, exclusive Q&A’s with filmmakers, and other special events. This year also marks the fourth annual collaboration between JAPAN CUTS and NYAFF, who will co-present several films at the Japan Society from July 1-4.
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J-Pop Idol Erina Mano will attend and perform at the world premiere of her feature film debut, KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO, in Los Angeles.
Photo courtesy of Japan Film Society. © 2010 BS-i, King Records

J-Pop Idol Erina Mano to Attend and Perform at Premiere Screening of Her Feature Film Debut
Source: Japan Film Society, BAM! Marketing, Publicity and Promotions press releases
Additional Material: Kai Saari
Official Site: Facebook.com/TalesofTerror (US), shinmimi.net (Japan)
Official Twitter Profile: Twitter.com/ShinMimi

KAI-KI is the latest chapter in the long-running TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO
AND ALL OVER JAPAN franchise, which adapts urban legends and ghost stories.
Photo courtesy of Japan Film Society. © 2010 BS-i, King Records

J-Pop’s #1 idol and Hello! Project singing sensation Erina Mano will be attending and performing at the world premiere of her break-out feature film role in KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO (怪談新耳袋-怪奇) on July 1, 2010 (World Premiere at noon and 2nd screening at 3:00 pm) at the world famous venue, Club Nokia, in Los Angeles, California. Advance tickets for both events are now available at club2themax.com.

KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO is based on the hit Japanese TV franchise TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO AND ALL OVER JAPAN and is comprised of two separate short stories: TSUKIMONO: THE POSSESSED and NOZOMI, both starring Erina Mano. The film was written by Ryuta Miyake and directed by Makoto Shinozaki (TOKYO ISLAND), and features the song “Returning Home” performed by Ms. Mano.

Erina Mano will be in attendance at both screenings and will also partake in a Q&A session with audience members and perform a mini-live concert at the event as well. In addition, she will also be take part in a fan meet & greet and a mini-autograph session for a limited time at the event. Also in attendance will be legendary J-Idol producer Andrew Tamon Niwa (the man behind Pocky 4 Sisters, Tokyo Shojo, and Miyazaki Aoi; in addition to Miss Mano) and the acclaimed horror/ghost-folktale aficionado and Tales of Terror author Hirokatsu Kihara, whose work inspired the hit Japanese TV series and now the highly anticipated theatrical release.
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4 DVD Set to be Released in the UK on 31 May, 2010
Source: 4Digital Media, Organic Marketing press release
Official Movie Site: 20th Boys (Japan), 4digitalmedia.com/20cb (UK)
Special Thanks to Alexandra Beedell and Louise Rivers

Packaging art for the UK DVD collection 20TH CENTURY BOYS
TRILOGY: THE COMPLETE SAGA, coming May 31st. Photo
courtesy of 4Digital Media and Organic Marketing. ©1999,
2006 Naoki Urasawa, Studio Nuts/Shogakukan. ©2008 ”20th
Century Boys” Film Partners

One of the biggest undertakings ever attempted in the Japanese movie industry… a positively epic exercise in filmmaking and storytelling, the blockbusting 20TH CENTURY BOYS trilogy has proven to be one of the most ambitious, expensive and successful undertakings in Japanese Cinema. Director Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s epic efforts to release three films in one year based on Naoki Urasawa’s acclaimed manga (selling 28 million copies) has brought to life a stunning doomsday thriller that spans multiple generations and genres, and bites into conspiracy theory, pop culture, nostalgia and spectacular special effects.

The 20TH CENTURY BOYS TRILOGY: THE COMPLETE SAGA DVD set comes with all three films in the trilogy, plus Chapter 1 is packaged as a Special Edition 24 Page Book with an extra disc packed full of bonus extras. The box set boasts Special Features totaling 4 Hours!

The 20TH CENTURY BOYS saga begins in 1969 when a young boy named Kenji and his friends write The Book of Prophecy. In the book, they write about a future where they fight against an evil organization trying to take over the world and bringing about Doomsday. Years later in 1997, a mysterious cult being lead by a man only known as “Friend” has emerged and gained a strong influence over society. A series of catastrophic events begin to occur, mirroring the prophecies made up by the young Kenji. The greatest fear is that the climax of The Book of Prophecy will become a reality: on December 31st, 2000, a terrifying giant virus-spreading robot will attack the entire city of Tokyo, leading to the end of mankind. The only people who know about The Book are Kenji and his childhood friends. Who is Friend? Will Kenji and his friends be able to save mankind and live to see the 21st Century?
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NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Saga to Debut in European Territores on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
Source: NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe, Indigo Pearl press release
Special Thanks to Holly Barnes

NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S. has announced the forthcoming launch of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM 2 for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3, the first game based on the global hit Naruto Shippuden manga and anime to appear on the consoles. Packed with new features and enhancements, a comprehensive character line up and stunning graphics, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM 2 is scheduled for launch across PAL territories in autumn 2010.
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Coming to US DVD and Blu-Ray this Summer
Source: Media Blasters
Special Thanks to Richard York

Media Blasters has released the English language trailer for DEATH KAPPA, a new Tokyo Shock original film produced with Fever Dreams Japan. DEATH KAPPA is an “old school” daikaiju movie from the creators of cult favorites THE MACHINE GIRL, DEATH TRANCE and TOKYO GORE POLICE and director Tomoo Haraguchi, the celebrated make-up, creature and effects master whose credits include the last four Gamera films, ASHURA, UZUMAKI, RING 0, Showtime’s MASTERS OF HORROR series. and REIGO: THE DEEP-SEA MONSTER VS THE BATTLESHIP YAMATO. Haraguchi has also directed a handful of films such as MIKADROID, SAKUYA, and KIBAKICHI.
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Hong Kong Classic Gets Ultimate Edition Treatment
Source: The Associates press release
Special Thanks to Paul Smith

Cover art for the FIST OF LEGEND two-disc Ultimate
Edition DVD. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 1994
Golden Harvest /Eastern Production Ltd.

Directed by Gordon Chan (THE MEDALLION; BEAST COPS) and starring martial arts superstar Jet Li (THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR; THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM; FEARLESS; HERO), FIST OF LEGEND gets the Ultimate Edition treatment courtesy of Cine Asia with an extra features-packed Blu-ray and two-disc DVD release on 22nd March 2010.

A stunning reinvention of Bruce Lee’s timeless 1972 classic, FIST OF FURY, FIST OF LEGEND delivers scene upon scene of intense and magnificently composed martial arts action for what is now considered by many to be the greatest kung fu movie of all time. Showcasing exceptional action-choreography from ace martial arts director, Yuen Woo-ping (THE MATRIX Trilogy and KILL BILL), FIST OF LEGEND is a brilliant martial arts masterpiece that justifiably has been awarded iconic status by fans and critics worldwide.

FIST OF LEGEND (cert. 18) will be released on DVD (£17.99) and Blu-ray (£24.99) by Cine Asia on 22nd March 2010.
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