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New Videos and Images for HOWLING

Keith Aiken — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:34:15 +0000

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

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...

Meet SPECKLES THE TARBOSAURUS in 3D

Keith Aiken — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:10:44 +0000

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

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...

New Korean Thriller HOWLING Opens in February

Keith Aiken — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:01:54 +0000

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...

TRANSFORMERS PRIME – DARKNESS RISING Streets Next Week

Keith Aiken — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:25:12 +0000

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. Continued...

HELLDRIVER on DVD and Blu-ray

Keith Aiken — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:27:27 +0000

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

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). Continued...

SECTOR 7 Review

Keith Aiken — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:03:01 +0000

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.

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...

SECTOR 7 Teaser Posters and Trailer

Keith Aiken — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:45:19 +0000

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...

KAMUI GAIDEN on Region 1 DVD and Blu-ray

Keith Aiken — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:50:32 +0000

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

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...

Win Tickets to See GANTZ World Premiere on January 20

Keith Aiken — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 19:04:26 +0000

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

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! Continued...

GHOST: The Japanese/Korean Remake

Keith Aiken — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 23:06:15 +0000

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)

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). Continued...