Japanese bookstores are now selling the Toho SFX DVD Collection which packages classic movies with a collectible booklet.
© 2009 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2009 KK DeAgostini Japan

Author: Ed Godziszewski
Official Site: KK DeAgostini Japan

Cover for Toho SFX DVD Collection Vol 2: MOTHRA VS
GODZILLA. © 1964 Toho Co., Ltd. © 2009 KK DeAgostini Japan

One of the recent trends in Japan is take movie and TV series that have long been marketed on video, LD, and dvd and repackage them a new way to sell them yet again to the public. The preferred approach is to produce a bare bones DVD, bundle them with an A4-size booklet, and introduce a new volume every 3-4 weeks, thus bypassing video sales arrangements and allowing the product to be sold as a book in bookstores.

Always one to look for ways to sell the same movies to collectors many times over, Toho jumped on this bandwagon recently and intends to sell 55 titles from their special effects film catalog. Sold by a company named DeAgostini starting in September of 2009, the Toho SFX DVD Collection has been a huge seller in its first few months, moving well over 200,000 units of each of the 11 titles released to date. Not bad for films, many of which have had at least at least 6 different home video releases over time.

So what do you get for your ¥1990 (roughly $22 at today’s exchange rate) per volume?
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The giant monster Geharha faces off with mankind’s new superweapon in GEHARHA: THE DARK AND LONG HAIR MONSTER. The film is now available on
Japanese DVD and Blu-ray. © 2009 NHK ‘Geharha’ Project.

2009 TV Kaiju Movie on Japanese DVD and Blu-ray with English Subtitles
Author: James Bonney
Official Site: Geharha (Japan)
Special Thanks to James Ballard

GEHARHA: THE DARK AND LONG HAIR MONSTER (Chouhatsu Daikaiju Gehara, 2009), the short, shot for television film that tells the bizarre story of a mysterious monster that rises up from the depths to wreak havoc on Japan has been released onto DVD in it’s native country. It is a treat for kaiju fans worldwide… that is if you can get past region code blockage and the rather expensive conversion rates and shipping, which is a typical situation amongst foreign buyers of Japanese DVDs.
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X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE is now available on DVD in both a single-disc edition (left) and a 2-Disc Special Edition. Photos courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment.
© 2009 20th Century Fox Film Corporation and Dune Entertainment III LLC.

Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Fox Home Entertainment, Click Communications, Bender/Helper Impact
Special Thanks to Scott Neumyer

Half-brothers Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber) have
an intense sibling rivalry. Photo courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment. © 2009
20th Century Fox Film Corporation and Dune Entertainment III LLC.

Experience the very first chapter of the exciting X-Men saga through the eyes of a true Marvel legend with X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, an epic adventure that pits Wolverine and all mutants against powerful forces determined to eliminate them. Spanning over 150 years, X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE chronicles Logan’s tortured past… from conflicts with his half brother Victor Creed – aka Sabretooth, his membership in Team X, his infamous adamantium rebirth and the total memory loss that ultimately fuels his angry quest.

On September 15th, Fox Home Entertainment released the box office hit X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE on DVD and Blu-ray. The film is the fourth in the X-MEN movie series based on Marvel Comics’ hugely popular comic book franchise, and the first is a planned series of films detailing the backstories for various X-Men characters.
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Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s new ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION features three classic films directed by Ishiro (often billed as “Inoshiro”) Honda.
Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. © 1958-61 Toho Co., Ltd.

First Look at New 3 Disc DVD Collection of THE H-MAN, BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE, and MOTHRA
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Special Thanks to Kai Saari and Oki Miyano

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains screen shots from several movies made half a century ago.

Back cover for the DVD packaging. Photo courtesy of Sony
Pictures Home Entertainment. © 2009 Toho Co., Ltd.

On August 18, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION, a three-disc DVD set containing THE H-MAN (1958), BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (1959), and MOTHRA (1961). These three films were produced during what is known as the “Golden Age of Toho” by the same creative team responsible for GODZILLA (Gojira, 1954); producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya, and director Ishiro Honda. Honda in particular seems to be the focus of this ICONS collection, with Sony’s advertising materials referring to him as “the Father of Japanese Sci-Fi Movies” and “the Father of GODZILLA”. The TOHO COLLECTION has a suggested retail price of $24.96.

THE H-MAN, BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE, and MOTHRA were all released theatrically in the United States by Columbia Pictures between 1959 and 1962. The studio— now a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment— has maintained the US rights ever since, following up the theatrical runs with television syndication for all three movies. Beginning in the 1980s, Columbia also released both THE H-MAN and MOTHRA on home video. The new TOHO COLLECTION release marks the premiere of THE H-MAN and MOTHRA on Region 1 DVD, and the first time BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE will be commercially available on video in any format in the United States.

Sony’s ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION presents both the Japanese and US versions for each film in their original Toho Scope 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratio. The DVD set has its faults, but the pluses so far outweigh the minuses that most fans should be very pleased.
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Contents of the Memorial Box ©2008 Superior Ultraman 8 Brothers Production Consortium. Photo by James Ballard

The latest Ultraman feature arrives on DVD and Blu-ray
Author: James Ballard
Official Website: http://ultra2008.jp

Released to theatres on September 13th last year, director Takeshi Yagi’s motion picture debut SUPERIOR ULTRAMAN 8 BROTHERS (Daikessen! Chou Urutora Hachi Kyoudai, lit. Great Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers) has gone on to become the most successful entry in the Ultraman movie series, with a box office take of over 800 million yen.

Now, the hit film also has the distinction of being the first Japanese kaiju production to be released on the new Blu-ray Disc format. Three different editions were released on home video on January 23rd; a single disc DVD edition, a limited edition 2-disc “Memorial Box” DVD collection, and a single disc Blu-ray edition.
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Cover art for the first two DVD volumes of POWER RANGERS JUNGLE FURY. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Inc.
© 2008 BVS Entertainment, Inc. and BVS International N.V.

Let’s Rumble in the Jungle!
Author: Aaron Cooper
Source: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Inc.
Official Site: Jungle Fury

It is hard to imagine that the Power Rangers franchise is 16 years old! There are really not a lot of kid’s shows out there that can lay that type of claim for constant original programming. Us old fogies at SciFi Japan realized we’ve been ignoring this particular area of Japanese-influenced action for a little too long, so I took a look at the first two volumes of POWER RANGERS JUNGLE FURY entitled “Into the Jungle” and “Way of the Master”, which comprise the first 12 episodes of the series as seen on Jetix through Toon Disney in 2008.
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Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Paramount Home Entertainment and Click Communications
Official Website: Indiana Jones
Special Thanks to Scott Neumyer

Front cover for the Blu-ray edition. Photo courtesy of Paramount
Home Entertainment. © 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Nineteen years after riding off into the sunset, Indiana Jones returned to theaters with INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL. The film earned $770 million at the box office as audiences worldwide rushed to see the newest adventure of the famous archaeologist.

The movie itself was somewhat of a mixed bag. The passage of time— with an older, world weary Dr. Jones dealing with Soviet villains, an alien mystery, and Communist paranoia at home— created a new and welcome feel from the previous films. But much of the action sequences seem repetitive and by the book, only differing from the past in their over-reliance of CGI. Some of the changes that were made apparently did not please critics or fans of the series. The return of Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood was welcome, but her character in KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL is oddly “spaced out” rather than the smart and tough-as-nails portrayal the won over fans in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. And while the other Indiana Jones movies used real animals, KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL instead features CG monkeys, gophers, and ants that look and act like CG monkeys, gophers, and ants.

Despite its flaws, INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL is the proverbial “fun ride” and its good to see the film get the quality treatment from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Paramount Home Entertainment.
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Maleficent, one of the all-time great Disney villains, is back in restored 2.55:1 widescreen. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Home Ent. © 1959 Disney

Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Cover art for the new SLEEPING BEAUTY 2-Disc Platinum
Edition DVD. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Home
Ent. © 2008 Disney

Each year, Walt Disney Home Entertainment presents one or two of the studio’s classic animated films in a deluxe 2-Disc Platinum Edition DVD. The latest entry is SLEEPING BEAUTY, which celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a beautiful digital restoration, enhanced sound, and a wealth of bonus features.

SLEEPING BEAUTY was a groundbreaking film that also marked the end of an era for Walt Disney Pictures. Realizing that his adaptations of fairy tales like SNOW WHITE and CINDERELLA had been more successful both commercially and critically, in 1951 Walt decided to go with the tale of SLEEPING BEAUTY. To keep the film from being nothing more than a repetition of those earlier fairy tales, Disney thought the film should have a drastically different animation style. He turned to Eyvind Earle, one of the studio’s top background artists, to design the entire look of the film, which crossed the international Gothic style of the late Medieval period with the modernist art that had become popular in the post-WWII years.

For the DVD, the film was digitally restored and is presented in the original 2.55:1 theatrical aspect ratio. Audio options include the English audio in a new 5.1 stereo mix, French, and Spanish 5.1 tracks. Rounding out the presentation are optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles.
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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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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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Screen shots from Warner Bros. Home Video’s new DVD of WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH. © 1969 Hammer Film Productions, Ltd./ Warner Bros.

Hammer Films’ Stop-Motion Animation Classic Finally Released Uncut and in Widescreen on DVD
Author: Loren Portillo
Special Thanks to Jim Danforth

Cover art the “Sci-Fi Double Feature” MOON ZERO TWO
/WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH. © 2008 Warner
Bros. Home Video

Warner Bros. Home Video’s latest wave of Best Buy exclusive “Sci-Fi Double Feature” DVDs includes the stop-motion animation favorite WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH paired with MOON ZERO TWO. This set has caught the attention of monster movie enthusiasts because it finally presents WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH uncut and in widescreen— unlike the earlier VHS and laserdisc versions from several years ago. The suggested retail price for the DVD is $19.98.

Released in 1970 by Hammer Films and Warner Bros., WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH is supposedly a direct sequel to Ray Harryhausen’s 1966 version of ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. starring Raquel Welch, but I view it more like a remake with a few new twists. Cavewoman Sanna (1968 Playboy Playmate of the Year Victoria Vetri) is being sacrificed by the Rock Tribe to their sun god for being of fair skin and blonde hair. She able to escape during a fearsome storm and is later saved by Tara (Robin Hawdon), a fisherman from another hostile tribe. The two fall in love, which angers Tara’s dangerous brunette girlfriend Ayak (Imogen Hassall).

Sound familiar? But let’s be honest:if you came to view a film titled WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH you came to see the dinosaurs, right? 29 year old special visual effects artist Jim Danforth— with assistance from Roger Dicken (ALIEN) and the late Dave Allen of EQUINOX fame— does not dissapoint. They put on an Oscar nominated show with some of the most realistic stop-motion effects ever commited to film.
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Screen shots from LONG DREAM, the J-Horror from the creator and director of UZUMAKI which is now available on DVD.
© 2000 “Junji Ito Horror Collection” Film Partners

DVD cover art for LONG DREAM. Photo courtesy of
Tidepoint Pictures and Facets Video. © 2000 “Junji Ito
Horror Collection” Film Partners

J-Horror from the Creator and Director of UZUMAKI
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Tidepoint Pictures, Facets Video

Dr. Kuroda (Masami Horiuchi) is perplexed by one of his patients, Tetsuro Mukouda (Shuuji Kashiwabara), who is terrified of going to sleep. It seems the young man’s dreams are spanning months and even years in a single night, and he can no longer tell what’s real life and what’s just a dream. As the dreams grow longer and longer, they begin taking as disturbing a toll on Mukouda’s body as they have on his mind.

Overtaken by ambition, Kuroda begins to believe that the secret to human immortality can be found in the long dream. He experiments on Mukouda, then another patient, Mami Takeshima (Tsgumi), who believes she is being hunted by Death. Finally, Kuroda begins the long dream experiment on himself, hoping to be reunited with his long-lost love Kana Sakurai (Eriko Hatsune) in dreamland…

The 2000 J-Horror film LONG DREAM has recently been released on Region 1 DVD by Tidepoint Pictures.
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Cover art for BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHT Collector’s Edition.
© 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Batman gets animated again as prelude to new film
Author: Aaron Cooper

I have to give Warner Bros. credit for interesting marketing ideas regarding the new and improved Batman film franchise. I personally have always enjoyed different anime anthologies, going as far back as ROBOT CARNIVAL to THE ANIMATRIX of a few years ago, and what better character to play with in terms of animated interpretations than Batman, a character that has endured various incarnations and versions throughout his 70 year history?

BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHT is an anthology of six animated shorts that occurs after the events of BATMAN BEGINS and acts as a prelude of sorts to the upcoming DARK KNIGHT film. Several Japanese directors and animation studios, as well as American comic creators worked under Executive Producer Bruce Timm to create several unique visions of the Dark Knight. Yet, while all the stories feature unique anime styles and studios as well as direction and tone, there are several interwoven themes that link the stories into the prelude it’s meant to be.
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Cover art for SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY. Photo courtesy
of Warner Bros. Home Video. © 2007 Warner Bros.
Entertainment Inc.

Can the Man of Steel come back from the dead?
Author: Aaron Cooper

Prepare yourself for a look at some recent animated delving into the DC Universe. As the resident SciFi Japan comic book geek, I’ve been promising the staff to do these reviews for a while.

It took me a while to sit and watch SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY. I’ll be the first to admit that the entire “Death and Return of Superman” storyline that permeated comics in the early 1990’s was far too excessive in hype, multiple covers, and bagged editions mixed with mediocre and melodramatic storytelling. Sure, it was exciting at the time…for about a month. It wasn’t necessarily something I wanted to revisit. Add to that, of all the DC Superheroes animation that Bruce Timm and Paul Dini had been producing for Warner Bros. for over a decade, the Superman series was the least interesting to me. Of course, being a Batman apologist never helps in this regard!

Regardless, I’m a little older and (hopefully) wiser now. Having separated myself from the source material for a while now, I thought it would be interesting to see how Warner Bros. did with SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY and see if I could give this title an unbiased review.
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