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SciFi Japan » Godzilla / Toho http://www.scifijapan.com/articles Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:33:54 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Win GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER DVD + Poster Prize Pack! http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/02/07/win-gantz-ii-perfect-answer-dvd-poster-prize-pack/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/02/07/win-gantz-ii-perfect-answer-dvd-poster-prize-pack/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:33:54 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=28215 NEW PEOPLE Entertainment Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US) Special Thanks to Shio Toyoda

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Last month, NEW PEOPLE Entertainment released GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER (前編 PERFECT ANSWER, Gantsu Pafekuto Ansaa, 2011) -- the live-action film sequel to GANTZ (前編, 2011) -- on Region 1 DVD (SRP $24.92) and Blu-ray/DVD combo-pack (SRP $29.99). The GANTZ films are based on the hit manga series created by Hiroya Oku, which has sold over 15 million copies worldwide and was previously adapted in a 26 episode anime series. Directed by Shinsuke Sato (THE PRINCESS BLADE) and starring Kazunari Ninomiya (LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA) and Kenichi Matsuyama (DEATH NOTE, DETROIT METAL CITY), both GANTZ movies debuted at the top the Japanese box office. To celebrate the new film's North American release, NEW PEOPLE Entertainment is giving SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER Prize Pack containing the 2-Disc DVD Edition and a poster. The unrated DVD features both English and Japanese dialogue options and includes an exclusive director’s interview, cast profiles, and theatrical film trailers. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/02/07/win-gantz-ii-perfect-answer-dvd-poster-prize-pack/feed/ 0 GANTZ: PERFECT ANSWER on Australian DVD and Blu-ray in February http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/28/gantz-2-perfect-answer-on-australian-dvd-and-blu-ray-in-february/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/28/gantz-2-perfect-answer-on-australian-dvd-and-blu-ray-in-february/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:45:52 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=27665

Australian DVD and Blu-ray cover art for GANTZ: PERFECT ANSWER. Photos courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners Second Installment of the Popular GANTZ Franchise Streets February 15th Source: Madman Entertainment Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US) The Australian label Madman Entertainment will release the box office hit GANTZ: PERFECT ANSWER (前編 PERFECT ANSWER, Gantsu Pafekuto Ansaa, 2011) on DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in February 2012. The discs will feature a never-before seen extended version of the film with new scenes added. Several months after the events of GANTZ 1, Kei Kurono (Kazunari Ninomiya) faces an impending alien invasion under the order of Gantz. As he closes in on the magical "100" score to resurrect his friends, young pop star Eriko Ayukawa (Ayumi Ito) is being secretly ordered by Gantz to carry out assassinations, and cop Masamitsu Shigeta (Takayuki Yamada) inches closer towards finding out the truth about the invading aliens. As the missions get increasingly dangerous, Kurono discovers that the endgame for Gantz is quickly approaching with a massive bloody showdown with the aliens. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/28/gantz-2-perfect-answer-on-australian-dvd-and-blu-ray-in-february/feed/ 0 GANTZ: PERFECT ANSWER on UK DVD and Blu-ray in February http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/19/gantz-perfect-answer-on-uk-dvd-and-blu-ray-in-february/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/19/gantz-perfect-answer-on-uk-dvd-and-blu-ray-in-february/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:26:25 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=28080

Cover art for the upcoming UK DVD and Blu-ray editions of GANTZ: PERFECT ANSWER. Photos courtesy of The Associates. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners Source: The Associates press release Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US) GANTZ: PERFECT ANSWER (前編 PERFECT ANSWER, Gantsu Pafekuto Ansaa, 2011) will be released on DVD (Region 2, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in the UK by Manga Entertainment on February 6th, 2012. The sequel begins several months after the events of the first film. Kei Kurono (Ninomiya) is still fighting aliens under the order of Gantz and he is close to reaching the score he needs to resurrect his friend Masaru Kato (Matsuyama). As the missions begin to get increasingly dangerous for both the alien fighters and the general public, Kurono discovers that the endgame for Gantz is quickly approaching. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/19/gantz-perfect-answer-on-uk-dvd-and-blu-ray-in-february/feed/ 0 ALWAYS -SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- 3 Production Notes http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/15/always-sunset-on-third-street-3-production-notes/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/15/always-sunset-on-third-street-3-production-notes/#comments Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:02:53 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=28092 NTV (Nippon Television Network) Official Site: Always 3 Special Thanks to Asuka Kimura and Tzeling Huang

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

Released in Japan in November 2005, ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET (ALWAYS 三丁目の夕日, Always San-Chome no Yuhi) enjoyed a long theatrical run, won countless awards (including numerous Japan Academy Awards), and became one of the most successful films in recent memory. Two years later, the sequel, ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- 2 (ALWAYS 続・三丁目の夕日, Always Zoku San-Chome no Yuhi, 2007), surpassed the box office success of the original, capturing the hearts of audiences across the nation. Five years later, the beloved characters of this popular franchise return to the big screen in ALWAYS- SUNSET ON 3RD STREET- 3 ALWAYS 三丁目の夕日'64, Always San-Chome no Yuhi '64) — this time in 3D. SciFi Japan is pleased to present an early look at the latest chapter in the smash hit ALWAYS movie series with photos and production notes provided by NTV. Toho will release the film to theaters across Japan on January 21, 2012. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/15/always-sunset-on-third-street-3-production-notes/feed/ 0 GANTZ Interview: Director Shinsuke Sato http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/13/gantz-interview-director-shinsuke-sato/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/13/gantz-interview-director-shinsuke-sato/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:21:33 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=27954

Masaru Kato (Kenichi Matsuyama) and Kei Kurono (Kazunari Ninomiya) in publicity art for GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners Author: Elliot Gay Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US) Source: NTV (Nippon Television Network) Photos: NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, The Associates, Madman Entertainment Special Thanks to Asuka Kimura and Shio Toyoda

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

GANTZ and GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER director Shinsuke Sato. Photo courtesy of NEW PEOPLE Entertainment.

Both GANTZ (前編, Gantsu, 2011) and its sequel, GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER (前編 PERFECT ANSWER, Gantsu Pafekuto Ansaa, 2011), were directed by filmmaker and video game developer Shinsuke Sato. A graduate of Musashino University of The Arts, Sato first drew attention for writing and directing successful student films, before making his professional directorial debut with LOVE SONG (2001). His second film, THE PRINCESS BLADE (修羅雪姫, Shura Yukihime, 2001), was released internationally, and he has directed such well-received movies as ALL ABOUT MY DOG (いぬのえいが, Inu no Eiga, 2005), SAND CLOCK (砂時計, Sunadokei, 2008) and the Japan Academy Prize-nominated animated feature OBLIVION ISLAND: HARUKA AND THE MAGIC MIRROR (ホッタラケの島〜遥と魔法の鏡〜, Hottarake no Shima - Haruka to Maho no Kagami, 2009). Sato has also developed characters and storylines for video games, most notably TEKKEN 4 (2002). SciFi Japan writer Elliot Gay recently spoke with Shinsuke Sato about his work on the two GANTZ films. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/13/gantz-interview-director-shinsuke-sato/feed/ 0 Interview: Criterion GODZILLA Producer Curtis Tsui http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/10/interview-criterion-godzilla-producer-curtis-tsui/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/10/interview-criterion-godzilla-producer-curtis-tsui/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:19:31 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=27997

The King of the Monsters raids Japan for the first time --again!-- in The Criterion Collection's DVD and Blu-ray release of GODZILLA. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd. Bringing the Japanese Sci-Fi Classic to DVD and Blu-ray Author: Keith Aiken Source: The Criterion Collection, Image Entertainment Official Site: criterion.com/godzilla

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

On January 24th, The Criterion Collection will release the Toho classic GODZILLA (ゴジラ, Gojira, 1954) on special edition DVD and Blu-ray. The high-anticipated discs feature high-def digital restorations of both the original Japanese film and its Americanized edit GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS (1956), plus a wealth of bonus content including trailers, cast and crew interviews, audio commentaries and featurettes. Supervising the new release is Criterion producer Curtis Tsui, who recently discussed the project with SciFi Japan. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/10/interview-criterion-godzilla-producer-curtis-tsui/feed/ 0 ARRIETTY Press Notes http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/09/arrietty-press-notes/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/09/arrietty-press-notes/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:36:46 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=27858

Arrietty fends off a threatening insect. © 2010 GNDHDDTW Production Details for the Studio Ghibli Animated Feature Source: Madman Entertainment Official Movie Site: karigurashi.jp (Japan), arrietty.com.au (Australia), disney.go.com/arrietty (US) The animated feature ARRIETTY (借りぐらしのアリエッティ, Karigurashi no Arrietty, 2010) was another smash hit for Studio Ghibli, topping the Japanese box office for 2010. Based on Mary Norton’s novel The Borrowers, ARRIETTY is now being released theatrically in two major English language markets; Madman Entertainment will open the film in Australian cinemas on January 12, 2012, and Walt Disney Studios will release it in North America as THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY on February 17. The following English language press notes for ARRIETTY are courtesy of Madman Entertainment. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/09/arrietty-press-notes/feed/ 0 NEW PEOPLE Celebrates GANTZ II Release With Special S.F. Screenings http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/07/new-people-celebrates-gantz-ii-release-with-special-s-f-screenings/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/07/new-people-celebrates-gantz-ii-release-with-special-s-f-screenings/#comments Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:25:40 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=28000

The mysterious men in black are looking for a fight in GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER, playing January 14th at NEW PEOPLE Cinema. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco to Screen GANTZ and GANTZ II on January 14th Source: NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, MediaLab press release Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US) Special Thanks to Erik Jansen NEW PEOPLE Entertainment celebrates the recently announced release of GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER on DVD/Blu-ray with a special series of screenings of the entire GANTZ film saga on Saturday, January 14th at the S.F. Film Society | NEW PEOPLE Cinema located in San Francisco’s Japantown. Tickets are $10. Additional ticket and film info is available at newpeopleworld.com/#gantz2. GANTZ (Dubbed) 1:00pm GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER (Dubbed) 4:00pm GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER (Subtitled) 7:00pm All those attending the screenings of GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER will receive a free full-color GANTZ poster. A special ticket bundle is also available for $25 (DVD) or $30 (Blu-ray) that includes a movie pass, poster, and either the DVD or Blu-ray release. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/07/new-people-celebrates-gantz-ii-release-with-special-s-f-screenings/feed/ 0 NYICFF Special Preview Screening: THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/05/nyicff-special-preview-screening-the-secret-world-of-arrietty/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/05/nyicff-special-preview-screening-the-secret-world-of-arrietty/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:17:05 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=27960

A tiny girl befriends a young boy in the Studio Ghibli animated feature THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY. NYICFF will have a preview screening in NYC before the film opens nationwide in the United States. © 2010 GNDHDDTW Source: GKIDS Inc. press release Official Event Site: gkids.tv/intheaters Official Movie Site: karigurashi.jp (Japan), disney.go.com/arrietty (US) NYICFF (New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival) is thrilled to present a special preview screening of Studio Ghibli's THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (借りぐらしのアリエッティ, Karigurashi no Arrietty, 2010), based on Mary Norton's classic children's book The Borrowers. Co-written by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Miyazaki protégé Hiromasa Yonebayashi, the film is a gorgeous and entertaining treat - a beautiful story, sumptuously animated with all the loving detail, warmth, and humanity we have come to expect from Studio Ghibli's finest works. THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY is currently certified 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The screening will take place at 1:00pm on Saturday, January 21st at Symphony Space in New York City. This event is expected to sell out, so advance purchase is highly recommended. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/01/05/nyicff-special-preview-screening-the-secret-world-of-arrietty/feed/ 0 Studio Ghibli’s ARRIETTY Opens in Australia on January 12th http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2011/12/30/studio-ghiblis-arrietty-opens-in-australia-on-january-12th/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2011/12/30/studio-ghiblis-arrietty-opens-in-australia-on-january-12th/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:02:54 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=27759

The tiny borrower Arrietty lives beneath the floorboards of mansion in the Studio Ghibli animated feature ARRIETTY. Image courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2010 GNDHDDTW Discover a Secret World Within Our Own Source: Madman Entertainment Official Movie Site: karigurashi.jp (Japan), arrietty.com.au (Australia)

The Studio Ghibli animated feature ARRIETTY (借りぐらしのアリエッティ, Karigurashi no Arrietty, 2010) will open in Australian cinemas on January 12, 2012, courtesy of distributor Madman Entertainment. Madman will screen ARRIETTY in both English language and Original Japanese language versions with English subtitles. The English language track was recorded in the UK and features a different voice cast than will be heard in the upcoming US release (entitled THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY) from Walt Disney Studios. The UK cast includes Saoirse Ronan (THE LOVELY BONES, HANNA) as Arrietty, Tom Holland as Sho, Olivia Colman (HOT FUZZ) as Homily, Phyllida Law (UNLEASHED, THE WINTER GUEST) as Sadako, Luke Allen-Gale (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER) as Spiller, Mark Strong (SHERLOCK HOLMES, GREEN LANTERN) as Pod and Geraldine McEwan (MISS MARPLE, WALLACE & GROMIT) as Haru. Continued...
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