SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO is just one of thirty movies making their Australian premiere at the 15th Japanese Film Festival.
Photo courtesy of Japan Foundation. © 2010 Space Battleship Yamato Production Committee.

Source: Japan Foundation, Sydney press releases
Official Site: japanesefilmfestival.net
Special Thanks to Evon Fung and Amanda Thompson

Not long now until the 15th Japanese Film Festival hits Sydney and Melbourne with their biggest line-up to date. Featuring 30 films – all Australian premieres – the festival lineup includes the live action feature SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, Koki Mitani’s new comedy A GHOST OF A CHANCE, Studio Ghibli’s box office smash ARRIETTY, Takahisa Zeze’s latest LIFE BACK THEN, OBA: THE LAST SAMURAI (with director Hideyuki Hirayama and actor Yutaka Takenouchi in attendance), ABACUS AND SWORD, Yoshihiro Nakamura’s A BOY AND HIS SAMURAI, VILLAIN, GANTZ and GANTZ: PERFECT ANSWER.
Continued…

DVD and Blu-ray cover art for SEX & ZEN: EXTREME ECSTASY. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2011 One Dollar Production, Ltd.

Source: Madman Entertainment
Official Movie Site: 3dsexzen.com

On November 30th, the Hong Kong production SEX & ZEN: EXTREME ECSTASY (3D肉蒲团之极乐宝鉴, 2011) will be released on DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in Australia by distributor Madman Entertainment. A new chapter in the legendary 1990s SEX & ZEN series, EXTREME ECSTASY hit $1 million (USD) at the box office in Aussie cinemas and broke the box office record in Hong Kong, beating the previous record holder, AVATAR. Madman’s DVD and Blu-ray will feature the uncut version of the film, not seen in cinemas, with 15 minutes of extra footage.
Continued…

SKETCH OF MUJO, the first documentary to be made in the wake of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, is one of six new Japanese films
screening during the “Premiere Japan 2011″ festival at the Barbican Centre.

Six New Japanese Films Screening November 25-27
Source: Barbican Centre, Sarah Harvey Publicity press release
Special Thanks to Liz Parkinson

Now in its seventh year in London, Premiere Japan comes to the Barbican for the first time from 25 to 27 November, screening six of the best and most recent features and documentaries from Japan. Highlights include Locarno Film Festival winner, TOKYO PARK featuring rising star Haruma Miura; the latest delight from Yazaki Hitoshi, SWEET LITTLE LIES adapted from Ekuni Kaori’s best selling novel, and SKETCH OF MUJO the first documentary to be made in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier this year. Each screening is preceded by a short film chosen from submissions made by students, both Japanese and non-Japanese, at the University of the Arts London.
Continued…

Source: Golden Media Group
Official Site: GooHead Internet Channel
Special Thanks to Roy McAree

Ten SFJ readers have won a DVD set of four classic films
featuring international star Sonny Chiba. © 1979-1984
Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

It’s time to announce the winners of GooHead Internet Channel and SciFi Japan’s THE SONNY CHIBA COLLECTION giveaway. The following ten entrants were randomly chosen to receive a free DVD set containing the Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba films G.I. SAMURAI, RESURRECTION OF GOLDEN WOLF, NINJA WARS and LEGEND OF THE EIGHT SAMURAI…

James Babbo
Keith Marsh
Benjamin Haines
Tyler Collins
Lee Merritt
Andrew Stengele
Jordan Perry
Christopher Allen
Austin Buell
Mark Fitzpatrick
Continued…

Sawako (Hikari Mitsushima) takes stock of her life when she returns to her hometown to take care of her ailing father Tadao (Kotaro Shiga) in
SAWAKO DECIDES. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2010 PFF Partners

Source: Third Window Films, The Associates press release
Official Movie Site: kawasoko.com (Japan), thirdwindowfilms.com/sawako-decides (UK)
Special Thanks to Adam Torel

DVD cover art. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films.
© 2010 PFF Partners

Yuya Ishii’s award winning comedy SAWAKO DECIDES (川の底からこんにちは, Kawa no Soko Kara Konnichi Wa, 2010) is now available on DVD in the United Kingdom, courtesy of Third Window Films. The film stars Hikari Mitsushima, well known to tokusatsu fans for her roles in REBIRTH OF MOTHRA II (1997), ULTRAMAN MAX (2005) and the DEATH NOTE films (2006). In recent years she has established herself with quirky performances in international cult hits like LOVE EXPOSURE (愛のむきだし, Ai no Mukidashi, 2009) and KAKERA: A PIECE OF OUR LIFE (カケラ, Kakera, 2010).

Sawako (Hikari Mitsushima) has lived in Tokyo for five years, is working her fifth office job, and is dating her fifth boyfriend, who is also her boss at the office. Her life with her boyfriend Kenichi (Masashi Endo) and his daughter from a previous marriage, Kayoko (Kira Aihara), feels like a “compromise,” and she endures each day feeling distressed about her career and love life.One day, she receives word that her father, Tadao (Kotaro Shiga), who runs a freshwater clam processing business in her hometown, has fallen ill. There is a reason why Sawako would rather not go back home so easily, but she reluctantly decides to return at Kenichi’s insistence. But Kenichi, who had actually quit his job shortly before Sawako, uses this opportunity to come along with Sawako to her hometown with his daughter in tow. Thus Sawako’s ordeals continue. Still, she takes over her father’s clam processing company and begins to work there.
Continued…

Qiu Jin (Yi Huang) inspires revolution in the biopic THE WOMAN KNIGHT OF MIRROR LAKE. The movie opens this Friday in Los Angeles.
© 2011 National Arts Productions Limited.

US Theatrical Release Begins October 28th
Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release
Official Movie Site: funimation.com/the-woman-knight-of-mirror-lake (US)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

FUNimation Entertainment today announced it has acquired the home video, digital, mobile, television, and theatrical distribution rights for the live action film, THE WOMAN KNIGHT OF MIRROR LAKE (競雄女俠•秋瑾, Jingxiong Nüxia – Qiu Jin, 2011).

FUNimation has partnered with Eleven Arts to bring THE WOMAN KNIGHT OF MIRROR LAKE to the big screen in theaters across the U.S. starting this week as part of the worldwide release of the film. THE WOMAN KNIGHT OF MIRROR LAKE premiered in Hong Kong on October 13th and in Singapore on October 20th. The film will begin its U.S. theatrical run on October 28th in Los Angeles at the Culver Plaza Theatre. The film THE LEGEND IS BORN – IP MAN, will screen simultaneously at the Culver Plaza Theatre.
Continued…

It’s business as usual for the Busan underworld in A BETTER TOMORROW, the south Korean remake of the classic John Woo film. © 2010 CJ E&M Pictures

2010 Remake from Executive Producer John Woo
Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications press release
Special Thanks to Chrissy Walker, Doris Pfardrescher and Leif Hellend

Cover art for the A BETTER TOMORROW Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack.
Photo courtesy of Well Go USA. © 2010 CJ E&M Pictures

The accent is on action when Jin-mo Ju (A FROZEN FLOWER, THE WARRIOR) and Seung-heon Song (SO CLOSE, GHOST) star in the remake of John Woo’s 1986 cult classic A BETTER TOMORROW (무적자, Mujeokja, 2010), debuting on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and DVD November 8 from Well Go USA.

Double-dealing among rival Thai and Korean mob syndicates provide the fuel for this fast-paced crime thriller that also stars Kang-woo Kim (MARINE BOY) and Han Sun Jo. Bonus materials include deleted scenes, a photo gallery, behind-the-scenes interviews with director Hae-sung Song and the film’s actors, and a 30-minute interview with executive producer John Woo. A BETTER TOMORROW will be available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack for $29.98 SRP and on DVD for $24.98 SRP.

A BETTER TOMORROW has a runtime of approximately 124 minutes and is not rated.
Continued…

DVD Set of Four Classic Films Featuring the International Action Star
Source: Golden Media Group
Official Site: GooHead Internet Channel
Special Thanks to Roy McAree

Win a DVD set of four classic films featuring international
star Sonny Chiba. © 1979-1984 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

Earlier this month, the GooHead Internet Channel— a free streaming service for classic Asian feature films and television series— announced they would be adding eight new titles to their lineup of films featuring martial arts legend, Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba (THE STREET FIGHTER, KILL BILL VOL. 1). Now, GooHead is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a free DVD set of four Sonny Chiba films!

THE SONNY CHIBA COLLECTION brings together, for the first time ever, four Chiba classics, uncut and unedited…

• G.I. SAMURAI (戦国自衛隊 Sengoku Jieitai, aka TIME SLIP, 1979)
• RESURRECTION OF GOLDEN WOLF (蘇える金狼, Yomigaeru Kinro, 1979)
• NINJA WARS (伊賀忍法帖, Iga Ninpo-cho, aka BLACK MAGIC WARS, 1982)
• LEGEND OF THE EIGHT SAMURAI (里見八犬伝, Satomi Hakkenden, 1983)
Continued…

Epic Martial Arts Masterpiece Debuting on Blu-ray and DVD October 25
Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications press release
Special Thanks to Chrissy Walker, Doris Pfardrescher and Leif Hellend

Cover art for the Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack of SHAOLIN. Photo
courtesy of Well Go USA. © 2011 Emperor Motion Pictures

Andy Lau (HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS, FUTURE X-COPS), Nicolas Tse (THE STOOL PIGEON, STORM WARRIORS), and international superstar Jackie Chan (THE KARATE KID, RUSH HOUR trilogy) star in the martial arts drama SHAOLIN (新少林寺, Xīn Shàolín Sì, 2011), debuting on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack, DVD and Collector’s Editions DVD and Blu-ray October 25 from Well Go USA. In this remake of Jet Li’s SHAOLIN TEMPLE (1982), acclaimed director Benny Chan (CITY UNDER SIEGE) tells an epic tale of sadistic warlords squaring off against noble monks in “a tale of monstrous evil, spiritual transformation and ultimate self-sacrifice” (Mark Jenkins, NPR).

SHAOLIN will be available for $24.98 SRP (DVD), $29.98 SRP (Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack, DVD Collector’s Edition), and $32.98 (Blu-ray Collector’s Edition). The Collector’s Edition features extensive bonus materials including deleted scenes and a “Making of” featurette.
Continued…

DVD and Blu-ray cover art for TREASURE HUNTER. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009 Chang Hong Channel Film & Video Co..

Taiwanese Action/Comedy Starring THE GREEN HORNET’s Jay Chou
Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

Fans of The MUMMY need hunt no further for edge-of-your-seat thrills! Hong Kong Film Award winners, Jay Chou (THE GREEN HORNET) and Eric Tsang (INFERNAL AFFAIRS), star in THE TREASURE HUNTER (刺陵, Ci Ling 2009), a blazing adventure packed with action and stunning special effects. In November, the movie will be released on both DVD and Blu-ray in North America by FUNimation Entertainment.
Continued…

The Yamato races against time to save the Earth in the hit film SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, coming to DVD and Blu-ray from the Australian label Madman.
Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2010 Space Battleship Yamato Production Committee.

Region 4 Home Video Release in December
Source: Madman Entertainment

On December 14th, the live action feature film SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO (宇宙戦艦ヤマト, Supeesu Batorushippu Yamato, 2010) will be released on DVD (Region 4, PAL) and Blu-ray (Region B) in Australia by Madman Entertainment. The movie is not currently scheduled for release in North America or the United Kingdom.

Directed by Takashi Yamazaki (RETURNER, the ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET films), the film is based on the hugely popular SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO anime franchise (originally shown in America as STAR BLAZERS). It topped the box office upon its release in Japan, earning $12 million (US) in just five days.
Continued…

Fifty-four high school girls commit a terrifying act in director Shion Sano’s SUICIDE CLUB, now available for the first time on DVD in the UK.
Photo courtesy of Cine du Monde. © 2001 Omega Project /Biggubito /For Peace Co., Ltd. /Fyuzu /Kadokawa Pictures

New Label Presents Controversial Horror Favorite from Director Shion Sano
Source: Cine du Monde
Official Site: cinedumonde.co.uk/suicideclub (UK)
Special Thanks to Andrew Kirkham

Cover art for the UK DVD release of SUICIDE CLUB.
Photo courtesy of Cine du Monde. © 2001 Omega Project
/Biggubito /For Peace Co., Ltd. /Fyuzu /Kadokawa
Pictures

Cine du Monde is a great new DVD/Blu-ray label launched in the United Kingdom. The company will focus on “Left-of-Centre Cinema”, giving well-deserved attention to films that do not generally receive mainstream recognition.

One of Cine du Monde’s first DVD releases is the uncut version of the controversial Japanese shocker SUICIDE CLUB (自殺サークル, Jisatsu Saakuru, 2002). Written and directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Shion Sano (LOVE EXPOSURE, COLD FISH), SUICIDE CLUB quickly became a favorite on the international film festivals, winning the Jury Prize for “Most Ground Breaking Film” at the 2003 Fantasia Film Festival. Despite the film’s cult status and critical attention, SUICIDE CLUB was not officially available in the UK until now.

54 high school girls throw themselves in front of a subway train. This appears to be only the beginning of a string of suicides around the country. Does the new all-girl group Desert have anything to do with it? Detective Kuroda tries to find the answer, which isn’t as simple as one could hope.
Continued…

Eight classic movies starring Sonny Chiba will be available for online streaming this month on the GooHead Internet Channel. © 1974-75 Toei Co., Ltd.

Eight Classic Titles Added in October
Source: Golden Media Group
Official Site: GooHead Internet Channel
Special Thanks to Roy McAree

For the past several months, the GooHead Internet Channel has been streaming— free of charge— classic Asian feature films and television series for viewers in the United States and Canada. In October, GooHead will add eight more movies starring martial arts legend Sonny Chiba (THE STREETFIGHTER, KILL BILL VOL. 1) to their lineup. starring martial arts legend Sonny Chiba (THE STREETFIGHTER, KILL BILL VOL. 1). Visit the channel this month for THE EXECUTIONER, KARATE BULLFIGHTER, KARATE BEARFIGHTER, KARATE FOR LIFE, SHOGUN’S SAMURAI, THE BULLET TRAIN, GOLGO 13: KOWLOON ASSIGNMENT, and VIRUS.
Continued…

Korean Horror Film Arrives October 10th
Source: Third Windows Films
Official Site: terracottadistribution.com/death-bell (UK)

Cover art for the UK DVD release of the Korean horror
movie DEATH BELL. © 2008 Core Contents Media

Terror Cotta, the new sub-label from Terracotta Distribution presents their first release, the Korean slasher-horror DEATH BELL (고死: 피의 중간고사, Gosa: Piui Junggangosa, 2008).

Students at an elite high school, preparing for mid-term exams, are held captive and forced into a series of sadistic games. The students find themselves plunged into a deadly test where they are picked off one by one and held in impenetrable traps where they must rely on the amazing intellects of their classmates to be released, every time a question is answered incorrectly, a classmate meets their torturous, grizzly death.

When it emerges that the students are being picked off according to a pattern, pupil Kang Yi-na understands exactly how much time she has to stay alive and figure out the mysteries of who is imprisoning them and what is the ghostly presence that stalks the school and seems to bind them all together, before the Death Bell rings for her.
Continued…

Korean student Cha Se-hui (Park Ji-Yeon) is trapped in school with a murderer in DEATH BELL: BLOODY CAMP. © 2010 Core Contents Media

Korean Horror Film Arrives in October
Source: Media Blasters, Inc.
Special Thanks to Carl Morano

DVD cover art for DEATH BELL: BLOODY CAMP. Photo
courtesy of Media Blasters. © 2010 Core Contents Media

On October 11th, Media Blasters will release the Korean horror film DEATH BELL: BLOODY CAMP (고사 두 번째 이야기: 교생실습, Gosa Du Beonjjae Yiyagi: Gyosaengsilseop, 2010) on DVD through their Tokyo Shock label.

DEATH BELL: BLOODY CAMP had its world premiere on July 23, 2010 as the closing film of the 14th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival. The Korean theatrical run began July 28, 2010, with more than 50,000 people seeing the film on its first day of release.

After the school swim star, Jeong Tae-yeon (Yoon Seung Ah), is found murdered, new teacher Park Eun-su (Hwang Jung Eum), student Cha Se-hui (Park Ji-Yeon) and their elite summer session class find themselves locked in the school with an ultimatum: find the murderer among you, or everyone dies. Their only clue is a message scrawled on the blackboard: “When an innocent mother is killed, what son would not avenge her death?”
Continued…

An oil rig becomes the hunting ground for a sea monster in SECTOR 7, the new 3D Korean film now in limited theatrical release in North America.
Photo courtesy of CJ E&M Pictures and JK Film. © 2010 JK Film / CJ E&M Pictures

English Press Materials for New Korean 3D Monster Movie
Source: CJ E&M Pictures
Official Movie Site: sector7movie.blogspot.com (US), 2011sector7.co.kr (Korea)

Concept art for the final stage of the monster.
Photo courtesy of CJ E&M Pictures and JK Film.
© 2010 JK Film / CJ E&M Pictures

A special preview screening of SECTOR 7 in Los Angeles brought in a full house of viewers, anxious to see what happens to the crew on board the Eclipse. With a ton of action sequences and a monster that can withstand almost any assault, the audience was on the edge of their seats throughout the entire film. It’s “Jaws meets The Host” said one, as the indomitable creature of the deep comes to terrorize the family-like crew stationed on Sector 7.

Having a similar premise to Bong Joon-ho’s THE HOST, this film takes the monster movie a step forward with its realistic 3-D effects and campy monster feel, which proved to be pure entertainment for all. For those who enjoy sci-fi and monster flicks, it is a “definite must-see” said fans of the genre.

With a “Really cool monster, some comedic moments, great action and special effects,” it’s a Korean film that strays from the norm and will keep you interested in finding out what is in store for the ill-fated crew on board.
Continued…

The hot new Japanese indie group, Galileo Galilei. © 2011 SME Records Inc.

CONTROL TOWER Inspired by and Named After Song by Indie Teenage Sensation Galileo Galilei
Source: Twisted PR press release
Official Movie Site: galileogalilei.jp/eiga (Japan)
Special Thanks to Tom Smith

Japanese poster art for CONTROL TOWER. © 2011 SME
Records Inc.

Hokkaido’s hottest new talent, Galileo Galilei, prepares for success in Britain as a film inspired by their music gets its European premier at London’s Raindance Film Festival 2011 on 9 October.

The four-piece indie-rock group blasted into the mainstream after dominating Japan’s ‘Senkou Riot’ teenage talent festival. Since then, their debut single has surpassed one million download sales and their first major label album gained top five success in the country’s Weekly Oricon Album chart.

Now, a film named after the first song they ever wrote, CONTROL TOWER (管制塔, Kanseitou, 2011), sets to capture the emotion behind the chords and translate the lyrics’ message in a medium that transcends the language barrier. Upon first hearing the song live in concert, director Takahiro Miki knew that he wanted to make a film from it.

“We were surprised and thrilled when we first heard about the project,” says vocalist Yuuki Ozaki. “Kanseitou was about those feelings we had as teenagers, battling against an overwhelming sense of hopelessness as time inevitably ticks on.”
Continued…

Dinosaurs rule the prehistoric Korean peninsula in TARBOSAURUS. The 3D Korean film has been picked up for a North American release.
© 2011 CJ E&M Pictures

Well Go USA Acquires North American Rights
Source: Well Go USA Entertainment, CJ E&M Pictures

The Korean movie production and distribution company CJ E&M has licensed the North American rights for the WWII tale MY WAY (마이 웨이, Mai Wei) and the 3D dinosaur film TARBOSAURUS (타르보사우루스) to distributor Well Go USA Entertainment.

Promotional art for MY WAY. © 2011 CJ E&M Pictures

Based on a true story, MY WAY is directed by Kang Je-kyu (TAEGUKGI: THE BROTHERHOOD OF WAR) and stars Jang Dong-Kun (TAEGUKGI, THE WARRIOR’S WAY), Joe Odagiri (SHINOBI, MUSHI-SHI), and Bingbing Fan (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS, SHAOLIN). The film begins in Japan-colonized Korea during the 1930s, where Jun-shik (Jang) and Tatsuo (Odagiri) are rivals hoping to compete as marathon runners in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. But when war breaks out with the U.S.S.R. Jun-shik is forced to enlist in the army.

MY WAY will open in theaters in Korea in December. Well Go USA has picked up DVD/Blu-ray, digital, Video on Demand, and television rights and is planning the North American release for early 2012.

The family adventure TARBOSAURUS was directed by Han Sang-ho. The film combines computer animation and live action photography to tell the story of dinosaurs who inhabited the Korean Peninsula 70 million years ago. At that time, the area now known as Jeonnam Yeosu was the forest habitat of a species of theropod dinosaur called Tarbosaurus.

Well Go USA has acquired North American theatrical, DVD/Blu-ray, digital, VoD, and television rights for TARBOSAURUS. No release date has been set.
Continued…

Korean 3D Monster Movie Opens in Select Cities in US and Canada
Source: CJ E&M Pictures
Official Movie Site: sector7movie.blogspot.com (US), 2011sector7.co.kr (Korea)

English language promotional art for SECTOR 7. Photo
courtesy of CJ E&M Pictures and JK Film. © 2010 JK Film
/CJ E&M Pictures

In a surprise move, the new Korean 3D monster movie, SECTOR 7 (7광구, Chil gwanggu) is now playing in limited theatrical release in North America. The US branch of the film’s Korean co-producer and distributor, CJ E&M Pictures, held a special preview screening of last week in Los Angeles before launching the film in eleven theaters across the United States and Canada.

North American Release Date: September 16th, 2011
Directed by: Kim Ji-hoon
Running Time: 112 minutes
Rating: NR not rated by the MPAA (US Rating) / 15+ (KOR Rating)
Language: Korean with English subtitles

Director: Kim Ji-hoon
Screenplay: Kim Hwee, Yoon Je-kyun
Production: CJ E&M, JK Film
Distribution: CJ E&M
Continued…

The 3D version of the Korean box office smash THE HOST will make its world premiere next month at the Busan International Film Festival.
© 2006 Chungeorahm Film

Primary Korean Film Festival Puts Two Monster Movies on This Year’s List
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: Busan International Film Festival

The 3D version of Bong Joon-ho’s THE HOST (괴물 / Gwoemul, 2006) and Kim Ki-duk’s classic YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP (대괴수 용가리 / Daegoesu Yonggary, 1967) will be shown at this year’s Busan* International Film Festival (BIFF, October 6~14). The event is known to be one of the most prosperous Asian film festivals in the world, first launched in 1996.

THE HOST 3D will makes its world premiere as an entry in the Gala Presentation category of BIFF. YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP was chosen as one of nine movies for the festival’s Korean Cinema Retrospective category.
Continued…

This September and October, the Korean Cultural Service New York is hosting free screenings of (left to right) BLEAK NIGHT, END OF ANIMAL and MOSS,
three new highly-regarded Korean films. Photos courtesy of the Korean Cultural Service

Free NYC Screenings of Acclaimed New Korean Films
Source: Subway Cinema press release
Official Site: koreanculture.org

For some reason, a lot of really amazing movies never make it out of Korea. Critics go nuts for them, but for one reason or another they never get any love from overseas distributors. The Korean Cultural Service aims to correct that with this series of three amazing movies from 2010 and 2011 that deserve bigger audiences. The free screenings start tonight at Tribeca Cinemas.
Continued…

Naomitsu Hatakeyama (Shun Oguri) is betrayed by his brother in TAJOMARU: AVENGING BLADE. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment.
©2009 Tajomaru Film Partners

Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Movie Site: warnerbros.co.jp/tajomaru (Japan)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

Loosely based on Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s short stories Rashomon and In A Grove (most famously adapted for the screen by Akira Kurosawa in his 1950 masterpiece RASHOMON), TAJOMARU: AVENGING BLADE (タジョウマル, Tajomaru, 2009) is directed by Hiroyuki Nakano (STEREO FUTURE) and stars Shun Oguri (SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO, CROWS ZERO), Kyosuke Yabe (SAMURAI ZOMBIE) and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi (IP MAN, SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO). On September 20th, the film comes to North America in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack from distributor FUNimation Entertainment.
Continued…

Packaging for THE SWORD WITH NO NAME DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack. Photos courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009 Sidus FNH

Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Michelle Lee

On September 20, 2011, the Korean martial arts romance THE SWORD WITH NO NAME (불꽃처럼 나비처럼, Bulkkotcheoreom Nabicheoreom, 2009) will be released on home video in North America by distributor FUNimation Entertainment. The movie will be available both on DVD and in a 2 Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack.
Continued…

DVD and Blu-ray cover art for TROLLHUNTER. Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing. © 2010 Filmkameratene AS

Witness The Government Conspiracy First-Hand from Magnolia Home Entertainment
Source: Magnolia Home Entertainment, Bender Helper Impact press release
Official Site: trollhunterfilm.com
Special Thanks to Lauren Alexander

Everyone will believe it when they see it! Norwegian director Andre Ovredal (FUTURE MURDER) presents an “enormously entertaining” (Variety) look at a creature thought only to exist in fairy tales when TROLLHUNTER is uncovered on Blu-ray Disc and DVD August 23 from Magnolia Home Entertainment under the Magnet label. The Blu-ray Disc and DVD are loaded with special features including deleted scenes, improv and bloopers, behind the scenes and more. The Blu-ray Disc and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $29.98 and $26.98, respectively.
Continued…

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…

Director Takashi Miike presents a melee of bloody carnage in 13 ASSASSINS, coming to DVD and Blu-ray in the UK.
Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 13 Assassins Film Partners

Source: The Associates press release
Official Site: 13assassins.jp (Japan), 13assassins.com (US)

DVD cover art for the UK release. Photo courtesy of The
Associates. © 13 Assassins Film Partners

Following a hugely successful UK theatrical release that saw it garnering a Five Star review in Time Out and Four Star reviews in Loaded, The Sun, the Daily Express, the Daily Mirror, the Daily Telegraph and Nuts magazine, 13 ASSASSINS (十三人の刺客, Jusan-nin no Shikaku, 2010) comes to DVD and Blu-ray this September riding a wave of critical acclaim hailing it as “one of the greatest samurai movies ever made… stunning” (Loaded), “one of the most memorable – and shocking – action films in an absolute age… brutal, bloody, brilliant” (Daily Mirror) and “an immediate action classic… magnificent” (Mail On Sunday).

13 ASSASSINS sees director Takashi Miike, the man behind such uncompromising and unforgettable movies as AUDITION and ICHI THE KILLER, indelibly stamping his trademark style on the Samurai genre with an ultra-violent, all-action, blood-spattered epic.

Nominated for the prestigious Golden Lion award at the 2010 Venice International Film Festival, this year 13 ASSASSINS was the winner of four Japanese Academy Awards (for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Lighting and Best Sound). 13 ASSASSINS (cert. 15) will be released on DVD and Blu-ray by Artificial Eye on 5th September 2011.
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Dinosaur Robot Gaiking. ©Toei Animation Co. Ltd.

THE TOEI CLASSIC ANIME MOVIE COLLECTION!
An Interview with William Winckler
Author: Bob Johnson
Special thanks to Winckler-Oya Inc. and Toei Animation Co., Ltd.

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE!

William Winckler has had a long career of acting, directing, writing and producing. From bit roles in television series and motion pictures to dubbing TEKKAMAN to making films of his own like THE DOUBLE-D AVENGER, Winckler has done just about every job you can imagine in Hollywood. Now he is returning to Japanese animation in a big way!

For the last two years, he has been hard at work, putting together THE TOEI CLASSIC ANIME MOVIE COLLECTION! These are some of the most famous Japanese cartoons ever, with all-new English dubbing from Winckler-Oya Inc. The first wave is made up of 23 full-length feature films running 90 to 120 minutes each on all new HD masters!

This amazing collection includes iconic properties such as DANGUARD ACE, the famous giant robot cartoon immortalized in the Stan Lee Marvel Comic SHOGUN WARRIORS, the infamous SPACE PIRATE CAPTAIN HARLOCK, GAIKING, the robot character based on the famous toy from MATTEL’S SHOGUN WARRIORS toy line, FIST OF THE NORTH STAR, the popular 1980’s MAD MAX inspired series, STARZINGER, the favorite cartoon seen throughout the U.S. in FORCE FIVE and many other favorites!

In an exclusive interview with SciFi Japan, William Winckler talks about his career, productions and goes into detail about this new package of classic Japanese animation.
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High school gang members Moriki Takashi (Kazuki Namioka), Hideki “Wankou” Yamazaki (Toru Wakatsuki), Tatsuya Iguchi (Hiro Mizushima), Terumi “Teru” Ishikawa
(Masahito Sakamoto), Yutaka “Lupin” Anjo (Yuji Ayabe), and Hiroshi Shinanogawa (Hiroki Narimiya) look for trouble in Kadokawa Pictures’ DROP.
Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009 Drop Film Partners.

Breaking rules. Breaking faces.
Source: FUNimation Entertainment
Official Movie Site: FUNimation.com/drop (US), drop-movie.jp (Japan)
Special Thanks to Jackie Smith

DROP DVD cover art. Photo courtesy of FUNimation
Entertainment. © 2009 Drop Film Partners.

The Japanese teenage delinquent action film DROP (ドロップ, Doroppu, 2009) has been released on DVD in North America by FUNimation Entertainment. Set in the 1980s, DROP was written and directed by actor/comedian Hiroshi Shinagawa of the comedy team “Shinagawa Shoki”. The movie is based on Shinagawa’s 2006 autobiographical novel which was also adapted as a Monthly Shonen Champion manga by artist Dai Suzuki in 2007.

Drawn to the hardcore life of a delinquent after reading the manga Be-Bop Highschool, student Hiroshi (Hiroki Narimiya, AZUMI) drops out of his upscale private school and enrolls in a gritty public school in Komae, Tokyo. On his first day he gets his ass kicked by Tatsuya (Hiro Mizushima, winner of the 2010 Japanese Academy Prize “Rookie of the Year”), the son of an ex-yakuza and the leader of a pack of unruly thugs. Hiroshi sucks at fighting, but he hits it off with the crew and enjoys the reckless partying, smoking and boozing – but can he hang when a rivalry with a nasty biker gang turns into countless bloody, face-breaking brawls?
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Huge Festivals Return to New York City with Screenings of 70 Asian Films
Source: Subway Cinema, Japan Society
Special Thanks to Kristen Osborne, Grady Hendrix, and Shannon Jowett

Beginning July 1st, 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 (July 1-14) and Japan Society’s Japan Cuts: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema (July 7-22) combined will feature 70 different movies, world and US premieres, exclusive Q&A’s with filmmakers, and other special events. This year also marks the fifth annual collaboration between Japan Cuts and NYAFF, who will co-present several films at the Japan Society from July 7-10.
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44 years after its theatrical release, the Korean monster movie YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP will be broadcast for the first time on Korean television.
© 1967 Keukdong Entertainment Company

The Quintessential Korean Monster Movie is Finally Shown on Korean Television
Author: Kim Song-ho
Source: EBS, Korean Film Archive
Special Thanks to Ms. Shin Ye-won and Mr. Kim Bong-young

On June 19, 2011, the Korean network EBS (Educational Broadcasting System) will air YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP (대괴수 용가리, Daegoesu Yonggary, 1967). This marks the first ever domestic TV broadcast of the film, 44 years after its theatrical release in Korea. It is also the first HD broadcast of the movie. EBS will air YONGARY as part of its weekly movie program, KOREAN MOVIE SPECIAL (한국영화 특선), which shows classic Korean movies at 11:00pm KST every Sunday.
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