SciFi Japan » Kaiju / Monsters http://www.scifijapan.com/articles Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:49:34 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 FUNimation Acquires EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE from NTV http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/29/funimation-acquires-evangelion-2-0-you-can-not-advance-from-ntv/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/29/funimation-acquires-evangelion-2-0-you-can-not-advance-from-ntv/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:59:08 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=16896 Eva Units 02 and 00 battle the Angel Sahaquiel in EVANGELION 2.0: YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE. The film will be released in North America next year by FUNimation Entertainment. © 2009 Khara Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Movie Site: funimation.com/evangelion (US), evangelion.co.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Jackie Smith and Manny Alcala FUNimation Entertainment announced that it has acquired the North American home entertainment, broadcast, digital and merchandise rights to the animated sci-fi action film EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban: Ha, 2009) from international sales agent NTV (Nippon Television Network). FUNimation will release the film on Region 1 DVD and Blu-ray in 2011. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/29/funimation-acquires-evangelion-2-0-you-can-not-advance-from-ntv/feed/ 0 Review: PIRANHA 3D http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/25/review-piranha-3d/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/25/review-piranha-3d/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:31:40 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=16785 Kelly (Jessica Szohr) is about to become fish food in the new remake/update PIRANHA 3D. © 2010 The Weinstein Company Author: Kyle Byrd Official Site: piranha-3d.com
US theatrical poster for PIRANHA 3D. © 2010 The Weinstein Company
The PIRANHA series is simply one of the most bizarre footnotes in the history of b-movies. The Roger Corman produced 1978 film was the solo directorial debut of Joe Dante (THE HOWLING, GREMLINS, SMALL SOLDIERS), and the first screenplay by acclaimed writer and future director John Sayles (LONE STAR, PASSION OF FISH). The satirical horror/comedy was made to capitalize on the success of JAWS and came out on the heels of JAWS 2. For a quick cash-in/rip off of a big Hollywood production, PIRANHA was much better than it had any reason to be due to a great new talent behind the camera and a witty script. It spawned a below-par sequel (PIRANHA 2: THE SPAWNING), which was the first directed by James Cameron (THE TERMINATOR, AVATAR). For some reason, the series has been the launching pad for many people who would go on to do bigger and better things. There was also a cheap made for TV remake in 1995 which used stock footage and the same screenplay as the 78 original, but lacked everything that made it work. Now a proper remake has been made, directed by French horror darling Alexandre Aja (HIGH TENSION, THE HILLS HAVE EYES remake). Like Dante’s film, it tells the story of a pack of killer piranhas and the people trying to stop them from getting to a large beachside event (it was the opening of a water park in the original, it’s a college spring break site here). Of course, the fish get loose and cause all kinds of bloody carnage. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/25/review-piranha-3d/feed/ 0 Sneak Peek: Shout! Factory’s GAMERA DOUBLE FEATURE COLLECTOR’S EDITION DVDs http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/24/sneak-peek-shout-factorys-gamera-double-feature-collector%e2%80%99s-edition-dvds/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/24/sneak-peek-shout-factorys-gamera-double-feature-collector%e2%80%99s-edition-dvds/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:17:53 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=16732 Menu screens for the four Gamera films being released next month on DVD. Photos courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 1967-1970 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. Four Classic Gamera Movies Coming September 21st Source: Shout! Factory Special Thanks to Tom Chen and Brian Ward Our friends at Shout! Factory sent over advance copies of their GAMERA VS. GUIRON / GAMERA VS. JIGER and GAMERA VS. GYAOS / GAMERA VS. VIRAS Double-Feature Collector’s Edition DVD sets, so we're pleased to give SciFi Japan readers an early look at what's coming their way on September 21st. Each DVD set is sold separately and has a suggested retail price of $19.93. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/24/sneak-peek-shout-factorys-gamera-double-feature-collector%e2%80%99s-edition-dvds/feed/ 0 New Gamera Double Feature DVDs Coming from Shout! Factory http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/23/new-gamera-double-feature-dvds-coming-from-shout-factory/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/23/new-gamera-double-feature-dvds-coming-from-shout-factory/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:03:51 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=16673 Cover art for Shout! Factory's GAMERA VS. GYAOS / GAMERA VS. VIRAS and GAMERA VS. GUIRON / GAMERA VS. JIGER Double Feature DVD Collections. Photos courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 1967-1970 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. Classic Kaiju Movies to be Released September 21st Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Tom Chen and Brian Ward If you loved the first two Special Edition home entertainment releases of the original Gamera movies – GAMERA, THE GIANT MONSTER and GAMERA VS. BARUGON, prepare yourself for four times the fun! On September 21, 2010, Shout! Factory will further unleash four more Gamera movies (the original Japanese version) from the Showa series in two Double-Feature Collector’s Edition DVD sets: GAMERA VS. GYAOS / GAMERA VS. VIRAS and GAMERA VS. GUIRON / GAMERA VS. JIGER. Featuring all-new anamorphic widescreen transfers, each Double-Feature DVD set includes both the original Japanese and infamous English dubbed versions of each film along with publicity galleries. A must-have for film enthusiasts and collectors, aggregate your Gamera movie collection with these two Double-Feature Collector’s Edition DVD sets. Each DVD set is sold separately with $19.93 SRP. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/23/new-gamera-double-feature-dvds-coming-from-shout-factory/feed/ 0 THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN and DARK AND STORMY NIGHT Now on DVD http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/19/the-lost-skeleton-returns-again-and-dark-and-stormy-night-now-on-dvd/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/19/the-lost-skeleton-returns-again-and-dark-and-stormy-night-now-on-dvd/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:16:07 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=16593 The long-awaited sequel to THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA and Larry Blamire’s latest send-up have been released on DVD by Shout! Factory. © 2008 Bantam Street A Double-Dose of Hilarious B-Movie Lampoons Source: Shout! Factory, Bantam Street Official Movie Websites: THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN, DARK AND STORMY NIGHT Special Thanks to Brian Ward and Tom Chen In the grand tradition of Mel Brooks and Preston Sturges, Larry Blamire brings his zany ensemble of actors back in two hysterically funny and instant cult-classics, when the highly-anticipated sequel THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN and Blamire’s latest send-up DARK AND STORMY NIGHT hit the home entertainment shelves August 17, 2010 from Shout! Factory. Poised to deliver the cinematic chuckle-fests that loyal fans have been waiting for, both collectible DVDs boast cast and crew commentary, a behind-the-scenes featurette and more. Each DVD is sold separately and has a suggested retail price of $14.97. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/19/the-lost-skeleton-returns-again-and-dark-and-stormy-night-now-on-dvd/feed/ 0 Magnolia Unleashes MONSTERS in U.S. this October http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/14/magnolia-unleashes-monsters-in-u-s-this-october/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/14/magnolia-unleashes-monsters-in-u-s-this-october/#comments Sat, 14 Aug 2010 22:17:08 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=16471 Central America is taken over by alien life forms in MONSTERS, the new UK sci-fi film coming to the US from Magnolia Pictures. Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing. © 2010 Vertigo Films, Ltd. 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
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. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain "the creatures"... 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 shown On Demand starting September 24th, with a limited theatrical run beginning in Los Angeles and New York on October 29th. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/08/14/magnolia-unleashes-monsters-in-u-s-this-october/feed/ 0 DVD Review: GAMERA THE GIANT MONSTER http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/28/dvd-review-gamera-the-giant-monster/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/28/dvd-review-gamera-the-giant-monster/#comments Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:14:03 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=16248 Gamera (literally) looks down on the disturbed young boy, Toshio (Yoshiro Uchida). © 1965 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. The First Release From Shout! Factory’s Gamera DVD Series Will Please Fans Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis Official Site: Shout! Factory Special Thanks to August Ragone and Cliff Macmillan
DVD cover art for GAMERA, THE GIANT MONSTER. Photo courtesy of Shout! Factory. © 1965 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.
While Gamera’s popularity has never been quite on the level of Godzilla, the giant flying turtle has no doubt enjoyed his share of accolades in Japan and in the 1960’s was very much a competitor of Toho’s monster king. Gamera’s popularity was revived in the 1990’s with Shusuke Kaneko’s acclaimed Heisei trilogy of films. While most fans prefer that particular incarnation of the titan terrapin, many still look fondly upon the friendlier movies of yesteryear. While most of the films in the classic Gamera series are geared towards children, GAMERA THE GIANT MONSTER (Daikaiju Gamera, 1965) is quite serious and depicts the title character as a menacing, deadly beast. In this first entry into the series, Gamera attacks Tokyo and kills countless citizens by trampling, crushing buildings, and incinerating them. Oddly, Gamera also rescues the main child character in the film from a fall to certain death (caused by the monster no less!). This leads to the child’s affection for the kaiju turtle; so much so that the social misfit completely ignores all the death and destruction caused by the fire-breathing beast! Shout! Factory has acquired the rights to release all eight Showa-era Gamera films produced by Daiei from 1965-1980 and has begun to issue those classics on DVD with a deluxe treatment. If this first title is any indication, these discs will be incredibly done and should (hopefully) satisfy the giant turtle’s fans here in America. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/28/dvd-review-gamera-the-giant-monster/feed/ 0 Review: PREDATORS http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/27/review-predators/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/27/review-predators/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:11:24 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=16233 The alien hunters return with a few new tricks in PREDATORS, the latest sequel to the hit Arnold Schwarzenegger film. © 2010 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation Author: Kyle Byrd Source: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation Official Site: predators-movie.com
US theatrical poster for PREDATORS. Photo courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox. © 2010 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
John McTiernan’s 1987 film PREDATOR was an original, fun film that blended the action, horror and sci-fi genres seamlessly and has gone on to be one of the most beloved (and quotable) genre films of the 1980s. Since then, Fox has been trying to figure out where to take the series next. What we’ve gotten since has been a below par sequel (PREDATOR 2) and two abominable ALIEN VS PREDATOR movies. With the backlash triggered by the AVP films, Fox has decided to take the ALIEN and PREDATOR franchises in other directions. With Ridley Scott working on two ALIEN prequels, Robert Rodriguez decided it was a good time to get a PREDATOR sequel off the ground. Produced by Rodriguez and directed by Nimrod Antal (VACANCY, ARMORED), PREDATORS picks up after the first film, ignoring all the films that came afterwards. It follows a group of killers from different backgrounds (including Black Ops, Yakuza, snipers, etc.) that are captured and put on an alien game preserve planet to be hunted by the titular creatures. Like PREDATOR, the story is about as simple as can be. Its basically PREDATOR meets THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME and there’s not much else to it. Apparently the film is based on an idea that Rodriguez had back in the 90s. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like he took all that time to develop it beyond its basic premise. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/27/review-predators/feed/ 0 August Region 4 DVD Releases from Madman http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/24/august-region-4-dvd-releases-from-madman/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/24/august-region-4-dvd-releases-from-madman/#comments Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:59:39 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=14978 The Ju-On curse celebrates its 10th anniversary with the new film THE GRUDGE: WHITE GHOST/BLACK GHOST, coming to Australian DVD from Madman. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2009 Toei Video Co., Ltd. /Cell Source: Madman Entertainment Special Thanks to Philippa Lamb
KAMUI. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2009 KAMUI Film Partners
The Australian distributor Madman Entertainment is releasing several anime and Asian live action titles on Region 4 DVD in August, 2010, including movies not yet available in North America. The selection includes the latest JU-ON film THE GRUDGE: WHITE GHOST/BLACK GHOST; the third volume of IKKI TOUSEN DRAGON DESTINY SEASON 2; new collections of GURREN LAGANN, NANA, KURAU PHANTOM MEMORY, SOUL EATER and LINEBARRELS OF IRON; the ninja adventure KAMUI starring Kenichi Matsuyama; and the revamped DRAGON BALL Z KAI COLLECTION 1. Read on for plot descriptions, DVD specs, cover art, and more. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/24/august-region-4-dvd-releases-from-madman/feed/ 0 SCI-FI REVOLTECH SERIES Waves 5 and 6 Plus HOBBY JAPAN EXCLUSIVE http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/23/sci-fi-revoltech-series-waves-5-and-6-plus-hobby-japan-exclusive/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2010/07/23/sci-fi-revoltech-series-waves-5-and-6-plus-hobby-japan-exclusive/#comments Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:00:17 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=16093 Disney/Pixar and Toho characters are the focus of the next two waves of figures in Kayodo's Sci-Fi Revoltech line. Mogera and Mothra © Toho Co., Ltd. Buzz Lightyear and Woody © Disney/Pixar. © 2010 Kaiyodo Co., Ltd. The Latest Series Brings Two more Characters from Toho’s Tokusatsu Universe Plus an Exclusive Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis Official Site: kaiyodo.co.jp/revoltech The Kaiyodo Company's Sci-Fi Revoltech series continues to bring great, super-articulated figures of popular science fiction characters to the hands of collectors. Thus far, the only Toho character represented has been the monster Baragon from Wave 2. Thankfully, that will change on September 1st, as a figure based on Mothra (1961 style) will join Mogera (1957 style). The previous month sees Buzz Lightyear and Woody from the Disney/Pixar TOY STORY movies. Reportedly the Tyrannosaurus Rex from JURASSIC PARK, Jason Vorhees from the FRIDAY THE 13TH series, and a Type-1966 Maser Tank from WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS will follow in the next few months. Continued...
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