SciFi Japan http://www.scifijapan.com/articles Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:22:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 en hourly 1 MW Production Notes http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/07/04/mw-production-notes/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/07/04/mw-production-notes/#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:20:51 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=6612 Logo for MW, the new live action adaption of the manga by Osamu Tezuka. Photo courtesy of NTV. © 2009 MW Production Committee Osamu Tezuka's Controversial Manga Becomes a Live Action Film Source: NTV (Nippon Television Network) Official Site: mw.gyao.jp SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from a new movie.
Japanese theatrical poster for MW. Photo courtesy of NTV. © 2009 MW Production Committee
Last December, SciFi Japan ran a report on MW, a new live action film based on a manga by the late Osamu Tezuka, Japan's legendary "god of manga" and "father of anime". While Tezuka is known worldwide for his children's favorites such as Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion, his MW manga was a dark and downbeat thriller that tackled many controversial subjects including government cover ups, religion, the nature of good and evil, homoeroticism, the effects of excessive technology on nature, and the US military presence in Japan. While drastically different from his typical fare, Tezuka still received great acclaim for his work on MW. The movie version of MW was developed by the "MW Production Committee" of NTV- Nippon Television Network (the DEATH NOTE film series), the telecommunications company NTT DoCoMo Inc., Amuse Soft Entertainment (THE NEIGHBOR NO. 13), IMJ Entertainment (NANA, NANA 2), and Studio Swan (KIDS). Japanese theatrical distribution of the film is being handled by Gaga Communications (perhaps best known for the ZEIRAM series), while NTV is handling international sales. MW has been completed and opens today, July 4, in Japan. SciFi Japan is pleased to present a further look at the film with the following production notes and images provided by NTV. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/07/04/mw-production-notes/feed/ 0 BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE in US Theaters on July 10 http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/07/02/blood-the-last-vampire-in-us-theaters-on-july-10/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/07/02/blood-the-last-vampire-in-us-theaters-on-july-10/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:00:23 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=6530 The US theatrical trailer for BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE, courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films. © 2009 East Wing Holdings Corp. and SAJ. Samuel Goldwyn Films Releases Live Action Film Based on Hit Anime Source: Samuel Goldwyn Films press notes Official Movie Site: Blood The Last Vampire Special Thanks to Teresa DiMartino, Jean McDowell, and Sharon Siegel
US poster art for BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE, the live action adaptation of the hit anime film. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films. © 2009 East Wing Holdings Corp. and SAJ.
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for a new movie. Following theatrical releases in Japan, France, Hong Kong, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, Chris Nahon’s martial arts action thriller BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE will open this month in American cinemas. The film is a live action adaption of the award-winning anime of the same name from Production I.G. (GHOST IN THE SHELL, KILL BILL VOl. 1) and Aniplex. The new movie was created by an international partnership that includes East Wing Holdings Corp., Pathé, the Hong Kong-based EDKO Film, the French production company SAJ, and cooperation and support from Production I.G. BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE will be released theatrically by Samuel Goldwyn Films in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, Seattle, Berkeley, Boston, Cambridge, Waltham, Washington DC, San Francisco, Honolulu, Aiea, San Diego, Dallas, Houston, Irvine, Seattle, Las Vegas, and New York on Friday, July 10th. SciFi Japan presents an early look at BLOOD with press notes, photos, promotional art, the US trailer, and video clips courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/07/02/blood-the-last-vampire-in-us-theaters-on-july-10/feed/ 0 UK Readers: Win the MEATBALL MACHINE DVD! http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/07/01/uk-readers-win-the-meatball-machine-dvd/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/07/01/uk-readers-win-the-meatball-machine-dvd/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:39:45 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=6563 4Digital Media, The Associates Special Thanks to Steve Beecham and Farhana Shaikh SciFi Japan is pleased to present another giveaway contest aimed at Japanese science fiction fans in the United Kingdom.
Cover art for the upcoming British DVD of MEATBALL MACHINE. Photo courtesy of 4Digital Media. © 2005 King Record Co.
As previously announced, the British movie and home video distributor 4Digital Media has acquired the UK rights to the Japanese splatter and gore movies MEATBALL MACHINE (Mîtoboru Mashin, 2005), TOKYO GORE POLICE (Tokyo Zankoku Keisatsu, 2008), and GROTESQUE (Gurotesuku, 2009). Now, 4Digital Media and The Associates are giving SciFi Japan readers in Britain a chance to win free DVDs of the three films, starting with MEATBALL MACHINE. An all out in your face gore-fest Japanese style. MEATBALL MACHINE is a wild, splatterific, experimental sci-fi/horror rollercoaster that will have your entire brain and body shaken and stirred. Capable of making biomechanical weapons out of human flesh, alien parasites grotesquely invade the Earth, turning their hosts into maniacal killers who seek and destroy each other to the bloody death! And yes, it's also a human love story, even though the budding romantics are infested with slimy, tumor-like globules. Co-directors Junichi Yamamoto and Yudai Yamaguchi (BATTLEFIELD BASEBALL) pull out all the stops and don t let up until the final epic battle. It's a touching testament to young love, blood, and alien ooze that leaves you screaming for more. The MEATBALL MACHINE DVD will be available for purchase in the UK from 6th July, courtesy of 4Digital Media. And check back with SciFi Japan in the coming weeks for TOKYO GORE POLICE and GROTESQUE giveaways! Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/07/01/uk-readers-win-the-meatball-machine-dvd/feed/ 0 JAPANIMATION: GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0 at the Barbican Centre http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/07/01/japanimation-ghost-in-the-shell-2-0-at-the-barbican-centre/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/07/01/japanimation-ghost-in-the-shell-2-0-at-the-barbican-centre/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:32:12 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=6517 Major Motoko Kusanagi makes her escape in the opening sequence of GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0. The updated version of the popular anime will be shown this month at the Barbican Centre in London. © 1995/2008 Shirow Masamune/Kodansha · Bandai Visual · Manga Entertainment Updated Anime Classic to be Screened in London Source: Barbican Centre, Sarah Harvey Publicity press release Special Thanks to Laura Bushell Barbican Film continues their JAPANIMATION series with a special preview of the classic GHOST IN THE SHELL in its newly remastered form GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0 (Kokaku Kidotai 2.0) on 21 July. The film has now been thoroughly updated, with all the original CGI shots completely re-digitised to enhance their quality. There’s a new 6.1 surround soundtrack, and a remix of Kenji Kawai’s disturbing and evocative score from Oscar-winning sound mixer/editor Randy Thom at Skywalker Sound. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/07/01/japanimation-ghost-in-the-shell-2-0-at-the-barbican-centre/feed/ 0 KAIDAN (2007) on Region 1 DVD Today http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/30/kaidan-2007-on-region-1-dvd-today/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/30/kaidan-2007-on-region-1-dvd-today/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:03:34 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=6480 Lionsgate press release, Bender/Helper Impact
Region 1 DVD cover art for the Japanese horror film KAIDAN. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate and Bender/Helper Impact. © 2007 “KAIDAN” Film Partners.
From the legendary director of RING and THE RING TWO comes this eerie tale of ghostly vengeance. The unwitting victim of a terrible curse, a young man accidentally injures his wife, a jealous teacher who soon dies from her wound. Running away with one of her students, he fails to heed the dead woman’s warning that if remarried, she’ll haunt him to the grave. And now for an unfaithful husband, the real terror is about to begin. On June 30, the 2007 J-Horror film KAIDAN (meaning "Supernatural Tales") will be released on DVD in America by Lionsgate. The movie was directed by Hideo Nakata, who received international attention for his smash hit RING (Ringu, 1998). He followed that success with RING 2 (Ringu 2, 1999) and the acclaimed DARK WATER (Honogurai Mizu no Soko Kara, 2002). Nakata made his American directorial debut with THE RING TWO (2005), the sequel to the remake of his own film. Last year, he had another box office hit with DEATH NOTE: L, change the worLd (2008). Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/30/kaidan-2007-on-region-1-dvd-today/feed/ 0 GMK and BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE at the Egyptian Theatre http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/29/gmk-and-battle-in-outer-space-at-the-egyptian-theatre/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/29/gmk-and-battle-in-outer-space-at-the-egyptian-theatre/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:57:44 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=6488 On July 30, the Egyptian Theatre presents a double feature of Toho sci-fi/monster movies. BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE © 1959 Toho Co., Ltd. GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK promotional art courtesy of Toho. © 2001 Toho Co., Ltd. Toho Sci-Fi Double Feature in Hollywood on July 30 Source: American Cinematheque Special Thanks to Chris D Toho returns to Hollywood, CA this month with a great sci-fi double feature at the Egyptian Theatre. On Thursday, July 30 at 7:30pm, the theater will screen the 2001 hit GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK (in Japanese with English subtitles), followed by the classic BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (English dubbed version). Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/29/gmk-and-battle-in-outer-space-at-the-egyptian-theatre/feed/ 0 ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/27/icons-of-sci-fi-toho-collection/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/27/icons-of-sci-fi-toho-collection/#comments Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:01:17 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=6450 Title design for Sony's TOHO COLLECTION DVD set. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. © 2009 Toho Co., Ltd. Sony to Release 3 Disc DVD Collection of THE H-MAN, BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE, and MOTHRA on August 18 Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment press release
Cover art for ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. © 2009 Toho Co., Ltd.
Toho, the most famous of all Japanese movie studios, first made its name in the West for the extraordinary masterworks of Akira Kurosawa. But they really struck box office gold with the wildly colorful kaiju eiga (monster movies) that began in 1954 with the original GODZILLA (Gojira), the creation of director Ishiro Honda and special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya. Now for the first time on [Region 1] DVD— and in their original Tohoscope aspect ratios— Sony Pictures presents three Honda classics that display the enormous breadth of the Toho magic during its glory years. THE H-MAN (Bijo to Ekitai Ningen, 1958), BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (Uchu Daisenso, 1959), and MOTHRA (Mosura, 1961) have been digitally re-mastered for the best possible picture and sound quality, and include the original Japanese versions and the U.S. versions, plus commentaries for two of the films. So travel back to the days before CGI, when special effects were real and the results were spectacular! The three-disc DVD collection will be available for $24.96 SRP. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/27/icons-of-sci-fi-toho-collection/feed/ 0 Japanese Gore Movies Coming to UK http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/26/japanese-gore-movies-coming-to-uk/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/26/japanese-gore-movies-coming-to-uk/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:15:27 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=6425 4Digital Media, The Associates press materials Special Thanks to Steve Beecham and Farhana Shaikh
Officer Ruka (Eihi Shiina) tracks down bio-mechanical homicidal maniacs in the cult favorite TOKYO GORE POLICE. Photo courtesy of 4Digital Media. © 2008 Fever Dreams/Nikkatsu.
4Digital Asia, an imprint of the British movie and home video distributor 4Digital Media, has acquired the UK rights to the Japanese splatter and gore movies MEATBALL MACHINE (Mîtoboru Mashin, 2005), TOKYO GORE POLICE (Tokyo Zankoku Keisatsu, 2008), and GROTESQUE (Gurotesuku, 2009). The films will be released on DVD beginning this July. MEATBALL MACHINE is a wild, Japanese splatter-punk monster of a movie that combines the "body horror" shock tactics of John Carpenter's THE THING, the TETSUO movies and David Cronenberg's most extreme work. The movie was co-directed by Yudai Yamaguchi (BATTLEFIELD BASEBALL) and Junichi Yamamoto (KABUKING Z: THE MOVIE), with special effects by Yoshihiro Nishimura (director of TOKYO GORE POLICE and effect supervisor for THE MACHINE GIRL). TOKYO GORE POLICE— from the producers of THE MACHINE GIRL and director Yoshihiro Nishimura— combines the bodyshock horror of Cronenberg's XISTENZ and VIDEODROME and the socio-satirical bite of Verhoeven's ROBOCOP with the all-out, blood-letting carnage of ICHI THE KILLER. Billed as "the cruelest Japanese splatter movie ever" (a statement that doesn't do the film's graphic scenes of torture and dismemberment anywhere near enough justice), GROTESQUE is a survival horror movie that makes the likes of SAW and HOSTEL look like MARY POPPINS in comparison. Read on for more information plus a look at DVD cover art, photos, and advertising artwork for these three titles. Continued...
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/26/japanese-gore-movies-coming-to-uk/feed/ 0 Opening Scene from BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/24/opening-scene-from-blood-the-last-vampire/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/24/opening-scene-from-blood-the-last-vampire/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:00:14 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=6414 The beginning of BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE, courtesy of The Associates and Pathé. © 2009 East Wing Holdings Corp. and SAJ. Movie Opens this Friday in Britain Source: Pathé, The Associates Official Movie Site: Blood The Last Vampire movie, Last Blood (Japan) Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh The Associates and distributor Pathé have provided video of the opening scene of the new movie BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE. Originally schedule for earlier this month, the UK theatrical release date for BLOOD is now set for this Friday, June 26th. For more information, videos, and images from BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE, please see the previous coverage here on SciFi Japan:
]]> http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/24/opening-scene-from-blood-the-last-vampire/feed/ 0 NYAFF MONSTER X STRIKES BACK and GEHARHA Ticket Winners Announced! http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/24/nyaff-monster-x-strikes-back-and-gehara-ticket-winners-announced/ http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/06/24/nyaff-monster-x-strikes-back-and-gehara-ticket-winners-announced/#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:32:56 +0000 Keith Aiken http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/?p=6363 Guilala— the X from Outer Space— returns in MONSTER X STRIKES BACK: ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT. © 2008 Guilala Production Committee Who Will See Two New Daikaiju Films for Free, Courtesy of NYAFF and SciFi Japan? Source: Subway Cinema/New York Asian Film Festival Special Thanks to Toyah Attwell and Grady Hendrix Thank you to everyone who entered New York Asian Film Festival and SciFi Japan's contest for free passes to MONSTER X STRIKES BACK: ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT! and GEHARHA: THE DARK AND LONG HAIR MONSTER. The screening takes place at the IFC Center on Sunday, June 28 at 11:00am. The IFC Center is located at 333 East 47th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues), New York, NY 10014. The following randomly drawn entrants correctly answered all contest questions: Bill Pierson Andrew Wong William D'Annucci Congratulations to the winners! Each of you has won a pair of tickets to see the feature film MONSTER X STRIKES BACK, the short film GEHARHA, and the DEATH KAPPA sneak preview. Continued...
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