SciFi Japan

    DVD cover art for the Marvel anime series IRON MAN and X-MEN. Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. © 2011 Superhero Anime Partners.

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    Clips from New Marvel DVD Sets Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Click Communications Special Thanks to Dre Birskovich In anticipation of next Tuesday`s (April 24) release of X-MEN ANIME and IRON MAN ANIME from Sony Home Entertainment and Marvel Studios, we present a selection of video clips, courtesy of Click Communications. Enjoy! IRON MAN ANIME X-MEN ANIME About Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures Entertainment is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution;

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    Indie UK Sci-Fi Thriller Now on Video On Demand; Opens Theatrically October 29 Source: Magnolia Pictures Official Movie Site: monstersfilm.com (US), monstersthemovie.com (UK) Special Thanks to Brandon Nichols Magnolia Pictures has provided clips from their new movie, MONSTERS. The film is now available through Video On Demand, iTunes, Xbox Live, Playstation Marketplace, Amazon and Vudu. MONSTERS opens in US theaters October 29, 2010. To view on iTunes: itunes/affiliates/download To view on Amazon:amazon.com/Monsters-Pre-Theatrical-Rental For more information on MONSTERS please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: Magnolia Unleashes MONSTERS in U.S. this October MONSTERS Production Notes

    Promo art for the world premiere of GANTZ. Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners

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    See the New Movie Before It Opens in Japan, Courtesy of VIZ Pictures and SciFi Japan! Source: VIZ Pictures Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan) Premiere Event Page: GANTZ Special Thanks to Rieko Fuji and Erik Jansen A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE College student Kei Kurono (Kazunari Ninomiya) witnesses his childhood friend Masaru Kato (Kenichi Matsuyama) attempting to help a drunk who has fallen onto the subway train tracks and jumps in to help him. However, both are run down by an oncoming train and are transported to an apartment. In the center of the living room is an enigmatic black orb known as ‘GANTZ’. GANTZ forces each of them to take part in a mission to hunt down and kill aliens, providing them with equipment and weaponry. Is this world, which tests their will to survive, a game or reality? The live-action feature

    DRAGON WARS director Shim Hyung-rae`s bumbling character Young-gu visits America. Photo courtesy of Younggu Art and CJ Entertainment. © 2010 Younggu Art

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    Director of DRAGON WARS Returns to His Comedic Alter-Ego for New English Language Movie Author: Kim Song-ho Source: Younggu Art and CJ Entertainment official press materials Official Movie Site: THE LAST GODFATHER Shim Hyung-rae, the comedian-turned-director who brought us such SFX-monster films as YONGGARY (aka REPTILIAN, 1999/2001) and DRAGON WARS (D-WAR, 2007), travels to the United States in the 1950s and becomes the son of a mob boss! This hilarious premise comes true as Shim`s new comedy, THE LAST GODFATHER (??? ???), has officially set its release date in Korea for December 30. Directed by and starring Shim himself, the film also features such American actors as Harvey Keitel (TAXI DRIVER, RESERVOIR DOGS), Michael Rispoli (THE SOPRANOS, KICK-ASS), Jocelin Donahue (THE BURROWERS), Jason Mewes (CLERKS, JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK) and Jon Polito (THE CROW, THE MAN WHO WASN`T THERE). THE LAST

    US theatrical poster for the film. Photo courtesy of Relativity Media. © 2010 Laundry Warrior Ltd

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    American and Korean Promotional Materials for New Adventure Film Introduction: Kim Song-ho Source: Relativity Media Official Movie Site: iamrogue.com/thewarriorsway (US), ww2010.co.kr (Korea) The action/adventure film THE WARRIOR`S WAY opens today in the US. The film was produced by Barrie M. Osborne (of THE LORD OF THE RINGS fame) and written and directed by Korean filmmaker Sngmoo Lee. In Korea, the film has been much anticipated because not only was it a major studio production directed by a Korean, but also the first English-language feature of Jang Dong-gun, who happens to be the superstar of the superstars in his native country. The film opened December 2 in Korea. Set in the American West, this stylish-looking martial arts film is about Yang, a master swordsman. Seeking refuge in a rundown town, Yang is unexpectedly involved a feud between the locals. Kate Bosworth, Geoffrey Rush, Danny

    Logo design for MEGA MONSTER BATTLE: ULTRA GALAXY. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Japan © Mega Monster Battle ULTRA GALAXY Film Partners

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    Official Press Notes For The New Ultraman Movie + 4 New TV Spots Source: Warner Bros. Japan Translation: Jim M. Ballard Official Movie Site: Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Taglines: "Will it be the light of the Ultras or the power of darkness that controls the galaxy?" (Ginga wo seisuru no wa, Urutora no hikari ka, yami no chikara ka) "Will the galaxy be plunged into darkness?" (Ginga wa yami ni tozasareteshimau no ka?) "Take back the light of the galaxy!" (Torimodose! Ginga no hikari) INTRODUCTION 43 years from it`s creation, Ultraman has consistently remained a beloved character for three generations. This staple series is now reborn with the aim at an all new stage. After Tsuburaya Productions joined TYO Group, Japan`s leading film relations enterprise, their first new theatrical film MEGA MONSTER BATTLE: ULTRA GALAXY combines the top staff of the film world from

    Alternate US poster for MONSTERS, courtesy of Magnet Releasing. © 2010 Vertigo Films, Ltd.

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    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 and Corrie Hirokawa 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 available on Video On Demand, iTunes, Xbox Live, Playstation Marketplace, Amazon and Vudu starting September 24th, with a limited theatrical run beginning in Los Angeles and New York on October 29th. The following production notes are courtesy of Magnet Releasing/Magnolia Pictures... SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for a new movie. Protagonist Pictures, Vertigo Films and Magnet Releasing Present a Gareth Edwards Film MONSTERS Directed by Gareth Edwards Official Selection: SXSW Film Festival 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival 2010 93 min.,

    Anime Jungle is giving SciFi Japan readers a chance to win KIKAIDA BROTHERS posters personally signed by the shows` stars Ban Daisuke and the late Shunsuke Ikeda. Photo courtesy of Anime Jungle. © Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

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    Posters Signed by Lead Actors Ban Daisuke and Shunsuke Ikeda, courtesy of Anime Jungle Source: Anime Jungle Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota and Yoichi Kakuma Ban Daisuke, star of KIKAIDA (Jinzo Ningen Kikaida, 1972), KIKAIDA 01 (1973), and INAZUMAN (1973) will visit Los Angeles this upcoming weekend for Japantown`s annual Nisei Week Festival. KIKAIDA, based on an original story by manga artist and writer Shotaro Ishinomori (Kamen Rider), was produced by Toei Movie Company for television in the mid-seventies. A classic good-versus evil tale, the show pitted a guitar-playing, denim-clad young biker named Jiro, played by actor Ban Daisuke, against the evil DARK, a shadowy criminal organization bent on wreaking havoc upon Japan and the world. Sponsored by the popular collector`s shop Anime Jungle, Ban Daisuke will take part in autograph sessions, the Nisei Week Parade, and a special dinner and talk show

    Photo courtesy of the Nancy Hirsch Group.

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    Piano Rendition of Nirvana`s "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Source: Nancy Hirsch Group press release Official Site: elewrockjazz.com Special Thanks to Rebekah Stein and Teddy Getz Japanese filmmaker Ryuhei Kitamura— director of such movies as VERSUS, AZUMI, GODZILLA: FINAL WARS, and MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN— has directed the debut music video of Rockjazz Pioneer ELEW; a cover of Nirvana’s iconic rock anthem "Smells Like Teen Spirit." ELEW (Eric Lewis), described as "musical revolutionary and piano iconoclast", has been gaining notoriety in the music world with a thunderous new style of playing... an inspired melding of ragtime, rock and pop that he calls Rockjazz. In the jazz tradition of interpreting popular tunes of the day, ELEW has performed blistering renditions of infectious rock and pop anthems by Coldplay, The Killers, Nirvana, and broken free of the rigidly defined boundaries of the traditional jazz world and ultimately

    After the screening, Erina Mano serenaded fans with the film`s theme song. Photo courtesy of Japan Film Society. © 2010 BS-i, King Records

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    J-Pop Idol Erina Mano Wows Fans at Premiere Screening of Her Feature Film Debut Source: Japan Film Society Additional Material: Kai Saari Official Site: Facebook.com/TalesofTerror (US), shinmimi.net (Japan) Official Twitter Profile: Twitter.com/ShinMimi On July 1st, J-Pop’s #1 idol and Hello! Project singing sensation Erina Mano attended the world premiere of her feature film debut, KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO (?????-??), at the world famous Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California. KAI-KI is the latest in series of films based on the hit Japanese TV franchise TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO AND ALL OVER JAPAN (?????*, Shin Mimi-Bukuro), which adapts actual urban legends collected from across the country by writer Kihara Hirokatsu. Club Nokia hosted two screenings of KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO. A mini-concert followed each showing in which Erina Mano sang the film`s them song "Returning Home" as well as

    Minya, the Son of Godzilla, confronts the giant mantis Kamakiras in SON OF GODZILLA, playing this month at The Colonial Theatre in New Hampshire. © 1967 Toho Co., Ltd.

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    The Colonial Theatre Presents Its Fourth SPOOKTACULAR Source: The Colonial Theatre press release Official Site: Spooktacular IV Special Thanks to Mark Nelson Giant monsters once again return to Keene, New Hampshire at The Colonial Theatre`s SPOOKTACULAR, Saturday, July 31st 2010 at 2PM. Curated by SATURDAY FRIGHT SPECIAL, New Hampshire`s first home-grown horror host TV show, the event features a rare 35mm screening of the 1967 Japanese monster melee SON OF GODZILLA (English dubbed version). In addition to the main feature, vintage monster movie previews, a cartoon, and snack bar ads will precede the film, along with prize giveaways and on-stage appearances by Scarewolf and other SATURDAY FRIGHT SPECIAL characters. This will be an all-ages event, bringing back the feel of an old-time kiddie matinee. "We`re thrilled to be able to present a Godzilla film to the Colonial audience on a Saturday afternoon, the

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    More than 50 Asian Films to Screen at Huge Festivals in New York City Source: Subway Cinema, Japan Society Special Thanks to Kristen Osborne, Grady Hendrix, Tahmid Mannan, and Shannon Jowett Beginning June 25th, 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 (June 25- July 8 ) and Japan Society`s JAPAN CUTS: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema (July 1-16) combined will feature more than 50 movies, world and US premieres, exclusive Q&A’s with filmmakers, and other special events. This year also marks the fourth annual collaboration between JAPAN CUTS and NYAFF, who will co-present several films at the Japan Society from July 1-4. Festival Venues Film Society of Lincoln Center`s Walter Reade Theater: June 25-July 8 165 West 65th Street, Upper Level (between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue) Box office: (212)

    J-Pop Idol Erina Mano will attend and perform at the world premiere of her feature film debut, KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO, in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Japan Film Society. © 2010 BS-i, King Records

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    J-Pop Idol Erina Mano to Attend and Perform at Premiere Screening of Her Feature Film Debut Source: Japan Film Society, BAM! Marketing, Publicity and Promotions press releases Additional Material: Kai Saari Official Site: Facebook.com/TalesofTerror (US), shinmimi.net (Japan) Official Twitter Profile: Twitter.com/ShinMimi J-Pop’s #1 idol and Hello! Project singing sensation Erina Mano will be attending and performing at the world premiere screening (and secondary screening) of her break-out feature film role in KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO (?????-??) on July 1, 2010 (World Premiere at noon and 2nd screening at 3:00 pm) at the world famous venue, Club Nokia, in Los Angeles, California. Advance tickets for both events are now available at club2themax.com. KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO is based on the hit Japanese TV franchise TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO AND ALL OVER JAPAN (?????*, Shin Mimi-Bukuro). The TALES OF TERROR

    Naruto faces off against Sasuke in NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM 2. Photo courtesy of NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe. © 2002 Masashi Kishimoto/ 2007 Shippuden. Game © 2010 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.

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    NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Saga to Debut in European Territores on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 Source: NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe, Indigo Pearl press release Special Thanks to Holly Barnes NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S. has announced the forthcoming launch of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM 2 for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3, the first game based on the global hit Naruto Shippuden manga and anime to appear on the consoles. Packed with new features and enhancements, a comprehensive character line up and stunning graphics, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM 2 is scheduled for launch across PAL territories in autumn 2010. Developed by acclaimed Japanese studio CyberConnect2, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM 2 is a tour de force of Naruto thrills and spills. Impressively faithfully to the universe of the anime, the game takes players through the

    An exclusive first look at the new GUALAGON advertising art, which was done in the style of a 1960s era Japanese movie poster. Photo courtesy of The Gualagon Team. © 2008 Triumph Des Wahnsinns

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    Upcoming German Audio Drama is a Homage to Classic Japanese Kaiju Movies Author: Keith Aiken Source: Sven Pyczak, Ralf Lorenz, The Gualagon Team Offical Webste: Gualagon — Frankensteins Schreckengigant Additional Material: Godzilla-Germany Special Thanks to Avery Guerra A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Japan 1966 - Gualagon threatens the world. A radio play about… a Japanese giant monster! – tagline for GUALAGON- FRANKENSTEIN’S GIANT OF TERROR For the past several years Japanese monster movies have been having a rather tough time. Films like GODZILLA: FINAL WARS (2004), GAMERA THE BRAVE (Chiisaki Yusha-tachi Gamera, 2006), and MONSTER X STRIKES BACK/ ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT! (Girara no Gyakushu / Samitto Kiki Ippatsu!) have failed to connect at the domestic box office, and the genre has been largely relegated to television and home video releases abroad. But, back in the 1950s and 60s, these pictures were

    Logo for the new Wii game TATSUNOKO VS. CAPCOM: ULTIMATE ALL-STARS. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2010 Capcom Co., Ltd., partially licensed by Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd.

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    Source: Capcom Co., Ltd., The Associates press releases Official Site: tatsunoko.vscapcom.com Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh TATSUNOKO VS. CAPCOM: ULTIMATE ALL-STARS Release Date: Jan. 29, 2010 (US), Jan. 29, 2010 (UK) Genre: VS. Fighting Platform: Nintendo Wii Rating: T (US), PEGI 12+/USK 12/OFLC PG/BBFC 12 (UK) Producer: Ryota Niitsuma TATSUNOKO VS. CAPCOM: ULTIMATE ALL-STARS pairs well-known characters from Capcom’s roster of games with some of Japan’s most-beloved characters from anime powerhouse Tatsunoko Production. From Capcom’s 30-year history come characters like Ryu and Chun-Li from the STREET FIGHTER series, Morrigan from DARKSTALKERS and Mega Man Volnutt from MEGA MAN LEGENDS. Tatsunoko’s near half-century of Japanese animation excellence is represented by the likes of Ken the Eagle and Jun the Swan from the SCIENCE NINJA TEAM GATCHAMAN anime (known in Europe and North America as BATTLE OF THE PLANETS or G-FORCE), cybernetic warrior Casshan

    College student Kenta Sato (Kenta Kiritani, right) has some questions about the new girl (Haruka Ayase) living with his friend Jiro Kitamura (Keisuke Koide) in CYBORG SHE, a science fiction romance from the director of MY SASSY GIRL. © 2008 Cyborg She Film Partners.

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    Author: Ed Godziszewski Official Movie Site: cyborg.gaga.ne.jp (Japan) SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from a new movie. Every now and then, a movie comes along and takes you by surprise. Sometimes it flies under the radar and you never hear of it, sometimes it looks unremarkable and you pay it no mind, or perhaps you just think ‘you gotta be kidding, I’m not going to bother.’ In the case of CYBORG SHE (Boku no Kanojo wa Saibogu), the 2008 romantic sci-fi comedy film from Korean director Kwak Jae-Young (MY SASSY GIRL), it was a little bit of all of these. Towards the end of a long flight back from Japan, I turned to the in-flight entertainment system to pass the time. I saw a listing for this film, in Japanese with English subtitles. I’d never heard of it, the

    Director Shusuke Kaneko is in Korea for the 2009 Megabox Japanese Film Festival, which will screen all three 1990s Gamera films. Photo courtesy of Megabox. GAMERA 3: AWAKENING OF IRYS © 1999 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

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    Heisei Trilogy will be screened at Japanese Film Festival in Korea Author: Kim Song-ho Official Site: The 6th Megabox Japanese Film Festival The Heisei Gamera trilogy — GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE (Gamera: Daikaiju Kuchu Kessen, 1995), GAMERA 2: ADVENT OF LEGION (Gamera 2: Region Shurai, aka GAMERA: ATTACK OF LEGION, 1996) and GAMERA 3: AWAKENING OF IRYS (Gamera 3: Iris Kakusei, aka GAMERA: REVENGE OF IRIS, 1999) — will be screened in Korea at the 6th Megabox Japanese Film Festival, running November 11 to 15 (Korean date). Megabox Japanese Film Festival (J-MEFF) is a collaboration between Megabox Cineplex, a large cinema chain in Korea, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan. Since the premiere festival in 2004, J-MEFF is held in November. Each year it introduces both new and classic Japanese films to Korean audiences and is now one of the

    English language international sales art for the 2008 Korean horror movie DEATH BELL. Photo courtesy of Mirovision. © 2008 Core Contents Media

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    Premieres October 14 from IFC Films Source: IFC Entertainment, Mirovision Inc. Official Movie Site: ifcfilms.com/deathbell (US) The South Korean horror hit DEATH BELL (Gosa: Piui Junggangosa, 2008) will makes its US debut on October 14 via IFC Films` On Demand service. On a Saturday, 170 days before college entrance exams, a special class for 20 top students is held at school. The 20 intelligent students include the loyal high school girl Ina (Nam Gyu-ri), the bad-boy hunk Kang-Hyun (Kim Beom), Ina’s best friend Myung-Hyo (Han Na-yeon), the top-of-school paranoiac Hye-Young, the hallucination schizophrenic Jo-Beom, the second top insomniac Dong-Hyuk, the timid third top student Jae-Wook, and the over sensitive sixth top student Su-Jin. The only other people left in school together with the 20 students are: the popular teacher Hwang Chang-wook (Lee Beom-soo), the new English teacher Choi So-young (Yoon Jeong-hee), and the

    Haeundae residents Kang Yeon-hee (Ha Ji-won) and Choi Man-shik (Sol Kyung-gu) are unaware of the disaster headed for their city. Photo courtesy of CJ Entertainment. © 2009 JK Film / CJ Entertainment

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    Korean Government and Movie Industry Deal with Film Piracy Author: Kim Song-ho Source: Various Korean news sites and official press releases Official Movie Site: HAEUNDAE Korean box office figures courtesy of the Korean Film Council In a previous article about the Korean disaster movie HAEUNDAE, SciFi Japan reported the film had been illegally leaked online and the Korean Public Prosecution Office had started an investigation to apprehend the culprits responsible. Fortunately, the case was concluded as the suspects were arrested and indicted a few weeks later. HAEUNDAE, the first full-scale disaster movie of Korea, opened on July 22 at 546 screens across the country and became an instant blockbuster. Currently, the largest-grossing Korean movie of all time is Bong Joon-ho`s 2006 monster movie THE HOST (Gwoemul) which attracted 13.01 million admissions. HAEUNDAE swept away 5 million admissions after just 13 days of release

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