SciFi Japan

    Detective Haruki Onda (Kento Nagayama) and “police chief for a day” Ayame Enjoji (Riko Narumi) face one strange situation after another in the black comedy CRIME OR PUNISHMENT?!?, coming to DVD in the United Kingdom on May 14th. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. ©

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    Source: Third Window Films Official Movie Site: thirdwindowfilms.com/crime-or-punishment (UK) Special Thanks to Adam Torel Have you ever experienced a day when you are carrying on as usual just like the day before but strange things keep happening one after another on that particular day? CRIME OR PUNISHMENT?!? (??????, Tsumi Toka Batsu Toka, 2009) is a slapstick comedy, like Kafka’s novel, filled with incongruous nightmares and nonsensical laughter. Script and direction for CRIME OR PUNISHMENT?!? is by Keralino Sandorovich, the maestro of the Japanese theatre world. His flippant Russian-style name is obviously a fake as he is genuinely Japanese. Being a big fan of the great German writer, Kafka, he admits that this film has been influenced by Kafka’s The Castle and The Judgment. He is also an enthusiast for slapstick comedy such as those by Marx brothers and black comedy by Monty Python.

    Packaging for the DVD and Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack of SHOCK LABYRINTH 3D, the horror-thriller from THE GRUDGE director Takashi Shimizu. Photos courtesy of Well Go USA. © 2009 Shock Labyrinth Film Committee

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    Ten Years Ago She Disappeared. Tonight... She Returns Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications Official Movie Site: 3d-shock.asmik-ace.co.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Leif Helland Japan`s first full-length, live-action digital 3D feature, SHOCK LABYRINTH 3D (??????, Senritsu Meikyuu 3D, 2009) debuts on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and DVD May 8th from Well Go USA Entertainment. The horror-thriller follows a group of teenagers dealing with the sudden return of their friend Yuki, who went missing a decade ago at an amusement park haunted house. When she falls ill and faints in front of her shocked friends they rush her to a hospital, but end up trapped in an endless labyrinth of unspeakable horrors. The film was inspired by Fuji-Q High Land`s famous “Labyrinth of Horrors” haunted house ride, and was shot at night in the amusement park. Yuya Yagira (NOBODY KNOWS), Ai Maeda (GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS,

    Five SciFi Japan readers have won a free MARDOCK SCRAMBLE: THE FIRST COMPRESSION DIRECTOR`S CUT Blu-ray, courtesy of Section23 Films. © Tow Ubukata/ MS Committee

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    Source: Section23 Films Official Movie Site: m-scramble.jp/compression (Japan) Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Thank you to everyone who entered Section23 Films and SciFi Japan`s MARDOCK SCRAMBLE: THE FIRST COMPRESSION DIRECTOR`S CUT contest. The randomly drawn winners are: Lee Wooten Jennifer Powell Shawn Francis Camille Addison Gary Rhodes Congratulations to the winners! Each of you will receive the MARDOCK SCRAMBLE: THE FIRST COMPRESSION DIRECTOR`S CUT Blu-ray. The prizes will ship soon so keep an eye on your mailboxes. MARDOCK SCRAMBLE: THE FIRST COMPRESSION DIRECTOR`S CUT is now available from retailers across North America on DVD (SRP: $29.98 each) and Blu-ray (SRP: $39.98 each). The film is based on the novels written by Tow Ubukata (Le Chevalier D`Eon) and illustrated by Katsuya Terada (BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE, GODZILLA: FINAL WARS) About Section23 Films Section23 Films provides home video marketing

    Shout! Factory`s new distribution deal with Saban Brands includes more than 700 episodes of POWERS RANGERS. © Power Rangers LLC.

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    Agreement Grants Exclusive Distribution Rights to Renowned Live-Action Pop Culture Property POWERS RANGERS Source: Shout! Factory press release Special Thanks to Tom Chen Shout! Factory and Saban Brands announced a multi-year, multi-property alliance to bring Saban’s iconic live-action pop culture series, including POWERS RANGERS, to the home entertainment marketplace in the U.S and Canada . The announcement was made today by Shout! Factory’s founding partners Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; and Elie Dekel, President of Saban Brands. The multi-year alliance provides Shout! Factory with exclusive home entertainment packaged media (DVD/Blu-ray) and select digital rights to Saban Brands’ extensive catalog of properties including more than 700 episodes of POWERS RANGERS (1993- 2009), 92 episodes of VR TROOPERS, 26 episodes of NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION, and 88 episodes of BEETLEBORGS for home entertainment releases and digital distribution across select entertainment platforms in

    Packaging for the DVD and Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack of THE FRONT LINE. Photos courtesy of Well Go USA. © 2011 Showbox/Mediaplex and TPS Company

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    South Korea’s 2nd Highest Grossing Domestic Film Debuts on Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and DVD Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications Official Movie Site: frontline.co.kr (Korea), thefrontlinemovie-us.com (US) Special Thanks to Leif Helland South Korea’s submission to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film, the fast paced, action-packed war epic THE FRONT LINE (???, Gojijeon, 2011) debuts on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and DVD May 1st from Well Go USA Entertainment. Ha-kyun Shin (THIRST, THE GAME), Soo Go (INTO THE WHITE NIGHT, HAUNTERS), Seung-su Ryu (BATTLEFIELD HEROES, DOUBLE AGENT) and Je-hoon Lee (BLEAK NIGHT) star in director Jang Hun’s (SECRET REUNION, ROUGH CUT) THE FRONT LINE, centering on the Korean War`s final battle to determine the border between North and South Korea. The film is nominated for three awards at the 2012 Asian Film Awards, including a Best Supporting Actor nod for Je-hoon Lee. In the final

    DVD and Blu-ray cover artwork for FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD Complete Collection 1. © Hiromu Arakawa/ FA Project, MBS

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    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Site: animax-asia.com/FMAB (Japan), funimation.com/fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood (US) Special Thanks to Tim Baxter and Michelle Lee Starting April 24th, FUNimation Entertainment will release FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD (?????? FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Furumetaru Arukemisuto, 2009) on DVD and Blu-ray in a series of Complete Collection volumes. Edward and Alphonse Elric`s reckless disregard for alchemy`s fundamental laws ripped half of Ed`s limbs from his body and left Al`s soul clinging to a cold suit of armor. To restore what was lost, the brothers scour a war-torn land for the Philosopher`s Stone, a fabled relic which grants the ability to perform alchemy in impossible ways. The Elrics are not alone in their search; the corrupt State Military is also eager to harness the artifact`s power. So too are the strange Homunculi and their shadowy creator. The mythical gem lures exotic alchemists from

    Ciel Phantomhive and his demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis. Image courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © Yana Toboso/ Square Enix, Kuroshitsuji Project, MBS.

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    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Site: kuroshitsuji.tv (Japan), funimation.com/BlackButler (US) Special Thanks to Tim Baxter and Michelle Lee On April 3rd, FUNimation Entertainment will release the anime series BLACK BUTLER (???, Kuroshitsuji) in Blu-ray/DVD Combo Packs for Seasons 1 (2008) and 2 (2010). BLACK BUTLER Season 1 DVD/Blu-ray Complete Set Ciel Phantomhive is the most powerful boy in all of England, but he bears the scars of unspeakable suffering. Forced to watch as his beloved parents were brutally murdered, Ciel was subsequently abducted and violently tortured. Desperate to end his suffering, the boy traded his own soul for a chance at vengeance, casting his lot with the one person on whom he could depend: Sebastian, a demon butler summoned from the very pits of hell. Together, they`ll prowl the darkest alleys of London on a mission to snuff out those who would

    High school students battle in CROWS ZERO, director Takashi Miike`s hit adaptation of the bestselling manga. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2007 “CROWS - Episode 0” Production Committee

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    Takashi Miike Hit Streets on April 9th Source: The Associates press release From prolific and controversial director Takashi Miike, the man behind such diverse cult movie hits as AUDITION, ICHI THE KILLER and 13 ASSASSINS, comes CROWS ZERO (??-??????, Kurozu Zero, 2007), another visionary, super-stylish and off-the-wall study of violence that plays out like a high school version of FIGHT CLUB and has been described by as “effective, engaging, touching and hugely entertaining” (Todd Brown, Twitch). Based on the bestselling manga by Hiroshi Takahashi (screenwriter of the original Japanese RING movies), CROWS ZERO is certainly one of Miike’s most accessible and commercially successful movies in years, proving to be one of his biggest box office hits to date in his native Japan and even spawning an equally successful sequel. The notorious Suzuran Senior High School for Boys is Japan’s lowest achieving and most

    DVD cover art for SULTRY ASSASSIN – THE APHRODISIAC KILL. Photo courtesy of Section23 Films. © 2011 Take Shobo/ Shintoho Pictures

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    Source: Section23 Films Official Movie Site: takeshobo.co.jp/shohin (Japan) Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Switchblade Pictures has announced the latest addition to the company’s expanding line of live action features: SULTRY ASSASSIN – THE APHRODISIAC KILL (???????? ?????, Tsuyakenkaku: Kunoichi Biyaku Seme, 2011). Based on the sizzling line of “eroninja” novels by Junichi Yagami, APHRODISIAC KILL is the first film in a new series from writer/director Kenichi Fujiwara (ZOMBIE HUNTER RIKA, ZEROMAN R and GRAFEETER TOKI). Produced by the Take Shobo Company and Shintoho Pictures Co., Ltd, the erotic action thriller stars Akiho Yoshizawa (MAIDROID 1 & 2, INVADER 33D) as the titular female ninja Rin, while exploitation stalwart Kesuke (CRUEL RESTAURANT), former U.S. adult film star Asami and new ero-horror star Rin Kawai round out the cast. When drugs, graft and the illegal sex trade, come together, the outcome can be deadly; especially in ancient Edo,

    Section23 is giving SciFi Japan readers a chance to win MARDOCK SCRAMBLE: THE FIRST COMPRESSION DIRECTOR`S CUT on Blu-ray! Photo courtesy of Section23 Films. © Tow Ubukata/ MS Committee

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    Source: Section23 Films Official Movie Site: m-scramble.jp/compression (Japan) Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE SciFi Japan is pleased to present our first promotion with Section23 Films and Sentai Filmworks; and we`re kicking things off with a MARDOCK SCRAMBLE: THE FIRST COMPRESSION DIRECTOR`S CUT Blu-ray giveaway! Based on the novels written by Tow Ubukata (Le Chevalier D`Eon) and illustrated by Katsuya Terada (BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE, GODZILLA: FINAL WARS), the MARDOCK SCRAMBLE anime trilogy began with MARDOCK SCRAMBLE: THE FIRST COMPRESSION (????????????? ??, Maroudukku Sukuranburu: Asshuku) in 2010, followed by MARDOCK SCRAMBLE: THE SECOND COMBUSTION (????????????? ??, Maroudukku Sukuranburu: Nenshou) in 2011. The final film, MARDOCK SCRAMBLE: THE THIRD EXHAUST (????????????? ?3? ??, Maroudukku Sukuranburu: Dai 3 bu Haiki) is scheduled for release in Japan in the fall of 2012. Tow Ubukata penned the screenplays for the films, which are directed by Susumu

    DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack artwork for CONFUCIUS, starring Chow Yun-fat as the legendary philosopher. © 2010 Dadi Film Media.

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    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Movie Site: kongzi.sina.com (China), funimation.com/confucius (US) Special Thanks to Tim Baxter and Michelle Lee On March 27th, FUNimation Entertainment will release CONFUCIUS (??, Kong Zi, 2010) on DVD and in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack. Screen legend Chow Yun-fat stars as Confucius in the inspiring, action-packed saga of a leader whose wisdom and cunning were more powerful than any sword. In this sweeping battlefield epic, Confucius finds his lands threatened by the fires of war. After leading the nation`s most powerful army to victory against hordes of invaders, the new hero finds even greater danger in the jealous eyes of the aristocrats he fought to protect. From the Producer of John Woo’s RED CLIFF and Jet Li’s WARLORDS, and captured on film by Oscar-winning Director of Photography Peter Pau (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON), Chow Yun-fat delivers the award-nominated performance of a lifetime

    Key art for KURENAI. © 2008 Kentaro Katayama • Yamato Yamamoto/ Brain`s Base, Shueisha, Inc.

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: samidareso.com (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Sentai Filmworks is pleased to announce the licensing of KURENAI (?, 2008), the 12 episode series that pits a seven-year-old heiress and her teenage bodyguard against her own family. Based on the light novels by Kentaro Katayama with illustrations by Yamoto Yamamoto, the series features direction and script supervision by Kou Matsuo (ROZEN MAIDEN, YOZAKURA QUARTET) and character designs by Kumi Ishii (ROZEN MAIDEN, OREIMO). He’s only a teenager, but Kurenai Shinkurou is already both a master of an arcane martial art and an experienced professional mediator with a long track record of resolving disputes. Not bad for someone who’s just sixteen and still in school, but everyone has their limits and Kurenai may have met his when his boss and role model, Benika, responds to his request for a more challenging assignment

    Detective Masamitsu Shigeta (Takayuki Yamada) is ready to announce the winners of NEW PEOPLE Entertainment and SciFi Japan`s GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER DVD + Poster Prize Pack contest. Photo courtesy of NEW PEOPLE Entertainment. © Hiroya Oku/Shueisha © 2011 Gantz Film Partners

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    Source: NEW PEOPLE Entertainment Official Movie Site: gantz-movie.com (Japan), gantzmovies.com (US) Special Thanks to Shio Toyoda A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Thank you to everyone who entered NEW PEOPLE Entertainment and SciFi Japan`s GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER DVD + Poster Prize Pack contest. The three randomly drawn winners are: Sarah Waddell Phillip Dishon Kyle L. Dennis Congratulations to the winners! Each of you will receive the GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER 2-Disc DVD Edition and poster. The prizes will be shipped next week so keep an eye on your mailboxes. Both GANTZ and GANTZ II: PERFECT ANSWER are now available from retailers across North America in 2-Disc DVD Editions (SRP: $24.92 each) and in 3-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Sets (SRP: $29.99 each). The films are based on the hit manga series created by Hiroya Oku, which has sold over 15 million copies worldwide (published in

    Cover art for HETALIA AXIS POWERS: The Complete Series. Photo courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. © 2008 Hidekaz Himaruya, Gentosha Comics/ Hetalia Project

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    Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Site: hetalia.com (Japan), funimation.com/hetalia (US) Special Thanks to Tim Baxter and Michelle Lee Forget everything you learned in history class, and imagine all the nations of the world as cute guys hanging out on a wildly inappropriate reality show. Now, toss in every stereotype ever and prepare to pledge allegiance to your favorite superpower in HETALIA AXIS POWERS (???? Axis Powers, Hetaria Akushisu Pawaazu, 2009)! FUNimation Entertainment will release the complete series DVD set on March 6th. Maybe you`ll surrender to Italy`s charms. He`s a sweetie who`s always got a noodle in his mouth and he`s BFF with blue-eyed Germany and shy Japan. Sounds nice, right? Of course, their friendship sort of causes World War II, but is that really such a big deal? Not if it means those adorable allies France, America, and England will be stormin` the beach!

    Key art for the second season of K-ON! © 2010 kakifly • Houbunsha/ Sakura High Band

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    Source: Sentai Filmworks press release Official Site: tbs.co.jp/k-on (Japan) Special Thanks to David Williams Sentai Filmworks is delighted to announce the licensing of K-ON! Season 2 (????!!, Keion!!, 2010), the continuing exploits of the Light Music Club of Sakuragaoka Girl’s High. The creative staff from K-ON! returns for another 26 episodes plus an OVA of a rocking good time, featuring character designs by Yukiko Horiguchi (LUCKY STAR) and music by Hajime Hyakkoku (ICHIGO 100%). On top of their proven performance, Sentai Filmworks’ release will feature an electric dub by Bang Zoom! Entertainment. For two full years, Yui, Mio, Ritsu and Tsumugi have worked together to keep Sakuragaoka Girl`s High School`s struggling Light Music Club alive, and along the way they’ve begun to build a reputation as real rock musicians, especially since the previous year’s addition of underclassman rhythm guitarist Azusa!! But as a new school year

    Photo courtesy of Section23 Films.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES REMASTERED EDITION Available on March 6th Source: Section23 Films press release Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff Home video distributor Section23 Films has provided details on its March slate of releases; including GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES. Now digitally remastered and restored, it is one of the rare films that truly deserves to be called a masterpiece. It will be released on DVD by Section23 client, Sentai Filmworks. Product details follow, in order of release... GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES REMASTERED EDITION Published by: Sentai Filmworks Distributed by: Section23 Films Run Time: 89 min. Street Date: 3/6/2012 Format: DVD Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles SRP: $19.98 As the Empire of the Sun crumbles upon itself and a rain of firebombs falls upon Japan, the final death march of a nation is echoed in millions of smaller tragedies. This is the story of Seita

    Cine-Asia is reissuing four classic martial arts films starring international superstar Jet Li. Photo courtesy of Showbox Media Group. © 1991 Star TV Filmed Entertainment

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    Arriving February 27th from Cine-Asia Source: Showbox Media Group press release Official Site: cine-asia.com Special Thanks to Louise Rivers From 1999 to 2006, Hong Kong Legends brought the biggest films of Asian cinema to DVD in the UK. Now, Cine-Asia the UK’s leading Asian action cinema label is reissuing them under the ‘CINE-ASIA presents HKL’ banner, bringing together the two greatest catalogues of Asian cinema under one ultimate label! February`s lineup focuses on Jet Li -- the star of FIST OF LEGEND, BLACK MASK, LETHAL WEAPON 4, ROMEO MUST DIE, KISS OF THE DRAGON, HERO, UNLEASHED, THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, OCEAN HEAVEN and THE EXPENDABLES -- with new digitally remastered and restored DVDs of four classic films. ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA Ultimate Edition DVD (???, Wong Fei-hung, 1991) Street Date: February 27, 2012 Format: DVD (Region 2 PAL) Number of discs: 1 Certificate: 15 Run Time:

    Preliminary Australian DVD cover for SECTOR 7. Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 2011 JK Film/ CJ Entertainment

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    Madman to Release the Monster Blockbuster from Korea Source: Madman Entertainment press release Official Movie Site: sector7movie.blogspot.com (US), 2011sector7.co.kr (Korea) Hot on the heels of yesterday`s announcement that SECTOR 7 (7??, Chil gwanggu, 2011) -- South Korea`s first homegrown 3D IMAX film -- has been licensed for home video in North America by Shout! Factory comes word that an Australian release is also in the works from distributor Madman Entertainment. Madman has confirmed that the Region 4 DVD will street on April 18th. SECTOR 7 was written and produced by Yoon Je-kyun. Referred to as "the Korean Michael Bay", Yoon was the director of the tidal-wave disaster hit HAEUNDAE (???, released in the US as TIDAL WAVE). The film was directed by Kim Ji-hoon, who previously helmed the drama MAY 18 (??? ??, Hwaryeohan hyuga, 2008) and is currently at work on the

    Shout! Factory has acquired the North American rights to the Korean hits SECTOR 7 and QUICK. © 2011 JK Film / CJ Entertainment.

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    Popular Overseas Box Office Hits Include 3D Epic Thriller SECTOR 7 and QUICK Source: Shout! Factory press release Official Movie Site: sector7movie.blogspot.com (US), 2011sector7.co.kr (Korea) Special Thanks to Tom Chen Shout! Factory announced today a multi-year agreement with CJ E&M, the leading film distribution and production company in Korea, to be the exclusive North American home entertainment distributor for two widely popular Korean motion pictures. The announcement was made by Shout! Factory’s founding partners Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; and CJ E&M America’s CEO Joon Choi. Under the multi-property alliance, Shout! Factory has secured the rights to distribute the Korean 3D creature thriller SECTOR 7 and action-packed adventure QUICK for all packaged media (DVD/Blu-ray) home entertainment releases and digital distribution in the U.S and Canada. “We’re excited about this opportunity with CJ E&M and look forward to bringing these films to

    The King of the Monsters makes his debut in GODZILLA, now available on Blu-ray and DVD from The Criterion Collection. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Author: Allen Perkins Source: The Criterion Collection Official Site: criterion.com/godzilla Special Thanks to Curtis Tsui On January 24th, the prestigious Criterion Collection released GODZILLA (???, Gojira, 1954) and its companion film GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS (1956) on DVD and Blu-ray in a fantastic special edition. For Criterion to release GODZILLA represents one of the highest honors the film has ever received and truly solidifies its status as not just a classic monster movie, but also an important cinematic achievement. Few films can lay claim to such an honor. Godzilla fans all over should be proud that this film joins a series that includes most of Akira Kurosawa’s output. VIDEO GODZILLA is presented in a pillarboxed 1080p transfer in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio and is sourced from a 35mm fine grain print struck from the original camera negative. The image is much

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