SciFi Japan

    Front and back cover art for DreamWorks` CASSHERN DVD. Photo courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment. © 2005 CASSHERN PARTNERS

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Region 1 Disc Features Never-Before-Seen Director’s Cut Source: Paramount Home Entertainment Official Site: Casshern.Com The 2004 Japanese science fiction film CASSHERN makes its long-awaited North American DVD debut on October 16, 2007 from Paramount/DreamWorks Home Entertainment. Based on the 1973 Tatsunoko Productions anime series, CASSHERN was written and directed by Kazuaki Kiriya and produced by Shochiku Co., Ltd. The live-action film was shot entirely on a digital backlot, using green screens much like the box office hits SIN CITY and 300 to achieve eye-popping, other-worldly images. CASSHERN is set in a dystopian future in which the planet has been ravaged by a catastrophic Third World War. With the future of the human race in jeopardy, geneticist Dr. Azuma (Akira Terao of AKIRA KUROSAWA’S DREAMS and AEGIS) develops a new technology called “neo-cells” that can repair damaged or diseased tissue, but a lab accident

    DVD cover art for the latest volume of GODZILLA: THE ORIGINAL ANIMATED SERIES, now on sale. Photo courtesy of Classic Media. © 1978 Toho Co., Ltd./2006 Classic Media, Inc.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Classic Media Completes Season 1 of the Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Show Author: Keith Aiken Source: Classic Media In 1978, Hanna-Barbera Productions created the first cartoon series based on Toho Co., Ltd.’s character Godzilla. The GODZILLA show followed the adventures of the research vessel Calico; Captain Carl Majors (voiced by Jeff David), scientist Dr. Quinn Darian (Brenda Thompson), her young nephew Pete (Al Eisenmann), first mate Brock (Hilly Hicks), and Godzooky, the “comical, cowardly cousin” of Godzilla. Each week the crew of the Calico would find themselves in one predicament after another, only to be rescued in the nick of time by Godzilla, King of the Monsters. GODZILLA premiered on the NBC television network on September 9, 1978. It ran for two seasons of 13 episodes each and a third season of reruns with the final NBC broadcast on September 5, 1981. Rights to the series reverted

    EVA-01 returns to DVD in the deluxe NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: PLATINUM PERFECT COLLECTION from ADV Films. © 1996 GAINAX/Project Eva, TV Tokyo

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Collectible Tin Commemorates 20 Years of GAINAX Source: ADV Films ADV Films presents the NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: PLATINUM PERFECT COLLECTION, compiling the popular anime series in a collectible tin. This commemorative collection also includes all the extras from the original individual disc releases. This limited edition release will hit store shelves November 27, in plenty of time for the holiday gift-giving season. EVANGELION is widely regarded as the most popular anime show ever, and it was recently named by both Anime Insider and Newtype USA as the top series of all time. Now with EVANGELION beginning its broadcast run on [adult swim] October 20, hundreds of thousands of new viewers will soon discover this modern classic for themselves. First broadcast on TV Tokyo in 1995, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION marks a watershed in the history of anime. Not only did EVANGELION raise the bar

    The giant monster Yongary advances on Seoul`s historical landmark the Great South Gate (Namdaemun) in YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP, now on DVD from MGM. © 1967 Keukdong Entertainment Company

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    A Look Back at Korea’s First Giant Monster Movie as It Finally Gets an Official Region 1 Release Author: Keith Aiken with Loomis (Kim Song-ho) Source: MGM Home Entertainment, Fox Home Entertainment, Talking about Korean Movies: The Korean Movie Renaissance 1, Korean Film Archive Special Thanks to James Owsley, Gary Teetzel, Shinichi Wakasa, and Callie Jernigan Contents: BRINGING YONGARY TO DVD: INTERVIEW WITH JAMES OWSLEY For several decades, Japan has been the chief producer of giant monster movies in Asia. But with Godzilla and Gamera currently in retirement, South Korean film studios have taken up the slack and so far been tremendously successful with their own creations. Last year’s THE HOST (Gwoemul) became the highest-grossing domestic release in Korean history and was named Best Picture at the Korean Film Awards, sold in more than 30 countries, and

    Popular actress Chiaki Kuriyama stars in SCRAP HEAVEN. DVD cover art courtesy of Media Blasters. © 2005 Scrap Heaven Film Partners

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    New Info, Cover Art, and Release Dates for Asian DVDs on the `Tokyo Shock` and `Exploitation Digital` Labels Author: Keith Aiken Source: Media Blasters, Inc. Special Thanks to Richard York Media Blasters has provided new cover art and information on their upcoming Tokyo Shock and Exploitation Digital releases. Look for the following Region 1 DVDs through year`s end... October 23, 2007: SCRAP HEAVEN (2005) Writer-director Lee Sang-il`s (69 SIXTY-NINE) drama about disaffected youth in Japan stars Ryo Kase (GMK, CUTIE HONEY), Jo Odagiri (MASKED RIDER KUGA, AZUMI), and Chiaki Kuriyama (BATTLE ROYALE, KILL BILL VOL.1, THE GREAT YOKAI WAR). Unhappy with his day job, a police department clerk named Kasuya (Kase) partners with an anarchist janitor named Tetsu (Odagiri) to open a murder for hire business out of bathroom stall. They befriend Saki (Kuriyama), a blind pharmacist who is trying to make a liquid bomb. SCRAP

    Optimus Prime leads the Autobots in their war against the Decepticons in TRANSFORMERS. Photo courtesy of DreamWorks LLC/Paramount. © 2007 DreamWorks LLC and Paramount Pictures. TRANSFORMERS are © 2007 Hasbro.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: DreamWorks LLC/Paramount From the Studio Press Release: $650+ Million Smash Hit From DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures Rolls Out on DVD and HD DVD October 16 in Two-Disc Sets Bursting with a Universe of Bonus Features to Immerse Fans of All Ages in the World of the Legendary ROBOTS IN DISGUISE HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. – (September 5, 2007) The armies of CYBERTRON invaded theaters with a juggernaut fury that shook the summer of 2007, but on October 16, 2007 fans of all ages will discover that there is far “More Than Meets The Eye” to the massive mechanical behemoths when TRANSFORMERS arrives on Earth in spectacular DVD and HD DVD two-disc Special Edition sets as well as on a single disc from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures; distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment. Earning over $650 million at the global box office to date,

    Ryuk the Shinigami death god overlooks the land of the dead in the anime series DEATH NOTE. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha © DNDP, VAP, Shueisha, Madhouse

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: VIZ Media Official Site: DEATH NOTE Anime Site The first DVD volume of the highly anticipated anime series DEATH NOTE makes its debut in stores on November 20, 2007. DEATH NOTE is the latest addition to VIZ Media’s SHONEN JUMP Home Video line. The DVD is rated T+ for Older Teens, and features four original and uncut episodes with English dub and Japanese with English subtitles for $24.98. DEATH NOTE, based on the Shueisha manga series of the same name, is currently one of the hottest properties in Japan. Published in North America by VIZ Media, the manga consistently ranks as one of the top performing graphic novels on BookScan, and depicts the adventures of Light Yagami, an ace student with great prospects but is bored out of his mind. All of that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Magnolia Home Entertainment Official Site: The Host Movie Official Press Release: About Magnolia Home Entertainment Magnolia Home Entertainment is the home video division of Magnolia Pictures. Launched in November 2005, the company is releasing a diversified slate of films, including Alex Gibney’s Academy Award nominated documentary ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM, Steven Soderbergh’s BUBBLE, Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady’s Academy Award nominated documentary JESUS CAMP and Roger Donaldson`s THE WORLD`S FASTEST INDIAN. Magnolia Home Entertainment is part of a vertically-integrated group of media properties co-owned by Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban that includes distributor Magnolia Pictures, the Landmark Theatres chain, production companies HDNet Films and 2929 Productions, high-definition cable networks HDNet and HDNet Movies. For more information visit http://www.magpictures.com. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For more on THE HOST, please see the previous coverage here on SciFi Japan:

    DVD cover art for GHOST TRAIN. Photo courtesy of ADV Films. © 2006 Ghost Train Film Partners

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Get on. Get dead. Source: ADV Films Nana thought her life was scary enough. Her high school graduation is looming, her mother is in the hospital and her sister Noriko is in a constant need of attention. But, the train ride between all her responsibilities will prove to be the most horrifying part of her day. Somewhere, deep underground in the tunnel near Mizunahsi Station, a dark spirit yearns for revenge. One by one, people begin to mysteriously disappear. Eventually, Nana`s own sister falls prey to the wicked tracks. The only clue Noriko has left is the commuter pass that she had picked up on the train before disappearing, and the dark shadow that followed her in the surveillance camera. Together with her friend Kanae, Nana must now take one more trip into the darkness and confront the sinister force haunting below the depths. -Plot synopsis

    Classic Media may have to clear some shelf space: their GOJIRA release has won another

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    The original GODZILLA wins a 2007 Saturn Award Source: The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films On May 10, Classic Media`s GOJIRA won “Best DVD Classic Film Release” at the 33rd Annual Saturn Awards in Universal City, CA. Created by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films in Los Angeles, the Saturn Awards are the major award show for genre releases. SUPERMAN RETURNS was the event`s big winner, taking home "Best Fantasy Film", "Best Actor" for Brandon Routh, and a "Best Director" award for Bryan Singer. Other major awards went to CHILDREN OF MEN, CARS, PAN`S LABYRINTH, THE DESCENT, and CASINO ROYALE. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN`S CHEST won for "Best Special Effects". Other DVD winners include the documentary THE SCI FI BOYS ("Best DVD Release"), SUPERMAN II: THE RICHARD DONNER CUT ("Best DVD Special Edition Release"), and JAMES BOND ULTIMATE

    Sales sheet for THE HOST DVD. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. © 2006 Chungeorahm Film

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Standard and 2-Disc Collector`s Editions go on sale July 24 Source: Magnolia Pictures Official Site: The Host Movie Following a limited stateside theatrical run, the international hit THE HOST will arrive on Region 1 DVD this July 24. Distributor Magnolia Home Entertainment will be releasing the film in a Standard Edition, a 2-Disc Collector’s Edition, and both Blu-Ray and HD DVDs. The Standard DVD comes with the movie (running time:119 minutes), presented in the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Audio options include the original Korean (with English subtitles) and a new English dub track, both in 5.1 Dolby Digital. The extras are deleted scenes and a feature length audio commentary with Director Bong Joon-ho. The suggested retail price is $ 26.98. For a mere $3.00 more, the 2-Disc Collector’s Edition includes everything from the Standard version plus a second DVD of supplemental material. Extras include the documentary “The Making of

    Toho`s international publicity material for RICA. © 1972 Toho Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    1970s sex and violence trilogy comes to DVD Author: Keith Aiken Source: Media Blasters, Inc. Special Thanks to Richard York, Oki Miyano, and Anthony Romero Half-breed Rica was born under a very bad sign. Her mother was raped by American GIs and Rica was the result. Rica herself was raped by Hirose, one of her mother`s johns, at an early age. Scarred for life from Day One, Rica was practically raised with a knife in her hand and hate in her heart for all men! Soon Rica is mixed up in a world of trouble, running with gangs, scrapping with hoodlums and excelling in the ways of the underworld. But no matter how many times she ends up in jail or gets manhandled by thugs, nothing can stand in the way of her ultimate goal: Revenge! –Plot synopsis for RICA Media Blasters has acquired rights to Toho’s

    Check out GodzillaOnDVD for the latest specs for GHIDORAH and INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER. Photo courtesy of Classic Media. © 1964 Toho Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Classic Media Official site: Godzilla on DVD Classic Media`s official Godzilla website has updated with a description and specs for their upcoming DVDs of GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER. The latest information can be found on the site`s Godzilla Blog page. GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER will be available in stores and from online retailers on June 5th.

    Classic Media is offering a coupon to save on either GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN or MOTHRA VS GODZILLA. Photo courtesy of Classic Media. © 1955, 1964 Toho Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Classic Media Official site: Godzilla on DVD In celebration of the April 3rd release of GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN and MOTHRA VS GODZILLA, Classic Media is offering Godzilla fans a coupon for $3 off either DVD at participating retailers. The offer expires on June 30th. Look for Classic Media’s DVDs of GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER on June 5th.

    Frankenstein (Koji Furuhata) poses with Baragon in a studio shot for FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD. © 1965 Toho Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    3 Complete Versions of the Film on a 2-Disc DVD Set from Media Blasters Author: Keith Aiken Source: Media Blasters, Inc. Special Thanks to Richard York Media Blasters has completed work on their highly anticipated DVD of FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD and revealed the final specs for the June 26 release. Today, Media Blasters’ publicist Richard York announced, “We crammed this two-disc special edition of FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD with three complete versions of the film and other assorted goodies — it`s practically pregnant with entertainment!” One big change from earlier reports is that the Japanese version will not have a seamless branching option for the alternate “Frankenstein vs the Giant Devilfish” ending. Richard York explained, “The branching option can be quite troublesome. While we would have been able to make it work, some players just aren`t quick enough to make it truly seamless and we didn`t

    Updated packaging art for GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER. The DVDs will be available online and from stores on June 5th. Photo courtesy of Classic Media. © 1964, 1965 Toho Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Latest Info and Images for Upcoming Godzilla DVDs Author: Keith Aiken Source: Classic Media Official site: Godzilla on DVD A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Region 1 DVDs of the fifth and sixth Godzilla films, GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER (aka MONSTER ZERO), will be available from online retailers and in stores on June 5th. The good folks at Classic Media have provided some information detailing what fans can expect from the upcoming releases. * GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER are Toho’s official English titles for these films and are used for these DVDs at Toho’s request. * The GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER DVD includes the 1964 Japanese version SAN DAIKAIJU CHIKYU SAIDAI NO KESSEN (Three Giant Monsters: The Greatest Battle on Earth) and the 1965 American edit, GHIDRAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER. Contrary to rumors and online

    Just approved by Toho; the cover art for the FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD DVD. Photo courtesy of Media Blasters. © 1965 Toho Co., Ltd.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Latest News on the 2-Disc DVD Set from Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock Author: Keith Aiken Source: Media Blasters, Inc. Special Thanks to Shinichi Wakasa and Keizo Murase In the two years since Media Blasters began releasing DVDs of classic Toho films, the title they have received the most requests for has been FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD (Furankenshutain tai Chite Kaiju Baragon, 1965). Media Blasters took notice and quickly snapped up US rights to the film when they became available from Toho. On June 26, the company`s ‘Tokyo Shock’ label will release FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD on Region 1 DVD. This will be the first time the movie has been released on home video in North America. American actor Nick Adams (REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, MONSTER ZERO) plays James Bowen, a doctor caring for radiation victims in Hiroshima. Bowen and his assistant Sueko (Kumi Mizuno) find an orphaned

    We have a winner! Classic Media`s GOJIRA DVD wins a Rondo Award, makes some Top 10 lists and is nominated for a Saturn Award. ©1954 Toho Co., Ltd./2006 Classic Media.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Classic Media’s DVD of the original GODZILLA proves popular with fans and critics Classic Media’s GOJIRA was named “Best DVD of 2006” in the 5th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards. The DVD’s audio commentary by Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle also came in second place for “Best DVD Commentary” behind THE WICKER MAN commentary by Ed Woodward, Robin Hardy, Mark Kermode and the legendary Christopher Lee. The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards were started by David Colton and Kerry Gammill of the Classic Horror Film Boards. The award statue is a bust of horror film actor Rondo Hatton, who starred in such films as THE PEARL OF DEATH (1944), HOUSE OF HORRORS (1946) and THE BRUTE MAN (1946). Further details and a complete list of winners can be found on the awards website. SciFi Japan offers our congratulations to this year’s award winners! In related

    Japanese poster art for CUTIE HONEY. © 2004 Dynamic Planning, Inc./Warner Bros. Ent.

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: Bandai Entertainment On April 17, Warner Bros. Japan’s CUTIE HONEY (Kutei Hanii, 2004) will be released on DVD in America by Bandai Entertainment. The movie was directed by Hideaki Anno (NEON GENESIS EVANGELION) and stars fashion model Eriko Sato (a.k.a. “Sato Eri”) as the flesh and blood incarnation of Go Nagai’s famous manga and anime character. CUTIE HONEY is a fun and fast-paced film in which the super-heroine goes through more than thirty different costume changes as she battles a host of bizarre and silly villains. Bandai has announced that there will be two different releases of CUTIE HONEY. The standard DVD release will retail for $29.98 and includes the 93 minute long feature with the original Japanese audio, an English dub and English subtitles, plus the theatrical trailers, a promo video, and a “Making of CUTIE HONEY” documentary. The Limited

    © 1956 Nikkatsu Corp / 2007 Criterion

    DVD Blu-ray Digital

    Source: John DeSentis Official Site: The Criterion Collection The Criterion Collection has announced the March 13, 2007 DVD releases of two classic war dramas by director Kon Ichikawa, THE BURMESE HARP (Biruma no tategoto, 1956) and FIRES ON THE PLAIN (Nobi, 1959). Both are newly restored high-definition digital transfers presented in their original aspect ratios (1.33:1 and 2.35:1, respectively) and feature newly remastered soundtracks. MSRP for both titles is $29.95 each. THE BURMESE HARP stars Shoji Yasui (THE FALL OF AKO CASTLE) as Mizushima, a POW at the end of World War II sent on a mission that will change his very identity. Music plays a key role in the film, which features a score by the late Akira Ifukube (GODZILLA, DAIMAJIN). The DVD also features interviews with director Kon Ichikawa and veteran actor Rentaro Mikuni (KWAIDAN), and an essay by film historian

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