SciFi Japan

    A living god challenges those who profit from war in THE GOD OF CLAY, a new Japanese short film making its world premiere this Thursday in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Dennis Bartok. © 2011 Marbling Fine Arts Veteran Toho SFX Director Helmed New Indie Giant Monster Short, Making Its U.S. Debut This Week Author: Steve Ryfle Translation: Oki Miyano Special thanks to Toshiko Iwasaki, Norihiko Iwasaki, Dennis Bartok, and Elliot Gay

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    It’s no exaggeration to say that Koichi Kawakita brought Godzilla back to life. When he took over as special effects director of the long-running film series with GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE (??? VS ?????, Gojira tai Biorante, 1989), Kawakita rejuvenated a franchise that was creatively and technically moribund and introduced a new-look Godzilla that redefined the monster for a whole new generation of fans worldwide. Kawakita went on to work on a total of six Godzilla movies, the last being GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH (??? VS ??????, Gojira tai Desutoroia, 1995). More recently, Kawakita was a creative force behind a project that is decidedly smaller in scale yet has much in common with the Godzilla franchise, from the antiwar theme that propelled the original GODZILLA (???, Gojira, 1954) to the traditional Japanese analog special-effects techniques that define the entire genre it begat. THE GOD OF CLAY (???????, 2009/2011) is

    44 years after its theatrical release, the Korean monster movie YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP will be broadcast for the first time on Korean television. © 1967 Keukdong Entertainment Company

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    The Quintessential Korean Monster Movie is Finally Shown on Korean Television Author: Kim Song-ho Source: EBS, Korean Film Archive Special Thanks to Ms. Shin Ye-won and Mr. Kim Bong-young On June 19, 2011, the Korean network EBS (Educational Broadcasting System) will air YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP (??? ???, Daegoesu Yonggary, 1967). This marks the first ever domestic TV broadcast of the film, 44 years after its theatrical release in Korea. It is also the first HD broadcast of the movie. EBS will air YONGARY as part of its weekly movie program, KOREAN MOVIE SPECIAL (???? ??), which shows classic Korean movies at 11:00pm KST every Sunday. The reason for YONGARY`s much-belated TV debut in its home country stemmed from the film`s bumpy release history. After its theatrical release in 1967, the production company Keukdong Entertainment (of which YONGARY`s director Kim Ki-duk was

    Giant trolls are a big problem in the new film TROLLHUNTER, now in limited theatrical release in America. Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing. © 2010 Filmkameratene AS

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    Norwegian Monster Movie Opens in US Theaters Today Source: Magnolia Pictures Official Site: trollhunterfilm.com The government says there’s nothing to worry about – it’s just a problem with bears making trouble in the mountains and forests of Norway. But local hunters don’t believe it – and neither do a trio of college students who want to find out the truth. Armed with a video camera, they trail a mysterious “poacher,” who wants nothing to do with them. But their persistence lands them straight in the path of the objects of his pursuits: Trolls. They soon find themselves documenting every move of this grizzled, unlikely hero – The Troll Hunter – risking their lives to uncover the secrets of creatures only thought to exist in fairy tales. From Norwegian writer/director André Øvredal comes TROLLHUNTER, a thrillingly entertaining creature feature filled with harrowing suspense –

    Turner Classic Movies` June schedule features several classic monster movies, including a half-dozen Japanese creature features. Godzilla films, RODAN, and THE H-MAN © Toho Co., Ltd. THE MANSTER © 1958 United Artists Japan

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    Classic Monster Movies Every Thursday Source: Turner Classic Movies Thursdays this June, the cable station Turner Classic Movies will be airing a series of "Drive-In Double Features" of monster movies from the 1950s and 60s such as THEM!, THE VALLEY OF GWANGI, THE BLOB, TARANTULA, THE BEAST FROM 20000 FATHOMS, and THE THING. The lineup features fifteen movies never before aired on TCM, including four favorites from the Golden Age of Japanese movie monsters... GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS, RODAN, GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER, and GODZILLA VS MONSTER ZERO. Also on the schedule are Toho`s THE H-MAN and the Japanese/American co-production THE MANSTER. All will be shown in their English language, US release versions. Check the TCM website for the complete list of "Drive-In Double Features". TCM Japanese Monster Movie Schedule for June, 2011 Thursday, June 2 8:00 PM EST- GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS

    Old-school Japanese monster action is back on the big screen in THE GOD OF CLAY, the new short film by FX crew members from the Godzilla and Ultraman series. Photo courtesy of Dennis Bartok. © 2011 Marbling Fine Arts

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    Daikaiju Double Feature on June 23rd Source: Bigfoot Crest Theater Special Thanks to Dennis Bartok On Thursday, June 23, the Bigfoot Crest Theater in Westwood, CA (near UCLA) will present a special giant monster/Godzilla-themed film event featuring the World Premiere of the Japanese giant monster short film THE GOD OF CLAY produced by Marbling Fine Arts, co-directed by Godzilla FX master Koichi Kawakita and featuring a veritable Who`s Who of some of the greatest names in Japanese monster special effects. Also on the schedule is a 35 mm screening of the classic Toho movie GODZILLA VS. THE SEA MONSTER. Between the films there will be short discussion on the making of THE GOD OF CLAY and the history of Japanese giant monster movies with producer Norihiko Iwasaki of Marbling Fine Arts, Godzilla expert Steve Ryfle (Classic Media`s Toho Master Collection, Sony`s ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION) and

    Key artwork for the anime series DEATH NOTE, now on Netflix Streaming. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2003 by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/ Shueisha Inc. © 2006 DNDP, VAP, Shueisha, Madhouse

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    Acclaimed Supernatural Crime Mystery is the Latest VIZ Media Anime Series to be Streamed by Netflix Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: Deathnote.viz.com Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media has announced the premiere of the entire uncut and subtitled DEATH NOTE (?????, Desu Noto, 2006) anime series on Netflix, Inc., the world’s leading Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows. The supernatural suspense thriller is now available to watch instantly for subscribers in the U.S. A unique storyline and complex characters, combined with visually stunning animation by Madhouse, made DEATH NOTE one of the most popular anime series to ever be released in Japan and North America. The complete 37 episode series joins several other VIZ Media anime titles such as BLEACH, NARUTO, and INUYASHA, which can now be instantly streamed from Netflix. DEATH NOTE (rated TV-14, subtitled)

    Cover art for the Warner Archive Collection DVD of the Rankin/Bass- Tsuburaya co-production THE LAST DINOSAUR. © 1977 Rankin Bass Productions Inc.

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    Cult Favorite Rankin/Bass-Tsuburaya Co-production Available March 22nd Author: Keith Aiken Source: Warner Archive Collection Special Thanks to Gabriel Vicuna and Ed Godziszewski “It eats meat! Us!!” It is a Tyrannosaurus, ruler of a lost world hidden within a dormant polar volcano. Us are members of expedition led by a big game hunter and überzillionaire (Richard Boone). And eats – well, you get the idea, tyrant lizard fans! Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass, who charmed families with THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS and more animated and stop-motion holiday heartwarmers, relied on dinomight for THE LAST DINOSAUR, the sort of thrill-a-minute popcorn-seller that gives bad movies a good name. Join the adventurers as they encounter a perilous array of prehistoric beasts, a tribe of savage cavemen and a T. rex who, despite its less-than-special effect appearance, can kick some serious Triceratops butt. -synopsis courtesy

    Gendo Hikari observes a battle between Angel and Evangelion in EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE, now in limited theatrical release across North America. © 2009 Khara

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    Second Impact Happens in Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis and More… Source: Eleven Arts Entertainment press release Official Movie Site: funimation.com/evangelion (US), evangelion.co.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Shun Ohara Cinema Arts Releasing, Eleven Arts and FUNimation Entertainment are proud to announce the new release schedule of EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban: Ha, 2009) in the United States. The movie is the second chapter in four part "Rebuild of Evangelion" (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban) film series by Hideaki Anno and Studio Khara, re-imagining the sci-fi animated series blockbuster NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (Shin Seiki Evangelion)— also written and directed by Anno— which first aired on Japanese television in 1995. It was one of the top five highest grossing Japanese films of 2009 with box office in excess of $40 million US. EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE screened at Film Festivals around the

    Eva Unit 02 leaps to the attack in EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE, playing theaters across Canada (and the US) this month. © 2009 Khara

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    Exclusive Nationwide One Night Only Engagement on January 20, 2011 Source: Eleven Arts Entertainment press release Official Movie Site: funimation.com/evangelion (US/Canada), evangelion.co.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Shun Ohara Cineplex Entertainment and Cinema Asia Releasing, Eleven Arts and FUNimation Entertainment are pleased to announce they are bringing the second film of the new EVANGELION series to the big screen in Canada. EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban: Ha, 2009) will be shown nationwide in Canada, for one night only, on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 7 p.m. (local time) at select Cineplex Entertainment and Empire Theatres locations. Advance tickets are now available online at cineplex.com/events and at participating theatre box offices. EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE is the latest of four planned feature films that comprise the "Rebuild of Evangelion" (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban) tetralogy by Hideaki Anno and Studio Khara.

    Eva Unit 01 races into action in EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE. The anime film will be released in theaters across North America beginning this January. © 2009 Khara

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    Theatrical Run Launches January 21, 2011 Source: Eleven Arts Entertainment press release Official Movie Site: funimation.com/evangelion (US), evangelion.co.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Shun Ohara Cinema Arts Releasing, Eleven Arts and FUNimation Entertainment are proud to announce the initial release schedule of EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban: Ha, 2009) in the United States. The movie is the second chapter in the four part "Rebuild of Evangelion" (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban) film series by Hideaki Anno and Studio Khara, re-imagining the sci-fi animated series blockbuster NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (Shin Seiki Evangelion)— also written and directed by Anno— which first aired on Japanese television in 1995. It was one of the top five highest grossing Japanese films of 2009 with box office in excess of $40 million US. EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE screened at Film Festivals around the world, including the

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    Source: Eleven Arts Entertainment press release Official Movie Site: funimation.com/evangelion (US), evangelion.co.jp (Japan) Cinema Arts Releasing, Eleven Arts and FUNimation Entertainment are bringing EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban: Ha, 2009), the second of the new Evangelion films, to the big screen in theaters across North America in January 2011. Cinema Arts Releasing is a newly created distribution company specializing in releasing six to eight Asian themed theatrical features for the North American market per year. Eleven Arts is the company that has brought you such celebrated Japanese films as MEMORIES OF TOMORROW starring Ken Watanabe and Yoji Yamada’s LOVE AND HONOR. FUNimation Entertainment is known for releasing quality anime titles to the American market, and they have released such popular titles as DRAGON BALL and FULL METAL ALCHEMIST. In 2009, FUNimation handled the North American theatrical and home video

    Central America has been overrun by gigantic alien life forms in MONSTERS, the new film which begins its US theatrical run this week in New York and Los Angeles. © 2010 Vertigo Films, Ltd.

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    Indie UK Sci-Fi Thriller Opens Theatrically October 29 Author: Richard Pusateri Source: Magnolia Pictures Official Movie Site: monstersfilm.com (US), monstersthemovie.com (UK) Special Thanks to Brandon Nichols SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for a new movie. Magnolia Pictures` new movie, MONSTERS, opens in Los Angeles and New York theaters this Friday, October 29th. Visit the official MONSTERS website for a regularly-updated list of cities and theaters where the film will be playing in the months to come. MONSTERS is also now available through Video On Demand, itunes, Xbox Live, Playstation Marketplace, Amazon and Vudu. SPOILER ALERT (Part 2): I am going to spoil this movie for you with this breaking news – MONSTERS isn’t much of a monster movie, per se, and I don’t think the few monsters in MONSTERS are the titular monsters. I think people are the monsters in MONSTERS.

    In 2005, Mai Nanami starred in REIGO: THE DEEP-SEA MONSTER VS THE BATTLESHIP YAMATO. Photo courtesy of Option Inc. © 2008 InterMedia Co., Ltd.

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    REIGO Star Switches from Giant Monsters to Horny Salarymen Author: Keith Aiken Official Site: harasaori.com In November of 2005, an independently produced Japanese monster called DEEP SEA MONSTER- REIGO (Shinkaiju Reigo) had its first screenings at the American Film Market in Santa Monica, CA. Originally intended for release in Japan in 2006, the film suffered numerous delays before finally making it to cinemas in 2008 as REIGO: THE DEEP-SEA MONSTER VS THE BATTLESHIP YAMATO. While the male leads in REIGO were played by familiar genre stars Takayasu “Taiyo” Sugiura (ULTRAMAN COSMOS), Yukijiro Hotaru (the Heisei Gamera trilogy), and Susumu Kurobe (ULTRAMAN), the film`s top-billed female performer was a relatively unknown young actress and gravure (bikini) model who went by the stage name Mai Nanami. Born Mai Kato on January 1, 1988 in Hiroshima Prefecture, Nanami had previously appeared in bit parts in the movies LOVELY FIELDS

    Kelly (Jessica Szohr) is about to become fish food in the new remake/update PIRANHA 3D. © 2010 The Weinstein Company

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    Author: Kyle Byrd Official Site: piranha-3d.com SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for a new movie. 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,

    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.

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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 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

    Zombies run amuck in SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD, the sixth chapter in George Romero’s long-running DEAD series. The film is now in limited theatrical release in the US. Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing. © 2009 Blank of the Dead Productions, Inc.

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    Author: Kyle Byrd Official Site: magnetreleasing.com/survivalofthedead SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD is the sixth entry in George A. Romero’s iconic LIVING DEAD series of films. The film centers around two feuding families on Plum Island, a tiny island off the coast of Delaware. The O’Flynn and Muldoon families have been feuding in the aftermath of the zombie plague that started in DIARY OF THE DEAD (2007). The O’Flynns led by Patrick O’Flynn (Kenneth Walsh) believe that all zombies should be seen as a threat and exterminated. The Muldoons, led by Seamus Muldoon (Richard Fitzpatrick) are clinging to their dead loved ones, letting them live as undead flesh eaters in hopes that a cure can be found to turn them back into their former selves. In the middle of all this lies a group of soldiers led by Sergeant Crockett (Alan Van Sprang), who was

    Death-bats and other strange creatures menace the survivors of a worldwide epidemic in the new sci-fi anime movie KING OF THORN. © 2010 Yuji Iwahara, Enterbrain, Inc./Ibara Committee

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    New Anime Film to Screen at JAPAN CUTS in New York City Source: Japan Society Official Site: Japan Cuts Official Movie Site: kingofthorn.net Special Thanks to Shannon Jowett and Tahmid Mannan The 2010 New York Asian Film Festival and Japan Cuts: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema are now in full swing. Running from June 25-July 8 at the Lincoln Center`s Walter Reade Theater, July 1 - 16 at Japan Society, and midnights June 25/26 and July 2/3 at IFC Center, the combined festival is featuring dozens of films, international and world premiere screenings, Q&A`s with filmmakers, and other special events. Earlier this month, NYAFF and SciFi Japan held a contest for tickets to the world premiere of the daikaiju movie DEATH KAPPA. Now our friends at Japan Society are presenting SFJ readers with two chances for free passes to selected films playing at

    A heroic Kappa protects Kanako (Misato Hirata) from deranged Japanese imperialists. Photo courtesy of Fever Dreams. © 2010 Fever Dreams LLC

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    New Film from the Producers of THE MACHINE GIRL and TOKYO GORE POLICE Source: Media Blasters, Inc. and Fever Dreams LLC press release Special Thanks to Victor Bonacore “A double-barreled blast of 80`s VHS nostalgia, DEATH KAPPA is the ultimate lo-fi giant monster movie. Produced by the same evil geniuses who made MACHINE GIRL, DEATH TRANCE and TOKYO GORE POLICE.” - SubwayCinema.com Media Blasters, Inc. and Fever Dreams LLC. are proud to present the world premiere of Special Effects Master Tomoo Haraguchi`s new kaiju epic, DEATH KAPPA, at the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival at the IFC Center on June 25th. In the tradition of GODZILLA and GAMERA, DEATH KAPPA is a new, exciting chapter in classic old school Japanese monster mayhem! DEATH KAPPA is directed by Tomoo Haraguchi, the veteran creature creator of GAMERA: THE GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE, GAMERA 2:

    The giant monsters Hangyolas and Death Kappa clash in the new movie DEATH KAPPA, making its world premiere this Friday at the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival. Photo courtesy of NYAFF. © 2010 Fever Dreams LLC

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    Who Will See Japan`s Latest Daikaiju Film for Free, Courtesy of NYAFF and SciFi Japan? Source: Subway Cinema/New York Asian Film Festival Special Thanks to Kristen Osborne and Grady Hendrix Thank you to everyone who entered New York Asian Film Festival and SciFi Japan`s contest for free passes to the world premiere of the new daikaiju movie DEATH KAPPA. The screening takes place at the IFC Center on the night of Friday, June 25 at 12:15 AM. The IFC Center is located at 323 Sixth Avenue (between 3rd and 4th Streets), New York, NY 10014. The following randomly drawn entrants correctly answered the contest question: Vincenzo Averello Carlotta Bombard Congratulations to the winners! Each of you has won a pair of tickets to see the feature film DEATH KAPPA. Your passes will be available "Will Call" at the IFC Center box office on

    The giant monster Hangyolas rampages through the streets of Yokohama like he owns the place in DEATH KAPPA. Japan`s latest daikaiju movie will be making its world premiere at the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival. Photo courtesy of NYAFF. © 2010 Fever Dreams

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    See the Latest Japanese Giant Monster Movie for Free, Courtesy of NYAFF and SciFi Japan Source: Subway Cinema/New York Asian Film Festival Special Thanks to Kristen Osborne and Grady Hendrix Next week sees the launch of the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival and Japan Cuts: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema. Running from June 25-July 8 at the Lincoln Center`s Walter Reade Theater, July 1 - 16 at Japan Society, and midnights June 25/26 and July 2/3 at IFC Center, the combined festival will feature dozens of films, international and world premiere screenings, Q&A`s with filmmakers, and other special events. Last year`s NYAFF daikaiju double feature of MONSTER X STRIKES BACK and GEHARHA also included an exclusive video message from director and FX makeup great Tomoo Haraguchi (the 90s Gamera trilogy, GAMERA THE BRAVE, SAKUYA, UZUMAKI, KIBAKICHI, REIGO: THE DEEP-SEA MONSTER VS THE

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