SciFi Japan

    Buraki the Evil Imoogi hunts on the streets of Los Angeles in DRAGON WARS: D-WAR, coming to theaters across America on September 14. Photo courtesy of D-War Production Office. © 2007 Younggu Art Entertainment Co., Ltd.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Younggu Art Entertainment, Freestyle Releasing Official Site: DRAGON WARS.com The following press notes were provided by Younggu Art and Freestyle Releasing for their upcoming release DRAGON WARS: D-WAR, which opens in American theaters on September 14, 2007. The text is © 2007 Younggu Art Entertainment Co., Ltd. FREESTYLE RELEASING and SHOWBOX Present A Film by HYUNG RAE SHIM DRAGON WARS: D-WAR A Younggu Art Production IN THEATRES SEPTEMBER 14, 2007 Synopsis: The story begins with Ethan Kendrick, a TV reporter. While investigating a disaster that occurred at the Seven Palms Resort, he notices that the ground is turned up all around and forklifts have been tumbled over. It looks like a hurricane has gone by. Ethan notices the FBI investigator dusting off a specimen with a brush. It looks like a giant dinosaur fossil or scale. He videotapes it on his Handycam.

    Goldar (a.k.a. Ambassador Magma) battles the monster Noronda (Stopgon) in P-Productions` classic tokusatsu series THE SPACE GIANTS. © 1966 Tezuka Productions Co., Ltd.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    A Look Back at the Many Incarnations of AMBASSADOR MAGMAAuthor: Bob Johnson Source: Uchusen, Lakeside Television, Japanese Fantasy Film Journal, Tezuka Osamu World, variousAdditional Material: Keith Aiken and Oki MiyanoSpace Giants is licensed and copyrighted in the United States by Lakeside Television. Contents: AUDIO OF THE SPACE GIANTS OPENING THEME SONG AND NARRATION P-PRODUCTIONS AND OSAMU TEZUKA’S ORIGINAL MANGA THE MAKING OF AMBASSADOR MAGMA THE SPACE GIANTS COME TO AMERICA COPYRIGHT DISPUTE AMBASSADOR MAGMA/ THE SPACE GIANTS EPISODE GUIDE THE ANIMATED AMBASSADOR MAGMA Though the name THE SPACE GIANTS may be unfamiliar to anyone under age 35, for a decade or so beginning in the early 1970s this 52 episode Japanese science fiction series was a popular fixture on syndicated television in the United States. Much like its brethren ULTRAMAN and JOHNNY SOKKO

    You can`t keep a good monster down: Gwoemul will return in THE HOST 2. © 2006 Chungeorahm Film

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Author: Loomis (Kim Song-ho) Source: Money Today Star News, The Hankyoreh, Hankyoung , various Chungeorahm Film, the South Korean motion picture company of THE HOST (Gwoemul) fame, will produce a sequel to the monster hit. Producer Choi Yong-bae (also CEO of Chungeoram), announced in mid-June that he will release the sequel, tentatively titled GWOEMUL 2 (Creature 2), within 2 or 3 years. It has been officially confirmed that Bong Joon-ho, the writer and director of the original film, will not return. Producer Choi has some rather interesting plans for the sequel. For the first phase, there will be two or three `pilots`; 10-minute short films. The purpose of these pilots is to attract financiers, to develop visual effects technology in South Korea, and to find a potential director for the sequel. There is no word yet if the pilot films will act as a bridge between

    Tokusatsu - FX

    The latest news from the US and Korea Author: Keith Aiken and Loomis (Kim Song-ho) Source: Younggu Art Entertainment, various Official Site: D-War.com A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Last month, the Korean film distributor Showbox officially announced that the big budget monster movie D-WAR would be released to theaters in both South Korea and the United States. Now, as the theatrical launch draws near, Younggu Art Entertainment/D-War Production Office has provided additional information and an exclusive first look at the DRAGON WARS "tall wall" banner. In the weeks to come, these banners will be placed on the sides of skyscrapers to give the impression that the buildings are being destroyed by the evil monster Buraki. In America, the film will open nationwide on September 14 with the revised title DRAGON WARS. Freestyle Releasing will distribute the film to a reported 1,500 screens across the country, making DRAGON

    MASKED RIDER THE NEXT ©2007 Masked Rider The Next Production Committee

    Tokusatsu - FX

    First Teaser Trailer Released Author: James Ballard Official Website: Masked Rider The Next The first teaser trailer for Toei’s upcoming theatrical film MASKED RIDER THE NEXT (Kamen Raidaa Za Nekusuto, 2007) has been released on the film’s official website. The new film is a direct sequel to MASKED RIDER THE FIRST (Kamen Raidaa Za Faasuto, 2005), featuring the return of Masked Riders 1 and 2, and the introduction of Masked Rider V3. Just as MASKED RIDER THE FIRST was a loose re-telling of both Shotaro Ishinomori`s original manga and Toei`s MASKED RIDER (Kamen Raidaa, 1971) TV series, MASKED RIDER THE NEXT is set to re-tell the story behind Toei`s MASKED RIDER V3 (Kamen Raidaa Buisurii, 1973) TV series. Actors Masaya Kikawada and Hassei Takano are returning from MASKED RIDER THE FIRST as Takeshi Hongo (Masked Rider 1) and Hayato Ichimonji (Masked Rider 2) respectively, while Kazuki

    Director Shion Sono will attend the US premiere of his J-horror film EXTE: HAIR EXTENSIONS. © 2007 Toei Co.,Ltd

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Official Site: Japan Society Special Thanks to Johann Gambolputty From July 5-15, “Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film” will take place at Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street New York, NY 10017. The series includes a number of US and New York premieres, as well as personal appearances by directors Shusuke Kaneko (DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME), Miwa Nishikawa (SWAY), Naoko Ogigami (KAMOME DINER), and Shion Sono (EXTE: HAIR EXTENSIONS). The New York premiere of GAMERA THE BRAVE will be a special free screening for all ages. Tickets for most shows are $10/$7 members and seniors/$4.50 students, and can be purchased online or from the Box office at (212) 715-1258. From the Japan Society website: THURSDAY, JULY 5 US Premiere 6:45PM- BIG BANG LOVE, JUVENILE A (46 Okunen no Koi) Co-presented with New York Asian Film Festival. 2006, 84 min., 35mm, color.

    Buraki the Evil Imoogi attacks a Korean village in a publicity shot for D-WAR. © 2006 Younggu-art Entertainment Co., Ltd.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Distributor Announces August 2007 for South Korea and US Author: Loomis (Kim Song-ho) and Keith Aiken Source: Showbox/Mediaplex, MaxMovie, various Official Site: D-War.com The long-awaited South Korean fantasy/monster movie D-WAR will finally see the light of day. On June 4, Korean distributor Showbox (THE HOST) officially announced that the monster epic will be released in both South Korea and the United States this August. According to a press release from the distributor, D-WAR will open on August 2 in South Korea and later that month in the United States (the exact date has yet to be revealed). Showbox also provided the rather surprising news that the film will be released on more than 1,500 screens across America. If this does happen, D-WAR will become the first South Korean film ever to receive a wide release in the United States as well as the

    © 2006 Harmony Gold USA /© 2007 Stone Bridge Press

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Stone Bridge Press Since 1989, Stone Bridge Press in Albany CA has published a wide range of books covering Japanese culture, entertainment, language, literature, and manga such as The Anime Encyclopedia, Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation, Asia Shock, and The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film. Their 2007 schedule features several titles that should be of interest to movie and anime fans… The Art of Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles By Tommy Yune Foreword by Carl Macek 978-1-933330- 29-7 144 pages, TP, $19.95, 200 color illustrations Release Date: June 15 Premiering in 1985, ROBOTECH is fondly remembered for its transforming fighter jets, distinctive red logo, and pop-idol heroine. The new film, ROBOTECH: THE SHADOW CHRONICLES, picks up directly from the pioneering "space opera" in a breathtaking animated movie combining the talents of artists and producers from around the globe, from Los Angeles and

    The CG monster star of THE HOST was animated by the San Francisco fx house The Orphanage. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. © 2006 Chungeorahm Film

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Author: Loren "Butch" Portillo Official Site: The Host Movie MySpace: Webster Colcord Special Thanks to Kari Wyatt A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Monster movies have never been a popular genre in South Korea, so fans of director Bong Joon-ho were stunned when the filmmaker announced he would be following up his award-winning box office success MEMORIES OF MURDER (Salinui Chueok, 2003) with a story about a giant mutated tadpole. Bong realized that his new movie THE HOST (Gwoemul, 2006) would, in large part, stand or fall on the believability of its monster star. To realize his goal, the director turned to some of the top fx houses in the world, including New Zealand’s Weta Workshop (LORD OF THE RINGS, KING KONG), John Cox’s Creature Workshop (PITCH BLACK, BABE, PETER PAN) in Australia and The Orphanage in San Francisco. Founded by former members of

    RING © 1998 The Ring/The Spiral Production Group. JU-ON: THE GRUDGE photo courtesy of Lions Gate Films. © 2003 Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd. DARK WATER photo courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures. © 2005 Touchstone Pictures. PULSE © 2001 Kadokawa Pictures

    Tokusatsu - FX

    An Interview with Author and J-Horror Enthusiast David Kalat Author: John “Dutch” DeSentis Source: Vertical, Inc. Special Thanks to Vertical Inc., Eddie Stemkowski and Keith Aiken A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE David Kalat is the author of several books, notably A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series. He has his own DVD company, All Day Entertainment, which specializes in restoring and presenting many old films that have not been seen in a long time. Last year he completed the audio commentary for Classic Media’s forthcoming DVD release of GHIDORAH: THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER. His latest project is the book J-Horror: The Definitive Guide to The Ring, The Grudge and Beyond which puts the focus on such Japanese films as JU-ON: THE GRUDGE, UZUMAKI, RING, DARK WATER and PULSE as well as their American counterparts. J-Horror was released February 27th by Vertical (the

    Director Bong Joon-ho at work on THE HOST. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. © 2006 Chungeorahm Film

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: The Korean Society The following text comes from publicity materials prepared by the Korean Society. The Films of Bong Joon-Ho Monday & Tuesday, February 26 & 27! Bong in person Tuesday, February 27 at 8:30pm with THE HOST! Acclaimed South Korean director Bong Joon-Ho took the 2006 Cannes Film Festival by storm with his smart, terrifying new monster movie THE HOST (Gwoemul). In anticipation of the film`s American release on March 9, the Korean Society and the IFC Center present a mini-fest of the director’s signature cinema -- black comedies, gritty crime dramas and horror thrillers with a comic book feel. The special line-up of box-office mega-hits will include showings of BARKING DOGS NEVER BITE (Flandersui Gae, 2000) and MEMORIES OF MURDER (Salinui Chueok, 2003), and shorts INCOHERENCE (1994) and SINK AND RISE (2004)-- and Bong himself in person for the closing screening of THE

    International publicity flyer for SHINOBI. Photo courtesy of Shochiku Co., Ltd. © 2005 SHINOBI Partners

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: FUNimation Entertainment For centuries there lived warriors of darkness With strange powers and arcane skills Living only for battle They were the `SHINOBI` The year is 1614. Japan has been united under Tokugawa Ieyasu, first of the Tokugawa Shoguns and the land is beginning to feel at peace. Two remote ninja villages, Manjidani in the land of Koga and Tsubagakure in Iga, are ancient enemies but have long been bound by a peace agreement pressed on them by the first Hattori Hanzo forbidding them to fight. The heirs to the leadership of both clans, Gennosuke of Koga and Oboro of Iga, have fallen in love but a tragic fate awaits them in Ieyasu’s cruel plot to wipe these two clans from existence by breaking the peace agreement and forcing the two clans to battle. Five Ninjas of each the Koga and Iga clans will battle

    Ren Osugi and Chiaki Kuriyama in the weird new horror film EXTE — HAIR EXTENSIONS. © 2007 Toei Co.,Ltd

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Ghostly women with long, flowing hair are a tradition in Japanese horror stories. The new movie EXTE — HAIR EXTENSIONS (Ekusute) eliminates the ladies but keeps the hair with a tale of extensions that start randomly attacking the people who wear them. In true JU-ON fashion, the hair extensions carry the grudge of the individuals to which the hair originally belonged. EXTE is the latest film from Shion Sono, director of SUICIDE CLUB (Jisatsu Saakuru, 2002) and STRANGE CIRCUS (Kimyo no Sakasu, 2005). It stars fan favorite actress Chiaki Kuriyama (BATTLE ROYALE, KILL BILL VOL 1, AZUMI 2, THE GREAT YOKAI WAR) as Yuko, a trainee hair stylist who is menaced by Yamazaki, a morgue attendant dealing with a black market organ ring. Yamazaki is played by the popular character actor Ren Osugi (BODYGUARD KIBA, SHALL WE DANCE?, WEATHER GIRL, CURE, AUDITION, UZUMAKI, THE

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Source: Magnolia Pictures, MPRM Official Site: The Host Movie Video courtesy of Magnolia Pictures, © 2006 Chungeorahm Film Teaser Trailer Theatrical Trailer THE HOST Press Notes and Director`s Interview AFM /AFI FEST REPORT #4: THE HOST THEATER SCHEDULE Note: This is not a complete US release schedule for THE HOST, but only a list of theaters confirmed at this time by Magnolia Pictures. More locations and dates will be added, so if your local theater is not on this list do NOT automatically assume that means THE HOST won`t be shown near you sometime this year. The opening days at each location are listed below. Check with your local theater or listings to confirm screenings, check show times and learn how long the film will be playing in your area. UPDATED MARCH 9

    A terrifying mutation hunts for human prey in THE HOST, a Magnolia Pictures release. © 2006 Chungeorahm Film

    Tokusatsu - FX

    US Studio press materials for the Korean blockbuster Source: Magnolia Pictures, MPRM Official Site: The Host Movie Q&A WITH DIRECTOR BONG JOON-HO AFM /AFI FEST REPORT #4: THE HOST The following press notes and interview were provided by Magnolia Pictures for their upcoming release THE HOST, which opens in American theaters on March 9, 2007. The text is © 2006 Magnolia Pictures. Magnolia Pictures presents THE HOST Written and Directed by Bong Joon-ho 119 min.; 35mm; 1.85:1; Dolby SRD The talk of the 2006 Cannes International Film Festival, THE HOST, the latest film from critically acclaimed visionary director Bong Joon-ho, has already garnered a substantial amount of international buzz. Utilizing state-of-the-art special effects courtesy of a creative partnership between Weta Workshop (KING KONG, THE LORD OF THE RINGS) and The Orphanage (HARRY POTTER AND

    Park Nam-joo (Bae Doo-na) tests her archery skills against an onrushing carnivorous Creature in THE HOST. The South Korean film became an international sensation in 2006, and will open in US theaters this March. © 2006 Chungeorahm Film

    Tokusatsu - FX

    The acclaimed South Korean blockbuster comes to America in 2007 Author: Keith Aiken Source: Magnolia Pictures, AFI Fest, MPRM, The Orphanage, Twitch, various Special Thanks to Kim Song-ho (aka `Loomis`) for Translations and Information THE HOST (Gwoemul) Production: Chungeorahm Film Domestic Distribution: Showbox, Released July 27, 2006 International Sales: Cineclick Asia US Distributor: Magnolia Pictures, Release March 9, 2007 Korean with English Subtitles, 119 minutes Official Site (Korea): The Host Official Site (US): The Host Movie AFI Fest Screening: Friday, November 3, 10:00pm, and Saturday, November 4, 1:00pm at ArcLight Cinemas, Hollywood SPOILER WARNING: The following review contains plot details for a new film. As it has done for ages, the Han River continues to pierce the very center of the capital city Seoul. But one day in the year 2000…Through an unfortunate incident, a creature of an obscure nature is conceived

    The rules for DEATH NOTE. Photo courtesy of NTV. © 2006 [Death Note] Film Partners

    Tokusatsu - FX

    A Brief History and Review of the Manga and Movie Author: Elliot Gay Source: DEATH NOTE Official Movie Guide, AFM, NTV, Death Note, Box Office Mojo, The Ones Who Never Lie, various Japanese Material Translated by: Elliot Gay Special Thanks to Keith Aiken and James Ballard DEATH NOTE (Desu Noto) Domestic Distribution: Warner Bros. Japan, Released June 17, 2006 International Sales: Nippon Television Network Corporation Japanese with English Subtitles, 126 minutes Official Movie Site: Death-Note-Movie AFM Screenings: Thursday, November 2, 5:00pm and Monday, November 6, 8:45am at AMC Theatres Santa Monica Seven SPOILER WARNING: The following review contains plot details for a new Japanese film. In December of 2003, Death Note began running in the weekly Japanese comic Shonen Jump. Written by first time manga writer Tsugumi Ohba, and drawn by acclaimed artist Takeshi Obata (Hikaru no Go), Death Note reached great success

    Dragons invade Los Angeles! Publicity art for D-WAR. Photo courtesy of Showbox. © 2006 Younggu-art Entertainment Co., Ltd.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    First look at the long-awaited Korean fantasy film Author: Keith Aiken Source: Showbox/Mediaplex, AFM, The Korea Times, Variety, various A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE D-WAR Production: Younggu-art Entertainment Co., Ltd. International Sales: Showbox English and Korean with English Subtitles, 110 minutes Official Site: D-War.com AFM Screening: Saturday, November 4, 5:00pm at Laemmle’s Monica 4 SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains plot details for a new film scheduled for release in 2007. In Korean folklore, the guardians of the earth are giant snakelike creatures called Imoogi. Every 500 years, the Heavens reward one Imoogi for its good deeds with the gift of the Yeouijoo, a Dragon Ball which will transform the serpent into a powerful dragon who will bless the earth and ascend into heaven. An Imoogi named Buraki coveted the Yeouijoo, and its obsession drove the creature to madness and evil. In the

    Tokusatsu - FX

    Director Shusuke Kaneko has second box office #1 in Japan this year Source: Nippon Television Network Corporation Official Site: Death Note Director Shusuke Kaneko (the Gamera trilogy, GMK) has scored a major success with DEATH NOTE, a pair of films based on the manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump. Part one opened at the top of the Japanese box office on June 17… now the conclusion DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME goes it one better with an opening weekend take more than double that of the first DEATH NOTE. Official Press Release:

    Advertisement for Toei’s movie lineup at AFM. © 2006 Toei Co., Ltd.

    Tokusatsu - FX

    SINKING OF JAPAN, THE HOST, DEATH NOTE, GHOST TRAIN, D-WAR and more screened in California Author: Keith Aiken Source: AFM, AFI Fest, TBS, Showbox/Mediaplex, and Toho International Since 1981, the Independent Film and Television Alliance has hosted an annual motion picture trade show in Santa Monica, CA called the American Film Market (AFM). For eight days every year, the 32 theater screens on and surrounding Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade are used for more than 900 screenings of 589 different films from around the world; an average of 31 new films every two hours. Titles shown range from high budget releases by the big US studios, to major foreign films, to lower budget art and genre movies. While AFM is one of the few— if not the only— places these movies are shown in the US, it is not a traditional film festival

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