News on Blu-Ray Discs

Has anyone check out the page for the blu-rays? They updated some of them with pics form the new special features:

http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/monokuro.htmlhttp://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/radon.htmlhttp://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/godzilla1984.htmlhttp://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/vskingghidorah.htmlhttp://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/rengoukantai.html

Not only that, but the stats for the third wave's Heisei releases have been updated. It seems like all the Heisei releases are going to have the same "new" special feature: shows exactly where in Japan the kaiju go through. Something simular was done for the Cloverfield blu-ray...

New Toho Blu-Rays

Today, the official Toho Tokusatsu Blu-Ray DVD site revealed the fourth wave of blu-rays being released on March 19, 2010. The films being released are "Mothra vs. Godzilla", "Ghidorah, The Three Headed Monster", and "Godzilla X Megaguirus". For their regular SFX films, "The Mysterians" and "Atragon" are being released. Unlike the third line - which only had one of it's title prevail with newly produced special features, all of the DVDs in this fourth wave have newly made special features - even "Godzilla X Megaguirus". The spects are the same as the other blu-rays. Below is links and translations of what is on the disc other than the film:


"Ghidorah, The Three Headed Monster"
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/sandai.html
Special Features:
-Theatre Notice (HD quality)- making of (8mm film) (SD quality)
- interview with actor Nakashima Haruo (Godzilla) (SD quality)
-"Monster Ghidorah" 8mm Film release + FLEXI (SD quality)
-"Space Monster Ghidorah" DVD Book (from original DVD) (HD quality)
-Tokusatsu Toho University Encyclopedia SF (SD quality) [NEWLY PRODUCED]
-Audio Commentary (Eiko Wakabayashi , interviewed by Toshiaki Sato)

"Mothra vs. Godzilla"
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/vs_goazilla.html
-Theater notice (HD quality)
-Godzilla vs. Mothra 1980 re-release cut (HD Blow-Up)
-"Godzilla attacks Tokyo" 8mm + FLEXI (SD quality)
-"Godzilla attacks Tokyo" DVD Book (HD quality)
-Career of Molding Godzilla (tentative HD quality) [NEWLY PRODUCED ]
-Tokusatsu Toho University Encyclopedia SF (SD quality) [NEWLY PRODUCED]
-Audio Commentary (Kenji Sahara interview by Kurashiki Yasuo)

"The Mysterians"
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/bouei.html
-Theatre notice (HD quality)
-Earth Defense's Soldiers Toho Champion Matsuri Festival Edition (HD quality) [FIRST TIME RELEASED! ]
-SF Encyclopedia Tokusatsu Toho University (SD quality) [NEWLY PRODUCED]
-Audio Commentary (Shinji Higuchi and Koichi Kawakita interviewed by Yasuo Kurashiki)

"Atragon"
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/kaitei.html
-Theatre notice (HD quality)
-1968 edit of Atragon (HD blow up) [FIRST TIME RELEASED ]
-Gotengo Encyclopedia (Tentative HD quality) [NEWLY PRODUCED]
-Tokusatsu Toho University Encyclopedia SF (SD quality) [NEWLY PRODUCED ]
-Audio Commentary (Okiharu Kajita and Takeshi Nuda)

"Godzilla vs. Megaguirus"
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/vs_megagirasu.html
- Theater Notice (HD quality)
- Dispatch (HD Blow-Up)
-TV Spot (SD quality)
- Making (SD quality)
- Shibuya, Tokyo Bay Hen Location Guide Godzilla series (tentative HD quality) [Journal first! ]
- Audio Commentary (Director Masaaki Tezuka / special effects director Kenji Suzuki and Misato Tanaka)
- Audio Commentary (Composer Michiru Oshima and score producer Kitahara Kiyoko)

New Blu-Ray Stand Sighting

Looks like Toho has set up another awesome stand, this time utilizing the Kiryu-Goji suit (2002 varriation w/o scar). This is not in Tokyo, but rather Takasaki which is in the Gunma Prefecture. Take a look!

Advertisement like this can only mean one of two things: the Blu-Rays are going good or Toho needs the extra publicity. Or maybe the last two films of the Kiryu saga will be comming soon to blu-ray? (I say last two since they have already released some films which are in the Kiryu Saga continuity - Gojira, Mothra, and Rodan) Either way, this is the third Godzilla-related happening this month, along with the Kirin's advertisements for their new canned coffee, "Fire", and the celebration of Koichi Kawakita's new book and his 20th anniversary becoming the SFX director of the Heisei Godzilla series. And just for comparison, the one in Akihabara:

Director Shusuke Kaneko Interview - NEW!

With the Heisei Gamera trilogy’s Blu-Ray box set out now for a while, I find it shocking that no one has done a review on it, much less commented on the newly produced interviews done for the DVD set. Well, though I do not think that they are the exact interviews, some new interview footage has shown up on youtube. Why not take a look? And as a bonus, more in-depth photos of the DVD box set are added. Apparently, only one of the three covers were the box set was mass produced, and it is the same image they made the holographic card with. Along with that, if you were wanting an insert with the chapter stops on it, forget it. That is with the GOTU disc, with the chapter stops for all three films on a single sheet.

Blu-Ray 3rd Line and HMV Tie-ins

I mentioned on the Atari 8 days ago that there was a rumor on many Japanese sites about the third wave of blu-ray releases. Thanks to GVAMP with Atari and Tohokingdom, the rumor was true. The new wave is the rest of the Heisei series plus "War of the Gargantuas". Each of the Godzilla releases are the same as the original DVD releases except for the enhanced audio and picture quality. What is a good thing though is that "War of the Gargantuas" has a more "gargantuan" sized repertoire of special features, including what could be roughly translated as "watch the snap shooting scene" (・X・i・b・v・ﾅ・ﾏ・・・B・e・ｻ・・・ﾌ・・・i) and "Synthetic Steel Collection" (a steel book perhaps? ・・・ｬ・X・`・[・・・R・・・N・V・・・・). If anyone has better translations, please post at the bottom of this blog entry.

In other news, HMV is doing what they do best: capitalizing on new releases. Kind of in the way they gave us accouple more variations of the 8" Kiryu-Goji 2004 version, they are giving us some more. Order now and you will receive a replica dorsal fin off of the Heisei suit, a film canister with some kaiju related goodies, and I think a book filled with text and images with the cover being the same of a G2K booklet released some 10 years ago. And if you order later, you get a free wallpaper for your computer. Not many details could be made out. Here are some links for your considering.

HVM Link:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/news/article/909040117/#item1

Toho's Site:
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/


Again, special thanks goes to GVAMP.

Toho's Blu-Ray DVD Promotion and Other Stuff...

I wonder about how many of you actually check the official site for Toho’s blu-rays. If so, the news part of the site (accessible at the toolbar at the top right corner of the screen) has been bustling with all sorts of information. The newest piece of news would be on the advertising of the discs, which blows what Kadokawa is doing (by having a good looking Finaro-Goji suit in the store display instead of re-using a promotional suit from 1995). A picture from Toho’s official site is below. Notice the display shows DVD cases for both announced lines of the blu-ray releases.

Reguarding the display itself, it is in Akihabara and a rough translation of the site seems to say that the suit is the actual shooting suit from "Godzilla: Final Wars". And notice in the background the Gamera display).

Toho’s official site also seems to be showing stills of their "Gojira" release’s menus and a look at some of their special features. Take a look! (images in form of links due to their large size).

Scene Selection:
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/img/news/chapter.jpg

Special Features
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/img/news/tokuten.jpg

Special Feature: Story Board Comparison
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/img/news/ekonte.jpg

Blu-Ray Exclusive Feature
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/img/news/mybookmark.jpg

Just a reminder, here is the rundown of Toho's Special Features for their "Gojira" BD release (translation by James Ballard):

1. Theatrical Trailer (HD quality)

2. Akira Ifukube Interview (SD quality)

3. View Storyboards with Picture-In-Picture [NEW FEATURE!]

4. New Version of Godzilla's Theme (HD quality) [NEW FEATURE!]

5. See Original Filming Locations With Snapshots (tentative) (HD quality) [NEW FEATURE!]

6. Oxygen Destroyer (HD quality) [NEW FEATURE!]

7. Audio Commentary (Akira Takarada)

Wondering who is in charge of the people who are graciously making the blu-ray variations of our beloved Toho-owned kaiju eiga? Their names are…

Production Manager Haruyasu Yamazaki

Masaaki Murai

Taono (rest of name does not translate)

Blu-Ray Disc Advisor Enami Masanori

Blu-Ray Disc Advisor Kazuki Yokota

For the past two months, they have been doing "Roundtables" (as of date, there are only two), in which they post comments concerning their work on the official Toho concerning the blu-ray discs. Sadly, the translated version of the two pages is so unruly that it cannot be deciphered. If you want to take a gander, highlight the text from this link: http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/news.html and drag it to WordPad. Copy and past the text from word pad onto translate.google.com and then go for it.

Classic Media... More Classic Mistakes

Remember the original "Classic Media... Classic Mistakes" article from Henshin Online? Well, the title of this article is a throwback to that.

Though no real surprise, Classic Media really does disapoint with their newest Blu-Ray release. Sure, we were expecting it but they could have pulled off a surprise for the fans. Honestly. I know that Toho charges for all of the diffrent images and videos the companese use for their discs but I do not think that the payment for the usage of the new remastered and RESTORED version of GOJIRA would be that more costly. Major letdown Classic Media. For future refrence, please get the new prints. Though you guys most probrobly don't care about fan responce at this juncture.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews20/godzilla_dvd_review.htm

New Photos of Kadokawa's Blu-Ray Set for the Gamera Trilogy

Yep, it has happened. The Gamera trilogy blu-ray set is out. It is out in three different variations. First, we got a cover with Gamera showing off his blown off stub of a right arm. Then there is a purple colored still of Gamera after he has landed in Kyoto for the final battle with Iris. Then we got one which showings a still of Gamera and Iris battling. Well, the good part about this is that we can now show the back of the blu-ray box and all three variations of the Blu-Ray box. Here are the stats. And don’t forget: IT IS IN STORES NOW! BUY THEM NOW!

Statistics (all prices switched to US currency)

Price (Box): $90-$120 price range

Price (Individual): $51.70

Street Date: 8-28-2009

Subtitles: Japanese

First Press: 3D Lenticular Cover

Packing: Black Armary for Blu-Ray

Sounds: PCM 5.1 Surround

Label: Jesnet1050p HD

And do not forget that this set has a new 3-part documentry on the making of the Gamera trilogy, including interviews with SHUSUKE KANEKO and Tomoo Hariguchi.

2nd Line of Toho Blu-Rays!

Visit Links for Pictures!
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/godzilla1984.html
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/vskingghidorah.html
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/daikaizyuu.html
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/rengoukantai.html
http://www.toho-a-park.com/tokusatsu-bd/japan.html

New Line Up:
Godzilla 1984
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
GMK
Japan Sinks (1973 version)
and more!

FULL LIST OF SPECIAL FEATURES (Roughly Translated)

GMK
(1) notice Theater (HD quality)
(2) dispatch (HD Quality Blow-Up)
(3) TV Spot (SD quality)
(4) project the GMK Godzilla fought day and Shusuke Kaneko (SD quality)
(5) Mount the new assistant director Akira Hide Tiharu Murakami ODIO・EKOMENTARI Shusuke Kaneko

Godzilla 1984
(1) notice Theater (HD quality)
(2) dispatch (HD Quality Blow-Up)
(3) "Godzilla 1983" (HD-quality blow-up)
(4) Making of Godzilla 1984 (SD quality)
(5) Audio Commetnary

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
(1) notice Theater (HD quality)
(2) dispatch (HD Quality Blow-Up)
(3) Location Guide Godzilla series (tentatively titled HD quality) (NEW!!!!!)
(4) public dispatch (SD quality) (5) after dispatch dated (SD quality)
(6) Cut and unused special effects (SD quality)
(7) The special effects seen in the multi-angle scenes (SD quality)
(8) Audio Commentary with Shogo Tomiyama and Director Kazuki Omori

Sinking of Japan
(1) notice Theater (HD Quality Blow-Up)
(2) dispatch (HD Quality Blow-Up)
(3) Special Interview: Sakyo Komatsu Takeuti Hitoshi × (SD quality)
(4) Director Kei Nakano Akira Hashimoto Yukiharu specialty Sakyo Komatsu Audio Commentary