SciFi Japan kicks off 2008 with a look at Asian DVDs coming from Media Blasters in the first quarter of the New Year.

For cover art and specs on ‘Tokyo Shock’ and ‘Exploitation Digital’ titles such as the Takashi Miike superhero movie ZEBRAMAN, the Korean horror film RED EYE, Toei’s exploitation classics DELINQUENT GIRL BOSS: BLOSSOMING NIGHT DREAMS and GIRL BOSS REVENGE, TAKASHI MIIKE COLLECTION 1- BODYGUARD KIBA, and TAKASHI MIIKE COLLECTION 2- FAMILY — plus early word on future releases — please see our coverage at:

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/01...-in-early-2008/

Hm, HEROES TWO, huh? I had heard Media Blasters had some Shaw Bros. films in the pipeline. I suppose if you had info on any others, it would be in there. Perhaps a little outside the purview of a site called "SciFi Japan."

Hm. Kind of a useless comment, I guess. It's late, I'm tired, what can I say?

Is Media Blasters the label that will supposedly be releasing WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS on DVD?

No. That would be Classic Media, who will also be releasing RODAN as well.

Media Blasters didn't have any info on other Shaw Bros. films because they're not on the schedule yet. I ran everything they did provide, which was just a mention of HEROES TWO and will be happy to post any additional info whenever Media Blasters is ready.

Ahhh, good morning, everyone. Much better now.

Thanks, Keith, that would be much appreciated, and by many besides myself, I'm sure.

Has Media Blasters wrapped up their TOHO sci-fi line? I'm still hankering for H-MAN, GORATH, THE HUMAN VAPOR, that Mifune SINBAD movie, and probably a few more I can't think of off the top of my head.

Fans of Toho monster films have certainly been spoiled for choice over the past couple years, so I certainly won't complain. But still, now I want to complete my collection!

-- Peter

THE H-MAN, BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE and MOTHRA are owned into perpetuity by Columbia/TriStar under the Sony Pictures Entertainment banner. There have been hints that these will be included in a future DVD box set (they own both the Japanese and US versions).

The US versions of THE HUMAN VAPOR, THE LAST WAR and GORATH were originally owned by Brenco Pictures, and are currently owned by MGM (but their materials are in a state of advanced disrepair). THE LOST WORLD OF SINBAD was originally an AIP theatrical release. Classic Media gave up the rights to ESPY (1974), LAKE OF DRACULA (1972), EVIL OF DRACULA (1974) and THE LAST DAYS OF PLANET EARTH (1974), so those are all up for grabs from Toho.

Does Fox own JOHNNY SOKKO now? I see that all 26 episodes are now available for instant viewing at Netflix, but no rumors of a DVD?

Thanks much for your response, August. The possible boxed set would be very exciting news -- MOTHRA is definitely another that I just can't believe hasn't seen the light of day.

That three others are held by MGM suggests possible Midnite Movies releases, but the poor materials sort of rather point to no release at all, as I can't envision them spending to get better materials from Toho, but who knows. Hope springs eternal.

-- Peter

You're welcome! Since the Japanese versions are significantly different from the US versions of THE HUMAN VAPOR, THE LAST WAR and GORATH, Toho may be able to license these to another company. These are three major films, so it would be nice to have them seen by a larger audience outside of Japan.

As for JOHNNY SOKKO AND HIS FLYING ROBOT, I believe that the rights are still in the hands of MGM via Orion via Filmways via AIP-TV.

Those lucky enough to get Monsters HD satellite channel have seen a mint, letterboxed print of THE LOST WORLD OF SINBAD.

A few years back, Quentin Tarantino hosted a showing of THE HUMAN VAPOR on the now-defunct cable station Trio. It was pan & scan but otherwise looked pretty good. The film opened with a Samuel Goldwyn Co. logo.

MGM does indeed have JOHNNY SOKKO. Last I heard they have no plans for a DVD release, but MGM has been offering the entire series for download through Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JEX6E...99565845&sr=8-1

You never know...MGM did release a restored version of YONGARY, an old giant monster film which was reportedly also in an advanced state of disrepair. Fingers remain crossed!

This was the trigger I needed to get me to check and see if Monsters HD is one of the channels I can get since getting an HD cable box (last August!). And, what do ya know, it's Channel 777, one up from Kung Fu HD at 776. Now, if they'd only be nice enough to run SINBAD again (and somehow let me know about it :huh:).

I have seen LOST WORLD OF SINBAD--I have a poor quality VHS tape, plus I have a Japanese-only DVD of the Japanese original, SAMURAI PIRATE. So I hooked it up so that they played simultaneously so I could listen to the English audio on VHS while watching the superior DVD image. It worked, but it would be nice not to have to go to all that trouble again.