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DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR Volume 1 coming February 4th

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DRAGON BALL © 1984 by BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA Inc.
 GOKU RETURNS TO NORTH AMERICA AS VIZ MEDIA RELEASES
DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR 
MANGA EDITION

Experience Akira Toriyama’s Bestselling Martial
Arts Action Adventure In Vivid Color

VIZ Media brings Akira Toriyama’s classic manga (graphic novel) series DRAGON BALL back to fans in an entirely new way with the release of DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR Volume 1 on February 4th.

The new edition from the Shonen Jump imprint features a special full-color treatment of the first DRAGON BALL Z manga volume in a larger 6 5/8" x 10 ¼” size. The volume is rated ‘A’ for All Ages and will carry an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN / £12.99 U.K. Future volumes will be published three times a year.

DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR Vol. 1 also will be available for digital download for $12.99 (USD/CAN) from VIZManga.com and the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones, as well as through the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks and GooglePlay stores.

In the series, Son Goku is the greatest hero on Earth. Five years after defeating the demon king Piccolo, he’s grown up and has a family. But what is the real reason for Goku’s incredible strength? A visitor from outer space arrives bearing terrible news – Goku is an alien, and the visitor, Raditz, is Goku’s brother! When Raditz turns out to be a ruthless killer, Goku must fight his incredibly strong brother to save his family and the entire human race. A surprising alliance may be Earth’s last hope: Goku will team up with his old enemy Piccolo to save the world!

“Akira Toriyama’s bestselling manga series has thrilled generations of readers, and this new release lets fans revisit his groundbreaking martial arts action adventure in vivid full color,” says Mike Montesa, Editor. “Goku has become a skilled fighter, but new foes threaten his family and the Earth, and he must form new alliances in order to win the day. Fans current and new won’t want to miss the gorgeous new release of this classic series!”

Renowned worldwide for his playful, innovative storytelling and humorous, distinctive art style, Akira Toriyama burst onto the manga scene in 1980 with the wildly popular DR. SLUMP. His hit series Dragon Ball (published in the U.S. as DRAGON BALL and DRAGON BALL Z; both published by VIZ Media) ran from 1984 to 1995 in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. He is also known for his influential design work on video games such as Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, Tobal No. 1, and Blue Dragon. His other manga works include COWA! (also published by VIZ Media), Kajika, Sand Land, Neko Majin, a children's book Toccio the Angel, and his newest series, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman.

For more information on DRAGON BALL, or other Akira Toriyama manga titles from VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

Print & digital debut of DEADMAN WONDERLAND manga on Feb 11th

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DEADMAN WONDERLAND Volume 1 ©Jinsei KATAOKA 2007 ©Kazuma KONDOU 2007
DEADMAN WONDERLAND RETURNS TO NORTH AMERICA
AS VIZ MEDIA RELEASES POST APOCALYPTIC MANGA
SERIES SET IN A BIZARRE FUTURISTIC PRISON

A Student Must Fight To Clear His Name And Catch
A Mass Killer After Being Wrongfully Sentenced To A
Carnival-Like Penitentiary Where Nothing Is As It Seems

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, unleashes a gritty manga (graphic novel) story of survival with the print and digital debut of DEADMAN WONDERLAND on February 11th.

Volume 1, featuring story and artwork by Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will carry a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. A digital version will also launch for $6.99 (USD/CAN) on February 11th on VIZManga.com and through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones, as well as through the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks and GooglePlay stores.

VIZ Media will publish Volume 2 of DEADMAN WONDERLAND in April with additional editions of the 13-volume series scheduled to be released bi-monthly.

Framed for the brutal murders of his classmates by the mysterious Red Man, middle school student Ganta Igarashi finds himself sentenced to death and sent to a bizarre and fatal theme park/prison that has risen from the ruins of the Great Tokyo Earthquake – a hell on earth known as “Deadman Wonderland.” The inmates of this insane penitentiary fight for survival every day to provide entertainment for the masses, and terrifying secrets lurk in the shadows. Ganta is determined to survive Deadman Wonderland and clear his name, but the price may be his soul.

“DEADMAN WONDERLAND presents a stark vision of the future where a privately run, carnival-like prison stages notorious gladiatorial fights to the death that help to finance the city’s reconstruction,” says Mike Montesa, Editor. “Thrust into this surreal and violent new world for a crime he didn’t commit, Ganta discovers he possesses a power that can be used as a weapon and help him discover the truth. Now all he has to do is stay alive!”

For more information on DEADMAN WONDERLAND, or other manga titles from VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

Section23 Films announces May slate of releases, including 3 Godzilla flicks

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Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its May slate of releases; including classic GODZILLA® titles from the new international video distribution label KRAKEN RELEASING, which has acquired  “GODZILLA® VS. HEDORAH™”, “EBIRAH™, HORROR OF THE DEEP” & “GODZILLA® VS.GIGAN™”, which will be available on both DVD and for the first time, Blu-ray.

Product details follow, in order of release.

Title:                 EBIRAH™, HORROR OF THE DEEP
Published by:    Kraken Releasing
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         88 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $9.98

SYNOPSIS:  When Ryota's brother Yata disappears at sea, the intrepid youth and his friends join forces with a slightly trustworthy bank robber, steal a boat and go after him!  Of course, there's the little problem that Yata may be lost on a mysterious island where the evil terrorist organization Red Bamboo has enslaved natives to make heavy water for nefarious purposes. And that means dealing with the island's monstrous, 164 feet tall guardian Ebirah™, as well as Red Bamboo's arsenal of super advanced weaponry.  On the plus side, help may be at hand in the form of a nubile island girl, two tiny fairies, their giant protector Mothra™ and the big G himself, the mighty Godzilla®.  Surviving the results of all that "assistance" may not be guaranteed, but Red Bamboo will never want to tangle with teenagers AND Godzilla® at the same time again!  Take a South Seas cruise to non-stop mayhem and giant monster destruction with EBIRAH™- HORROR OF THE DEEP!


Title:                 EBIRAH™, HORROR OF THE DEEP BLU-RAY
Published by:    Kraken Releasing
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         88 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $14.98

SYNOPSIS:  When Ryota's brother Yata disappears at sea, the intrepid youth and his friends join forces with a slightly trustworthy bank robber, steal a boat and go after him!  Of course, there's the little problem that Yata may be lost on a mysterious island where the evil terrorist organization Red Bamboo has enslaved natives to make heavy water for nefarious purposes. And that means dealing with the island's monstrous, 164 feet tall guardian Ebirah™, as well as Red Bamboo's arsenal of super advanced weaponry.  On the plus side, help may be at hand in the form of a nubile island girl, two tiny fairies, their giant protector Mothra™ and the big G himself, the mighty Godzilla®.  Surviving the results of all that "assistance" may not be guaranteed, but Red Bamboo will never want to tangle with teenagers AND Godzilla® at the same time again!  Take a South Seas cruise to non-stop mayhem and giant monster destruction with EBIRAH™- HORROR OF THE DEEP!


Title:                 GODZILLA® VS.GIGAN™
Published by:    Kraken Releasing
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         90 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $9.98

SYNOPSIS: When alien invaders, plans for a children's theme park and four giant monsters with six heads between them all collide, the result is the inevitable battle for the fate of the Earth. At least, that's how it is for Godzilla®, who teams up with his former spiky foe Anguirus™ for a tag team match against two of his greatest adversaries: the legendary three headed King Ghidorah™ and Gigan™, the cyborg hench-monster for insidious insect aliens whose plot to wipe out all human life is cleverly disguised as plans for the construction of a new children's theme park.  Unfortunately for the bug's diabolical designs, their secret monster control codes are accidentally discovered by comic book artist Gengo Kotaka, who broadcasts the master tape and brings Team Godzilla® into play.  It's not going to be an easy fight, though, as the odds are four heads to  two, and King Ghidorah™'s one of Godzilla®'s toughest opponents.  With his cybernetic weaponry Gigan™ is equally ruthless, and his alien masters are as hard to kill as the cockroaches they resemble.   Will Earth's biggest defenders finally fall?  Or will Godzilla®, and insecticide, triumph over all?  Find out in GODZILLA® VS. GIGAN™!


Title:                 GODZILLA® VS.GIGAN™ BLU-RAY
Published by:    Kraken Releasing
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         90 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $14.98

SYNOPSIS: When alien invaders, plans for a children's theme park and four giant monsters with six heads between them all collide, the result is the inevitable battle for the fate of the Earth. At least, that's how it is for Godzilla®, who teams up with his former spiky foe Anguirus™ for a tag team match against two of his greatest adversaries: the legendary three headed King Ghidorah™ and Gigan™, the cyborg hench-monster for insidious insect aliens whose plot to wipe out all human life is cleverly disguised as plans for the construction of a new children's theme park.  Unfortunately for the bug's diabolical designs, their secret monster control codes are accidentally discovered by comic book artist Gengo Kotaka, who broadcasts the master tape and brings Team Godzilla® into play.  It's not going to be an easy fight, though, as the odds are four heads to  two, and King Ghidorah™'s one of Godzilla®'s toughest opponents.  With his cybernetic weaponry Gigan™ is equally ruthless, and his alien masters are as hard to kill as the cockroaches they resemble.   Will Earth's biggest defenders finally fall?  Or will Godzilla®, and insecticide, triumph over all?  Find out in GODZILLA® VS. GIGAN™!


Title:                 GODZILLA® VS. HEDORAH™
Published by:    Kraken Releasing
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         86 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $9.98

SYNOPSIS: Forget about acid rain and global warming!  The worst ecological nightmare is actually Hedorah™, which starts off small but quickly mutates into a giant flying monster capable of wiping out all life on whatever unfortunate planet it lands on!  And since Hedorah™ grows by consuming the toxic gases and chemicals mankind has spilled into the air and water, in the early 1970s that means that its potential growth is unlimited!  Fortunately for the human race, the Earth has an ultimate green defender who doesn't need to sing protest songs or try to enact new laws to get things done.  Because nobody, and nothing, can stop Godzilla® when he decides to push an environmental issue, and while Hedorah™ may be the dirtiest opponent Godzilla® has ever faced, his name is going to be mud by the time he's been stomped into the whole Earth a few dozen times.  Get ready for the wildest Godzilla® film ever as the social concerns and way out fashions of the seventies collide head on with the ultimate in big monster brawls in GODZILLA® VS. HEDORAH™!


Title:                 GODZILLA® VS. HEDORAH™
Published by:    Kraken Releasing
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         86 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $14.98

SYNOPSIS: Forget about acid rain and global warming!  The worst ecological nightmare is actually Hedorah™, which starts off small but quickly mutates into a giant flying monster capable of wiping out all life on whatever unfortunate planet it lands on!  And since Hedorah™ grows by consuming the toxic gases and chemicals mankind has spilled into the air and water, in the early 1970s that means that its potential growth is unlimited!  Fortunately for the human race, the Earth has an ultimate green defender who doesn't need to sing protest songs or try to enact new laws to get things done.  Because nobody, and nothing, can stop Godzilla® when he decides to push an environmental issue, and while Hedorah™ may be the dirtiest opponent Godzilla® has ever faced, his name is going to be mud by the time he's been stomped into the whole Earth a few dozen times.  Get ready for the wildest Godzilla® film ever as the social concerns and way out fashions of the seventies collide head on with the ultimate in big monster brawls in GODZILLA® VS. HEDORAH™!


Title:                 PERSONA 4: THE ANIMATION COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         670 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $79.98

SYNOPSIS: When Yu Narukami moves to the country town of Inaba to stay with his uncle and cousin, he's expecting a lot more peace and quiet than he's been used to in the big city.  What he isn't expecting is for his uncle's job as a police detective to spill over into his own life.  Or for the murders that are occurring across town to be somehow linked to Yu's own strange experiences: odd local weather patterns, and a mysterious TV show world that seems to be attempting to get Yu to enter it!  Now, together with a new group of friends, Yu must plunge into a bizarre alternate reality where he gains unique abilities that will either help him solve the riddle of the mystery killer, or lead him to his doom.  Journey into the Velvet Room and beyond as the hit PlayStation 2® game becomes a spectacular anime in PERSONA 4: The Complete Collection!


Title:                 BOOK OF BANTORRA COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         675 min.
Street Date:      5/13/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $79.98



Title:                 BOOK OF BANTORRA COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         675 min.
Street Date:      5/13/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $99.98

SYNOPSIS: In another time and place, on a world of pain and sorrow, when someone dies, their soul doesn't go to Heaven or Hell - it becomes a book.  A book that reveals the deceased's innermost secrets and that can be read by anyone.  Protecting these priceless treasures is the elite organization known as the Armed Librarians.  It's their job to keep the books and the knowledge within them safe from those who would misuse or destroy them.  It's a tough, dangerous job, so Chief Librarian Hamyuts Maseta recruits only the best and the brightest psychics to join her team of expert fighters.  Even so, will they be able to stop the fanatics of the Shindeki Church from wreaking vengeance on the entire world?  Only time will tell, but that book hasn't been written yet.  Don't miss the non-stop action of The Book of Bantorra Complete Collection.


Title:                 HAKKENDEN: EIGHT DOGS OF THE EAST SEASON 1
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         325 min.
Street Date:      5/20/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $59.98

SYNOPSIS: When their village was wiped out five years ago, there were only three young survivors: Shino Inuzuka, Sosuke Inukawa, and the girl Hamaji.  Through a quirk of fate, both boys share the same peony-shaped birthmark.  Genpachi Inukai and Kobungo Inuta were raised hundreds of miles away as foster brothers, but they too share the same birthmark.  When they went north as part of the army three years ago, they went to confront demons and came back forever transformed.  Now the Imperial Church has come for Shino and Sosuke and they must find eight mystical gems and their owners or face a fate worse than death at the hands of the Church.  One of Japan's greatest works of literature is born again in HAKKENDEN: EIGHT DOGS OF THE EAST!


Title:                 HAKKENDEN: EIGHT DOGS OF THE EAST SEASON 1 BLU-RAY
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         325 min.
Street Date:      5/20/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $69.98

SYNOPSIS: When their village was wiped out five years ago, there were only three young survivors: Shino Inuzuka, Sosuke Inukawa, and the girl Hamaji.  Through a quirk of fate, both boys share the same peony-shaped birthmark.  Genpachi Inukai and Kobungo Inuta were raised hundreds of miles away as foster brothers, but they too share the same birthmark.  When they went north as part of the army three years ago, they went to confront demons and came back forever transformed.  Now the Imperial Church has come for Shino and Sosuke and they must find eight mystical gems and their owners or face a fate worse than death at the hands of the Church.  One of Japan's greatest works of literature is born again in HAKKENDEN: EIGHT DOGS OF THE EAST!


Title:                 LOVE, CHUNIBYO & OTHER DELUSIONS COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         325 min.
Street Date:      5/27/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $49.98

SYNOPSIS: Yuta Togashi has a problem.  He used to be a "chunibyo", one of the thousands of Japanese students so desperate to stand out that they've literally convinced themselves that they have secret knowledge and hidden powers.  But now that he's starting high school, he's determined to put aside his delusions and face life head on.  The trouble is Rikka Takanashi, his upstairs neighbor, is JUST a little bit delusional herself.  And she knows all about his past indiscretions.  Yuta thought his delusions were all behind him.  Now he's not so sure.  "Crazy in love" gets a whole new meaning as fantasy worlds collide in LOVE, CHUNIBYO & OTHER DELUSIONS!


Title:                 LOVE, CHUNIBYO & OTHER DELUSIONS COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         325 min.
Street Date:      5/27/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $59.98

SYNOPSIS: Yuta Togashi has a problem.  He used to be a "chunibyo", one of the thousands of Japanese students so desperate to stand out that they've literally convinced themselves that they have secret knowledge and hidden powers.  But now that he's starting high school, he's determined to put aside his delusions and face life head on.  The trouble is Rikka Takanashi, his upstairs neighbor, is JUST a little bit delusional herself.  And she knows all about his past indiscretions.  Yuta thought his delusions were all behind him.  Now he's not so sure.  "Crazy in love" gets a whole new meaning as fantasy worlds collide in LOVE, CHUNIBYO & OTHER DELUSIONS!


Title:                 MOTTO TO LOVE RU SEASON 2 BLU-RAYCOLLECTION
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         300 min.
Street Date:      5/27/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $59.98

SYNOPSIS: The insanity that began when a very naked (and very female) alien teleported into Rito Yuki's bathtub (while he was in it) continues.  And even though Princess Lala has finally started to admit her true feelings for the young man she's inexplicably engaged to marry (as a result of what happened in said bathtub and Develuke customs,) her sometimes erratic technology and the snags and snarls of intergalactic politics and intrigue are still causing major problems.  That transporter?  Yeah, it still has the nasty habit of leaving the clothes behind.  Alien bounty hunters?  Yep, even more of them and they're even more devious.  Add body switches, alien skunks, a bathroom that changes size and shape, the inevitable sleepover that you just know it's going to go horribly, horribly wrong, and worst of all, Valentine's Day, and even in space you'll be able to hear Rito scream!  Love takes a quantum shift into the wrong gear and the star brakes are broken in the extra-special, extra-crazy extraterrestrial romance to end them all, MOTTO TO LOVE RU - The Complete Collection! Now in high definition!

U.S. theatrical premiere of TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE RISING coming in March

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VIZ MEDIA AND ELEVEN ARTS ANNOUNCE THEATRICAL PREMIERE OF
TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE RISING
IN MAJOR U.S. CITIES IN MARCH

Catch Japan’s Favorite Corporately Sponsored Superheroes
On The Big Screen With A New Look, New Heroes, And
An Intense Battle Against A New Cast Of Powerful Villains

VIZ Media teams with Los Angeles-based film distribution company ELEVEN ARTS to bring the riveting anime action of TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE RISING to a host of major U.S. cities for series of special theatrical screenings beginning Saturday, March 15th.

TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE RISING is the second and latest feature film in the popular Japanese superhero action franchise. The film is scheduled to premiere in Japan in February prior to the theatrical premieres in 20 cities throughout the U.S. including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle and more. Tickets will be available for $15 each, and attendees will receive a free 12” x 18” premium cardstock movie poster and while supplies last, an exclusive movie clear file. A complete list of screenings and theatre locations is available at http://www.elevenarts.net/th_gallery/tigerandbunny-therising/.

A special screening scheduled for March 22nd brings the hero-inspired big screen action of the smash hit anime property home to the Bay Area for a very special theatrical event to be held at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema, located inside the dynamic Japanese pop culture entertainment venue in San Francisco’s Japantown at 1746 Post St. Details for this screening will be announced soon on the TIGER & BUNNY Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TigerAndBunny.

In TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE RISING, the heroes are back in an all-new feature-length film! Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, a.k.a. Wild Tiger, and Barnaby Brooks Jr.’s partnership comes to a sudden end when Apollon Media’s new owner Mark Schneider fires Kotetsu and moves Barnaby back into the First League, pairing him up with Golden Ryan, a new hero with awesome powers and a huge ego to match. When the heroes are sent to investigate a string of strange incidents tied closely to the city’s Goddess Legend, they discover three superpowered NEXTs plotting to bring terror and destruction to Stern Bild.

“TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE RISING is the all-new feature film in the smash hit series, and this time the tables are turned as it becomes Barnaby Brooks Jr., aka Bunny, who now has to work with a young and arrogant upstart,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Marketing Manager, Animation. “Barnaby is more mature now, honoring and passing on the values he learned from his former partner. And though the beloved Wild Tiger is no longer partnered with Barnaby, he’ll also get his fair share of action. Don’t miss the big screen superhero action and drama as TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE RISING premieres in North America!”

VIZ Media is the also distributor of the TIGER & BUNNY manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens), which features artwork by Mizuki Sakakibara and is based on the smash hit animated series, created by the famed Tokyo-based anime studio Sunrise. VIZ Media also licenses and distributes the popular TIGER & BUNNY feature film and anime series that are available on DVD/Blu-ray as well as on the company’s Neon Alley 24/7 anime channel.

More information on the TIGER & BUNNY anime is available at: www.facebook.com/TigerAndBunny and VIZAnime.com/tiger-and-bunny/.

For more information on manga titles available from VIZ Media visit www.VIZ.com.

Korean comedy MISS GRANNY opens today in limited theatrical release

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CJ Entertainment
Presents
 Miss Granny
Directed by HWANG Dong-hyuk
South Korea, 2013, 124 minutes

The delightful South Korea comedy Miss Granny opens in three U.S. markets today: Los Angeles (CGV Cinemas), New York (Bay Terrace), and New Jersey (Edgewater Multiplex). (Info and showtimes are available at the official Miss Granny website. Note- see addendum at the end of this reviewfor three additional cities.)

Miss Granny is a transformation tale along the lines of Big (1988).In that film a young boy is magically transformed physically into the body of an adult. However in Miss Granny, the aging process is reversed: a 74 year old grandmother becomes a twenty year old version of herself.


OH Mal-soon (actress NA Moon-Hee) is the granny in question. Widowed at a young age, she raised her only child, BAN Hyun-Chul (SUNG Dong-Il, Foxy Festival, 200 Pounds Beauty), on her own. BAN is now a professor at a prestigious national university, and an authority on gerontology. OH lives with him, his wife and their teenage son BAN Ji-Ha, who writes songs and plays in a heavy metal band, and daughter.

OH works at a senior cafe. Mr. Park (PARK In-Hwan), a widower, is her neighbor and co-worker; he has cared about her for years. As a youth, he worked as a house servant in her home, so they have a long history together.

Actress NA Moon-Hee, left, as OH Mal-soon

OH is a crotchety, cantankerous old battle-ax. When OH's "suggestions" to her daughter-in-law, which are really no more than a veiled series of criticisms, result in her developing a serious heart condition, the family comes to think granny must go live in a retirement home, at least for awhile.

Dispirited, OH wanders the streets alone and comes across the Forever Young Portrait Studio. She decides to have her funeral photograph taken, and the photographer promises to make her look fifty-some years younger. Afterwards, while riding on a bus, she discovers that that is exactly what has happened. Though her mind is still that of a 74 year old, she now looks just like she did when she was twenty!

Even as a twenty year old, Miss Granny cannot resist feeding her grandson.

Taking the name of Audrey Hepburn, her favorite actress, she reinvents herself as OH Doo-Ri and is now played by SHIM Eun-Kyung (Sunny, Masquerade). Comic incidents abound as she makes the most of her new-found youth and begins to realize the dream of her youth, namely to become a singer. Only now it's with her grandson's band!

There's lots of credit to go around for the phenomenal way this film succeeds. The story was written by SHIN Dong-Ick, HONG Yoon-Jeong, and DONG Hee-sun. In addition to directing the film, HWANG Dong-Hyeuk also did the screenplay adaptation. I don't know who did the English subtitles, but whoever is responsible is to be most highly commended. Physical comedy relatively easily crosses borders, but the verbal aspects of comedy face many pitfalls. In Miss Granny, the sense of young OH Doo-Ri speaking in the vernacular of an old woman really comes across delightfully.

OH Doo-Ri (SHIM Eun-Kyun) rediscovers one of the joys of being youthful 

Which brings me to SHIM Eun-Kyung. While the entire cast puts in commendable performances, SHIM's is outstanding, a real revelation. In facial gestures, body language, and dialogue delivery, she does a remarkable job of convincingly portraying the opinionated, quarrelsome old woman inside the youthful body of a twenty year old.

ACF Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; very, very highly recommended.

Addendum, Monday February 3rd: The official Miss Granny website now indicates that the film is also playing in Honolulu, Toronto and Vancouver.

Sentai Filmworks acquires NOBUNAGA THE FOOL

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History’s greatest figures take up arms in a war for the ages in Sentai Filmworks' latest acquisition, Nobunaga the Fool. This 24 episode sci-fi fantasy epic is directed by Eiichi Sato (Slayers Next,AD Police) with series composition by Shoji Kawamori (Macross Zero, Aquarion), original character designs by Yone Kazuki (Hakuoki, Hiiro no Kakera) and animation production by Satelight (AKB0048, Bodacious Space Pirates).

Synopsis: It was once said that time and tide will wait for no man, but that was before the legendary heroine Jeanne d’Arc had a vision of a Deliverer – a champion who could save the future of the planets connected by the Dragon Stream. Now the fate of two worlds hangs in the balance as, at the order of King Arthur and in the company of Leonardo da Vinci, Jeanne travels from the West to the East in search of their long awaited savior. But will Nobunaga Oda be the kind of man they are expecting? Or will history’s greatest heroes find themselves choosing not a liberator, but a destroyer?

Or is Nobunaga’s role that of the Fool from a deck of Tarot, the wild card whose purpose is to invoke change, at whatever cost? Expect the unexpected as super-technology and giant robots collide with samurai warriors and a pantheon of characters drawn from across history wage the ultimate battle against the forces of Chaos in Nobunaga the Fool.

Nobunaga the Fool will be available soon through select digital outlets with a home video release to follow.

DARK DESIRES - THE ONIROKU DAN COLLECTION is out today!

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Dark Desires: The Oniroku Dan Collection
Published by: Switchblade Pictures
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Total Run Time: 209 min.
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $29.98
Oniroku Dan (April 16, 1931 - May 6, 2011) was a famous, popular and prolific Japanese writer of S&M novels, many of which were made into films. Switchblade Pictures previously released three of them as individual DVDs. Today, all three are available in Dark Desires: The Oniroku Dan Collection.

The films, each with a link to my review here at AsianCineFest, are:

Directed by Satoshi Kaneda
Japan, 2010, 71 minutes

Directed by Takeshi Nizato
Japan, 2009, 71 minutes

Directed by Kanji Hanyuu
Japan, 2007, 67 minutes

All three films received ACF Ratings of 3 out of 4 stars, solidly recommended.

Considering how good the films are and that the individual DVDs carried an SRP of $19.98 each, this collection is truly a great bargain. It's sure to satisfy your Dark Desires.

Indie romantic comedy film WEDDING PALACE released On-Demand by Gravitas Ventures

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Just came across some more wonderful news about Wedding Palace at CrossingsTV.com:

Gravitas Ventures is releasing the award-winning indie feature film Wedding Palace on demand, making the film available in over 150 million homes across N. America.

Wedding Palace is the perfect story to warm your heart this winter or share with friends and family in Valentine’s season, Wedding Palace tells a unique and funny story about a two distant lovers that form a deep relationship through video chats and texting.

Shot in Los Angeles and Seoul, Korea, with two separate crews Wedding Palace is the first U.S. Korea independent co-production. The film joins a Korean American Hollywood cast, led by Brian Tee (“The Wolverine,” “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift”) and award-winning S. Korean actress, Hye-jung Kang (“Oldboy”) in her charming English language debut. Nicole Herrington of the New York Times says the two “sparkle together.” Bobby Lee (MadTV), Emmy nominated comedian Margaret Cho and Stephen Park (“Snow Piercer”) round out this hilarious cast. Amidst the star-driven award-season, the cast is an ensemble of fresh faces.

Wedding Palace wrapped up its theatrical run last month after a successful festival run and is available now on demand across North America on all major domestic cable providers, DVD and iTunes, where the film is climbing the charts – debuting at #23 across all Independent Releases and #13 across all Romance Films.

Wedding Place is the debut feature of Christine Yoo. Director, Producer, Co-Writer, and Distributor, Yoo is a graduate of USC School of Cinematic Arts. To produce this film, Yoo received wide support from the Los Angeles, Koreatown business community, and Korean companies such as LG Mobile, Korean Air, Hyundai. 

For reviews and links for download, go to: www.weddingpalacemovie.com.

THE ATTORNEY opens this Friday in 18 North American markets

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Well Go USA
Presents
The Attorney / Byeon-ho-in
Directed by YANG Woo-Seok
Starring SONG Kang-ho, OH Dal-su, KIM Yeong-ae
South Korea, , 127 minutes

This drama, based on true events, will open this Friday, February 7th in sixteen markets in the U.S and two in Canada. For cities, theater information and to buy tickets, click here.

Synopsis: SONG Woo-seok has no clients, connections, or even a college degree, but his eye for business and appetite for money turn him into one of the most successful lawyers in town. But right at the peak of his success, a local teenager is falsely accused of a crime, then beaten and tortured while waiting in jail. Shocked by these conditions, SONG changes the course of his life, and takes on the case no one else will.

3-in-1 omnibus editions of HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT from VIZ

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KOKO DEBUT © 2003 by Kazune Kawahara/SHUEISHA Inc.
VIZ MEDIA RELEASES NEW 3-IN-1 OMNIBUS EDITIONS
OF HIT SHOJO MANGA SERIES HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT

New Editions Of A Girl’s Endearing And Hilarious Quest For Love
Will Include Side Stories Never Before Published In English

VIZ Media is releasing new 3-in-1 omnibus editions of the manga (graphic novel) series HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT.

The opening omnibus volume from the Shojo Beat imprint was released yesterday and contains the first 3 volumes of the hit series by Kazune Kawahara. It's rated ‘T’ for Teens and carries an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. VIZ Media will release Vol. 2 of the 3-in-1 adaptations on May 6th. The final 3-in-1 volume (Vol. 5) will contain the series finale as well as 2 additional volumes of special side stories and collected new material that has never before been published in English.

Individual volumes of HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT are also available digitally for $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) on VIZManga.com and the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones and 7” tablets as well as for the Nook, Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and GooglePlay stores.

Synopsis: Hapless Haruna needs help finding a boyfriend! After failing to win the eye of any guy in high school, Haruna enlists the help of cute upperclassman Yoh to coach her on how to make herself more appealing. Yoh agrees, but with one catch: Haruna better not fall for him! In the opening volumes, with Yoh’s help, Haruna starts to discover all sorts of dating tips – how to dress better, what guys to avoid, and what it feels like to fall in love for the first time. Haruna’s foray into love has its ups and downs, but nothing’s going to prepare her for when she actually lands herself a boyfriend.

“Whether you are a seasoned shojo fan or new to the genre of girls manga comics, this 3-in-1 edition of HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT is a wonderful way to revisit this funny and endearing story or enjoy it for the very first time,” says Amy Yu, Editor. “The series has been named one of the Great Graphic Novels for Teens by the Young Adult Library Services Association and remains a favorite with readers. Don’t miss this new release from Shojo Beat!”

Manga creator Kazune Kawahara made her manga debut at the age of 18 with Kare no ichiban sukina hito (His Most Favorite Person). Her other notable works include Sensei!, which serialized in the popular Japanese shojo manga magazine, Bessatsu Margaret, and HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT, which has also been released in Italy, Taiwan, Korea, and Vietnam. Her most recent work, MY LOVE STORY!!, will be released by VIZ Media in Summer 2014.

For more information on HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT, or other popular shojo manga titles from VIZ Media, visit http://www.viz.com/manga/print/shojo-beat.

BEIJING LOVE STORY opening on Valentine's Day in North America

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China Lion
Presents
Beijing Love Story
Directed by Chen Sicheng
China, 2014, 122 minutes

China Lion will be offering a Valentine's Day treat with the North American theatrical release of the Chinese romance movie Beijing Love Story on Friday, February 14th. The film, which stars Tony Leung Ka Fai and Carina Lau, takes a look at love and commitment from multiple generations. It's a spin-off from the hit Chinese TV series of the same name and marks the feature film directorial debut of Chen Sicheng, who also wrote the screenplay and has a starring role.


Beijing Love Story is slated to open in these locations:

- DC Area: AMC Loews Rio (Gaithersburg)
- Los Angeles: AMC Atlantic Times Square 14 (Monterey Park)
  - an additional Los Angeles area location for the 14th is likely to be added
- New York: AMC Empire 25 (Manhattan)
- San Francisco/San Jose Area: Camera 12 Cinemas (San Jose)
  - an additional San Francisco proper location for the 14th is likely to be added
- Toronto: Cineplex Odeon Yonge Dundas Vancouver: SilverCity Riverport

AsianCineFest is expecting a screener to arrive in time for a review on or shortly before the Valentine's Day opening, so be sure to check back here.

Free screening of Korean action film THE SUSPECT next Tuesday in NY

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Korean Cultural Service New York
presents
Korean Movie Night 2014
Series One
Wild Days: Coming of Age in 2014
The Suspect / Yong-eui-ja
Directed by WON Shin-yeon
South Korea, 2013, 137 minutes
When: Tuesday, February 11, 2014 @ 7:00 PM
Doors open: 6:30 PM
Where: Tribeca Cinemas
54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal Street, NYC
Near the A, C, E @ #1 Canal Street subway stops
Admission: FREE!!!

One of the hottest new action films from Korea, The Suspect follows a North Korean spy (GONG Yoo), who is abandoned by his corrupt government and settles down in South Korea. Unfortunately for him, he becomes the prime suspect in the mysterious murder of a powerful CEO. The suspect, now hunted by a government that does not trust his innocence, has to uncover the truth and save himself before the clock runs out!

VIZ announces new digital manga titles for February 2014

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DEADMAN WONDERLAND Volume 1 ©Jinsei KATAOKA 2007 ©Kazuma KONDOU 2007
VIZ MEDIA KICKS OFF FEBRUARY WITH
A NEW DIGITAL MANGA UPDATE

Readers Across A Range Of Digital Devices Won’t Want To
Miss The Debut Of DEADMAN WONDERLAND And A
New Full-Color Edition Of DRAGON BALL, And More

VIZ Media moves into February with a new round of digital manga (graphic novel) titles set to debut during the first-half of the month. Among the notable series making their North American digital launch will be Akira Toriyama’s manga classic, DRAGON BALL, debuting today and presented for the first time in a vivid full-color collection, along with the release on February 11th of the gritty post-apocalyptic prison action-drama DEADMAN WONDERLAND.

Readers will not want to miss these new releases as well as digital updates to over two-dozen other series featured on VIZManga.com and the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones and 7” tablets, as well as on the Nook, Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and GooglePlay stores. With these dynamic platforms, fans can explore and enjoy a wide range of new and classic manga series that spans more than 2,000 volumes across 170 different series.

New additions to more than 25 popular ongoing VIZ Media series will include digital updates for fan favorites such as BLEACH, HAPPY MARRIAGE, MAGI, TORIKO, Osamu Tezuka’s award-winning PHOENIX, and many more, as well as the series finale for A DEVIL AND HER LOVE SONG, and special double-volume updates for BASARA, BOYS OVER FLOWERS, and YUYU HAKUSHO.

DRAGON BALL © 1984 by BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA Inc.

DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR, Vol. 1 • Rated ‘A’ for All Ages • MSRP: $12.99 (U.S. / CAN) • Available Now!
Son Goku is the greatest hero on Earth. Five years after defeating the demon king Piccolo, he’s grown up and has a family. But what is the real reason for Goku’s incredible strength? A visitor from outer space arrives bearing terrible news – Goku is an alien, and the visitor, Raditz, is Goku’s brother! When Raditz turns out to be a ruthless killer, Goku must fight his incredibly strong brother to save his family and the entire human race. A surprising alliance may be Earth’s last hope: Goku will team up with his old enemy Piccolo to save the world!

DEADMAN WONDERLAND, Vol. 1 • Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens • MSRP: $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) • Available February 11th!
Framed for the brutal murders of his classmates by the mysterious Red Man, middle school student Ganta Igarashi finds himself sentenced to death and sent to the bizarre and fatal theme park/prison that has risen from the ruins of the Great Tokyo Earthquake – a hell on earth known as "Deadman Wonderland.”

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top application for reading digital manga and features a massive library of the most popular series in the world. Through the innovative VIZ Manga digital platform registered users are able to use one account to view their purchased manga across more devices than ever. New series and volumes are added every Tuesday. Fans can also find these titles and more for the NOOK, Kindle Fire, and Kobo ereaders, as well as in the iBooks and GooglePlay Stores.

All manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the VIZ Manga application starting from $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) each and readers can also explore all titles with free Chapter 1 previews of every series. For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps.

Download the free VIZ Manga App for Android and iOS devices at www.VIZ.com/apps.

To learn more about VIZ Manga, visit www.vizmanga.com.

WEDDING PALACE to open nationwide in the Philippines on February 12th

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Director Christine Yoo's delightful hit rom-com Wedding Palace is slated to open nationwide in the Philippines next Wednesday, February 12th.

Wedding Palace is currently available on DVD, On Demand, and for digital streaming. For information about these options, reviews and links for download, go to www.weddingpalacemovie.com.

Richie's Electric Eight: The Bold & the Daring film series to begin March 13th

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Globus Film Series 2014
A Tribute to Donald Richie (1924-2013), Part 2
Richie's Electric Eight: The Bold & the Daring
When: Thursday, March 13th - Saturday, March 29, 2014
Where: Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, NYC
Between 1st and 2nd Avenues

This two-part series honors the life of film critic and author Donald Richie (1924-2013), who was instrumental in introducing Japanese culture and film to the world. Part 2 continues to explore how Richie shared his thoughts about Japanese society and culture as seen through the medium of film. As with Part 1 (Richie's Fantastic Five: Kurosawa, Mizoguchi, Ozu, Yanagimachi & Kore-eda), which was presented as a monthly series from October 2013 to February 2014, film scholar and former Japan Society Film Program Director Kyoko Hirano continues to serve as curator.

Curator's note: Looking far beyond the stereotypical Japan of Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms or subservient geisha and salarymen, Donald Richie recognized the unconventional beauty in the everyday lives of ordinary people, celebrating the spirit of those who resist authority, the resilience of women who survive and outsmart a male-centered world, and the battles of those discriminated against by society. Richie supported the Japanese New Wave movement of Shohei Imamura and Nagisa Oshima, highlighted young and emerging talents such as Kohei Oguri, Kazuo Hara, Shunsuke Kaneko, Makoto Shinozaki and Kazuhiro Soda, and also championed the important classic films of Yoshitaro Nomura. For Richie, the independent spirit shown by these directors in portraying taboo subjects and their artistic endeavors exploring new forms of cinematic expression are reasons for us to see their films, from which we discover something new about the world we live in. --Kyoko Hirano, series curator

For the series schedule, including information about the eight films that will be shown, and to order tickets, click here.

Ticket Information:
Tickets to Summer Vacation 1999 (opening film & reception) are $15 per person for the general public, $12 for Japan Society members, seniors & students. Tickets for the other seven films are $12 per person for the general public, $9 for Japan Society members, seniors and students

Order tickets online or call the Japan Society box office, Mon-Fri 11 am to 6 pm & weekends during gallery exhibitions 11 am to 5 pm, (212) 715-1258. Online and phone orders are subject to service fees. Member ID number required for member ticket purchase, Members may order up to two tickets at members' price per event, unless otherwise noted. No refunds or exchanges. Programs are subject to change.

Those interested in purchasing group tickets for an event (10 or more) should email f2@japansociety.org for information on Japan Society's discounted rate.

New crime thriller manga series GANGSTA coming February 18th

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© Kohske 2011
 VIZ MEDIA DELIVERS PULSE-POUNDING ACTION AND SUSPENSE
WITH THE LAUNCH OF NEW MANGA SERIES GANGSTA

New Crime Thriller From The VIZ Signature Imprint Offers
A High-Octane Mix Of Drama, Suspense And Comedy

VIZ Media delivers a knockout punch with the launch of the explosive new manga (graphic novel) series – GANGSTA. – on February 18th.

The tense crime thriller by creator Kohske will be published under the VIZ Signature imprint, is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers, and will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN. Each print volume features a special two-sided full color frontispiece insert.

Synopsis: In the city of Ergastulum, a shady ville filled with made men and petty thieves, whores on the make and cops on the take, there are some deeds too dirty for even its jaded inhabitants to touch. Enter the “Handymen,” Nic and Worick, who take care of the jobs no one else will handle. Until the day when a cop they know on the force requests their help in taking down a new gang muscling in on the territory of a top Mafia family. It seems like business (and mayhem) as usual, but the Handymen are about to find that this job is a lot more than they bargained for.

“GANGSTA. is an incredibly accomplished and addicting take on the neo-noir crime genre,” says Leyla Aker, Vice President of Publishing and GANGSTA. Editor. “The storyline features plenty of high drama, low comedy and, of course, tons of action, all rendered in a fresh art style that’s as sharp-edged as the violence it depicts. The antiheroes of the story, Nic and Worick, are easy to root for, as is Alex, the damsel in distress. But no one’s quite what they seem, and the series pulls you in as the mysteries of their pasts are slowly revealed.”

Kohske made her manga debut in 2009 with the short story “Postman” in Shonen GanGan magazine. Her first series, GANGSTA., began running in Monthly Comic Bunch in 2011 and became an instant hit. More information about Kohske’s work can be found on her website at http://gokohske.o-oi.net/.

For more information on GANGSTA., or other manga titles from VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

South Korean hit MASQUERADE available on Blu-ray tomorrow

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CJ Entertainment
presents
Masquerade / Gwanghae, Wangyidoen namja
Directed by CHOO Chang-min
South Korea, 2012, 131 minutes

Masquerade is a marvelous period film set during the rule of Gwanghae, one of the Joseon Dynasty kings. CJ Entertainment released a single disc DVD version in June of 2013. A Blu-ray edition will become available tomorrow, Tuesday, February 11th. So this seemed like an ideal opportunity to review the film and compare the DVD and Blu-ray versions.

The story is one of assumed identity. In this it is related to such literary works as Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper (1881) and Anthony Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda (1894) and to Akira Kurosawa's film Kagemusha (1980).

LEE Byung-hun as King Gwanghae. (Or is it as Ha-seon?)

King Gwanghae (LEE Byung-hun) knows that there are powerful ministers in his court who are plotting against him. Fearful of assassination, he commands Chief Secretary Heo Gyun (RYU Seung-Ryong) to locate an identical double who can pretend to be the king certain evenings. One is found in the person of Ha-seon (LEE again), a commoner and jester who is given to performing lewd impersonations of the real king.

However, Ha-seon's role is expanded to one of actually pretending to be the king when Gwanghae falls into a mysterious coma and is secreted away in the hopes that he will eventually recover. Ha-seon, who can impersonate the king's voice and manner of speaking, is coached in his "royal" duties by Ho Gyun and by Chief Eunuch Jo (JANG Gwang), the only two people who know of the switch.

Although instructed to "stick to the script" and to stay away from the queen, Ha-seon cannot resist his natural impulses to do good. This behavior threatens to undo the precarious scheme and to reveal that Ha-seon is an impersonator.

HAN Hyu-jo as the Queen

Masquerade was one of South Korea's most successful films in 2012; its box office attendance that year was over 10 million, second only to The Thieves. Besides wins and nominations at other ceremonies and festivals, it was a huge winner at the 2012 Grand Bell awards, South Korea's equivalent of the Oscars. Among its wins there were those for best picture, director, actor (LEE Byung-hun), supporting actor (RYU Seung-Ryong), screenplay, cinematography, lighting, and editing.

While everything about the film is outstanding, it wouldn't be nearly as great as it is were it not for the performances of LEE Byung-hun as the king and as the jester. In addition to the Grand Bell Award for best actor, he received several other wins and nominations in that category elsewhere, most deservedly so.

Both the DVD and the Blu-ray disc offer the original Korean soundtrack with English subtitles and an English dubbed soundtrack. The inclusion of the latter seems clearly intended to broaden the potential audience to include those who are "subtitle-aversive." Personally I rarely enjoy dubbing of an Asian film, basically because of the disconnect from hearing what almost always is a Caucasian voice coming out of an Asian's mouth. (Can't good Asian voice actors be found for such work?) Others, to be sure, may feel differently about English dubbed soundtracks.

Chief Secretary Heo Gyun (RYU Seung-Ryong) assists Ha-seon

The Blu-ray disc comes with no extras whatsoever. I found this quite surprising since the DVD included featurettes on "Lighting and Cinematography" and on "Production Design" as well as some deleted scenes. On the other hand, while the video transfer on the DVD is quite good, that of the Blu-ray is absolutely spectacular. The reds and golds are just brilliant. If you're only going to buy one version, I'd say go with the Blu-ray disc.

ACF Rating: 4 out of 4 stars; highest recommendation. This is a film that deserves a place in your collection, whether it's the DVD or the Blu-ray version, or both.


Newest NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime arc on Hulu and Vizanime.com

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©2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO / 2007 SHIPPUDEN  All Rights Reserved.
VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE DEBUT OF THE
NEWEST NARUTO SHIPPUDEN ANIME ARC
ON HULU AND VIZANIME.COM

Don’t Miss The Launch Of An Exciting New Story
Arc Focusing On The Mysterious Past Of Kakashi
And His Role In The Third Great Shibobi War

VIZ Media delights fans of the fans of the action-packed NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime series as it announces the debut of the sagas’ newest installment – Episode 349 – on the Hulu Plus Video-On-Demand subscription service, with new episodes simulcast each Thursday. The episode launches a brand new story arc focusing on a previously untold Kakashi backstory.

North American users of the free streaming VIZAnime.com platform and the free, ad-supported Hulu service will be able to catch the new NARUTO SHIPPUDEN segments a week after their initial run on Hulu Plus. Hulu Plus subscribers can also access NARUTO SHIPPUDEN content anytime with the Hulu Plus App on internet-connected TVs, smartphones, game consoles, set top boxes and additional devices, in HD (when available). Additional details on Hulu Plus enabled devices can be found here.

All new subtitled episodes in the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime series will also be available the day after they premiere on Hulu Plus for Download-To-Own purchase thru Amazon Instant Video, iTunes, XboxLive, and PlayStationNetwork (Episode 349 is now available for purchase).

In the latest story arc of the venerable anime action series, the untold story of Kakashi during his years as a member of the ANBU Black Ops is brought to light. The Third Great Ninja War has left many shinobi physically and emotionally scarred, including Kakashi, who lost his friend Obito in the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, and soon after Rin, whom Kakashi was forced to kill. Haunted by the deaths of his loved ones, a guilt-ridden Kakashi begins to stray from his peers and mentors.

Concerned, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, appoints Kakashi to the ANBU Black Ops, an elite team of shinobi who are under the direct command of the Hokage, so he can keep a close eye on his former student. And so begins Kakashi’s life as a member of the ANBU, living within the shadows of darkness…

“Kakashi’s hidden past has long been shrouded in mystery and fans will finally get to see the devastating effects the Third Shinobi World War had on him,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Marketing Manager, Animation. “This episode begins a very important story arc in the continuing NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime saga and we’re very excited to bring the latest installment to North America on the same day as its Japanese counterpart. We look forward to everyone tuning in for this special anime simulcast!”

In the NARUTO manga and animated series, Naruto Uzumaki wants to be the best ninja in the land. He's done well so far, but Naruto knows he must train harder than ever and leaves his village for intense training that will push him to his limits. NARUTO SHIPPUDEN begins two and a half years later, when Naruto returns to find that everyone has been promoted up the ninja ranks – except him. Sakura’s a medic ninja, Gaara’s advanced to Kazekage, and Kakashi… well he remains the same. But pride isn’t necessarily becoming of a ninja, especially when Naruto realizes that Sasuke never returned from his search for Orochimaru. Plus, the mysterious Akatsuki organization is still an ever-present danger. As Naruto finds out more about the Akatsuki’s goals, he realizes that nothing in his universe is as it seems. Naruto is finding that he’s older, but will he also prove wiser and stronger?

More information on NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN is available at www.Naruto.com.

Additional information on titles available from VIZ Media is available at www.VIZ.com.

Hirokazu Kore-eda's AFTER LIFE playing at Japan Society NY

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After Life© New Yorker Films
After Life / Wandâfuru raifu
Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda
With: Arata, Erika Oda, Susumu Terashima, Tsuyoshi Naito,
Kei Tani, Toru Yuri, Hisako Hara, Kazuko Shirakawa
Japan, 1998, 118 minutes, 35 mm, color
In Japanese with English subtitles
When: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 7:00 pm
Where: Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, NYC
Between 1st and 2nd Avenues

Donald Richie on After Life:
"A thoughtful and moving elegy in which the dead line up to be processed into the next world. Their passport is the single memory they choose to take with them. This is then filmed by a dedicated staff—comprised of those who could not or would not themselves choose a memory."

Richie recognized the remarkable talent of young Hirokazu Kore-eda from his debut film Maboroshi (1995) and promoted his films thereafter. Based on Kore-eda's original screenplay, After Life is his second film in which he explores the full range of human experience. The director interviewed hundreds of Japanese and then drew on their recollections for the film. Some of the people who were interviewed also appear on screen.

This screening will be taking place on the one-year anniversary of Richie’s passing.

Introduction by Aaron Gerow, Professor of Film Studies and East Asian Language and Literature, Yale University.

Part of Richie's Fantastic Five: A Tribute to Donald Richie (1924-2013), Part 1

TICKETS: $12/$9 Japan Society members, seniors and students.

Buy tickets online or call the Japan Society Box Office at (212) 715-1258, Mon. - Fri. 11 am - 6 pm, Weekends 11 am - 5 pm.

Anyone interested in purchasing group tickets for the event (10 or more), should email f2@japansociety.org for information on Japan Society's discounted rate.

WEDDING PALACE hosting a "Lovers & Friends Viewing Party" Contest

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 Wedding Palace has K-Pop and Korean Drama Fans Buzzing Online

Award-winning US rom-com film Wedding Palace
kicks-off global VOD and online release with
“Lovers & Friends Viewing Party Contest”
in time for Valentine’s Day

On the heels of its US theatrical run, WEDDING PALACE has been released by Gravitas Ventures throughout North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. To celebrate WEDDING PALACE is hosting a social media event to promote fun, Korean food, and romance for Valentine’s Day and beyond.

Winner of Best Independent Film, Best Cinematography and over $100,000 in prizes at the Cinegear Film Series International Competition, the film stars Hye-Jung Kang ("Oldboy"), wife of K-pop star Tablo in her first English language film. Top critics agree the ensemble cast, led by Brian Tee (“The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift”), Bobby Lee (“Mad TV”) and Margaret Cho are "endearingly over the top" (Village Voice); The New York Times hails the film's leads saying "Tee and Kang sparkle together" and compares the "highly stylized""swimming in color" rom-com to Baz Lurhman's career-launching ballroom dancing delight "Strictly Ballroom."

The comedy explores both the charms and pitfalls of modern, Skype assisted courtship. Separated by the Pacific Ocean, Los Angeleno “Jason” (Tee) and his Korean sweetheart “Na Young” (Kang) develop their romance online and even get engaged over an elegant candle-lit dinner through their computers. Once they meet in person, the bride reveals an outrageous secret she never shared via webcam. Looking for love online is increasingly common. According to statisticbrain.com, 76% of single Americans (40 million people) have tried online dating. A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences estimates that almost 35% of married couples now meet online.

The indie film has a global Facebook audience approaching 100,000 fans with over 500 Twitter followers joining the social media conversation each day. Director Christine Yoo says, “I can’t believe it. I’m spending my whole day answering people on Twitter. People are finding us from everywhere.”

Gravitas Ventures secured all digital rights to WEDDING PALACE last fall. According to Mia Bruno, Senior Acquisitions Manager, “It has all the ingredients that make for a success on our platform-- it’s a romantic comedy that’s both genuinely romantic and laugh-out-loud funny."

WEDDING PALACE is inviting lovers and friends to come together to watch the film and enter for a chance to win A Korean Kitchen cookbook by Hawaiian food celebrity Joan Namkoong, $250 iTunes gift card, and other fun Korean-themed prizes. Complete contest rules and entry form are posted on the rom-com's official website.

The "Lovers & Friends Viewing Party Contest" is sponsored by Hite Jinro, Korea Tourism Organization, Mutual Publishing, and GoGoGo Entertainment

ABOUT GRAVITAS VENTURES. Gravitas Ventures specializes in the aggregation of entertainment content by connecting independent filmmakers, producers, and distribution companies with leading cable, satellite, telco and online distribution partners. In the last five years, Gravitas has released more than 2,000 films on Video on Demand (VOD). Through its relationships with studios and VOD operators, Gravitas can distribute a film into more than 100 million in North American and 1 billion homes worldwide.

WEDDING PALACE Official Website

WEDDING PALACE Official Trailer
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