"There is so much writing in English on Japanese cinema that can't be accepted at face value — not because the writers are careless, but because the differences in culture and language are just too intricate. When I see August Ragone's name on a piece of writing, it gives me permission to place my faith in it completely. Among Japanese fantasy film historians, he's the best working in English." —Tim Lucas, Video Watchdog

Friday, October 19, 2012

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 19
Creepy Magazine Fan Club Button (1964)


The loquacious Uncle Creepy was created by the talented Russ Jones.

On the nineteenth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, nineteen Creepy Uncles, eighteen Eerie Cousins, seventeen Famous Monsters, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 18
Eerie Magazine Fan Club Button (1966)


The coquettish Cousin Eerie was created by the legendary Jack Davis.

On the eighteenth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, eighteen Eerie Cousins, seventeen Famous Monsters, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 (2012)
Spoilers for Chapter 3: "The Endless Voyage"


Cover of the Program Book for Chapter 3: The Endless Voyage.


HERE BE SPOILERS: WARING! WARING! WARING!




Episode 7 "Bid Farewell to the Earth": The party thrown aboard the Yamato is based on the Earth-bound, "Line-crossing Ceremony" aka "Crossing the Line", the long-held martime celebration of traversing the equator. In 2199, this is for crossing the Heliopause, the outer-most area of our Solar System. This features elements from Episodes 10 ("We Will Return") and 14 ("Octopus Star Storm") of the original 1974 series.



Episode 8 "When You Wish Upon a Star": Combines some elements from Episodes 9 ("Asteroid Belt"), 11 ("Desslok Mines"), and 12 ("The Sea of Fire") of the 1974 series. Instead of being a complete invention of Dessler, the living "Ectogas" was instead created by manipulating a primordial lifeform from the Mirbelia Star System, and unleashed against the Yamato at Gliese 581, a red dwarf star approximately 22 light years from Earth.



The Dessler Mines in the original 1974 scenario, have been changed into "Dessler Torpedos". These special weapons are equipped aboard Shultz' flagship to drive the Yamato into the trap at Gliese 581. Thus eliminating the "magnetic space net", and combining the Gamlias tactical operations from Episodes 11 ("Desslok Mines"),  and 12 ("The Sea of Fire") of the original.



Episode 9 "A Clockwork Prisoner": Original Story. The reactivated Gamiloid, captured in Episode 5 of 2199, is dubbed "Oruta", ("オルタ", previously rendered as "Orta"), which is actually derived from the Japanese rendering of the English word, "Alternative" (from his designation as an "Alternative Reboot"). So, this automaton should therefore be rendered as "Alter" in English.



Episode 10 "The Cosmic Graveyard": Incorporating elements from Episodes 13 ("The Gamilon Pilot"), 14 ("Octopus Star Storm"), and 15 ("Galactic Whirlpool") of the original. When the Yamato enters the dimensional rift, it passes through a graveyard of ships. Eagle-eyed viewers may spot, among the myriad of derelict spacecraft, a lone Devastator — the horseshoe crab-shaped attack fighter belonging to the Comet Empire!



Aboard the trapped Gamlias Meltoria Cruiser EX-178 are Commander Valess Rang (ヴァレス・ラング), a "2nd Class Gamilan" from planet Zalts, and a pure-blooded Gamilan, Captain Palen Nerge (パレン・ネルゲ), of Dessler's Protection Squad (essentially, the Schutz-Staffel aka the SS). Tensions arise between the two men, when Rang decides to reach out to the crew of the Yamato, so that both ships may make it out of the dimensional rift, alive.



Lastly, the ecological restoration device offered to Earth by Queen Starsha of Iscandar, originally dubbed the "Cosmo Cleaner" or "Cosmo Cleaner D" ("Cosmo DNA" in the Star Blazers version), is now to be called the "Cosmo Reverse System" (コスモリバースシステム). This must sound much better to Japanese ears...

Stay tuned to this blog and the official Star Blazers website for more news and information on SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 as they develop — and we'll be off to outer space, again, just like the first time!

(Some of the preceding information was gleaned from the Japanese YAMATO: 2199 Wikipedia entry.)

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 17
Famous Monsters of Filmland #9, 1960


A portrait of Vincent Price was the first cover painted by Basil Gogos!

On the seventeenth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, seventeen Famous Monsters, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 16
The Spider (1958)


Retitled EARTH VS. THE SPIDER to capitalize on a popular UFO flick.

On the sixteenth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!

Monday, October 15, 2012

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 15
The Virgin Witch (1972)


There's nothing more to add to the wild ballyhoo on this one-sheet.

On the fifteenth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, fifteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 14
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)


"Terror. An unfortunate misnomer for I am the mildest of men." 

On the fourteenth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 13
Kwaidan (1964)


Original US release poster as distributed by Continental International.

On the thirteenth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!

Friday, October 12, 2012

SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199: CHAPTER 4
Theaters January 12 & BD/DVD February 22!

『宇宙戦艦ヤマト2199』Vol. 4 BD/DVD 2月22日発売!


Kato and Yamamoto grace the package art by Nobuteru Yuuki.

With the third installment of the SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 saga, "The Endless Voyage", opening in twelve select cinemas across Japan this weekend (two additional from the previous releases), the official YAMATO: 2199 website has announced the release of the fourth film, "Defense of the Galactic March", featuring Episodes 11-14, opening January 12, 2013. The Blu-ray and DVD release will follow on February 22nd.


Slipcase art for Volume 4 by Yamato veteran, Naoyuki Kato.

The home video release of Volume 4 will contain a total of four half-hour episodes (11-14), plus a selection of special features, clocking in at 130 minutes of content for ¥8,190 for the Blu-ray (BCXA-0488, Region-free) and ¥7,190 for the DVD (BCBA-4319, Region 2). The DVD will be presented in 16:9 Anamorphic, Dual Layer, and Dolby Digital Stereo. Conversely, the Blu-ray will be presented in AVCHD, BD50G, 1080p, 16:9 Anamorphic, and Linear PCM Stereo.



Special Features will include a conversation between director Yutaka Izubuchi and anime legend Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, an Audio Commentary with voice actors Cho (Analyzer, Yabu, Gantz), Aya Uchida (Yuria Misaki), and director Izubuchi, Clean Opening ("Normal Full Version"), Chapter 2 Digest, CM & PV Collection 1 (featuring commercials and promotional videos), and a special insert booklet. Both releases will feature the same jacket art by character designer Nobuteru Yuuki, and a slipcase sleeve by legendary Yamato illustrator, Naoyuki Kato. While the DVD contains all of the same extras, only the Blu-ray boasts the most special feature of all: English Subtitles.



Venturing into unknown deep space, the Yamato continues on it's voyage to Iscandar. With a prisoner aboard, they are unknowingly being hunted by one of Gamilas' greatest military minds, General Domel! Will the Yamato be able to defend themselves when Captain Okita succumbs to his illness? These new episodes will be expanding beyond the original 1974 story, so we can all look forward to this fresh and fully-realized remake of SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO!

The episodes on Volume 4 will include:



Episode 11. TO SEE A WORLD GONE BY (いつか見た世界): The crew argues over the fate of the captured Gamilas Pilot, Melda Dietz, being held aboard the Yamato. During the ruckus, both Melda's fighter and a Cosmo Falcon are launched. But, who are the pilots!?



Episode 12. WHAT LIES AT THE END OF THE ROAD (その果てにあるもの): First Contact with made with the Gamilas leaves Kodai and Shima full of angst. Okita confides in Yamazaki about the nature of his illness... Meanwhile on the Gamilas homeworld, Dessler orders the renown General Domel to pursue and destroy the Yamato.



Episode 13. THE WOLF OF SUBSPACE (異次元の狼): An unseen enemy attacks the Yamato. It is a Subspace Submarine, commanded by Captain Frakken, under the directive of Domel. While at the mercy of their torpedo attacks, Okita's emergency surgery is put in jeopardy. Making a desperate gamble, Kodai violates direct orders to save the Yamato.



Episode 14. THE SORCERESS WHISPERS (魔女はささやく): As Kodai and Yuki return from a recon mission in the Type 100, they see a drifting Yamato floating in the void. Aboard, the ship seems abandoned, until Kodai sees his dead parents. Where has Yuki gone...? The apparitions extend them an invitation from the sorceress' shadow. Can Kodai and Yuki save the Yamato?



You can pre-order your copy of SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 Volume 4, by clicking here to visit Amazon Japan (with English language support)! Stay tuned to this blog and the official Star Blazers website for more news and information on SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 as they develop — and soon, we'll be off to outer space, on shiny discs of blue!

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 12
The Ghoul's Vault of Golden Garbage!


Legendary horror host, The Ghoul, grumbling at Camera 4, ove'dey!

On the twelfth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 11
The Skull (1965)


Adapted from Bloch's short story "The Skull of the Marquis de Sade."

On the eleventh day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 10
Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (1974)


Also known as THE LIVING DEAD AT MANCHESTER MORGUE.

On the tenth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 9
Lycanthopus (1961)


Released Stateside in 1962 as WEREWOLF IN A GIRL'S DORMITORY.

On the ninth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!