Synapse films dvd news

Synapse recently released three movies for The Minoru Kawasaki Collection. They look lovely and reviews will come as soon as I get them. When money is short and you do this by yourself, it isn't always easy to get reviews out as fast as possible.

Synopsis: Tamura is an average Japanese salaryman working in the offices of a pickle distribution company. He is well liked in the office, hard-working, polite, wears a suit and tie, and also happens to be a six-foot tall koala bear. But when his girlfriend Yoko turns up dead one day and Tamura is the chief suspect, he is forced to enlist the help of his boss (a white rabbit) and a friendly convenience store attendant (a frog) in order to prove his innocence

Specs: Anamorphic (1.85:1) Widescreen Transfer
Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Newly-Translated, Removable English Subtitles
“Making Of” Featurette
Theatrical Trailer and TV Spot

Synopsis: It’s 2011, and due to global warming and the shifting of tectonic plates, most of the Earth’s land mass has sunk beneath the surface of the ocean. Only Japan remains, and refugees from all nations try to incorporate themselves into Japanese society: famous American actors do TV costume samurai dramas, white women serve as French maids for middle-class families, the former leaders of China and South Korea act as lapdogs for the Prime Minster, and foreigners who don’t sufficiently blend in are arrested! Yet geologists have begun to detect signs of another looming global catastrophe, one that threatens to destroy the last piece of earth remaining.

Specs: Anamorphic Widescreen
Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Newly-Translated, Removable English Subtitles
Audio Commentary with Director Minoru Kawasaki and Actor Takenori Murano
“Making Of” Featurette
Introductions from Cast and Director
Theatrical Trailer

Synopsis: THE RUG COP follows chrome-domed officer Genda as he transfers to a new precinct just as a group of radical terrorists hijack a shipment of uranium and deliver a ransom demand of five billion yen. Genda and his crack team of detectives must solve the case using their peculiar abilities: champion eater Detective Fatty, abnormally endowed Detective Big Dick, speedy weightlifter Detective Shorty, and ladies’ man Mr. Handsome. But most dangerous of all is the Rug Cop, whose projectile toupee proves lethal to wrongdoers!

Specs: Anamorphic (1.85:1) Widescreen Transfer
Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Newly-Translated, Removable English Subtitles
“Making Of” Featurette
Japanese Press Conference Footage
Introductions from Cast and Director
Theatrical Trailer

As I said, I haven't seen these yet, but Synapse Films always delivers!

THE BIRD PEOPLE OF CHINA Blu-ray

Don't forget the Blu-ray release of Takashi Miike's fantastic and magical movie, THE BIRD PEOPLE OF CHINA, coming out 18 November.

[REC] 2

A sequel to the gritty and scary spanish horror movie [REC], will begin filming on November 10th, aka today. Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza are both set to direct the sequel to the Spanish film that already have got the remake seal of approval in the states, starring Jennifer Carpenter (Emily Rose, Dexter), and based on the trailer it looks exactly the same. If the americans can't handle subtitles and need to remake a whole movie just for the sake of no subtitles or if they just want an american version, I don't know, but it looks awful.

30 DAYS OF NIGHT sequel

The Ghost House Pictures project will be written by the first film's co-writer and graphic novel creator Steve Niles, as well as Ghost House's Ben Ketai. In the sequel, Stella Oleson (from the first film) seeks revenge on the blood-thirsty vampires that destroyed her dark Alaskan town.

Død Snø

Here is a poster for the soon to come Norwegian Nazi Zombie flick. Beeing Norwegian, I'm looking forward to this, but I also have mixed emotions. Norwegian horror is many years behind, because of the lack of passion for the genre, but it looks like times are changing. I also have problems with some of the actors. But we have to wait and see.

WEREWOLF

The writer of WATCHMEN, X-MEN and X2, David Hayes, will be writing and directing a feature film entitled WEREWOLF.

''A 17-year-old boy learns that he's a werewolf during a date. After waking up and finding his family dead, he flees to New England where he takes shelter. Each night animals around the town are being slaughtered, which pits the lead against a group of creatures that leads to a big government conspiracy.''

Could be good, based on his previous work.

Apes remake?

20th Century Fox is considering a new version of PLANET OF THE APES. This is not a follow up to the apeshit Tim Burton remake from 2001, but a remake of CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, the fourth movie in the series.

''The time is the near future. Apes supplant dogs and cats as household pets, and replace servants as personal assistants - until their continual mistreatment provokes one advanced ape from the future, Caesar, to lead a spectacular revolt''

And in other news, the 40th anniversary is celebrated by relasing a Blu-ray box set. The set includes PLANET OF THE APES, BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES, ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES, CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, and BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES. The release date is set to 12 december in the UK and Europe, but is allready out in the states.


Each Planet Of The Apes Blu-ray Disc will be authored in Java on a double-layer disc presented in widescreen (2.35:1 aspect ratio) with newly mastered English 5.1 DTS Master Audio, English, Spanish and French Mono and includes English and Spanish subtitles. All new special features will be presented in High-Def. Bonus features include:

NEW Science of the Apes BONUSVIEW - Scientists, anthropologists and sociologists discuss the facts and fiction of the first film

NEW “Beyond the Forbidden Zone” Adventure Game

NEW “A Public Service Announcement From ANSA” in HD – A mission report from the agency regarding their brave astronauts

NEW “Evolution of the Apes”- HD featurette tracing the apes story from the original novel to the screen

NEW “Impact of the Apes” - HD featurette on how to market a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. The story behind the marketing and merchandising of one of the first ever film franchises and the series’ lasting influence on pop culture through the years

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army DVD and Blu-Ray extras

Can't wait for our red superhero to make a second dvd and blu-ray appearence? Want to take a look behind the scenes? You can have a peek, but only a peek, because the rest will have to wait. Until November 11, you can enjoy these clips:

BLACK CHRISTMAS

The cover for the upcoming Blu-ray edition of the classic 1974 film which I always try to watch around christmas time. It's going to be fun to watch this in High Def picture. It will be available on November 11th. Just in time for christmas!

Barry Prima's THE WARRIOR

Just a reminder to everyone. The release of Barry Prima's THE WARRIOR is only 15 days away. Based on Mondo Macabro's previous releases, this should also be a nice edition of a classic Indo film.

While we're waiting for the release from Mondo Macabro, you can take a look at this clip: