<<< June 24 - July 3, 2005 >>>

This series also screens at the Aero Theatre (July 1 - 3, 2005).

What is it about watching actors in rubber monster suits kick the living daylights out of a plaster-and-paint model of Tokyo and each other, that seems so, well, satisfying? We can’t say for sure … WE JUST KNOW WE LOVE IT!! For those of you who didn’t get enough city-stomping, radioactive -fire-breathing action at last year’s 50^th Birthday Tribute to Godzilla, we’re back with more classics and rarities of the Japanese kaiju ("giant monster") genre – including the Los Angeles Theatrical Premieres of the latest Ultraman adventure, the spectacular ULTRAMAN THE NEXT, and the newest installment in the Godzilla series, the highly acclaimed GODZILLA FINAL WARS - !! Other highlights include a special program of material from the secret vaults of Tsuburaya Productions in Japan, including episodes of the never-before-seen- in-America TV series "MIRROR MAN" and "FIREMAN" from the early 1970’s; the rarely-screened Rankin/Bass collaboration with Toho, KING KONG ESCAPES (1968) featuring two giant Kongs (!); and arguably the most sought-after of all Japanese monster movies, the long-lost MATANGO (ATTACK OF THE MUSHROOM PEOPLE), and much more!! Plus vendors including Anime Jungle & Hollywood Book & Poster, prizes and more!

Friday, June 24 – 7:30 PM

Double Feature:

GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA (a.k.a. GODZILLA VS. THE COSMIC MONSTER), 1974, Toho, 80 min. Dir. Jun Fukuda. An ancient prophecy predicting destruction by monsters … the discovery of space titanium … Godzilla thrashing Angilas and a gigantic ancient temple dog named King Seesar re-awakened on Okinawa – what does it all mean? Why, fiendishly intelligent ape aliens from the Black Hole Galaxy have arrived with their secret weapon to destroy Godzilla and conquer the Earth! And what, you may ask, is their dreaded super secret weapon? A counterfeit, mechanized Godzilla (Mechagodzilla for short) that will prove to be one of the big G’s most formidable foes. Originally advertised as Godzilla’s 20^th Anniversary film, there’s plenty of great city-stomping fun to be had by all. With Akihiro Hirata, Shin Kishida, Masaaki Daimon.

TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA, 1975, Toho, 83 min. This was the fifteenth (and for a long time, final) film in the original Godzilla series until 1984’s GODZILLA. It was not only maestro Ishiro Honda’s final Godzilla film, it was also Honda’s last credited picture as director. The great Akihiro Hirata (eyepatch-wearing Dr. Serizawa in the first 1954 film) is a mad scientist with a cyborg daughter who not only controls mega-destructive amphibious dinosaur, Titanosaurus, he’s also helping aliens refurbish Mechagodzilla to destroy the big G! One of the darkest, most fast-moving entries in the original series, with more great effects from Teruyoshi Nakano and one of Akira Ifukube’s most beautiful Godzilla scores.

Features preceded by an ultra-rare episode of the Japanese TV series "SPECTREMAN" (1971, 25 min.), where a super-cyborg from outer space defends earth against pollution monsters!

[This program is presented in English dubbed versions] An Egyptian Exclusive!

"ULTRAMAN and More: Rarities from Tsuburaya Productions!" (approx. 2 hours total) Founded in 1966 by Eiji Tsuburaya, the visual F/X genius behind the original Godzilla and practically all of the best Japanese giant monster films of the late 50’s and early 60’s, Tsuburaya Productions quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with through the success of its TV series "Ultra Q" and the classic "Ultraman," which featured a giant, silver-and-red "space policeman" who bonds with a member of the Science Patrol, Haiyata, to combat evil monsters. Since then, "ULTRAMAN" has spawned countless sequels, spin-offs and theatrical features, including the latest feature ULTRAMAN THE NEXT (screening later this same night.) In this program, we’ll be screening a selection of these, rescued from deep within the secret vaults of Tsuburaya Productions in Tokyo (and elsewhere), including episodes of the very Ultraman-esque "Mirror Man" (1971, 25 min.) and "Fireman" (1973, 25 min.), both in Japanese with English subtitles and shown for the very first time ever in the U.S. at this show!! Plus, more rarities from the Tsuburaya Archives (we can’t tell you what, you’ll have to come and find out for yourself …) An Egyptian Exclusive!

Saturday, June 25 – 8:00 PM

Los Angeles Premiere!!

ULTRAMAN THE NEXT, 2004, Tsuburaya Prod., 97 min. Dir. Kazuya Konaka. Ultraman fans rejoice!! The latest feature-length installment in the series is arguably the best ever: an adrenaline-fueled, F/X-filled action-fest that’s easily on par with the recent Godzilla and Gamera features! Just as he is about to turn in his uniform to devote more time to his hospitalized young son, Maki, a jet pilot with the Japan Self Defense Forces, is ordered to identify or destroy a strange UFO that has been sighted on course for Tokyo. The two collide mid-air, and, incredibly, Maki survives with no memory of the crash. But he soon learns that a week earlier, another pilot who had had a similar experience with a UFO, had mutated into a huge monster that is now on the loose. Once the two finally meet, Maki, also, is transformed into a bizarre creature, but very different from the reptilian beast. Will Maki prevail or will the reptilian monster destroy him? And even if Maki does win, can he retain his humanity and avoid ending up becoming a dangerous monster just like the reptilian creature? With Tetsuya Bessho, Kenya Osumi , Kyoko Toyama. [In Japanese with English subtitles] Preceded by a Live Ultraman Stage Show with your favorite characters in person!!

Sunday, June 26 – 5:00 PM

Double Feature:

KING KONG ESCAPES, 1967, Universal, 96 min. Dir. Ishiro Honda. A delightfully entertaining guilty pleasure as wicked, caped Dr. Who (everyone’s-fave-Toho -villain, Eisei Amamoto) uses his especially constructed Mechani-Kong to mine plutonium at the North Pole. When his giant robot can’t quite cut the mustard, the madman, with the help of Madame X (Mie Hama of YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE), kidnaps the real King Kong, hypnotizing him to assist! Good guys Rhodes Reason, Akira Takarada and Linda Miller (on whom the real Kong develops a mean crush), do their best to put a stop to the evil-doing, culminating in a battle between Kong and Mechani-Kong on the Tokyo Tower. [Original English language version]

GODZILLA VS. MEGALON, 1976, Toho, 80 min. Dir. Jun Fukuda. Katsuhiko Sasaki plays the inventor of robot superhero, Jet Jaguar (showing some Ultraman influence) who, aided by good-guy Godzilla, must go up against titanic roach, Megalon, and mechanized bird monster, Gigan (he with the buzzsaw in his belly), creatures manipulated by the underwater kingdom of Seatopia to attack land-based civilization. Probably the most-maligned Godzilla film of the original series, this still has a splendidly goofy charm all its own. More kids-oriented than most of the Godzilla films and loads of fun. [English dubbed version.]

Features preceded by another thrilling and monster-packed episode of the Japanese TV series "SPECTREMAN" (1971, 25 min.) [English dubbed version] An Egyptian Exclusive!

Wednesday, June 29 – 7:30 PM

New 35 mm. Print!! MATANGO (ATTACK OF THE MUSHROOM PEOPLE), 1963, Toho Co. Ltd., 89 min. Long unavailable in the U.S., MATANGO recently resurfaced on DVD here courtesy of Media Blasters, and proves to be one of the most original sci-fi pictures Toho produced in the 1960s. Director Ishiro Honda spins a surprisingly adult yarn about a shipload of supposedly happy-go-lucky friends (Akira Kubo, Kumi Mizuno, Kenji Sahara, et. al.) who are in reality anything but. When they’re shipwrecked on a mist-shrouded, fungi-encrusted island, they soon turn on each other when the food runs out. To make matters worse, they find that they’re not alone: a previous ship wreck’s survivors didn’t die – they slowly changed into walking fungi after eating the isle’s delicious, addictive mushrooms! Atmospheric and creepy, the last half hour especially achieves an eerie, dreamlike quality that will send shivers up your spine. [English dubbed version]

THE H-MAN, 1958, Columbia, 79 min. Special Effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. After her gangster boyfriend mysteriously disappears, a beautiful nightclub singer draws the attention of police, mobsters, a young scientist and the Liquid People – strange, radioactive creatures dwelling in Tokyo's sewer system!! Director Ishiro Honda, working from a screenplay by Takeshi Kimura (RODAN, DESTROY ALL MONSTERS), creates a more adult (by 1950’s standards) film than the usual Toho monster movie. A great combination of the popular sci-fi, horror and crime genres, THE H-MAN features a bit of everything sure to please moviegoers – monsters, cops, gangsters, the stars of RODAN, a haunted ship and musical numbers – topped off by an amazing score by composer Masaru Sato (Akira Kurosawa's HIGH AND LOW and YOJIMBO). With Yumi Shirakawa, Kenji Sahara and Akihiko Hirata. [English dubbed version] An Egyptian Exclusive!

July 1 –3 2005

Exclusive Los Angeles Theatrical Engagement!!

GODZILLA FINAL WARS, 2004, Toho Co. Ltd., 124 min. Dir. Ryuhei Kitamura. Starring Masahiro Matsuoka, Rei Kikukawa, Done Frye, Kazuki Kitamura, Kane Kosugi and Miki Mizuno. We’re happy to report that the latest – and possibly the last (!) – in the 50-year old saga of the Big G is also one of the very best in the series, courtesy of bad boy director Ryuhei Kitamura (VERSUS, ALIVE), a bevy of astounding monsters from past Godzilla epics, and some astounding, state-of-the-art F/X – but most of all, because it’s GODZILLA!!! Sometime in the future, more than 10 terrible monsters appear all over the world at once. The United Nations wages a "final war" against the creatures combining the power of all of the Earth Defense Forces to save mankind. While the intense fighting continues, suddenly an enormous UFO appears and extinguishes the monsters with a beam in a matter of seconds. And then, the aliens, who call themselves "Xiliens," propose a peace treaty with the Earth. Meanwhile, deep beneath the Antarctic ice, Godzilla begins to awaken from his slumber …

An Egyptian Exclusive!