FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 30, 2000
Contact: Margot Gerber
Tel.: 323.461.2020 x 115
E-mail: amcin@msn.com
RADIOACTIVE LIZARDS, 3-HEADED DRAGONS & SPACE MOTHS INVADE
THE AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE FOR
THE JAPANESE SCIENCE-FICTION AND MONSTER WEEKEND
Featuring a new 35 mm print of the original Japanese version
of GODZILLA
and the U.S. theatrical premieres of MAKARAGA: MOON OVER TAO, ULTRAMAN
TIGA:
THE FINAL ODYSSEY, RING, and REBIRTH OF MOTHRA
Presented in association with G-FEST 2000
July 14 - 16, 2000
HOLLYWOOD – The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre presents THE JAPANESE SCIENCE-FICTION AND MONSTER WEEKEND (July 14 - 16, 2000). Beware, Los Angeles -- your sunny hills and strip malls are about to be invaded by hordes of gigantic, radioactive lizards, 3-headed dragons and space moths! For three days, the Egyptian plays host to some of the most famous monsters in Japanese cinema – including Godzilla (and son), Ultraman, Mothra, and King Ghidorah --, along with rare U.S. appearances by some of the main creative talents behind these legendary creatures, including director Keita Amemiya (MAKARAGA: MOON OVER TAO), actress Megumi Odaka (GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH), producer Kiyoshi Suzuki (ULTRAMAN TIGA: THE FINAL ODYSSEY), suitmation actor Haruo Nakajima (GODZILLA), and visual effects directors Sadamasa Arikawa (GODZILLA) and Koichi Kawakita (GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH).
Our series coincides with the annual G-FEST Convention for
Godzilla and Japanese monster fans, which features seminars, special
guest appearances,
dealers’ rooms and more. G-FEST 2000 will be held this year at
the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. For more information call:
(614) 470-0108,
e-mail to g-fest@neptune-media.com, or check out the
website at www.g-fan.com. Please note that G-FEST attendees
receive a $2.00/per ticket discount for
screenings during this series (limit one ticket per screening.) You must
present your G-FEST badge at the Egyptian box office
when you purchase tickets - !
All screenings are at the newly renovated Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the
historic Egyptian (6712 Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Las
Palmas)
in Hollywood.
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2000
The Friday, July 14th program begins at 7:00 PM with a new 35 mm. print of
the original Japanese version of GODZILLA (GOJIRA), (1954, Toho, 98 min),
with Takashi Shimura, Momoko Kochi, and Akira Takarada. This is the
film that started it all. Japan’s most famous monster
rose from the literal
ashes of the atomic bomb, to wreak havoc on 1950’s Tokyo.
Brilliantly directed by the late Ishiro Honda, GODZILLA was
both thrilling entertainment
and a devastating parable on the dangers of nuclear armament (witness the
slow, haunting shots of the scorched victims of Godzilla’s rampage.)
Released in the U.S. in a radically-altered version that featured scenes
with actor Raymond Burr, GODZILLA is finally seen here in its original
Japanese version with English subtitles, featuring almost 20 minutes of
footage missing from the U.S. release! Discussion following with
visual
effects director Sadamasa Arikawa and suitmation actor Haruo Nakajima.
The Friday, July 14th program continues at 9:30 PM with the U.S.
Premiere of MAKARAGA: MOON OVER TAO, (1997, Shochiku, 96 min).
Gorgeous aliens,
telepathic villains and heroic young swordsmen battle in 16th century Japan
for the control of the “Makaraga,” a weapon of awesome
destructive power.
Director Keita Amemiya (ZEIRAM, CYBER NINJA) skillfully blends elements of
samurai movies, science fiction and good old-fashioned monster action in
this wildly enjoyable film. Co-starring the lovely Yuko Moriyama
(also from ZEIRAM), Toshiyuki Nagashima, Hiroshi Abe and Yoshino
Sayaka. Discussion
following with director Keita Amemiya.
SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2000
The Saturday, July 15th program begins at 5:00 PM with SON OF GODZILLA
(GOJIRA NO MUSUKO), (1967, Toho, 86 min). Directed by Jun Fukuda.
Dismissed by some as just a “kiddie movie,” SON OF GODZILLA is
actually one of the best of the mid-60’s Godzilla films.
Weather experiments on a remote island cause plants and
animals to grow to massive size – including Minya, the smoke
ring-blowing, fun-loving offspring of Godzilla. Together, father and son battle the giant spider Spigon, and bond in their own special, radioactive lizard way. Discussion following with visual effects director
Sadamasa Arikawa and suitmation actor Haruo Nakajima.
The Saturday, July 15th program continues at 7:30 PM with GODZILLA
VS. DESTOROYAH, (1995, Toho/Columbia, 103 min). Directed by
Takao Okawara. With Yoko Ishino and Takuro Tatsumi. Absolutely
thundersome, city-crunching Godzilla action, as the Big G discovers
he has heart problems (turns out his ticker is a thermonuclear
reactor, set to explode), and goes head-to-head with Destoroyah, a
nasty, fang-covered sea beast created by the oxygen-destroyer device
that killed the “original” Godzilla back in 1954.
The phenomenal Megumi Odaka appears once again as psychic
“Miki Saegusa” – a role she’s played in six (!)
Godzilla features, more than any other performer. Discussion
following with actress Megumi Odaka, visual
F/X director Koichi Kawakita, & Godzilla suitmation actor Kenpachiro
Satsuma.
The Saturday, July 15th program continues at 10:15 PM with the U.S.
premiere of ULTRAMAN TIGA: THE FINAL ODYSSEY, (2000, Tsuburaya Prod,
90 min).
Following a titanic battle with the octopoid monster Gatanozoigar, our hero
Daigo finds he’s lost the power to transform into the amazing “Ultraman
Tiga.” Two years later, a team researching mysterious ruins on a
South Seas island uncovers a trio of enormous supervillains,
Hyudora, Dahram and the
golden goddess Kamiila. When Daigo investigates, he discovers an
ancient secret that links him to the supervillains, and transforms
him into the
sinister “Ultraman Tiga Dark.” Discussion following with
producer Kiyoshi Suzuki.
SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2000
The Sunday, July 16th program begins at 5:00 PM with the U.S. premiere of
RING, (1998, Pacifica Int’l/Fine Line, 96 min). Directed by
Hideo Nakata. With Matsushima Nanako and Nakatani Miki. A
phenomenal, runaway hit in Japan (where it’s already spawned
manga comic books, a TV series and a sequel), RING also happens to
be the most haunting and exquisite horror film to hit these shores
since THE SIXTH SENSE. A female reporter, Reiko, investigates
a series of inexplicable deaths – the only link is that all the victims
watched the same videotape. With the help of her ex-husband, a parapsychologist,
Reiko is slowly drawn into a chilling web that blends rumor,
folklore and modern technology, inching ever closer to the horrific spirit
that inhabits the videotape.
The Sunday, July 16th program continues at 7:15 PM with the U.S. premiere
of REBIRTH OF MOTHRA 3 (MOSURA 3), (1998, Toho/Columbia, 90 min).
Directed by. Okihiro Yoneda. With Megumi Kobayashi.
Everyone’s favorite space moth returns in this
spectacular, monster-packed fantasy film, as she tackles the
new, redesigned King Ghidorah, encounters long-lost Jurassic dinosaurs, and
transforms into the slicing-dicing Metal Mothra!
BLACK & WHITE AND COLOR PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
A complete calendar/flyer listing of these films has been mailed to you.
Call for interview opportunities.
REQUESTS FOR PRESS TICKETS TO PUBLIC SCREENINGS MUST BE IN WRITING ON
THE
LETTERHEAD OF THE MEDIA OUTLET THAT ASSIGNED YOU TO COVER THIS EVENT. FAX
TO
323.461.9737 ATTN: MARGOT GERBER, 24 HOURS PRIOR TO SHOW TIME. FRIDAY AT
NOON IS THE ABSOLUTE DEADLINE FOR WEEKEND OR HOLIDAY SCREENINGS.
JOURNALISTS
WISHING TO AUDIO OR VIDEOTAPE DISCUSSIONS MUST ALSO SEND A WRITTEN REQUEST.
Japanese Monster Festival – page 4
THEATRICAL PRESS SCREENINGS MAY BE SET UP FOR THIS SERIES. ADVANCE PRESS
SCREENINGS OF FILMS LISTED BELOW ARE AVAILABLE ON VIDEOTAPE in NTSC AT THE
OFFICES OF THE AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE (or at commercial video stores) CALL
323.461.2020 ext. 115 or 116 TO SCHEDULE SCREENINGS.
AVAILABLE TAPES:
GODZILLA (GOJIRA) (1954) V, J, AC
GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH (1995) V, J
MAKARAGA: MOON OVER TAO (1997) V, C
REBIRTH OF MOTHRA 3 (MOSURA 3) (1998) AC
RING (RINGU) (1998) C
SON OF GODZILLA (GOJIRA NO MUSUKO) (1967) V, J
ULTRAMAN TIGA: THE FINAL ODYSSEY (2000) J, AC
AC = available at the American Cinematheque
V = available at Vidiots 310-392-8508
J = available at Jerry's 323-666-7471
C = available at Cinefile 310-312-8836
WE DO NOT HAVE GUARANTEED PRESS PASSES TO PUBLIC SCREENINGS. IT IS
RECOMMENDED THAT YOU
THE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
# # #
The Latino International Film Festival will be at the Egyptian July
21-30.
This is not a program of the Cinematheque. Press should call 323.469.9066
or
see www.latinofilm.org for further information.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Festival (August)
Political Film Series sponsored by the LA Weekly (August)
Cinecon (September)
Our permanent daily attraction film FOREVER HOLLYWOOD is now open.
For
press passes to see it for review purposes, please call Margot Gerber at
323.461.2020, ext. 115.