Sony to Release 3 Disc DVD Collection of THE H-MAN, BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE, and MOTHRA on August 18 Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment press release
ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION
Three Classic Films Directed by Ishiro Honda, the Father of Japanese Sci-Fi Movies THE H-MAN ~ BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE ~ MOTHRA Collection Debuts on DVD August 18
Toho, the most famous of all Japanese movie studios, made its name in the West for the extraordinary masterworks of Akira Kurosawa. But they really struck box office gold with the wildly colorful kaiju eiga (monster movies) that began in 1954 with the original GODZILLA (Gojira), the creation of director Ishiro Honda and special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya. Now for the first time on [Region 1] DVD— and in their original Tohoscope aspect ratios— Sony Pictures presents three Honda classics that display the enormous breadth of the Toho magic during its glory years. THE H-MAN (Bijo to Ekitai Ningen, 1958), BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (Uchu Daisenso, 1959), and MOTHRA (Mosura, 1961) have been digitally re-mastered for the best possible picture and sound quality, and include the original Japanese versions and the U.S. versions, plus commentaries for two of the films. So travel back to the days before CGI, when special effects were real and the results were spectacular! The three-disc DVD collection will be available for $24.96 SRP. THE H-MAN The Tokyo sewer system is an oozing mess after a radioactive liquid turns people into slimy blobs that float down the drains. To add to the havoc, the gelatinous masses then begin to reproduce. BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE A series of mysterious catastrophes sweep the globe, causing the world`s scientists to conclude that beings from another planet are attacking earth. Two earth space ships damage the attackers, giving the world time to prepare for a gigantic battle in outer space. MOTHRA Members of a Japanese expedition to a heavily-radiated island find two tiny, beautiful girls. When the girls are taken off the island, a mysterious egg hatches, producing a gargantuan moth which destroys everything in its path as it searches for the girls. DVD Special Features Include: • New Master and Transfer for Best Possible Picture and Sound • Original Japanese tracks of all three films • Commentaries with Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski on BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE and MOTHRA
MOTHRA has a running time of approximately 88 minutes and is not rated. © 1961, renewed 1989 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. THE H-MAN has a running time of approximately 79 minutes and is not rated. © 1959, renewed 1987 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE has a running time of approximately 90 minutes and is not rated. © 1960, renewed 1988 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Run Time: 537 minutes (Japanese runtime: 278 / U.S. runtime: 259) CC: Y Color: Color Screen Format: Anamorphic Languages: English Mono, Japanese Mono Subtitles: English (U.S.) Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Discs: 3 DVD Catalog #27981 UPC Code: 043396279810 Street Date: Aug 18, 2009 SLP: $24.96
About Toho
Headquartered in Tokyo, Toho Company Ltd. is an independent film studio as well as one of Japan’s biggest entertainment conglomerates. The company is best known for producing many kaiju (monster) and tokusatsu (special effects) movies, as well as acclaimed films by Akira Kurosawa. The studio’s most famous international export is GODZILLA (1954), a film that created a worldwide sensation and is known as “King of the Monsters”. Toho has also been involved in the production of numerous anime titles and other films, and is currently the biggest motion picture distributor in Japan. Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Mechagodzilla, and Rodan are described as being Toho`s Big Five due to the monsters` numerous appearances in all three eras of the franchise, as well as spin-offs. * Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Mechagodzilla, Rodan, the character designs and King of the Monsters are trademarks of Toho Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
About Sony Picture Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. SPE is a division of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE`s global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 100 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at sonypictures.com. For more info on Blu-ray Disc, visit sonypictures.com/bluray.