VIZ Pictures Releases Heavy Metal Comedy DETROIT METAL CITY on DVD

Film Based on Popular Manga Series Features Appearances by Gene Simmons of KISS and Marty Friedman of MEGADETH Source: VIZ Pictures, MediaLab press releases Official Site: go-to-dmc (Japan), DMCtheMovie.com (US) Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

The DETROIT METAL CITY DVD goes on sale November 9th. Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures. © 2008 Toho Co., Ltd. /Horipro Inc. / Hakusensha, Inc. /Sony Music Ent. (Japan) Inc. / Dentsu Inc. /d-rings Inc. /Parco Co., Ltd. /SDP, Inc. /Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co., Ltd. /Yahoo Japan Corporation /Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Inc. /Tsutaya Group.

VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced the DVD release on November 9th of DETROIT METAL CITY. The live-action comedy, directed by Toshio Lee and based on the popular manga created by Kiminori Wakasugi, is presented in Japanese with English subtitles and will carry an MSRP of $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN. To celebrate the release, VIZ Pictures has scheduled a special one-night-only screening of DETROIT METAL CITY at 7:15pm on Tuesday, November 4th at VIZ Cinema, located inside NEW PEOPLE in the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown (1746 Post St., San Francisco CA 94115). Deluxe tickets to the screening are $25.00 and include a pass to the film, a copy of the new DVD, a poster and stickers, and entry into a raffle for several fun DETROIT METAL CITY premiums. Prizes will be awarded and attendees are invited to also enjoy complementary beverages before the show. Regular admission tickets are $10.00 (for film only). Please visit viz-pictures.com or vizcinema.com for complete details. DETROIT METAL CITY takes the zany rock antics inspired by films like THIS IS SPINAL TAP to hilarious new extremes in this story, based on a comic series that has sold more than 4.5 million copies in Japan (and published in North America by VIZ Media). It features notable appearances by Gene Simmons from the legendary band, KISS, and Marty Friedman of Megadeth, and stars Kenichi Matsuyama, one of the most adored actors in Japan today and known widely for his role as `L` in the DEATH NOTE films (also available from VIZ Pictures). “DETROIT METAL CITY is a delightfully funny film that is a must-see for any rock fan,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO of VIZ Pictures. “Actor Kenichi Matsuyama brings the character of Johannes Krauser II to life in an inventive slapstick performance takes hints from Jim Carrey, Johnny Rotten and Alice Cooper. We look forward to audiences discovering this hilarious comedy that shows how fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when you’re the most diabolical, foul – and popular – heavy metal singer in Japan.” In the film, Soichi Negishi (played by Kenichi Matsuyama) is a sweet and shy young man who dreams of becoming a trendy singer songwriter. But for some reason, he is forced into joining the devil worshiping death metal band “Detroit Metal City” (DMC). In full stage make-up and costume he transforms into Johannes Krauser II, the vulgar-mouthed lead vocalist of the band. But he must keep this a secret from his crush, Yuri Aikawa, who despises death metal. What would she think if she found out? But against Negishi’s will, DMC rises to stardom. Things get even more complicated when the legendary king of death metal, Jack IL Dark (played by Gene Simmons), challenges DMC to a duel in the film’s climatic finale. What will be the fate of innocent Negishi as he climbs to the top of the death metal world?

About VIZ Pictures, Inc.

Based in San Francisco, California, VIZ Pictures, Inc. licenses and distributes selective Japanese live-action films and DVDs, with focus on Japanese "kawaii (cute) and cool" pop culture. VIZ Pictures strives to offer the most entertaining motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages, especially the manga and anime generation, in North America. Some titles include DEATH NOTE, 20TH CENTURY BOYS, and TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO. VIZ Pictures is also the producer of NEW PEOPLE, a part of the J-Pop Center Project, a unique entertainment destination bringing Japanese pop culture through film, art, fashion, and retail products. For more information please visit viz-pictures.com or newpeopleworld.com.

For more information on DETROIT METAL CITY please see the previous coverage here on SciFi Japan: