HD Movies and Specials in Japan this July Source: NHK Translator: Jim M. Ballard In July, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) in Japan celebrates Godzilla`s 60th anniversary and the upcoming Japanese release of the new GODZILLA with a month of Godzilla programming on their high-definition satellite television service, NHK BS Premium. The festivities kick off with two 2 new Godzilla documentaries and are followed with a lineup of Godzilla films that includes the restoration/remaster of the original, 1954 GODZILLA (???, Gojira).
The Premium: Godzilla`s Counterattack: Who Are You? (??????? ??????????????????, Za Puremiamu Gojira no Dai Gyakushuu ? Omae wa Nanimono nanoka) Broadcast Date: Saturday, July 5th, 8:00 ? 9:30pm (90 mins) Channel: NHK BS Premium (Japan only) It`s the 60th anniversary of the movie GODZILLA. Sometimes the child of the atomic bomb, sometimes the hero to children, sometimes the warning bell for humanity -- Godzilla appears before us, destroying entire cities, fighting monsters, and a life and death battle with humanity begins to unfold. And this summer, Godzilla is resurrected in a new 3D Hollywood movie called GODZILLA using cutting-edge technology. Why does Godzilla continue to be a movie superstar? Crossing the differences between eras, cultures and countries, just who is Godzilla who has been revived on the screen countless times? These are the interviews with the filmmakers in Japan and America who have grappled with Godzilla. Incorporating scenes from 60 years and 28 films of Godzilla, mixed with private materials and the latest research, we investigate the fascination behind Japan`s biggest movie star, and the most famous King of the Monsters -- Godzilla. Appearances: Akira Takarada, Ken Watanabe, Takao Okawara, Kazuki Omori, Shusuke Kaneko, Ryuhei Kitamura, Masaaki Tezuka, Kensho Yamashita, Koichi Kawakita, Shogo Tomiyama, Wataru Mimura, Gareth Edwards, William Tsutsui, Gregory Pflugfelder, and others.
The Man Who Painted Monsters With Sound: Godzilla vs. Akira Ifukube (????????? ? ??? VS. ?????, Oto de Kaijuu o Kaita Otoko ? Gojira VS Ifukube Akira ? ) Broadcast Date: Sunday, July 6th, 11:00pm ? 00:00am (60 mins) Channel: NHK BS Premium (Japan only) Along with the intense character and special effect images, there`s one more thing included which makes GODZILLA a masterpiece, and that`s the music. The composer, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year, was Akira Ifukube. His music left a definitive impression on GODZILLA, and has continued to inspire the sequels. Alexandre Desplat, who composed the music for this summer`s new Hollywood GODZILLA and well known for his work on HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS and THE KING`S SPEECH, said that without studying the music of Akira Ifukube he would not have been able to properly express Godzilla`s being. Why does Akira Ifukube`s music continue to be loved so much? In this program hosted by actor Shiro Sano, who previously starred in GODZILLA 2000, we explore how the music of GODZILLA which has continued to live on for 60 years was born, mixing a dramatization with original materials to tell the secret story of the music`s creation process from birth to completion, to understand the messages composer Akira Ifukube injected into his sounds. Appearances: Shiro Sano, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, Alexandre Desplat, and others. Dramatization Cast: Yuu Yoshizawa, Kana Harada
GODZILLA 60th Celebration: Premium Cinema "Godzilla" Feature (???????????? ???????????????, Eiga `Gojira` 60 Nenkinen Puremiamushinema `Gojira` Tokushuu) It`s been 60 years since the birth of the first Godzilla movie in 1954. To celebrate this, NHK BS Premium`s "Premium Cinema" will be showing a special compilation selected from the best of the 28 Godzilla films. Starting with the digitally remastered version of the must-see original GODZILLA, this compilation will show how the films have evolved throughout the eras. ? GODZILLA 60th Anniversary Digitally Remastered (??? 60??????????????, Gojira 60 Shuunenkinen Dejitarurimasutaa-ban, 1954) Tuesday, July 8, 9:00 ? 10:41pm Starring: Takashi Shimura, Momoko Kochi, Akira Takarada, Akihiko Hirata, Kin Sugai ? RETURN OF GODZILLA (???, Gojira, 1984) Tuesday, July 15, 9:00 ? 10:45pm Starring: Keiju Kobayashi, Ken Tanaka, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Shin Takuma, Yosuke Natsuki, Eitaro Ozawa ? MOTHRA VS GODZILLA (???????, Mosura Tai Gojira, 1964) Monday, July 21, 1:00 ? 2:30pm Starring: Akira Takarada, Yuriko Hoshi, Hiroshi Koizumi, The Peanuts, Yu Fujiki, Kenji Sahara ? GHIDORAH: THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (???? ???????, 1964) Tuesday, July 22, 1:00 ? 2:34pm Starring: Yosuke Natsuki, Yuriko Hoshi, Hiroshi Koizumi, Akiko Wakabayashi, The Peanuts, Takashi Shimura ? GODZILLA VS DESTOROYAH (???????????, Gojira Tai Desutoria, 1995) Tuesday, July 22, 9:00 ? 10:44pm Starring: Takuro Tatsumi, Yoko Ishino, Yasufumi Hayashi, Sayaka Osawa, Megumi Odaka, Masahiro Takashima ? INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER (?????, 1965) Wednesday, July 23, 1:00 ? 2:35pm Starring: Akira Takarada, Nick Adams (voice: Goro Naya), Jun Tazaki, Keiko Sawai, Kumi Mizuno ? GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA II (??????????, Gojira Tai Mekagojira, 1993) Thursday, July 24, 1:00 ? 2:49pm Starring: Masahiro Takashima, Ryoko Sano, Megummi Odaka, Daijiro Harada, Ichirota Miyagawa, Akira Nakao ? GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK (?????????????? ??????, Gojira, Mosura, Kingughidora: Daikaiju Soshingeki, 2001) Friday, July 25, 1:00 ? 2:46pm Starring: Niiyama Chiharu, Ryudo Uzaki, Shiro Sano, Kaho Minami, Owada Shinya, Masahiko Tsugawa ? GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA (???×?????, Gojira × Mekagojira, 2002) Tuesday, July 29, 9:00 ? 10:29pm Starring: Yumiko Shaku, Shin Takuma, Kana Onodera, Akira Nakao, Kumi Mizuno, Hideki Matsui
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