A Fantastic Array Of Japanese Films Feature Surfing, Godzilla, Giant Robots, And The End Of The World Source: VIZ Pictures, MediaLab press releases Official Site: NewPeopleWorld.com Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen
May is a month to celebrate obsessions at VIZ Cinema. The nation’s only movie theatre dedicated to Japanese film, unfolds its most varied line-up yet, spotlighting a variety of obsessions ranging from surfing to art to science fiction and anime. VIZ Cinema complements a remarkable new exhibit – THE SURF SHOP – opening Saturday, May 15t in the SUPERFROG Gallery featuring Japanese surf-inspired art, custom surfboards and more with a special BIG SURF weekend of new and classic surfing films. Sci-fi fans will want to catch VIZ Cinema’s first-ever Kaiju Shakedown, with four films featuring the world’s most famous Japanese monster dinosaur on 35mm prints! The theatre is also proud to team with Bandai Entertainment to present the exclusive U.S. premiere of THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA, based on the smash-hit anime TV series. Moviegoers also can look forward to 7 other anime feature films all playing throughout the month of May at VIZ Cinema!
Kaiju Shakedown!
May 8th - May 13th The biggest celebrity from Japan is crossing the Pacific towards San Francisco. Brace yourselves, for the ground is about to shake! Catch a 5-day marathon of screenings of the Big G’s 4 most-loved films on 35mm prints with English overdubbing. GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH $10 (Directed by Yoshimitsu Banno, 1971, 87min, 35mm, OVERDUBBED) GODZILLA VS. GIGAN $10 (Directed by Jun Fukuda, 1972, 89min, 35mm, OVERDUBBED) GODZILLA VS. MEGALON $10 (Directed by Jun Fukuda, 1973, 80min, 35mm, OVERDUBBED) GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA $10 (Directed by Jun Fukuda, 1974, 84min, 35mm, OVERDUBBED) TokyoScope Talk Vol.3: War of the Giant Monsters Don’t miss the Editor-in-Chief of Otaku USA, Patrick Macias’ 3rd volume of TokyoScope Talk – War of the Giant Monsters as he welcomes two experts on Japanese monster films and also enter the giveaway raffle for the new DVD release of GAMERA: THE GIANT MONSTER (1965)! Donated by Shout! Factory.
The BIG SURF Weekend
Saturday & Sunday, May 14th – 15th Coinciding with the new art exhibit THE SURF SHOP at our SUPERFROG gallery, VIZ Cinema is taken over by wave shredding surf movies for the exhibition’s opening weekend! Join the carefree and thrilling surf life and feel the breeze rushing over the rolling waves. David Brown Special: A Double Feature **With appearance of Director and Co-Producer! SURFING FOR LIFE May 14th, 7:00pm This is a vibrant and award-winning documentary about inspiring well-spent lives and offers a totally fresh look at successful aging. Narrated by Beau Bridges, it profiles ten legendary surfers who model healthy aging by staying active and engaged into their 70s, 80s, and even 90s. http://www.surfingforlife.com/ OF WIND AND WAVES: THE LIFE OF WOODY BROWN May 14th, 8:30pm Nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Documentary, Of Wind and Waves: The Life of Woody Brown is a new documentary by the Director of Surfing for Life and profiles a legend in the worlds of surfing, sailing and soaring. The film won the “Inspiration Award” at Mountain Film in Telluride, “Best Surfing Film” at the Byron Bay Film Festival in Australia, and over 20 other international awards. THE SURF SHOP Short Films (3 in a row) May 15th, 12:00pm 3 short films in conjunction with THE SURF SHOP exhibition of SUPERFROG Gallery capture the styles of Japanese surfers. MONSTER WAVE IN CAPE ASHIZURI: A monster lives off the shore of Cape Ashizuri of Kochi, Japan. This short documentary film captures career surfers challenging the legendary monster waves. KOKORO: Through the stunning sound and visuals of this short film, Director Keiichiro Mukai sends his wish to the next generation: co-existence with nature. A heart-felt piece. GLACIER DIARY: Not quite a surfing film, GLACIER DIARY uses similar film techniques used to capture waves for a visceral trip down iced slopes! As part of THE SURF SHOP exhibition, filmmaker Takatoshi Okura tells an amazing story of a glacier photographer’s’ challenge and triumph in Patagonia. Bruce Brown’s The Endless Summer 1 & 2 THE ENDLESS SUMMER 2:00pm Surfing documentary filmmaker Bruce Brown’s most acclaimed and cherished piece follows two young surfers in search of the perfect wave, as they meet interesting characters around the world. The ultimate surfing classic!
THE ENDLESS SUMMER 2 4:10pm A timeless journey continues as Bruce Brown, the king of surfing documentaries, returns after nearly thirty years to trace the steps of the same two surfers as they travel to top surfing spots around the world. A precious film that also documents surfing becoming an influential fashionable subculture through time
Sci-fi Anime Madness
Saturday, May 15th – Thursday, May 20th ROYAL SPACE FORCE Monday, May 17th & Tuesday, May 18th EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE Saturday, 5/15 & Monday, 5/17 & Tuesday, 5/18 Gundam Movie Madness Sunday, May 16th MOBILE SUIT ZETA GUNDAM: HEIRS TO THE STARS, 1:00pm MOBILE SUIT ZETA GUNDAM: LOVERS, 3:00pm MOBILE SUIT ZETA GUNDAM: LOVE IS THE PULSE OF THE STARS, 5:00pm
GHOST IN THE SHELL Special Wednesday, May 19th GHOST IN THE SHELL (Original version) 5:00pm GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0 (3D-CGI version) 7:00pm (*The 3D CGI version is not in 3D; 2.0 is the visually enhanced version, not the second movie)
Exclusives
20TH CENTURY BOYS 3: REDEMPTION One-Night-Only! Thursday, May 20th, 7:00pm Based on the manga by Naoki Urasawa. The final chapter of the smash hit sci-fi action trilogy has arrived. As World President, Friend tells everyone that mankind will soon be destroyed and only those who believe in him will be saved. As a familiar song plays from the radio, is it proof that Kenji is still alive? Everyone is ready to make their final stand as all mysteries are soon revealed. Ticket price: $25 including movie ticket, DVD, poster & more! Regular Admission: $10. No discounts apply. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA Friday, May 21st – Saturday June 5th Don’t miss the exclusive U.S. Premiere of the mega hit anime movie THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA, presented in association with Bandai Entertainment! Ten days before Christmas, Haruhi came up with another one of her crazy ideas to hold a Christmas party in the club room. The next day, however, Kyon woke up to a world in which Haruhi didn’t exist and no one besides him had any memory of her. How can someone like Haruhi Suzumiya who’s supposed to be the center of the universe just vanish?
About NEW PEOPLE
NEW PEOPLE offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan and is the creative vision of the J-Pop Center Project and VIZ Pictures, a distributor and producer of Japanese live action film. Located at 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115, the 20,000 square foot structure features a striking 3-floor transparent glass façade that frames a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination into the 21st Century. A dedicated web site is also now available at NewPeopleWorld.com.
About VIZ Cinema
VIZ Cinema is the nation’s first movie theatre devoted exclusively to Japanese film and anime. The 143-seat subterranean theatre is located in the basement of the NEW PEOPLE building and features plush seating, digital as well as 35mm projection, and a THX-certified sound system.