New Info, Cover Art, and Release Dates for Asian DVDs and Blu-ray on the `Tokyo Shock` Label Source: Media Blasters, Inc. Special Thanks to Richard York

Media Blasters has provided new information, cover art, specifications, and release dates for their upcoming Tokyo Shock Blu-ray and Region 1 DVDs. Look for the following titles in the first quarter of 2009. Available Now: GAMERA THE BRAVE (Chiisaki Yusha-tachi Gamera, 2006) Thirty years ago, as the giant fire-breathing turtle Gamera disappears during a battle against the flying monsters called Gyaos. In 2006, a young boy named Toru Aizawa discovers a turtle egg on a beach. The egg hatches in his hand, and Toru decides to keep the tiny newborn as a pet. The little turtle grows quickly and soon displays some very unusual behavior such as flying and breathing fire. Toru realizes that he has found a baby Gamera! When the giant sea monster called Zedus comes ashore to feast on human beings, the new Gamera comes to the rescue of Toru and his friends. But the little monster is no match for his bigger, stronger, and faster opponent. Gamera is severely wounded, and Zedus turns its attention to the city of Nagoya. Toru must help the young Gamera recover from his injuries and find a way to stop the threat of Zedus. GAMERA THE BRAVE is now shipping to retailers. The DVD features the 96 minute film in the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. There are English and Japanese 2.0 and 6.1 audio tracks plus English subtitles. Extras are TV spots, the theatrical trailer, and the Director`s Lecture: How to Make a Gamera Film. The suggested retail price is $19.99.

1/13/2009 TOKYO GORE POLICE (Tokyo Zankoku Keisatsu, 2008) In the near future, the Tokyo Police Corporation is locked in a bloody war with the "engineers." These genetically modified super-criminals can bio-fuse their open wounds with weapons, turning self-mutilation into a combat form. Ruka, the daughter of the police chief`s murdered right-hand man, is now the top engineer hunter. With cold-blooded efficiency she cuts through the psychotic engineers and tracks down their home base, a truly bizarre fetish club. Nothing keeps her from her sworn duty, even when she finds out the truth behind her father`s death. TOKYO GORE POLICE is the latest film from the creators of the cult favorite THE MACHINE GIRL (Kataude Mashingaru, 2008). Media Blasters` DVD presents the film in 1.78:1 widescreen with Japanese and English 2.0/5.1 audio and English subtitles. Also includes the original trailer. Feature running time is 109 minutes. SRP is $19.99.

1/27/2009 KISARAZU CAT`S EYE 2 (2006) In September 2002, the television series KISARAZU CAT’S EYE premiered on the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS). The show was the story of Bussan, a twenty-one year old former high school baseball player who learns that he only has six months to live. Bussan wants to fill his remaining days with risk and adventure, so he asks five former teammates to form a ring of cat burglars that would steal from other criminals. His friends think it`s an odd request, but feel they cannot turn down the wish of a dying man. What followed was a series of hillarious, touching, and bizarre events. KISARAZU CAT’S EYE soon grew into a cult hit with a devoted fanbase so the cast reunited for two full-length feature films. In this second movie, it`s been three years since Bussan passed away, and Bambi now works at city hall. He suddenly hears a voice while visiting a certain construction site, and it definitely isn`t saying, "If you build it, he will come." Inspired by the voice, he seeks out the help of his old teammates Ani and Master. Despite the two quarreling like children over memories of Bussan’s glory days, they pounce into action and try to figure out the truth behind the voice that`s calling them. But whose voice is it, and what are they supposed to do? The KISARAZU CAT`S EYE 2 DVD features Japanese 2.0 audio and English subtitles. Feature running time is 134 minutes. SRP is $29.99.

DEATH TRANCE Blu-Ray (2005) DEATH TRANCE is a stylish over-the-top action fantasy film starring Japan’s newest star Tak Sakaguchi of VERSUS (2000) and GODZILLA: FINAL WARS (2004). Yuji Shimomura, best known for directing the fight sequences for VERSUS, makes his directorial debut. In an unknown place and unknown time, a lone samurai known only as Grave (Tak Sakaguchi) thirsts for the ultimate battle. Grave has stolen a mysterious coffin from the holy Tougan Temple — a coffin said to contain a great power. Trapped inside the sealed coffin is the Goddess of Destruction, confined and held at bay from laying waste to this world. Grave fearlessly travels the land dragging the coffin behind him, aware that what lies within is what he seeks — if only he can open it. Unknown to Grave, a young temple monk has embarked on a quest to return this relic to its proper home before anyone can unleash an unstoppable cataclysm. So begins the race to claim the coffin... but who will get there first? Extras include the teaser trailer, the "Making of DEATH TRANCE" Extended Feature, Behind the Action Scenes, "Sakaguchi Goes Abroad", and character featurettes. SRP is $24.99.

2/3/2009 LONE WOLF AND CUB TV Series Volume 6 (Kozure Okami, 1973) Master swordsman Ogami Itto held the honorable position as the Shogun`s executioner. When rivals kill his wife and handmaidens, it is initially believed that it was to avenge a clan lord`s execution. However, the ghastly deed was designed by the envious Yagyu Retsudo to disgrace and frame Ogami in the eyes of the Shogun, giving him criminal status and forcing him to forfeit his lofty post. With his surviving one-year-old son, Daigoro, Ogami sets off to live as an assassin-for-hire until he can locate and exact revenge upon the Yagyu clan. Based on the manga by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, the LONE WOLF AND CUB television series began in 1973 and chronicles the journeys and adventures of the fabled duo on their path to vengeance. Tokyo Shock is proud to bring this classic series to the English-language market for the first time ever. The 2-disc DVD Volume 6 includes Episode 23 "Thread of Tears", Episode 24 "Secret Document of Yagyu", Episode 25 "Daigoro`s Song", and Episode 26 "Drifting Shadow". Running time is 180 minutes. Japanese 2.0 audio and English subtitles. SRP is $24.99.

2/24/2009 MARTIAL CLUB (Wu guan, 1980) Gordon Liu (CHALLENGE OF THE MASTERS) is back as the mischievous Wong Fei-hung. He and his friend Yin-Lin try to pass themselves off as kung fu experts but end up embarrassing themselves when they fail. They go so far as to hire opponents to take a dive during fights in order to fool the public. Their boastful ways backfire when Master Shan (Johnny Wang Lung-wei, THE MASTER) from a rival martial arts school takes out his anger on Yin-Lin. Realizing the sudden seriousness of the events, Fei-hung must really fight a real master in order to salvage his and his father`s reputations. MARTIAL CLUB was directed by the legendary Lau Kar-leung (DRUNKEN MASTER 2) and features Kara Hui (MY YOUNG AUNTIE) and Hsiao Hu (MAD MONKEY KUNG FU). Media Blasters` DVD presents this Shaw Brothers classic with Chinese and English audio tracksand English subtitles. Feature running time is 102 minutes. SRP is $19.99. Cover not final! Details to come...

ONE MISSED CALL 3: FINAL 2-disc set (Chakushin Ari Saishusho, 2006) Emiri, an everyday high schooler, is looking forward to her class trip to Korea and visiting a boy named Jinu whom she befriended through the Japan-Korea Sign Language Association. However, her excitement is slightly dampened by the fact that her friend Asuka has decided not to go due to the bullying she receives by their classmates. During the trip, one of the students receives a picture attachment of her own death in a text message, strangely date-stamped in the future, and dies in the manner depicted at that exact time. One by one, the others receive similar messages, and distrust and hostility soon fills the hallways, especially since the only way to avoid death is to forward the text to someone else. The supposedly last film in the ONE MISSED CALL horror series is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. Language options are Japanese 2.0 and 5.1, English 2.0, and English subtitles. Extras to be finalized. Movie running time is 106 minutes. 3/24/2009 ART OF THE DEVIL 3 (Long khong 2, 2008) Panor, a seductive rural teacher, longs to live a normal, peaceful life like everyone else in her village. But her beauty becomes her biggest curse as she becomes the object of desire from every man that enters her life. Male colleagues and students alike resort to a variety of black arts and love potions in an attempt to win her favor. To counter their endless menace, Panor herself must turn to witchcraft to combat her supernaturally charged suitors. The third film in the Thai horror series is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. Language options are a Thai 2.0 audio track and English Subtitles. Feature running time is 100min. SRP $19.99.

3/31/2009 CROWS ZERO (Kurozu Zero, 2007) At Suzuran Boys` High School, the students form gangs and fight for control almost every day. No one has ever managed a total takeover, but the closest to it is Tamao Serizawa. Things change when Genji Takiya, a mob boss`s son, transfers to the school with the challenge of taking control of it. With a little outside help, he teams up with three of Serizawa`s most powerful rivals in a shot to gain power. Roadblocks and tragedy wait along the way, and danger is around every corner as the showdown with Serizawa comes to a head. Adapted from the manga Crows, CROWS ZERO was directed by Takashi Miike, one of the most prolific directors in Japan. Miike has gained international acclaim for a wide range of movies including AUDITION (1999), THE CITY OF LOST SOULS (2000), ICHI THE KILLER (2001), THE HAPPINESS OF THE KATAKURIS (2001), GRAVEYARD OF HONOR (2002), ZEBRAMAN (2003), GOZU (2003), ONE MISSED CALL (2004), IZO (2004), THE GREAT YOKAI WAR (2005), and SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO (2007). His first English language horror feature, MASTERS OF HORROR – IMPRINT, was banned in the U.S. for its unexpectedly disturbing scenes. Extras for the CROWS ZERO DVD include the original trailer and an interview with the producer. More details to be announced. SRP is $29.99.

ICHI THE KILLER Blu-Ray (Koroshiya 1, 2001) When a yakuza boss is murdered and his money is stolen, both truth and revenge are brutally sought. Leading the charge is Kakihara (Tadanobu Asano), the bleach-blonde pain junky whose interrogation methods are fetishistically sadistic. As the layers of the sordid tale are peeled back, it appears that someone is trying to turn rival gangs against each other. The centerpiece of this strategy is Ichi the Killer (Nao Omori), a mysterious and completely unhinged master of slaughter. When the final showdown comes, it`s a psychologically cataclysmic event. This one-of-a-kind, over-the-top, stomach-churning, live-action cartoon from Takashi Miike remains an extreme and influential modern classic. Blu-ray features include audio commentary with director Takashi Miike and Manga artist/writer Hideo Yamamoto, 5.1 English Dub, 5.1 Japanese Mix. original trailer, featurette with horror film Director Eli Roth (HOSTEL, CABIN FEVER), photo gallery, featurette "The Cult of ICHI" (featuring horror writer Jack Ketchum, Fangoria’s Tony Timpone, director Mike Mendez, HOSTEL actress Barbara Nedeljakova and many more!), interview with Producer Dai Miyazaki, actors Sabu and Tsukamoto discuss ICHI, “Memories of ICHI” the Making of Ichi the Killer, cast interviews with Tadanobu Asano (Kakihara), Nao Omori (Ichi), with Sabu (SUZUKI), and Shinya Tsukamoto (Jijii), plus a Miike trailer reel. SRP $29.99.