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Giant Japanese Monsters on the Loose at Egyptian

THE AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE PRESENTS
GIANT MONSTERS ON THE LOOSE!
AT THE EGYPTIAN THEATRE
Presented in Association with Giant Robot

June 30 - July 2

HOLLYWOOD -The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre presents
Giant Monsters on the Loose!, June 30 - July 2. At the risk of being
redundant...what is it about watching actors in rubber monster suits kick
the living daylights out of a plaster-and-paint model of Tokyo (and
each other), that seems so, well, satisfying? We can't say for sure ... WE
JUST KNOW WE LOVE IT!! For those of you who can never seem to get
enough of city-stomping, radioactive-fire-breathing action, we're back with
more GIANT MONSTERS ON THE LOOSE - yes, more classics and rarities from
the Japanese kaiju ("giant monster") genre - including the Los Angeles
Theatrical Premieres of the latest by Takashi Miike, THE GREAT YOKAI
WAR, as well as the completely-cgi-generated short "Negadon: The Monster
From Mars," the U.S. Premieres of GAMERA THE BRAVE and Tsubaraya
Productions' MIRROR MAN: REFLEX plus three episodes from their ULTRAMAN MAX
television show (one directed by Shusuke Kaneko and two by Takash!
i Miike!!), a rare screening of GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS (the
1956 American version of GOJIRA starring Raymond Burr), with son of
American co-director Terry Morse, Terry Morse, Jr. on hand for a Q&A,
GODZILLA 2000 with American version producer Mike Schlesinger and the
English-language voice actors discussing the dubbing, and much more!! Anime
Jungle will be on-site selling merchandise. All screenings are at the
Lloyd E. Theatre at the historic Egyptian (6712 Hollywood Boulevard
between Highland and Las Palmas) in Hollywood.

Friday, June 30, 2006 - 7:30 PM | Egyptian Theatre
The Friday, June 30th program is a 7:30 PM Double Feature. First up is
the Los Angeles Premiere of "Negadon: The Monster From Mars" (2005,
Central Park Media, 26 min.). The world's first 100% computer generated
kaiju film is a loving homage to the classic Japanese monster movies of
the 1950's and 60's. In the year 2025, extreme overpopulation results
into the "Mars Terraforming Project," a plan to make the red planet a
habitable world. The MTP's efforts awaken the space monster Negadon, who
crashes into Tokyo and destroys all in its path. Earth's only hope is
Miroku, a prototype robot piloted by its inventor. The award-winning
NEGADON: THE MONSTER FROM MARS marks the directorial debut of graphics &
special effects wizard, Jun Awazu, whose previous credits include KAMEN
RIDER 555 and the Godzilla film GMK. In Japanese with English
Subtitles.

Next on the same bill is the Los Angeles Premiere of THE GREAT YOKAI
WAR, (2005, Media Blasters & Kadokawa, 124 min.) directed by Takashi
Miike. While attending a festival at an ancient shrine, a timid young boy
named Tadashi is chosen to be the next Kirin Rider, a warrior of peace
who must defend the world in times of darkness. To prove his worth,
Tadashi tries to claim the legendary Goblin Sword from the yokai...strange
mystical beings that come in a variety of bizarre forms- some hideous,
some cute-and who have incredible supernatural powers. As Tadashi sets
out on his quest, the evil Lord Yasunori Kato and his henchwoman Agi
the Bird-Stabbing Witch (Chiaki Kuriyma of BATTLE ROYALE and KILL BILL)
have been capturing yokai and merging them with discarded items to make
an army of mechanical monsters called Kikai. Tadashi must unite the
good yokai to oppose Lord Kato, with the fate of the world hanging in the
balance. Acclaimed director Takashi Miike's big budget update of !
the classic Daiei films is great entertainment; a wonderful blend of
adventure, horror, and comedy featuring hundreds of bizarre creatures.
Co-starring Bunta Sugawara. In Japanese with English Subtitles.

Next on the same bill is the U.S. Premiere of GAMERA THE BRAVE, (2006,
Kadokawa, 97 min.) Thirty years after Gamera disappeared during a
battle with the flying monsters called Gyaos, a young boy named Toru Aizawa
discovers a turtle egg while playing on a beach. The egg hatches in his
hand, and Toru keeps the tiny newborn as a pet. The little turtle grows
quickly and soon displays some very odd behavior like flying and
breathing fire. Toru soon realizes he has found a baby Gamera. When the sea
monster Zedus comes ashore and attacks the town of Isheshima, the new
Gamera comes to the rescue of Toru and his friends. But the little
monster is no match for his larger and much stronger opponent. Will this new
Gamera be able to recover and find a way to beat the villainous Zedus?
A new creative team led by director Ryuta Tazaki (KAMEN RIDER AGITO,
SHIBUYA 15) and special effects director Isao Kaneko (GODZILLA VS.
BIOLANTE, TETSUJIN 28) launches a fresh cycle of films unconnected to !
the 1990's Gamera trilogy. GAMERA THE BRAVE mixes the traditional
"friend of all children" Gamera from the classic films of the 1960's with
modern special FX techniques. The film opened in Japan on April 29, and
makes its US debut at this festival. In Japanese with English
Subtitles. Please Note: Due to the current unavailability of a 35mm print,
GAMERA THE BRAVE will be screened off of a Digi-Beta source.


Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 6:00 PM | Egyptian Theatre
The Saturday, July 1st program is a 6:00 PM ultra-rare screening of
GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS, (1956, Rialto, 80 min.) directed by
Ishiro Honda and Terry Morse. In 1954 Toho released the blockbuster hit
GODZILLA, the first of 28 movies starring the giant monster. The following
year, US rights to the film were acquired by a group of independent
distributors who combined to form Trans World Releasing Corp. In order to
increase the appeal of a Japanese production, barely a decade after
World War II, Trans World decided to recut GODZILLA to give it an American
perspective. Director Terry Morse was hired to supervise the process
and helm new scenes with actor Raymond Burr (REAR WINDOW, "Perry Mason")
as an American reporter who witnesses Godzilla's rampage during a
layover in Japan. This new version, entitled GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS,
was a huge success upon its release in 1956, and launched Godzilla as
an international icon. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of G!
odzilla's American debut, and in anticipation of the upcoming DVD
release of both the US and Japanese versions of this film, the American
Cinematheque and Classic Media present a rare theatrical screening of
GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS. English Dubbed Version. Discussion following
film with Terry Morse Jr., editor of GKOTM and son of Terry Morse, who
directed the American footage with Raymond Burr. Sponsored by Classic
Media's Godzilla DVD collection.

Following at 8:30 PM is a Double Feature. First up is GODZILLA 2000,
(1999, Sony Repertory, 99 min.) directed by Takao Okawara. Following
TriStar Pictures' poorly received American GODZILLA, Toho brought back the
original Japanese Godzilla for his first film in four years. A
government team salvages a spaceship that had crashed into the ocean millions
of years ago. Unfortunately the craft still houses the consciousness of
the long-dead alien crew, who begin looking for the material needed to
recreate new bodies. They soon discover that Godzilla's unique genetic
structure would allow them to conquer the world. But the King of the
Monsters has other ideas and takes on the spaceship and the alien beast
Orga for a duel to the death in the heart of Tokyo. GODZILLA 2000
launched the third wave of Godzilla films that recently ended with GODZILLA:
FINAL WARS. It was quickly picked up by Sony Pictures and became the
first Toho-produced Godzilla movie to receive a wide stateside rele!
ase in 15 years. English Dubbed Version.

Next on the same bill is GODZILLA, MOTHRA & KING GHIDORAH: GIANT
MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK, (2001, Sony Repertory, 105 min.). Acclaimed by fans
as one of the most exciting Godzilla films since the heyday of the
1960's, "GMK" features a terrific, redesigned Big G (hint: he's leaner,
meaner and packs a nasty bite), bent on destroying Japan as vengeance for
the restless souls of WWII victims. Standing in his way are the
"Guardian Deities" - i.e. Mothra, King Ghidorah and Baragon. Director Shusuke
Kaneko helmed the astounding trio of GAMERA films for Daiei in the
mid-1990's - here, he's practically reinvented the Godzilla series for the
21st century. In Japanese with English subtitles. Discussion in between
films with GODZILLA 2000 American producer Michael Schlesinger and the
cast and crew responsible for the American version.


Sunday, July 2, 2006 - 6:30 PM | Egyptian Theatre
The Sunday, July 2nd program begins at 6:30 PM with 4 Hours of Giant
Superheroes & Monsters episodes, plus the US Premiere of MIRROR MAN:
REFLEX. First up is ULTRAMAN MAX, (2005, Tsuburaya Prod. Approx. 90 min.)
directed by Shusuke Kaneko and Takashi Miike. The Ultraman franchise
returned to it roots with this hit series that brought back several
classic monsters as well as original ULTRAMAN stars Susumu Kurobe (Hayata)
and Hiroko Sakurai (Fuji). Some of Japan's top directors took a rare turn
at television with ULTRAMAN MAX, including this trio of episodes from
Takashi Miike (AUDITION, GREAT YOKAI WAR) and Shusuke Kaneko (the Gamera
trilogy, GMK) (All three episodes in Japanese with English Subtitles.)

Ep. 1: "Ultraman Max Is Born" - The lava monster Grangon and the
freezing monster Ragorath are ravaging Japan, and only the defense force Team
DASH and a brave, but reckless young man named Kaito Toma stand in
their way. As the tide of battle turns against the defenders, a powerful
alien being from Nebula M78 arrives on earth. Shusuke Kaneko directs
this pilot episode establishing the cast and premise of ULTRAMAN MAX.

Ep. 15: "Miracle On Planet Number Three"- Max and Team DASH battle a
giant monster that feeds off the energy of their attacks. What is the
creature's connection to a young blind musician? This episode is a rather
dark commentary on the escalating nature of violence and war by Takashi
Miike.

Ep. 16: "Who Am I?" - Takashi Miike changes gears with this silly,
slapstick parody of the Ultraman series. Three bizarre monsters cause
everyone on earth to lose their memories. When Ultraman Max shows up to save
the day, he forgets what he is supposed to do.

Next on the same bill (starting approximately 8:15 PM) is the First
Episode of MIRROR MAN, (1971, Tsubaraya Prod., 25 min.). Episode 1:
"Mirror Man is Born." In the 1980's, the Earth comes under attack by the
mysterious forces of the Invaders, nefarious beings from an unknown world
bent on conquest and destruction. Professor Mitarai forms the Science
Guard Members (SGM), a high-tech fighting force whose task it is to
protect our world. Meanwhile, newspaper photographer Kyotaro Kagami
discovers he is actually a member of a race of super powered beings from the
Second Dimension. When the Invaders send a gigantic beast to devastate
the city, Kyotaro uses his newfound power and transforms into Mirror
Man, a towering superhero. But is even Mirror Man strong enough to defeat
this terrible foe?

Next on the same bill is the U.S. Premiere of MIRROR MAN: REFLEX,
(2006, Tsuburaya Prod., 90 min.) directed by Kazuya Konaka. Brothers Chiaki
(ARMITAGE III) and Kazuya Konaka (ULTRAMAN: THE NEXT) update the 1971
superhero show for the new millennium. The story revolves around a
troubled young man, a strange girl who possesses incredible powers, a
beautiful scientist with an unforgettable trauma in her past, giant
city-smashing monsters, and a mysterious being from a parallel universe that
exists beyond the looking glass. Featuring stunning special effects,
moody velvet-dark photography, and the classic MIRROR MAN monsters Aian,
Darklon, and Golden Satan, MIRROR MAN: REFLEX will shred your
expectations of Japanese science fiction. In Japanese with English
Subtitles. Please note all materials tonight are from a digital video
source.

BLACK AND WHITE/COLOR FILM STILLS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
PLEASE SEND YOUR REQUEST TO [email protected]

THE GREAT YOKAI WAR is available at the Cinematheque offices. Please
give us 48 hours advance notice if you want to press screen anything.

"Negadon: The Monster From Mars" please contact Newton Grant/Central
Park Media, [email protected] for information.

GAMERA THE BRAVE are not available on video.

ULTRAMAN episodes and MIRROR MAN feature and episodes, please contact
Brad Warner at Tsuburaya Productions, [email protected].

GODZILLA 2000; GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS; GODZILLA, MOTHRA & KING
GHIDORAH ARE AVAILABLE ON VIDEOTAPE (NTSC) COMMERCIALLY AT LOCAL
VIDEOSTORES UNLESS NOTED. SEE LIST BELOW. THANK YOU.

Eddie Brandt's Saturday Matinee (5006 Vineland Ave., N. Hollywood-
818.506.4242)
VideoActive (2522 Hyperion, SilverLake - 323.669.8544)
Jerry's Video (1904 Hillhurst, Los Feliz - 323.666.7471)
Rocket Video (726 N. La Brea - 323.965.1100)
Cinefile (11280 Santa Monica Blvd. - Corner of Sawtelle Ave. -
310.312.8836)
Vidiots (302 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica - 310.392.8508)


WE DO NOT HAVE GUARANTEED PRESS PASSES TO PUBLIC SCREENINGS. IT IS
RECOMMENDED THAT YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ADVANCE PRESS SCREENINGS.

A complete calendar/flyer listing of our program is available on our
website.

REQUESTS FOR PRESS TICKETS TO PUBLIC SCREENINGS AND INTERVIEW REQUESTS:
* TICKET REQUESTS MUST BE IN WRITING AND SHOULD BE FAXED TO
323.461.9737 ATTN: MARGOT GERBER, 24 HOURS PRIOR TO SHOW TIME. THURSDAY AT 6 PM
IS THE ABSOLUTE DEADLINE FOR REQUESTS FOR WEEKEND SCREENINGS. PLEASE
INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN YOUR COVERAGE WILL APPEAR AND A DESCRIPTION
OF YOUR MEDIA OUTLET. JOURNALISTS WISHING TO AUDIO OR VIDEOTAPE
DISCUSSIONS MUST ALSO SEND A FAXED REQUEST. IF YOUR REQUEST IS ACCEPTED, YOU
WILL PICK UP YOUR TICKETS THE NIGHT OF
THE SHOW AT THE BOX OFFICE. Details at:
http://www.americancinematheque.com/pressreleases/pressticketpolicies.htm


General Admission is $9; $6 Cinematheque members; $7 Seniors (65+
years) and students with valid ID card. 24-Hour information: 323.466.FILM

THE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
* Egyptian Theatre Historic Tours on June 17 & 18 and July 15 & 16.
Tours at 10:30 AM. Meet in front of Box Office. FOREVER HOLLYWOOD follows
at 11:35 AM.
* Double Feature of GO-GO MANIA! and GOAL! WORLD CUP 1966 - July 4
(Egyptian)
* Visual Effects Wizard Dennis Muren & Producer Jack H. Harris in
person with EQUINOX - July 12 (Egyptian)
* Mods and Rockers: July 13 - August 16 (Egyptian)
* The Summer Sound Show, co-presented with Motion Picture Sound Editors
- July 26 (Egyptian)

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