With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013

With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013
With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013

Saturday, February 01, 2014

Section23 Films announces May slate of releases, including 3 Godzilla flicks


Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its May slate of releases; including classic GODZILLA® titles from the new international video distribution label KRAKEN RELEASING, which has acquired  “GODZILLA® VS. HEDORAH™”, “EBIRAH™, HORROR OF THE DEEP” & “GODZILLA® VS.GIGAN™”, which will be available on both DVD and for the first time, Blu-ray.

Product details follow, in order of release.

Title:                 EBIRAH™, HORROR OF THE DEEP
Published by:    Kraken Releasing
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         88 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $9.98

SYNOPSIS:  When Ryota's brother Yata disappears at sea, the intrepid youth and his friends join forces with a slightly trustworthy bank robber, steal a boat and go after him!  Of course, there's the little problem that Yata may be lost on a mysterious island where the evil terrorist organization Red Bamboo has enslaved natives to make heavy water for nefarious purposes. And that means dealing with the island's monstrous, 164 feet tall guardian Ebirah™, as well as Red Bamboo's arsenal of super advanced weaponry.  On the plus side, help may be at hand in the form of a nubile island girl, two tiny fairies, their giant protector Mothra™ and the big G himself, the mighty Godzilla®.  Surviving the results of all that "assistance" may not be guaranteed, but Red Bamboo will never want to tangle with teenagers AND Godzilla® at the same time again!  Take a South Seas cruise to non-stop mayhem and giant monster destruction with EBIRAH™- HORROR OF THE DEEP!


Title:                 EBIRAH™, HORROR OF THE DEEP BLU-RAY
Published by:    Kraken Releasing
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         88 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $14.98

SYNOPSIS:  When Ryota's brother Yata disappears at sea, the intrepid youth and his friends join forces with a slightly trustworthy bank robber, steal a boat and go after him!  Of course, there's the little problem that Yata may be lost on a mysterious island where the evil terrorist organization Red Bamboo has enslaved natives to make heavy water for nefarious purposes. And that means dealing with the island's monstrous, 164 feet tall guardian Ebirah™, as well as Red Bamboo's arsenal of super advanced weaponry.  On the plus side, help may be at hand in the form of a nubile island girl, two tiny fairies, their giant protector Mothra™ and the big G himself, the mighty Godzilla®.  Surviving the results of all that "assistance" may not be guaranteed, but Red Bamboo will never want to tangle with teenagers AND Godzilla® at the same time again!  Take a South Seas cruise to non-stop mayhem and giant monster destruction with EBIRAH™- HORROR OF THE DEEP!


Title:                 GODZILLA® VS.GIGAN™
Published by:    Kraken Releasing
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         90 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $9.98

SYNOPSIS: When alien invaders, plans for a children's theme park and four giant monsters with six heads between them all collide, the result is the inevitable battle for the fate of the Earth. At least, that's how it is for Godzilla®, who teams up with his former spiky foe Anguirus™ for a tag team match against two of his greatest adversaries: the legendary three headed King Ghidorah™ and Gigan™, the cyborg hench-monster for insidious insect aliens whose plot to wipe out all human life is cleverly disguised as plans for the construction of a new children's theme park.  Unfortunately for the bug's diabolical designs, their secret monster control codes are accidentally discovered by comic book artist Gengo Kotaka, who broadcasts the master tape and brings Team Godzilla® into play.  It's not going to be an easy fight, though, as the odds are four heads to  two, and King Ghidorah™'s one of Godzilla®'s toughest opponents.  With his cybernetic weaponry Gigan™ is equally ruthless, and his alien masters are as hard to kill as the cockroaches they resemble.   Will Earth's biggest defenders finally fall?  Or will Godzilla®, and insecticide, triumph over all?  Find out in GODZILLA® VS. GIGAN™!


Title:                 GODZILLA® VS.GIGAN™ BLU-RAY
Published by:    Kraken Releasing
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         90 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $14.98

SYNOPSIS: When alien invaders, plans for a children's theme park and four giant monsters with six heads between them all collide, the result is the inevitable battle for the fate of the Earth. At least, that's how it is for Godzilla®, who teams up with his former spiky foe Anguirus™ for a tag team match against two of his greatest adversaries: the legendary three headed King Ghidorah™ and Gigan™, the cyborg hench-monster for insidious insect aliens whose plot to wipe out all human life is cleverly disguised as plans for the construction of a new children's theme park.  Unfortunately for the bug's diabolical designs, their secret monster control codes are accidentally discovered by comic book artist Gengo Kotaka, who broadcasts the master tape and brings Team Godzilla® into play.  It's not going to be an easy fight, though, as the odds are four heads to  two, and King Ghidorah™'s one of Godzilla®'s toughest opponents.  With his cybernetic weaponry Gigan™ is equally ruthless, and his alien masters are as hard to kill as the cockroaches they resemble.   Will Earth's biggest defenders finally fall?  Or will Godzilla®, and insecticide, triumph over all?  Find out in GODZILLA® VS. GIGAN™!


Title:                 GODZILLA® VS. HEDORAH™
Published by:    Kraken Releasing
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         86 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $9.98

SYNOPSIS: Forget about acid rain and global warming!  The worst ecological nightmare is actually Hedorah™, which starts off small but quickly mutates into a giant flying monster capable of wiping out all life on whatever unfortunate planet it lands on!  And since Hedorah™ grows by consuming the toxic gases and chemicals mankind has spilled into the air and water, in the early 1970s that means that its potential growth is unlimited!  Fortunately for the human race, the Earth has an ultimate green defender who doesn't need to sing protest songs or try to enact new laws to get things done.  Because nobody, and nothing, can stop Godzilla® when he decides to push an environmental issue, and while Hedorah™ may be the dirtiest opponent Godzilla® has ever faced, his name is going to be mud by the time he's been stomped into the whole Earth a few dozen times.  Get ready for the wildest Godzilla® film ever as the social concerns and way out fashions of the seventies collide head on with the ultimate in big monster brawls in GODZILLA® VS. HEDORAH™!


Title:                 GODZILLA® VS. HEDORAH™
Published by:    Kraken Releasing
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         86 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $14.98

SYNOPSIS: Forget about acid rain and global warming!  The worst ecological nightmare is actually Hedorah™, which starts off small but quickly mutates into a giant flying monster capable of wiping out all life on whatever unfortunate planet it lands on!  And since Hedorah™ grows by consuming the toxic gases and chemicals mankind has spilled into the air and water, in the early 1970s that means that its potential growth is unlimited!  Fortunately for the human race, the Earth has an ultimate green defender who doesn't need to sing protest songs or try to enact new laws to get things done.  Because nobody, and nothing, can stop Godzilla® when he decides to push an environmental issue, and while Hedorah™ may be the dirtiest opponent Godzilla® has ever faced, his name is going to be mud by the time he's been stomped into the whole Earth a few dozen times.  Get ready for the wildest Godzilla® film ever as the social concerns and way out fashions of the seventies collide head on with the ultimate in big monster brawls in GODZILLA® VS. HEDORAH™!


Title:                 PERSONA 4: THE ANIMATION COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         670 min.
Street Date:      5/6/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $79.98

SYNOPSIS: When Yu Narukami moves to the country town of Inaba to stay with his uncle and cousin, he's expecting a lot more peace and quiet than he's been used to in the big city.  What he isn't expecting is for his uncle's job as a police detective to spill over into his own life.  Or for the murders that are occurring across town to be somehow linked to Yu's own strange experiences: odd local weather patterns, and a mysterious TV show world that seems to be attempting to get Yu to enter it!  Now, together with a new group of friends, Yu must plunge into a bizarre alternate reality where he gains unique abilities that will either help him solve the riddle of the mystery killer, or lead him to his doom.  Journey into the Velvet Room and beyond as the hit PlayStation 2® game becomes a spectacular anime in PERSONA 4: The Complete Collection!


Title:                 BOOK OF BANTORRA COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         675 min.
Street Date:      5/13/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $79.98



Title:                 BOOK OF BANTORRA COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         675 min.
Street Date:      5/13/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $99.98

SYNOPSIS: In another time and place, on a world of pain and sorrow, when someone dies, their soul doesn't go to Heaven or Hell - it becomes a book.  A book that reveals the deceased's innermost secrets and that can be read by anyone.  Protecting these priceless treasures is the elite organization known as the Armed Librarians.  It's their job to keep the books and the knowledge within them safe from those who would misuse or destroy them.  It's a tough, dangerous job, so Chief Librarian Hamyuts Maseta recruits only the best and the brightest psychics to join her team of expert fighters.  Even so, will they be able to stop the fanatics of the Shindeki Church from wreaking vengeance on the entire world?  Only time will tell, but that book hasn't been written yet.  Don't miss the non-stop action of The Book of Bantorra Complete Collection.


Title:                 HAKKENDEN: EIGHT DOGS OF THE EAST SEASON 1
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         325 min.
Street Date:      5/20/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $59.98

SYNOPSIS: When their village was wiped out five years ago, there were only three young survivors: Shino Inuzuka, Sosuke Inukawa, and the girl Hamaji.  Through a quirk of fate, both boys share the same peony-shaped birthmark.  Genpachi Inukai and Kobungo Inuta were raised hundreds of miles away as foster brothers, but they too share the same birthmark.  When they went north as part of the army three years ago, they went to confront demons and came back forever transformed.  Now the Imperial Church has come for Shino and Sosuke and they must find eight mystical gems and their owners or face a fate worse than death at the hands of the Church.  One of Japan's greatest works of literature is born again in HAKKENDEN: EIGHT DOGS OF THE EAST!


Title:                 HAKKENDEN: EIGHT DOGS OF THE EAST SEASON 1 BLU-RAY
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         325 min.
Street Date:      5/20/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $69.98

SYNOPSIS: When their village was wiped out five years ago, there were only three young survivors: Shino Inuzuka, Sosuke Inukawa, and the girl Hamaji.  Through a quirk of fate, both boys share the same peony-shaped birthmark.  Genpachi Inukai and Kobungo Inuta were raised hundreds of miles away as foster brothers, but they too share the same birthmark.  When they went north as part of the army three years ago, they went to confront demons and came back forever transformed.  Now the Imperial Church has come for Shino and Sosuke and they must find eight mystical gems and their owners or face a fate worse than death at the hands of the Church.  One of Japan's greatest works of literature is born again in HAKKENDEN: EIGHT DOGS OF THE EAST!


Title:                 LOVE, CHUNIBYO & OTHER DELUSIONS COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         325 min.
Street Date:      5/27/2014
Format:             DVD
Language:         Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $49.98

SYNOPSIS: Yuta Togashi has a problem.  He used to be a "chunibyo", one of the thousands of Japanese students so desperate to stand out that they've literally convinced themselves that they have secret knowledge and hidden powers.  But now that he's starting high school, he's determined to put aside his delusions and face life head on.  The trouble is Rikka Takanashi, his upstairs neighbor, is JUST a little bit delusional herself.  And she knows all about his past indiscretions.  Yuta thought his delusions were all behind him.  Now he's not so sure.  "Crazy in love" gets a whole new meaning as fantasy worlds collide in LOVE, CHUNIBYO & OTHER DELUSIONS!


Title:                 LOVE, CHUNIBYO & OTHER DELUSIONS COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         325 min.
Street Date:      5/27/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $59.98

SYNOPSIS: Yuta Togashi has a problem.  He used to be a "chunibyo", one of the thousands of Japanese students so desperate to stand out that they've literally convinced themselves that they have secret knowledge and hidden powers.  But now that he's starting high school, he's determined to put aside his delusions and face life head on.  The trouble is Rikka Takanashi, his upstairs neighbor, is JUST a little bit delusional herself.  And she knows all about his past indiscretions.  Yuta thought his delusions were all behind him.  Now he's not so sure.  "Crazy in love" gets a whole new meaning as fantasy worlds collide in LOVE, CHUNIBYO & OTHER DELUSIONS!


Title:                 MOTTO TO LOVE RU SEASON 2 BLU-RAYCOLLECTION
Published by:    Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by:  Section23 Films
Run Time:         300 min.
Street Date:      5/27/2014
Format:             BD
Language:         Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP:                $59.98

SYNOPSIS: The insanity that began when a very naked (and very female) alien teleported into Rito Yuki's bathtub (while he was in it) continues.  And even though Princess Lala has finally started to admit her true feelings for the young man she's inexplicably engaged to marry (as a result of what happened in said bathtub and Develuke customs,) her sometimes erratic technology and the snags and snarls of intergalactic politics and intrigue are still causing major problems.  That transporter?  Yeah, it still has the nasty habit of leaving the clothes behind.  Alien bounty hunters?  Yep, even more of them and they're even more devious.  Add body switches, alien skunks, a bathroom that changes size and shape, the inevitable sleepover that you just know it's going to go horribly, horribly wrong, and worst of all, Valentine's Day, and even in space you'll be able to hear Rito scream!  Love takes a quantum shift into the wrong gear and the star brakes are broken in the extra-special, extra-crazy extraterrestrial romance to end them all, MOTTO TO LOVE RU - The Complete Collection! Now in high definition!