Bit of a revelation in Kaiju Shakedown's recent mention that lots of Japanese companies are over-pricing (or pricing themselves out of America) their license offers, simply because the country is so large apparently, well hey - not everyone in Japan is buying this stuff, so why would America? Anyone care to estimate the percentage of the population in the USA interested in Japanese films? I say something like 0.01% at most. No wonder we suffer from generic stuff - it's probably mainly decided by price rather than the quality of the film all too often...

In with the slew of new Media Blasters licenses for America on R1 USA DVD comes 'Scrap Heaven' (disappeared from earlier Amazon listings, reappeared under new licensee, was originally said to be Kino who nabbed this; this is Sang Il-Lee's film that preceeds this years Japanese entry for the Foreign Language film Oscar, 'Hula Girls' and follows that Kankuro Kudo-scripted 'Sixtynine' - must pick up the Korean DVD of that for $15 soon) [Twitch Post]. 'Ultimate Versus' is coming, if anyone hasn't entirely lost interest in Kitamura, despite this film being pretty good, a mini classic even. 'Kamen Rider : The First' is there too (check the DVD Release Calendar here on the next update), so fans of that end of the Sci-Fi spectrum will want to look into that one [Twitch Post]. And although Amazon don't have it listed yet, Takashi Miike's 'Zebraman' is out in March 2007. Coolio, I love that one, and I need to upgrade from the boot for quality purposes.

Outside of Media Blasters, and because Amazon's search engine is completely crapola right now, I've spotted 'Who's Camus Anyway?' [Twitch Post] is making an appearance on R1 USA DVD, currently set for December 26th 2006.

Artsmagic's 'Rafureshia' [Twitch Post] is finally out, delayed until October 31st 2006, 'Under the Carp Banner' [Twitch Post] has suffered a slight delay until November 14th 2006 - got both of these pre-ordered to ship together so will just have to wait I suppose - and no signs yet of them sticking trailers anywhere for these or announcing further dates or titles, shame.

Ultra-dark HK action movie 'Dog Bite Dog' [Twitch Post] seems to have finally made it out after late edits to the extras and numerous small delays, mine's on its way.

Still waiting for Yasuzo Masumura's 'A Lustful Man' to get a date set for its upcoming R3 HK DVD from IVL - they've suffered delays on their titles, particularly the Suo Box Set (disappointing because it's the only place for these new 'Sumo Do, Sumo Don't' and 'Fancy Dance' DVDs without double-dipping on 'Shall We Dance?') - and I really loved Fantoma's recent R1 USA DVD of 'Red Angel' so I'm on a Masumura trip right now.

Don't forget 'Brave Story' [Twitch Post] (from Gonzo, their first film to make it to cinemas, I think) is this month on subtitled R2 Japan DVD, as is Kore-Eda's 'Hana' [Twitch Review]. Oh, and since there's quite a lot of interesting Anime around in November, 'Brave Story' aside, the Ultimate Edition of 'Fooly Cooly' ('FLCL') is soon, as is the thin-pak cheapo set of 'Elfen Lied' which I think looks very odd indeed, and very violent too.

Although the Gangster Action thing is big in Korea right now, and the Weinstein's have lumped for 'No Mercy for the Rude' (which does look very funny in the trailer I've seen, and that's out in a week or so in Korea on DVD with English Subtitles too) I personally have more hope for 'A Dirty Carnival' which has started wingin its way to people after being brought forwards slightly on the R3 Korean DVD with English Subtitles.

I would give you trailers for all these, but it would take me all day...

Finally, anyone want to clear up how the 'Linda Linda Linda' Korean DVD managed to get announced without English Subtitles?!?!?! Fingers crossed for a HK DVD of that then, along with those also muted for this last part of the year, 'Invisible Waves', 'Death Note', 'Sinking of Japan', 'Memories of Matsuko', 'Silk', 'Fatal Contact', 'Dorm' and Johnnie To's 'Exiled' - all except 'Dorm' are definite purchases for me. And what's the story with the different running times on the HK and Korean (both with Subtitles) DVDs of 'The Banquet'?