With Peter Jackson’s remake of King Kong bowing in theaters on Wednesday, home video distributors are cashing in on the excitement by releasing of some monster productions of their own. The most direct link is King Kong: Peter Jackson’s Production Diaries, a deluxe gift set containing behind-the-scenes video and interviews shot during the making of the big-budget update. In addition, Kong’s Japanese counterpart arrives in stores in Godzilla: Final Wars and the latest Ray Harryhausen gift set offers up giant stop-motion-animated monsters in the classic 1950s films 20 Million Miles to Earth, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers and It Came from Beneath the Sea.
The limited edition King Kong: Peter Jackson’s Production Diaries comes on two discs and offers a step-by-step, first-hand account of the Lord of the Rings director’s efforts to recreate the 1933 classic King Kong for a new generation. Jackson personally introduces 54 video segments featuring peeks at the creation of the film’s computer-generated visual effects and appearances by stars Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody and Andy Serkis. The diaries were originally posted online at www.kongisking.net. Bonus materials include a 50-page, full-color book featuring production photos, drawings and other artwork; four exclusive production lithographs created by the conceptual artists at Big Primate Pictures and WETA workshop; and a numbered letter of authenticity. All that lists for just $39.98 from Universal.
One of the most entertaining movies of the year is Godzilla: Final Wars, which Toho claims will be the final big-screen romp for the Big G. Released theatrically in time for last year’s 50 anniversary celebration, which included the unveiling of Godzilla’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, this latest rubber-suit beast brawl was directed by Japanese action auteur Ryuhei Kitamura (Versus). Working with the biggest Godzilla budget ever, Kitamura brings a hip, new look and feel to the franchise while bringing back a dozen or so classic monsters for his prehistoric hero to fight. There’s even a healthy dose of computer animation tossed in to augment the man-in-suit action. The film’s effects sequences are profiled in the bonus features department, which also offers the film’s teaser trailer, TV spots and a promo reel. The Sony Pictures release can be had for around $24.96. Read more about this film here: www.animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=4177.
More classic monster mayhem is offered up in the form of the new, three-disc Harryhausen Gift Set. A major influence on Peter Jackson and just about everyone working in the visual effects field today, Harryhausen mastered the stop-motion technique Willis O’Brien employed in the original King Kong to bring his own creatures to life in these atomic-age sci-fi films. A giant octopus, a mammoth Venitian and some destructive UFOs wreak havoc on planet Earth in It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955), 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957), and Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956), packaged together complete with digitally mastered audio. In addition to the documentaries The Harryhausen Chronicles and This Is Dynamation, the set includes a making-of featurette on Earth vs. the Flying Saucers. Released by Sony, the pack retails for around $49.95.
There’s more vfx fun to be had in the recut and extended version of Sin City from directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller (creator of the comic-book series). This two-disc set features both the theatrical version and an unrated, protracted cut for the list price of $39.99. Bonus materials include the complete graphic novel; commentary by Rodriguez, Miller and guest director Quentin Tarantino; audience reaction from the Austin, Texas premiere; an uninterrupted 17-minute take of Tarantino’s segment; bloopers; video from the filmmaker, cast and crew party; an interactive game titled Sin-Chroni-City; and the featurettes 15-minute Film School with Robert Rodriguez; The Movie in High Speed Green Screen; 10-minute Cooking School with Robert Rodriguez; A Hard Top With a Decent Engine: The Cars of Sin City; Making the Monsters (special effects make-up); Trench Coats & Fishnets: The costumes of Sin City; Booze, Broads & Guns: The props of Sin City and How It Went Down: Convincing Frank Miller to Make the Film.
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