Hey guys and gals, Gaijinder with a brand new week end feature for HJU. Entitled Friday ACE, it’s filled with all sorts of newsbits pertaining to anime, tokusatsu, Asian cinema, and then some. I started doing this a few weeks ago on my main blog, Justice ACE, and Keith liked it so much that he asked if I could cross post it over to HJU from now on. So here you are, hope you enjoy it!

Ah, the day before December 1st. Here in Wisconsin, it can only mean that once again Nature doesn’t have to tease anymore and can finally unleash its full non-snowing winter fury. With Christmas quickly approaching, I can only hope that we do get some snow for the season as we got screwed out of that one last year. At the same time though, I’m hoping that we don’t get caught in 6 inches of snow as I’ll be the one that has to dig the house out.

So as I sit here anticipating the Great Blizzard of 07, here’s this week’s installment of Friday ACE:

–So the annual Kohaku Uta Gassen is hoping to open this year with the debut of three acts: Shoko Nakagawa (*Drool*), Leah Dizon, and AKB48. Now I’m sure neither one of them will pull stunt to rival DJ Ozma’s last year…

…But we can only hope this is the year that AKB48 finally says screw it, pull a Nao Nagasawa, and sing “My Sailor Uniform Is Getting In The Way” while wearing corsets and fishnet stockings. Not that I have the hots for them or anything, I just think that would be the end all WTF Moment of the Year.-The New York Anime Festival is now boasting that they’ll be showing the UNEDITED version of 2004’s Casshern and not the Director’s Cut that was (finally) released stateside on DVD.
Considering that the Director’s Cut is sans 20 minutes and Casshern really could have done without any extra runtime past the one hour and twenty minutes mark, I dunno whether to be disappointed that I can’t go or thankful that I won’t have to sit through the original version.
Then again, I wouldn’t mind sitting through the theatrical cut all over again if it had this edited in:

-As if the reboot attempt starring Hilary Swank wasn’t bad enough, MonkeyPeaches.com reports that a Karate Kid remake starring Will Smith and Jackie Chan may be in the works.

…Why god?

-A bit of a good news, Appleseed Ex Machina has been picked up by Warner Bros. for stateside distribution and the movie is slated to hit DVD and Blue Ray in March of 2008.

In addition, if you’re in the area, you should check out the US premiere of Ex Machina at the Los Angeles Theatre on December 15th. Shinji Aramaki and screenwriter Kiyoto Takeuchi will be there in person to introduce the film. Check out the link for details.

–Hell hath no fury like fans scorned. If you don’t believe me and you didn’t hear about the Gurren Lagann resignation incident, just ask the staff of the Japanese release of The Simpsons Movie.

After the higher ups shivved the longtime television cast in favor of a cast that caused mass facepalm, fans in Japan banded together. As a result, the original cast was brought back to record for the DVD release.

Go you Japan. Go you.

-Have you ever wanted a way to see the entire Heisei Ultra Series but didn’t want to sit through the filler? Aside from this being proof that you have no patience at all whatsoever, you’re in luck. SciFi Japan reports that, to get the younger generations up to speed on the Heisei Ultra shows before the release of Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers, Tsuburaya is releasing a new series of Ultraman DVDS: Climax Stories.

Just as the name implies, they’ll be recaps of each Heisei Show from 1996’s Ultraman Tiga to 2006’s Ultraman Mebius, each one guided along by a veteran Ultra Series director. Now before you get excited and start thinking that this means that all the Climax Stories give away the lineup for the movie which is still being kept secret, it doesn’t mean anything. They’re doing Climax Stories for every single Heisei Ultra, even Cosmos is getting one. I don’t know why…Damnit he better not be in the movie >_< !!! .
In addition, TPC recently released a sequel to their Ultraman History: Red Chapter compilation DVD with Ultraman History: Silver Chapter. Like Climax Stories, this is a recap of the Heisei series starting from Tiga but this covers more of the action scenes and includes footage from the respective movies and the Gaiden OVAs of Tiga, Dyna, and Gaia. I haven’t seen Red Chapter so I don’t know what to expect but if you’re one of those types that fast forwards to the monster of the week, then yikes, you really must have a low attention span you’ll be in heaven.
Climax Stories will have its first release December 28th with Ultraman Mebius. From then on, January 25th sees the release of Tiga, Dyna, and Gaia, followed by Cosmos, Nexus, and Max on February 28th. Ultraman History: The Silver Chapter is already out in the meantime if you want something to hold you over until then.
According to the pre-release write up, the director promises that “You will understand all about Ultraman Mebius“. If that’s the case with all these DVDs then damn, I’m getting the Ultraman Nexus Climax Story on the double.
–Ami Suzuki’s new single, a cover of Aly and AJ’s “Potential Break Up Song”, came out this week. It’s the theme to the movie X-Cross which I mentioned awhile back and also comes out tomorrow in Japan. Check out the PV while you can:

-And sliding in at the last minute are two awesome trailers: First, the trailer to Tak Sakaguchi’s Directorial debut, Sakigake!! Otoko-Juku!!

I don’t know what’s more awesome: The fact that Tak and Hideo Sakai are fighting each other again or the fact that The Back Horn is doing the main theme. Once again, January is turning out to be an awesome month. And finally, the extended trailer to Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge:

Cannot wait for either one of these flicks.-Oh and here’s some Haruhi Dancing In Prison.

Riiiiight.And of course, those newsbits to go out on:
–Jay Chou’s Allowed Behind A Camera Again. Hang Onto Your Hats Folks… (Twitch)
–Korean Thriller/Horror Adaptation of Hansel and Gretel. Wow.
–Velvet Revolver: (NOT) Live In Japan (Variety Asia)
–Trailer for Siyama: The Good Version Thai Equivalent of Timeline (Twitch)
–Godzilla Collection Box Set (SciFi Japan)
Yet another Friday ACE in the trenches. Stay warm and and remember, only 25 more shopping days until Christmas…