We have just been notified that Tim & Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie is going to be postponed with no future release date set as yet.
It was scheduled for a September Release in Australia / October in New Zealand.

We will cancel any orders that have been received and will resubmit when a new release date has been set.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Madman are happy to announce that DVD and Blu-ray product trailers are now available to download from our B2B website. A new feature of the site will make the latest trailers available each month as a zip archive. Each archive contains video files in a high-quality format suitable for streaming from a website.

To download the trailers login to your B2B account or register for an account today.

Madman Entertainment is extremely happy to announce that Helen Goudge will join the growing team in Auckland in the capacity of Communications Manager for the home video business. Helen will manage all media contacts with publicity activities along with traditional marketing programs and events.

"This is a very exciting development for the future growth and positioning of Madman Entertainment in New Zealand, and we look forward to benefitting from the significant experience and flair that Helen will bring to our business"

"Helen will start with us June 2 and will be flat out with the fantastic schedule of releases we have for the rest of the year across feature films, TV on DVD and the children's category where the likes of Ben 10 are dominating" commented local General Manager, Wilf Robinson.

Ms Goudge's background has been dominated by roles within the film industry with marketing and publicity roles for UIP, Rialto and SkyCity Cinemas, and Roadshow Film Distributors. She also feels eminently qualified to work on the company's children's catalogue being a mother of an 11 year old Ben 10 fan!!

"I am delighted to be joining Wilf and the Madman team who are really going places in the New Zealand market. says Ms Goudge. "This is a dream opportunity for a self confessed film fanatic, particularly with the company's incredibly diverse range of releases and the biggest monthly release schedule and back catalogue in the country."

Explains Ms Goudge, "This is a great opportunity for me to bring my experience and enthusiasm to the team, particuarly with the growth potential both for the Madman brand and their many entertainment licenses. I particularly look forward to working with the many media and friends I know in the industry and establishing new relationships particularly with Madman's trade partners. I am keen to get stuck in and make it happen!"


ABOUT MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT

MADMAN is Australia and New Zealand's leading independent home entertainment and theatrical distribution and rights-management company, specialising in the wholesale distribution of DVD product into retail and rental stores throughout Australia and New Zealand. Madman product categories include Kids, TV, Arthouse film, animation and Japanese anime. Madman New Zealand is also the distributor for Disney Interactive Studios. Madman is owned by Funtastic Limited, one of Australia's largest wholesalers of consumer products into retail outlets and an Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) listed company.

Recipient of the 2009 Audience Award Sundance Award.

In the 1960s, Richard O'Barry was the world?s leading authority on dolphin training, working on the set of the popular television program Flipper. Day in and day out, O'Barry kept the dolphins working and television audiences smiling. But one day, that all came to a tragic end. THE COVE, directed by Louie Psihoyos, tells the amazing true story of how Psihoyos, O'Barry and an elite team of activists, filmmakers and freedivers embarked on a covert mission to penetrate a hidden cove in Japan, shining light on a dark and deadly secret. The mysteries they uncovered were only the tip of the iceberg.

The Cove, an intelligent / action / adventure / Ocean?s Eleven-like horror film wrapped around a tale of redemption and ultimate revenge ? oh, and it?s a documentary.

Director Louie Psihoyos is widely regarded as one of the top photographers in the world. He was hired directly out of college to shoot for National Geographic and created images for the yellow-bordered magazine for 18 years. His ability to bring humanity and wit to complicated science stories carries over to his filmmaking. An ardent diver and dive photographer, he feels compelled to show the world the drastic decline of our planet's crucial resource: water.

There was a minor issue with leaderboards on both Xbox 360 and PS3 for PURE.

That issue was addressed immediately and a patch has been created in which Microsoft and Sony are working on to make available.

It is assured that players leaderboard data will not be lost and scores will be reflected properly once the patch is in place.

We review Robot Chicken: Star Wars.

Firstly, for those who don't know, Robot Chicken is a stop-motion animated TV series that pokes fun at pop culture - a lot of it from the 80s. Created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, each episode features skits of various lengths all "acted" out by action figures, toys, dolls or claymation creations. The end result is a hilariously frantic 23 minutes of random parodies that can include cameos from Bob Saget, Optimus Prime, Godzilla, George W. Bush, Wonder Woman and many others.

Robot Chicken: Star Wars is a special one-off episode that combines dozens of clips all revolving around the Star Wars franchise. Although most of them are recognisable from the original trilogy, there are scenes taken from the later three films as well including a brilliant appearance by Jar Jar Binks. The main bulk of the cast is made up from the original action figures that came out back in the 70s, using pain-staking stop motion techniques. The mouths and facial expressions are created using paper cut-outs or plasticine and the end result is amusing in itself; and was even nominated for an Emmy in the animation category.

However, what really makes Robot Chicken funny is the writing. The voice acting cast have had plenty of experience (Seth Green does numerous voices for Family Guy) and there are even cameo voice appearances by Mark Hamill, George Lucas and the original voice of Jar Jar, Ahmed Best. Although some of the skits are definitely hit-and-miss, there are some sparks of genius that leap out and slap you across the face like a wet Ewok. For example, the 'A Day in the Life of Ponda Baba' skit is a moment of brilliance that portrays the point of view of Ponda Baba (that guy with balls on his face who gets his arm chopped off by Obi Wan in the cantina in Episode IV). Other highlights include Boba Fett seducing a carbonated enclosed Han Solo, space slugs ordering Chinese food and an advert for Admiral Ackbar breakfast cereal. Other skits may leave you less entertained, but the sheer pace and randomness of them all should still keep you laughing the whole way through.

Although the show features over 30 skits, surprisingly the running time of the feature is only 23 minutes (as it was intended for normal half-hour TV viewing on the Adult Swim network). Because of this, many people will feel that paying $29.95 isn't justified, especially considering the whole first season of Robot Chicken can cost you around the same price. However, this DVD is excellently packaged and includes 145 minutes of extras and a sampler disc containing a couple of episodes from other Adult Swim shows. For those who enjoyed the Family Guy Star Wars special, this title is sure to please.

Four stars out of five
NZ Gamer.com

15 August 2008

MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT presents

SETH GREEN exclusive interviews

Madman Entertainment NZ are pleased and proud to announce exclusive interviews with ROBOT CHICKEN creator, and Hollywood actor Seth Green (BUFFY and AUSTIN POWERS) and his co creator/director/producer Matt Senreich.

They will be interviewed by Mikey Havoc from bFM and Adam Munro from Rip It Up this week. The bFM interview will air on Tuesday, 19 August from 8.00am - 8.30am. So tune into the radio next week!

Catch their latest work on STAR WARS ROBOT CHICKEN:

Created by Seth Green (BUFFY, AUSTIN POWERS) and Matt Senreich (Wizard & Toyfare Magazines). Celebrity cameos including George Lucas, Mark Hamill, Seth MacFarlane and more, ROBOT CHICKEN was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Animation in 2006 and 2007 created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, who are the executive producers. Seth is also an American actor and comedian known for his acting roles as Doctor Evil's son in Austin Powers, Mitch Miller in That '70s Show and Daniel 'Oz' Osbourne in Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Both Seth and Matt are the co-creators of the series, and are on the writing and directing team for the series.

?An anarchic collusion of Plastic Action Figures and wicked Pop-Culture-Satire? ? The Age

This Special Edition is a must have for Star Wars completists!

It includes the free Adult Swim sampler disc with full episodes and clips.

OUT NOW!

"Star Wars: Robot Chicken Episode II" is a go. Days after the Adult Swim show landed a best animated series Emmy nomination for its "Star Wars" episode, the cable network is moving ahead with a sequel that will premiere in the U.S. on Nov. 16.

"It doesn't even seem real -- getting to make Star Wars twice!" said "Robot Chicken" co-creator Seth Green, who is set to direct the second "Star Wars"-themed episode after winning an Annie Award for helming the first one.

Many members of the voice cast from the first special, including original "Star Wars" actors Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams -- reprising their roles as Princess Leia and Lando Calrissian, respectively -- are back. Also returning are Seth MacFarlane as Emperor Palpatine, Conan O'Brien as Zuckuss, Breckin Meyer as Admiral Ackbar and Boba Fett, and Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks. Green will voice several characters, including Ponda Baba. Joining the voice cast this time around is Andy Richter.

As for the creative direction in the sequel, "we decided to focus on the bounty hunters a bit and explore their stories," "Robot Chicken" co-creator Matt Senreich said. "It's a geek-fest for us all."

"Robot Chicken" hails from Green and Senreich's Stoopid Monkey Prods. and Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico's ShadowMachine Films.

The first "Star Wars: Robot Chicken" special will be released on DVD in Australia on August 6 and in New Zealand on August 21.

The Best International Feature Documentary Award, sponsored by A&E, went to THE ENGLISH SURGEON (D: Geoffrey Smith; P: Geoffrey Smith, Rachel Wexler; UK), the story of renowned British brain surgeon Henry Marsh who offers desperately needed hope to those suffering from life-threatening tumors in the Ukraine. The jury said of the film: 'Polished and shameless, in the best sense of combining two seemingly contradictory elements and shaping them into a satisfying and penetrating whole'. As one juror noted, 'this film has everything.'
The winner received a $5000 cash prize, courtesy of Hot Docs.

VIZ MEDIA TEAMS WITH MADMAN TO BRING HOT MANGA TITLES TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Country's Mix Of Western And Asian Culture Creates A Growing Demand For Diverse Titles.

Melbourne, Monday, 25 February 2008 - VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced its continued global expansion with a new distribution agreement with Madman Entertainment to offer a wide variety of Shueisha manga (graphic novel) series to the burgeoning market in Australia and New Zealand. Shueisha Inc., is one of Japan's largest publishers and is a parent company of VIZ Media.

Some initial VIZ Media titles to be published will include smash hit properties like NARUTO, set to debut in March, BLEACH, scheduled to launch in April, and DEATH NOTE, which will be introduced in May. Several popular shojo series such as THE GENTLEMEN'S ALLIANCE, FULL MOON, LOVE*COM and NANA are also set for publication this year along with action favorites that include ONE PIECE, D. GRAY MAN, BLACK CAT and CLAYMORE.

Madman is Australia's number one distributor of manga (graphic novels), with a wide range of popular titles already available, including some of the industry's biggest licenses. In late 2006-early 2007, Madman was a key sponsor of the Tezuka - The Marvel of Manga exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Gallery of New South Wales, and also launched a dedicated manga section on its website, www.madman.com.au.

"Madman is honored to be working with VIZ Media and their incredible range of manga brands, and thrilled at the prospect of introducing these to a wide range of readers in our territories," says Tim Anderson, Managing Director of Madman Entertainment. "Australian and New Zealand readers have developed a real thirst for manga and based on similar agreements forged in other rising markets, Madman looks forward to combining efforts with VIZ Media to offer the most comprehensive catalogue to date in these countries."

"Madman Entertainment has become a dominant player in the emerging Australian and New Zealand manga scene and we are excited to partner with them to bring some of the hottest titles to readers there." says Hyoe Narita, Executive Vice President, VIZ Media. "Manga has become a truly global entertainment medium and agreements like this will continue to provide innovative means to develop and establish international markets offering a range of compelling content."


About MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT

THE MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT GROUP proudly showcases the best in Japanese anime, world cinema, art house film, Australian independent features and animation. Madman is Australia's leading distributor of home entertainment and an industry innovator with a sought-after interactive and DVD authoring studio; printing division; film production involvement; and a range of DVD and video labels. Madman was recently awarded exclusive DVD distribution rights to the Cartoon Network and SBS home entertainment labels. Web site: www.madman.com.au


About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.

###