The upcoming schedule of Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock releases is a mixed bag. (The schedule has been subject to some alterations of late though, so it is not clear what the actual release dates will be.) The release of Garuda, a mediocre Thai monster flick, is nothing to get excited about. Similarly, Yog - Space Amoeba appeals to Toho kaiju completists, but is not considered one of the better examples of its genre, though, charmingly, one of the crew members on the production has attributed the film’s failure to a poor choice of name for the monster. Kaiju afficionadoes will recognize the important role that naming takes in so many giant monster films.

::: Read our review of Garuda

More significantly, Media Blasters is also releasing the third and fourth entries in the Female Convict Scorpion film series. Both star Meiko Kaji, though only the third entry (Beast Stable) is directed by the great Shunya Ito. Neither is anywhere near as strong a film as the masterful first and second films (both of which are highly, highly recommended), but Meiko Kaji continues to turn in performances that could cut stone. The third film in particular features some striking imagery, including a beautiful scene set in the sewers, and a feral Meiko Kaji roaming the streets attached to a severed arm. Fans would be well advised not to anticipate masterpieces like the first two films, and temper their expectations accordingly, but it is still good news that these films will finally have legitimate US releases.