Sue Dounim Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share Posted December 23, 2013 Well, today's a big one. That's right, the infamous yet classic King Kong vs. Godzilla! Love it or hate it, this movie is a kitschy '60's monster romp for the ages. I can only imagine what it must've been like to be a kid in 1963, and getting to see this in the theaters. The two biggest monsters ever duking it out on the big screen, and in glorious technicolor too! What a treat for the imagination! Since I was born a few generations too late, I had to settle for seeing the film on VHS. I didn't have the tape for long, but boy did I treasure it. I lost it somehow and for years I never saw this movie again. In a way this kindof built up a larger than life feeling for the movie in me, because it was so elusive, and all I had to go off of were the all-too hazy memories of being a 4 year old in front of the Telly. Then, sometime after the advent of DVDs, I was able to buy a copy from a local video store. You have no idea how excited I was to finally see this movie again. Unfortunately, as with anything you overhype, the experience didn't quite live up to the expectations. The effects were noticeably average, even by early '60's standards, and to make it worse, it was the dreadful US butchering of the film. From then on, I had a new goal in mind: I had to somehow acquire the original 1962 japanese version of the film, without all the stock music and cheesy US scenes with "UN Reporter Eric Carter". For a long time this seemed like an unattainable goal, since I could not find a copy anywhere. Finally, a few years later (last year in fact), I finally found the japanese version available for torrenting on The Pirate Bay. Needless to say I downloaded and watched it not long after that. While the effects weren't any better, I was finally able to view the film the way it is meant to be seen. It's still in my top 5 favourite monster movies ever, and I still watch it happily to this day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepscoda Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Sue, was there ever any plans to make a movie with Gamera fighting Godzilla ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Dounim Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 It's rumored that there was some discussion of such a mashup in either the '90's or later, but nothing really became of it. It's a shame too, because I would kill to see that movie. Sue, was there ever any plans to make a movie with Gamera fighting Godzilla ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepscoda Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 It's rumored that there was some discussion of such a mashup in either the '90's or later, but nothing really became of it. It's a shame too, because I would kill to see that movie. thanks...............it would be cool to see, and a huge money maker to this day I think......check out this mag cover I found on google..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Dounim Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 It's funny, because I have that issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Dounim Posted December 27, 2013 Author Share Posted December 27, 2013 (edited) Sorry for the break, today's movie is Atragon. It's one of Toho's lesser known films, but it is notable for introducing the serpent kaiju Manda. Edited December 27, 2013 by Sue Dounim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Dounim Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 (edited) I think I remember seeing a review article of the book in one of my issues of either Otaku USA or Newtype USA. Looks pretty neat. Edited December 30, 2013 by Sue Dounim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjin-san Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjin-san Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Steve,I agree,....but why is the King of the Monsters pounding SF? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjin-san Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 San Francisco offers a rich backdrop of iconography...the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Trans America building, etc. No one really wants to see Godzilla pound Bakersfield. "Oh,no there goes Tokyo under Godzilla." Sorry I would,IMO keep this in Nippon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cecil. Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 "Oh,no there goes Tokyo under Godzilla." Sorry I would,IMO keep this in Nippon. With a lady from the EDF , badly dubbed saying "oh look what is that in the water" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjin-san Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjin-san Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 ^^^ Agreed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjin-san Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 (edited) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIu85WQTPRc#t=0 Edited February 26, 2014 by Anjin-san Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjin-san Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Dounim Posted March 29, 2014 Author Share Posted March 29, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 ^^^ Nice to see you back, Sue. You've been missed. SAJ, I have to concur somewhat with KB's sentiments. As much as San Francisco is a photogenic city offering a wealth of iconic targets of destruction...and a sizable Japanese and Asian population...when I think Godzilla, I still think Tokyo. Oh no! There goes Tokyo! Go Go Godzilla! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjin-san Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 ^^^ Yep! "History shows again and again,how nature points out the folly of men.GODZILLA!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 (edited) HELL YEAH! Can't wait for tomorrow's 60th anniversary screening of the original Japanese "GOJIRA"("Godzilla")! http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/godzilla-the-japanese-original-0 Edited May 2, 2014 by Strider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Dounim Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 If you understand why this is funny, we'll get along just fine c: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 In anticipation of the new "Godzilla" opening this week, Rialto Pictures has been rolling out the 1954 original "Godzilla" in all its uncut Japanese glory, with all its subtext intact. Like "Star Wars", "Jaws" and other films of a certain nature, "Godzilla" is best seen on the big screen, towering above you. Here is a list of all the theatres and the dates that the original "Godzilla" is playing. Hopefully it is playing near you...take the kids. They'll thank you for it later. http://dailydead.com/theater-list-dates-godzilla-1954-re-release/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 If you understand why this is funny, we'll get along just fine c:roland.jpg Director of the worst Godzilla ever...and a night I will always look back on in horror. Seldom have I ever wanted to actually strangle the director as I was watching his piece-of-shit movie. The co-screenwriter of that 1998 travesty is now on record as admitting he and Roland screwed up. One of Jimmy Page's worst decisions, too, after years of being careful about letting Led Zeppelin music be used in films. I tend to blame his management at the time. As for the new "Godzilla", I want to like it...if only to wash the bad taste of 1998 out of my mouth. The initial posters and clips have looked promising. Godzilla at least looks like Godzilla and not some overgrown Iguana. But then those Taco Bell ads started popping up, with a ridiculous Barney-like cuddly Godzilla, and I cringed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Dounim Posted May 14, 2014 Author Share Posted May 14, 2014 Actually with that Godzilla-themed Snickers commercial, even the more hardcore fans have admitted it's pretty funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Dounim Posted May 15, 2014 Author Share Posted May 15, 2014 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKpzU2GSVC0 I've seen gifs of that around on tumblr, glad to actually see the real thing, thanks. Am I the only one who notices the similarities to the car chase from the end of the '98 film? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 (edited) Well, tonight is the night...they're sneak-peeking the new "Godzilla" at theatres across the country...I'm going with friends to a either a 9pm or midnight show after work tonight. We're deciding on which theatre to see it: the Cinerama Dome or the Grauman's Chinese in 3D IMAX. Sue, are you going tonight? Since the new Godzilla is in San Francisco, I wonder if he'll stomp some Haight-Ashbury hippies or take in a Giants game? That would make redrum happy. edited to add: Midnight it is. Edited May 16, 2014 by Strider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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