Saturday, November 12, 2011

I think this is what they call 'Development Hell'

The script for Legendary's Godzilla reboot/remake just got its 47th writer (3rd or 4th actually, but who's counting). At this point 2014 seems an unlikely release date.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

November 3, 1954

Gojira premiered this day in 1954. Easily my favourite movie of all time. I didn't see the original Gojira for almost a decade after I saw King of the Monster. Both movies are good but I love the dark somber tone of the original, I find that the American re-edit robbed Gojira of that. I recognize it was important to do this in order to bring Godzilla to a broader audience, but it took Gojira from masterpiece of sci-fi, to a good monster movie.

It often gets overlooked by the Godzilla fan community because it doesn't really fit in with the rest of the film canon. When you think 'Godzilla' you tend to think of the monster wrestling flicks of the 60's and 70's, not this depressing though provoking movie. This is my go-to movie when I'm trying to introduce new people to these movies. It's easy to dismiss Godzilla movies as cheese-fests (and some of them are), the original breaks down those walls.

So crack a Sapporo and toast the big guy, and all the people who have brought him to us!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Classic (Non-Godzilla) Toho from Monster of Monsters

Godzilla: Monster of Monsters was a pretty mediocre game. It was repetitive and ugly. The Godzilla sprite was see through and he didn't so much jump he just sort of levitated, despite that I played the hell out of it when I was a kid. It was the only opportunity I had to take control of the big G and mete out some atomic pain! Looking back on it now one of the thing that really impresses me about it is how it showcases classic non-godzilla kaiju and mechas.

Gezora: Space Amoeba (1970)


Moguera: Mysterians (1959)
Before I knew about The Mysterians I assumed Toho took the idea for M.O.G.E.R.A. in Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla form this game.

Varan: Varan the Unbelievable (1958)


Atragon: Atragon (1963)
Any shortcomings of the game, and there are many, are made up for by the feelings of nostalgia it gives me and the sense of reverence I think the makers of this game must have had for classic Japanese sci-fi.