The 1950's are stocked with some classic and campy horror films: it's those from the decade of the 1950s that got me interested in the horror movie genre. Not too long ago a slew of 50's horror films were released by Universal as DVD sets. The first of the two, called The Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection, includes Monster On The Campus, directed by Jack Arnold.
In the film a college professor pines over his newly arrived specimen of prehistoric fish. When the professor accidentally exposes himself to the specimen's blood the prof transforms into a hostile and garish looking neanderthal like creature who predictably makes life miserable for his girlfriend, others about the college campus he preys on, as well as the local authorities who are investigating his attacks on the victims.
This black and white film will get under your skin: a pretense to the professor's transformation is nicely realized when both a dragonfly and a dog are exposed to the prehistoric fish's blood, the winged insect mutating into a hawk sized monstrosity and the german shepherd flashing huge and nasty looking overgrown canine teeth.
The trailer for Monster On The Campus(1958):
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Shadows And Light: The Haunting(1963)
I have watched so many gory horror movies lately that I sometimes forget that there are plenty of films that can deliver creeps with nary a dangling limb or intestine in sight. These kind of horror films don't rely on some homicidal, axe wielding maniac who busies himself chopping off terrified victim's limbs to deliver scares, instead relying on the use of shadows, back lighting and the implied "something" that may, or may not be there in the dark corner of a huge room to give a person goosebumps.
One such film that delivers this kind of dread is The Haunting(1963), directed by Robert Wise. This black and white horror movie makes the rounds on a regular basis at Turner Classic Movies.
The film's trailer:
One such film that delivers this kind of dread is The Haunting(1963), directed by Robert Wise. This black and white horror movie makes the rounds on a regular basis at Turner Classic Movies.
The film's trailer:
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Double Trouble: Boa Vs Python(2004)
As "giant snakes on the loose" films go 2004's Boa Vs Python is surprisingly decent. An entrepeneur and big game hunter stages a hunt, his latest quarry an 80 foot long python. The python escapes into an underground public water works facility. The government agent assigned to the case relies on a herpetologist and his own gargantuan snake, a 70 foot long scarlet colored boa to track down the python so that it can be disposed of. Predictably, the two leviathan snakes battle it out at the conclusion of the film.
The trailer:
The trailer:
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Parent Trap: Monster From A Prehistoric Planet(1967)
The year 1967 saw every major film studio in Japan theatrically release a kaiju film: Toho's Son Of Godzilla, Shochiku's The X From Outer Space and Daiei's Gamera Vs Gyaos. Last, but certainly not least: Giant Beast Gappa, aka Gappa The Triphibian Monsters. The movie, released by Nikkatsu, was later re-titled Monster From A Prehistoric Planet for release to American theaters.
In the film a greedy and unscrupulous entrepreneur with plans to turn an island into a resort for the benefit of his bank account funds an expedition to said island, called "Obelisk Island". There two members of the expedition discover, to their surprise, a huge egg inside a cavern. The egg hatches and out comes an infant creature that resembles both a bird and lizard. Despite warnings from one of the local island inhabitants, a small boy who has accompanied them into the cavern, the expedition takes the infant beast back to civilization, in this case a laboratory. Predictably, the infant monster's parents surface from the cavern lake and discover their "baby" is missing. The monsters, both 200 feet tall, and understandably curious as to their offsprings' whereabouts, thunder around the island and, failing to find their offspring, depart the island. Later, the two adult monsters, one male and one female, demolish cities when not conducting flyovers looking for their baby.
In the end the expedition members must decide whether keeping the infant creature is worth the risk of having two very large, and very angry parent monsters continue their rampage of destruction while searching for their "baby". (no other spoilers)
I have found the overall special effects in this movie to be on par with the '60's Gamera films directed by Noriaki Yuasa. I wouldn't call the effects great but many are clever and look very decent. Like other older giant monster movies, Monster From A Prehistoric Planet has a subtle charm about it which hopefully other kaiju film fans will pick up on as well when watching this lone giant monster entry from Nikkatsu. Mediablasters(under their "Tokyo Shock" label) has released this film as "Gappa The Triphibian Monsters" on official Region 1 DVD, the disc presenting the movie in its original widescreen aspect ratio of 2:35.1. To see this DVD for sale at Amazon copy and paste this URL into your address bar: http://www.amazon.com/Gappa-Triphibian-Monster-Tamio-Kawaji/dp/B00004YS8H (or click the title of this blog entry).
The trailer for Monster From A Prehistoric Planet(1967):
In the film a greedy and unscrupulous entrepreneur with plans to turn an island into a resort for the benefit of his bank account funds an expedition to said island, called "Obelisk Island". There two members of the expedition discover, to their surprise, a huge egg inside a cavern. The egg hatches and out comes an infant creature that resembles both a bird and lizard. Despite warnings from one of the local island inhabitants, a small boy who has accompanied them into the cavern, the expedition takes the infant beast back to civilization, in this case a laboratory. Predictably, the infant monster's parents surface from the cavern lake and discover their "baby" is missing. The monsters, both 200 feet tall, and understandably curious as to their offsprings' whereabouts, thunder around the island and, failing to find their offspring, depart the island. Later, the two adult monsters, one male and one female, demolish cities when not conducting flyovers looking for their baby.
In the end the expedition members must decide whether keeping the infant creature is worth the risk of having two very large, and very angry parent monsters continue their rampage of destruction while searching for their "baby". (no other spoilers)
I have found the overall special effects in this movie to be on par with the '60's Gamera films directed by Noriaki Yuasa. I wouldn't call the effects great but many are clever and look very decent. Like other older giant monster movies, Monster From A Prehistoric Planet has a subtle charm about it which hopefully other kaiju film fans will pick up on as well when watching this lone giant monster entry from Nikkatsu. Mediablasters(under their "Tokyo Shock" label) has released this film as "Gappa The Triphibian Monsters" on official Region 1 DVD, the disc presenting the movie in its original widescreen aspect ratio of 2:35.1. To see this DVD for sale at Amazon copy and paste this URL into your address bar: http://www.amazon.com/Gappa-Triphibian-Monster-Tamio-Kawaji/dp/B00004YS8H (or click the title of this blog entry).
The trailer for Monster From A Prehistoric Planet(1967):
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Pest Control: Godzilla Vs Megaguirus(2000)
Recently I decided to watch the only Millennium Godzilla film I haven't watched within the last two weeks: Godzilla Vs Megaguirus, the second movie in the "Millennium" G film series, originally released in Japanese theaters back in early November of 2000. The film was, unfortunately, the second lowest grossing "Millennium" Godzilla film.
This movie isn't a favorite of mine but it has grown on me over the years as I've watched it, usually a once per year viewing. Observations, both positive and negative -
Thumbs up:
1. actress Misato Tanaka, who plays "Major Kiriko Tsujimori" of the G-Graspers, the anti Godzilla unit of the JSDF. Tsujimori is brave, feisty, determined, and dedicated to her craft. She's physically not imposing at all, a slender, petite and slightly built woman, albeit with the attitude of a 1000 lb gorilla: get in her way and you'll get flattened.
2. the Godzilla theme during the first Godzilla vs G-Graspers sequence: this was the first time it was used. I thought it was great when I first heard it and I still feel the same way about it now.
3. many action/effects sequences are IMO quite good: the swarm of Meganeura(spelling?) that attack Godzilla on the island, the initial skirmish between Godzilla and the G-Graspers, and the sequence where Major Tsujimori latches onto part of Godzilla's dorsal to avoid drowning. All very cool shots! I especially liked the effects used to render the smaller meganeura swarm: the flying monsters would definitely have overwhelmed anybody sent to try and eradicate them from Terminix or Orkin Pest Control.
4. seeing Yuriko Hoshi again
5. the rendering of the "Dimension Tide": some nice effects are used to bring this machine to life
6. the battle between Godzilla and Megaguirus: overall I thought it was nicely choreographed, save for the leap and subsequent pile driver-like tackle by Godzilla on Megaguirus. Megaguirus was a tough opponent, blasting Godzilla about the head with its large claw like appendages, stabbing Godzilla in the torso and partially draining the monster king of energy, and dragging Godzilla headlong along the ground into a building. It also, absorbing some of Godzilla's energy, managed to launch a powerful, rolling fireball at G, turning Godzilla's own energy, temporarily, against him.
Thumbs down:
1. wires are clearly(and painfully) visible during Megaguirus' first appearance out of the flooded city and its first airborne attacks. Not good.
2. the movement of Megaguirus, a dragonfly-like monster, during some of its flying sequences made the creature look stiff and reminded me Battra and other flying Heisei G film monsters that looked unwieldy and cumbersome when supposedly in flight
3. some of the matte shots, as Godzilla makes landfall and an eventual battle with Megaguirus, looked shaky
4. a couple of underwater shots of Godzilla swimming looked more like something out of a video game
Overall, I like Godzilla Vs Megaguirus just fine. It entertains and holds my interest when I watch it once a year or every eighteen months. I have the Sony Region 1 DVD. This film is also available on Region 2(Yesasia.com) and region 3(DDDHouse.com).
The film's trailer:
This movie isn't a favorite of mine but it has grown on me over the years as I've watched it, usually a once per year viewing. Observations, both positive and negative -
Thumbs up:
1. actress Misato Tanaka, who plays "Major Kiriko Tsujimori" of the G-Graspers, the anti Godzilla unit of the JSDF. Tsujimori is brave, feisty, determined, and dedicated to her craft. She's physically not imposing at all, a slender, petite and slightly built woman, albeit with the attitude of a 1000 lb gorilla: get in her way and you'll get flattened.
2. the Godzilla theme during the first Godzilla vs G-Graspers sequence: this was the first time it was used. I thought it was great when I first heard it and I still feel the same way about it now.
3. many action/effects sequences are IMO quite good: the swarm of Meganeura(spelling?) that attack Godzilla on the island, the initial skirmish between Godzilla and the G-Graspers, and the sequence where Major Tsujimori latches onto part of Godzilla's dorsal to avoid drowning. All very cool shots! I especially liked the effects used to render the smaller meganeura swarm: the flying monsters would definitely have overwhelmed anybody sent to try and eradicate them from Terminix or Orkin Pest Control.
4. seeing Yuriko Hoshi again
5. the rendering of the "Dimension Tide": some nice effects are used to bring this machine to life
6. the battle between Godzilla and Megaguirus: overall I thought it was nicely choreographed, save for the leap and subsequent pile driver-like tackle by Godzilla on Megaguirus. Megaguirus was a tough opponent, blasting Godzilla about the head with its large claw like appendages, stabbing Godzilla in the torso and partially draining the monster king of energy, and dragging Godzilla headlong along the ground into a building. It also, absorbing some of Godzilla's energy, managed to launch a powerful, rolling fireball at G, turning Godzilla's own energy, temporarily, against him.
Thumbs down:
1. wires are clearly(and painfully) visible during Megaguirus' first appearance out of the flooded city and its first airborne attacks. Not good.
2. the movement of Megaguirus, a dragonfly-like monster, during some of its flying sequences made the creature look stiff and reminded me Battra and other flying Heisei G film monsters that looked unwieldy and cumbersome when supposedly in flight
3. some of the matte shots, as Godzilla makes landfall and an eventual battle with Megaguirus, looked shaky
4. a couple of underwater shots of Godzilla swimming looked more like something out of a video game
Overall, I like Godzilla Vs Megaguirus just fine. It entertains and holds my interest when I watch it once a year or every eighteen months. I have the Sony Region 1 DVD. This film is also available on Region 2(Yesasia.com) and region 3(DDDHouse.com).
The film's trailer:
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Saturday, May 2, 2009
Gojira/Godzilla Raids Again Tribute Video
A member of my internet message board, Monsterland Forums, has re-discovered an early music video he made of two of his favorite Godzilla films, Gojira(1954) and Godzilla Raids Again(1955):
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Mechanically Inclined: Godzilla X Mechagodzilla(2002)
Let me first say that I don't believe Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla(2002) is the best Millennium Godzilla film made by Toho. Rather, I believe GMK(2001) is. That said I like the 2002 Millennium G movie a lot, and for a lot of reasons. As I do every Sunday afternoon I sit down and watch a Toho film. Today's fare: Godzilla X Mechagodzilla, first released to theaters in Japan back in December, 2002. Some observations about this movie, both positive and negative -
Thumbs up:
1. the Godzilla suit, which was modified from the G suits used in Godzilla 2000(1999) and Godzilla Vs Megaguirus(2000). I'm sure there are those who don't like the suit as much. The suit looked less scaly and the dorsals didn't look so gigantic(and over-sized).
2. the character of "Akane Yashiro", played by model/actress Yumiko Shaku. Yumiko Shaku is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen and while I could absolutely watch her for no other reason than that her character in this movie is so much more than looks. She's mentally and physically tough, disciplined and dedicated to her job. Granted, she suffers a confidence problem and is extremely hard on herself because of the accidental deaths of comrades which she was unfortunately involved in. Rather than feel self pity Akane Yashiro swallowed her pride and kept plugging. In the end she stepped up and redeemed herself quite well.
3. the character of Dr. Yuhara: forgetting for a moment his bumbling attempts to make nice with Akane Yashiro, presumably to get her to agree to a date with him, this affable, somewhat goofy scientist is still a nice guy, easy to like, clearly a good father to his daughter "Sarah" and a key to the success of "Kiryu"(Mechagodzilla).
4. the rendering of Mechagodzilla: I didn't find the MG construction to be as visually threatening as the '74 MG rendering. Rather, the MG in this film looks almost noble. It's array of weapons is very impressive and its combat tactics against Godzilla are also impressive.
5. many of the effects shots, in particular MG's plowing through the building after it malfunctions, as well as many shots used during the final battle. High speed filming slows things down in many of the final battle sequences. The shot of Mechagodzilla driving Godzilla backwards along the ground is very satisfying to watch. I also liked the cameo appearances of Misato Tanaka, who played "Kiriko Tsujimori" from Godzilla Vs Megaguirus(2000), and her old CO from that film. MG's descent to attack Godzilla before the monster can incinerate the hospital is very cool: Mechagodzilla descends, slides along the ground and slams into Godzilla, sending the monster flying.
Thumbs down:
1. Lieutenant Togashi's hair style: Togashi is the leader of the Kiryu Squadron and yet his hair is a mini-mullet in back. This guy was in need of a haircut and badly.
2. Hayama: he acted like a jackass in this film and is lucky Akane Yashiro didn't throw his ass through a window.
3. New Japanese Prime Minister Igarashi accepting flowers from outgoing PM Tsuge(played by Kumi Mizuno). It should have been the other way around, for God's sake. A man accepting flowers. Good God.
4. The actor who plays "Dr. Kanno": this guy, with crewcut and possessing a squat, burly physique, looks more like a professional wrestler than a low temperature physicist.
A scene from the film:
Thumbs up:
1. the Godzilla suit, which was modified from the G suits used in Godzilla 2000(1999) and Godzilla Vs Megaguirus(2000). I'm sure there are those who don't like the suit as much. The suit looked less scaly and the dorsals didn't look so gigantic(and over-sized).
2. the character of "Akane Yashiro", played by model/actress Yumiko Shaku. Yumiko Shaku is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen and while I could absolutely watch her for no other reason than that her character in this movie is so much more than looks. She's mentally and physically tough, disciplined and dedicated to her job. Granted, she suffers a confidence problem and is extremely hard on herself because of the accidental deaths of comrades which she was unfortunately involved in. Rather than feel self pity Akane Yashiro swallowed her pride and kept plugging. In the end she stepped up and redeemed herself quite well.
3. the character of Dr. Yuhara: forgetting for a moment his bumbling attempts to make nice with Akane Yashiro, presumably to get her to agree to a date with him, this affable, somewhat goofy scientist is still a nice guy, easy to like, clearly a good father to his daughter "Sarah" and a key to the success of "Kiryu"(Mechagodzilla).
4. the rendering of Mechagodzilla: I didn't find the MG construction to be as visually threatening as the '74 MG rendering. Rather, the MG in this film looks almost noble. It's array of weapons is very impressive and its combat tactics against Godzilla are also impressive.
5. many of the effects shots, in particular MG's plowing through the building after it malfunctions, as well as many shots used during the final battle. High speed filming slows things down in many of the final battle sequences. The shot of Mechagodzilla driving Godzilla backwards along the ground is very satisfying to watch. I also liked the cameo appearances of Misato Tanaka, who played "Kiriko Tsujimori" from Godzilla Vs Megaguirus(2000), and her old CO from that film. MG's descent to attack Godzilla before the monster can incinerate the hospital is very cool: Mechagodzilla descends, slides along the ground and slams into Godzilla, sending the monster flying.
Thumbs down:
1. Lieutenant Togashi's hair style: Togashi is the leader of the Kiryu Squadron and yet his hair is a mini-mullet in back. This guy was in need of a haircut and badly.
2. Hayama: he acted like a jackass in this film and is lucky Akane Yashiro didn't throw his ass through a window.
3. New Japanese Prime Minister Igarashi accepting flowers from outgoing PM Tsuge(played by Kumi Mizuno). It should have been the other way around, for God's sake. A man accepting flowers. Good God.
4. The actor who plays "Dr. Kanno": this guy, with crewcut and possessing a squat, burly physique, looks more like a professional wrestler than a low temperature physicist.
A scene from the film:
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Persona Non Strata: X The Unknown(1956)
If I ever had to part ways with my classic Godzilla films on DVD I'd probably suffer from serious withdrawal symptoms. The same goes for my collection of Hammer Films produced movies on DVD. I'm especially fond of the earlier "Hammer" produced horror and sci-fi, from the mid 1950's through the early 1960's. Among my favorites: X The Unknown(1956). This film is genuinely spooky and plays out as a straight ahead, no-nonsense affair about a mysterious, radioactive creature living in the bowels of the Earth which manages to access the surface where it preys on humans. Leave it to a scientist(played by Dean Jagger) and local police inspector(played by Leo McKern) to try and figure out how to stop the creature.
The film's trailer:
The film's trailer:
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Made In America: Godzilla(1998)
There have been, in my own lifetime, perhaps a half dozen or so events that managed to get me excited. I'm a deliberate person, one who generally maintains and applies an even and/or slightly pessimistic and guarded perspective to everything and everyone I encounter in life. Movies are no different: I react to them in generally the same fashion.
One of these events that managed to get me excited was the impending theatrical release of an American Godzilla movie. My anticipation began back in late 1997 when, watching a VHS rental of the film I Know What You Did Last Summer(1997), I saw an advance teaser trailer for Godzilla(1998): it was the "museum" teaser where a group of students viewing a T-Rex skeleton have their tour interrupted by the gargantuan foot of Godzilla, which crashes down through the museum roof.
Seeing this advance trailer for the first time, I was fired up, no doubt about it. The months passed by and in early May, 1998 I managed to buy two tickets to an advance theatrical screening of Godzilla, the first showing of this film in Atlanta(GA), on May 19, 1998. I bought the additional ticket in order to take a friend of mine, who had expressed interest in watching the movie.
At the time I was between full time employment and was working for another friend, helping him get his small lawn care business up and running. I took the day off to see Godzilla(1998). On May 19,1998 me and my friend entered the theater and took part in some promotional giveaways that were part of the movie. The theater was crowded but not filled to capacity. I won a t-shirt and a cap. I gave the t-shirt to some nearby kid who appeared ready to cry because he hadn't won the shirt. He accepted the shirt from me without even saying thank you. I kept the cap and other item I won(I still have but don't know what it really is) and settled into my seat to watch the film.
After the film ended I was relieved...and fairly disappointed. I gathered from the reaction of others during the movie that it was generally well received, but there was no applause at the end.
Over the years that have passed since Godzilla(1998) first aired in theaters here in the U.S. I have read countless internet message board debate about the movie. I gather from what I've read that the movie has a far greater number of detractors than those that like it.
Godzilla(1998) generated $398 million dollars in worldwide receipts. Made on a budget of $125 million(with another $25 million spent to promote the film), Godzilla obviously turned a profit. It also was expected to be the summer blockbuster of 1998 but it wasn't. The film suffered a colossal drop off in box office revenue after its first full weekend in theaters, an anomaly that afflicts many films. Any hopes that Tri-Star had for a financial blockbuster in the $500-600 million dollar revenue range were quickly dashed by the film's sudden drop off in gate receipts.
As a result of the film's disappointing box office return many retailers lost a lot of money due to the lack of sales of merchandise tied in to the 1998 film. The film itself was generally assailed by movie critics and blasted by die hard Godzilla fans. The producer of the movie, Dean Devlin, was lampooned by long time Godzilla fans, death threats allegedly made against Devlin as well through large internet message boards like "CHUD". Dean Devlin exascerbated Godzilla fan backlash by allegedly responding to criticism of the film with responses like "If people don't like the film they can go to hell".
Tri-Star(Sony) had, contractually, a five year "window" by which to opt to produce a sequel to Godzilla(1998). Based on a number of factors, perhaps none more so than negative fan reaction to the film and disastrous $ losses by merchandisers tied to the '98 movie, the studio allowed it's five year sequel rights to lapse. Result: no sequel film.
Perhaps the most damning, and lasting legacy of Godzilla(1998) came after a man named Richard Pusateri coined the phrase "GINO", an acronym for "Godzilla In Name Only". This acronym has been, and still is, commonly used to reference both the film and the monster that appeared in the movie.
As to the film itself, I will repeat some of my general observations -
Thumbs up:
1. the suspense that was created in the film about the monster. Done very well, I think. We don't see the creature, only its footprints and the aftermath of its encounter with a large Japanese fishing vessel. It certainly made me want to see what the monster looked like.
2. the performance of various cast members in this film, particularly Jean Reno as French secret agent "Phillipe Roache" and Matthew Broderick as "Nick Tatopolous". Broderick conveyed the role of the unassuming but clever and highly intelligent scientist very well. Reno was also quite good as the mysterious "Roache", whose gruff demeanor was matched only by his frustration and ongoing struggle to find a good cup of coffee.
3. various effects shots looked solid, especially Godzilla's initial landfall in NYC and the first military engagement with the monster in the city.
4. the comic relief in this film, especially from the gruff and portly mayor vs his milquetoast assistant.
Thumbs down:
1. the overall design of Godzilla in this film: it looked IMO too much like an overgrown lizard and not nearly enough like a monster
2. the overall demeanor of Godzilla in this movie: the monster's actions appeared to be motivated more by curiosity, the exception being the final scene after it discovers its young dead and scattered about outside the demolished remains of Madison Square Garden. I think fans wanted to see an aggressive Godzilla, not a creature that flees from the military
3. the concept of Godzilla being asexual and the resulting "baby" Godzillas that are produced from this characteristic of the adult monster.
4. the absence of an enemy monster in the film.
I have seen the original concept art and a model of the Godzilla that would have been used in the originally conceptualized American Godzilla film, which would have been directed by Jan DeBont. It looked much truer to Toho's Godzilla and would have IMO been very well received by American audiences. The "Gryphon", the enemy monster of this failed movie project, also looked impressive and formidable as a potential adversary of Godzilla.
The 1998 American Godzilla film did produce a very decent cartoon series. The film itself has been released to both VHS(I actually have a widescreen copy of it on VHS) and Region 1 DVD(I have the DVD also). Not too long ago a "Monster Edition" R1 DVD release of Godzilla was released but it offers little if anything in the way of additional extras and is IMO ot worth buying.
Godzilla is tentatively scheduled to be released to Blu-Ray DVD but no specific release date has been announced yet.
More than anything, this film conjures up a lot of "what ifs" and "what could have beens" for me and, I suspect, a whole lot of other Godzilla fans. We have Dean Devlin to thank for that. I'm glad the film got made because I still think this film has its place in Godzilla history and fandom.
As many Godzilla fans have said, the film entertains to some degree as a giant monster movie but it's not accepted as a "Godzilla" movie. This sentiment is one I share, wholeheartedly.
The trailer for Godzilla(1998):
One of these events that managed to get me excited was the impending theatrical release of an American Godzilla movie. My anticipation began back in late 1997 when, watching a VHS rental of the film I Know What You Did Last Summer(1997), I saw an advance teaser trailer for Godzilla(1998): it was the "museum" teaser where a group of students viewing a T-Rex skeleton have their tour interrupted by the gargantuan foot of Godzilla, which crashes down through the museum roof.
Seeing this advance trailer for the first time, I was fired up, no doubt about it. The months passed by and in early May, 1998 I managed to buy two tickets to an advance theatrical screening of Godzilla, the first showing of this film in Atlanta(GA), on May 19, 1998. I bought the additional ticket in order to take a friend of mine, who had expressed interest in watching the movie.
At the time I was between full time employment and was working for another friend, helping him get his small lawn care business up and running. I took the day off to see Godzilla(1998). On May 19,1998 me and my friend entered the theater and took part in some promotional giveaways that were part of the movie. The theater was crowded but not filled to capacity. I won a t-shirt and a cap. I gave the t-shirt to some nearby kid who appeared ready to cry because he hadn't won the shirt. He accepted the shirt from me without even saying thank you. I kept the cap and other item I won(I still have but don't know what it really is) and settled into my seat to watch the film.
After the film ended I was relieved...and fairly disappointed. I gathered from the reaction of others during the movie that it was generally well received, but there was no applause at the end.
Over the years that have passed since Godzilla(1998) first aired in theaters here in the U.S. I have read countless internet message board debate about the movie. I gather from what I've read that the movie has a far greater number of detractors than those that like it.
Godzilla(1998) generated $398 million dollars in worldwide receipts. Made on a budget of $125 million(with another $25 million spent to promote the film), Godzilla obviously turned a profit. It also was expected to be the summer blockbuster of 1998 but it wasn't. The film suffered a colossal drop off in box office revenue after its first full weekend in theaters, an anomaly that afflicts many films. Any hopes that Tri-Star had for a financial blockbuster in the $500-600 million dollar revenue range were quickly dashed by the film's sudden drop off in gate receipts.
As a result of the film's disappointing box office return many retailers lost a lot of money due to the lack of sales of merchandise tied in to the 1998 film. The film itself was generally assailed by movie critics and blasted by die hard Godzilla fans. The producer of the movie, Dean Devlin, was lampooned by long time Godzilla fans, death threats allegedly made against Devlin as well through large internet message boards like "CHUD". Dean Devlin exascerbated Godzilla fan backlash by allegedly responding to criticism of the film with responses like "If people don't like the film they can go to hell".
Tri-Star(Sony) had, contractually, a five year "window" by which to opt to produce a sequel to Godzilla(1998). Based on a number of factors, perhaps none more so than negative fan reaction to the film and disastrous $ losses by merchandisers tied to the '98 movie, the studio allowed it's five year sequel rights to lapse. Result: no sequel film.
Perhaps the most damning, and lasting legacy of Godzilla(1998) came after a man named Richard Pusateri coined the phrase "GINO", an acronym for "Godzilla In Name Only". This acronym has been, and still is, commonly used to reference both the film and the monster that appeared in the movie.
As to the film itself, I will repeat some of my general observations -
Thumbs up:
1. the suspense that was created in the film about the monster. Done very well, I think. We don't see the creature, only its footprints and the aftermath of its encounter with a large Japanese fishing vessel. It certainly made me want to see what the monster looked like.
2. the performance of various cast members in this film, particularly Jean Reno as French secret agent "Phillipe Roache" and Matthew Broderick as "Nick Tatopolous". Broderick conveyed the role of the unassuming but clever and highly intelligent scientist very well. Reno was also quite good as the mysterious "Roache", whose gruff demeanor was matched only by his frustration and ongoing struggle to find a good cup of coffee.
3. various effects shots looked solid, especially Godzilla's initial landfall in NYC and the first military engagement with the monster in the city.
4. the comic relief in this film, especially from the gruff and portly mayor vs his milquetoast assistant.
Thumbs down:
1. the overall design of Godzilla in this film: it looked IMO too much like an overgrown lizard and not nearly enough like a monster
2. the overall demeanor of Godzilla in this movie: the monster's actions appeared to be motivated more by curiosity, the exception being the final scene after it discovers its young dead and scattered about outside the demolished remains of Madison Square Garden. I think fans wanted to see an aggressive Godzilla, not a creature that flees from the military
3. the concept of Godzilla being asexual and the resulting "baby" Godzillas that are produced from this characteristic of the adult monster.
4. the absence of an enemy monster in the film.
I have seen the original concept art and a model of the Godzilla that would have been used in the originally conceptualized American Godzilla film, which would have been directed by Jan DeBont. It looked much truer to Toho's Godzilla and would have IMO been very well received by American audiences. The "Gryphon", the enemy monster of this failed movie project, also looked impressive and formidable as a potential adversary of Godzilla.
The 1998 American Godzilla film did produce a very decent cartoon series. The film itself has been released to both VHS(I actually have a widescreen copy of it on VHS) and Region 1 DVD(I have the DVD also). Not too long ago a "Monster Edition" R1 DVD release of Godzilla was released but it offers little if anything in the way of additional extras and is IMO ot worth buying.
Godzilla is tentatively scheduled to be released to Blu-Ray DVD but no specific release date has been announced yet.
More than anything, this film conjures up a lot of "what ifs" and "what could have beens" for me and, I suspect, a whole lot of other Godzilla fans. We have Dean Devlin to thank for that. I'm glad the film got made because I still think this film has its place in Godzilla history and fandom.
As many Godzilla fans have said, the film entertains to some degree as a giant monster movie but it's not accepted as a "Godzilla" movie. This sentiment is one I share, wholeheartedly.
The trailer for Godzilla(1998):
Friday, April 10, 2009
Godzilla '84 Fan Video
I like to promote video submissions of members from my internet message board, Monsterland Forums, whenever I can. Here's one called "Godzilla 1984: Beginning Of The End", created by a member called gojiramatthew:
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