Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Coming loose at the seams: Prophecies Of Nostradamus(1974) aka "The Last Days Of Planet Earth"
Yesterday I retrieved a DVD-R off one of my DVD racks, a Toho produced disaster film called Prophecies Of Nostradamus(1974), also known by its American title as The Last Days Of Planet Earth. My DVD-R is the UPA, English dubbed version in full screen(1:33.1). I could swear that I've seen this relatively obscure Toho made disaster movie make the rounds on AMC(as the UPA version) but obviously not recently. I bought a DVD-R of this movie about six years ago. It has a haunting score and includes some marvelous special effects work by Teruyoshi Nakano, including giant bats and slugs, irradiated humanoid mutants, weird atmospheric disturbances and plenty of explosions. The movie is dreary in tone, as I would imagine it should be. The acting is serviceable though I believe Tetsuro Tamba's performance stands out. Any fan of Toho sci-fi and sci-fi in general should try and get their hands on this film(by VHS or DVD-R) as it's absolutely worth a look!
Here's a trailer I found on YouTube:
Here's a trailer I found on YouTube:
Saturday, August 7, 2010
The creatures walk among us: Godzilla, Mothra & King Ghidorah: All Out Monsters Attack(2001) re-visited
I recently decided to re-watch all the Godzilla films that have been made thus far. This evening I sat down and watched Godzilla, Mothra & King Ghidorah: All Out Monsters Attack(2001), a movie originally released theatrically in Japan back in December, 2001 and directed by Shusuke Kaneko, who also directed the trilogy of "Gamera" films released between 1995-1999.
This movie is easily my favorite of the "Millennium" Godzilla films, that is those made between 1999 and 2004. As always I submit these observations, some made previously and perhaps some that haven't, for the inspection(and dissection) of the members of this online community -
What I liked:
-Chiharu Niiyama, who played BS Digital Q reporter "Yuri Tachibana". She took a lot of chances in this film in her pursuit(often literally) to cover Godzilla's rampage and the monster's subsequent battles with the guardian monsters. She's brave to the point of insanity and is IMO perhaps the most beautiful Japanese actress I've ever seen not named Yumiko Shaku
-Commander Tachibana, Yuri's father: a tough, no-nonsense type who shows phenomenal bravery near the end of the film in using the mini-sub to try and stop Godzilla
-the special effects and overall pyrotechnic effects in GMK are marvelous. They aren't perfect: some matte shots and CGI look a little too much like, well matte shots and CGI but are minor quibbles for me. The effects used during the monster battles and the destruction caused by the monsters look terrific overall
-Godzilla's appearance: with bulky legs, a thick neck, jaws full of sharp teeth and milky white, pupil-less eyes, Godzilla's look in this movie suits his role as lumbering, malevolent and unstoppable juggernaut quite effectively
-there were several one liners in the English subtitled version of the film I thought were amusing, particularly one from a soldier on the ground who, first observing Mothra flying overhead remarks, "That's one hell of a bug!"
-the black irony and humor in this film: the sequence where the man, relieving himself at the urinal, opens the nearby window to discover he's about to be trampled by Godzilla. In the other scene the injured woman in the hospital who believes she has dodged death again at the hands of the monster...only to be proven wrong a moment later.
-a movie such as this always needs IMO at least one scene of comic relief and we get it courtesy of the police officer who, seeing Baragon out of the ground for the first time by the police station, and believing his revolver might somehow scare the monster back below the ground, opens fire with his pea shooter at the huge creature
-Baragon: though I didn't care much for the monster's new roar, I did like the look of the creature and give it credit for attacking Godzilla in earnest despite the fact it was about half the size of Godzilla...and possessed no special weapon of any kind(beam or otherwise)
What I didn't like:
-the sequence(s) where Yuri Tachibana tracks Godzilla's movements while on a bicycle. I doubt even Lance Armstrong could keep up with the movements of the monster by bike and being asked to believe that a female reporter could do likewise is IMO assinine
-the young hoodlum on the motorcycle who decides to take it upon himself to drown the dog near the beginning of the movie. Thankfully the dog survived
-the absence of Baragon from the final battle: I still would have liked seeing all the guardian monsters in an all out battle against Godzilla
It remains my supreme hope that when Toho decides to do another Godzilla film Shusuke Kaneko is in the director's chair.
A short trailer for the film:
This movie is easily my favorite of the "Millennium" Godzilla films, that is those made between 1999 and 2004. As always I submit these observations, some made previously and perhaps some that haven't, for the inspection(and dissection) of the members of this online community -
What I liked:
-Chiharu Niiyama, who played BS Digital Q reporter "Yuri Tachibana". She took a lot of chances in this film in her pursuit(often literally) to cover Godzilla's rampage and the monster's subsequent battles with the guardian monsters. She's brave to the point of insanity and is IMO perhaps the most beautiful Japanese actress I've ever seen not named Yumiko Shaku
-Commander Tachibana, Yuri's father: a tough, no-nonsense type who shows phenomenal bravery near the end of the film in using the mini-sub to try and stop Godzilla
-the special effects and overall pyrotechnic effects in GMK are marvelous. They aren't perfect: some matte shots and CGI look a little too much like, well matte shots and CGI but are minor quibbles for me. The effects used during the monster battles and the destruction caused by the monsters look terrific overall
-Godzilla's appearance: with bulky legs, a thick neck, jaws full of sharp teeth and milky white, pupil-less eyes, Godzilla's look in this movie suits his role as lumbering, malevolent and unstoppable juggernaut quite effectively
-there were several one liners in the English subtitled version of the film I thought were amusing, particularly one from a soldier on the ground who, first observing Mothra flying overhead remarks, "That's one hell of a bug!"
-the black irony and humor in this film: the sequence where the man, relieving himself at the urinal, opens the nearby window to discover he's about to be trampled by Godzilla. In the other scene the injured woman in the hospital who believes she has dodged death again at the hands of the monster...only to be proven wrong a moment later.
-a movie such as this always needs IMO at least one scene of comic relief and we get it courtesy of the police officer who, seeing Baragon out of the ground for the first time by the police station, and believing his revolver might somehow scare the monster back below the ground, opens fire with his pea shooter at the huge creature
-Baragon: though I didn't care much for the monster's new roar, I did like the look of the creature and give it credit for attacking Godzilla in earnest despite the fact it was about half the size of Godzilla...and possessed no special weapon of any kind(beam or otherwise)
What I didn't like:
-the sequence(s) where Yuri Tachibana tracks Godzilla's movements while on a bicycle. I doubt even Lance Armstrong could keep up with the movements of the monster by bike and being asked to believe that a female reporter could do likewise is IMO assinine
-the young hoodlum on the motorcycle who decides to take it upon himself to drown the dog near the beginning of the movie. Thankfully the dog survived
-the absence of Baragon from the final battle: I still would have liked seeing all the guardian monsters in an all out battle against Godzilla
It remains my supreme hope that when Toho decides to do another Godzilla film Shusuke Kaneko is in the director's chair.
A short trailer for the film:
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Monsterland Forums -steady as she goes
Monsterland Forums continues to gain new members and the posting activity at the site, despite a drop off from 2008 and 2009, remains on pace to exceed 22,000 posts for this year. I have taken a "less is more" approach with my message board this year and have spent a lot less time advertising it around the internet. My job requires me to work many more hours so I cannot put in the time I have previously posting updates and such. I would like to thank "Avery Guerra" for continuing to post updates from Ken Hulsey's "Monster Island News" blog and also the "Undead Backbrain" blog at my board: these are both great blogs filled with lots of great info on upcoming horror and sci-fi films, both domestic and international.
Monsterland Forums should reach 100,000 posts by this fall. We have 218 members in our online community thus far and that number is growing with every month. To access my message board click the title of this blog entry!
Monsterland Forums should reach 100,000 posts by this fall. We have 218 members in our online community thus far and that number is growing with every month. To access my message board click the title of this blog entry!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Godzilla salute home made video
I came across this four minute salute to Godzilla video made by a young fan of Toho's legendary monster.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Stomping ground: Abominable(2005)
There are many poorly made "Sasquatch" films that litter the cinematic landscape. Abominable, a 2005 horror film directed by Ryan Schifrin(son of famed movie composer Lalo Schifrin), isn't one of them.
The film features some solid acting, an interesting story line that borrows from Alfred Hitchcock's film "Rear Window" and all the shocks, gore and monster mayhem that we horror movie fans have come to expect(and appreciate).
Anchor Bay released this film to DVD in 2006. The DVD is packaged nicely and has some cool extras and features. Check out the trailer:
The film features some solid acting, an interesting story line that borrows from Alfred Hitchcock's film "Rear Window" and all the shocks, gore and monster mayhem that we horror movie fans have come to expect(and appreciate).
Anchor Bay released this film to DVD in 2006. The DVD is packaged nicely and has some cool extras and features. Check out the trailer:
Monday, May 31, 2010
That's A Wrap: The Mummy(1959)
One of my great failings over the years as a fan of horror movies has been a lack of appreciation for films that feature mummies. Admittedly it has taken me a lot longer to warm up to them as opposed to werewolves, Dr. Frankenstein's various laboratory monstrosities, the "Gill Man" and other cinema terrors, both human and inhuman.
My favorite "mummy" film to date is The Mummy(1959), a Hammer Films production starring Christopher Lee in the title role. Lee has no speaking part and wanders about while carrying out a methodical, murderous rampage against the unfortunate victims of this movie. Despite no spoken word Christopher Lee is marvelous as the menacing mummy and is terrific at conveying the mummy's intentions through body language and posture.
The film's trailer:
My favorite "mummy" film to date is The Mummy(1959), a Hammer Films production starring Christopher Lee in the title role. Lee has no speaking part and wanders about while carrying out a methodical, murderous rampage against the unfortunate victims of this movie. Despite no spoken word Christopher Lee is marvelous as the menacing mummy and is terrific at conveying the mummy's intentions through body language and posture.
The film's trailer:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)