Second Batch of Pics - GMMG

These are photos of the GMMG soundtrack, the most interesting of the releases. It houses stuff not only for GMMG, but also GMK and GFW. Well, be it as cluttered as it is, it seems to be a solid release all the same.

GPSCBS6 Photos

On a daily basis, for as long as it will last, JournalismG2KM is going to post a set of picks of one of the CDs of the newest CD Box Set from Toho for the Godzilla series with photos comming from KG member Matti. First photos will be of the CD for 2001's "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All Out Attack". Do not forget to actualy click on the photos themselves for larger, higher quality varriations! Who know, you who know Japanese can do some translation service!

Help Take Part In An Academic Study!

A most interesting happening has gone on in the fandom, more specifically on an academic level. Currently, a pair of college professors are in Japan and doing a study in the field of tokusatsu eiga. To be more specific, kaiju eiga. To be even more precise, Godzilla. The main point of their study is actually the locations in which Godzilla has leveled through out his film career. One of the two professors are Dr Craig Norris. Their activities have not been untold, just not as heard as what it could and should be. Craig has been going under the pseudonym "Craigzilla" on Tohokingdom forums. He has create two of the most interesting topics on Tohokingdom as of late, one regarding what Godzilla films would be most effective in pointing out Japan’s infrastructure and the newest one: a topic with a link to a survey in which will help with a further academic study of Godzilla and how tourism is effected by the King of the Monsters.
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Helping with this task is the newest published book on Godzilla, "The Monster Movie Fan’s Guide To Godzilla", written by Armand Vaquer. The book has been acclaimed left and right as of yet, with such quotes ranging from "It’s brilliant" from Dr. Craig himself to the book being, "Kaiju Awesome" by David Nunez, along with other accolades. Armand has seem to have created a masterful manifesto when it comes to creating a guide to Japan with each site being documented of it’s cinematic importance to tokusatsu eiga.

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I would like for all interested to check out the links below to get a full idea of what’s going on and to hopefully take part in this activity. Remembr, you are helping an academic study. This might as well be a once in a life time deal for some.


Armand Vaquer’s blog:
http://armandsrancho.blogspot.com/search?q=monster+movie+fan%27s+guide+to+japan
http://armandsrancho.blogspot.com/2010/04/monster-movie-fans-guide-to-japan-in.html
http://armandsrancho.blogspot.com/2010/04/godzilla-locations-interview.html
http://armandsrancho.blogspot.com/2010/04/monster-movie-fans-guide-to-japan-made.html

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Tohokingdom Forum Links:
http://www.tohokingdom.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24741
http://www.tohokingdom.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24518&start=0

Review: SPCBS Godzilla vs. Megaguirus

Movie: Godzilla vs. Megaguirus
Music By: Miciru Oshima
Record Label: Toho Music
Runing Time: 66:37
Discs: 1
Year of release: 2010
Review: ****/*****
The fist disc in the sixth 50th anniversary Godzilla Soundtrack Perfect Collection box set contains the score of GODZILLA VS. MEGAGUIRUS, composed by Michiro Oshima, the first and (so far) only female composer in the series. While this isn’t her best work, it is still a very well done and enjoyable soundtrack.
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As the movie begins, we are soon introduced to Oshima’s new Godzilla theme, which is, without a doubt, one of the best themes of the monster outside Ifukube’s work. It starts out foreboding before finally moving to the action-oriented part. Among other repeated themes in the score are the G-Grasper march, the best rendition of which is heard in "The Griffon Mobilizes" (according to the booklet, director Masaaki Tezuka thinks it sounds reminiscent of the theme from the classic 60’s TV series "Thunderbirds", and I kind of agree), the Meganula egg theme (heard in tracks 13, 14, and 25 for example), the Dimension Tide theme, and the exotic-sounding battle music that’s heard throughout the final fight between Godzilla and Megaguirus. There’s also a theme for the Meganula swarm, which fit’s the insect kaiju really well. Akira Ifukube’s Godzilla theme is also used in the movie twice (tracks 2 and 37).
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As for the disc itself, it is by far the best way to experience this soundtrack. There’s not so much new content, since one of the previous CD release that was included as part of the now OOP DVD set of the movie already contained (nearly) the full score. However, there are two thing that make this CD triumph over that one. First, and most importantly, the "Nichiei News (m1)" cue finally gets its release on CD, and there are a couple of alternate versions of it in the bonus tracks too. Second, the two aforementioned Ifukube tracks are put back in after being omitted from the previous disc from Toho Music. The bonus tracks also include an alternate take of the M3 cue and all the unused cues, which are quite short.
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As always, the booklet features a picture of Godzilla’s face on the front cover and pictures of Misato Tanaka and Yuriko Hoshi on the back. The booklet contains all the usual stuff: information about the movie and the music, track notes, ect. There’s also an interview with director Masaaki Tezuka.
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All in all, Michiru Oshima’s first soundtrack in the Godzilla series is a very good one, and it’s given an excellent presentation on this disc. If you don’t have this soundtrack yet, this box set offers you the chance to get it.
-Matti

Further pictures of this Soundtrack release can be found here:

http://journalismg2km.blogspot.com/2010/05/gxm-box-set-version.html

G-FAN Website Upgrades

Fans of G-FAN are going to be happy at the announcement that G-FAN.com has been overhauled in it's design. Now it is Gv3.0, and it is quite good looking. Go take a look n' see!

www.g-fan.com

Detailed Videos of the PSBS6

Thanks Matti!

Pics of the GPSCB6

While Tohokingdom did beat us with the reviews, we got photos!

More to come soon! All thanks to KG member Matti...

"Godzilla And Friends Film Festival V" Next Month

One of the better instalments in the Heisei series is being screened in Kansas next Month.

In recent news, we have learned that August Ragone is teaming up with Patrick Macias and Tomohiro Machyama for "TokyoScope: The Wild And Crazy World Of Japanese Cult Films Vol. 3: WAR OF THE GIANT MONSTERS!" However, if some of you can’t make it, there is an event happening at the same time which some of you may enjoy taking part in: the "Godzilla And Friends Film Festival V". Taking Place at the Henderson Learning Resources Center at the Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, the event is two days long (May 7th and 8th). Events include what KTKA.COM reports as, "film and trailer screenings, various commentaries, contests and giveaways in room 112 of Henderson Learning Resources Center." This includes a contest of who can do the best imitation of a kaiju (3pm on the 7th). As usual, guests Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski is going to be in attendance. Here is the schedule line up:

May 7 (Friday)7 p.m.:


"Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla II" (1993). A nemesis of Godzilla, Mecha-G was created as a counter attack weapon, but becomes berserk when he malfunctions. (not author's fault, just what was published in the initial report).



May 8 (Saturday)


10 a.m.: Overview of the Weird World of Japanese Super Heroes, by Steve Ryfle.


10:15 a.m. (approx.) "Godzilla vs. The Thing" (1964). Considered by many fans as the best Godzilla film made, featuring The Thing, which turns out to be another famous Japanese monster.


1 p.m.: "The H-Man" (1959). A creature of the Hydrogen Age conceals himself in an oozing slime and hides in the Tokyo sewers to catch and liquidate humans. The most bizarre Japanese monster of the 1950s.


3 p.m. (approx.) – Godzilla roar contest and drawing/coloring competition.


3:15 p.m. (approx.) – "Grade-A Visual Effects on a Grade-A Budget," by Glenn Erickson, DVD savant. Erickson was a special-effects technician for the production of the Spielberg film "1941."


4 p.m. (approx.) – "King Kong Escapes" (1968). Unites the production efforts of Toho Studios and the Rankin/Bass puppet animation organization. Introduced in this feature was the prototype for Mecha-Godzilla. One of the goofiest Japanese giant monster films ever.


7:30 p.m. - Special presentation on Japanese giant monster films, with behind-the-scenes photos, film footage and a surprise feature presentation by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski.



"Godzilla And Friends Film Festival V" has been funded by KTWU TV and Washburn university.
For an alternate report, visit here:
http://www.ktka.com/events/2010/may/07/4893/

Special thanks goes to the heads up given to me by Avery Guerra.

Review: "God's Left Hand, Devil's Right Hand"

Shusuke Kaneko goes back to the horror genre of Nippon Eiga with his newest film to be released state-side "God’s Left Hand, Devil’s Right Hand". This film is a lot of things. First and foremost, it is a manga adaptation. It seems that since his success with the DEATH NOTE movie adaptations, Shusuke Kaneko is more adapt to direct films based on manga and anime rather tokusatsu. This is a trend that is still happening with him, considering his latest film "Pride" and his sequel to Ryuhei Kitamura’s "Azumi 2: Death or Love". The manga Shusuke is adapting this time around is Kazuo Umezu’s Kami no Hidarite, Akuma no Migite, a manga that has been called "ultra-violent". Surely, it is.

The main story revolves around a younger brother/older sister duo (Gamera 3 anyone? Or should I say this is influence from Yamato Takeru (with Amatseratsu and Susa-no-o?)). One night, Izumi - the older sister - is awakened by the calls of her younger brother - Sou (pronounced "so"). Sou seems to have a strange ability - his dreams are premonitions of evil happenings. However, when Sou dreams them, the same thing that kills the person he is dreaming of happens to him. He is still alive, but he is left wounded. Once taken to the hospital, Izumi stats recalling past conversations with her brother. Conversations involving violent acts and that Sou claims that he is going to die soon. But there are other quotes Izumi recalls. With that, she tries to save her brother by also saving the people he is dreaming about. It will ultimately lead her to a small town were a pharmacist and his paraplegic daughter are involved with the happenings, along with Ai Maeda (Gamera 3 coincidence? Nah, Shusuke and Ai are just good friends).

Shusuke’s directorial style is very, very different from any of his other work. His most violent work that I have seen was CROSS FIRE. But not it is this film. Being a horror film, it does stray from the usual stereotypes of J-Horror, such as ghosts and girls that make it obvious that they have long black hair. However, Shusuke does add a little bit of the supernatural, with Sou not only having dreams but having the ability to use the "Devil’s Right Hand" and "God’s Left Hand". Sou can also talk to his sister and other members of the cast telepathically also. He even does some major plot twister and mind bending stuff at the end.

Where things get weird is the deaths. This is a very gory movie. While the horror elements does have some John Carpenter-esque suspense, the deaths are closer to what Eli Roth or Darren Lynn Bousman would do. But while some of the deaths are something which would look cool, this is a Japanese movie and sadly Japanese studios do not have the same kind of budget as Hollywood films, so do not be surprised if some stuff comes off looking as "too fake". But there are some great concepts.

But what is the overall meaning of the story? Sure, there is a nice subtle use of the phrase "You are what you eat" in the story (regarding one of the deaths). Sure, Kaneko has said that he wanted this film to be a commentary on Japanese crimes, particularly saying, "In Japan, crime is becoming more serious and outlandish. Our victims are getting younger and younger. This film is expressing my anger against the people who perpetrate such crimes." And the film succeeds in that. However, the big thing with the film is something Sou says at the end of the film regarding adults "not getting it". Sou and Izumi’s parents don’t get it that what is happening in Sou’s dreams is real. Another person who doesn’t "get it" is the perpetrator of the grizzly crimes, the pharmacist with the daughter. He kills so that he would have substance to write stories, stories which his daughter likes to listen to (until she begins to realize that they are actual happenings and that the stories are just metaphors). Then we realize that there is a deeper motive for the killings - the pharmacist is tired of the task of being a father, being bugged all the time by his daughter and such. So while he is blinded of the moral consequences of his crimes, he is also blind of the responsibilities of being a father, especially of a seven year old paraplegic girl. Some adults just "don’t seem to get it".

When it comes to the acting, do not be expecting much. The actors pretty much play their character straight to a T. But nothing really new, though the actor for the pharmacist could give some the creeps with his variety of stares. The writing - which is done by someone else other than Kaneko this time around - is pretty much good. The score is forgettable though, but do look for a variation of the Stanley Kubric theme. The SFX are… well… not as good as any of Kaneko’s other works. But ya learn to live with it. The only thing I can dock from this film is the pacing. But once you watch it again, it gets better, kind of like it grows on you.

I give the film a 7.5/10. It’s not Shusuke’s best. But for a horror film, it is pretty good. Just be prepared, Kaneko brings us something very, very different from what we usually have had seen from him. Blood, guts, gore, and rolling heads. Not to mention my favorite scene: a girl being force-fed cake till she pukes and once she stops eating is decapitated. Blood, guts, puke, and cake. What more could you ask for in a film that isn’t HOSTEL or SAW?

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