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Post by Mighty Jack on Sept 29, 2014 16:11:34 GMT -5
Godzilla walks off into the sunset… Godzilla: Final Wars2004 Directed by Ryûhei Kitamura Written by Isao Kiriyama, Ryûhei Kitamura (screenplay), Wataru Mimura, Shogo Tomiyama (story) IMDB Rating: 6.6 out of 10 Summary: Godzilla's 50th Anniversary sees the G-Man traveling the globe to fight his old foes as well as a new, mysterious creature named Monster X. All while a band of mutants and humans try to quell an alien invasion. For all the hype, Final Wars wound up a bit of a disappointment. Why? Because they spent too much time farting around with that “Mutants vs. Aliens” malarkey. I got so sick and tired of watching those knobs posture, and pose and hop and flip and chew the scenery. Their scenes make the first hour a chore to sit through. Story wise, they threw in the kitchen sink -- drawing from Godzilla history yes, but also stealing from Hollywood blockbusters like Star Wars, X-Men and The Matrix (there's even a Keanu Reeves look-a-like in the lead). When they FINALLY get to ‘Godzilla vs. everyone’ it was an hour and 10 into the flick.... and even then they kept jumping back to the mutants and that smug, hammy Xilian (the name of the aliens). On the plus, the creature designs are sweet. Foes like Gigan look amazing, as did Monster X. The Kaiju throw downs are incredibly cool, both fast and furious and sometimes amusing. Oh if they’d only ditched the over stuffed twaddle: Streamlined the story, cut out the Xilian fanboy nonsense, the motorcycle fight and training exercise… Lose the mutant/Matrix mash-up, and had a different, more interesting first hour set-up… Gave me more Godzilla and fewer swaggering aliens and mutants, I might have liked this one better. So is the glass half empty or half full? It’s a film that gets a mixed reaction from Die Hard fans. For me its sits along side “Godzilla vs. Gigan” on my rankings. It has its good stuff, and it has its bad (which is very very bad), and it sees the return of Minilla... So take that, as you will. (Actually his scenes were often a hoot.) Every time this clown in the front pops on screen I think, "Oh just STFU!"Box office wise, it fared poorly, from Wiki… At roughly $19,500,000, Godzilla: Final Wars was the most expensive Toho-produced Godzilla film of all time.
Any hopes Toho had of Godzilla: Final Wars ending the series with a box office bang were stifled when the film opened in Japan on December 4, 2004. In its opening weekend, it came in third at the box office with $1,874,559. At the holiday season box office, it was beaten by Howl's Moving Castle and The Incredibles, both which also pursued the family market. It eventually grossed roughly $12,000,000 at the Japanese box office, with 1,000,000 admissions. Not only was it the least-attended film in the Millennium series, it was also the least attended film in 29 years since Terror of Mechagodzilla.This is it then, Godzilla’s final curtain call for Toho. 10 years after the release of this flick, Hollywood would again be handed the reigns. Only this time they treated the King with more respect and the picture was a hit. Will we ever see a Japanese based, man in a suit, miniature sets etc, Godzilla movie again. Or does Final Wars mark the end of an era? Whatever the future brings, it was a hell of a ride. But it’s not done yet; I still have one more feature to watch in this Godzilla-thon.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Sept 29, 2014 23:48:34 GMT -5
Godzilla2014 Directed by Gareth Edwards Written by Max Borenstein (screenplay), Dave Callaham(story) IMDB Rating: 6.8 out of 10 Summary: The world's most famous monster is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence. Hollywood gets its second crack at the King, and does a far, far better and more respectful job of it. That’s not to say it’s without flaws. It has a bunch, most of which have been well documented by viewers and critics. The main bugaboo is with the human side of the story. I like the set up, the scenes in Japan are strong and actor Bryan Cranston brings a lot of fire to the screen. I felt for his character, I felt his heartbreak and the frustration, turned into obsession that has driven him to the brink of madness. But when the movie moves stateside and Cranston exits stage left, that's when the story begins to falter. For one: Aaron Taylor-Johnson proves to be a poor substitute for Cranston. I’ve liked the actor in other pictures, but here he’s devoid of screen presence, you might as well as hired a 2x4 to play his role. Though the writers have to share some of the blame… I had little interest in his character. The other problem is that at times Godzilla is almost an afterthought in his own movie. He’d show up and I’d think “Oh yeah, that guy.” I get that Director Gareth Edwards wanted to build tension and slowly reveal Godzilla, but he takes that too far. This isn’t Jaws, this isn’t a boogey man horror flick, this is GODZILLA. In a Godzilla flick I want to freaking SEE Godzilla fight -- not as a background figure, not on the TV, but up front and personal. Gareth teases and teases, and when finally it looks like he’ll give us that much desired throw down… nope, instead we follow the humans into a shelter where the door closes and we are shut out of the fight. Okay, now you’re no longer building tension, now your just pissing me off. When Ken Watanabe’s character says… It was like he was reading my mind. It didn’t help that movie fatigue was settling in at that point. Build up can be an effective tool (as it was in GMK), but at some point you need to put your star on the stage. And Edwards should have done that sooner than later. (And why remind audiences of that horrid 1998 feature, with the pregnancy sub plot? Cut that garbage out… and cut to the chase)With all those complaints it sounds like I HATED this movie. Quite the contrary. For all it gets wrong, for all that drives me nuts about it. I actually quite enjoyed the feature. As I mentioned, I loved the start in Japan, and I loved the ending, when I finally get to see some monster vs. monster action... Man that stuff it was pulse pounding. There are some truly wonderful cinematic touches: as when Godzilla’s back fins start to light up. Such things made me want to stand up and cheer. And his killing stroke to the MUTO is one of the best moments in the series history. The creatures look great. The MUTOs are freaky, insect like. And though he is a bit lumpy and has cankles, I liked the way the G-Man looked. He was pure power. In short: The start and finish were amazing, it was that saggy mid section that kept the movie from being a complete success.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 1, 2014 2:11:49 GMT -5
Listy things for the Godzilla Thrilla!Favorite Male Character/ActorAkira Takarada was an all-star -- a charismatic asset in many Godzilla features over the years. I especially liked him in Mothra vs. Godzilla as Reporter Ichirō Sakai and in Godzilla Vs. the Sea Monster as the in-command thief Yoshimura. Favorite Female Character/ActressChiharu Niiyama as Yuri in Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack – Yuri stood out for me because she was real: She’d get drunk and embarrassed herself, but she also had a loving bond with her father. Yuri was full of personality; I liked her pluck and resolve. Cutest CoupleGoro and Saeko (Reiko) (Son of Godzilla) – They were good together, and I always imagined that after their island adventure that they got married, had some kids and lived happy, fun filled lives, ever after. (and that she continued to make fun of his girlish taste in shirts) Best Family UnitYuji, Io and Yuki in Godzilla 2000 – Father, daughter and an exasperated tag-along photographer, who originally saw them as weirdos (they saw her as someone they could use for free publicity (and money). In the end they grew to care for one another and became a great team. Most FashionableKeiko Mari as Miki Fujiyama (Godzilla vs Hedorah) - Miki was a cool hip fashion plate no matter the disaster. Most Attractive Handsome Takarada (mentioned up top) for the men. And for the women I liked Akiko Wakabayashi, who played Princess Selina Salno of Selgina (Ghidorah The Three Headed Monster) and Tamiye (King Kong vs. Godzilla) Favorite Aliens Those new wave Devo fans from Planet X in Invasion of Astro-Monster Others...Favorite Godzilla Suit: Several -- I liked the lean mean look, the neckline, seen in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and Tokyo S.O.S. From the classic era, I liked the menacing hooded brow in Mothra vs. Godzilla, and I thought he looked powerful in Godzilla 2000, I especially like the large, rose tinted back spines. (Oh and GMK - while his tummy was a bit lumpy in some shots - that evil face with no pupils was the best. Phew, way too bad-ass cool) Favorite Fight? This is a good question, I wished I’d have thought of it before the marathon and paid more attention to specifics. I know I’ve always liked the battles with Mechagodzilla. There were also some terrific ones in GMK and several goodies in Final Wars. I recall enjoying the clash in Mothra vs. Godzilla as well. Tomorrow... Favorite Foes!
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 1, 2014 23:35:25 GMT -5
My favorite, most dangerous Godzilla foes Now. I’m just going to lump all versions of these monsters under one heading with my list. With that in mind… Here’s my Fearsome Foursome!1. Mechagodzilla Made from Godzilla DNA (Kiryu in the Millennium series) and either space titanium (Showa) or, artificial diamond plating (Heisei). My favorite foe is one that always guarantees a good time. There has never been a bad Mechagodzilla movie, and this Bionic monster always gives Godzilla a tough fight. He has even bested him on occasion… though Godzy always rebounds. Mechanical failure seems to be the Robo-Kaiju’s worse enemy (that, and getting his head ripped off). But he looks sharp and has an array of deadly weaponry. 2. King Ghidorah 3-headed golden dragon, shoots lightning, flies; he looks awesome and has been a thorn in Godzilla’s side for decades. He’s a planet destroyer who crushed the Venusians, but he’s also been a tool of conquest, used by the Xillians and other alien races against Earth. There have been several versions of the beast: The most dangerous is Keizer Ghidorah, aka Monster X, from Final Wars. He’s Ghidorah turned all the way to 11. There was also a Mecha-King Godzilla, and from the later Mothra series there was a Death Ghidorah and Super Dragon King Ghidorah. 3. Destroyah One could argue that the title of “most dangerous” would have to go to this hell beast, after all he was born of the same weapon that killed the first Godzilla and was able to manifest this into an Oxygen destroyer beam. He was putting a beating on a dying Godzilla, when he made the mistake of killing Zilla’s son and thereafter faced the Kings full wrath. Despite his awesome power and ability to change form, he is vulnerable to cold 4. Gigan This cyborg Kaiju is the most brutal and violent of Godzilla’s foes. He’ll cut ya man, and draw gushers of blood as he does so. He has hooks for hands and feet, and in later films he could replace the hook hand for chainsaws. Which is saw overkill because he also has a buzz saw in his torso… so beware, don’t take a hug from this thug. BTW: He got an upgrade in Final Wars; he looks amazing in that film and that’s the image I used. How about Rodan and Mothra? Mothra is a popular regular in the series, and while really not the toughest of the monsters, she is tenacious. I actually like Rodan a bit more; he can peck with that beak, and has a row of spikes on his chest. Rodan though, has also been a Zilla ally, and unfortunately has been used as comic relief. That, and it doesn’t help his case that his counterpart in the Gamera series, Gaos, is actually tougher and meaner (Gaos shoots death lasers after all). I think you could make an argument for Hedorah as well. He was not only a dangerous foe to the King, but toxic to humans as well
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 3, 2014 1:46:59 GMT -5
In an earlier write-up I mentioned that it was difficult for me to rank the Godzilla movies. I tend to put them in groups. But I’ll give it the old College try. Here’s what I came up with, though on any given day it could shift here and there. Group A: The Kaiju Kings1. Gojira (Shôwa) 2. Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (Millennium) 3. Mothra vs. Godzilla (Shôwa) 4. Godzilla vs. Destroyah (Heisei) 5. Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (Millennium) Group B: Rounding out the top 106. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (Heisei) 7. Invasion of Astro-Monster (Shôwa) 8. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (Shôwa) 9. Terror of Mechagodzilla (Shôwa) 10. Godzilla vs. Hedorah (Shôwa) Group C: Great fun!11. Destroy All Monsters (Shôwa) 12. Godzilla 2000 (Millennium) 13. Son of Godzilla (Shôwa) - What? I think it’s a hoot14. King Kong vs. Godzilla (Shôwa) 15. Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (Millennium) – This one keeps dropping, story is pretty thinGroup D: I liked these, but with caveats 16. Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (Heisei) 17. Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (Millennium) 18. Godzilla 2014 (US) 19. Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (Shôwa) Group E: Even more mixed results 20. Godzilla Raids Again (Shôwa) 21. Godzilla vs. Gigan (Shôwa) 22. Godzilla: Final Wars (Millennium) 23. Godzilla and Mothra: Battle for the Earth (Heisei) 24. Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster (Shôwa) Group F: My least favorite25. Godzilla vs. Biolante (Heisei) - dull 26. The Return of Godzilla (Heisei) - duller 27. Godzilla vs. Megalon (Shôwa) - dumb 28. All Monsters Attack (Shôwa) - dumber 29. Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (Heisei) - bad 30. Godzilla 1998 (US) – bad-er
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 4, 2014 0:06:25 GMT -5
And finally (unless I can think of more Godzilla things to list) here’s what IMDB members thought of the movies
IMDB Rankings
7.5 Gojira (1954)
7.3 Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)
6.8 Godzilla vs. Destroyah (1995) Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002) Godzilla 2014 (US)
6.7 Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S (2003)
6.6 Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993) Destroy All Monsters (1968) Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964) Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)
6.5 Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) 6.4 Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)
6.3 Invasion of Astro Monster (1965) Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)
6.1 Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975) The Return of Godzilla (aka, Godzilla 1985 – 1984)
6.0 Godzilla Raids Again (1955) Godzilla and. Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992)
5.9 Godzilla 2000 (1999) King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)
5.8 Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)
5.7 Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994)
5.6 Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)
5.3 Godzilla 1998 (US)
5.1 Son of Godzilla (1967)
5.0 Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster (1966)
4.2 Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)
4.0 All Monsters Attack (aka Godzilla’s Revenge – 1969)
Thoughts: The top 3 or 4 don’t surprise me, though I thought that Mothra vs. Godzilla would get a higher ranking. Maybe I should join IMDB and give it a vote… it should be more around the 6.8 range.
I am amazed that Megaguirus graded higher than the first 2 Mechagodzilla’s and Astro Monster
Godzilla 2000 is undervalued. As is King Kong (maybe because most Americans haven’t seen the superior Japanese cut?), Tokyo S.O.S is over valued (though I enjoy it)
I like Son of Godzilla and Hedorah better than most IMDB members.
I don’t like Biolante and Final Wars as much as they do.
I agree with their top 2… which are the only Godzilla flicks to hit the 7 point (+) range… and deservedly so.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 9, 2014 9:34:13 GMT -5
So a few weeks ago I cancelled my website service. This week it finally disappeared. Last night I checked just to see... and it's gone.
Oh I have some of the content saved at a free blog, but it was weird to see something that was so much a part of my life for years, just be... gone. It became very real, and I had to have a moment of silence...
... Bye Mighty Jack's MST3K Review, you were a pal and confidant.... I just got tired, and didn't want to pay for you once they doubled the cost of maintaining you. But you will always have a place in my heart.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 10, 2014 5:10:06 GMT -5
For MinDo you remember your first real girl/boyfriend? Not necessarily your first love, just the first gal/guy you seriously dated? I was thinking about the ladies in my life. My first kiss, my first love, my first (and only) wife… how at one point they were your whole world, and now they are strangers. I was a late bloomer, I had friends and girls I made out with, but my first real girlfriend was also my date to the prom (and it wasn’t even my prom, it was hers). I called her Min for short, she was a cutie and we had some fun, but she never stayed with a guy for long. She was a free spirit. Like a hippy flower child, long after hippy flower children had gone extinct. She left me for someone with a fast red sport car. Though I cared for her I can't say I was madly in love. Still, losing your first real GF after only a month- especially when things were peachy- is off putting, but it was more like a slap in the face than a complete evisceration. I wonder where she is now? What kind of life did she have? I hope it was a good one. This song’s for you Min, wherever you are. A country tune by Johnny Cash that reminds me of you.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 14, 2014 6:06:01 GMT -5
I love cats. I love cats so much that I'll sit through an extended Frisky's commercial just because they are so damned cute. I don't know if you've seen them, but the "Dear Kitten" videos are adorable and funny.
Here are 3 of them for your viewing enjoyment...
The strange window "Where does our poop go when it disappears from the litter box, I don't know, my mind is blown!"
My favorite: The new dog, so true, so hilarious...
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 20, 2014 15:42:53 GMT -5
Movies I wish were made by Rankin/Bass: The Marathon Man
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 22, 2014 6:42:05 GMT -5
I'm not really a Halloween kind of guy. I don't go out of my way to watch horror movies, I usually have to work that night... so no parties or whatnot. But for some reason I felt the uncontrollable urge to watch the Night Stalker for this scary season. I remember when this first aired because my Mother was a lover of creepy flicks. So naturally she watched this. Night Stalker (about a vampire set lose in Vegas) was the little movie that could, and surprised everyone by becoming the most watched made for TV movie at the time (blew the previous leader, "Brian's Song", out of the water). It really is well scripted (screenplay was by Matheson) and directed flick, and the acting was without peer. I loved Darren McGavin as the reporter Kolchak. He brought so much energy and humor... especially in his heated exchanges with the also perfectly cast, Simon Oakland. What stuck with me beyond the scares, and what makes this the best of the Kolchak films and TV series eps, is how sad it was at the end. Carl has been around. He's a good reporter but he has pissed off so many people, lost so many jobs, that his star has fallen. But now he has a chance at redemption. He has a deal with local authorities that'll give him an exclusive on this strange story. He's proposed marriage to his girlfriend. It's all looking like roses. Then at the moment of triumph, when he pulls the politico's butts out of the fire by slaying the killer and proving that he was right all along, the rug gets pulled out from under him. Those bastard political agents, the top cops etc take it all away. Not only that, they chase his girlfriend out of town... and he is unable to find her. So the last we see of him is in a small, lonely, cheap motel room, nursing a drink and putting the finishing touches on a report he can never file. Broke my heart. Damn McGavin was so good in those final scenes. Great movie, still holds up.
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Post by nondescript spice on Oct 22, 2014 9:32:50 GMT -5
they even ran the poor schmuck's girlfriend out of town? that seems unduly harsh. if that were made today, they'd have mcgavin turn into a vampire at the end and in part 2 he'd go back and kill all the suits responsible. and jay z would do the soundtrack.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 23, 2014 0:39:32 GMT -5
^Your probably spot on there. And the GF thing? Yeah and it bothered me because we don't know what they said to her, or why she didn't try to contact Carl herself. She just disappeared. ----- It's Wednesday, bitches! Wait, I'm not spice. Anyway, it's Wednesday, which for geeks all across the land means just one thing. Comic book day!Here's what I enjoyed and recommend this week... With SPOILERS, BITCHES! (er, sorry, I don't know what's possessed me) The Wicked + The Divine #5 (Image)Writer Kieron Gillen knows how to tap into the youth and music culture. Not everyone digs this, but I do -even though my interest is drawn from a different era. This about rock stars as Gods, actual Gods. And the relationship they have with fans. It's a good character piece, marked by stunning art and colors from Jamie McKelvie and Matthew Wilson. This ends the first arc with a literal bang ("her head blow'd up real good!"). Which shocked and pissed me off, as they killed my favorite character -- Luci, short for Lucifer, who looks like Bowie's 'Thin White Duke', chain smokes and had a wicked wit. I'll miss her. Catwoman #35 (DC)Poor Selina has had to suffer under Ann Nocenti's wretched pen for nearly 2 years, but that crap writer has been replaced by novelist Genevieve Valentine who gives the series a fresh new coat of paint in her first time at bat (uh, mix metaphors, much?) The Cat has taken on a new role... the Kingpin of crime in Gotham - and it actually suits her. Artist Gary Brown gives the book a sketchy, Pulp Noir look so that the overall piece is "Dark Knight Meets the Godfather". Good start. She-Hulk #9 (Marvel)Writer Charles Soule and artist Javier Pulido have brought humor and a refreshing silver age vibe to this comic. However in this issue they ramp up the intensity - as we go full out Perry Mason as Jen (Shulkie) defends Steve Rogers (Cap, looking old because the super solider serum is no longer working) in a murder trial that pits her against Matt Murdock (Daredevil). I'm loving this story, though I'm approaching it with reservations. Soule is great at set-ups, it's his finishes that traditionally have left much to be desired. Please Charles, deliver a satisfying payoff next month. Lazarus #12 (Image)While I hate the computer generated covers, the insides are what make this sociopolitical sci-fi tale worth reading. From Greg Rucka and Michael Lark, who expand the world, show us more of the power players and the various Lazari (super powered body guards, military heads, protectors of each family) Secret Origins #6 (DC)This issue features 3 stories. The grim replays for Sinestro and Dead Man did zip for me, the reason I bought this was for the Brian Azzarello scripted chapter devoted to Wonder Woman. Which was done as if it was published in the 60s (Diana uses the slang term, "Cool". lol.) It's a playful, entertaining piece, full of sexual innuendo that is both amusing and telling (seems one of the Amazon girls has a crush on the Princess). Very fun, with bright colorful 60s style art. Only negative? The cover: Angry, warrior Diana does not reflect the interior story. I also read Arkham Manor #1 (M'eh), Revival #24 (rock solid as ever) And several digitally: Dynamite's excellent Flash Gordon miniseries, as well as Suicide Risk, Letter 44 and the second issue of Wayward. All of which I enjoyed.
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Post by nondescript spice on Oct 23, 2014 9:27:17 GMT -5
ahahahaha - i'm suing you. i just like calling people bitches. it's fun, isn't it? nice images. i'm a huge believer in visual aids. i'm not into comic books, but the artwork sometimes blows me away.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 24, 2014 1:33:07 GMT -5
ahahahaha - i'm suing you. i just like calling people bitches. it's fun, isn't it? nice images. i'm a huge believer in visual aids. i'm not into comic books, but the artwork sometimes blows me away. It is fun to say. Which reminds me, there's a new comic from Kelly Sue DeConnick coming in December titled, "Bitch Planet". That is so going on my holds list.
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