Japanese Monster Movies Happy Birthday, Mechagodzilla (Mk 1) & King Seesar! draconicverses, March 21, 2012 Wow. THIRTY EIGHT years ago today, the world was first introduced to the very first Mechagodzilla, as Toho released GOJIRA TAI MEKAGOJIRA (1974). It would be released thre years later in the US as GODZILLA VS THE BIONIC MONSTER (1977). That didn’t go over terribly well with Universal, because of… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Happy Birthday, Jett Jaguar! draconicverses, March 18, 2012 It was 39 years ago today, that Japanese audiences were introduced to the Robot Hero, Jett Jaguar, when he debuted in GOJIRA TAI MEGARO (1973) better known to US audiences as GODZILLA VS. MEGALON, which would be seen here (by myself, included) in 1976. Godzilla was now a full blown… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Happy Birthday, TERROR OF MECHAGODZILA draconicverses, March 15, 2012 It was the end of an era, literally. Toho had announced that the movie that debuted on this day in 1975, MEKAGOJIRA NO GYAKUSHU (1975) (aka TERROR OF GODZILLA & TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA in the US) would be the last Godzilla film in the franchise for the time being. It… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Happy Birthday, GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND! draconicverses, March 12, 2012 It was an unbelievable 40 years ago today that CHIKYÛ KOGEKI MEIREI: GOJIRA TAI GAIGAN (1972) (in US, GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND & GODZILLA VS. GIGAN) was released in Japan. It wasn’t seen in the US until 5 years later, in August of 1977. Which is ironic, as Gigan’s supporting… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Sirki’s Summons – February 28: The Kaiju Director & The Eminent Scientist draconicverses, February 28, 2012 Greetings Effendi! Today marks the anniversary of the passing of two very different men – one behind the cameras and one in front of them. It was on this day in 1993 that Prince Sirki reached out to Japan and claimed the director who had guided many giant monsters through… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Sirki’s Summons – January 25: The Kaiju Master draconicverses, January 26, 2012 Greetings from beyond the veil, effendi. There are innovators, and there are imitators. This particular innovator can be credited with the creation of an entire genre that has endured to this very day, from his humble beginnings in film back in the 1930s. Like so many aspiring film makers, this… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies DVD Review – Destroy All Monsters from Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock draconicverses, November 23, 2011 2/26/13: Apparently, some knucklehead linked THIS page to a binsearch.info page as a source to download a copy of DAM. Well guess what, would be pirates – IT AIN’T HERE! IT NEVER WAS! Hell, it even SAYS “Review” in this page’s address! So if you ARE here to download… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies HAPPY 57th BIRTHDAY, GOJIRA!!!!! draconicverses, November 3, 2011 It was 57 years ago today, that the world was introduced to a radioactive, fire breathing, reptilian engine of destruction in GOJIRA (1954). It was the start of an amazing, near-unparalleled film franchise, spawning 28 sequels, comics, toys, cartoons and an American-produced ‘remake’ in 1998. Directed by Ishiro Honda, Gojira… Continue Reading
Japanese Monster Movies Happy 53rd Birthday, DAIKAIJU BARAN! draconicverses, October 14, 2011 On this date, in 1958, Japanese audiences were first introduced to the third daikaiju (giant monster) to have its own film – DAIKAIJU BARAN. Four years later, American audiences would be introduced to him as VARAN, THE UNBELIEVABLE (1962). The differences between the two versions are staggering. Where GODZILLA, KING… Continue Reading
Art & Design Mock-Up For Criterion Gojira – Personal Challenge draconicverses, August 25, 2011 So apparently, from all indications, Criterion is getting set to release a Criterion Collection treatment of Ishiro Honda’s Gojira (1954). I must admit, I’ve been chomping at the bit to try my hand at the ‘Avant Garde’ style of Criterion. They always seem to try to go for a non-traditional… Continue Reading