There are few genre films of any kind quite as respected as 1954's "Godzilla." Directed by Ishiro Honda, the film was an examination of post-World War II Japan, a nation that had experienced the horrors of the atomic bomb. The now-iconic monster was a narrative device used to reckon with those horrors, and even though some 70 years later the movie has secured its place in cinema history, it wasn't always a sure thing. So much so that composer Akira Ifukube was advised to back out of doing the project by his peers for fear that it would ruin his career.
In the 2019 book "Life Godzilla," it's explained that production company Toho was not confident in the film ahead of its release. "Godzilla" was a movie that could have ended a great many careers. "We couldn't reassure them," said assistant director Koji Kajita. "There was still no soundtrack and without it the film looked stupid.
In the 2019 book "Life Godzilla," it's explained that production company Toho was not confident in the film ahead of its release. "Godzilla" was a movie that could have ended a great many careers. "We couldn't reassure them," said assistant director Koji Kajita. "There was still no soundtrack and without it the film looked stupid.
- 5/3/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
He may be king of the monsters and headliner of the longest-running film franchise, but Godzilla isn’t exactly a beacon of consistency. He made his premiere in Honda Ishirô’s 1954 classic Godzilla as an allegorical figure, warning of the dangers of nuclear technology, before eventually settling into a drive-in movie star and a hero for children, as well as those young at heart. That’s a somewhat unlikely legacy, especially considering that the original film ends with the creature’s unambiguous death.
Inspired by King Kong’s popularity in Japan, Godzilla’s filmmakers didn’t have the time or resources to execute the stop-motion movie magic that brought Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack’s King Kong to life (the 1933 monster adventure was re-released in Japan in 1952), but their resourcefulness and ingenuity resulted in a different kind of magic. Tsuburaya Eiji’s pioneering use of suitmation was not...
Inspired by King Kong’s popularity in Japan, Godzilla’s filmmakers didn’t have the time or resources to execute the stop-motion movie magic that brought Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack’s King Kong to life (the 1933 monster adventure was re-released in Japan in 1952), but their resourcefulness and ingenuity resulted in a different kind of magic. Tsuburaya Eiji’s pioneering use of suitmation was not...
- 3/29/2024
- by Rob Humanick
- Slant Magazine
It all began with the sound of thundering footsteps and a now-iconic roar before giving way to Akira Ifukube’s equally iconic music. Japanese cinema and monster movies worldwide would never be the same again. In the beginning, Godzilla represented the ultimate in fear and destruction. A creature so colossal, he could lay waste to entire cities just by lumbering through them and swinging his mighty tail before setting them ablaze with a burst of his atomic breath. Over the years he evolved from national terror to national treasure, becoming a protector and kind of mascot to the nation of Japan. He was transplanted and championed all over the world. Eventually he became a joke and a marketing tool used to sell everything from Fiats, to Snickers bars, to Nike shoes in a one-on-one pickup game with Charles Barkley. Within the past year, Godzilla has come full circle with the...
- 1/24/2024
- by Brian Keiper
- bloody-disgusting.com
You will soon be able to bring home the soundtrack for one of the best movies of 2023. The folks at Waxwork Records have teamed with Sony Music and Toho to bring the "Godzilla Minus One" soundtrack to vinyl. The double LP record will arrive in April and you can pre-order a copy now. And, as per usual, the folks at Waxwork have gone all-out for the release.
The 150-gram vinyl is beautifully colored and it comes in impressive packaging that captures the film's terrifying version of Godzilla in all of his glory. The score was composed by Naoki Sato, who was inspired by the works of Japanese animated films from Studio Ghibli for the emotional moments (as well as the work of original "Godzilla" composer Akira Ifukube's score to drive home the moments of kaiju terror). Anyone who has seen the film can attest to Sato's incredible use of the original "Godzilla" theme,...
The 150-gram vinyl is beautifully colored and it comes in impressive packaging that captures the film's terrifying version of Godzilla in all of his glory. The score was composed by Naoki Sato, who was inspired by the works of Japanese animated films from Studio Ghibli for the emotional moments (as well as the work of original "Godzilla" composer Akira Ifukube's score to drive home the moments of kaiju terror). Anyone who has seen the film can attest to Sato's incredible use of the original "Godzilla" theme,...
- 1/19/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
The Japanese girl group Atarashii Gakko! has released their newest song, “Tokyo Calling,” a spectacular harmony with humorous lyrics about saving the citizens of Japan from being trapped in continuous monotony in their daily lives. It is a marvelous banger and is further enriched by its satirical commentary on Japanese society. Another appealing aspect of the song, in addition to the lyrics and the vocals of Mizyu, Suzuka, Rin, and Kanon, is the melody that blends modern J-pop and rap elements with traditional orchestral compositions in the same vein as composers like Akira Ifukube and Shiro Sagisu.
Uploaded on the YouTube channel of music company 88rising, Pennacky directs the official music video full of visual gags while also being a love letter to the art form of tokusatsu, prominently paying tribute to the “Ultraman” franchise and even with an added layer of film grain and camerawork reminiscent of filmmakers such...
Uploaded on the YouTube channel of music company 88rising, Pennacky directs the official music video full of visual gags while also being a love letter to the art form of tokusatsu, prominently paying tribute to the “Ultraman” franchise and even with an added layer of film grain and camerawork reminiscent of filmmakers such...
- 10/23/2023
- by Sean Barry
- AsianMoviePulse
Japan’s most iconic giant monster is set for a big screen return in Takashi Yamazaki’s upcoming film “Godzilla Minus One.” Until that day, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the long-lasting legacy of “Godzilla.” Originally conceived as a metaphor for the horrors of nuclear warfare, the kaiju has seen its fair share of unique variations. Yet, the beauty of why this character remains solidified in cinema history is for the ideas that come with its creation and existence, along with many unique interpretations. Like many movie series, the franchise’s quality frequently fluctuates, yet plenty of these movies are good, some even fantastic. Here is an exploration of the King of the Monsters’ finest hits throughout the years.
Buy This Title
on Amazon 1. Godzilla (1954)
The original film that started it all. “Godzilla” remains a masterpiece all these years later. Ishiro Honda weaves together a simplistic yet...
Buy This Title
on Amazon 1. Godzilla (1954)
The original film that started it all. “Godzilla” remains a masterpiece all these years later. Ishiro Honda weaves together a simplistic yet...
- 10/8/2023
- by Sean Barry
- AsianMoviePulse
Films about the end of the world are nothing new. But films about the real end of the world–the moments in human history that seem to have put us on an inevitable path toward our own self-destruction–are less frequent. In the 1950s, as the Cold War took hold and the threat of nuclear war escalated, most of the films that came out dealt with it in terms of metaphor, usually sci-fi ones, like giant irradiated lizards and insects standing in for hydrogen bombs.
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer addresses one of those moments in history head-on, giving us not just a glimpse into the tormented mind of the “father of the atomic bomb,” but a you-are-there, immersive front row seat to the very moment in which the first bomb was detonated and the end of the human race came into clear view, starting with what many now consider to...
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer addresses one of those moments in history head-on, giving us not just a glimpse into the tormented mind of the “father of the atomic bomb,” but a you-are-there, immersive front row seat to the very moment in which the first bomb was detonated and the end of the human race came into clear view, starting with what many now consider to...
- 7/24/2023
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
Ten years after the success of “Godzilla”, it became more than evident that the popularity of the kaiju was nowhere near the end and had arguably only just begun. With the commercial acclaim of both “Mothra” and the ambitious “King Kong vs. Godzilla”, producer Toho would continue the franchise with now one more entry per year, staring with “Mothra vs. Godzilla”, which saw the giant reptile with the star of Ishiro Honda’s movie just a few years prior. While the feature also shows the technical advances when it came to shooting these kinds of movies, it also stayed true to the themes which Honda and co-author Takeo Murata had introduced in the first movie of the franchise, namely the battle of man vs. nature and the danger of nuclear technology, with the director’s skepticism seemingly have grown over the past decade if the story is any indicator.
Buy...
Buy...
- 8/29/2022
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
“Shin Ultraman” wouldn’t be the first time filmmakers Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi reimagined a popular tokusatsu character. A few years prior, they gave audiences “Shin Godzilla,” an alternate title for the feature being “Godzilla Resurgence.” It is a film that is not only an entertaining monster flick but a suspenseful political thriller with clever commentary. Also reinstated are the themes of the original “Godzilla” directed by Ishiro Honda on the horrors of nuclear warfare. In conjunction with that is satire inspired by the Japanese government’s poor handling of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011.
Japan is thrust into panic and chaos when a giant creature appears and starts causing destruction. The beast is referred to as Godzilla, and it is constantly evolving. The government works to prevent further catastrophe while overcoming bureaucratic red tape. The story is simple but engaging, balancing humor...
Japan is thrust into panic and chaos when a giant creature appears and starts causing destruction. The beast is referred to as Godzilla, and it is constantly evolving. The government works to prevent further catastrophe while overcoming bureaucratic red tape. The story is simple but engaging, balancing humor...
- 8/13/2022
- by Sean Barry
- AsianMoviePulse
The Daimajin Trilogy
Blu ray – All Region
Arrow Films
1966
Starring Miwa Takada, Kojiro Hongo, Hideki Ninomiya
Cinematography by Fujio Morita, Shozo Tanaka, Hiroshi Imai
Directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, Kenji Misumi, Kazuo Mori
Japanese monsters seem to bring out the best in home video companies—Arrow Films’ The Daimajin Trilogy is the most beautifully wrought Blu ray release since Criterion’s momentous Godzilla set. Though the films themselves don’t match the kaleidoscopic allure of Matt Frank’s cover illustrations, the Daimajin movies remain rousing entertainment for both monster-crazy kids and seasoned movie fans who should appreciate the sky-scraping samurai’s exciting if utterly predictable adventures.
Predictable, because each film in the trilogy is essentially the same movie—same beginning, same middle, same end. Utterly predictable but then so are the Bond films—the lack of any real surprises is fundamental to their comfort food aesthetic. Produced one after another in...
Blu ray – All Region
Arrow Films
1966
Starring Miwa Takada, Kojiro Hongo, Hideki Ninomiya
Cinematography by Fujio Morita, Shozo Tanaka, Hiroshi Imai
Directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, Kenji Misumi, Kazuo Mori
Japanese monsters seem to bring out the best in home video companies—Arrow Films’ The Daimajin Trilogy is the most beautifully wrought Blu ray release since Criterion’s momentous Godzilla set. Though the films themselves don’t match the kaleidoscopic allure of Matt Frank’s cover illustrations, the Daimajin movies remain rousing entertainment for both monster-crazy kids and seasoned movie fans who should appreciate the sky-scraping samurai’s exciting if utterly predictable adventures.
Predictable, because each film in the trilogy is essentially the same movie—same beginning, same middle, same end. Utterly predictable but then so are the Bond films—the lack of any real surprises is fundamental to their comfort food aesthetic. Produced one after another in...
- 8/14/2021
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
Godzilla and King Kong are not characters one approaches lightly. As two of the most iconic monsters in cinema, the big ape and even bigger lizard carry plenty of history on their shoulders as they march into Godzilla vs. Kong, the new monster mash-up from Warner Bros. and HBO Max. Composer Tom Holkenborg (aka Junkie Xl) is of course keenly aware of this since he had the task of updating their sounds for 2021.
Holkenborg, a lifelong aficionado of nearly every style of music, cites the composer for the original King Kong (1933), Max Steiner, as a personal inspiration and influence. And of course Akira Ifukube’s legendary themes from 1954’s Godzilla (also known as Gojira) are nothing to sneeze at either. Yet, in a decision reminiscent of his and Hans Zimmer’s past choices with iconic DC superheroes, Holkenborg elected to go another way with the music in Godzilla vs. Kong...
Holkenborg, a lifelong aficionado of nearly every style of music, cites the composer for the original King Kong (1933), Max Steiner, as a personal inspiration and influence. And of course Akira Ifukube’s legendary themes from 1954’s Godzilla (also known as Gojira) are nothing to sneeze at either. Yet, in a decision reminiscent of his and Hans Zimmer’s past choices with iconic DC superheroes, Holkenborg elected to go another way with the music in Godzilla vs. Kong...
- 3/30/2021
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Eureka Entertainment’s November lineup was announced yeterday and will feature a classic Japanese monster movie that introduced us to one of the most unique creatures ever seen on film; and two influential sci-fi epics from one of Japan’s inimitable filmmakers.
Mothra (Limited Edition Box Set) (Blu-ray)
Synopsis
One of the most iconic Japanese kaiju, Mothra has appeared in over a dozen feature films. Presented here is her debut, a gloriously vibrant piece of filmmaking that forever changed how kaiju eiga would be produced in Japan.
Following reports of human life on Infant Island, the supposedly deserted site of atomic bomb tests, an international expedition to the heavily-radiated island discovers a native tribe and tiny twin female fairies called “Shobijin” who guard a sacred egg. The overzealous expedition leader kidnaps the Shobijin to exhibit in a Tokyo stage show but soon they summon their protector, hatching...
Mothra (Limited Edition Box Set) (Blu-ray)
Synopsis
One of the most iconic Japanese kaiju, Mothra has appeared in over a dozen feature films. Presented here is her debut, a gloriously vibrant piece of filmmaking that forever changed how kaiju eiga would be produced in Japan.
Following reports of human life on Infant Island, the supposedly deserted site of atomic bomb tests, an international expedition to the heavily-radiated island discovers a native tribe and tiny twin female fairies called “Shobijin” who guard a sacred egg. The overzealous expedition leader kidnaps the Shobijin to exhibit in a Tokyo stage show but soon they summon their protector, hatching...
- 8/29/2020
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Japanese cinema’s earliest attempt to depict the full impact of the 1945 atom-bomb attack is one of the best anti-Nuke movies ever… yet it somehow stayed under the radar of American awareness for decades. The bombing is seen from only eight years’ distance, when the nation was seemingly resisting coming to terms with its social and political implications; Hideo Sekigawa’s account includes some subtle commentary on the indifferent political response to the plight of the victims… even in 1953. Arrow’s extras include a Jasper Sharp video essay that fills in a lot of blank cinema history between Enola Gay and Godzilla. The impressive music score will seem familiar; it’s by Akira Ifukube.
Hiroshima
Blu-ray
Arrow Academy
1953 / B&w / 1:37 flat / 104 85 min. / Street Date July 14, 2020 / 24.99
Starring: Eiji Okada, Yumeji Tsukioka, Yoshi Katô, Masayuki Tsukida, Takashi Kanda, Isuzu Yamada.
Cinematography: Shunichirô Nakao, Susumu Urashima
Film Editor: Akikazu Kôno
Original Music:...
Hiroshima
Blu-ray
Arrow Academy
1953 / B&w / 1:37 flat / 104 85 min. / Street Date July 14, 2020 / 24.99
Starring: Eiji Okada, Yumeji Tsukioka, Yoshi Katô, Masayuki Tsukida, Takashi Kanda, Isuzu Yamada.
Cinematography: Shunichirô Nakao, Susumu Urashima
Film Editor: Akikazu Kôno
Original Music:...
- 8/22/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Hideo Sekigawa’s Hiroshima (1953) is currently available on Blu-ray From Arrow Academy.
Hiroshima (1953) is a powerful evocation of the devastation wrought by the world s first deployment of the atomic bomb and its aftermath, based on the written eye-witness accounts of its child survivors compiled by Dr. Arata Osada for the 1951 book Children Of The A Bomb: Testament Of The Boys And Girls Of Hiroshima.
Adapted for the screen by independent director Hideo Sekigawa and screenwriter Yasutaro Yagi, Hiroshima combines a harrowing documentary realism with moving human drama, in a tale of the suffering, endurance and survival of a group of teachers, their students and their families. It boasts a rousing score composed by Akira Ifukube (Godzilla) and an all-star cast including Yumeji Tsukioka, Isuzu Yamada and Eiji Okada, appearing alongside an estimated 90,000 residents from the city as extras, including many survivors from that fateful day on 6th August 1945.
Hiroshima...
Hiroshima (1953) is a powerful evocation of the devastation wrought by the world s first deployment of the atomic bomb and its aftermath, based on the written eye-witness accounts of its child survivors compiled by Dr. Arata Osada for the 1951 book Children Of The A Bomb: Testament Of The Boys And Girls Of Hiroshima.
Adapted for the screen by independent director Hideo Sekigawa and screenwriter Yasutaro Yagi, Hiroshima combines a harrowing documentary realism with moving human drama, in a tale of the suffering, endurance and survival of a group of teachers, their students and their families. It boasts a rousing score composed by Akira Ifukube (Godzilla) and an all-star cast including Yumeji Tsukioka, Isuzu Yamada and Eiji Okada, appearing alongside an estimated 90,000 residents from the city as extras, including many survivors from that fateful day on 6th August 1945.
Hiroshima...
- 7/26/2020
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
After “,The Tale of Zatoichi”, the first story of the now-legendary blind masseuse swordsman, and “Fight, Zatoichi, Fight”, one of the best entries in the whole series, director Kenji Misumi returned for the third time in as many years with another interesting entry, “Zatoichi and the Chess Expert”.
Zatoichi heads to Honshu Island by boat, on which he manages to win a lot of money gambling and also meets and befriends Tadasu Jumonji, an expert Shogi chess player and swordsman. Once he reaches Honshu Island though, a group of swordsmen, who Zatoichi won against in a game of dice on the boat journey, ambush him and a tussle ensues. Ichi ends up kicking a man who falls down a storey and lands near little Miki, severely injuring her foot. Feeling responsible for her pain, Ichi promises her aunt Otane to go to the nearby village and get Miki the medicine she needs,...
Zatoichi heads to Honshu Island by boat, on which he manages to win a lot of money gambling and also meets and befriends Tadasu Jumonji, an expert Shogi chess player and swordsman. Once he reaches Honshu Island though, a group of swordsmen, who Zatoichi won against in a game of dice on the boat journey, ambush him and a tussle ensues. Ichi ends up kicking a man who falls down a storey and lands near little Miki, severely injuring her foot. Feeling responsible for her pain, Ichi promises her aunt Otane to go to the nearby village and get Miki the medicine she needs,...
- 6/22/2020
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
The Zatoichi series reached its milestone 10th outing in just three years since the release of the first, and it did so in style. It injected new blood into the series in the form of director Akira Inoue for an entry that is much darker in subject than any of the previous adventures.
Zatoichi’s travels bring him back to the village where he first learnt the art of massage under his old teacher Master Hikonoichi. Since it has been more than ten years that Ichi last saw him, he decides to pay his respect to the man, but upon reaching the village, he finds out that Master Hikonoichi was recently murdered and his daughter Osayo was taken in by the brothel owner Tatsugoro, who in turn works for the local magistrate Jingo Odate. Most women of the village, in fact, are in the clutches of the local brothels.
Zatoichi’s travels bring him back to the village where he first learnt the art of massage under his old teacher Master Hikonoichi. Since it has been more than ten years that Ichi last saw him, he decides to pay his respect to the man, but upon reaching the village, he finds out that Master Hikonoichi was recently murdered and his daughter Osayo was taken in by the brothel owner Tatsugoro, who in turn works for the local magistrate Jingo Odate. Most women of the village, in fact, are in the clutches of the local brothels.
- 5/24/2020
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
As part of their release slates for the months June and July 2020 Arrow Academy will release the classic Nagisa Oshima “Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence” starring David Bowie and Hideo Sekigawa’s powerful documentary “Hiroshima”
Synopsis for “Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence”
David Bowie stars in Nagisa Oshima’s 1983 Palme d’Or-nominated portrait of resilience, pride, friendship and obsession among four very different men confined in the stifling jungle heat of a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp in Java during World War II.
In 1942, British officer Major Jack Celliers (Bowie) is captured by Japanese soldiers, and after a brutal trial sent, physically debilitated but indomitable in mind, to a Pow camp overseen by the zealous Captain Yonoi (Ryuichi Sakamoto). Celliers’ stubbornness sees him locked in a battle of wills with the camp’s new commandant, a man obsessed with discipline and the glory of Imperial Japan who becomes unnaturally preoccupied with the young Major,...
Synopsis for “Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence”
David Bowie stars in Nagisa Oshima’s 1983 Palme d’Or-nominated portrait of resilience, pride, friendship and obsession among four very different men confined in the stifling jungle heat of a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp in Java during World War II.
In 1942, British officer Major Jack Celliers (Bowie) is captured by Japanese soldiers, and after a brutal trial sent, physically debilitated but indomitable in mind, to a Pow camp overseen by the zealous Captain Yonoi (Ryuichi Sakamoto). Celliers’ stubbornness sees him locked in a battle of wills with the camp’s new commandant, a man obsessed with discipline and the glory of Imperial Japan who becomes unnaturally preoccupied with the young Major,...
- 4/18/2020
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
After nearly settling down to domestic life with a good woman in 1963’s “New Tale of Zatoichi” by Tozuka Tanaka, our hero Ichi now finds himself dodging bounty hunters and getting stuck between warring Yakuza in “Zatoichi the Fugitive”, the second Zatoichi film of 1963 which is also directed by Tanaka.
Zatoichi finds there is a bounty on his head after fatally wounding a young samurai who attacks him for the reward. Promising to tell the samurai’s mother of his demise, Ichi goes to his village and decides to live there until the upcoming festival that the village is preparing for. He takes up residence in the local inn, whose owner is an ex-Yakuza looking to return to his glory days and whose daughter has fallen for the heir apparent leader of the local Yakuza, who her father is plotting against. Zatoichi finds himself stuck between this...
Zatoichi finds there is a bounty on his head after fatally wounding a young samurai who attacks him for the reward. Promising to tell the samurai’s mother of his demise, Ichi goes to his village and decides to live there until the upcoming festival that the village is preparing for. He takes up residence in the local inn, whose owner is an ex-Yakuza looking to return to his glory days and whose daughter has fallen for the heir apparent leader of the local Yakuza, who her father is plotting against. Zatoichi finds himself stuck between this...
- 12/27/2019
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
In retrospect, the continuing popularity of a character such as Zatoichi, the blind masseur and skilled swordsman, fits within the overall mood of the 1960s. Much like Akira Kurosawa classic “Yojimbo” (1961) the story of an underdog, a man shunned by society, drawn towards the criminal sideways of Japanese society, but following a certain moral compass, Kenji Misumi’s work would also continue to be celebrated by Japanese and international audiences alike. At the same time, given the film’s story, it becomes obvious Daei studios never imagined the story of this character would resonate within Japanese people. Kenji Misumi, who would also direct some of the most impressive entries within the “Lone Wolf and Cub”-series, together with this main star Shintaro Katsu, had given birth to one of the most iconic characters of Japanese cinema.
Impressed by his skills as a swordsman, yakuza gang leader Sukegoro...
Impressed by his skills as a swordsman, yakuza gang leader Sukegoro...
- 11/27/2019
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
As we recently reported, Criterion Collection will release 15 Godzilla films from the Showa era (initially released between 1954–1975) in a Blu-ray box set this October, and we now have a look at a brand new trailer for the release that gives us a tease of the new high-def digital transfers.
"In 1954, an enormous beast clawed its way out of the sea, destroying everything in its path—and changing movies forever. The arresting original Godzilla soon gave rise to an entire monster-movie genre (kaiju eiga), but the King of the Monsters continued to reign supreme: in fourteen fiercely entertaining sequels over the next two decades, Godzilla defended its throne against a host of other formidable creatures, transforming from a terrifying symbol of nuclear annihilation into a benevolent (if still belligerent) Earth protector. Collected here for the first time are all fifteen Godzilla films of Japan’s Showa era, in a landmark set showcasing the technical wizardry,...
"In 1954, an enormous beast clawed its way out of the sea, destroying everything in its path—and changing movies forever. The arresting original Godzilla soon gave rise to an entire monster-movie genre (kaiju eiga), but the King of the Monsters continued to reign supreme: in fourteen fiercely entertaining sequels over the next two decades, Godzilla defended its throne against a host of other formidable creatures, transforming from a terrifying symbol of nuclear annihilation into a benevolent (if still belligerent) Earth protector. Collected here for the first time are all fifteen Godzilla films of Japan’s Showa era, in a landmark set showcasing the technical wizardry,...
- 9/23/2019
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
If seeing Godzilla: King of the Monsters gave you massive monster fever, then you're in luck, because Criterion Collection will release 15 Godzilla films from the Showa era (initially released between 1954–1975) in a Blu-ray box set this October.
Slated to come out on October 29th, Godzilla: The Showa Era Films features high-def digital transfers of all 15 films in the set, with new cover artwork for all of the titles and more than enough special features to keep kaiju fans happy. Read on for additional details, and visit Criterion Collection's website for more information.
"In 1954, an enormous beast clawed its way out of the sea, destroying everything in its path—and changing movies forever. The arresting original Godzilla soon gave rise to an entire monster-movie genre (kaiju eiga), but the King of the Monsters continued to reign supreme: in fourteen fiercely entertaining sequels over the next two decades, Godzilla defended its throne...
Slated to come out on October 29th, Godzilla: The Showa Era Films features high-def digital transfers of all 15 films in the set, with new cover artwork for all of the titles and more than enough special features to keep kaiju fans happy. Read on for additional details, and visit Criterion Collection's website for more information.
"In 1954, an enormous beast clawed its way out of the sea, destroying everything in its path—and changing movies forever. The arresting original Godzilla soon gave rise to an entire monster-movie genre (kaiju eiga), but the King of the Monsters continued to reign supreme: in fourteen fiercely entertaining sequels over the next two decades, Godzilla defended its throne...
- 7/25/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
WaterTower Music, in conjunction with Sparks & Shadows, is excited to announce the May 24 release of the soundtrack to the highly anticipated next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ cinematic Monsterverse, Godzilla: King of the Monsters. An epic action adventure that pits Godzilla against some of the most popular monsters in pop culture history, the film hits theaters worldwide beginning May 31, 2019.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features new music composed for the motion picture by Emmy® and BAFTA Award winner Bear McCreary. The 26-track album includes the song “Godzilla (Feat. Serj Tankian),” the composer’s interpretation of Blue Öyster Cult’s classic anthem created in collaboration with Serj Tankian (System Of A Down) and musicians Brendon Small, Bryan Beller, and Gene Hoglan who form the rhythm section of Dethklok from TV’s Metalocalypse.
McCreary’s diverse score is as formidable as the characters colliding on...
Godzilla: King of the Monsters Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features new music composed for the motion picture by Emmy® and BAFTA Award winner Bear McCreary. The 26-track album includes the song “Godzilla (Feat. Serj Tankian),” the composer’s interpretation of Blue Öyster Cult’s classic anthem created in collaboration with Serj Tankian (System Of A Down) and musicians Brendon Small, Bryan Beller, and Gene Hoglan who form the rhythm section of Dethklok from TV’s Metalocalypse.
McCreary’s diverse score is as formidable as the characters colliding on...
- 4/29/2019
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian summons some operatic flare for a cover of Blue Öyster Cult’s campy hard-rock classic “Godzilla” that will appear on the upcoming soundtrack album for Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Throughout the bombastic cut, he commands a melodramatic vibrato in his voice to complement a full orchestra, drumming by both a Japanese taiko group and a chorus of chanting men. The members of Dethklok, from the show Metalocalypse, including Brendon Small and heavy-metal stalwart Gene Hoglan, also contributed to the track.
Soundtrack composer Bear McCreary,...
Soundtrack composer Bear McCreary,...
- 4/25/2019
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Both a landmark and a source of much controversy, “Hiroshima” is one of those films where the background is as significant as the picture itself. Let us take things from the beginning, by quoting Joseph Anderson and Donald Richie’s “The Japanese Film”. “In 1953, the Japan Teachers Union decided to go in with Kaneto Shindo and make a film version of the bestselling “Children of the Atom Bomb” (Genbaku no Ko) by Arata Osada. Shindo made a faithful film version, using the name of the book, and showed the aftermath of the bomb without any vicious polemic. (…) The Union was not at all satisfied, saying that he had “made [the story] into a tear-jerker and destroyed its political orintation.” They decided to back another version which would this time “genuinely to help to fight to preserve peace.” They found their man in Hideo Sekigawa, who turned out “Hiroshima”. (…) The picture was financially...
- 9/25/2018
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Tokyo International Film Festival will screen the original 1954 Godzilla, directed by Ishiro Honda, as one of the special events to celebrate the event's 30th edition.
The screening of the digitally remastered edition Oct. 31 will be accompanied by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Kaoru Wada, a student of Akira Ifukube, who scored the original soundtrack.
A talk show event before the screening at the Tokyo International Forum will feature Haruo Nakajima, the actor who wore the Godzilla suit for 12 films between 1954 and 1975, Shogo Tomiyama, who produced 12 of the iconic monster movies between 1989 and...
The screening of the digitally remastered edition Oct. 31 will be accompanied by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Kaoru Wada, a student of Akira Ifukube, who scored the original soundtrack.
A talk show event before the screening at the Tokyo International Forum will feature Haruo Nakajima, the actor who wore the Godzilla suit for 12 films between 1954 and 1975, Shogo Tomiyama, who produced 12 of the iconic monster movies between 1989 and...
- 7/31/2017
- by Gavin J. Blair
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Take one fiercely individual auteur fed up with the Hollywood game, put him in Kyoto with a full Japanese film company, and the result is a picture critics have been trying to figure out ever since. It’s a realistic story told in a highly artificial visual style, in un-subtitled Japanese. And its writer-director intended it to play for American audiences.
The Saga of Anatahan
Blu-ray
Kino Lorber
1953 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 91 min. / Anatahan, Ana-ta-han / Street Date April 25, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring: Akemi Negishi, Tadashi Suganuma, Kisaburo Sawamura, Shoji Nakayama, Jun Fujikawa, Hiroshi Kondo, Shozo Miyashita, Tsuruemon Bando, Kikuji Onoe, Rokuriro Kineya, Daijiro Tamura, Chizuru Kitagawa, Takeshi Suzuki, Shiro Amikura.
Cinematography: Josef von Sternberg, Kozo Okazaki
Film Editor: Mitsuzo Miyata
Original Music: Akira Ifukube
Special Effects: Eiji Tsuburaya
Written by Josef von Sternberg from the novel by Michiro Maruyama & Younghill Kang
Produced by Kazuo Takimura
Directed by Josef von Sternberg...
The Saga of Anatahan
Blu-ray
Kino Lorber
1953 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 91 min. / Anatahan, Ana-ta-han / Street Date April 25, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring: Akemi Negishi, Tadashi Suganuma, Kisaburo Sawamura, Shoji Nakayama, Jun Fujikawa, Hiroshi Kondo, Shozo Miyashita, Tsuruemon Bando, Kikuji Onoe, Rokuriro Kineya, Daijiro Tamura, Chizuru Kitagawa, Takeshi Suzuki, Shiro Amikura.
Cinematography: Josef von Sternberg, Kozo Okazaki
Film Editor: Mitsuzo Miyata
Original Music: Akira Ifukube
Special Effects: Eiji Tsuburaya
Written by Josef von Sternberg from the novel by Michiro Maruyama & Younghill Kang
Produced by Kazuo Takimura
Directed by Josef von Sternberg...
- 4/11/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
If you see a movie for the first time and swear you've heard the score before, it may not be your imagination...
Last month, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (Afm) sued six major studios for reusing film soundtracks in other films without paying the appropriate compensation. It's the kind of news that will make people roll their eyes. Ah yes, they'll say after seeing the headlines. Typical Hollywood. Not even the music's original any more.
But go beyond the headlines about reusing the same music too much and delve into the lawsuit and it reveals an interesting insight into the kind of situations where music does get repeated.
The lawsuit, it soon becomes evident, isn't about the use of music in itself (a quick browse through the soundtracks for the titles in question, such as This Means War or Argo, reveals that they have...
Last month, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (Afm) sued six major studios for reusing film soundtracks in other films without paying the appropriate compensation. It's the kind of news that will make people roll their eyes. Ah yes, they'll say after seeing the headlines. Typical Hollywood. Not even the music's original any more.
But go beyond the headlines about reusing the same music too much and delve into the lawsuit and it reveals an interesting insight into the kind of situations where music does get repeated.
The lawsuit, it soon becomes evident, isn't about the use of music in itself (a quick browse through the soundtracks for the titles in question, such as This Means War or Argo, reveals that they have...
- 6/9/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Inoshiro Honda’s 1954 classic spawned a virtual industry of Japanese monster movies when it was released overseas in 1956 in a reworked‚ English version with added scenes featuring Raymond Burr as a Us reporter. Even this tampering (more carefully done than subsequent efforts) couldn’t erase the bleak atomic age metaphor that makes both incarnations the most somber and funereal of all apocalyptic movies. Great score by Akira Ifukube.
- 2/20/2015
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
Nightbreed: The Cabal Cut (Scream Factory)
This limited special edition of Clive Barker’s heavily discussed alternate cut has finally arrived. For fans of the film, this version is everything you wanted. More monsters and more narrative allow the film to progress more fitting to Barker’s intention and style.
Godzilla by Akira Ifukube (Death Waltz Records)
Beautiful. The guys from Death Waltz have again given genre fans something to be excited about. The 1954 soundtrack of Toho’s “Godzilla” is stunning, a true pleasure to hear on vinyl.
Phantom of the Opera by Rupert Julian (One Way Static Records)
The septet UK group The Laze released their accompaniment for 1925’s “Phantom of the Opera” off One Way Static Records. Styled with a range of musical influences the group makes a worthy companion score to the classic film.
The Innocents (1961) directed by Jack Clayton (Criterion Collection)
One of the greatest classic...
This limited special edition of Clive Barker’s heavily discussed alternate cut has finally arrived. For fans of the film, this version is everything you wanted. More monsters and more narrative allow the film to progress more fitting to Barker’s intention and style.
Godzilla by Akira Ifukube (Death Waltz Records)
Beautiful. The guys from Death Waltz have again given genre fans something to be excited about. The 1954 soundtrack of Toho’s “Godzilla” is stunning, a true pleasure to hear on vinyl.
Phantom of the Opera by Rupert Julian (One Way Static Records)
The septet UK group The Laze released their accompaniment for 1925’s “Phantom of the Opera” off One Way Static Records. Styled with a range of musical influences the group makes a worthy companion score to the classic film.
The Innocents (1961) directed by Jack Clayton (Criterion Collection)
One of the greatest classic...
- 1/3/2015
- by Monte Yazzie
- DailyDead
**Massive spoilers for every Godzilla movie, with the exception of the 2014 reboot, and Mothra follow**
August 6th and 9th, 1945 forever changed the course of history. When the first nuclear bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, World War II ended, but a new fear was born that dominated the thoughts of all men, women, and children for decades to come. The Cold War, atomic bomb testing, a cartoon turtle telling children to “duck and cover”, and this new technology that had the actual potential to literally end the world changed the perception of what was scary. Art reflects life, so cinema began to capitalize on these fears. Gone were the days of creepy castles, cobwebs, bats, vampires, werewolves, and the other iconic images that ruled genre cinema in film’s earliest decades. Science fiction was larger than ever and giant ants, giant octopi, terror from beyond the stars, and...
August 6th and 9th, 1945 forever changed the course of history. When the first nuclear bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, World War II ended, but a new fear was born that dominated the thoughts of all men, women, and children for decades to come. The Cold War, atomic bomb testing, a cartoon turtle telling children to “duck and cover”, and this new technology that had the actual potential to literally end the world changed the perception of what was scary. Art reflects life, so cinema began to capitalize on these fears. Gone were the days of creepy castles, cobwebs, bats, vampires, werewolves, and the other iconic images that ruled genre cinema in film’s earliest decades. Science fiction was larger than ever and giant ants, giant octopi, terror from beyond the stars, and...
- 11/4/2014
- by Max Molinaro
- SoundOnSight
By Darren Allison
Following the break-up of Emerson, Lake and Palmer at the end of the 1970s, Keith Emerson ventured into the world of film soundtrack composition with his score for Italian director Dario Aregento’s horror film Inferno in 1980. This, in turn, led to Emerson being commissioned to compose and perform the music for the Sylvester Stallone film Nighthawks in 1981. From here a succession of film scores were to follow for directors in Italy, Japan and the United States. At the Movies gathers together Emerson’s music for seven movies including Nighthawks, Best Revenge, Inferno, La Chiesa (The Church), "Muderock, Harmagedon and Godzilla Final Wars.
Disc One (Us Movies) contains 2 full soundtracks. Firstly, there is Nighthawks (1981) an enjoyable cop thriller from Sylvester Stallone. The movie co-starred Billy Dee Williams as Stallone’s partner, Lindsey Wagner (of TVs Bionic Woman fame) as the love interest and Rutger Hauer as terrorist Heymar Reinhardt.
Following the break-up of Emerson, Lake and Palmer at the end of the 1970s, Keith Emerson ventured into the world of film soundtrack composition with his score for Italian director Dario Aregento’s horror film Inferno in 1980. This, in turn, led to Emerson being commissioned to compose and perform the music for the Sylvester Stallone film Nighthawks in 1981. From here a succession of film scores were to follow for directors in Italy, Japan and the United States. At the Movies gathers together Emerson’s music for seven movies including Nighthawks, Best Revenge, Inferno, La Chiesa (The Church), "Muderock, Harmagedon and Godzilla Final Wars.
Disc One (Us Movies) contains 2 full soundtracks. Firstly, there is Nighthawks (1981) an enjoyable cop thriller from Sylvester Stallone. The movie co-starred Billy Dee Williams as Stallone’s partner, Lindsey Wagner (of TVs Bionic Woman fame) as the love interest and Rutger Hauer as terrorist Heymar Reinhardt.
- 8/13/2014
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Godzilla stormed the box office last weekend. The reboot of the famous monster movie, which first roared into theaters back in 1954, features a revamped radioactive creature with a brand new roar. The original roar is one of most famous sound effects in the history of cinema. In the ‘50s, the filmmakers attempted to invent Godzilla’s howl by mixing animal sounds together, but it was unsuccessful. Japanese composer Akira Ifukube had the idea to use a musical instrument instead. The iconic roar was born when a leather glove coated in pine-tar resin was rubbed against the string of a double bass. It took the new team of filmmakers, under director Gareth Edwards’ supervision, to come up with a new roar — which you can learn about in this great video...
Read More...
Read More...
- 5/22/2014
- by Alison Nastasi
- Movies.com
Godzilla stormed the box office last weekend. The reboot of the famous monster movie, which first roared into theaters back in 1954, features a revamped radioactive creature with a brand new roar. The original roar is one of most famous sound effects in the history of cinema. In the ‘50s, the filmmakers attempted to invent Godzilla’s howl by mixing animal sounds together, but it was unsuccessful. Japanese composer Akira Ifukube had the idea to use a musical instrument instead. The iconic roar was born when a leather glove coated in pine-tar resin was rubbed against the string of a double bass. It took the new team of filmmakers, under director Gareth Edwards’ supervision, to come up with a new roar — which you can learn about in this great video...
Read More...
Read More...
- 5/22/2014
- by Alison Nastasi
- Movies.com
Few sound effects in film are as iconic as Godzilla’s roar. So the task of updating it for Gareth Edwards’ reboot of the monster franchise was nothing short of daunting.
For starters, there were 60 years of history to contend with. “It’s kind of a part of our culture — Godzilla and his roar,” says Erik Aadahl, sound designer on the film, which topped the box office last weekend. “It’s one of those sounds where you can go anywhere in the world and everybody knows what it is. It comes with a lot of responsibility to redesign it. Our...
For starters, there were 60 years of history to contend with. “It’s kind of a part of our culture — Godzilla and his roar,” says Erik Aadahl, sound designer on the film, which topped the box office last weekend. “It’s one of those sounds where you can go anywhere in the world and everybody knows what it is. It comes with a lot of responsibility to redesign it. Our...
- 5/22/2014
- by Amber Ray
- EW.com - PopWatch
Towleroad Harvey Milk stamp unveiling live at 3Pm today!
John August's screenwriting podcast talks to the professionals about writing superheroes, masculinity and rebooting past franchises. Featuring: Conan the Barbarian, Captain America and Batman among others
The Av Club suggests that the only appropriate director for the Elvis biopic is... David Lynch?
It’s an almost biblical rags-to-riches tale infused with elements of horror, farce, and even science fiction, and while many have tried to bring it to the screen, there’s yet to be a definitive biopic.
Verité looks back at naughty precode gem Jewel Robbery (1932) with William Powell and Kay Francis
Gawker more 'celebrities reading mean tweets about themselves' feat. Julia, McConaughey, and Emma Stone
Madonnarama V magazine features Katy Perry and Madonna in conversation for their summer spectacular
In Contention I forgot to mention The Search in my Cannes collection last night, so here's Guy Lodge on...
John August's screenwriting podcast talks to the professionals about writing superheroes, masculinity and rebooting past franchises. Featuring: Conan the Barbarian, Captain America and Batman among others
The Av Club suggests that the only appropriate director for the Elvis biopic is... David Lynch?
It’s an almost biblical rags-to-riches tale infused with elements of horror, farce, and even science fiction, and while many have tried to bring it to the screen, there’s yet to be a definitive biopic.
Verité looks back at naughty precode gem Jewel Robbery (1932) with William Powell and Kay Francis
Gawker more 'celebrities reading mean tweets about themselves' feat. Julia, McConaughey, and Emma Stone
Madonnarama V magazine features Katy Perry and Madonna in conversation for their summer spectacular
In Contention I forgot to mention The Search in my Cannes collection last night, so here's Guy Lodge on...
- 5/22/2014
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
We've had a good week of Godzilla fun on Empire recently, what with our spoiler podcast and feature on Gareth Edwards' version, and our tour through radioactive monsters. But the original - and, for many, still the best - Godzilla is the Toho creation of 1954, and its soundtrack is now available in full for the first time in its sixty year history, courtesy of Death Waltz Recording Company. And it gets even better: we have an exclusive stream of the whole thing for a limited time, so get your monster on and get listening below!Akira Ifukube's score builds layers of bass and brass to emphasise the dread as the monster approaches Tokyo. While there's a jauntier theme here early on, which became the Godzilla theme, the focus is disaster and destruction - contrasted with the piercing strings that mark the arrival of the Oxygen Destroyer weapon that might halt the beast.
- 5/22/2014
- EmpireOnline
One of the complaints that I continue to hear in some quarters regarding Gareth Edwards' "Godzilla" is that Alexandre Desplat's score is an overbearing one. I couldn't quite wrap my head around that idea given that we're dealing with a monster film here and a monstrous score certainly makes a lot of sense. Our own Drew McWeeny in his otherwise positive review, for instance, said the work was "heavy-handed and obvious in a way that really doesn't seem like [Desplat]," and that last bit maybe hits on why some people aren't liking what they're hearing. Desplat has picked up a slew of Oscar-nominations in a relatively short amount of time. He is easily the most ubiquitous composer working today, and he's become known for some really delicate, lovely work. Movies like "The Queen," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "The King's Speech" are great examples, or even non-Oscar-nominated...
- 5/16/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
This weekend, the King of the Monsters roars back to theaters nationwide. That's right: Godzilla has returned.
Considering the last time he crashed into American movie theaters was for the spotty 1998 remake (more on that in a minute), it's with a mixture of trepidation and excitement that this new Godzilla is met. Still, where there are buildings to topple, there will be Godzilla.
This new "Godzilla" is a contemporary tale that follows a disparate group of characters, including Bryan Cranston's nuclear scientist-turned-conspiracy theorist, Aaron Taylor-Johnson's young infantryman, Elizabeth Olsen's nurse, and Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins, who work for a shady government agency, as they deal with the fallout of Godzilla's return to civilization. That's right: return.
But is this something you should rush out and see or is sitting through this movie worse than getting doused with radioactivity (or crushed to death by falling rubble)? Read on to find out.
Considering the last time he crashed into American movie theaters was for the spotty 1998 remake (more on that in a minute), it's with a mixture of trepidation and excitement that this new Godzilla is met. Still, where there are buildings to topple, there will be Godzilla.
This new "Godzilla" is a contemporary tale that follows a disparate group of characters, including Bryan Cranston's nuclear scientist-turned-conspiracy theorist, Aaron Taylor-Johnson's young infantryman, Elizabeth Olsen's nurse, and Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins, who work for a shady government agency, as they deal with the fallout of Godzilla's return to civilization. That's right: return.
But is this something you should rush out and see or is sitting through this movie worse than getting doused with radioactivity (or crushed to death by falling rubble)? Read on to find out.
- 5/15/2014
- by Drew Taylor
- Moviefone
It’s been a long time in the works, but Media Blasters has announced that they will release Godzilla vs. Megalon and re-release Destroy All Monsters on Blu-ray and DVD this July:
“(New York City) Media Blasters Inc. and their Tokyo Shock label are proud to announce the first time North American/U.S. Blu-ray releases of Destroy All Monsters and Godzilla Vs. Megalon. Both Godzilla classics will be released individually on DVD and Blu-ray and as a box set to follow the wide theatrical release of the new Hollywood-produced Godzilla.
Destroy All Monsters (1968) is universally considered the strong fan favorite of the entire Godzilla series! It’s an all-star monster rally of epic proportions featuring Toho’s greatest and wildest mammoth monsters in the ultimate, all-out rumble! See Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah, Anguirus, Minya, Spiega, Baragon, Gorosaurus, Manda and Varan in all their titanic glory! The film was...
“(New York City) Media Blasters Inc. and their Tokyo Shock label are proud to announce the first time North American/U.S. Blu-ray releases of Destroy All Monsters and Godzilla Vs. Megalon. Both Godzilla classics will be released individually on DVD and Blu-ray and as a box set to follow the wide theatrical release of the new Hollywood-produced Godzilla.
Destroy All Monsters (1968) is universally considered the strong fan favorite of the entire Godzilla series! It’s an all-star monster rally of epic proportions featuring Toho’s greatest and wildest mammoth monsters in the ultimate, all-out rumble! See Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah, Anguirus, Minya, Spiega, Baragon, Gorosaurus, Manda and Varan in all their titanic glory! The film was...
- 3/12/2014
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Teinosuke Kinugasa is best-known in the West for Gate of Hell (1953), with its court intrigues in luminous color, and for A Page of Madness (a.k.a. A Page out of Order, 1926), which can be considered as the Japanese Caligari, only with dynamic and disturbing camera movement thrown into the mix, making it seem much more modern and involving that Robert Weine's expressionist classic.
But Kinugasa directed 109 movies by the IMDb's count, and while no doubt many of the silents are now lost, it's a great shame so few of the survivors have had any kind of release outside of their homeland (or even inside their homeland).
Yoso (a.k.a. Bronze Magician, 1963) was Kinugasa's penultimate film, and shows his powers undimmed. In fact, in some sense they could be considered condensed and purified. Japanese cinema takes seriously the principle that each film should exist as a beautiful art object:...
But Kinugasa directed 109 movies by the IMDb's count, and while no doubt many of the silents are now lost, it's a great shame so few of the survivors have had any kind of release outside of their homeland (or even inside their homeland).
Yoso (a.k.a. Bronze Magician, 1963) was Kinugasa's penultimate film, and shows his powers undimmed. In fact, in some sense they could be considered condensed and purified. Japanese cinema takes seriously the principle that each film should exist as a beautiful art object:...
- 12/11/2013
- by David Cairns
- MUBI
Above: A rack focus in Bullitt.
Trespassers Will Be Eaten
Perhaps a less eye-grabbing, but still “driving” title for this third Mubi soundtrack mix should be Shifting Gears...as such, it’s a free-falling, propulsive survey of scores focusing on the thriller in all of its manifestations: detective procedurals, bank heists, neo-noirs, spy films, psychodramas, giallos, chases, races, and sci-fi mind-games. Featured also are a few composers better known for their more famous musical projects. Police drummer Stewart Copeland’s metallic, rhythmic score for Rumble Fish, gamely taunts the self-conscious black and white street theatre of Francis Ford Coppola's film. So-called fifth Beatle, producer George Martin’s funky Shaft-influenced Live and Let Die score ushers in a more leisurely 70s-era James Bond, as incarnated by Roger Moore. Epic crooner visionary Scott Walker’s fatally romantic melodies for Leos Carax’s inventively faithful Melville adaptation Pola X is remarkably subdued and lush.
Trespassers Will Be Eaten
Perhaps a less eye-grabbing, but still “driving” title for this third Mubi soundtrack mix should be Shifting Gears...as such, it’s a free-falling, propulsive survey of scores focusing on the thriller in all of its manifestations: detective procedurals, bank heists, neo-noirs, spy films, psychodramas, giallos, chases, races, and sci-fi mind-games. Featured also are a few composers better known for their more famous musical projects. Police drummer Stewart Copeland’s metallic, rhythmic score for Rumble Fish, gamely taunts the self-conscious black and white street theatre of Francis Ford Coppola's film. So-called fifth Beatle, producer George Martin’s funky Shaft-influenced Live and Let Die score ushers in a more leisurely 70s-era James Bond, as incarnated by Roger Moore. Epic crooner visionary Scott Walker’s fatally romantic melodies for Leos Carax’s inventively faithful Melville adaptation Pola X is remarkably subdued and lush.
- 10/15/2012
- by Paul Clipson
- MUBI
Chicago – In his excellent commentary for “Godzilla, King of the Monsters,” the 1956 reworking of Ishiro Honda’s “Godzilla,” both of which are included in one DVD or Blu-ray set recently released from Criterion, film historian David Kalat claims that these films are looked at skeptically when it comes to critics assessing the art of the form. He’s half right. Any critic worth a damn understands the influence and importance of Honda’s film (and Morse’s reworking of it) but generations of movie goers may consider these movies a joke (in no small part due to the films that would follow, including Roland Emmerich’s awful reboot attempt). This stellar edition, arguably the most interesting release of Criterion’s first quarter of 2012, will hopefully correct that.
DVD Rating: 5.0/5.0
Watching Honda’s “Godzilla” again with the perfect high-definition digital restoration from Criterion one is struck by how much the film...
DVD Rating: 5.0/5.0
Watching Honda’s “Godzilla” again with the perfect high-definition digital restoration from Criterion one is struck by how much the film...
- 2/3/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
When it comes to giant monsters, none are more famous than Godzilla. And with Criterion’s new release of the monster’s premiere outing now on Blu Ray, it’s a good reminder as to why the character and the film still remain at the forefront of monster culture. Not only is this a great opportunity for fans to see the best-looking, most complete version of the film with a load of extras, it’s a great way to introduce new fans to the film without having to apologize for poor picture and sound quality.
Godzilla has always separated itself from many of the subsequent kaiju films by having a true sense of humanity and genuine heart. Whereas follow-up films focused on monster destruction and explosions, Godzilla was seen as a tragic creature (much like Harryhausen’s Ymir from Venus in 20 Million Miles To Earth) whose existence was more the...
Godzilla has always separated itself from many of the subsequent kaiju films by having a true sense of humanity and genuine heart. Whereas follow-up films focused on monster destruction and explosions, Godzilla was seen as a tragic creature (much like Harryhausen’s Ymir from Venus in 20 Million Miles To Earth) whose existence was more the...
- 1/30/2012
- by The ED-itor
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Back in August of 2011 Criterion hinted they would be adding the classic Japanese monster movie Godzilla (Gojira) to their collection. This immediately sparked online enthusiasm and was shortly thereafter confirmed for release. And not only would we be receiving a new high-definition digital restoration of the 1954 original, but an HD restoration of Terry Morse's 1956 Godzilla, King of the Monsters along with a commentary on both films and a disc full of interviews and featurettes. For me, however, the biggest realization at that time was... I had never seen Godzilla, a fact I remedied only days later. In what served as good preparation for this release, last August I watched both Ishiro Honda's 1954 original as well as Morse's remake from a couple of years later for the first time, the latter of which uses footage from Honda's film and recuts it around a new story featuring Raymond Burr as American journalist Steve Martin who,...
- 1/23/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
By Raymond Benson
Normal 0 false false false En-us X-none X-none MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
The original 1954 Japanese Kaiju (it means “strange beast”) film, Gojira, is not only a classic monster movie, it’s one of those significant game-changers that is important to pop culture and cinema history. Gojira, known as “Godzilla” in the west, was the first of an onslaught of “strange beasts,” spawning a Kaiju franchise that is still popular today. In fact, Hollywood is remaking Gojira as a reboot at the time of this writing.
The ’54 film, directed by Ishiro Honda and produced by Toho Studios (it’s ironic that it was being made at the same time as Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai from the same studio), was little seen in the West until recent DVD releases appeared. Instead, for over fifty years we’ve had Godzilla, King of the Monsters, an abominably bastardized, re-edited import of Gojira. Joseph E. Levine...
Normal 0 false false false En-us X-none X-none MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
The original 1954 Japanese Kaiju (it means “strange beast”) film, Gojira, is not only a classic monster movie, it’s one of those significant game-changers that is important to pop culture and cinema history. Gojira, known as “Godzilla” in the west, was the first of an onslaught of “strange beasts,” spawning a Kaiju franchise that is still popular today. In fact, Hollywood is remaking Gojira as a reboot at the time of this writing.
The ’54 film, directed by Ishiro Honda and produced by Toho Studios (it’s ironic that it was being made at the same time as Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai from the same studio), was little seen in the West until recent DVD releases appeared. Instead, for over fifty years we’ve had Godzilla, King of the Monsters, an abominably bastardized, re-edited import of Gojira. Joseph E. Levine...
- 1/12/2012
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Mayan prophecies notwithstanding, terror will be coming to video stores nearly once every three weeks. The following titles are just but a taste of the mainstream releases. Valentine’s Day, however, will offer North American audiences a hint of what may be a very controversial title for some, and a godsend to others just because of the subject matter:
(Jan 3) – Guillermo del Toro’s remake of Don't Be Afraid of the Dark gets dibs as one of the many titles to be released first for 2012. This video release will offer a three part, making-of documentary: "The Story," "Blackwood's Mansion," "The Creatures." The Blu-ray edition will include a conceptual art gallery.
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark [Blu-ray]
For an early or late Christmas present, "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark: Blackwood's Guide to Dangerous Fairies", by Del Toro, can be a great accompaniment prior to rewatching the film again. This...
(Jan 3) – Guillermo del Toro’s remake of Don't Be Afraid of the Dark gets dibs as one of the many titles to be released first for 2012. This video release will offer a three part, making-of documentary: "The Story," "Blackwood's Mansion," "The Creatures." The Blu-ray edition will include a conceptual art gallery.
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark [Blu-ray]
For an early or late Christmas present, "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark: Blackwood's Guide to Dangerous Fairies", by Del Toro, can be a great accompaniment prior to rewatching the film again. This...
- 11/28/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (Ed Sum)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
[1] Fans of monster movies and/or the Criterion Collection probably recall that a couple of months back, rumors began surfacing of a Criterion Collection release of Godzilla -- an unusual, though not unprecedented, pick by a video distributor that generally favors artsy pictures over genre flicks. So today's news won't come as a surprise, but rather a welcome update. Criterion has officially confirmed a January release for their Godzilla Blu-ray/DVD, and has unveiled a list of the special features we can look forward to. More details after the jump. The Criterion release will include both the 1954 Japanese original as well as the 1956 American reworking starring Raymond Burr. Like all Criterion discs, Godzilla will also include a slew of juicy special features. Here's the list, from the Criterion Collection website [2] (via Shock Till You Drop [3]): New high-definition digital restoration (with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition) Audio commentary...
- 10/19/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Coming this January, Ishiro Honda’s Godzilla (1954) officially demolishes its way onto Criterion Collection DVD and Blu-ray, solidifying its standing as a true cinema landmark.
“Godzilla is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It’s also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama made in Japan at a time when the country was still reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population’s fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning more than twenty sequels.”
Aside from bringing us one of the most well-known monsters, the original film also served as an impressive allegory for the destruction caused by the dropping of the H-bomb just a decade earlier. This was lost a bit in the U.S. version when it was released – retitled Godzilla, King Of The Monsters – which had been altered to add in scenes featuring Raymond Burr.
“Godzilla is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It’s also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama made in Japan at a time when the country was still reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population’s fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning more than twenty sequels.”
Aside from bringing us one of the most well-known monsters, the original film also served as an impressive allegory for the destruction caused by the dropping of the H-bomb just a decade earlier. This was lost a bit in the U.S. version when it was released – retitled Godzilla, King Of The Monsters – which had been altered to add in scenes featuring Raymond Burr.
- 10/18/2011
- by Barrett
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Now you can not only see a man in a giant rubber lizard suit in a new digital transfer, but you’ll be able to experience all of the unique special features that are usually accompanied with Criterion’s discs. The original 1954 radiation fueled monster that attacked Japan, Godzilla, will terrorize Blu-ray on January 24, 2012. Cirterion is known for releasing discs packed to the gills with interviews, featurettes, and booklets with excerpts from film historians. Yet, for completists, this new package will not only have the original 1954 version but also the heavily edited 1956 version released in America. America’s version of the film utilized original footage from the 1954 film, but forced in an unnecessary American reporter that covered the devastation of the giant monster. Now, fans will have both versions in one complete package. See the official synopsis from the Criterion Collection’s website below, along with the striking cover-art from the upcoming disc.
- 10/17/2011
- by Michael Haffner
- Destroy the Brain
Beyond the best transfer of Godzilla to disc yet, the Criterion version will include the following extras: *New high-definition digital restoration (with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition) *Audio commentary by David Kalat (A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series) * New high-definition digital restoration of Godzilla, King of the Monsters, Terry Morse’s 1956 reworking of the original, starring Raymond Burr * Audio commentary for Godzilla, King of the Monsters by Kalat * New interviews with actor Akira Takarada (Hideto Ogata), Godzilla performer Haruo Nakajima, and effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai * Interview with legendary Godzilla score composer Akira Ifukube * Featurette detailing Godzilla’s photographic effects * New interview with Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato * The Unluckiest Dragon, an illustrated audio essay featuring historian Greg Pflugfelder describing the tragic fate of the fishing vessel Daigo fukuryu maru, a real-life event that inspired Godzilla * Theatrical trailers...
- 10/16/2011
- ComicBookMovie.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.