Kaiju | Wildside Cinema

Godzilla, King Of The Monsters (1956)

Asian Cinema, D. Foster, Kaiju No Responses »

Feb 142010

U.S. DVD Release

American reporter Steve Martin, played by Raymond Burr, makes a stop in Tokyo while traveling abroad. His timing is perfect because he’s about to witness the biggest story in the history of news, the awakening of Godzilla. “Well, it’s big and terrible!” Steve reports to his editor; and indeed it is. This is more of a re-mix than an original movie. A few vital story driving scenes, along with the special effects shots from the original Gojira were almost flawlessly edited together with new shots and the narrative of Raymond Burr and a dubbed English track. Although still tragic and disastrous, the result is a slightly more lighthearted and optimistic monster flick; what future Godzilla movies seem to have been patterned after.

Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

Asian Cinema, D. Foster, Kaiju No Responses »

Feb 142010

U.S. DVD Release

Giant monsters attack, and the damage in this round is not limited to Japan; the entire planet suffers their wrath, but before things get too bad, aliens appear and dispel the monsters. The aliens warn of an imminent impact between the Earth and the planet Gorath, offering their help and advise for the impending crisis. Are the Xilians true allies or is there an ulterior motive? 50 years and 28 movies later the big “G” is still going strong. Godzilla himself has evolved many times over the years and the millennium version is quite the vicious looking beastie. There’s plenty of giant monster action in this most recent addition to the franchise. Final Wars brings back Gigan, Rodan, Mothra, Angurius, King Caesar, King Ghidorah, Minilla, the CG American Godzilla Continue reading »

Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)

Asian Cinema, D. Foster, Kaiju No Responses »

Feb 142010

U.S. DVD Release

Aliens have infiltrated the planet and have brought along some heavy backup. Gigan, a cybernetic super-monster, and King Ghidorah, a viscous three-headed beast are both under the control of the aliens. Their plan is to render Godzilla helpless, so there will be no resistance when they make their final move to take over the planet. The characters are goofy and likable and the sets have a nice Star Trek-like feel, rendering a groovy, 60’s espionage essence to final package. There is plenty of build up to the final showdown, but it’s worth the wait. The battles are epic fun and even include some impressive bloodshed. Like a kaiju tag-team bout, Godzilla and Anguirus go up against Gigan and Ghidorah and Tokyo gets leveled once again; it’s always a Continue reading »

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)

Asian Cinema, D. Foster, Kaiju No Responses »

Feb 142010

U.S. DVD Release

A super weapon is being developed that shoots from space a concentrated black hole, with hopes of ridding the Earth of Godzilla forever. During a test fire, a prehistoric dragonfly-like creature slips through the black hole and leaves behind an egg. Soon Tokyo is overrun with literally thousands of these extremely aggressive, flying menaces. The battles are brutal and there are even a couple of gross out points in this one; two people actually get eaten (crunch, crunch slurp) and there is a short but grotesque glimpse of a downed monster. I thoroughly enjoyed these scenes but it might give the average six or seven year old some new material for nightmares. Aside from a few noticeable instances of not so impressive CG and some abruptly disorienting Continue reading »

Gojira (Godzilla – 1954)

Asian Cinema, D. Foster, Kaiju No Responses »

Feb 142010

U.S. DVD Release

Witness the birth of the most famous giant monster to ever hit the silver screen. A prehistoric reptile is the framework, and the atomic bomb is the catalyst; the result is devastation on both land and at sea. How can you stop the unstoppable? One scientist may have the answer, but is a weapon of that magnitude safe in the hands of humankind? With his first appearance, Gojira acts as a larger than life reminder of the dangers of the atomic age and makes a lasting impression upon Japan and the entire planet. The miniatures, effects and the acting (including the suit acting) are all quite impressive and Gojira’s magnificent roar is capable of causing incontinence. This is city stomping, monster mayhem, with dark undertones of the Continue reading »

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994)

Asian Cinema, D. Foster, Kaiju No Responses »

Feb 142010

Godzilla Double Feature

Project T is the new G-Force defense program which employs telepathy to control Godzilla, instead of violence to destroy him. During the testing phase of Project T, Spacegodzilla drops in on Monster Island, kicks Godzilla’s scaly ass then kidnaps and imprisons his son Minilla (aka Minya). The G-Force agency decides to implement Project M, which is a giant, manned robot named Mogera. There’s not much story in this one, it’s mostly giant monster, city stomping mayhem. We get two new additions to the kaiju family. Spacegodzilla, spawned by a freak accident when Mothra flew into space and left a trace of DNA from the big G and Biolante, he’s covered in crystals and looks like some kind of a nick-knack you might find in a new age store; then there’s Continue reading »

Monster X Strikes Back: Attack The G8 Summit (2008)

Action, Asian Cinema, D. Foster, Fantasy, Kaiju, Sci-Fi No Responses »

Aug 052009

U.S. DVD Release

Guilala (Monster X) drops in for a stomp around Japan during the G8 summit and the world leaders take turns offering up heroic strategies to defeat the monster and claim victory in their countries name. While Guilala goes about his rampage, seemingly unbothered by the warlord’s attacks, a couple of reporters stumble onto an ancient tribe that just might have the means to put and end to Monster X.

Kawasaki and Migita take the simple Kaiju formula of mixing a rubber suit monster with miniature sets, throw in a handful of screaming Japanese and serve the viewer a massive, American sized helping of destruction, doing it with their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks. Monster X Strikes Back is Continue reading »