Mark Reed For Congress 2012

Above, Armand with Mark Reed.

2012 will prove to be interesting in the new 30th Congressional District.

First, we have Rep. Brad Sherman facing off against Rep. Howard Berman for the Democratic nomination for congress. Berman is better known in the West L.A. area. But he and Brad Sherman find themselves in the newly-formed 30th C.D. So now they are fighting like two roosters.

Frankly, it is a choice between Tweedledee and Tweedledum. These are two hardcore left-wing liberal statists. Berman has been a career politician (allied with Rep. Henry Waxman, they formed the Waxman-Berman political machine back in the 1970s while in the California state legislature) who has been in Congress since 1983. Essentially, Berman is a political dinosaur.

Sherman is no better, policy-wise. But at least he is of the San Fernando Valley. They both supported Obamacare and the failed 2009 stimulus package that has put this country on the verge of bankruptcy.

It is questionable whether a Republican can win in the new district, but of the two GOP contenders, Mark Reed and Susan Shelley, Reed appears to be able to wage more of a campaign. He has big-name endorsements, more organizing and has already begun raising campaign funds. Since he ran in 2010, Reed has some built-in name recognition.

I am sure Shelley, a writer, is a good person, but it is my considered opinion that Reed would wage a stronger campaign in 2012 against Berman or Sherman. Accordingly, I am supporting Mark Reed again this year for congress.

We need someone in this district to hit the ground running. Reed can do that.

Twitter Causes Global Uproar

The news that Twitter plans to allow censorship has caused the "fit hitting the shan" globally:

According to the Associated Press:

NEW YORK (AP) -- Twitter, a tool of choice for dissidents and activists around the world, found itself the target of global outrage Friday after unveiling plans to allow country-specific censorship of tweets that might break local laws.

It was a stunning role reversal for a youthful company that prides itself in promoting unfettered expression, 140 characters at a time. Twitter insisted its commitment to free speech remains firm, and sought to explain the nuances of its policy, while critics - in a barrage of tweets - proposed a Twitter boycott and demanded that the censorship initiative be scrapped.

If allowed to go through this will only benefit dictators in their efforts to stifle dissent. So much for Twitter's commitment to free speech.

To read the full story, go here.

Monsterpalooza Program Ad

Monsterpalooza is just around the corner. It will be held again this year at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, across the street from Bob Hope Airport from April 13 to 15.

Single day admission is $20 (Sat. day of show entry is $25) and $50 for the weekend for adults. Children are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

The program book is being edited by Jessie Lilley. She got a hold of me yesterday about placing an ad in the program book.



I will have this (above) business card-sized ad for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan in the book. Jessie re-worked it from the one below that was made by Archie Waugh (originally for Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine), so that it would fit on the page horizontally:



For more information on Monsterpalooza, go here.

Monster Japan Travel Guide Review In Gadget Samurai

Above, Yuu Asakura with "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan." Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It's been a trifle over a year since it was posted, but only now I managed to stumble upon the Gadget Samurai website's posting of Japan Today's review of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

The Gadget Samurai covers "news, gadget, otaku, kawaii from Japan."

To view the site, go here.

Criterion's "Godzilla" Blu-ray: The Extras

This is the third and final part of my review of the new Criterion Blu-ray edition of the 1954 Godzilla and its Americanized counterpart, the 1956 Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

I started off watching the Special Effects feature with SPFX Director Koichi Kawakita. What I found fascinating with it were the unused effects shots, recently located, as well as a detailed discussion on the matte work and, especially, the composite imaging (more extensive than I thought) used in the movie.

Following that, I watched an interview with Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato. The most interesting parts were the discussion of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 and the occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1952 (including photographs).

Above, the Lucky Dragon No. 5, a big inspiration for Godzilla.* Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I then watched "The Unluckliest Dragon," the documentary of the Lucky Dragon No. 5 (Daigo Fukuryu Maru), the fishing trawler that was showered with nuclear fallout from the "Castle Bravo" hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll. It was interesting that the bomb was three times more powerful than predicted by U.S. authorities. The documentary also touched on the Fukushima nuclear meltdown following the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Before viewing the interviews with Akira Takarada and Haruo Nakajima, I watched the original Japanese trailer.

On Akira Takarada, it was interesting to hear of his experience in making the movie (Godzilla was his third movie). He stated that in 1954, Japan had a population of 88 million. About 11% of the 88 million went to see Godzilla during its initial release, he said. He also calls Godzilla his "classmate."

For me, the most interesting tidbit from Haruo Nakajima was that he'd go to theaters and turn his back to the screen to observe the audience reaction to what's being shown.

These were all the time I had for. There's other goodies to feast your eyes and ears upon: Interviews with special effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai and an interview with Godzilla score composer Akira Ifukube. If the ones I did manage to view are an indication, then the remaining extras should be just as good.

There's one extra I wished was included: "The Spirit of Godzilla" documentary that appeared in the Toho deluxe edition of Godzilla Final Wars. A subtitled version of Spirit would have been the icing on the cake!

Kaiju historian David Kalat provided his insights in the commentary tracks for both versions of Godzilla.

My grade for the extras I was able to view: A.

*Information on the Lucky Dragon No. 5 (Daigo Fukuryu Maru) and how to visit it can be found in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Ryokan Experience

Above, Shibuya, Tokyo's Hotel Fukudaya.

News On Japan's Travel section has an article on experiencing ryokans (Japanese inns).

The article begins with:

Ryokans are Japanese-styled inns from centuries ago and are more than just a place to stay. They offer the visitor a chance to experience traditional Japanese lifestyle; from tatami (rice mats) covered floors and futon beds to Japanese styled baths and local cuisine presented in an authentic manner. They are a window into life in Japan in the old days. Ryokans originated sometime in the 17th century, and their primary purpose was to serve those travelling along Japanese highways such as the famed Tokaido road between Tokyo and Kyoto. They are typically stationed in a quiet, idyllic setting, often next to natural hot springs.

I've stayed at three ryokans (Tokyo, Sendai and Kumamoto). They tend to be cheaper (price-wise) than hotels and are family-owned and operated. They also offer excellent food.

To read the full article go here.

Criterion's "Godzilla" Blu-ray: The Movie

Criterion's newly-released Blu-ray edition of Godzilla (1954) and Godzilla King of the Monsters! (1956) is definitely a must-have item. No other previously-released DVD or Blu-ray of these movies can even compare to this one.

I can categorically say that these movies never looked so good!

If you are expecting no scratches or other flaws in either movie, you will likely be disappointed. There are some scratches evident in both films. However, the images of both movies on this disc have never been as sharp or vibrant, or as clean (Criterion cleaned up both versions). My roomie (no kaiju fan by any stretch of the imagination) was very impressed. She was most impressed by the water images.

If I were to gripe about the Japanese version, it would be over the white subtitles. Criterion should have used yellow or some other colored font for easier reading. But that's just a pet peeve of mine.

The "long-lost" TransWorld Releasing Corp. logo card has been restored to Godzilla, King of the Monsters! at the start of the movie, following the Toho logo card (inserted in at Toho Co. Ltd.'s insistance). Also, the ending credits and Jewell Enterprises card have also been restored to the movie.

Both movies had their monaural soundtracks digitally restored. They've never sounded better!

My grade: A+.

Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan

Above, Ronald and Nancy Reagan at Los Angeles International Airport in 1980. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

National Review Online has an interesting article on Newt Gingrich. It was written by Reagan Assistant Secretary of State Elliott Abrams.

The article starts off with this:

In the increasingly rough Republican campaign, no candidate has wrapped himself in the mantle of Ronald Reagan more often than Newt Gingrich. “I worked with President Reagan to change things in Washington,” “we helped defeat the Soviet empire,” and “I helped lead the effort to defeat Communism in the Congress” are typical claims by the former speaker of the House.

The claims are misleading at best. As a new member of Congress in the Reagan years — and I was an assistant secretary of state — Mr. Gingrich voted with the president regularly, but equally often spewed insulting rhetoric at Reagan, his top aides, and his policies to defeat Communism. Gingrich was voluble and certain in predicting that Reagan’s policies would fail, and in all of this he was dead wrong.

Many conservatives look at Gingrich as a loose cannon. The article above is a good example on why this is so. It is a real eye-opener, to put it mildly.

To read the full article go here.

UPDATE (1/26/12): Newsmax is reporting that Michael Reagan and Rush Limbaugh are blasting Mitt Romney and his supporters over "false claims."

Ronald Reagan’s eldest son Mike Reagan has issued a statement lambasting Mitt Romney and his supporters for claims that Romney’s Republican presidential rival Newt Gingrich was a strong critic of President Reagan.

Reagan says such claims are false.

Even Rush Limbaugh, shocked by the Romney claims, chimed on his Thursday radio broadcast to say "This is obviously a coordinated attack to take Newt out here in Florida."

Rush slammed the Romney-backed smear campaign against Newt.

“That kind of stuff is why people hate Romney so much," Limbaugh said.

Limbaugh added that Newt has always been a conservative from his early days in national talk radio in the 1980s.

“He was perhaps the premier defender of Ronald Reagan,” Limbaugh said.

Read more on Newsmax.com: Mike Reagan, Rush Limbaugh Blast Romney

Criterion's "Godzilla": The Packaging

The new Criterion Godzilla (1954) Blu-ray has landed ashore at La Casa Vaquer. I haven't watched it yet, but I will most likely do so before the day is out.

Since this is one very special edition (how many horror or science-fiction movies have been given the Criterion treatment?), I think that I would do it better justice by dividing my thoughts on it in three parts in separate posts.

Here's how I am going to approach it:

Part One: The Packaging (see below)

Part Two: The Movies (the disc contains both the Japanese version and the Americanized Godzilla, King of the Monsters! from 1956)

Part Three: The Extras

Here we go.

GODZILLA: THE PACKAGING

I generally don't like paper (or card-boarded) DVD or Blu-ray packaging due to wear & tear from many uses, but I do like how Criterion packed this. It is a folded heavy paper package with a plastic holder glued inside for the disc.

The artwork on the front cover is a nice rendering of Godzilla's back surrounded by flames and images of destruction. Godzilla's form seems rather generic, but still unmistakenly Godzilla. It looks like it was done in watercolor.

The packaging containing the disc is a pull-out, also of heavy paper. Opening it will unveil a booklet and a pop-up of a Kiryu-Goji (2002-2003) Godzilla. Why Criterion used this version of Godzilla instead of the 1954 Godzilla is unknown. Perhaps that's the image Toho allowed Criterion to use. Still, the pop-up is a nice touch.

The image of Godzilla on the inner sleeve outer covers is of Godzilla amidst swirling bubbles that represent the detonated oxygen destroyer.

The booklet includes the list of chapters, cast & crew credits, an excellent essay ("Poetry After The A-Bomb") by J. Hoberman (senior film critic of The Village Voice) and details about the transfers, acknowledgements, special thanks and the disc's production credits.

So far, I am impressed by the work Criterion put into this Blu-ray.

Next: The Movies

Ambitious Japan: 9 Million Tourists In 2012

Above, the Fuji TV building in Odaiba, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan has big hopes to draw more foreign tourists to the country this year.

The Mainichi Daily News reports:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's tourism minister Takeshi Maeda said Tuesday that the government aims to attract over 9 million foreign visitors to Japan in 2012, exceeding the past record of 8,611,000 in 2010.

I was one little piece of the 2010 record as I made my last Japan visit in December 2010 to promote The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Japan's ambitious goal for 2012 is a tall order as there are still fears (most of it unfounded) over radiation problems in Fukushima in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11.

To read the full article, go here.

Kansai Airport Reports Big Drop In Foreign Visitors In 2011

Above, the Kinkaku-ji "Golden Pavilion" in Kyoto. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Kansai International Airport reported a steep drop in foreign visitors in 2011 according to The Mainichi Daily News.

OSAKA (Kyodo) -- The number of foreign visitors to Japan through the Kansai International Airport in 2011 posted the steepest-ever fall of 22 percent to 2,734,196, due to the higher yen and the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that ravaged a wide area of northeastern Japan and triggered a nuclear crisis, Kansai International Airport Co. said in a preliminary report Monday.

The overall number of air passengers passing through the 24-hour airport on a man-made island in Osaka Bay during the year, including domestic travelers, fell 6 percent to 13,520,663, following a revised 7 percent increase in 2010, according to the airport operator.

To read the full article, go here. In

Ernie Borgnine Is 95 Today

Above, Ernest Borgnine during his days on the PT-73 on "McHale's Navy."

A favorite actor is 95 years old today.

From IMDB:

Ernest Borgnine, was born Ermes Effron Borgnino on January 24, 1917, in Hamden, Connecticut. His parents were Charles who had emigrated from Ottiglio (AL), Italy and Anna who had emigrated from Carpi (MO), Italy.

One of my favorite shows from the 1960s is McHale's Navy. Thanks to the wonders of the This Network, I am able to watch McHale's Navy all over again.

Borgnine was also the jailer "Fatso" in From Here To Eternity who beat Frank Sinatra to death.

A big happy birthday to Ernest Borgnine!

10 Sleep Hacks for the Avid Traveler

Above, commuters snoozing on a Tokyo subway train.

Whether you're traveling to Japan or anywhere else, getting enough sleep is always a concern.

This little item came across my desk this morning. These are tips on getting some shut-eye while traveling: "10 Sleep Hacks for the Avid Traveler."

It starts with:

On a train, in the rain. When on planes, energy wanes. Whether you're a business traveler, a posh international jetsetter, or a college kid with dreadlocks and a ratty old backpack, travel can be both stressful and fun. No matter your modus operandi for seeing the world, one of the key elements to successful travel is the inclusion of sound and restful sleep. Before you complain about not having the time for a decent doze, consider these 10 sleep hacks, both digital and analog, especially tailored to the avid traveler. In the words of William Wordsworth, "rest and be thankful."

To view the site, go here.

Female Werewolf Movie: A Film & Video Project

Above, Donald F. Glut. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Writer/producer/director Donald F. Glut plans to make a "female werewolf movie" (as yet untitled).

He has set up a Kickstarter.com website to raise the necessary funds to make the movie. His goal on Kickstarter is to raise $175,000 in 60 days.

Says Glut:

My passion for movie-making began at age 9 when, in my Chicago backyard, I made my first of 41 amateur films. Decades later I realized my dream, producing/writing/directing (so far) 6 independent professional feature-length, campy/sexy horror and fantasy movies – DINOSAUR VALLEY GIRLS, SCARLET COUNTESS, THE MUMMY’S KISS, COUNTESS DRACULA’S ORGY OF BLOOD, THE MUMMY’S KISS: 2ND DYNASTY and, the most recent. BLOOD SCARAB.

Next up -- but requiring financing – is a sexy yet scary female werewolf movie (sorry, the title is still secret; I don’t want anyone snagging it) about the last werewolf in Transylvania who flees to the USA and starts a brothel (or den) of lusty female werewolves, a beautiful “lost girl” who becomes a member of her “pack,” a charismatic Native American psychic investigating the gruesome “full moon murders” and … oops!, I don’t want to give away too much of the plot.

The movie will shoot in Hollywood and nearby Southern California areas.

Financial backers will receive credits or benefits (depending on amount pledged).

Kickstarter.com is "the world's largest funding platform for creative projects."

To see Glut's Kickstarter.com page with all the details, go here.

USA Today Article On Criterion's "Godzilla" Blu-ray

USA Today is carrying an article on the upcoming Criterion Blu-ray edition of the original 1954 Godzilla and the 1956 Americanized Godzilla, King of The Monsters!

The article also includes interview comments by kaiju historians David Kalat and August Ragone.

The article starts with:

From terms like "Bridezilla" to films like Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster, the thought of Japan's most famous monster usually evokes a chuckle, not a roar.

But the roots of the Tokyo-stomping beast are dark and terrible. Long before its 27 sequels and endless spinoffs, the original 1954 film, called Gojira in Japan, was a fearful atomic fable from expert filmmakers, a metaphor for the bombing of Hiroshima that ended World War II just nine years earlier.

On Tuesday, the highbrow Criterion Collection, which usually traffics in the world of Hitchcock, Truffaut and Japan's Akira Kurosawa, will add digitally restored editions of Toho Studios' Gojira and the watered-down American version from 1956, Godzilla: King of the Monsters with Raymond Burr, to its prestigious DVD and Blu-ray catalog.

The article is by David Colton, the head honcho of the Classic Horror Film Board.

To read the full USA Today online article, go here.

Vixxa Violet

The other night, when I met Jerry "Karlos Borloff" Moore and Don Glut for dinner, I asked Jerry who the girl was on the Monster Madhouse promo video (above) he made for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. He said she's model Vixxa Violet.

Above, Vixxa Violet without the ghoulish make-up.

This came as a bit of a surprise as I knew of Vixxa, as she is a follower of this blog as well as a friend on a social networking website or two.

Vixxa is an actress/model/dancer from Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Her Linkedin profile says:

Independent entertainer; modeling, acting, dancing, self-stylist, prop-building & make-up; concept design; self-help guru.

I sent her a note on the above and thanked her for "spicing up" The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan promo video.

Vixxa's website is http://www.vixxaviolet.com.

Small world!