"Godzilla vs. Kong" Actress Kaylee Hottle Killed In Car Accident

Sad and shocking news in the world of Godzilla hit this morning.

Actress Kaylee Hottle was killed this morning due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Maryland.

According to TMZ:

Kaylee Hottle was riding in a 1995 Honda Accord when the driver veered off a Maryland road and slammed into a roadside ditch early Tuesday ... with excessive speed believed to be a factor ... TMZ has learned.

Authorities in Maryland say Kaylee -- the "Godzilla vs. Kong" actress -- was rushed to a trauma center, where she was later pronounced dead.

She was 18.

She played the deaf Skull Island native girl Jia who communicated with Kong by sign language in "Godzilla vs. Kong" and its follow-up. 

Condolences go out to her family and friends.

To read more, go here.

"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" Review

Above, at Red Rock 10 Theaters. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday afternoon, I went to Gallup to see Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire by Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. We had a full house in the auditorium.

Let me just start off to say that I found it entertaining. We're talking about a Legendary/Warners Godzilla movie, not Shakespeare. There are a few things that I see as flaws. To give any of them away would be spoilers. There was also some shark-jumping. 

The MonsterVerse movies all play like a Heisei Gamera movie, not a Godzilla movie.

It is amazing that Godzilla x Kong had a budget of $135 million. But the money did not show up on the big screen. I saw a number of not-so-good shots. They were on a par with Godzilla vs. Kong, quality-wise. With that amount of money spent and the number of special effects people working on it, it makes the special effects of Godzilla Minus One all the more remarkable, considering the movie cost Toho around $15 million to produce. It is no surprise to me why Godzilla Minus One got a special effects Oscar whereas none of the MonsterVerse movies ever did. I have the feeling Legendary/Warners wanted to rush out a movie.

Right now, Godzilla x Kong is around 60% at Rotten Tomatoes by the critics. It is around 93% by fans. At this same point, Godzilla Minus One was in the upper 90s by fans and the critics. 

Toho should use a paraphrase of Kentucky Fried Chicken's slogan: We do Godzilla right!

My grade: B+

Following the screening, I headed to Jerry's Cafe in Gallup for a great chile relleno/enchilada combo dinner. 

Considering we're to get another round of snow, I am glad to get out of the house to see a movie and go out to dinner.

G-FAN #139

Above, G-FAN #139.

G-FAN #139 arrived in the mailbox the other day.

It has a striking cover of the Heisei Godzilla, which happens to be one of my favorite Godzilla suit designs.

My little contribution to the issue is on the Niue Godzilla vs. Kong silver coins. Even though the coins were minted in 2021, it seems that many Godzilla fans were unaware they even existed (including me). I discovered and blogged about them late last year.

Above, the Niue Godzilla vs. Kong silver coins. Photo by Armand Vaquer

When I blogged about them, I received messages of thanks from people telling me that they were not even aware of them. One gal messaged me that thanks to my posting on Twitter, she was getting the coins for her boyfriend (or husband, I forgot which) for Christmas. 

Since I wrote the article (I only had the Godzilla coin at the time), I have since purchased the Kong silver coin at the National Money Show last month. They were licensed by Legendary Pictures.

Above, the Kong coin at the National Money Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

G-FAN is available by subscription or at your favorite comic book shop. If you don't have a comic book shop that carries it, just Google G-FAN 139 and it'll take you to many who have online ordering.

On the Godzilla vs. Kong coins, JM Bullion carries them.

It will be interesting to see if Niue mints Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire coins once the movie is released.

Got The Kong Silver Coin

Above, the 2021 Godzilla vs, Kong silver coins. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before heading to the National Money Show last weekend in Phoenix, there was one coin that I planned to get while there.

That was the island nation of Niue's (near New Zealand) 2021 Kong silver coin commemorating Godzilla vs. Kong. I had bought the Godzilla coin and decided to get the Kong one at the show. I figured that a dealer would have them and, sure enough, one did.

Above, at the National Coin Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The mint run for these coins was at 25,000, so once they're gobbled up, that's it. 

The coins contain 1 Troy oz of .999 pure silver in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

They can still be bought online at JM Bullion by going here.

By the way, see the next issue of G-FAN for more on these coins.

@ The National Money Show

At present,  I am currently at the National Money Show at the Phoenix Convention Center. 

When Will Silver Go Up?

Above, the Niue Godzilla vs. Kong silver coin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Silver took a hit this past week. 

Depending upon the source, the spot price for silver has been around $22.95 to $22.01 toz. This is actually good for buyers. As the spot prices falls, there are more deals to be had. One just has to shop around to find them. That's why I am not concerned over the current spot price.

Some investors are now asking, When Will Silver Go Up? That is the topic of an article in Investing News Network. 

They begin it with:

Many investors are asking themselves “When will silver go up?” Are market conditions ripe for another run up in the silver price?

It’s no secret that the silver market can be incredibly volatile. From February 2022 to February 2023 alone, the white metal has seen price levels ranging from highs of US$26.39 in March to lows of below US$18 per ounce in September.

Many investors are confused by the precious metal’s movement. After all, silver is a safe-haven asset that generally fares well in times of turmoil, and the past year has been packed with tense geopolitical events alongside the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Russian-Ukraine war, increasing oil and gas prices and rising inflation have further heightened global economic uncertainty.

Unfortunately, answering the question, “When will silver go up?” is tricky. Even seasoned analysts can’t tell the future, and it’s difficult to find a consensus on the topic of when it will exit its bear market and enter a bull market.

Nevertheless, it’s definitely possible to track down different opinions on the topic. Market participants interested in investing in silver would do well to keep these ideas top of mind as they try to determine where the spot price may move in the future.

To read more, go here. 

2021 1 oz Colorized Niue Silver Godzilla vs Kong

A few minutes ago, I saw an ad for a Godzilla vs. Kong colorized coin from JM Bullion. 

I hadn't seen this one before (and a couple of others) from the island nation of Niue. I have a silver Godzilla coin from the country.

This is what I saw:

 

Here's the product details:

In 2021, fans of Godzilla and King Kong were treated to the ultimate movie showdown event with Godzilla vs. Kong. The build-up to this epic clash began in 2014 with the release of Godzilla. This was then followed by a sequel that introduced Kong, plus another Godzilla film. To celebrate this historic face-off, we are offering a stunning line of coins officially licensed by Legendary Entertainment and Toho. Today, 2021 1 oz Colorized Niue Silver Godzilla vs Kong – Godzilla Coins are available to you online from JM Bullion.

If you are a Godzilla and coin collector, this is the best of both worlds.

For more, go here. 

The Difference Between Ounce and Troy Ounce

Above, reverse side of the Niue Godzilla vs. Kong coin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Every so often, when posting about coins and bullion, the terms ounce and troy ounce pop up. 

One may ask, What is a troy ounce? To tell you the truth, I knew that each are used in measuring the weight of different things, but didn't know the weights of each. Are they the same?  Actually no. A troy ounce is heavier than the ounce we are familiar with.

The Epoch Times posted an article explaining the difference between an ounce and a troy ounce. 

They begin with:

Precious metals like gold and silver are excellent investments. Unlike most financial assets, they offer protection against inflation and don’t pose a risk to your credit. But what good is such an investment if you don’t know how to calculate its value?

You might have difficulty determining how traders measure gold if you’ve recently started investing and collecting gold and silver. Understanding Troy ounce versus ounce is the first step in getting started in this field. Even when dealing with small amounts of gold and silver, using the wrong unit of measure causes complications.

What Is a Troy Ounce?

You’ve probably heard of “Troy ounce” in advertisements or marketing materials for precious metals like silver and gold. Typically, individuals familiar with the Troy ounce thoroughly understand its role in determining the value of metals in the bullion industry.

A Troy ounce is a unit of weight commonly used to measure the mass of precious metals. Since medieval times, goldsmiths and other metalworkers have used the Troy weight system. Today, traders worldwide use Troy ounces when calculating the value of silver and gold bars or coins. The abbreviation for Troy ounces is “oz t.”

Due to their high value, precious metals are often bought and sold in large quantities and need a specialized measurement scale. Investors tend to use Troy ounces over regular ounces because the former offers more precision than the latter.

The Troy ounce is the only measurement unit used by the Troy weight system, and this is the standard at sovereign and private mints because it ensures consistency in purity and weight. In addition to weighing precious metals, historically, manufacturers used Troy ounces to weigh gunpowder and pharmaceuticals.

 To read more, go here.

Gold and Silver Prices Surging

Above, Niue Godzilla vs. Kong silver two dollar coin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thanks to the weakness of the U.S. dollar, gold and silver prices have been surging. 

This is good news for sellers, but not for buyers.

According to Coin News:

Precious metals finished higher, across-the-board, for a second straight session Thursday. Gold’s increase was its third in a row. The yellow metal ended above $1,800 an ounce for the first time since Friday.

Gold for February delivery tacked on $3.50, or 0.2%, to settle at $1,801.50 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Gold futures traded between $1,793.20 and $1,806.90. They climbed 0.9% on Wednesday, they edged up 0.06% on Tuesday, and they fell 1.6% on Monday.

Silver for March delivery settled up 32.4 cents, or 1.4%, to $23.246 an ounce. Silver futures ranged from $22.72 and $23.43. They jumped 2.6% on Wednesday, they shed 0.4% on Tuesday, and they dropped 3.6% on Monday.

To read more, go here. 

Godzilla Coin Arrived

The Godzilla Godzilla vs. Kong 2021 silver two dollar coin from the island nation of Niue has arrived.

It came pretty fast after ordering from JM Bullion. For collectors of coins and Godzilla/kaiju items, this is the best of both worlds. It is my understanding that only 25,000 were minted.

Here's the front and back of the coin:

2021 Niue Godzilla Silver Coin

If one is a coin collector and a Godzilla/kaiju collector, there is at least one essential coin they should include in their collections.

That is a 1 troy ounce Godzilla $2.00 silver coin from the island nation of Niue. It is a licensed coin that commemorates Godzilla vs. Kong.

Today's silver price is at $22.46 per troy ounce.

According to Silver Gold Bull:

The 1 oz 2021 Niue Silver $2 Godzilla Coin is the perfect addition to your coin collection. With only 25,000 coins minted worldwide, this Godzilla vs. Kong collectible coin is a limited release that you do not want to miss. This silver coin celebrates the popular Godzilla vs. Kong film currently leading the box office during the pandemic.

The reverse features an officially licensed depiction of Godzilla, shown in profile, above the inscription “GODZILLA”.

The obverse features an officially licensed depiction of Godzilla vs. Kong in action around the Public Seal of Niue. Also included on the obverse are the coin’s year of issue, the unique legal tender value, the Legendary Pictures stamp and details of metal content, weight and purity.

The epic clash of Godzilla vs. Kong serves as the Godzilla franchise’s 36th film and King Kong’s 12th further assuring this coin’s collectible appeal.

There is also a King Kong silver coin.

I ordered a Godzilla coin the other day and it is expected to be delivered tomorrow.  

Legendary Entertainment Cuts Ties With Warner Bros.

It appears that the resolution of the public "spat" between Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures was short-lived.

Legendary has bolted from Warner Bros. and has signed up with Sony Pictures to distribute their films.

According to Variety:

Legendary Entertainment, the production company behind “Dune” and “Godzilla vs. Kong,” has cut ties with Warner Bros. and entered a multi-year worldwide film distribution partnership with Sony Pictures.

Under the new agreement, Sony will market and distribute Legendary’s upcoming theatrical motion picture titles. However, select existing projects at Legendary are exempt from the pact, meaning Warner Bros. Pictures is still backing “Dune: Part Two.” The sequel to 2021’s sci-fi adaptation “Dune” is currently in production and slated for release on Nov. 3, 2023.

In a press release, Sony Pictures and Legendary emphasized that the companies are aligned in their “ongoing commitment to theatrical distribution as a driver for other ‘downstream’ windows and the theatrical window’s long-term value for films.”  

That sentiment may be a not-so-subtle nod to Legendary’s public spat with Warner Bros. in late 2020. At the time, the production company threatened to take legal action over Warners.’ decision to send all of its 2021 movies — including the Legendary-backed “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “Dune” — to HBO Max on the same day they debut in theaters. However, the two companies hashed out frustrations (for the moment) and found an agreement that satisfied both parties. Moreover, “Godzilla vs. Kong” grossed $470 million globally and “Dune” generated $401 million worldwide, making each of them pandemic-era box office hits despite playing day-and date on streaming.

To read more, go here. 

Durango's Alpen Rose RV Park

Above, the office and store building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My "go-to" place to stay when in Durango, Colorado is the Alpen Rose RV Park. 

I discovered it last year when I came to town to see Godzilla vs. Kong at a Durango theater. At that time, New Mexico theaters were shut down due to the pandemic.

The RV park is a nice place to stay with a canyon setting of red rock cliffs and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad trains passing by in the morning and afternoon across the highway. 

They have a fishing pond, swimming pool, restaurant, laundromat, store and a huge dog run area.

Some photos:

Universal Music To Manage Elvis Presley's Music Catalog

Above, Elvis Presley's gold records on display at Graceland. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There must be a big Elvis Presley fan within Legendary Pictures. In two of their Godzilla movies, Godzilla (2014) and Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), an Elvis Presley song were heard.

In Godzilla, "Devil In Disguise" was played and in Godzilla vs. Kong, "Loving Arms" was played (see video below). 

We can probably expect to hear more Elvis songs in future movies as Universal Music will now manage Elvis Presley's music catalog.

From Reuters:

April 12 (Reuters) - Universal Music is adding the song catalog of the "King of Rock 'n' Roll", Elvis Presley, including hits such as "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "Jailhouse Rock", under a publishing deal with Authentic Brands Group.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, although Universal Music Publishing Group said on Tuesday it would approve and collect revenue when Elvis' songs are used in media, films or television.

To read more, go here. 

"Godzilla vs. Kong" Sequel To Begin Filming Later This Year

Above, the two titans will meet again starting later this year.

We waited nearly 60 years for the rematch of Kong and Godzilla. But we won't have to wait nearly as long for the third bout between the two.

According to Yahoo, filming will begin in Australia and Hawaii later this year for the sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong.

They wrote:

Call it The Rumble Down Under 2: The sequel to “Godzilla vs. Kong” will begin shooting later this year in eastern Australia, according to local film authority Screen Queensland.

Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures’ 2021 global blockbuster “Godzilla vs. Kong” shot both in Hawaii and in and around the Queensland city of Brisbane. The sequel will return to Australia’s eastern coastal region, bringing with it more than 500 local crew jobs and roles for some 750 extras, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

The mega-monsters’ return to locations across the Gold Coast is expected to deliver nearly $80 million in economic boost. That estimate is more than twice what 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong” brought to the local economy.

To read more, go here. 

How "Godzilla vs. Kong" Battled The Pandemic (And Won)

Above, the Godzilla vs. Kong one-sheet in Durango, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last spring, the governor of New Mexico mandated that movie theaters in the state be closed so not to spread coronavirus. At that time, Godzilla vs. Kong was released and the only way for me to see it was to go north to the neighboring state of Colorado to see it. Theaters in Colorado were still open.

After a three hour drive, I went to Durango, Colorado and camped in my RV. I made the trip a little "mini-vacation". Before heading home, I screened Godzilla vs. Kong. It was an enjoyable trip.

As it turned out, theaters in New Mexico were allowed to re-open a week later. A friend from my community joined me to see the movie at the Red Rock 10 Theaters in Gallup. Godzilla vs. Kong ended up being a big hit at the box office for 2021.

Slash Film has posted an article on how Godzilla vs. Kong battled the pandemic and won.

They start it with:

(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)

2020 feels both like an eternity ago and just yesterday all at the same time. Yet here we are in 2022, facing down another uncertain year in pandemic land, particularly as it relates to big movies and how they're going to fare at the box office. Are more films going to be delayed? Are we going to see more hybrid releases? Are movies going to be doomed to flop due to circumstances beyond the studio's control? For now we have more questions than answers, but in this week's edition of the column, we're going to look at one movie from 2021, "Godzilla vs. Kong" — how it managed to successfully weather the pandemic, and what lessons it may be able to provide as Hollywood navigates the still-choppy waters of the future.

To read the full article, go here.

"Godzilla vs. Kong" Makes Oscars Shortlist

Godzilla in Japan by Toho Co., Ltd. has garnered some Japanese film awards over the years and maybe the upcoming Academy Awards in Hollywood might spring a surprise for kaiju fans.

ComicBook.com reported that Godzilla vs. Kong is on the Oscar shortlist. 

They wrote:

Godzilla Vs. Kong is on the shortlist for movies nominated for "Best Visual Effects" for the 94th Academy Awards, though it does have some major competition when it comes to some of the other films that dropped in 2021.

It would be very interesting if the movie does get a nomination and, if it does, wins.

To read more, go here. 

Durango Train Museum Announces Winter Hours

Above, engine no. 42 in the Durango train museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last April, I took a two-night trip to Durango, Colorado to see Godzilla vs. Kong. Theaters in New Mexico were shut down at the time due to the pandemic (but they re-opened a week after my trip), but the ones in Colorado were open. Durango, Colorado is only a three-hour drive from Jamestown, New Mexico. Convenient! (Avoid driving through Farmington, New Mexico, the traffic is horrendous!)

While in Durango, I didn't ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, but I did discover a campground that I liked very much, Aspen Rose RV Park. Across the road from the RV park, the Durango train passes by.

Above, the entrance to the Durango train museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Although I didn't ride the train this trip, I did visit the Durango railroad museum that is at the Durango train station. It had lots of things to see and is well worth a visit. It is a part of the roundhouse building.

Above, the Durango train about to depart from the Durango station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad posted their museum winter hours on Facebook yesterday:

Have yo
u stopped by our museum lately? Now open for winter hours (10:00 am - 4:00 pm daily) the museum is FREE and is a great way to immerse yourself in our railway’s vibrant past. 

Yes, you read that right. The museum is free! Do yourself a favor and pay the museum a visit.

My Two 2021 "Must-See" Movies Didn't Disappoint

Well, last night's viewing of No Time To Die was the final movie of two that were on my theatrical "must-see" list for 2021.

I've seen other movies this year (most recently, Cry Macho with Clint Eastwood), but the two must-sees of 2021 for me were Godzilla vs. Kong and No Time To Die.

Since we're now in October, it won't be too long that 2021 will draw to a close. If there are other movies that I must-see in a theater, I can't think of any right at this moment. For that matter, I can't think of any that could be on my must-see list for 2022. We'll have to wait and see what develops.

What is nice about the two movies on my must-see list were that both were enjoyable to me. I was not disappointed in either. Were they perfect? No. But they were worth the wait, particularly No Time To Die. 

"Godzilla vs. Kong": The Numbers

Above, the Godzilla vs. Kong one-sheet poster. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Godzilla vs. Kong was a powerhouse in box office receipts worldwide. 

As of five days ago (source: Anime News Network):

TOHO reported on Tuesday that the Godzilla vs. Kong film has earned the equivalent of over 50 billion yen (about US$452 million) worldwide.

And in Japan: 

The film opened in Japan on July 2, delayed from its original May 14 opening. The film earned 464 million yen (about US$4.18 million) and topped the Japanese box office in its opening weekend. The film sold 293,000 tickets over the weekend, and 390,000 tickets over its first three days (including Friday). The film earned more than 600 million (about US$5.4 million) in its first three days.

The Numbers.com reported that this is the total box office take of Godzilla vs. Kong in Japan:

$10,473,199 7/16/2021* 

[*Total as of this reporting date - A.]

They also reported that the total box office is:  Worldwide Box Office $459,463,133.