Butt Out!

August Ragone Libels and Smears Mad Monster Party Organizers 

tortious interference noun encouraging a breach, infringing on another's agreement, innerfering with contract, interfering with contractual commitments, interfering with contractual obligation, interferrng with contractual rights, intermeddling, intermeddling with business activities, obstruction, work against another's contractual relationship, wrongful interference with busiiess relationships, wrongful interference with contractual relationships.

Some people can't seem to mind their own business and go out of their way to poke their noses in other people's business to interfere and, possibly, sabotage things.

Such is the case with August Ragone.  Back in early-February, he posted that Haruo Nakajima "cancelled" out of the Mad Monster Party convention:

While it was true that Mr. Nakajima's wife has been ill, this was not an official posting by the Mad Monster Party organizers and not authorized.  Ragone has absolutely nothing to do with the convention, nor does he speak for the convention.

On February 15, the Mad Monster Party organizers posted this message:

We're discussing flight options with Sanoe now (she decided to come with Haruo, I believe a relative is with her mother), and Haruo never canceled in the first place. That said, it's always a risk to travel to a show for just one guest because even guests that aren't in their 80's traveling from Japan can cancel last minute. I realize this is potentially a once in a lifet...ime opportunity as Haruo currently has no other scheduled US appearances, so we're in a tough spot as promotors - we don't want to scare off fans and have them miss Haruo, but we want to keep you up to the minute on even the SLIGHTEST possible risk (hence this thread). The appearance IS currently moving forward as planned.

That should have been the end of the rumors as the flight tickets for the Nakajimas have been purchased and I have been assisting them in getting photo prints made for the convention.  I am in regular contact with Sonoe Nakajima.  The convention organizers decided not respond to Ragone directly, other than the above.

Unfortunately, several people believed Ragone and decided not to attend.  Then, when they found that Mr. Nakajima was coming after all, it was too late for them to get airfare without paying through the nose.  This amounts to sabotage as attendees were fooled into cancelling and hurts the convention's attendance.

It has been brought to my attention today that August Ragone is now engaging in libel and tortious interference (note the reaction of a couple of people) as he posted the following comments on Facebook:

I have been the go-between between the Nakajimas and the Mad Monster Party convention organizers.  At no time has anyone engaged in "browbeating" anyone.  That is a despicable lie!  The convention organizers have been very honorable in their negotiations with the Nakajimas and they expressed their concern over Mrs. Haruo Nakajima's health and agree that "family comes first."  In fact, the fees involved will be a big help in paying for Mrs. Nakajima's medical expenses.  As I have been acting as the go-between (or "arranger" per Ragone's post) for the Nakajimas and the convention, the implication is that I was involved in the so-called "browbeating."  This is libelous and warrants a response!

The malicious postings are coming from jealous and bitter people (note his use of the words "us" and "we") who are not involved in the Mad Monster Party convention in any way, shape or form.  I also know who else is involved in Ragone's rumor-mongering.  

A few years ago, August Ragone was very angry over rumors involving his book on Eiji Tsuburaya, calling some of the actions (of those involved) tortious interference.  Now, in this matter, Ragone is engaging in something that he decried was happening to him.  Perhaps Ragone has some extra cash on hand as he may end up forking it over for a defense lawyer in civil litigation, because his actions (and his accomplice's) are certainly begging for it. (This is not a threat, but they should take into consideration the possibility.)  [Go here for more Ragone shenanigans.]

For the record, when I was approached to have the Nakajimas attend the Mad Monster Party convention, no strings were attached for my assistance.  The organizers have been very generous in inviting me to moderate Mr. Nakajima's session(s).  Plus, I am paying for my own airfare and room.  Contrast this with what follows:

Statement from Mad Monster Party:

Mad Monster tries to avoid the drama and flame wars that our collective love for the genre can sometimes lure us into. We don’t delete comments of criticism on our facebook page nor do we feel a defensive need to respond to every contrary opinion. However, when our friends and guests of our show are wrongfully smeared, and our ethics or reputation is questioned, you better get your facts straigh...t before casting that first stone.

August Ragone has stated (regarding Mad Monster Party in Charlotte):
“Family always comes first. This is selfish and despicable of the promoters”.
“Mr. Nakajima cancelled because his wife was sick, but the Mad Monster people brow-beat them into coming. Not cool.”

We’ll tell you what’s “not cool”. The disrespectful implication that Haruo would leave his sick wife or even be “brow-beat” if he didn’t want to attend. Hajime Ishida, Mr. Sci-Fi (the “Japanese Forry Ackerman”, “Mr. Monster”) is a mutual friend of Mad Monster’s and Haruo and has expressed Haruo’s excitement to come, Sonoe herself said that her aunt is helping with the family and they want to attend and that Haruo wants to meet his fans.

For the purpose of full disclosure, Mr. Ragone was originally negotiating Haruo’s appearance at Mad Monster Party and wanted us to purchase 3 additional flights for he and his friends (which turned out to be his request, not the Nakajimas).

August Ragone :
“FIVE flights (I counted the Nakajimas as one. So, two for them, and three for us coming out from California)” ... “In respect to Japanese Guests, you've gotta pay to play”

We counter offered to bring four people out so fans could meet the King of the Monsters, that was not good enough for Mr. Ragone. When the Nakajimas learned they were invited to the show, they were very interested. It is “gate keepers” like this that make it very difficult for fans to meet their heroes. The guests often want to come, but the gate keepers want to implement their own stipulations and feeling they are your only shot, may become vindictive and lash out in petty retaliation. The Nakajimas never cancelled Mad Monster Party. Thanks to spiteful rumor spreading, we’ve received many emails from fans who waited too long to buy airfare and may very well miss their shot to ever meet Haruo (and he calls us “despicable”). We’ve always immediately announced cancellations and schedule changes and even gave fair warning that Sonoe said she may not be able to accompany her father. Perhaps more shows would bring Haruo in if they had direct access as we were lucky enough to eventually gain. There’s another large show that will never work with this gate keeper again because of questionable business practices. We sat by quietly when he tried sabotaging Haruo’s appearance at our show the first time, even when he implied we were hiding a cancellation by saying Mad Monster “hasn’t announced it yet”. Now that he is disrespecting Haruo by implying he would leave his sick wife’s side because a convention “brow-beat” him, we figured we should let you know his agenda and assure you, Haruo and Sonoe are looking forward to meeting the fans (even without August and his two buddies flying in from California).

Update (3/4/13):

Here's some of the reactions the Mad Monster Party organizers have received:

• It's pathetic that these scumbags attempt to leech off of someone else in order to get something for free. I'm thrilled that I get to meet a childhood hero of mine and the fact that Haruo is even making this appearance (I'm sure he doesn't HAVE to), is thrilling enough but to have people attempt to take advantage of that fact is sickening. Thank you, MMP for standing your ground and shutting down the bullies! I'll see you in North Carolina!!

• I had a similar experience when trying to invite Erika Eleniak to X-Con. One of her "Gatekeepers" got pissed and started sending me vulgar emails when I wouldn't offer to cover his expenses to the event as well. When I said I would just contact her personally next time I saw her then he started threatening me. These people are just leeches.

• Joe, or whomever posted the facts. The most satisfying to hear is that another large show will no longer work with this "gatekeeper". Greed and arrogance have should have no rule when it's simply about enjoying the opportunities to meet; whether it's the guests greeting all the adoring fans or the fans excitedly meeting their heros. Good to hear you got this fool recognized.

• There is no way that the Mad Monster People would "brow beat" an elderly man with a sick wife into into attending a show.

An Omission To Correct

It is indeed a thrill to have a publication review in a national magazine, newspaper or website.  I was fortunate enough to have The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan be reviewed in The Japan Times last Sunday.

In the review article, there was this paragraph (highlights mine):

English-language literature on Godzilla and all the other monsters that followed is rather scarce, probably due to film company Toho's legal actions that in the past have successfully blocked the publication of a number of books. Among the titles worth mentioning, there are Stuart Galbraith IV's "Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo" (1998), Steve Ryfle's "Japan's Favorite Mon-star" (1998), and Peter H. Brothers' "Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda" (2009). Now Godzilla lover and writer Armand Vaquer has come up with a guidebook for all those fans who want to turn a trip to Japan into a pilgrimage to the places that were cinematically trashed by the Big G, Mothra, Gamera and their friends.

To have the travel guide in the company of the aforementioned authors and titles is, indeed, quite an honor.   I personally know each one, and even though some of them and I may have had a disagreement or two over the years, I would feel quite comfortable to sit down with any of them for a friendly chat over beer, wine and cigars.

There was a glaring omission in the paragraph, one that I had nothing to do with.  However, I would like to make mention of it as the author and publication rightly deserves to be mentioned.  That would be the book, Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters and its author, August Ragone.  Ragone's book (I think it is now out-of-print, but copies can still be found here and there) on Japan's special effects pioneer is one of the best English-language books on Japanese science-fiction and fantasy movies to be published.

All of these books are important sources of information for fans or movie historians.  Not including any or all of them in one's personal library of cinema books would make that library an incomplete library, in my view.

August Ragone Scores Rondo

Above, Ragone autographs his book on Eiji Tsuburaya for fans in 2008. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Congratulations are in order! August Ragone scored a Rondo Award in the 10th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards.

BEST INTERVIEW
(Award goes to interviewer)

August Ragone interviews Haruo Nakajima (the original Godzilla), FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #256

Above, Haruo Nakajima. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Rondo Winners Announcement Tonight, Etc.

Above, Haruo Nakajima with Miki at last year's

 Monsterpalooza. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The winners of the 10th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards will be announced tonight at 10:00 PM EST.

To see the winners list, go to http://www.rondoaward.com tonight.

Speaking of Rondo Awards, this post has been up for a few days at movie historian Stuart Galbraith IV's blog. I can see Galbraith's point. But I also know August Ragone to be sincere in his desire to give Haruo Nakajima a Rondo.

Above, Haruo Nakajima during the filming of "Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster."

If none of Ragone's nominations pan out, I would like to see a campaign to get Nakajima a Rondo as Galbraith proposes for next year. Count me in!

We'll see if there's any follow-through.

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.

Honda Estate vs. Toho: Delving Deeper

Above, the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The story of the alleged lawsuit by the family of late director Ishiro Honda against Toho Co., Ltd. over the Godzilla copyright may have some legs after all.

Over on Facebook, some of us were mulling over the story.

It was asked by one participant: "Couldn't we have somebody in Japan verify if a Complaint has actually been filed? Those are a matter of public record·"

Noted Godzilla historian August Ragone replied that he had looked into it and he is currently "writing up something about this now [for his blog]."

Once he does, I'll post a link to his blog post. This should be interesting!

It appears we may be on the verge of learning something about Japanese copyright law.

Old Pictures

While perusing some old files in my old computer, I came across some oldies.

2000

Below, is an article from the Los Angeles Daily News from July 16, 2000 on G-FEST 2000. The article appeared in the newspaper while the convention was in progress. I showed it to Mr. Nakajima at the awards luncheon at the Hollywood Roosevelt. (Click on image to see larger.)



After arriving at LAX from Japan for G-FEST 2000, Megumi Odaka is interviewed in the Tom Bradley Terminal by a Japanese radio station:



Below, Sadamasa Arikawa pushes his luggage to the bus at LAX after arriving in 2000:



Below, the night before G-FEST 2000 opened, the guests were gathered in a suite at the Hollywood Roosevelt to go over the weekend's activities:



Below, yours truly with special effects director Koichi Kawakita at the Hollywood Roosevelt in 2000:



2004

Following the American Film Market screening of Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S., we gathered at the Santa Monica Hooters for an after-movie snack:

It's Official: Media Blasters To Release "Destroy All Monsters" and "Godzilla vs. Megalon"

Above, the U.S. poster of "Godzilla vs. Megalon."

After weeks of speculation and rumors, it is now official: Media Blasters has Godzilla vs. Megalon and, also, Destroy All Monsters.

According to their Facebook page:

Talking about Godzilla we can make it official now, we have DAM and Godzilla vs. Megalon. DAM is scheduled for October and will be both Blu-Ray and DVD releases. Do not know all the details about the extras yet. We will post with it later as they become available. Now for the funny part, we were not looking at Godzilla vs. Megalon till everyone said we have it so we asked they said ok so we picked it up.

There is no word as yet on the release date of Godzilla vs. Megalon, but it will likely be in 2012.

The last sentence from Media Blasters' announcement is interesting:

Now for the funny part, we were not looking at Godzilla vs. Megalon till everyone said we have it so we asked they said ok so we picked it up.

As mentioned previously, Robert Dunham's daughter Emiko Jade Frost said she was approached by someone working on the extra features for the DVD some months ago. Then, the word about it was announced by August Ragone. I posted the news here as Ragone has been a reliable source for news in the world of kaiju. Then Media Blasters said they don't have Megalon. After this, all hell broke loose and Ragone found himself on the receiving end of attacks by irate fanboys.

Perhaps the hullabaloo surrounding the Ragone announcement was a good thing in the end as Media Blasters acquired Megalon and it'll finally receive an official release.

As far as Destroy All Monsters is concerned, I have the ADV VHS and DVD releases. Unfortunately, both have Toho's international dub instead of the original A.I.P. dub. It is hoped that Media Blasters can release Destroy All Monsters with the A.I.P. dub or, at least, the Japanese language, but subtitled version. The international dub is atrocious.

Nevertheless, this is good news! (Now if we can only get Return of Godzilla (Godzilla 1985) and Godzilla vs. Biollante released on DVD.)

End of April

It is hard to believe that in five days April will be over. It seems like only yesterday that I was preparing for my April 8 presentation on Japanese monster movie locations at Monsterpalooza (photo above) and getting my taxes paid.

It is gratifying that Haruo Nakajima had such a great reception and his American handlers (August Ragone, Dave Chappel, et al.) did such a great job. Plus, they raised a good sum of money for Japan earthquake relief.

As of late, I've been working almost continuously since Thursday night. This is due to some claim assignments that came in along with my parachute job. I had to work Saturday and last night (at least it was close by, up in the hills above Tarzana) and I worked a claim assignment in Burbank this morning and will be working in Studio City this evening. So far, I have a mandatory settlement conference in Van Nuys court on another claim tomorrow morning. When I say "so far," I mean that anything could change between now and then. After the settlement conference, my work schedule appears to be clear until Thursday night.

But I'm not complaining! I can use the cash! (I should be getting holiday pay for last night for Easter Sunday, which also helps.)

Tomorrow, after my work is done at the Van Nuys court, all I have to do is to send off my property tax payment for the farm in Nebraska.

Then, I can relax!

HERE'S ANOTHER CLUE FOR YOU ALL (The Walrus Is Paul)

The controversy over Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) has some G-fans at each other's throats.

Some are defending the original report that Media Blasters is prepping a release by August Ragone and his defense by the daughter of actor Robert Dunham, Emiko Jade Frost. While others are attacking Ragone and Frost (the most vicious taking place at the Toho Kingdom message board) with some even attacking her sanity.

Keith Aiken posted that he contacted Carl Morano at Media Blasters who denied Ragone's report. There are three possibilities here: 1.) Morano is telling the truth as he knows it (could be a case of the right hand not knowing what the left is doing); 2.) Morano correct in his denial; or, 3.) Morano's lying.

Flying under the radar is this post by Wayne Rose and reply at Media Blasters' "official" Facebook page (click on image to view larger):



This seems to support Ragone's report (although I wouldn't bet the ranch on it at present). Note that Media Blasters does not deny (or confirm) that the movie they hope to release is Megalon.

The "Megagate" Scandal

Several days ago, August Ragone posted on his blog an article that Media Blasters was preparing to release Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) on DVD.

A day or so later, Keith Aiken posted on Sci-Fi Japan that the story is "false" and that there were no such plans for said release.

Since then, the fit hit the shan in all of this with people questioning Ragone's credibility.

When Ragone first posted his initial article, I posted a brief article on it but directed readers to his article. Over the years, August Ragone has been one of the most reliable sources of news in the kaiju world.

This whole thing seems to have exploded like a tennis match that has gone haywire.

Now, Ragone's source for the his initial report, Emiko Jade Frost (the daughter of Megalon star Robert Dunham) has come forward in Ragone's defense. I have to give her a lot of credit in doing so.

It is bizarre that all this hoopla is taking place over a nearly forty-year-old movie. But that's fandom for you. Maybe we ought to call this "Megagate" for fun?

To read Emiko Jade Frost's side of the story, go here.

There are always three sides to every story: One side. The other side. The truth.

"Godzilla vs. Megalon" Release Story Turned Out To Be False?

It appears that the report by August Ragone about Media Blasters' impending release of 1973's Godzilla vs. Megalon was false. Or is it?

Keith Aiken of Sci-Fi Japan posted an article that refutes the Ragone report. He even quotes Media Blasters' Carl Morano as stating "this is all news to us."

According to Aiken's article, Megalon is not available due to muddled rights issues that date back to the Cinema Shares International (they were the original licensee) days. Toho won't make available any movie until all rights issues to it are cleared. Media Blasters is interested in acquiring the movie, according to Aiken's article, but Toho needs to sort out the rights "paperwork" so that they are satisfied that nobody can come out of the woodwork claiming that they have the rights.

Ragone generally doesn't post articles unless he is satisfied on its accuracy. He has since revised his article to indicate that this is not yet a done deal (and some items removed).

To read Aiken's article, go here.

To read Ragone's revised article, go here.

I am sure we haven't heard the last of this.

The End?

"Godzilla vs. Megalon" To Get Official Release

Above, the U.S. release poster featuring the World Trade Center, a scene that never took place in the movie.

August Ragone posted today that Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) will see its official Region One release by Media Blasters.

While Godzilla vs. Megalon isn't one of my favorites, it is, admittedly, entertaining. I have two (ahem) boots of it: one with a very poor source print and one with a better source print.

Rather than have me prattle on about the release, go see Ragone's excellent write-up on it by going here.

Now, all we need is Return of Godzilla (1984) (a.k.a. Godzilla 1985) and Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) released on DVD.

Monsterpalooza: One Month Away

Monsterpalooza opens one month from today at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.



I am currently working on the photo slide show that I will be showing during my presentation on April 8.

This morning, I passed a news tip about Haruo Nakajima's appearance at the show to my contact at JATV News. JATV is the Los Angelese Japanese television station (on Channel 44). Maybe they'll see fit to send out a crew?

Mr. Nakajima will discuss his career with moderators August Ragone and Jason Varney on Saturday, April 9.



Along with Mr. Nakajima, Peter H. Brothers will hold a presentation on Godzilla director Ishiro Honda on April 8. Following this, my presentation on Japanese monster locations will take place.

Mr. Nakajima will take part in a panel discussion on "Men In Suits" on Sunday, April 10.



This year's Monsterpalooza is shaping up to be one of the best shows ever!

For more information, go here.

Top Five Godzilla/Kaiju Books

Top Five Godzilla/Kaiju Books

by Armand Vaquer

With Christmas just around the corner, it is worthwhile to take a look at what English language, mass-market books to buy for the newbie or longtime kaiju fan.

Most of these books are still available through various sources such as Amazon.com, eBay, Barnes and Noble, Border's Books, etc.

So if you are wondering what to buy, here's my top five Godzilla books:


Number One. Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters by August Ragone is the top book to pick up without question. Ragone is thorough in his research on the genius of Japanese special effects with many rare photographs. Toho Co., Ltd. and Tsuburaya Productions cooperated in the production of this book and it shows! Hardcover.




Number Two. Japan's Favorite Mon-Star by Steve Ryfle is a valuable reference book on the history of the Godzilla movies. Although dated (this one cries out for an update as it ends with the 1998 U.S. Godzilla), Ryfle's research on the King of the Monsters makes this a must-have in your book collection. Softcover.




Number Three. Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda by Peter H. Brothers is the first (it came out last year) English language biography of Japan's top director of science-fiction and fantasy films. Although it has no photos and there's some glaring typos, this is a must-have book for G-fans. Softcover.





Number Four. Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo! by Stuart Galbraith IV is a collection of interviews of actors, directors, special effects directors and others organized by topic. Although the organizing could have been better executed (some fans feel it is too disjointed), it is a valuable resource as it includes interviews with some who have since passed on. Softcover.




Number Five. Godzilla On My Mind by William Tsutsui is a tome of what Godzilla means to fans. If you're looking for a filmography, this isn't the book for you. But if you're interested in Godzilla and his pop-culture influence, grab this book. Softcover.

Others


A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series, 2d ed. by David Kalat. This edition just came out and I haven't read it yet. But, I am told that it is an excellent book on the Godzilla series. It is available at Amazon.com. Hardcover.




The Official Godzilla Compendium by J. D. Lees and Marc Ceracini is long out of print and if one can find one, it is generally pricey. It is a good introductory book aimed at the small-fry fan. It has reached the status of a collectors' item. Softcover.




The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan by Armand Vaquer came out this year and is a travel guide to Japan tailored to fans of Japanese science-fiction and fantasy films featuring movie locations, attractions, transportation and accommodations. Magazine format.

The Case of the Missing DVD

The Case of the Missing DVD

by Armand Vaquer

An alert fan discovered today that the Retromedia DVD, Destroy All Planets 2010 has "mysteriously vanished" from Amazon.com's website.

No doubt this may be due to the issues Ryan Clark and other fans raised pertaining to the rights issue at Amazon.com and several kaiju-oriented message boards.

This is probably a cautionary move on Amazon.com's part until the rights issues are resolved.

UPDATE: The DVD is still being offered at Amazon.com.

FOR THE RECORD: Kaiju historian August Ragone commented on several message boards about the rights issues. I had quoted him as he has the most knowledge on Japanese movie companies, DVD & screening rights and many other facets. As his comments are on several public message boards, I took the liberty in quoting him. Unfortunately, I should have given him a "head's up" first. It was not my intention to box him into the fray which may give someone the impression that this was an "August vs. Retromedia" situation. It wasn't. He also expressed that he'd like to also hear what Carl Craig has to say in his commentary. He was only speaking as a fan and not in any official (or otherwise) capacity with his role in Shout! Factory's Gamera releases. I apologize if that is the impression given.

"Destroy All Planets" DVD Controversy - Part II

Avery Guerra, who has been a reliable source for news and behind-the-scenes info on many movie productions, posted this message from Fred Olen Ray at the Monster Zero message board about the Destroy All Planets 2010 DVD controversy:

"I have never been contacted by anyone associated with these films in the ten years we have distributed them except about five years ago when I emailed Daiei to ask about buying rights to the wide screen versions and they told me they didn't own the US rights. Toei likewise denied knowing anything about THE MAGIC SERPENT which we also tried to buy the wide screen rights for at the AFM three years ago.

Otherwise as far as we know there are no rights issues "a'brewing".

The biggest point that everyone is missing is that I only put this out because I was led to believe that the fans wanted it. I had no intention, or desire, to do this, all my usual distribution outlets had turned it down... but I was encouraged by fans to invest in doing the commentary, which we did, but then thought better of putting the show out as it would have to compete with a plethora of other editions.

Continual and repeated emails from fans made me want to offer it to them, but I didn't believe there was enough people really wanting it to do a big run so I went the Amazon.com route so copies would only be created for those who really wanted it... why can't anybody see that I only tried to give them what they kept asking me for? I could give a OH GODZILLA! WHAT TERRIBLE LANGUAGE otherwise... this could have stayed on the shelf for the rest of my life and I wouldn't care. I'm not going to make any real money off the Amazon release, it was done strictly for the fans who asked me for this. It might move a grand total of 25 copies, who knows? Get a life guys, I have bigger and better things to do. The DVD company is my hobby, not my business, I do it for the fans... but probably should have known better.

On different points "Ryan" posted his slander in Amazon's "Customer Review", a section created so that people who have actually bought products on Amazon can view them, then create a review of them. It's not your private flame forum, dude. If this basement dweller doesn't understand the concept of "customer review" then maybe someone should cut him off from a word processor.

Secondly, Copyright registrations begin with the letters PA, not V... don't you kids ever do your homework? The copyright registration the other ignorant guy puts forth is also BS... that's a transfer letter and has nothing to do with registration. Period. He hasn't a clue about copyright laws.

The item you mention is probably a transfer for banking purposes, I don't even need to look at it to know it's not a registration of copyright. Please write 100 times "I will know what I'm talking about before embarrassing myself on-line again".

Third, I'm legally not able to disclose the details of the settlement we made regarding this film and its legal action. However, drop your own dime and search the LA Court records... it's there as far as I know...

After all is said and done DESTROY is already out on 30 different labels and has NEVER been out of print on Retro in almost 10 years... I'd say the horse is out of the barn on this one."

FRED

In response to Ray's comments, August Ragone (who is involved in Shout! Factory's Gamera releases) posted this reply also at Monster Zero:

Avery,

Thanks for posting this. I just want to sort out the facts, and Mr. Ray isn't helping.

Everyone Else,

Since DESTROY ALL PLANETS is not PD, did Mr. Ray get the rights from Kadokawa? The issue is, that he has tried to copyright this as "DESTROY ALL MONSTERS 2010: Special Edition", much like a certain Wade Williams tried to copyright PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE. But, unlike PLAN 9, all the Gamera films reverted back to Daiei (owned by Kadokawa).

Something Weird Video were ordered to C&D once the rights to the Mexican Horror films that they planned to release (including the US dubs by K. Gordon Murray) reverted back to the original owners in Mexico via the NAFTA agreement. Another company, Casa Negra, secured the rights and released the original Mexican versions with Subtitles and the English dub option. How is this different?

Now, I'm not posting to bash this release. I'm passing along information and asking questions regarding the relative legality of this release—it doesn't matter that MGM doesn't own the rights anymore to DESTROY ALL PLANETS. The fact of the matter is that they are now in the hands of Kadokawa, despite claims to the contrary. I don't understand how Kadokawa can own this film and how its in the public domain?

"Settlement"? What settlement? So, he has paid someone for the rights to this? MGM has some original elements, but they know that they don't own the rights and that they reverted back to Kadokawa. Also, Mr. Ray's unwillingness to post the proof of licensing or ownership, in his own defense, is also suspect. "Check on your own dime"? Right.

BTW, the interesting thing about Mr. Ray's comment about trying to get the rights to THE MAGIC SERPENT from Toei... I contacted their LA office on the behalf of a friend of mine, a couple of years ago, and they said it was available. Perhaps Ray isn't asking the right people. At the time, Toei wanted about $20k for the North American Home Video license for this film (for five years), and I rather doubt that Retromedia would want to shell that kind of dough out.

I wonder if Ray tried to contact Kadokawa Pictures through their Los Angeles office when he began this project. It would have only taken a simple phone call at the very least. (I even have their number programed into my cell phone.)

He said he sent emails to Daiei five years ago (was he aware that Kadokawa took them over around about that time or earlier and released Gamera The Brave in April 2006?). We all know that emails get lost, deleted (people thinking they're spam and other reasons) and it appears he might've emailed the wrong person. A traditional business letter would have been more appropriate in this instance (but that's just my opinion), sent via registered or certified mail if need be.

For the record, I happen to like Ray's output and have posted articles about his movies my blog and at Monster Island News, so I have nothing against him. In the blog posts on this DVD, I tried to be even-handed (by posting both sides of the matter) and just stuck to the facts as we know them. He can get permission to release the documents giving him the DVD rights from the parties involved. Doing so could possibly put to rest this matter.

It appears something fell though the cracks involving this particular DVD.

"Destroy All Planets" Rights Battle Brewing

A new controversy is brewing over whether or not a Gamera DVD being issued by Retromedia is legitimate or not. Cries of "bootleg" are being posted at the Monster Zero message board. Is it?

The movie in question is Retromedia's DVD of Destroy All Planets 2010 which features a commentary by one of the movie's stars, Carl Craig.

At issue is whether Retromedia has the rights to issue the U.S. version of this movie. Shout! Factory is slated to release the same movie (the subtitled Japanese version) in a few months and this is seen by some as a bit of one-upsmanship by Retromedia.

The movie was originally released in 1968 by Daiei, which was bought out by Kadokawa Pictures.

According to August Ragone, noted kaiju film historian and who is involved in the Shout! Factory's Gamera DVDs, posted at the Monster Zero Message Board:

Meanwhile, doing a copyright registration check at the Library of Congress website, shows that Destroy All Planets was re-registered by Orion Pictures (who owned the AIP catalogue at the time). Orion was bought out by MGM, which still has all of the original materials in their vaults. But, a friend at MGM tells me that the rights reverted back to the Japanese owners (vis-a-vis Kadokawa through their ownership of Daiei).

And he adds, "This [the Retromedia DVD] was released under the assumption that it is Public Domain. Kadokawa claims that all the rights to any version of the GAMERA films have reverted back to them."

Fred Olen Ray, who is the owner of Retromedia, said this in a response to Ryan Clark's review post at Amazon.com:

Since this program only became available yesterday it's physically impossible for "Ryan" to have seen it or even have received a copy of the DVD. Your "review" is a lie and obviously fueled by a personal agenda. Retromedia was the first company to ever present the AIP-TV Gamera films to the public on DVD and quickly became the source of material for all the cheap DVD labels that flooded the market afterwards. Retromedia also successfully initiated and won a copyright case based on their release of DESTROY ALL PLANETS, so your claim of illegality is BS as well. This DVD doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't. It's simply the best edition of the AIP-TV version of the film ever released on DVD and it has an actors commentary track with star Carl Craig. That's all it advertises as being and that's what it is. Next time try watching the film first before rendering your "opinion", and if you happen to work for a rival DVD company, I'd have to say I'm disappointed... these kind of smear tactics are nothing less than juvenile.

[Note: Ryan Clark never claimed to have viewed the DVD nor received a copy of it.]

In a comment post at the Classic Horror Film Board, Ragone took note of Ray's assertion of rights with:

Fred Olen Ray (who is Retromedia) has retorted to Ryan's comments on the Amazon page (Ryan is just a fan, and not an employee of Shout!), where Ray asserts that "Retromedia also successfully initiated and won a copyright case based on their release of DESTROY ALL PLANETS, so your claim of illegality is BS as well." I'd like to see the paperwork on that, because the rights to the AIP Gameras reverted back to them [i.e., Kadokawa Pictures. - Armand] once their contract with AIP expired. Now, I'm not accusing anyone of any wrong doing, but I'm curious to sort out the truth here (and not through second and third-hand parties).

If all U.S. rights to this film reverted back to Kadokawa (by virtue of buying Daiei), then Retromedia would be in hot water. However, if Fred Olen Ray is correct in claiming that he has the U.S. rights over the U.S. version (and can provide the paperwork to back that up), then he should be able to continue to offer the movie. At this point, no back-up material has been provided by Ray (he's welcome to send it me me and I'll be happy to post it).

As to the claim that Destroy All Planets (the AIP U.S. version) is in the Public Domain, Ragone posted this at Monster Zero:

Dubious Comforts* on the Classic Horror Film Board wrote: ...there exists a copyright registration to Destroy All Planets which precedes Retromedia's and Alpha's 2003 claims ("new soundtrack material" and "DVD box cover" respectively) by more than 10 years. Just look up document V2840P133 on the Library of Congress web site. The catalog only includes registrations from 1978 and onward, so there may be additional records prior to 1978.

[*"Dubious Comforts" is the handle of a member of the Classic Horror Film Board forum. - A.]

He continues in a subsequent post:

Copyright records, as well as a proper notice on the film's title sequence, show that the work is not public domain. The Library of Congress has guidelines pertaining to duration: http://www.bitlaw.com/copyright/duration.html

To see the CHFB thread for the above quotes, go here.

As August Ragone posted several times on this topic, "the plot thickens."

It will be interesting to see how this one plays out. The courts may have to be the ultimate decider in this matter.

Anime.com Reviews Japan Monster Travel Guide

Above, Yuu Asakura. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Anime.com has posted reviews of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan along with Steve Ryfle's Japan's Favorite Mon-star and August Ragone's Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters on a page entitled, Godzilla and Other Monster Movies.

Each were reviewed by Brian Cirulnick.

There are also reviews of kaiju DVDs on this page.

To check out the reviews, go here.

Mother's Day

Tomorrow is Mother's Day.

It will be the first Mother's Day since my mom passed away in January (I find it hard to believe it's May already).

Kaiju historian August Ragone lost his mom when he was 17. I could imagine it being tougher to lose a parent at that age than at a later age as I did. No matter what age you are, losing a parent is never easy.

But concerning Mother's Day, August said it best:

I think about her everyday, so everyday is Mother's Day to me.

Same here. I think about my mom every day, so everyday is Mother's Day for me too.

Happy Mother's Day to all those moms out there who are still with us and to those who no longer are.