I remember this!
NEW- King Kong Volkswagen Commercial stop-motion animated by David Allen. (1972) The woman is Fay Wray's daughter, Victoria Wray-Riskin. The commercial was aired only once. pic.twitter.com/NXJAtaGyjF
— Classic Horror Films (@HorrorHammer1) April 17, 2025
Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. has released the official trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
Well, it appears there's a baby Kong in the picture (is there a Mrs. Kong?).
The shot of Godzilla and Kong running towards the camera looks like the opening of the 1960s Batman television show. Someone already used that footage and added the Neal Hefti Batman theme.
Godzilla has pink dorsal spikes? Going woke? Egads!
The trailer:
Since Halloween is only one day away, I am posting some photos of classic monster exhibits from Monsterpalooza and elsewhere that I took.
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| Above, Bigfoot (Sasquatch) from Monsterpalooza 2012. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, Jack Nicholson in The Shining from Monsterpalooza 2013. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, King Kong at Monsterpalooza 2013. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, Elsa Lanchester at Monsterpalooza 2017. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Since Halloween is only two days away, I am posting some photos of classic monster exhibits from Monsterpalooza and elsewhere that I took. More to come in the days ahead.
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| Above, portrait of Kong at the Art of Kong exhibit. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, Godzilla at Art of Kong exhibit. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, Alien at Monsterpalooza 2012. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, Robby the Robot at Monsterpalooza 2013. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Since Halloween is only three days away, I am posting some photos of classic monster exhibits from Monsterpalooza and elsewhere that I took. More to come in the days ahead.
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| Above, the Wolf Man from Monsterpalooza 2011. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, GMK Godzilla filming suit at HMV in Shibuya, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, Kong atop Empire State Building at Art of King Kong exhibit. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, Universal's cheesy U.S. poster. |
It was a heavily-edited version that really did an injustice to the original Japanese version. But, at least it was released theatrically around the country. It was the first Godzilla movie I saw on the big screen.
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| Above, looking south on Vermont Avenue, the Balboa Theater can be seen center left, early 1950s. |
After closing down, the Balboa Theater was used as a mosque. Currently, it is being used as a production studio.
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| Above, the Balboa Theater in the 1970s. |
Back then, it was inconceivable to me that I would eventually interview actress Akiko Wakabayashi, know THE Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima and meet actor Kenji Sahara, all stars of King Kong vs. Godzilla.
Legendary Pictures has revealed the title to the next sequel in their Monsterverse in a teaser trailer.
According to the YouTube posting:
The Monsterverse continues. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, only in theaters, March 15, 2024.
This latest entry in the Monsterverse franchise follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence – and our own. The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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.
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| 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.
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| Above, a display of Kong atop the Empire State Building at the 2017 Art of King Kong event. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Earlier this evening, I was reading at Twitter that today marks the 89th anniversary of the premiere of King Kong (1933) in New York City.
King Kong was something nobody even expected to see and it remains a classic motion picture today.
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| Above, a striking painting of Fay Wray at the Art of King Kong event. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It reminds me that my mom would also be 89 years old this month (on March 11). When the 50th anniversary of King Kong was celebrated in 1983, my mom groused that it reminded her of her age.
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| Above, yours truly with Don Glut at the Art of King Kong event in 2017. |
I guess it would be appropriate to raise a glass in salute to King Kong on his 89th anniversary.
Cheers, big guy!
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| 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 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.
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| Above, a screenshot from the video. |
Someone either is a whiz a Photoshop or has too much time on their hands in China and has access to tractor equipment.
Google Map Secrets has an image of a very big handprint near a road somewhere in China. It is called "Kong's Claw". I wonder why it was called that. Well, apes don't have "claws" any more than we do and Kong is an ape, right?
A video of the find is posted on YouTube. Instead of making people dig around looking for it, here's the video:
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| Above, Godzilla peers over a building in the Shinjuku section of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It is hard to imagine in this day (with all the video technology we have) and age that some people have never seen a giant monster movie, but there are still some out there who haven't.
If anyone who has never seen a daikaiju eiga (giant monster movie) and wants to get started with a list of "essential" kaiju films to watch and begin their "study", the following could be just what the doctor ordered.
Slash Film has a list of 15 "best" kaiju films ranked. They aren't the "best" as far as film quality goes, but these are films that run the gamut from the deadly serious to wacky silliness.
They begin their list with:
With their memorable roars and towering heights, kaiju (aka giant monsters) continue to have an endearing impact on cinema. Whether it be their silly theatrical presentations or their terrifying on-screen personas, kaiju are among the most unique pop culture creatures to ever exist. From "King Kong" to the immortal "Godzilla," every one of these massive movie stars has not only inspired kids' imaginations, but also spurred great filmmakers to tell their stories in the most fascinating of ways.
However, the question remains: Which among the plethora of kaiju movies is the best of the best? That's harder to define than Godzilla's actual height. But, while it would take forever to examine every one of the great giant monster movies, the picks on this list continue to excite fans both young and young at heart. No matter where you are in your kaiju journey, these movies deserve some giant-sized respect.
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| Above, yours truly with Godzilla himself, Haruo Nakajima, in 2013. Photo by Jeff Blanken. |
To see the list, go here.
I may be a little late to the party (just got home from Las Vegas yesterday), but here's the new official trailer for Godzilla vs. Kong:
Since everything else in life this past year has gone haywire, now it has been reported that Warner Bros. is considering sending Godzilla vs. Kong direct to streaming before a theatrical release.
According to The Hollywood Reporter:
Godzilla vs. Kong, the forthcoming monster movie from Legendary Pictures, looks likely to be the latest big franchise movie to head to a streamer.
Knowledgeable sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Netflix has made an offer of more than $200 million for the film while WarnerMedia has blocked the deal while preparing an offer of its own for its streamer, HBO Max. Legendary declined to comment while a Warner Bros. spokesperson said: "We plan to release Godzilla vs. Kong theatrically next year as scheduled."
To read the full story, go here.
For your viewing pleasure, here's a Godzilla vs. Kong commercial parody.
Los Angeles, Jun 14 (PTI) The makers of the new James Bond film, "No Time To Die", have advanced the release of the much-anticipated film in American theatres by five days.
The movie, which was scheduled to hit the theatres in the US on November 25, will now release on November 20.
The makers announced the new date on the official page of the James Bond franchise.
"''No Time To Die'' will be released in the UK on Nov 12 and the US on Nov 20, 2020 with worldwide release dates to follow," the page''s bio read.
The decision was taken after Warner Bros/Legendary Pictures pushed the release of "Godzilla vs Kong" from November 20 to May 21, 2021.
