Godzilla 2 Will Be “Bigger” and “Better”, Japan’s ‘Godzilla’ Reboot Will Feature Amazing Hybrid Effects

People in and around the movie industry are beginning to talk about what's in store for Legendary Pictures's Godzilla 2 and the upcoming Toho Godzilla.

/Film (Slash Film) has posted an article on the two Godzilla movies.

They begin with:

Godzilla scribe Max Borenstein, who was brought back to script Godzilla 2, is speaking out for the first time giving us an idea of what we might expect from the monster sequel — and he’s throwing around words like “bigger” and “better”. Also we learn the details behind the hybrid visual effects that will make up Toho’s Godzilla reboot.

To see what they came up with, go here. 

Max Borenstein Returning To Write "Godzilla 2"

Above, a scene from Godzilla. Photo: Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros.

The Godzilla world is abuzz with the news that screenwriter Max Borenstein will be returning to write Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros. Godzilla 2.

Moviepilot.com posted:

Legendary Pictures has closed a deal for Max Borenstein to write the screenplay for the sequel to Godzilla, which Gareth Edwards will direct. 

Borenstein wrote the script for the first Godzilla film, as well as the upcoming Skull Island, which was teased at this year's San Diego Comic-Con.

I thought Borenstein did a good job with Godzilla (after several changes in writers).

Skull Island is a prequel to King Kong. Godzilla 2 is slated to be released on June 8, 2018. It should have a good screenplay, Borenstein will about three or four years to write it.

To read more, go here.

"Godzilla: Awakening" Announced

Legendary Pictures has announced a graphic novel movie tie-in, Godzilla: Awakening.

According to We Are Movie Geeks.com :

You can experience Legendary’s GODZILLA before it hits theaters in the all-new graphic novel ‘Godzilla: Awakening’, on sale May 7th Get all the info here: 

http://bit.ly/GZAwakening 

Co-written by Greg Borenstein and Max Borenstein (screenwriter of the forthcoming movie), this epic adventure, set decades before the film, is the perfect way for fans to experience the new Godzilla before seeing it in theaters.

Hello, Japan? Behind The Scenes At the "Godzilla" Panel At Comikaze

Above, panel moderator Jessica Tseang trying to get an Internet connection before the start of the session.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of (many) frustrating things about being on a panel (especially when you're also in charge of it) is finding that things previously requested aren't provided and planned agenda items are prevented from happening. 

This is what Godzilla and Pacific Rim panel moderator Jessica Tseang faced last Friday before the session's start.

She planned to have us show slides or videos during the panel discussion, but the requested audio/visual equipment wasn't provided by the Comikaze Expo organizers. After discovering this, she even tried (among other things) to swap meeting rooms with another concurrent session (who didn't need the audio/visual equipment in their room), but they refused her request. This caused a problem with a planned recorded greeting by Godzilla screenplay writer Max Borenstein. We had the recorded message, but no audio equipment was provided for all of the attendees to hear it. Instead, Borenstein's message was played on Tseang's laptop computer with a microphone held next to one of the speakers. Unfortunately, the recording was not very loud to begin with and this resulted in just the first few rows of attendees being able to hear it (and making sense of what he was saying).

Above, Robert Scott Field.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Also, prior to the session's start, Tseang was trying to get an Internet connection so she can be connected with Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) actor Robert Scott Field in Japan via Skype. Field said he "waited and waited..." for the connection starting at 5:00 a.m. Japan time. The problem? We found that Comikaze Expo's organizers did not arrange for any Internet/Wi-Fi service at the Los Angeles Convention Center. So Field's participation had to be scrubbed (that's cancelled in NASA lingo).

This is not the first time I've seen SNAFUs crop up for panel sessions. I've seen malfunctioning audio and video equipment as well as special guests being brought in late to their sessions at other conventions by inconsiderate handlers.

At least Robert Scott Field was a good sport and understood the situation. He called Tseang a "peach" and felt she brought her "A-game to the con so all went smoothly." I agree.

Despite the problems, the session did go well and the attendees seemed to enjoy it. That's what really counts anyway.

The Comikaze Panel On "Pacific Rim" and "Godzilla"

Above, the panel on "Godzilla" and "Pacific Rim" before the start of the session. 

It was  a good thing that we had a room that was double the size of last year's room for this year's panel on Godzilla (2014) and Pacific Rim (2013) at Stan Lee's Comickaze Expo.  All seats were taken and a dozen people had to stand in the back of the room. I was somewhat surprised as our session began an hour after the show's doors were opened to the public. I was wondering if they would make a beeline to the main hall instead.

Above, a panel's eye view of the crowd still coming in.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was an appreciative and enthusiastic audience of giant monster and robot fans. The panel consisted of Jessica Tseang (moderator), Bill Janczewski, Frank Woodward, Tom Franck, Chris Eaton, Scott Zillner and myself.

We began the session with our thoughts on Pacific Rim. Generally, all on the panel felt the movie "delivered the goods" with some minor quibbles. On the low box office, most felt the movie wasn't marketed right, leaving many people with the impression that it was another Transformers movie instead of giant robots battling giant monsters. But all believe that it will be a big hit in DVD and Blu-ray sales. Most wondered why it grossed better in China but not in Japan. One panelist voiced the opinion that Japan is just over-saturated with giant monsters and they can see giant monsters for free on television. Another said it was (probably) because it was mainly centered in Hong Kong.

Above, these session attendees show their support for "Pacific Rim."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I repeated my opinion that I posted a week or so ago on this blog. The audience seemed to agree that Toho did a better job with the Millennium series MechaGodzilla movies by having jets do the heavy lifting of the robot, whereas Pacific Rim went beyond the boundaries of "suspension of disbelief" in having helicopters do the robot transporting. They also seemed to agree with me that while the CGI was probably the best (so far) for a giant monster movie, it still did not fully convey mass and weight of the robots (or monsters) as the traditional "suitmation" method with miniatures.

Each expressed hopes that next year's Godzilla will be a hit and generally like the direction the Godzilla design is heading.  I said that as long as Godzilla looked and acted like Godzilla, along with his atomic breath, it will be a winner as far as I was concerned.

As mentioned in my last post on Comikaze, there were a few SNAFUs. Jessica Tseang was disappointed that there was no Wi-Fi Internet available at the Los Angeles Convention Center to have Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah's android M-11, Robert Scott Field, to participate with the panel via Skype. We also planned to have audio/visual materials to show along with a recorded greeting by Max Borenstein, the scripter of Godzilla, but somehow the show's organizers didn't come through with any. But those problems didn't prevent us or the audience from enjoying the panel session. Jessica did a great job in keeping the session moving.

I did manage to sell the same number of travel guides following the session as last year. Which helped to lessen the bite of the parking fees at the L.A. Convention Center, and then some.

A Great Time At Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo 2013

It was another successful Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo, at least for me.

The audience for the  panel I participated in on Godzilla (2014) and Pacific Rim (2013) filled the available seats with about a dozen more standing.

There were some SNAFUs to the proceedings. The head table was only large enough to accommodate five panelists and there were seven of us. There was no Internet available, which was needed to make Skype contact with Robert Scott Field of Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) in Japan. And, we requested audio/visual equipment, but none were provided. We had a special audio message from Godzilla (2014) scripter Max Borenstein. But with what we had, not everyone in the room was able to hear it.

Nevertheless, the panel was enjoyable (we could have gone on for at least another hour).

Rather than prattle on about the show, here's some photos from today:

Above, the main exhibit hall.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the main lobby of the L.A. Convention Center.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Iron Man display. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, plenty of comic books for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the panel on "Godzilla" and "Pacific Rim."

More photos to follow in future posts.

Max Borenstein To Pen Legendary Pictures Godzilla

Above, Armand Vaquer with the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios in Setagaya, Tokyo.

Cinema Blend and The Hollywood Reporter are reporting that Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' Godzilla project has a new writer.

The new writer is named Max Borenstein, who is taking over from Batman Begins co-writer David S. Goyer.

According to reports, Borenstein is relatively new to Hollywood. He wrote and directed a low-budget movies Swordswallowers and Thin Men back in 2003.

It is not known if this change is a good one or not or if this will either speed up production or slow it. Stay tuned!