Shōgun and Osaka Castle

Above, Osaka Castle in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the 1980s, there was a mini-series based on James Clavell's book, Shōgun. It was basically a soap opera set in feudal Japan. 

It was an enjoyable mini-series and, in 1977, I met James Clavell in Sacramento at a birthday party at the Capitol.

Above, James Clavell is at right in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Shōgun is now back in the form of a new FX mini-series. It is seeing rave reviews.

One place that the new mini-series is set at is Osaka Castle. I visited Osaka Castle twice. The first was in 2004 with G-TOUR and then in 2015.

Screen Rant has posted an article on the significance of Osaka Castle in Shōgun.

They begin it with:

The new FX hit series Shōgun features Osaka Castle as a setting, and there's prominent real-world history and information that's fascinating to know about the location. Based on the 1975 novel of the same name, written by James Clavell, the 2024 TV series has been met with astounding acclaim, with critics even drawing comparisons to Game of Thrones in the show's scale and production value excellence. Set in the year 1600, Shōgun may be based on a novel, but its narrative is rooted in fascinating history.

To read more, go here. 

Ranking Akira Takarada's Godzilla Films

Above, J. D. Lees and Akira Takarada at G-FEST XXVI in July 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Akira Takarada, the last surviving cast member of Godzilla (1954) may be gone, but his roles in several Godzilla movies over the years will live on.

Screen Rant posted the rankings of all of Takarada's Godzilla roles according to Letterboxd.

They begin with:

The Kaiju world has lost a legend. Akira Takarada was the last surviving member of the original Godzilla cast from 1954. He passed away in March at the age of 87. Takarada was a beloved figure in the Kaiju community and by all accounts was a warm-hearted individual who embraced the love that fans held for him.

Not only did he have a starring role in the film that started it all, but he was also a star in multiple Godzilla films throughout the years. Unlike American films, Japanese films would often have returning actors play different characters. So while Akira Takarada was in many of the early Godzilla films, he never played the same character twice.

To see the rankings, go here. 

Dean Devlin Reflects On Godzilla 1998's Problems

Above, G.I.N.O. in New York. Photo by TriStar Pictures.

It is hard to believe that this year marks 20 years since the Roland Emmerich/Dean Devlin Godzilla hit the theaters and disappointed the hell out of Godzilla fans and movie fans in general.

Today, the movie is largely forgotten, or remembered with derision. Among Godzilla fans, the 1998 movie is more commonly referred to as G.I.N.O. (or GINO), as in Godzilla In Name Only. This was coined by fan Richard Pusateri and, which is not too surprising, the name stuck!

Screen Rant has posted an article with reflections by writer Dean Devlin on why the movie flopped.

It starts out with:

Dean Devlin, the writer of the 1998 Godzilla reboot, reflects on what went wrong with the American adaptation of the popular Toho property. The film has been ridiculed by fans and is commonly considered to be the worst Godzilla movie ever made. One of fans' biggest problems with the movie is that its version of Godzilla barely resembled the King of the Monsters, both in spirit and in appearance.

That last sentence basically sums it up for fans.

Above, the 1954 classic Godzilla. Photo by Toho Co., Ltd.

To read what Devlin has to say, go here.

Dave Bautista Lands James Bond Henchman Role

Above, Dave Bautista.

It looks like the producers of the James Bond movie franchise have found their henchman for James Bond 24 (scheduled to begin filming December 6). The actual movie title will be announced later.

According to Latino-Review, the call went out for a man over 6'2" tall, with a sports background and the age range of 30-45 to play a character in the same mold as Oddjob (Goldfinger) and Jaws (The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker) by the name of Hinx.

Latino-Review wrote:

Seems like the found their guy because according to sources, Dave Bautista, mega hot off his career making role as Drax The Destroyer in Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy, has bagged the role of HINX in the upcoming Bond 24!

They also report that locations for Bond 24 include Austria, Rome and possibly Morocco. Daniel Craig returns as James Bond and the movie will be directed by Skyfall director Sam Mendes.

According to Screen Rant, the movie aims to complete the Skyfall story.