Travel + Leisure: Godzilla Zip Line In Japan

Above, a view inside Godzilla's mouth. 

One can usually tell if there's excitement for a new attraction by the media attention it gets. Well, Travel + Leisure posted an article on the new Godzilla (actually, Shin Godzilla) zip line in Japan.

They wrote:

A “life-size” Godzilla is striking fear into the hearts of visitors at a Japanese theme park.

Making its mark at Nijigen no Mori Park on Awaji Island at its debut last week, the “Godzilla Interception Operation Awaji” is a massive zip line attraction letting followers experience something out of a horror movie.

Visitors start out on a platform and zip line directly into the glowing belly of the beast. After zipping down, there is a shooting game, where visitors try to stop Godzilla cells from growing.

To read more, go here. 

Japan State of Emergency To Include Entire Country

It looks like things aren't going too well in Japan and that a vacation trip there has to be put off indefinitely.

Fox News reported:

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is reportedly planning to extend Japan's state of emergency to cover the entire country amid the coronavirus outbreak, according to a report Thursday. 

Japan has seen a notable increase in cases in recent weeks, with at least 327 confirmed nationwide on Wednesday, according to Kyodo newswire. 

Japan's capital Tokyo recorded at least one-third of those cases. The country has seen a total of 8,626 COVID-19 cases.

Abe previously declared a state of emergency on April 7, for Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures which will last until May 6. Those areas account for about 44 percent of the country's population, according to Reuters. Japan has 47 total prefectures.

To read more, go here. 

More On The Shin Godzilla Attraction

Above, a model of the Shin Godzilla attraction. Photo by Toho Co., Ltd.

Yesterday, I posted about the new Shin Godzilla attraction that will be opening in Japan next summer.

CNN Travel has also posted an article on the attraction.

They begin with:

(CNN) — If Godzilla movies aren't scary enough for you, head to Japan next year and you can get eaten by the fearsome lizard himself. 

The Nijigen no Mori theme park on Awaji Island in Hyogo prefecture will debut a Godzilla-themed area in 2020, complete with a massive lizard measuring 20 meters (65 feet) high, 25 meters (82 feet) wide and 55 meters (180 feet) long -- the exact size of the one in the movies. 

That means that that Nijigen no Mori will be the first place to have a permanent, full-size replica of the famed movie monster. 

"Godzilla Interception Operation" will feature several activities, including a zipline that will feed you right into the monster's mouth and a shooting game where, presumably, you're aiming at Godzilla himself. 

The activities are called "missions," and visitors will be asked for their help in capturing or defeating Godzilla. And, of course, there will be a gift shop. 

As for the location, it was very intentional. 

"The legendary figure of Godzilla was first confirmed at the beginning of the Meiji era when a typhoon hit Awaji Island," reads a blog post on the theme park's website. "Godzilla, who appeared with the high waves, roamed the island, causing tremendous damage." 

The first Godzilla movie was introduced to the US in 1954, inspiring multiple remakes that all rely on the thrill of watching an enormous lizard wreak devastation on human landscapes.

To read more, go here. 

Theme Park To Open "Shin Godzilla" Attraction Next Year

Above, a model of what the Godzilla attraction will look like. Photo by Toho Co., Ltd.

Fans of the King of the Monsters will have another Godzilla attraction to visit while in Japan starting next year.

Kyodo News reported:

TOKYO - A huge replica of Godzilla will open next summer at an anime theme park in western Japan, the operator said Thursday. 

The "Godzilla Interception Operation Awaji" attraction in the Nijigen no mori theme park, on Awaji island, Hyogo Prefecture, is based on the 2016 film "Shin Godzilla," in which humans try to stop the creature after it crawls out of Tokyo Bay. 

It will be the world's first attraction to have a permanent full-scale version of the monster, according to Keiji Ota, Chief Godzilla Officer of Toho Co., which owns the copyright to Godzilla. 

"(The attraction) will have huge presence and tremendous impact," Ota said of the newcomer, which will be about 20 meters high, 25 meters wide and 55 meters long. 

Visitors playing the role of researchers will be able to use pulleys to enter Godzilla's partly-buried body via the mouth and tackle various missions, including trying to destroy its cells in shooting games.

To read more, go here. 

Godzilla Being Sabotaged By The Critics?

Above, my Godzilla: King of the Monsters theater ticket. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is indeed bizarre to read the negative reviews of Godzilla: King of the Monsters by the critics, while at same time, laud the 2014 Godzilla. Sometimes I wonder if they saw the same movie as I did. 

Although I liked the 2014 Godzilla (I found it more entertaining than Toho's Shin Godzilla), I don't like it as much as Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Back then, I gave Godzilla a B+.

In general, fans like the current entry. At Rotten Tomatoes, fans give it an 86% audience score, while the critics are giving it 40%. Over at various message boards, quite a number of fans are telling others to "ignore the critics". This smells of "critic sabotage" to me.

According to the BBC, the negativity is being blamed for Godzilla: King of the Monsters "disappointing" box office results. One has to remember that it is up against some stiff competition such as Aladdin.

They wrote:

After some pretty punishing reviews, Godzilla – and his monstrous cohorts Rodan, Ghidorah and Mothra – have fallen short of expectations at the US box office. 

The latest in the 'MonsterVerse' from Legendary Pictures, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, has made $49 million (£38.7 million) across more than 4000 screens in the US, which doesn't bode brilliantly for a movie that's cost around $200 million to make. 

For perspective, the previous movies in the series, Godzilla and Kong: Skull Island, did notably better on their opening weekends, launching to $93 million (£73 million) and $61 million (£48 million) respectively. 

Though things brightened slightly worldwide, with a total haul of $179 million (£141 million), but industry outlets like Variety are already calling it a 'fading franchise'.

It will be interesting to see if Godzilla: King of the Monsters picks up more business through word-of-mouth in the coming days and weeks or has enough "staying power" to maintain steady box office business.

To read more of the BBC article, go here.

Toho Planning "World of Godzilla", SHIN GODZILLA 2 Cancelled

Above, the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka, Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, it has been announced that Toho Co., Ltd. is planning their own "monster universe" and the planned sequel to Shin Godzilla is cancelled.

Dread Central reported:

Looks like Legendary Pictures “Monsterverse” won’t be the only Godzilla-themed shared universe for much longer. Once Hollywood’s King of the Monsters sequel setting up his 2020 remake with King Kong have come and gone, Toho intends to transform Godzilla into Japan’s very own Marvel cinematic universe. 

Godzilla-Movies.com has provided an English translation of an interview that appeared this past week in the Japanese publication “Nikkei Style” with Keiji Ota, Toho’s Chief Godzilla Officer (How do I get that job?), about the future of all things Zilla in his home country. The surprising news begins with an announcement that might prove a disappointment to many G-Fans. 

There will never be a Shin Godzilla 2. 

Despite being a box office sensation and achieving a level of critical acclaim that typically eludes Godzilladom, including winning the Japanese equivalent of the Best Picture Oscar, Shin Godzilla will forever remain a decidedly unique one-off entry in the storied Godzilla series. As proud as Ota claims they are of Shin Godzilla’s success, Ota and the members of Toho’s Godzilla Strategy Council (Again, how do I get on this council?) have something bigger in mind for the future of the 64-year old franchise:
…a World of Godzilla.

To read more, go here. 

Video: Shin Godzilla Statue Unveiling

For those of us who just couldn't quite make it to Tokyo to attend the unveiling ceremony of the new Shin Godzilla statue in Hibiya, here's a video of the ceremony:

New Godzilla Statue In Hibiya

Above, the new Shin Godzilla statue in Hibiya. Kyodo News photo.

The new Godzilla statue in the former Hibiya Chanter Square (now the Hibiya Godzilla Square) has been unveiled.

According to Kyodo News:

TOKYO - A new Godzilla statue was unveiled Thursday at a shopping mall in central Tokyo, fulfilling the prophecy inscribed on its predecessor that there would be more monsters looming over the area. 

The new statue, depicting the Tyrannosaurus-like lizard creature featured in the film "Shin Godzilla" released in 2016, measures 3 meters in height, including its platform, and is the largest Godzilla statue in Japan, according to film and media production company Toho Co.

Above, the old Heisei era Godzilla statue. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Hibiya Godzilla Statue To Be Replaced

Above, the current Heisei-era Godzilla statue in 2014. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the must-see things in Japan for Godzilla fans is the Godzilla statue in the Hibiya section of Tokyo in the Hibiya Chanter Square.

All that is about to change, somewhat.

According to Bloody Disgusting:

Dating back to 1995, a towering statue of the Heisei-era Godzilla has been proudly on display at Tokyo’s Hibiya Chanter Square, which is officially being renamed Godzilla Square later this month. Additionally, the classic Godzilla statue is being replaced by the Big G’s newly-designed iteration from Shin Godzilla, a mega hit over in Japan. 

The news comes to us courtesy of Godzilla-Movies.com, the site announcing that the 9-foot-tall Shin Godzilla statue will be erected at the spot on March 23.

I noticed that one of my photos of the current Godzilla statue accompanies the article.

To read more, go here. 

Godzilla's Resurgence To Continue

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

Now that the successes of the Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros. Godzilla and Toho's Shin Godzilla has re-established the King of the Monsters as the top moneymaker in Japan, Godzilla's resurgence will continue.

According to the Worcester Telegram:

Godzilla — Japan’s iconic kaiju monster — has risen once again. 

The creature made its animated film debut in November, and an official store opened in Tokyo in late October, just to name two of the latest developments. The latest charge forward can be attributed to Toho Co.’s Godzilla strategy council, which meets once a month to discuss Godzilla’s next moves. 

The council meetings, held at the film company’s head office in Hibiya, Tokyo, are presided over by the CGO (chief Godzilla officer). After assuming the title in May, Keiji Ota described the council as “a company-wide unit.” 

“What can we do to make Godzilla loved by people all over the world?” the 52-year-old executive said. “This council is meant to gather all sorts of information on Godzilla and map out mid- to long-term strategies.”

Currently, an anime version of Godzilla has met with favorable reviews.

To read more, go here.

Godzilla vs. Godzilla vs. Godzilla

Above, Godzilla peering over a Shinjuku building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since Godzilla is having a grand resurgence in recent years with Godzilla (2014), Shin Godzilla (2016) and the anime version, KIMT3 News took a look at three Godzilla films, the 1954 original, the 1998 disaster and the Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros. film of 2014.

The begin their article with:

This time around the Weekend Remake Throwdown is a three-way dance with the King of All Monsters. Gojira (1954), Godzilla (1998) and Godzilla (2014) are a cinematic trio about a giant lizard rampaging through unlucky urban areas that spans 60 years and two cultures. Given that, you might expect the most interesting differences between them to be technological or sociological. 

You would be wrong. 

What most distinguishes these films is cosmological in nature. Each of these stories is spawned by a very different understanding of both Man and his world. And to the extent a motion picture franchise that began with a guy in a rubber suit stomping on toys and progressed to dozens and dozens of computer programmers working tirelessly to create the digital equivalent of a guy in a rubber suit stomping on toys, just with greater verisimilitude, can provide any insight into ourselves and our society, these Godzilla movies would seem to indicate that The Enlightenment is wearing off and a more primitive mindset is reasserting itself in Humanity. 

But, we’ll get to those pretentious ruminations in a bit.

To read what they have to say about the three movies, go here. 

No "Shin Godzilla" Sequel Until After 2020

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

A sequel to Toho's Shin Godzilla won't be produced until after 2020, according to Comicbook.com.

It is strange that this is being reported only now when co-director Shinji Higuchi stated as such at last summer's G-FEST. G-FEST is held every July in the Chicago area.

Comicbook.com wrote:

Did you enjoy Toho's new take on Godzilla in Shin Godzilla? Too bad it won't get a follow-up for a few years. 

Speaking at a Q&A during G-Fest XXIV, Shin Godzilla co-director Shinji Higuchi detailed the Godzilla rights deal Toho had made with Legendary Pictures. It turns out the multi-year partnership with Legendary allows the Western film company to make Godzilla films like 2014's Godzilla, and the upcoming sequel Godzilla: King of the Monsters but not leaving room for much else. 

With Legendary planning to produce an eventual crossover with Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla vs. King Kong in 2020, Toho actually can't make another Godzilla film until after 2020. Meaning that any hope for a quick turn around on a Shin Godzilla has been dashed.

To read more, go here. 

Godzilla and Wako Department Store

Above, Godzilla is about to trash the Wako Department Store in Ginza in 1954.

The Wako Department Store in Ginza, Tokyo appeared in four Godzilla movies over the years.

It appeared first in the 1954 Godzilla and was demolished. Later, it appeared in King Kong vs. Godzilla in 1962. Then, it showed up in Godzilla vs. Destroyah (1995). Next, and last, it appeared and was destroyed again in Shin Godzilla (2016).

Above, the Wako and Mitsukoshi (right) department stores in Ginza get blasted in Shin Godzilla.

It seems that Godzilla has some sort of grudge against Wako?

"Shin Godzilla" A Year Ago

Above, the Shin Godzilla poster outside of the theater. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Wow! It just seems like only a few months ago that Peter H. Brothers, Brant Elliot and I found ourselves at the Muvico Theaters in Thousand Oaks, California to watch Shin Godzilla. But it was a year ago today that we screened it.

Above, Pete and Brant befor the movie started. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My reaction to the movie following that screening was none too favorable. But a second viewing a few days later had me liking it just a little bit more. While the special effects were top notch, Godzilla was just too immobile during some sequences.

Above, Pete Brothers and I at a bar in the mall. Photo by Brant Elliot.

I have since watched it on Blu-ray and with the dubbing track on. It is a lot more enjoyable in this mode than trying to "speed-read" all of the subtitles that it had in the theater.

The Guardian Reviews "Shin Godzilla"

Above, Shin Godzilla is now available on DVD and Blu-ray. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Across a couple of rather sizeable "ponds" and continents, the United Kingdom's The Guardian has posed a review of Shin Godzilla, Toho's latest Godzilla flick from last year.

Their review begins with:

The myth of Gojira or Godzilla is revived again in this watchable entertainment: the gigantic Japanese sea monster rises once more from the deep to terrify humanity and destroy whole cities. 

In the original 1954 movie, it was awakened from its sleep by America’s nuclear testing in the Pacific: a symbolically transformed vision of the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a complex, ambiguous expression of Japan’s own potential for rage – and retribution. In this movie, its rebirth is caused by the dumping of nuclear waste. There are lots of very shrewd and amusing scenes showing Japan’s bickering and sclerotic bureaucracy.

The Guardian has also posted an obituary on the original Godzilla actor, Haruo Nakajima. A link is included with the Shin Godzilla review article.

To read it, go here. 

"Shin Godzilla" Landmarks To Be Added

Above, Godzilla falls atop the historic Tokyo Station building. Toho Co., Ltd.

The primary reason that the updated edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan hasn't been published is that I needed to see what locations were used in Shin Godzilla so I can include them.

There are several locations that can be added, most notably historic Tokyo Station and the Tokyo Bay area near Yokohama and the Tama River.

One notable location was used again in Shin Godzilla: the Wako Department Store in Ginza. It was first demolished in the original 1954 Godzilla, then vaporized in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) and now it gets sliced by Godzilla's energy beam in Shin Godzilla. While it is getting sliced, the Mitsukoshi Department Store across the street is also getting sliced. I will have to make note of this in the new edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Above, the Wako (left) and Mitsukoshi (right) department stores in Ginza get sliced. Toho Co., Ltd.

In the meantime, I will be further studying the movie on Blu-ray for more possible locations to be added.

"Shin Godzilla" Blu-ray

Above, the Blu-ray case for Shin Godzilla. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, I picked up a Blu-ray copy of Shin Godzilla this evening (and Kong: Skull Island) and watched it with the dubbed track on.

As G-FAN publisher J. D. Lees said months ago, the movie cried out for a dub and I had to agree with that assessment. The movie works a lot better for me by not having to read the lightning quick subtitles. An Evelyn Wood speed-reading grad I'm not!

In my last review of Shin Godzilla, I revised my grade to a C+. That has not changed.

Tourism Video Features Monster By "Shin Godzilla" SPFX Team

Above, the Kanmon Straits monster.

The team behind the special effects of Shin Godzilla has a new tourism promotional video featuring a terrifying monster that rises out of the Kanmon Straits.

According to an article in RocketNews 24:

In between Japan’s main island of Honshu and the southern island of Kyushu lies a stretch of water with a current so powerful it has the ability to save its seaside residents from the might of a towering monster. That’s the theory behind a new awe-inducing promotional video created to draw attention to the area, that is. 

The impressive clip, produced by the Kitakyushu Sightseeing Association, features some amazing visuals from the creative team at Shirogumi, who recently provided visual effects for the blockbuster film Shin Godzilla (also known as Godzilla Resurgence).

To see the video and article, go here. 

Straw Godzilla: The Protector of Crops

Above, the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka. To see the straw Godzilla, read further. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We all know that Godzilla gets his kicks out of flattening Tokyo and other Japanese cities, but now he is the protector of crops in Fukuoka Prefecture. And, he's made of straw.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

CHIKUZEN, Fukuoka Prefecture--A new-look Godzilla has popped up here, but its objective is to protect crops and not destroy buildings and cities. 

Measuring 10 meters long and 7 meters tall, the mighty scarecrow was created in the image of the Godzilla that appears in “Shin Godzilla,” which has been packing out theaters this year.

To read more and to see the straw Godzilla, go here.

Cover Ideas: "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" 2nd Edition

Above, the cover to the current edition.

Now that I've seen Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence) twice, I can now finish work on the updated edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. I'll do that after my upcoming cross-country trip to Metropolis, Illinois.

Hopefully, I can finish it in time and get it to the publisher with enough time to promote it in the U.S. and in Japan by around April.

The real standouts as far as locations are concerned from Shin Godzilla are Tokyo Bay (near Yokohama), the Tama River and the historic Tokyo Station. I'll be adding those places into the travel guide.

If anyone has any suggestions for additions, feel free to let me know in the comments section for this blog post.

For the new edition's cover, I am considering these photographs (feel free to post your preference in the comments section):

1. Shinjuku Godzilla

2. Hibiya Godzilla Statue

3. Godzilla Slide