Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker

Kamen Rider: The Diner

2012-01-08T04:11:00.000-08:00

Kamen Rider has his own restaurant? What a SHOCKER!

When in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, be sure to visit this fine dining establishment.

Kamen Rider: The Diner is a theme restaurant that any self-respecting tokusatsu fan should visit. Where else can you eat among such cool SFX memorabilia in Japan?

Sure, the prices are higher than comparable restaurants, and the portions are smaller (even for Japan!), but in a place like this, the food's not the point. What can you do there? Well, let's see...

You can meet Kamen Rider himself!

After finishing your meal, you can maniacally cackle as you plot to take over the world.

You can have Kamen Rider help you choose the best drink!

Kaiju fans, be sure to add this great place to your Tokyo travels. Even if henshin heroes aren't your cup of tea, you'll love the ambiance.

The diner's official Web site can be found here. Check it out!

Yoshimitsu Banno's Genji: The Shining One

2012-01-08T03:10:00.000-08:00

Your humble blogmeister meets director Yoshimitsu Banno for more than just the first time.

Article by Brett Homenick
Source: Yoshimitsu Banno

Genji Monogatari (a.k.a. The Tale of Genji) is a celebrated masterpiece of Japanese literature, and it is perhaps the first novel ever written. The story has been told and retold many times in Japan, most recently as a film distributed by Toho just last month.

However, director Yoshimitsu Banno wants to update it for the 21st century.

Mr. Banno's production company Advanced Audiovisual Productions, Inc., is proposing 3-D musical version that will take place in 11th-century Japan and present-day America.

This version will be called Genji: The Shining One.

The film will depict the conflict between a father and son who have very different ideas about the direction of the son's future. The theme of forgiveness plays out during the movie's compelling drama.

Mr. Banno takes notes during our conversation.

The screenplay has already been written by Australian scribe Bob Ellis. Mr. Banno is seeking investors for this project, which he hopes will bring The Tale of Genji, one of the most important literary works in human history, to a worldwide audience for the first time ever. Here is information for potential investors, courtesy of producer Yoshimitsu Banno:

As the second project of 3D movie, we are developing “GENJI – The Shining One 3D” and look for the first investor of 15,000,000 (yen).

The Privilege of the first investment is as follows,

As a bonus of the risk of the first investment, AAP remits 15,000,000 to the account of investor on the next day of the start of filming.

(2) The investor could have the position of planning producer and gets 2,000,000 payment on the next day of the start of filming.

(3) Investor possesses the share of 10% of net income of AAP as a privilege of the first investor.

As always, I am happy to pass on any serious inquiries to Mr. Banno. You can help expose a significant part of Japanese history to the world at large!

Two Kamen Riders! What does it mean?

2012-01-06T07:21:00.000-08:00

Yours truly with Keisuke Kato, who played Kamen Rider Ixa on the series Kamen Rider Kiva (2008-09). I interviewed Mr. Kato for G-FAN magazine on January 4.

My trip to Tokyo wasn't just sightseeing and meeting up with friends. I had some business to conduct, as well. A friend of mine put me in touch with not one but two Kamen Riders, both of whom requested to be interviewed by me for G-FAN magazine.

And who am I to turn down a request by Japan's most popular hero?

Standing with Kazuki Kato, who starred in the series Kamen Rider Kabuto (2006-07), as well as the films Kamen Rider: The Next (2007) and Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit (2008). This interview was conducted on January 5.

Suffice it to say, the interviews were entertaining and informative, and I look forward to seeing them published in G-FAN.

Oh, and before I forget...

Kazuki Kato is also a popular singer in Japan. When he was discussing one of his recent concerts, I asked him if he performed the Take-Majin song. Since he wasn't aware that I had even heard of Guilala, he laughed and expressed surprise that I had seen the movie! Naturally, I asked him several questions about the film.

The Tokyo Sky Tree conquers Asakusa

2012-01-06T07:08:00.000-08:00

The Land of the Rising Sun lives up to its name: A view of the Tokyo Sky Tree (and the Asahi Flame) right before 7:00 a.m.

The Tokyo Sky Tree was recently determined to be the world's largest free-standing broadcast tower. You can read all about it here.

While visiting Tokyo from January 2 to January 5, I stayed in Asakusa, which provided me a great view of the Tokyo Sky Tree every time I stepped outside.

I managed to take a few shots just before 7:00 in the morning. (I had an early morning interview to conduct on the 5th.) I was impressed with the photos, and hopefully you will be, too.

Ah, and here's a daytime shot for your viewing pleasure!

Notes on Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster, Last Days of Planet Earth

2012-01-06T06:57:00.000-08:00

Your humble blogmeister poses with director Yoshimitsu Banno on January 3, 2012, in Tokyo.

Over on a horror-related message board, tokusatsu fans were discussing Yoshimitsu Banno's role as screenwriter and assistant director on Toho's 1974 disaster epic The Last Days of Planet Earth (a.k.a. Prophecies of Nostradamus).

On my most recent trip to Tokyo, I had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Banno over drinks. We discussed a variety of topics, and I made sure to ask him about his involvement in the ever-controversial Last Days.

Mr. Banno, to this day, remains very active in the movie business.

I was particularly impressed with the information Mr. Banno gave me about Last Days (as well as Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster, his best-known work by far). I posted the following on the board, but I felt I should also share Mr. Banno's memories with you, my loyal readers:

He told me he wrote the screenplay for Last Days of Planet Earth over the course of about 10 days in a Shibuya hotel, with an assist from Toshio Masuda (though Masuda wasn't present the whole time). He mentioned the Ben Goto book as a basis for the screenplay but not (for what it's worth) The Last War. Mr. Banno doesn't remember what scenes he directed except for (as mentioned above) the scenes in New Guinea.

As an aside, he also said that he wrote the script for Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster in about one week with Takeshi Kimura in a cheap hotel in Nagano prefecture. This was, of course, after Kimura turned in a poor first draft that Mr. Banno rejected. (Kimura apparently never gave his all to novice directors.)

One more thing. Mr. Banno cast Hiroyuki Kawase in Smog Monster after auditioning about 50 or 60 child actors. He had nothing but praise for Kawase's acting ability, and he even said that Kawase was the best actor in the movie when it came to dubbing the lines for scenes shot on location.

More information on Mr. Banno will be posted on this blog in the coming days. Stay tuned!

Akira Takarada drops by the neighborhood

2011-12-20T05:23:00.000-08:00

Akira Takarada and Brett, about to enjoy a traditional Japanese dinner.

I got the surprise of the year when I had a phone conversation with Akira Takarada (Godzilla '54, Monster Zero, King Kong Escapes) the other day. He told me he was coming to Nakatsugawa, Gifu, to film a drama for NHK. What's so special about Nakatsugawa, you ask?

Well, it's where I live.

Mr. Takarada sits next to his former acting student (and current co-star) Yuuki Chiho.

I can't remember the last time my luck was this good! I met up with Mr. Takarada in downtown Nakatsugawa, and we went to a nearby restaurant with the rest of the cast and crew for dinner.

Much to my surprise (there's that word again!), Mr. Takarada introduced me to everyone in attendance. Suffice it to say, it was a little overwhelming!

They usually don't get celebrities in Nakatsugawa! Mr. Takarada mingles with the locals.

Mr. Takarada and I spoke about many topics, and I came away from the evening with a lot of hope for the future. If a fraction of what we talked about comes to pass, 2012 will prove to be quite a year!

That's all, folks! Goodnight from Nakatsugawa!

It's not every day that the Godzilla series' biggest star drops by your town, which made this particular meeting all the more special. With 2011 almost at an end, I can't wait for 2012 to arrive, which promises to be an even more exciting year than this one!

Akira Kubo to Kyoto: 'Veni, vidi, vici'

2011-12-11T01:30:00.000-08:00

Toho star Akira Kubo (Matango, Destroy All Monsters, Monster Zero) answers questions about his career during an all-night film festival in Kyoto, Japan.

Text and photos by Brett Homenick

Special thanks to August Ragone

On December 10, 2011, the Kyoto Minami Kaikan hosted an all-night film festival that celebrated the Golden Age of kaiju eiga. On tap for the evening were special showings of Monster Zero (1965), Majin Monster of Terror (1966), and Gamera vs. Gyaos (1967). The first film began at 1:10 a.m. (technically on December 11), with the final film screening at 4:50 in the morning. Truth be told, all-nighters aren't my idea of a good time (I love sleep too much), so when I initially received the tip from August Ragone that this film festival would be taking place, I was a little unsure. However, one thing sealed the deal for me.

Can you say "game-changer"? Akira Kubo's appearance at the film festival immediately put to rest any doubts I may have had.

By far, the biggest draw of the evening for me was Akira Kubo's advertised appearance. As any good G-fan knows, Mr. Kubo has headlined such Toho classics as Destroy All Monsters, Gorath, Matango, and Son of Godzilla, among others, and he remains one of Toho's most popular actors of all time. That he would be signing autographs and pressing the flesh was all the motivation I needed to hop on the shinkansen bound for Kyoto.

Toho tales: Akira Kubo shares his experiences at Japan's greatest movie studio with an enrapt audience.

Having attended the Grissom Gang's Shinepatosu Mechagodzilla film event in Ginza last month, I thought I knew what to expect. However, I must say that the Kyoto Minami Kaikan's staff far exceeded my expectations. Fans in attendance were allowed to have more face time with Mr. Kubo than with any of the guests at the Ginza event. (In some instances, we didn't get any face time with the guests!) Also, a staff member ensured we could get photographed with Mr. Kubo. (This touch was painfully absent from the Shinepatosu event.) What can I say? I came away overwhelmed!

Now that's what I call a memento! Yours truly with one of his childhood idols, Akira Kubo.

After Mr. Kubo was finished signing autographs, composer Yasuhiko Fukuda took the stage to do some live demos of his (and other composers') monster movie music. (For more on that, go here.) Following the live music, it was on to the flicks!

Naturally, it was a treat to see three great mid-'60s kaiju eiga on the big screen. I made it all the way through Monster Zero without any problem. As we got into Majin Monster of Terror, however, my eyelids got a little too heavy, and -- yes -- I had to conk out for a while. I was back up in time for the climax, so at least I got to see the good stuff. By then, I felt more awake, and watched Gamera vs. Gyaos in its entirety.

A happy moment...

I must give the Kyoto Minami Kaikan full marks for a job well done. If they do a similar event in the future, I'll do what I can to go. Let's just hope their next event is an all-day film festival! (I sure would appreciate the sleep...)

For an even better idea of what Mr. Kubo's appearance was like, please watch the videos below. It's almost as good as being there!

Almost.

Yasuhiko Fukuda puts his Kyoto fans in a Neci-Coma!

2011-12-11T00:28:00.000-08:00

Composer Yasuhiko Fukuda performed live kaiju music at the Kyoto Minami Kaikan on December 10, 2011.

A name with which most Western kaiju eiga enthusiasts are likely unfamiliar is that of Yasuhiko Fukuda. No surprise, as Fukuda's tokusatsu credits are rather sparse. That said, even if most U.S. fans haven't heard his name, they most certainly know his music.

One of the last honest-to-goodness giant monster movies to come from Japan in recent years was Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit (2008), Minoru Kawasaki's feature-length parody of the kaiju eiga genre. While the film is mostly held in low regard by practically everyone who's seen it, one aspect of the movie has tended to fare a bit better.

That would be the infectious Take-Majin chant ("Neci-Coma, Neci-Coma, Neci-Coma!"), which is probably going to be Monster X's enduring legacy (if such a word can apply to a movie like that!).

Attendees at Kyoto Minami Kaikan's December 10 kaiju all-nighter got a rare treat. Composer Yasuhiko Fukuda, who penned the music to Monster X Strikes Back, was invited as a special guest, and he performed various bits of monster movie music. This included a live performance of that catchy Take-Majin chant, which I was able to record. The video of the performance is below:

I also captured other parts of Fukuda's talk show/musical demonstration, and those videos are included for your viewing pleasure!

Shaolin vs. Frankenstein: Damon Foster's latest opus!

2011-11-28T03:30:00.000-08:00

Independent filmmaker Damon Foster clowns around in Rancho Mirage, CA, while working on one of his many movie projects.

Poor Hyung-rae Shim.

Not only does it seem that the South Korean auteur's filmmaking career has reached an ignominious end, but everyone's favorite Kaiju Kut-up Damon Foster has spoofed three of Shim's Younggu films in a new comedy compilation called Shaolin vs. Frankenstein.

If the title sounds familiar, that's because Damon released Shaolin vs. Terminator in 2004. Although unrelated, Shaolin vs. Frankenstein is every bit as funny as the previous entry in his "Shaolin" series.

The film features appearances of Yongary (from 1993's Younggu and the Dinosaur Juju, not Shim's better-known CG-fest Yonggary from 1999/2001), Golden Bat, and a bevy of Universal horror icons (Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man) whose likenesses are so poor that they'd make Paul Naschy giggle.

As seen in Shaolin vs. Frankenstein: Yongary rampages in South Korea!

Overall, Damon does a commendable job in weaving together three unrelated Younggu movies and making the story lines intersect. The plot is actually pretty easy to follow, which can't always be said about other patchwork movies imported to the U.S., such as Mighty Jack and Time of the Apes.

Believe it or not, he looks worse in the CGI version.

The one major criticism of Shaolin vs. Frankenstein I can make is that, despite condensing three separate movies down to their most interesting parts, it still manages to be pretty boring at times. This is not so much a criticism of Damon's work but of the source material. The movie comes alive when it's parodying the juvenile onscreen antics. When it's (more or less) playing things straight, my attention wandered. Shim's man-child schtick wears thin quickly, and when Damon isn't poking fun at it, the proceedings get a bit agonizing.

You can see for yourself whether Shaolin vs. Frankenstein would be up your alley by watching the trailer here. It does have its share of colorful action scenes, wacky characters, and funny jokes (all courtesy of Damon), so it's worth a peek. It's certainly no Hot Dogs on the Run, but it's not trying to aim that high.

So please visit the official Damon Foster Web site and buy, buy, buy!

(Note: As of this posting, Shaolin vs. Frankenstein isn't listed for sale, so contact Damon directly to order your copy.)

Reporting from P-LABO FILMFES 2011

2011-11-28T02:32:00.000-08:00

Signage welcoming attendees to P-LABO FILMFES 2011!

Shortly after returning from the Ginza Mechagodzilla celebration in early November, I received an e-mail from screenwriter Wataru Mimura (Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Godzilla 2000), inviting me to attend his film festival at the end of the month.

Having read about this film fest in the pages of G-FAN, I was interested in attending, and soon I made plans to see it for myself.

Screenwriter Hiroshi Kashiwabara hosts a talk show, following the screening of his samurai-era short film.

One of the guests I wanted to meet was Hiroshi Kashiwabara, notable to Godzilla fans as the screenwriter of Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla, Godzilla 2000, and Godzilla x Megaguirus. Mr. Kashiwabara screened his short film "The Man Who Waits," which takes place during feudal Japan.

Hiroshi Kashiwabara meets me for the first time. Many thanks to Mr. Mimura for introducing me to him.

Following the screening, Mr. Kashiwabara hosted a talk show and fielded questions from the audience.

Sandwiched between the creators of many of the recent Godzilla flicks, Hiroshi Kashiwabara and Wataru Mimura.

After the talk show, several short, independent movies were screened, many of which were quite good. I was (pleasantly) surprised at how many of them I enjoyed. One was even subtitled in English! (If only all of them were...)

Godzilla's boss, Shogo Tomiyama, addresses P-LABO FILMFES 2011.

The end of the event saw longtime Toho producer Shogo Tomiyama take the stage for a 60-minute speech on the trials and tribulations of filmmaking. Mr. Tomiyama's comments were well-received, and I just hope that the aspiring filmmakers in attendance were taking notes!

Yours truly with Tomiyama-sama. Thanks again to Mr. Mimura for introducing us!

The highlight of the speech (for me) was when Mr. Tomiyama pointed me out to the audience and addressed me from the stage. It was totally unexpected, but most welcome!

That's all, folks! Messrs. Mimura, Kashiwabara, and Tomiyama compare notes as the film fest winds down.

Suffice it to say, I had a great time. The films were (by and large) fun and well-made, and I enjoyed meeting the special guests. I also made friends with a Japanese filmmaker named Takahide Ubutaka, who speaks very good English. Not only that, he loves American wrestling! It truly is a small world!

If there's a P-LABO FILMFES 2012, count me in!

Stopping by Kadokawa Daiei Studios

2011-11-28T02:14:00.000-08:00

Majin, Monster of Terror, stands guard against those who would dare enter Kadokawa Daiei Studios without proper ID!

On my most recent trip to Tokyo, I paid a visit to Kadokawa Daiei Studios. Having seen photos of the studio's front gate for years, I've since wanted to see the incredible Majin statues that adorn the entrance up close and personal.

Of course, the impressive Majin statues aren't the only area of interest for visiting kaiju fans.

Near the cafeteria area is a Gamera 3 display that is nothing short of eye-popping. Although I wanted to take a closer look, this part of the studio is cordoned off from the general public.

About as close as you'll get to the Gamera 3 set-up without gaining entrance to the studio!

Whatever you do, DON'T look behind you! A self-portrait with a scary-looking monster-god lurking in the background.

All in all, it was a fun little jaunt to the studio. (It better have been; I had to switch trains seven times from Asakusa just to get there!) If you're a monster fan who's making the trip to Tokyo, definitely add this to your itinerary!

Swag from the MG event

2011-11-08T04:11:00.000-08:00

The vintage Toho booklets I purchased at the Shinepatosu theater in Ginza, one from 1964 and one from 1983.

Now that you've read about the event itself, here's a quick rundown of my purchases. Below are two of the autographs I acquired.

My Goro Mutsumi and Reiko Tajima signatures.

Now how's this for a lucky find? In the 1964 Toho booklet, I discovered this newspaper clipping tucked away.

It's dated March 7, 1964, and the rest, well, should be self-explanatory!

Certainly a nice addition to my collection, and the only one that was totally free!

A star-powered Mechagodzilla event in Ginza

2011-11-04T17:31:00.000-07:00

Meeting Masaaki Tezuka, director of Godzilla x Megaguirus (2000), Godzilla x Mechagodzilla (2002), and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003). My thanks to screenwriter Wataru Mimura to introducing us via the magic of e-mail prior to the event.

How did you celebrate Godzilla's birthday?

On November 3, 2011, an event was held at the Shinepatosu theater in Ginza, Tokyo, celebrating not only Godzilla's 57th birthday, but also the films of arguably The Big G's greatest foe: Mechagodzilla.

The event was built around the screening of three Mechagodzilla films, all of which had (basically) the same title. The 1974, 1993, and 2002 versions of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla were shown on the theater's big screen, making these the first (but hopefully not last) G-films I've seen theatrically in Japan.

Fans line up in anticipation of the event.

One of the coolest aspects of the event was a free souvenir each attendee received just for showing up. In this case, it was a toy replica of Professor Miyajima's "powerful pipe" from Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974). How long will this toy stay in its plastic? Forget "collectibility"; I want to play with it!

Finally, a toy I actually want! How about fewer vinyl figures and more stuff like this?

As great as it was to see Godzilla movies on the silver screen, celebrity guests are always the highlight of any such event for me. The first guest was Reiko Tajima, who played G vs. MG's heroine in the 1974 version.

Unfortunately, either she or her management stipulated that no photographs could be taken, which was a bit of a disappointment. Still, she gave out (pre-signed) autographs to attendees, and I had the pleasure of speaking with her in English. (She seems to speak it pretty well, but our conversation was rather brief.)

After Mechagodzilla '74 was screened, a surprise guest entered the room...

Straight from the Third Planet of the Black Hole, Kuronuma (and Mugar!) conquers Ginza with his alien technology!

The great Goro Mutsumi, who played the alien leader in both Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla and Terror of Mechagodzilla, gave an interview onstage about his career. The interview touched on such subjects as The War in Space and Espy, making me really regret not understanding Japanese!

Although I didn't have a chance to meet him, something did happen that (almost) makes up for that. When Mr. Mutsumi took the stage, he shouted to the audience, "Alpha!" I was the first to yell back, "Centaurus!" (Mr. Mutsumi did the same thing at the end of his interview.) It doesn't get any cooler than that!

In case you still aren't satisfied with the amount of special guests on hand, here's SFX director Teruyoshi Nakano, along with G-series directors Takao Okawara and Masaaki Tezuka.

The parade of Godzilla celebrities continued with the arrival of Teruyoshi Nakano (SFX director from 1971-1984), Takao Okawara (director of Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla '93, Godzilla vs. Destroyah, and Godzilla 2000), and Masaaki Tezuka (Millennium series G-director). These three gentlemen discussed their respective Mechagodzilla movies to the enjoyment of those present.

But wait! There's more!

Shinji Nishikawa, Akihiko Iguchi, Teruyoshi Nakano, Takao Okawara, Masaaki Tezuka, Wataru Mimura, and Wataru Fukuda pose for audience photos.

Even more guests took the stage and signed autographs. Kiryu designer Shinji Nishikawa, Mechagodzilla '74's designer Akihiko Iguchi, MG '93 and '02 screenwriter Wataru Mimura, and MG '93 suit actor Wataru Fukuda joined the impressive roster of talent on hand and were happy to meet their fans.

Wataru Mimura, Shinji Nishikawa, and Akihiko Iguchi wait for the next batch of fans to come by.

More talk-show interviews followed, including an impressive look at the designs of '70s-era Toho kaiju, including Mechagodzilla, King Seesar, Megalon, and others!

How they made Mechagodzilla: The secrets were revealed by designer Akihiko Iguchi!

All in all, it was a very impressive event. The only downside was that the guests didn't mingle with the audience much at all (and, in some cases, not at all), which was disappointing. The autograph lines were cramped and rushed, and even then it was impossible to pose for photos with guests. Still, it was a great event, and, considering all the autographs and books I came home with, I'm very glad I went.

Making a new friend at Hibiya's Godzilla statue.

Following the event, I paid a visit to the nearby Godzilla statue in Hibiya. Two female G-fans from the MG event arrived shortly after I did. One of them spoke English fairly well, and we exchanged phone numbers. We can say we met at the Godzilla statue!

Oh, and if you'd like to see video of the event, you're in luck! I captured some of the highlights on my video camera, and they are linked below.

At 99, Kaneto Shindo calls it a day

2011-09-27T05:36:00.000-07:00

Director Kaneto Shindo at a press conference during the Tokyo International Film Festival held in Roppongi Hills in October 2010. Source: here.

The director of such Japanese horror classics as Onibaba (1964) and Kuroneko (1968) has made his final film.

Released nationwide in Japan in August 2011, Shindo's Post Card is an antiwar saga that draws on the veteran director's lifetime experiences. According to the Japan Times:

The film hopes to portray "the absurdity of war," he told the audience at the film's premiere at a cinema in Shinjuku, Tokyo, on Aug. 6, the 66th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. The film also began showing on Aug. 6 in Hiroshima, and on Saturday nationwide.
The movie "will remain even after I die," Shindo said from his wheelchair, to applause from the audience.

The film won the Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2010.

Director Shindo was born on April 22, 1912. Beginning his film career in 1934, he would enjoy enormous success as a film director and screenwriter, amassing numerous awards throughout his career.

But the best may be yet to come.

Eiren (the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan) has selected Post Card to be its official entry in the Academy Awards' Best Foreign Language Film category. You can read more about it here.

If Post Card gets nominated, I know which film I'll be rooting for!

To view the trailer (which contains snippets from Shindo's press conference), follow the link below:

Edogawa Rampo rampages in English!

2011-09-27T04:40:00.000-07:00

Acclaimed mystery writer Edogawa Rampo ponders black lizards, malformed men, and blind beasts. Just another day at the office for this prolific Japanese author... Source: here.

If the name Edogawa Rampo sounds a bit like Edgar Allan Poe to you, then 1) you're quick on the uptake, or 2) you're already familiar with the work of author Taro Hirai (1894-1965), who took the aforementioned pen name as a nod to one of his main influences.

And, if you're already familiar with the name of Edogawa Rampo, it's likely through the movies based on his writings, such as Kinji Fukasaku's Black Lizard (1968, featuring fellow author Yukio Mishima), Teruo Ishii's Horrors of Malformed Men (1969), and Yasuzo Masumura's Blind Beast (1969).

While the above titles have been written about and discussed by fans of Japanese genre films, how many of these fans have actually read the source material? What's that, you say? They're not available in English?

Ha! Ha, I say!

"Eh," sez Edogawa Rampo to fellow writer (and Black Lizard actor) Yukio Mishima. "If they made a movie about my life, I'd so get more than four chapters." Source: here.

Thanks to a couple of book publishers who specialize in translating Japanese fiction into English, you now have your chance!

Kurodahan Press has translated Black Lizard into English, and it can be purchased here. Meanwhile, Shinbaku Books has done the honors for Blind Beast, and that title can be bought by following this link.

And, for something not-so-completely different, Tuttle Publishing has translated Lafcadio Hearn's Kwaidan into English, which will have you howling, "Kowai!" It can be purchased here.

With Halloween on the horizon, the time is right to crack open a few of these books! Break out those reading glasses today!

Hangin' with Akira Takarada

2011-09-25T02:38:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a photo says it all: Akira Takarada drives me around Asakusa, Tokyo.

One person I alwaus love seeing in Tokyo is the one and only Akira Takarada. I've had the great fortune to meet up with this legend of the silver screen every time I've visited Tokyo. I've come to know him quite well ever since I assisted him during G-FEST 2010 in Chicago, and it never ceases to amaze me how close I've become to one of my childhood heroes.

Out and about: Mr. Takarada checks out some items for sale on the sidewalk.

During this visit, we searched out a suitable place to eat dinner. After strolling around Asakusa for a good while, we decided on a Korean restaurant we found. Mr. Takarada enjoys that particular style of food, and I decided to give it a go.

Gettin' ready to eat, Korean-style!

One of the delicacies on the menu, which threw me for a loop, was tongue. Yes, tongue. I'm not that adventurous when it comes to sampling new foods, so I was, to say the least, a bit apprehensive about taking part. However, given whose presence I was in, I went for it. It wasn't bad, but I don't think I'll make it a regular part of my diet!

Cooking up something interesting...

After our meal, we strolled around a bit more. Mr. Takarada kept me up to date with the latest news about his acting career, and I shared some of my teaching experiences. It was a great evening, and the soon-to-be fall air was a nice touch.

Thus ended my evening with Akira Takarada. As always, it was truly an honor to spend time with him. If only every star treated his fans with such respect.

Beware the Ulf-man!

2011-09-25T02:16:00.000-07:00

Former Seatopian operative Ulf Georgii-Hemming (whom you may know under his alias Wolf Otsuki) strikes a pensive pose inside the Danish restaurant Scandia in Yokohama, Japan.

If you're a loyal reader of this blog (and, hey, who isn't?), you may remember this blog post from May of this year. I paid tribute to one of the coolest dues in Japan, Ulf Georgii-Hemming.

Ulf and Brett, about to chow down in Yokohama.

I had the opportunity to meet up with Ulf again during my last trip to Tokyo. Unlike our first meeting, this was a one-on-one affair, and I was surprised to learn that Ulf wanted to take me to Yokohama!

Look at all that ice cream! I'm getting a brain freeze just looking at it!

He took me to Scandia, one of his favorite restaurants in the Tokyo-Yokohama area. It serves Danish food, which, thanks to my good friend Ib Melchior, I'm already a little accustomed to. Although I'll always be a burgers-and-pizza kinda guy, I did enjoy the food served to us.

It also marked my first time in Yokohama. From one of the buildings upper floors, I managed to take a couple of photos of Cosmo Clock 21, the well-known (to kaiju enthusiasts, anyway) location seen during Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992). More impressive, however, was the sight of Tokyo Bay. Even though I've seen it featured in many Japanese films (most notably Toho's 1975 actioner Conflagration, with Hiroshi Fujioka and Tetsuro Tanba), you simply must see it in person to appreciate its sheer size.

That's all, folks!

A big thank-you to Ulf for driving me around Tokyo and Yokohama. Let's do it again!

Tokyo: The Movie!

2011-09-25T01:06:00.000-07:00

Ulf Georgii-Hemming (a.k.a. Wolf Otsuki) drives me to Yokohama, shortly before a massive typhoon hits the area. Mr. Georgii-Hemming played the bearded Seatopian agent in Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) and has appeared in numerous tokusatsu TV series during the 1970s.

While I managed to snap a bunch of photos during my recent visit to Tokyo, I shot some footage, too.

The video clip below was taken completely by accident. I must have hit the record button on my camera as I tried to take a photo of me with Ulf. Still, it's a pretty fun video, and it captures some of the fun we had that day.

Enjoy!

Tokyo: Scene to Seen

2011-09-25T00:23:00.000-07:00

New vs. old Tokyo: The brand-new Tokyo Sky Tree and Sensoji's pagoda in Asakusa face off in the showdown of the millennium!

From September 18 to 20, I paid my third visit to Tokyo. Unlike my previous two trips, I had much more time to take in the scenery and visit places I simply never had the time to see. Below are some of the highlights.

Cosmo Clock 21 in Yokohama, the Ferris wheel seen in Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992).

Asahi Beer Hall and the Asahi Flame in Asakusa, Tokyo.

Nakamise Avenue in Asakusa. The shops along Nakamise Ave. contain more than a few kaiju-related items.

But if it's kaiju merchandise you seek, look no further than the Nakano Broadway Mall! You can go broke here before you know it!

The entrance to Sensoji in Asakusa. Photo by Akira Takarada.

The National Film Center's exhibit on actress Kyoko Kagawa in Kyobashi. Ms. Kagawa has starred in movies for Akira Kurosawa and Yasujiro Ozu, but to us monster geeks she's best known for her leading role in Mothra (1961). This exhibit runs from September 13 to December 25, 2011. A film retrospective runs from November 8 to December 25.

Surf's up! At the beach in Kamakura, Kanagawa.

Seeing Daibutsu (a.k.a. The Great Buddha) up close and personal in Kamakura.

With one of the many posters outside the Hot Pepper restaurant in Shimo-Kitazawa. The Hot Pepper has an old-school movie/TV series theme. Check it out!

Memories of Toho Studios

2011-08-13T01:23:00.000-07:00

If you need me to explain this picture, why are you reading this blog? The sign says it all!

The August 4 tour of Toho Studios, which was organized and arranged by Akira Takarada, will go down as one of the greatest events in kaiju fandom history. If you weren't there -- well, there's no other way to put this -- you truly missed out. Plain and simple.

Walking alongside the likes of Mr. Takarada, Haruo Nakajima, and Yosuke Natsuki in the studio that made them famous ... words can't describe what an honor it truly was. It was the first (and almost certainly) the last time such an event will take place.

Lots of other G-fans have had their pictures taken at the Godzilla statue located at Toho's front gate, but how many of them have actually passed through the gate?

While the tour of Toho Studios is something I'll never forget, I prefer to let the pictures do the talking. I took so many photos and shot so much video that I hardly need to explain any of it. But I'll fill in the blanks where necessary. On to the good stuff!

Can you spot me in this photo? I'm in the Seven Samurai mural somewhere!

Shortly after the group arrived, Mr. Takarada came out with the special guests he arranged for us to meet. And what a lineup it was!

Yoshimitsu Banno, Bin Furuya, Akira Takarada, Yosuke Natsuki, and Haruo Nakajima greet their fans. Koichi Kawakita joined the festivities a bit later.

Once the celebrity guests made their appearance, obligatory photos were taken by the tour members. Mr. Takarada, through his able translator totorom, told us what to expect on the tour. With the introduction finished, it was time to go inside!

The group enters Toho Studios.

Our first stop was to Toho's Post-Production Center 1 for a special screening of a 20- or 30-minute edit of Godzilla: Final Wars. The film boasts a great supporting part played by Mr. Takarada, which made the showing of the film all the more special.

Sitting next to Yosuke Natsuki for the screening of Godzilla: Final Wars.

Although Mr. Takarada joked that the film was just a little too loud, the screening was well-received by the attendees. From there, Mr. Takarada led us to Studios 8 and 9.

Ground zero for kaiju history: Toho's drama scenes were filmed in Studio 8, and its SFX scenes were filmed in Studio 9.

Entering Studio 8 was especially exciting, and it was made even more so by the fact that we were accompanied by two of Toho's best leading men, Mr. Takarada and Yosuke Natsuki!

Where it all happened: Standing inside Studio 8.

The original Ultraman (Bin Furuya) and I bring a bit of Tsuburaya Pro magic to Toho Studios.

Elsewhere on this blog you can find the video I took inside Studio 8. The link is here. I encourage you to view it. As I've said countless times, a picture's worth a thousand words!

Inside Toho's Actors Center: The stars assemble for a Q&A.

The next stop on our tour was Toho's Actors Center, in which Mr. Takarada, Haruo Nakajima, Bin Furuya, Yosuke Natsuki, Yoshimitsu Banno, and Koichi Kawakita answered questions posed by their fans. The event has been recorded for posterity by several fans in attendance, including yours truly. You can watch the Q&A here.

The holy grail: Akira Takarada unveils the original Oxygen Destroyer to an audience in total awe.

Following the Q&A, Mr. Takarada surprised the entire tour by bringing out the Oxygen Destroyer (as seen in Godzilla '54). Although I had a feeling we'd be seeing the most famous prop in the series' history, I had no idea what was in store until the moment it was unveiled. Thankfully, the moment was recorded on video and can be viewed in Part 7 of the Toho Q&A!

Holding the Oxygen Destroyer next to Koichi Kawakita, with Serizawa's diving helmet from Godzilla (1954) on the table nearby.

With the surprise addition of the Oxygen Destroyer to the proceedings, the tour of Toho wrapped up. I must thank Mr. Takarada for making it all happen. Big shout-outs go to J.D. Lees and Yoshi Mukai of MYK for making G-TOUR II a big success. As always, totorom worked diligently in his capacity as translator.

I hope this blog post was able to convey a fraction of the excitement we all felt. It was an afternoon I'll never forget. I'll always be grateful I got to see Kaiju Heaven!

Stopping by Monsters, Inc.

2011-08-12T02:44:00.001-07:00

In good company: Monster maker Shinichi Wakasa drives me to his studio, Monsters, Inc.

One of my many stops during my recent Tokyo trip was Shinichi Wakasa's creature shop, Monsters, Inc. Mr. Wakasa has created the majority of the Godzilla series' best monster suits of recent years, and it was a true thrill to see his monstrous creations up close and personal.

An incredible sight: Greeting me as soon as I entered Monsters, Inc., was Destroyah (from Godzilla vs. Destroyah).

You can't ask a monster suit for an autograph, so you have to settle for the next best thing...

Say cheese! Brett and Destroyah pal around for the paparazzi. (Photo by Shinichi Wakasa.)

The rafters in Mr. Wakasa's shop were full of suits, props, and various creations over the years. Just looking at the amount of kaiju history contained thereon would make even the most jaded monster movie fan's jaw drop. Pretty much the entire Millennium series of Godzilla films is on display here!

Just a sampling of what one can see inside Monsters, Inc.

Even more good stuff! Monsters, Inc., has it all!

The material contained up in the rafters could take an entire blog post, but I think the above photos give you an idea of what's there. It's truly remarkable to see so many suits and props in one place!

Looking over just one of the innumerable photo albums in Mr. Wakasa's collection. This one covers his work on Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman 80.

After snapping some photos of his workshop, Mr. Wakasa took me to an adjoining room and allowed me to thumb through his photo albums. The pictures were, in a word, astounding. I encouraged Mr. Wakasa to publish these photos in a book. I know that, at least among us kaiju fans, it'd be a best-seller!

Hangin' with Shinichi Wakasa.

Perhaps my favorite album was the one dedicated toe Message from Space, Toei's 1978 space opera. It's long been one of my favorite films, and I marveled at all the behind-the-scenes shots I'd never seen before.

Next we entered Mr. Wakasa's office, and wouldn't you know who was waiting for us...

Me and my old friend: A requisite shot all fans get who enter Mr. Wakasa's office!

Face-to-snout: Could yours truly be Godzilla's next opponent?

The Big G's next foe certainly won't be Mr. Wakasa. He and G go way back!

A happy moment: Thanking Mr. Wakasa for an unforgettable afternoon!

It should go without saying that I loved visiting Mr. Wakasa's creature shop. Not only did I get to view so much intriguing movie memorabilia, I got to meet Mr. Wakasa for the first time. I couldn't think of a better first meeting!

Thanks again to Mr. Wakasa for showing me around. I hope to do it again sometime!

Shinji Higuchi and Yutaka Hayashi

2011-08-12T01:22:00.000-07:00

Peace! sez yours truly and SFX master Shinji Higuchi, whose SFX wizardry made the Heisei Gamera films so popular among Western G-fans.

While visiting Toho Studios remains the highlight of my recent Tokyo trip, meeting two new friends, both of whose work I have admired for years, ranks right up there. With several G-TOUR members, I ate dinner with Shinji Higuchi at a T.G.I. Friday's in Shinagawa on August 5.

Mr. Higuchi and I give Ken Takakura thumbs up!

Sitting next to Mr. Higuchi for the meal gave me the opportunity to pick his brain and swap stories about many of my favorite movie directors and actors, many of whom turned out to be his favorites, too! For example, he told me a great story about working with Tetsuro Tanba on his version of Sinking of Japan (2006), which showed that, even though Mr. Tanba was near death, he was as full of life as he ever was. We also discussed the award-winning Ken Takakura film Station (1981), Kinji Fukasaku flicks, the recently departed Sakyo Komatsu, among many other topics.

Did I mention that Mr. Higuchi is familiar with my current stomping grounds, Nakatsugawa? That alone earns him a lot of props!

Below is a video shot by J.D. Lees that captures the lighthearted atmosphere of the dinner:

Yutaka Hayashi and I meet for the first time.

Another highlight that occurred on August 5 was my meeting Yutaka Hayashi, who played Hiroshi Jinkawa in Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973). Readers of this blog may know that Megalon was the first Godzilla movie I ever saw, so its influence on my life cannot be overstated. Admittedly, I was totally in awe when I met Mr. Hayashi. It's not every day you get to meet a genuine childhood hero!

A real smile: You can see how excited I am to meet Mr. Hayashi!

As with Mr. Higuchi, Mr. Hayashi and I talked about the Japanese film industry. I even spoke with him about Station, which is when I learned that Ken Takakura's last film is likely to be released next year. We also discussed Hiroshi Fujioka, the original Kamen Rider, with whom Mr. Hayashi is a close friend.

Shortly after Mr. Hayashi left, I was told by our mutual friend Akio that Mr. Hayashi typically doesn't meet fans, but that he especially wanted to meet me. Suffice it to say, I was overwhelmed to hear that.

Here's some footage shot by Akio of me with Mr. Hayashi. I think my appreciation comes through on the video. Please see for yourself.

Toho Studios: In living color!

2011-08-12T00:39:00.000-07:00

Bin Furuya, Haruo Nakajima, Yosuke Natsuki, Akira Takarada, Yoshimitsu Banno, and Koichi Kawakita answer questions posed by the fans at Toho Studios during G-TOUR II.

During our visit to Toho Studios, I brought my video camera and made sure to record as much of the action as possible. Below are the remaining bits of footage I took at the studio. The last video with Mr. Nakajima and me was recorded at the hotel in Shinagawa, but everything else was filmed at Toho.

Ultraman Street in Setagaya, Tokyo

2011-08-11T20:50:00.001-07:00

Shoowatch! Ultraman takes flight on Ultraman Street.

Down the road from Toho Studios in Setagaya, Tokyo, is what promises to be a major tourist destination for kaiju eiga fans. Ultraman Street truly lives up to its name with decor straight from M78!

G-TOUR II members photograph the entrance to Ultraman Street.

Like most kaiju-related sights worth seeing in Japan, Ultraman Street isn't well-known in the West. But, unlike this building or that bridge featured in the background of a monster movie, Ultraman Street is a must-see attraction for G-fans visiting Tokyo.

Are street lights this cool in your neighborhood?

Ultraman Street is a walk down memory lane for kaiju enthusiasts!

Look out! Baltan Seijin wreaks havoc in Ultraman Street!

It's not just the CBC Building in Nagoya; Ultraman Street has its own Ultraman statue!

Worth the trip itself: How come kaiju fans who tour Japan don't know about Ultraman Street?

A picture is worth a thousand words, but there's video, too! Here's a look at Ultraman Street, featuring G-FAN regulars J.D. Lees and Skip Peel. Enjoy!

Rushing into G-TOUR II?

2011-08-11T19:55:00.000-07:00

"Now look what you've done!!" Pam Arlt, Martin Arlt, Ruth Lees, J.D. Lees, and Brett relax in the G-TOUR hotel lobby in Nagoya, Japan.

G-TOUR II is now in the history books, although some tourists will stay in Japan for several more days. After meeting up with the group in Nagoya last night, I learned that the tour as a whole was a smashing success by all accounts. In fact, all the veterans of the first G-TOUR rated this one higher than the original.

Contrary to what others have said, G-TOUR II was anything but "rushed."

There's no word on a G-TOUR III at this point, but with the success of the tour's sequel, it would seem like a sure bet. Keep your eyes on G-FAN magazine for any official announcement.

Tokyo: Familiar names and faces

2011-08-08T01:30:00.000-07:00

With Heisei Gamera SFX maestro Shinji Higuchi at T.G.I. Friday's in Shinagawa, Tokyo.

In the coming days, I plan to blog more about my various excursions around Tokyo. For right now, I'll cover some of the highlights of my trip, focusing here on many of the familiar faces I was happy to meet (some for the very first time).

Sandwiched between model maker extraordinaire Hiroshi Sagae and filmmaker Yoshikazu Ishii, at the same T.G.I. Friday's.

It was a true thrill to meet Yutaka Hayashi (Godzilla vs. Megalon) at a Beatles-themed nightclub in Roppongi! Mr. Hayashi is a genuine childhood hero.

With Godzilla series screenwriter Wataru Mimura (Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2, Godzilla 2000, Godzilla: Final Wars) in Shibuya.

Meeting one of my very first G-FAN interviewees, Richard Berger (Grenchiko in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah). We visited Harajuku and Omotesando.

Here with Jon Gallock, who appeared as a terrified airline pilot in Godzilla vs. Destroyah, in Shinjuku.

With Bin Furuya (the original Ultraman suit actor and Ultra Seven cast member) at a shabu shabu dinner in Roppongi.

Here I am with another legendary Toho actor, Yosuke Natsuki, at Toho Studios! All three of his Toho kaiju eiga (Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster, Dogora the Space Monster, and Godzilla 1985) are favorites of mine.

Holding the Oxygen Destroyer with Godzilla himself, Haruo Nakajima, the original Godzilla suit actor from 1954-1972, at Toho Studios. Yosuke Natsuki looks on.

With expert monster suit maker Shinichi Wakasa at his workshop. As you can see, Destroyah was there, too!

Sitting between the original Ultraman and Godzilla at -- where else? -- Toho Studios.

Inside Toho's Studio 8 where all the great drama scenes were filmed. Standing with Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster director Yoshimitsu Banno and Haruo Nakajima.

Meeting Derrick Holmes (Godzilla vs. Biollante, Lady Battle Cop). We walked around Roppongi, and man, what a night it was!

Hanging with Kent Gilbert (Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah) in Roppongi. Kent remains a very busy guy to this day.

With Akira Takarada, who at this point needs no introduction. He's the man who made the Toho tour happen. Couldn't ask for a better tour guide. Arigato gozaimasu, Takarada-sama!

Tokyo Tower

2011-08-07T17:50:00.000-07:00

Your humble blogmeister, visiting Tokyo Tower for the first time.

The first stop on G-TOUR's itinerary was the iconic Tokyo Tower, seen in such kaiju eiga classics as Mothra (1961) and King Kong Escapes (1967). The tower is a breathtaking sight, but as impressive as it is, the new broadcasting tower Tokyo Sky Tree, which is currently being constructed, will ultimately replace Tokyo Tower, as Tokyo Tower is not tall enough (!) keep up with Tokyo's broadcasting needs.

Now, on to the photos!

The view from on high: Inside Tokyo Tower.

A happy moment: Enjoying the sights to be seen.

G-TOURists Skip Peel and Michael Field, taking in the excitement of Tokyo Tower.

Don't fall! King Kong ain't there to catch ya!

The kiss of death? Re-enacting a scene from The Godfather, Part II? Not sure, but from what I was told at G-TOUR, taking this picture entitles me to a free travel guide...

Though I've been to Tokyo once before, I never visited Tokyo Tower. I certainly enjoyed experiencing all that the tower has to offer. It was a great experience, and I would recommend it to any Tokyo traveler.

Q&A session at Toho Studios

2011-08-06T22:46:00.000-07:00

The gang's all here! G-TOUR attendees and special guests are set to storm the gates at Toho Studios!

G-TOUR II saw a guided tour of Toho Studios, led by the series' biggest star, Akira Takarada. Mr. Takarada brought a few friends with him for the tour, namely: Yosuke Natsuki, Haruo Nakajima, Koichi Kawakita, Bin Furuya, and Yoshimitsu Banno! All these Toho legends participated in a Q&A ssession held inside the studio itself.

For those of you not fortunate enough to attend (for shame!), the once-in-a-lifetime event was recorded, and you can watch it in the links below.

Please note that Mr. Takarada unveils the Oxygen Destroyer in Part 7!

G-TOUR kicks off in Tokyo

2011-08-06T19:32:00.000-07:00

Overwhelmed with the success of G-TOUR II, a happy J.D. Lees poses with yours truly on August 4, as the day's festivities are about to get under way!

Proving the naysayers (er, okay, the naysayer) wrong, G-TOUR II kicked off on August 4 at the Takanawa Tobu Hotel in Tokyo, right outside Shinagawa Station. Spirits were exceptionally high, as the day's itinerary would make kaiju history!

Skip Peel addresses the gathered G-TOURists, getting each one to introduce him- or herself to the group.

The day began with the G-TOUR members introducing themselves to entire group, an important detail overlooked during the first G-TOUR. Thankfully, the mistakes of the first tour were corrected, paving the way for much smoother sailing this trip.

G-TOURists gather around the lobby.

Get on the bus! The tour heads to Tokyo Tower!

The G-FAN Writers Guild? A shot across the bow? Skip Peel, J.D. Lees, Brett, and Martin Arlt, in a photo updated (and improved!) from 2004.

Congratulations to J.D. Lees and Yoshi Mukai for pulling it off!

Below is some footage of the tour bus, as it approaches Tokyo Tower. Stay tuned to this blog for more updates!

Sakyo Komatsu, 1931-2011

2011-07-29T05:41:00.000-07:00

The late Sakyo Komatsu (with his friend and associate Kenju Shimomura) pose with a copy of G-FAN #80, in which his interview with yours truly appears, in 2007. Photo courtesy of Kenju Shimomura.

The celebrated author Sakyo Komatsu died on July 26, 2011, of pneumonia, reports The Japan Times. He was 80 years old.

Often called the Arthur C. Clarke of Japan, Mr. Komatsu wrote the novels on which the movies Submersion of Japan (1973 and 2006), Espy, Virus (1980), and Sayonara Jupiter were based. Mr. Komatsu even had a large hand in the production of the film version of Sayonara Jupiter.

In honor of his passing, I'm posting the interview I conducted with Mr. Komatsu (by correspondence) in 2007. The translation was provided by Kenju Shimomura.

Brett Homenick: What got you interested in the science fiction genre?
Sakyo Komatsu: Japan has experienced two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. I knew the word “atomic bomb” when I was only ten years old. There was a description about atomic bomb in the novel which I have read in my favorite newspaper for children. When I first read that, I thought it was nonsense and complete nonsense. But four years after, I was shocked to find that this atomic bomb was actually dropped on Japan and taken thousands of life. I think that was the first time I started to feel interest in the relation between imagination and reality.

After I grew up, I was inspired by literature. However, I have soon faced the problem. I found it difficult to express what I really feel by writing mainstream literature. And then I have read The Prize of Peril by Robert Sheckley. I was shocked. It really opened my eyes. I have realized that philosophical problems, emotions, and psychology cannot be separated from the modern society, and modern society also cannot be formed without science and technology.

When I think about the meaning of my existence, science fiction is something that enables me to express what myself and mankind is. And science fiction united my interest in science and human imagination without discrepancy.

By the way, I majored in Italian literature in university. I think Piradello, whom I have chosen as a theme for my thesis, and literature such as Divine Comedy by Dante have a strong essence of science fiction. I like this kind of literature which will give pleasure to the readers by telling tales with grand scale imagination.

BH: How did you get started as a novel writer?
SK: In 1903, the Wright brothers' first airplane, which looked like a monster paper craft, flew in the air. Two years later in 1905, Einstein presented his special theory of relativity. Forty years after, in 1945, B29 bomber plane flew to Japan and dropped an atomic bomb. The B29 bomber and the atomic bomb can trace their origins back to 1903 and 1905. The creative power of mankind is considerable. But just like this example, it can create something unpredictable when they are combined. The creative power made by mankind also affects mankind. Taking all these aspects into consideration, I wanted to think about what mankind is. And writing a story about mankind was the best way to understand mankind.

BH: What did you think of the 1973 movie version of your novel Nippon Chinbotsu (a.k.a. Submersion of Japan)?
SK: I started to write Nippon Chinbotsu in 1964, and it took 9 years to complete.
Let me discuss why I wrote that novel. Until 15th of August 1945, when the Showa Emperor officially declared the end of the war to the Japanese nation, all the Japanese, especially a teenager like me, believed in governmental slogans such as “honorable death for all hundred million Japanese nations” or “decisive battle is when Americans landed on mainland Japan.” We all made up our mind for the coming death. However, once the war was over, Japanese overcame the consequence of defeat so easily, and by the 1960s, people were happy about the rapid economical growth of the country. When I saw those circumstances, I wanted to reconsider the meaning of what “Japan” is and what “Japanese” are. That is why I wrote Nippon Chinbotsu.

I was quite surprised when Toho had completed the film just after the book was published. The movie was quite faithful to the original story, and I was quite satisfied. I know that the movie was heavily re-edited and made into a disaster movie and released in U.S. with the title of Tidal Wave. However, the original story depicts the natural and calamity environments of Japan and the Japanese way of thinking which is based on such environment.

BH: Similarly, what did you think of Kinji Fukasaku's adaption of Fukkatsu no hi (a.k.a. Virus, 1980)?
SK: This is one of my favorite movies. The staff went all the way to Antarctica to shoot the film, used a real submarine, and famous overseas actors and actresses participated in the film. The contrast between human drama and vast natural view was well depicted. I also liked the visual beauty of the film.

BH: How did you get the job to co-direct the movie version of your novel Sayonara Jupiter?
SK: I would like you to read the article in this issue for the details. (Kenju Shimomura offers a complete account of the making of Sayonara Jupiter in G-FAN #80.) When I was asked by Tomoyuki Tanaka, the producer of Godzilla and Nippon Chinbotsu (1973 version), to make a story like Star Wars for his movie, I had a feeling that I did not want to do a rip-off. I felt, if I could make a movie set in space, I wanted to make something which can make the audience feel the theme of “Universe and mankind” visually. I have assembled various Japanese science fiction writers to create the film. Eventually I decided to be an executive producer of the film. I thought I have a responsibility to all the science fiction writers who gave me ideas and advice.

BH: What needed to be changed from the novel when making the film?
SK: Due to the limited time and budget, the scenes which were set on the moon were all cut out. Also scenes on Earth were cut out except for the Jupiter Beach sequence. As for the story, the past of Eiji and Maria, political struggles, were all cut out.

BH: How did you and your co-director Koji Hashimoto share directing duties?
SK: I tried not to say my opinion in the actual shooting of the film. I only said my opinion when director Koji Hashimoto needed my opinion to make his decision.

BH: What did you find easy and difficult about directing Sayonara Jupiter?
SK: Sayonara Jupiter was the first featured Japanese film to use computer graphics. In those days, it took 1 million yen to create 1 second computer graphic image. It was hard but also fun to think out how we can reduce the price for computer graphics without losing its quality. Also, it was the first attempt to bring the video camera into the shooting studio. Video cameras were still rare at that time. It was very useful to check the position of props, etc., from cut to cut.

BH: Do you have any interesting memories from the set of Sayonara Jupiter that you would like to share?
SK: I was present when the soundtrack music was recorded. It was interesting to listen to what the composer was saying to the orchestra. I was impressed that this talented composer also had a talent in expressing himself by words.

I wrote a lyric for the song used in the film and asked musician to compose a melody for it. I did this work together with musician staying overnight in the lodge. I was very happy when our approach toward the music was suddenly united and completed the music in that very night.

BH: What did you think of the completed film?
SK: As for the special effects, it expressed the vast scale and beauty of universe very well. I think the style of special effects we have achieved in Sayonara Jupiter was innovative for the Japanese film at that time. As for the live action scenes, I think we dealt very well with non-Japanese casts as well, and designs of interior sets were also wonderful. For me, the best achievement was the process of making film. I got lots of ideas and suggestions from various people, and I also shared a hardship with these people. As for the completed film, it is true that I had to compromise a lot. But all the people who participated in this movie did their best and their effort is reflected in the completed film. Most of all, the theme of the movie, which is “Courage and sadness of mankind which has to go ahead into the universe,” was visually depicted well.

BH: Do you have any closing remarks for readers of G-FAN magazine?
SK: I understand that one of the motivations of this magazine is Godzilla. I recognize that Japanese special effects (tokusatsu) films were influenced by classic American films like King Kong and Lost World. As for our future, let's exchange ideas and opinions actively in order to make a high quality science fiction movies.

(Translation by Kenju Shimomura. Special thanks to Peggy Rae Sapienza, Atsushi Morioka, Tamie Inoue, and Hiroaki Inoue of Nippon Worldcon.)

A piece of Godzilla history could be yours!

2011-07-08T01:22:00.000-07:00

Tempted yet? An original Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster one-sheet is being offered for sale by one of the participants who made the American version so iconic! Photo by Adryan Russ.

In 1972, Adryan Russ urged us to save the Earth.

In 2011, Ms. Russ urges us to save a piece of film history!

Although we see Keiko Mari crooning "Save the Earth" in Yoshimitsu Banno's controversial Godzilla film, it's Adryan Russ' voice we hear on the soundtrack of the American version. Ms. Russ, who told her Godzilla tale in an interview with yours truly published in G-FAN #81, is putting up her Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster poster for sale. This piece of G-history could be yours!

Ms. Russ describes the poster:

The colors of the poster are actually deeper and more vibrant. It is an original 1972 poster, from American International Pictures. The bottom line reads: 72/40. I believe that indicates the year it was printed and "40" refers to one of the dimensions of the poster. It's in perfect shape, in a frame that I purchased for it.

Adryan Russ poses with her Smog Monster poster in 2007. Photo courtesy Adryan Russ.

I would be happy to forward any serious inquiries on to Ms. Russ. Please feel free to contact me via the comments below or directly through e-mail: thehumanvapor [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Ultraman Max statue in Nagoya

2011-06-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

Outside the CBC building in Nagoya, Japan, stands an (almost!) life-size replica of Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman Max. G-fans, take note!

Bet you never read about this tokusatsu-related attraction in any travel guide!

Nagoya's CBC building hosts an incredible Ultraman Max statue that is sure to interest monster movie fans who would like to visit Japan.

While Nagoya Castle and Nagoya Tower are often cited as the main attractions for G-fans who sight-see in and around Nagoya, this Ultraman Max statue must be added to the top of the list! But a picture's worth a thousand words, so let's get to the good stuff!

Yours truly with the statue.

A close-up of the base of the statue.

Showat!

Coincidentally, there was a vending machine with an old Godzilla Kirin coffee inside just down the street from the statue!

Nagoya's Ultraman Max statue isn't well-publicized among U.S. Godzilla fans, but I hope this blog post helps to change that. It's a great location to visit when stopping by Nagoya!

'Ultra Q's' triumphant return to Japanese TV

2011-06-12T03:51:00.000-07:00

Kenji Sahara, the star of the smash TV series Ultra Q (Tsuburaya Productions, 1966) answers questions posed to him by yours truly at G-FEST XVI in 2009. Photo by Mark Williamson.

Kaiju fans in the Land of the Rising Sun, rejoice! While fanciers on both sides of the Pacific of Japanese SFX movies and TV programs are aware of the impending July release of Ultra Q to DVD and Blu-ray (in both original black and white and a new colorized version!), WOWOW, the popular satellite channel in Japan, will broadcast all 28 episodes in June and July!

Ultra Q's 45th anniversary just got even more special!

Kaiju suit actor Haruo Nakajima, who played Gomess in episode #1 of Ultra Q, shares a tender moment with your humble blogmeister at G-FEST XV in 2008. Photo by Stan Hyde.

Episode #1 "Defeat Gomess!" (featuring previous G-FEST guests Kenji Sahara and Haruo Nakajima) broadcasts on June 26 at 10:00 am, with an encore showing on June 27th at 4:45 pm. A complete listing of broadcast dates and times for all Ultra Q episodes can be found here.

More information about WOWOW's broadcast of episode #1 can be found by following this link.

WOWOW certainly earned its name this time!

Kamen Rider 40th anniversary festival in Inuyama

2011-05-22T04:40:00.000-07:00

Monkey Park in Inuyama, Gifu, played host to a 40th anniversary salute to Toei's blockbuster superhero franchise, Kamen Rider, on May 22.

Although it's virtually ignored in the U.S., Kamen Rider's 40th anniversary is being widely observed in Japan. For instance, at McDonald's restaurants across Japan, kids can get Kamen Rider toys with their Happy Meals (or Happy Sets, as they're called here). Not only that, but celebratory events are beginning to take place in various parts of the country. One such event took place in Inuyama, Gifu, Japan (hopefully I didn't need to mention that last part!).

A different sort of ride for the one and only Kamen Rider.

I first became aware of the Kamen Rider tribute at Inuyama's Monkey Park last month. Ever since then, I've planned to attend. Despite being a little wary of making the trip (considering how out of the way Monkey Park is from my home), I kept my plans to take part in the event. And am I glad I did!

The entrance to a virtual Kamen Rider hall of fame. Henshin!

I was surprised at how elaborate the event was. I figured we'd get a stage show and perhaps a few other goodies, but I wasn't expecting a Kamen Rider hall of fame that would put Mt. Olympus to shame!

Riders on the storm: These brave superheroes greet tokusatsu fans seeking shelter from the rainy weather outside!

You just don't see anything like this in the United States! As soon as you enter the building, these incredibly lifelike Kamen Rider statues are the first thing visitors see. Truly a sight for sore eyes!

All the motivation you'll ever need to learn to read kanji!

I shoulda studied Japanese a bit more before I came! The walls were covered with such informational posters, but sadly, I couldn't make heads or tails of them!

I got by with a little help from my friends!

Now here's a classic photo! Remember what I said about how there's nothing like this in the States? Well, multiply that by 100! Photo opportunities like this are what made this 40th-anniversary festival so memorable.

Super-deformed in more ways than one! As you can see, not all displays were so lifelike!

Now that I've described the basic setup of the event, I'll let the photos do the talking (well, for the most part!).

Move over, Superman! This is a job for some real heroes!

Now that's a keepsake! Shirts like these, commemorating the 40th anniversary, were on sale in a nearby gift shop. Naturally, I snatched one up!

Your newest henshin hero? Well, maybe not. Nice shirt, though.

Yours truly with Kamen Rider! SHOCKER, watch out!

There was even more fun to be had outside, where a meet and greet with Kamen Riders through the ages was scheduled to take place. However...

It's a madhouse! The "lineup" (more like dog pile!) to pose for a picture with the Riders was nothing short of chaotic. It was more of a zoo than Monkey Park itself!

fThe only criticism I can muster is that the meet and greet with the various Kamen Riders was disorganized, leaving people pushing and shoving each other to pose for picture with the guys in the costumes whose attention is being pulled in every possible direction. Surprisingly, there were no staff members organizing the lineup and controlling the flow of fans. It was a total free-for-all. Still, with a little patience (and preferably a crash helmet!), it was possible for everyone to get through the line.

Say goodbye, folks. It's time for these Riders to ride off into the sunset.

All in all, Monkey Park's 40th anniversary celebration of Kamen Rider was a blast. Sure, traveling back and forth was a pain, but I had a lot more fun than I expected, and all the hassle was well worth it. For more information on Monkey Park, follow this link (all in Japanese).

A salute to Ulf Georgii-Hemming

2011-05-19T21:12:00.001-07:00

Your humble blogmeister meets the great Ulf Georgii-Hemming at his home in Tokyo.

As a lifelong fan of the movie Godzilla vs. Megalon, it was truly an honor for me to meet one of the most memorable characters from the film, none other than Ulf Georgii-Hemming. Often billed as "Wolf" Otsuki, the 76-year-old is a veteran of both the silver screen and the small screen, working as a character actor in Tokyo for decades.

Ulf stands in front of the Tokyo Sky Tree, even though he's not a huge fan of it!

Megalon is, by far, his best-known credit, but his work also includes: Kamen Rider Super-1, Rainbowman, and a regular role on Daitetsujin 17 as Professor Hessler.

Ulf in all his villainous glory in Daitetsujin 17.

Although Ulf improvised on the set of Daitetsujin 17, very little of his improvisations were allowed to remain in the finished programs.

But who is Ulf Georgii-Hemming? In G-FAN #89 (fall 2009), I interviewed him about his life and career, and in describing his background, Ulf reported:

I was born as a son to a Swedish architect, Gösta Georgii-Hemming, and a Japanese pianist, Toako Otsuki, (they married in Berlin, 1931) in Tokyo in 1934 and naturally got a Swedish nationality. But when Gösta was stopped in Stockholm under the Nazi invasion of European countries, I was forced to stay in Japan with my elder sister Fujiko and my mother. Then when I became 20 years old in Japan, I lost my Swedish nationality automatically because I had not entered Sweden even once. Besides, my parents split up by the end of the war and, in 1970, the divorce was legally confirmed. After having been a stateless person, I decided to get a Japanese nationality in the 1970s.

Tokyo shenanigans! You just know these two are up to no good!

Ulf is truly a larger-than-life character, a warm and generous man who absolutely loves life. This side of him was in evidence when I spent the day with him during Golden Week in Tokyo. On top of being a wonderful host and a great traveling companion, he showed me so much generosity, buying me dinner and a couple of souvenirs. He's certainly nothing like the Seatopian agent I watched growing up!

It's the Sky Tree again! However, as you can tell, Ulf doesn't seem to mind it so much in this shot.

I would certainly say that Ulf is an unsung hero of the genre. Perhaps this blog post will begin to change that. I certainly hope so. And maybe Ulf could turn up at a future G-FEST. I know an event like that would be a natural for him!

That's a wrap! Ulf and I dine on uncooked ocean dwellers to cap off a fun night. Photo by Yuri Nikaido.

You've seen the photos; now watch Ulf Georgii-Hemming in action! Below are some videos recorded from the day I hung out with him. Now isn't he the coolest?!

Shelley Sweeney: 2007 and 2011

2011-05-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

Yours truly sandwiched between G-FEST XIV's guests of honor in 2007, Rhodes Reason and Shelley Sweeney.

It's hard to believe that I first spoke to Shelley Sweeney in late 2005. When she came to America to film a movie called I Am Nipponjin (co-starring with Kamen Rider superstar Hiroshi Fujioka), we conducted an interview for G-FAN magazine about her acting credits in the Godzilla series, most notably as Katherine Berger in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993). The interview turned out so well, and so much interest was drummed up, that Shelley was formally invited by J.D. Lees and me to attend G-FEST XIV in 2007.

Shelley and I stand in front of the Rainforest Cafe in Chicago after officially wrapping up our convention duties at G-FEST.

Shelley became one of our most popular guests at one of the smoothest-run G-FESTs in history. Handling herself with the utmost professionalism, Shelley signed autographs and posed for pictures all weekend, treating every fan who approached her respectfully.

When G-FEST wrapped, I didn't realize it would be nearly four years before I would see Shelley again, but that's exactly what would happen.

With no one around, sometimes you have to do your own photography! Shelley and I pose in front of the Statue of Liberty replica in Odaiba.

After moving to Japan in March 2011, visiting Tokyo became my biggest priority. As I'm not much of a sightseer, my main area of interest was visiting old friends (and making new ones!) while in the city. One of the first people I asked was Shelley, who was happy to meet me again.

Follow the Rainbow Bridge! Shelley and I relax after crossing the walkway from Odaiba.

When we made plans, Shelley suggested crossing the Rainbow Bridge, which sounded great to me. Providing a scenic view of Tokyo Bay, I knew it would be a great experience. Of course, for me, it's not so much about the activity but the company with whom you do the activity.

Kampai! With our journey behind us, we enjoyed drinks at a nearby Becker's.

With our walk in the history books, we finished our conversation at a Becker's inside the nearest train station. It was a fun morning, and the next time I'm in Tokyo (which hopefully won't be too long from now!), I hope to see Shelley again.

Oh, and if the still photos aren't enough, here's some video of our trek. Enjoy!

I love Tokyo!

2011-05-08T02:37:00.000-07:00

Surprise! A Takarada fan (the woman to the left of Akira Takarada) was shocked to see a superstar of Japanese cinema walking right in front of her. Naturally, pictures were taken!

Text and photos by Brett Homenick

Although many Godzilla fans from the U.S. have visited and toured Tokyo over the years, I think I can safely say that no one has had the Tokyo experience that I've had. Many fans are accompanied to the Land of the Rising Sun by friends, others meet up with Japan-based buddies during their trek, and still others do the whole trip by themselves. While seeing Tokyo is fun, no matter how you do it, I was privileged to be taken around Tokyo by the biggest star in the Godzilla series.

The visual definition of "self-explanatory." Akira Takarada poses with the Godzilla statue in Hibiya.

As you can imagine, I had been planning a trip to Tokyo ever since I moved to Japan in late March. For someone who has never visited this fabled metropolis, it certainly was an exciting proposition. But I wanted to do it right or not at all. I had to make sure enough pieces would be in place before purchasing my shinkansen (bullet train) tickets. (A roundtrip visit to Tokyo on the shinkansen can add up to about $300 from my town, so you can see why I took care to ensure a smooth and fun vacation!) Once everything was in place, I turned my attention to Japan's capital city!

With Yoshimitsu Banno, after our fine Japanese dinner.

I arrived on May 3 and spent the evening with Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster director Yoshimitsu Banno. He took me to a Japanese restaurant and shared many stories about his career. We also talked about movies, including his admiration for Stanley Kubrick and 2001: A Space Odyssey. The conversation eventually turned to the deleted French plantation scene from Apocalypse Now. (Talk about obscure!) We were two movie buffs, shooting the breeze on our favorite films, from both the East and the West. Suffice it to say, it was a lot of fun.

Yours truly with the Godzilla statue. After wanting to see it for years, I finally accomplished that mission.

The next day began as I did some DVD-shopping around Akihabara. I found a DVD set of an old tokusatsu series called Space G-Men for very cheap (about 1,500 yen). For a deal like that, why not take a chance?!

I was picked up from my hotel at 1:00 p.m. by Mr. Takarada. It was an unexpected (but certainly pleasant!) surprise to find out that he would be my tour guide for the day, taking me to various places around Tokyo. He was, without a doubt, a master monster tour guide.

Mr. Takarada and I pose with the Godzilla statue.

The first order of business was to see the Godzilla statue in Hibiya. Mr. Takarada drove us there, but, as it was in the middle of Golden Week, parking proved to be difficult. Undaunted, Mr. Takarada pulled into the Imperial Hotel parking area at the front of the hotel and said a few words to an attendant directing traffic. Within moments, the attendant removed a couple of cones from an otherwise empty parking space and pointed the way for Mr. Takarada to park there! That's clout, baby!

The Godzilla statue was an incredible sight to behold. Seeing it for the first time with the star of the first film (among several of its sequels) made the experience that much more exciting.

Mr. Takarada poses with his hand print and signature in Hibiya's answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

While pretty much all Godzilla fans are aware of the Godzilla statue in Hibiya, they likely aren't as knowledgeable of the "Walk of Fame" that also decorates the very same square as the statue. It should come as no surprise that Mr. Takarada has his own entry in the "Walk of Fame." Fortunately for me, my "tour guide" pointed it out to me!

G-fans, take note! Your trip to Hibiya isn't complete without giving a virtual high-five to Mr. Takarada!

After taking in the Godzilla statue, it was time to eat! Thankfully, there was an American-style restaurant right around the corner that suited my needs.

Mr. Takarada and I are about to enjoy some burgers at The Beat Diner.

Please follow this link for more on The Beat Diner.

Mr. Takarada and I pose in front of the Wako Department Store in Ginza, an iconic location from the original Godzilla movie.

With our bellies full, the two of us headed out to explore neighboring Ginza. Given this was Golden Week, some of the streets were closed down, which made walking a bit easier for pedestrians. Mr. Takarada pointed out many of the notable buildings to me, including the Wako Department Store above.

It was also during this walk that Mr. Takarada was recognized the most. A good number of the people who recognized him were too shy to approach him (and instead stopped in their tracks and stared at him, mouths agape). Others, however, were a bit more adventurous and asked for photos with him, for which he was happy to oblige. I snapped all such pictures for Mr. Takarada's hometown fan base.

At one point, I came across a poster hanging on a wall that depicted several iconic scenes from various American movie classics. I asked Mr. Takarada which movies he knew. I was floored that he recognized most movies (including Roman Holiday, Forrest Gump [more on that later!], The Untouchables, and others). As I recall, the only one he didn't recognize was Ghost (1990), but hey, who could blame him?

The two travelers stand in front of the Diet Building, a memorable location from many kaiju films.

While on our way to Tokyo Dome City for dinner, the Diet Building came into view. I was caught off-guard and asked if we could pull over for some pictures. The above photo should tell you what happened next.

When worlds collide: Yoshimitsu Banno and Akira Takarada meet for the very first time.

We decided to eat dinner at Tokyo Dome City's Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant (which, as I'm sure you know, is inspired by the Oscar-winning movie Forrest Gump). A special guest would join our meal, none other than Yoshimitsu Banno, who himself was very excited to meet Mr. Takarada. (Who wouldn't be?)

After devouring the spawn of Ebirah, we posed for an obligatory photo.

At the dinner, the conversation turned to movies again, mostly focusing on the Japanese movie industry, everyone from Kihachi Okamoto to Senkichi Taniguchi. I'm still pinching myself after being in the presence of such film history!

It was truly a great time, but like all good things, it came to an end. I can't wait to go back to Tokyo. With so much more to explore, and so many more people to meet, I'll be kept busy for a long time!

They got The Beat, and we got to eat!

2011-05-07T03:25:00.000-07:00

Akira Takarada and your humble blogmeister sit down to enjoy lunch at Tokyo's The Beat Diner.

The Beat Diner is a new eating establishment (created in 2009, according to the restaurant) that serves some great American food with an American rock-and-roll ambiance. So guess what? I loved it!

Mon dieu! Now those are hamburgers!

Yes, those hamburgers are gigantic! Not only that, they're quite juicy, so be prepared. Keep your cameras, shirt sleeves, and anything else you value a safe distance away. I can't count how many (admittedly thin) napkins I needed to use in my attempts to keep myself clean. (For context, however, I did eat two of their burgers.)

As I mentioned earlier, the theme of the restaurant is classic rock, both from the U.S. and U.K. One of the restaurant walls is adorned with many '60s- and '70s-era rock album covers. In Japan, for this foreigner, it's a sight for sore eyes!

Rock music is played constantly in the restaurant. Mr. Takarada, who ate with me, is unfamiliar with most of the bands whose work was heard in The Beat. Only in retrospect did my conversation with him about The Doobie Brothers seem a little surreal!

After enjoying our meal, Mr. Takarada was asked to sign a shikishi board for the restaurant. He is unquestionably the most popular guy who's ever eaten here! Mr. Takarada, of course, was happy to oblige.

The finished product.

The shikishi board, in the hands of the restaurant staff!

Yours truly with the staff of the restaurant. Hopefully, they weren't too surprised to find an American visitor treating them with respect!

Meeting his fans: Mr. Takarada wows 'em wherever he goes!

The Beat Diner is located under the shinkansen tracks (which sometimes can be a little disruptive) virtually in between Hibiya and Ginza. For Godzilla fans, it's right around the corner from the Godzilla statue in Hibiya, a perfect location for any traveling G-fan. If you ever get your fill of noodles and eel while in Japan, give The Beat Diner a try!

UPDATE (5/19): Here's some video footage recorded inside the restaurant, capturing the mood of the afternoon.

Yoshimitsu Banno on 100 Years of Ishiro Honda

2011-05-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

It's May 7 here in Japan, making today Ishiro Honda's 100th anniversary. Mr. Honda, of course, was the director of such kaiju eiga classics as Godzilla (1954), Rodan (1956), Mothra (1961), Godzilla vs. the Thing (1964), and many others.

On May 3, 2011, director Yoshimitsu Banno (Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster) recorded a few words of celebration for this landmark occasion. You may watch Mr. Banno's message by following the link below.

Tokyo Golden Week in video

2011-05-06T17:49:00.000-07:00

I have finished editing together a video compilation of my recent Tokyo trip. It captures most of the fun I had really well (which is surprising!). It is below, and I hope you enjoy!

Tokyo: Third pictures

2011-05-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

Brett with Ulf Georgii-Hemming (a.k.a. Wolf Otsuki), the bearded Seatopian agent from Godzilla vs. Megalon. The Tokyo Sky Tree is in the background.

The third and final day of my Tokyo trip has come to a close. Here are just a few of the photos taken!

I got to meet all sorts of interesting people!

Ulf pays his respects.

With Shelley Sweeney at Becker's.

Under Rainbow Bridge with Shelley Sweeney.

Tokyo: The second day

2011-05-04T03:42:00.000-07:00

The definition of self-explanatory! At the Godzilla statue in Hibiya with Akira Takarada.

My second day of activities in Tokyo is almost at an end. Here are just a few photos from today!

Inside The Beat Diner (near the Godzilla statue) with Mr. Takarada.

Standing in front of the Wako Department Store.

If you don't know what that building is, you have a lot of catching up to do!

With Mr. Takarada and Mr. Banno inside Bubba Gump Shrimp. Mr. Takarada got his revenge on Ebirah!

Tokyo: First pictures

2011-05-03T04:18:00.000-07:00

A welcome sight outside of Shinjuku Station!

Today's my first day in Tokyo (Shinjuku and Akihabara, to be exact). Rather than writing a full-fledged report, I'll let my first few photos do the talking!

Kamen Rider's lovin' it!

2011-04-30T05:51:00.000-07:00

When was the last time your Happy Meal was this cool? Photo by Brett Homenick.

Kamen Rider's 40th anniversary (1971-2011) is being celebrated in a big way in Japan. At McDonald's restaurants across the country, hungry tokusatsu fans can purchase a bit of Kamen Rider history to go with their burgers and fries.

What's in the package, you ask? Let's find out, shall we?!

Henshin!

Unless you're a member of SHOCKER, this meal would make anyone happy!

Happy birthday, Rhodes Reason!

2011-04-19T04:26:00.001-07:00

Rhodes Reason at his home in March 2011. His poster of King Kong Escapes would no doubt be coveted by all sorts of collectors, big and small. Photo by Brett Homenick.

April 19 marks the 81st birthday of Rhodes Reason, the actor most kaiju eiga fans associate with his starring role in King Kong Escapes (1967). As Commander Carl Nelson, Rhodes provided an anchor of credibility to the picture, which was an otherwise colorful, over-the-top adventure.

In 2007, Rhodes headlined G-FEST XIV, which highlighted the King Kong movies made by Toho Studios. Shelley Sweeney (Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 1993) was also on hand for the festivities.

Happy birthday, Rhodes! (Oh, and by the way, I did enjoy The King's Speech. Thank you for the recommendation!)

New digs

2011-03-25T00:32:00.000-07:00

Yours truly in Nagoya, Japan.

Not quite my final destination, but I like it!

Ib Melchior discusses Reptilicus and Six Cult Films

2011-03-16T17:36:00.000-07:00

Brett with the Man of Imagination, Ib Melchior, at his home.

While at the home of writer-director Ib Melchior on March 13, 2011, I had the pleasure of discussing his screenwriting work on the cult classic Reptilicus (1961), as well as his recent behind-the-scenes account of his sci-fi movie-making career, Six Cult Films from the Sixties.

(Six Cult Films from the Sixties can be purchased here.)

The videos are posted below. After watching them, please purchase a copy of Mr. Melchior's fascinating book!

Interview with Oscar winner George Chakiris

2011-03-16T17:28:00.000-07:00

George Chakiris and yours truly, hanging out in Beverly Hills, CA.

I recently had the distinct honor of interviewing Academy Award winner George Chakiris at length about his excellent performance as Bernardo in the landmark Hollywood musical West Side Story (1961), which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011. It's a wide-ranging discussion, covering all aspects of one of the most popular and enduring films of all time. The two-part interview, conducted on March 13, 2011, is posted below.

(Please also remember to visit Mr. Chakiris' official site . . . after watching the interview, of course!)

Lunch with Rhodes Reason

2011-02-10T16:13:00.000-08:00

Your humble blogmeister with Rhodes and Jeri Reason.

Today I shared an enjoyable meal with Rhodes Reason (King Kong Escapes, Voodoo Island) and his wife, Jeri. As we haven't met for a while, there was a lot to catch up on, and we chatted for a couple of hours on a variety of subjects. All in all, it was great to be in their company again.

We met at the Rock Garden Cafe in Palm Springs, CA. I've never eaten at the restaurant before, but I was impressed with the food and the atmosphere. It certainly gets a hearty thumbs-up from me!

Hangin' with the coolest guy in Palm Springs.

In particular, I enjoyed hearing about their recent trip to Australia, which sounded like a lot of fun. They're currently planning another trip for this summer. I was pleased to hear about how busy they've been and continue to be.

My sincere thanks to Rhodes and Jeri for an excellent meal and even better company!

James Hong, King of the Monsters!

2011-02-04T17:44:00.000-08:00

James Hong signs an autograph for yours truly.

After visiting Ib Melchior, I ate lunch with legendary actor James Hong (Big Trouble in Little China, Chinatown, Blade Runner). This was my second lunch with the famed actor, however, it was even more enjoyable than the first.

Hangin' out with James Hong at Dupar's Restaurant in Los Angeles.

What made this lunch even more memorable was that James and I recorded a couple of videos, which are posted below. His sense of humor really shines through in them. Enjoy!

Visiting Ib Melchior

2011-02-04T17:41:00.000-08:00

Ib Melchior at work in his office.

On February 2, I was once again a guest at Ib Melchior's. Ib has always been a gracious host, and his hospitality is always appreciated. Below are some photos from my stay.

Could Ib be working on his next book?! Wait and see!

Ib and his appreciative guest.

Here I am, posing with some of the unusual items found in Ib's home. What's in the can? Scroll down...

Posted without comment!

Armando Creeper, film legend

2011-01-30T14:15:00.001-08:00

Brett with Brother Andy (who played Southern California-area horror host Armando Creeper in the 1980s and '90s) at The River in Rancho Mirage, CA.

I first became aware of Armando Creeper in March 1996. I attended a small-scale monster film festival in the San Diego area, which turned out to be hosted by the aforementioned Creeper. Although I knew nothing about him at the time, he had me in stitches with his off-color jokes and his self-deprecating sense of humor. He certainly left an impression on me, and as luck would have it, I would get to spend a great deal of time in Armando's presence in the years to come.

However, circa 1998, we lost contact, and for a long time I figured I had seen the last of Armando Creeper.

That is, until last Friday.

I came to find that Armando (now known as Brother Andy) and I are Coachella Valley residents. I reached out to him a short while ago, and we agreed to meet at the nearby River in Rancho Mirage. Brother Andy and I spent hours reminiscing, and he shared many hilarious stories about what it was like to try to break into Hollywood 20 years ago. It was a great time, and we're likely to meet again in the coming weeks.

For those of you unfortunate souls unfamiliar with Armando Creeper, here is an article from 1991 that will give you some background. But if a picture is worth a thousand words, moving pictures must be worth a million, so below are a couple of videos of Armando's showing off his comedic prowess. Enjoy!

My interview with Paulette Rubinstein

2010-12-26T16:28:00.001-08:00

On December 23, 2010, I interviewed Titra Studios voice actress Paulette Rubinstein (Godzilla vs. the Thing, Gammera the Invincible) at the home of Paulette's daughter, actress Liane Curtis (Sixteen Candles). About halfway in, Liane joins the interview and adds some levity to the proceedings.

My thanks again to Liane and Paulette for being such wonderful hosts! Please enjoy the video.

Nice to know I still have friends

2010-12-25T12:33:00.001-08:00

About to have breakfast with J.D. Lees and Robert Scott Field at G-FEST XVII in Chicago.

The holidays are a time of reflection, and given that today is Christmas, and I can think of no better time to think about my friends. Of course, those with poor judgment may count "the enemy of my enemy" as their friends, but those who do always find out in the end just how meaningful such relationships are.

With Akira Takarada at G-FEST. I spent nearly a week with this legendary actor and will never forget the experience.

With Damon Foster. Although he and I live hours apart, I got to see Damon several times this year. He's a great friend with a great sense of humor. Love our phone conversations!

With Luciana Paluzzi and Nika Solomon. I've seen Luciana twice this year (including my December 14 trip to L.A.) but only saw Nika once. I always look forward to seeing these great ladies when I'm in the area.

With Dore Kraus, as we attempt Ultraman's Specium Ray pose. I met Dore for the first time in October at a dinner he hosted, and he was just as nice as in our various correspondences.

With Dr. Franklin Ruehl. Dr. Ruehl's Mysteries from Beyond the Other Dominion was a favorite of mine on the Sci-Fi Channel in the early '90s. Getting to speak with him at length in October was truly a wonderful experience.

With Ib Melchior. Words cannot do this man justice, but I'm compelled to say a few. No one has shown me more hospitality this year than Mr. Melchior. Whenever I travel to L.A., I always have a place to stay at Ib's. I stay there so often that his house has basically become my home away from home! I sincerely appreciate the generosity he has shown me.

With Ryan Phillips. Ryan is a high school friend I haven't seen for nearly ten years. He was in the area on business and invited me to have lunch with him. It was my pleasure to reconnect with him and swap stories.

With Justin Dunleavy. I got to spend more time with my cousin this year than I have in a long time. Before getting involved in Godzilla fandom, Justin and I would spend hours talking about the various Toho sci-fi films in the 1990s (and the '80s before that!).

With Paulette Rubinstein and her daughter Liane Curtis. Although I have known Paulette for nearly five years (!), I never got the chance to meet her until very recently. She and her daughter Liane were extremely kind to me, and I was overwhelmed by their hospitality.

With George Chakiris. Although most people would think of Oscar-winning actors as having large egos, I couldn't think of a less appropriate description for George Chakiris. Last week, I met the West Side Story star again in L.A. for a chat, and we mostly chatted about our favorite films this year and of any year. We plan to meet again the next time I'm in town.

This doesn't begin to cover everybody, and I apologize to my friends I haven't included. I could go on all day with examples. But you have to cut it off somewhere!

I wish all my friends a happy and successful 2011!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T12:24:00.000-08:00

The fireplace burns bright at Ib Melchior's home on December 14, 2010. The blaze would have no doubt been enough for Chet the Christmas (Day Massacre) Parrot to warm his entire body!

Christmas has once again arrived, and I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. Christmas only comes once a year, so let's please not ruin the holiday with bad behavior. I think we got our fill of that last year!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster: science fact?

2010-12-04T16:51:00.000-08:00

The Japanese poster for Yoshimitsu Banno's Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster (1971).

Brenco's advertising campaign for its U.S. release of Toho's sci-fi classic Gorath (1962) claimed the movie was "too real to be science fiction," that it was actually "science fact."

Little did anyone know that such a description would eventually prove more accurate for Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster, Yoshimitsu Banno's environmentally-aware monster movie.

On the heels of NASA's discovery of a new life form that's "able to thrive and reproduce using the toxic chemical arsenic," a San Francisco Chronicle blogger notes the similarities between it and a certain Toho kaiju eiga:

For humans, arsenic pollution in groundwater has been a major problem. While a naturally occurring element, Arsenic can cause cancer in humans and "cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurological effects" according to the National Research Council. Moreover, Arsenic is found in cities and areas with smog and industrial emissions, and Mono Lake, which as far back as 2006 and beyond, has been noted for its air pollution problems.

Which brings us to Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster and the idea that we're a giant step closer to science fiction as fact.

To read the entire blog post, click here. Special thanks to Mr. Yoshimitsu Banno for sending along the link.

AKIRA IFUKUBE: Works for Piano, Volume 2

2010-12-03T23:54:00.000-08:00

The stunning cover for AKIRA IFUKUBE: Works for Piano, Volume 2.

Reiko Yamada, a former student of Maestro Ifukube's (and a special guest at G-FEST XIV in 2007) has recently completed a brand-new CD of the master musician's classical compositions. As of now, it's available in the U.S. from the Sanseido Japanese bookstore in Chicago and can be ordered here:

SANSEIDO
100 E. Algonquin Rd.,
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847) 956-0155

Details such as pricing are unavailable at this time, but when we're talking about Akira Ifukube, who would dare put a price on his genius?

More information about the release will become available on Maestro Ifukube's official English-language Web site as soon as possible. Fans of Mr. Ifukube, and of classical music in general, will certainly be pleased with the new release!

Happy birthday, Don Frye!

2010-11-23T00:10:00.000-08:00

The match of the century? Your humble blogmeister squares off against the UFC legend Don Frye at G-FEST 2008. Photo by Jeff Horne.

November 23 marks the 45th birthday of the legendary mixed martial artist Don Frye. Although he is best known for his battles in the UFC Octagon, Don Frye has since branched out into acting, performing in several films to date. His most memorable role thus far would have to be that of Captain Douglas Gordon in Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). In GFW, he virtually steals the show, sometimes outshining Godzilla himself!

The role was so popular among G-fans that Don Frye was invited to attend G-FEST in 2008 as a celebrity guest, alongside the original Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima. Mr. Frye tirelessly signed autographs and posed for pictures all weekend, proving himself to be a friendly and highly entertaining special guest.

Haruo Nakajima and Don Frye meet for the first time, G-FEST 2008.

Here's wishing you a happy 45th, Don! Knowing you, I'm sure you're going to celebrate it in style!

Gamera 3-D: Banno seeks investors

2010-10-30T20:10:00.000-07:00

Yoshimitsu Banno meets Omar Sayyah (and his bearded dragon) at G-FEST XII in July 2005.

This blog confirmed the news a few days ago of Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster director Yoshimitsu Banno's intent to move forward with a 40-minute Gamera 3-D project. Earlier today, Mr. Banno reported a surge of activity on his Web site. More than 100 people have contacted Advanced Audiovisual Productions since news of the Gamera film broke.

It is important to bear in mind that Mr. Banno's film cannot proceed without a sufficient number of investors. As of now, Mr. Banno is seeking investors who can contribute JPY15,000,000 to the project.

Mr. Banno offers the following terms to potential investors:

The Privilege of the first investment is as follows,

(1) As a bonus of the risk of the first investment, AAP remits
JP Yen 15,000,000 to the account of investor on the next day of the start of filming.

(2) Investor possesses the share of 10% of net income of AAP as a privilege of the first investor.

※ In the case of “Godzilla 3-D”, the first investor of JP Yen 15,000,000 is entitled to receive the return of its total investing money and share of JP Yen 10,000,000 as the distribution of net profit.

※ Intermediation fee is 3%.

As I stated in my earlier blog post, I would be happy to forward any serious inquiries to Mr. Banno. You (yes, you!) can help make kaiju history!

Easing into G-TOUR II

2010-10-29T20:52:00.001-07:00

Akira Takarada accepts the Mangled Skyscraper Award at G-FEST XVII.

G-FAN editor J.D. Lees announced a few months ago that G-TOUR II will take place from August 2 to 12 in 2011. The official G-FAN Web site contains all the info that's currently available about the tour.

One of the most exciting aspects of the tour is Akira Takarada's interest in participating. As a matter of fact, Mr. Takarada reconfirmed his interest in an e-mail he sent to me the other night. While it's still too early to make any concrete plans, and while G-TOUR cannot yet guarantee Mr. Takarada's participation, this is certainly something to be excited about! More details will be released as soon as they are available.

Besides, you never know who else might show up...

Yoshimitsu Banno's Gamera 3-D: It's on!

2010-10-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

Brett and Advanced Audiovisual Productions' head Yoshimitsu Banno at G-FEST XII in July 2005.

Eagle-eyed G-fan Evan Brehany scooped the world. Advanced Audiovisual Productions (Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster director Yoshimitsu Banno's production company) recently announced on its Web site that it is pursuing a Gamera IMAX 3-D movie. The announcement completely flew under the radar in the West until Evan spotted it and brought it to light.

While some people apparently thought it was a prank of some kind (on Mr. Banno's official Web site?????), the proposed film is 100% real.

Reached for a comment, Mr. Banno confirmed that the project is moving forward and that Kadokawa Pictures, Inc., is an investor in the film, to the tune of JPYen 200,000,000. Mr. Banno is currently looking for other investors to fully finance the picture.

The total production budget stands at JPYen 600,000,000, and the movie would run 40 minutes in length. It would be written, produced, and directed by Mr. Banno. New monsters would appear in the film, but for a full story synopsis (and breakdown of the monsters), please visit AAP's official site.

Any potential investors may contact me, and I would be happy to pass your request on to Mr. Banno.

UPDATE (10/30): Banno seeks investors.

Will the real Yumi Shirakawa please stand up?

2010-10-24T01:11:00.000-07:00

Ever hear that old saying, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"?

I think this video disproves it.

The great Yumi Shirakawa (Rodan, The Mysterians, The H-Man, etc.) is impersonated in the video below. But what makes this impersonation particularly interesting is that it's done by a man!

Just when you thought Japanese TV couldn't get any stranger.

Above right, Ms. Yumi Shirakawa in a recent photo. Source: tbs.co.jp.

Oh, and there's also someone trying to imitate Akira Nakao (from the Heisei Godzilla series), but at least his imitator's of the same gender.

But Still: Vaughan Savidge on His HK Dubbing Career

2010-10-17T17:18:00.000-07:00

Vaughan Savidge, whose prolific HK dubbing career is chronicled below, in a recent picture. Photo courtesy of Vaughan Savidge.

Hong Kong flicks have been enjoyed by Western audiences for several decades, thanks in large part to the English-language dubbing these films received in their native country. While HK dubbing has been the subject of countless magazine and Internet articles over the years, very little information has come out from the principals directly involved. For the first time ever, Vaughan Savidge answers questions about his HK dubbing career, in an interview conducted by Oriental Cinema's Damon Foster and G-FAN's Brett Homenick.

Q: What was your background before you came to Hong Kong?

A: I arrived in HK at the age of 16. I went to school there for one day, but felt that learning pottery, French, and playing the double bass weren’t really going to get me anywhere. Actually, the French would have been useful, as these days I have a place in France that I go to every month.

Q: How did you end up in Hong Kong?

A: My parents were divorced, and it was one of the few places my mother could still get her alimony! It was either HK or South Africa, and in those days South Africa was still a racist country, so best avoided.

Q: What are the circumstances that led you to being involved in the HK movie-releasing business?

A: It was through friends, who gave me a chance. I’d been working in radio at Radio Television Hong Kong and Commercial Radio. And I’d done a little bit of dubbing for other groups. Some friends and I felt it was a bit of a closed shop, so I asked someone I knew whose father owned First Films if we could do some dubbing for them. They agreed, and we became good friends.

Q: What were your various assignments (translating? dubbing? scripting?) in the HK movie-releasing business?

A: Mostly, you would receive a Chinese script with English subtitle translation. I would then either listen to an audio cassette tape of the film and attempt to write the English dubbing script from that – or do it from a videotape – and sometimes a dubbing 35mm print. I had an old Moviola, but it was rather temperamental and would sometimes tear great chunks out of the print, usually in the middle of the night when the script had to be ready in the morning. It could be fairly stressful. One week I slept for only about 10 hours because we were writing and then dubbing 5 films. My wife used to help me a lot with the translations, as she spoke Cantonese and Mandarin. The dubbing was with a small coterie of regulars. We all accepted that there was only so much you could do because of the process. The film was cut into 45 second loops – and we would sit around a microphone doing the best lip sync we could. But the finished product was pretty rough by American dubbing standards.

Q: When you wrote dubbing scripts, what was the process like? What effort was made to match the lip movements with the dialogue?

A: See above.

Q: We've heard rumors that English dubbing industries didn't pay well, and that makeshift studios were hastily thrown together in cheaply rented rooms. What were conditions like, in the audio-dubbing studio?

A: As mentioned above, the looping system was pretty basic, and so were some of the studios. There was one directly under the flight path of planes landing at Kai Tak that had egg boxes for sound proofing. At another, I once saw a large rat nosing around the flip-flopped feet of one of the dubbers while he was doing a loop. The technicians were often elderly and had been doing this for years – mainly in Mandarin, and sometimes Cantonese. They were very professional, but the system/process was not the same as rock and roll, which eventually came to HK through Video Films. We worked for them a fair bit, and their facilities were a huge improvement on some of the other studios.

Q: What was the first movie you worked on?

A: It belonged to First Films. I can’t remember the title.

Q: What was the last movie you worked on?

A: Not sure. We must have done somewhere between 150 and 200 of them – everything from kung fu to war films and two or three soft p*rn films. They came from all over Asia – HK, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, and the Philippines.

Q: Did you ever appear on screen, as an actor?

A: I can’t honestly remember, but I think not.

Q: What was it like working with Ted Thomas?

A: I only worked with Ted a couple of times. He was always charming and amusing. He ran a different group, and we were in sort of competition, although he had Shaw Brothers sewn up as his client, and perhaps also Golden Harvest, as well. I worked mainly for independents.

Q: Who are some of the names of the other audio-dubbers [you worked with], and can you remember any specific roles/films they're in?

A: Warwick Evans, Barry Bakker, John Culkin, Suzanne Vale, Martin Evan-Jones, Rick Thomas. There were a lot of dubbers, but I’m afraid my memory fails me as it’s around 27 years ago that I stopped!

Q: Can you remember any specific roles/films that you yourself dubbed, where fans might be able to recognize your voice?

A: See above.

Q: Did the dubbing business improve as HK movies gained international popularity in the 1970s?
A: There were more movies, yes, and our business improved as a result.

Q: Did the dubbing business decline in the 1980s and 1990s, as subtitled prints started gaining popularity?

A: Not sure as I finished in 1983, I think, and it was certainly pretty full on until then.

Q: Did you work with, or get to know, any of the HK kung fu actors themselves?

A: No. I interviewed some when I worked for one of the newspapers. I remember Alexander Fu Shing was a nice man. He was one of Shaw’s better stars, but sadly died in a car crash.

Q: It's been said that the Shaw Brothers wanted to release their movies in English as far back as the 1950s (when many of HK's movies were just musicals). Is this true? Was there ever a plan to dub Kwan Tak Hing's old "Wong Gei Hung" movies (of the 1940s and 1950s?)?

A: Don’t know.

Q: For decades, it was believed that Five Fingers of Death was the first time Westerners saw a Chinese martial arts movie. But an English movie poster of The One-Armed Swordsman recently surfaced. It not only says, "Metro Goldwyn Mayer Presents," but states, "Starring: Wang Yu." It doesn't say "Starring JIMMY Wang Yu," a name that was coined in the 1970s (when many Chinese actors were given English names). So is it possible that The One-Armed Swordsman might have gotten a U.S. release before the kung fu boom?

A: Not sure. You could ask my friend Hoi Wong at First Films, as I think it was one of his. We dubbed a version of it, and I included the immortal line of the one-armed swordsman telling someone he was going to kill him with his own two hands! Not sure if that was in the original film or a later version.

Q: A mysterious name which popped up in credits (mainly for Chinese TV shows) in English was Morris Weinberg. Does the name ring a bell, and could you shed any light on just who this person is? His involvement in TV historicals and swordplay soap operas?

A: Have no idea!

Q: Did production values vary, between dubbing/releasing between companies? For Shaw Brothers? Seasonal Films? Golden Harvest? Cathay Studios? Filmark International? IFD Films? Arts and ADDA Audio Video?

A: In terms of dubbing it was pretty universal. There was an effects track made for every film, before it was dubbed into Mandarin/Cantonese or English.

Q: Were you present when people like Godfrey Ho, Thomas Tang, and Joseph Lai were releasing the ripoff movies (ninja exploitation films like Fists of Legend 2: Iron Bodyguards)? Godfrey Ho had taken all these irrelevant old kung fu movies, spliced in a few shots of ninjas shot 20 years later, and cashed in on the "ninja craze" of the 1980s. With ninjas wearing headbands (common Halloween accessories) that clearly said "NINJA," did you ever ask Godfrey Ho, "Just WHAT were you thinking?"

A: I did do a lot of work for Tomas Tang and Joseph Lai. I remember dubbing a Korean film they'd bought that was originally about the war between North and South Korea, and I changed it all (at their request) to the fighting in North and South Vietnam! They also bought quite a few Korean kung fu movies which I guess the audience might have thought were Chinese films. And I guess it didn't really make much difference - people don't go to the cinema because of where the film originates, do they?

Q: On a related subject, what were some of the strangest movies you had to dub?

A: I dubbed a film called The Gate of the Hell (!) which starred one of the dubbers (Warwick Evans) as Dracula. That was a bit bizarre. We also did a few p*rnos. There were two women dubbers doing all the female parts, and one of them was rather shocked as she'd never seen a p*rn film before - and was well into her 40s.

Q: More than once, companies (i.e., Toho in Tokyo) outside of Hong Kong also utilized the HK dubbers. Do you know if they paid better than the Hong Kong companies?

A: I'm not sure. We were paid somewhere between HK$8,000 and $12,000 for most HK feature films. I never worked for a Japanese company.

Q: Are there any other interesting tidbits of information you can think of that the legions of kung fu fans might not know?

A: The sounds effects were quite interesting. I wandered into a studio where they were doing them once, and they punched a cardboard box to make the sounds of hitting someone! And swished a cane around for the swords.

RIP Ryo Ikebe

2010-10-11T02:36:00.001-07:00

Actor Ryo Ikebe in a recent photo. Source: nichimen.or.jp.

The world of Japanese cinema has suffered another blow by the loss of Ryo Ikebe on October 8, 2010, of sepsis. He was 92.

Ikebe, born on February 11, 1918, began his acting career in 1941. His career was quickly interrupted by the Second World War, so Ikebe didn't become a Toho contract player until 1946. He remained active until his recent passing, with more than 150 roles to his credit. When Ikebe wasn't performing onscreen, he served as the director of the Japanese equivalent of the Screen Actors Guild (from 1983-2009).

G-fans will remember Ikebe from his starring roles in Battle in Outer Space (1959), Gorath (1962), and The War in Space (1977). Ikebe also enjoyed a small role in Paul Schrader's Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985). In recent years, Ikebe turned his attention to writing, becoming an award-winning essayist and book author.

Thank you for the memories, Mr. Ikebe.

Dr. Ruehl: Man of Mystery

2010-10-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

That's a wrap! Dr. Franklin Ruehl and Brett shake hands after completing their interview. Photo courtesy of Dr. Ruehl.

Dr. Franklin Ruehl is a man of many talents, but I've always known him as the host of the late, lamented Mysteries from Beyond the Other Dominion, one of the Sci-Fi Channel's original programs. (This, of course, was well before the era of "SyFy.")

While Dr. Ruehl's Mysteries has been off the national airwaves for several years, fans can follow the good doctor on his YouTube channel. With a little luck, perhaps Dr. Ruehl can entice a cable channel to put him back on the air. (It would sure beat watching whatever the heck the Jersey Shore is up to this week.)

I was fortunate to meet Dr. Ruehl on October 8. He agreed to sit down for an interview, which is presented below.

Here's a gag longtime Mysteries fans would get:

May the power of the cosmos be with you!

My dinner with Ultraman

2010-10-10T14:33:00.001-07:00

Brett hangs out with Dore Kraus after an excellent meal at L.A.'s Drago Centro.

On October 8, I had the pleasure of sharing a meal with Dore Kraus, best known to G-fans as playing Jack Shindo (Ultraman's alter ego) in Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman: Towards the Future (a.k.a. Ultraman Great). The show, which aired on L.A.'s KCOP-TV (channel 13) in early 1992, was my first exposure to Ultraman, and would remain the only Ultra-show I would see for many years.

Dore Kraus is no stranger to Godzilla fandom, as he made guest appearances at John Roberto's KAIJU-CON '96 in New York and G-CON '97 in Chicago (along with Kenji Sahara and Masanari Nihei).

I could go on and on about the dinner and what a gentleman Dore was, but when you have actual footage from the event, why not let that do the talking? So, without further ado...

RIP Keiju Kobayashi

2010-09-19T15:32:00.001-07:00

Actor Keiju Kobayashi in a recent photo.

The Japan Times is reporting that actor Keiju Kobayashi died September 16, 2010, of heart failure. He was 86.

Mr. Kobayashi is best known to G-fans as playing Japan's prime minister in Godzilla 1985 (1984) and Dr. Tadokoro in Submersion of Japan (1973). He was born on November 23, 1923, and enjoyed a long and successful acting career that started in 1942 (appearing in more than 250 films in total) and continued to work until his death.

The Japan Times adds:

A Gunma Prefecture native, Kobayashi made his movie debut in 1942 and gained
popularity in the 1950s starring in a series of comedies featuring salaried
workers with ordinary man-next-door personalities.

Appearing in about 260 movies and TV dramas in roles ranging from prime ministers to police detectives, Kobayashi received medals of honor from the government for his longtime achievements and cultural contributions.

Thanks to Fabien Mauro for the tip.

Happy birthday, Ib Melchior!

2010-09-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

Ib Melchior, the director of The Angry Red Planet and The Time Travelers, turns 93 today. I'd like to extend my wishes to Ib for a happy birthday!

Oh, and don't forget to order Ib's new book, Six Cult Films from the Sixties!

Agoura Hills Patch penetrates 'Mushroom Clouds'

2010-08-29T20:31:00.001-07:00

Author Peter H. Brothers, July 2010.

The Agoura Hills Patch recently ran an article on Peter H. Brothers' Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda. The article quotes Brothers at length, and toward the end you might recognize the name of a certain blogger.

To read the article for yourself, just click here.

G-FAN #92

2010-08-29T08:57:00.000-07:00

Monsterland Ohio's Mark Matzke has published an excellent review of G-FAN #92. To read the review for yourself, just click here.

For more information on G-FAN magazine itself, follow this link.

G-FEST XVIII: Return to the Crowne Plaza!

2010-08-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

J.D. "Da Chief" Lees, me, and Robert Scott Field check out the newly-renovated Crowne Plaza this past July, examining it for a possible return.

On the subject of conventions that still exist, J.D. Lees (a.k.a. The Chief) has announced that G-FEST XVIII will take place at the Crowne Plaza in Rosemont, IL (G-FEST's stomping grounds from 2004-09), from July 15 to 17.

Be there when G-FEST, North America's longest-running kaiju convention, finally hits maturity! (Hm. Now that G-FEST will turn 18, maybe it'll finally want to move out of Rosemont...)

J.D. and Scott give two big thumbs up (or a thumb and a peace sign, anyway) to the Crowne Plaza!

Make your plans to attend now! For more information, please visit G-FAN.com.

August 25: A year old

2010-08-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

What a year it's been!

On August 25, 2009, I created this very blog. I had no real expectations for it, and I wasn't sure what direction it would ultimately take. While many blogs come and go, I'm very proud that this one has made it this far.

On the blog's first day of existence, I posted a notice about Akira Takarada's appearing in a stage adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's Red Beard. Less than a year later, I would assist Mr. Takarada throughout his entire stay at G-FEST. (I picked him up from the airport and dropped him off at the airport security line. I was the first and last person who saw him in Chicago.) For this reason, I decided to use the above photo of Mr. Takarada from G-FEST's Sunday morning interview to illustrate this blog post. It certainly feels like it's come full circle!

Now we officially start the second year of Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker. I hope it's just as fun as the first!

Kikaider is back, and Anime Jungle has him!

2010-08-16T21:49:00.000-07:00

Dave Chapple, August Ragone, me, and Ed Holland, about to order our meals at a Japanese restaurant in Little Tokyo.

Anime Jungle in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo hosted the one and only Daisuke Ban, the popular star of the 1970s-era superhero shows Kikaider and Inazuman, to participate in autograph signings and the Nisei Week Japanese Festival's Grand Parade. Mr. Ban also participated in a dinner Saturday night for which Anime Jungle was selling advance tickets (limited to 30 people).

August Ragone and I eagerly await the dinner with Daisuke Ban.

Before the dinner got under way, I spent all my time with August Ragone, Ed Holland of Monster Attack Team, and fellow Coachella Valley resident Dave Chapple. We shopped in Anime Jungle, went to a Japanese restaurant for lunch, and just hung out and shot the breeze about a slew of topics. There was never a dull moment!

Daisuke Ban and Joanne Ninomiya examine a copy of G-FAN #91, as August Ragone tells them about the magazine and G-FEST.

At 6:30 pm, the dinner with Daisuke Ban began. After making some introductory comments, Mr. Ban sat at each table with Joanne Ninomiya of Generation Kikaida for about 10 or 15 minutes to spend time with each attendee. Mr. Ban graciously answered questions, signed autographs, and posed for pictures.

Mr. Ban seemed impressed with the copy of G-FAN I gave him (August told him all about G-FAN and G-FEST). Mr. Ban noticed the interview with Yukiko Takayama, Terror of Mechagodzilla's screenwriter, and asked if I knew Tomoko Ai. I mentioned that totorom interviewed her in a previous issue, to which Mr. Ban replied that the two are friends. So remember that Katsura Mafune knows Kikaider!

"Say, Kikaider, need a sidekick?"

All in all, it was a great event, with fans coming all the way from Japan for the occasion! Anime Jungle might be hosting more such events, so be on the lookout for them in the future. Kudos to Anime Jungle for bringing this event to the West Coast!

Meeting the legendary Daisuke Ban for the first time.

The case of the missing zombie convention

2010-08-16T19:38:00.000-07:00

Gary Streiner, the organizer of The Living Dead Festival (a small Night of the Living Dead convention in the Northeast), has announced that there will not be a NOTLD convention this year.

Chances are, you've never heard of this con, and if you have, you don't care about it. So why mention it? Because one of the show's hangers-on, who goes by the name "Dubious Comforts" on several message boards, predicted that Retromedia's Destroy All Planets DVD (on which Carl Craig, Damon Foster, and I worked tirelessly) would be "yanked" from circulation (among other misrepresentations and petty insults).

Turns out his "living dead fest" got yanked instead. Oops.

If you read this blog, you know I don't believe in karma, but in situations like this, you do have to wonder sometimes. All I can say is, the little huckster sure got what he deserved!

UPDATE: Retromedia's Destroy All Planets, with an exclusive audio commentary featuring Carl Craig, Damon Foster, and yours truly, is still offered through amazon.com. To order your copy, go here.

Return to the Glutermansion

2010-08-16T18:30:00.000-07:00

Tim Smyth, Perry Martin, Don Glut, William Winckler, Ted Newsom, and Bill Warren discuss many movie-related subjects at the Glutermansion.

In June 2005, just before I left for North Dakota for four years, I visited the home of author and filmmaker Donald F. Glut with my friends David McRobie and Peter H. Brothers. Since I was leaving California for the foreseeable future, I arranged for us to visit Don's house (which I nicknamed the Glutermansion) as sort of a last hurrah for me. The visit was a fun experience for us, but it would be one that wouldn't happen again for five years.

Bill and Ted have an "excellent" discussion on who really killed Ted Healy!

Several days ago, I contacted Don about possibly visiting him again at his home. I mentioned that I'd love to meet other fans in the area that he knew, and I welcomed as many of them to participate as he could get. Don then started pounding the pavement and arranged a veritable "who's who" of monster fandom to converge on the Glutermansion!

Don Glut proudly displays his Mangled Skyscraper Award, which he won at G-FEST XIV in 2007, with much of his prized memorabilia collection.

As it turned out, Don was under the impression that I still lived in North Dakota and explained to his friends that I was coming in from out of state for this occasion! The group got a big laugh when I revealed that I drove about two hours to get to L.A.!

For several hours, we sat around a table and simply discussed various movies, swapped stories about celebrities, gave our opinions on some "infamous" names in fandom, and had a blast. I was surprised to learn that these sort of get-togethers don't happen so often. Everyone agreed that these meetings should occur a lot more frequently.

Don Glut and yours truly, right outside the Italian restaurant in which we ate dinner.

Shortly after 7:00 pm, a slightly smaller group went out for Italian food. There we discussed more movies, debated Godzilla movies vs. Ray Harryhausen movies, and even did a few voice impressions! We actually stayed seated well past closing time, but we were so caught up in our conversation that we didn't even notice!

Ted and I pose with Famous Monsters of Filmland #250. Phil Kim would be proud!

After we left the restaurant, most of our group left, although Don, Sid Terror, Tim Smyth, and I stuck around to continue the conversation even longer! It lasted until almost 12:30 am, much later than I would have ever guessed. But, when you're having fun, it's easy to lose track of time.

I'd like to thank everyone who came out to Don's house. You certainly made my day! It was tremendous fun, and I suspect these shindigs will be happening a lot more often from now on.

Hanging out is what it's all about! Ted, me, William Winckler, Sid Terror, Don, and Tim Smyth smile for the camera.

. . . and I haven't been the same since!

A salute to Yoshifumi Tajima (1919-2009)

2010-08-05T19:37:00.000-07:00

The great Toho character actor Yoshifumi Tajima in perhaps his best role, that of Kumayama in Godzilla vs. the Thing (1964).

One of the most familiar faces in the Godzilla series passed away on September 10, 2009, of esophageal cancer. He was 90 years old.

Tajima was born on August 4, 1919. He became an actor in the early 1950s, working for Shochiku and Nikkatsu, and then became a contracted Toho player in the late 1950s. Some of his Toho credits include: The Secret of the Telegian (1960), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), Atragon (1963), Godzilla vs. the Thing (1964), War of the Gargantuas (1966), King Kong Escapes (1967), and Godzilla (1984). Tajima also had a recurring role on the groundbreaking Ultra Q TV series for Tsuburaya Productions.

Although he passed nearly a year ago, it almost completely flew under the radar in the West. So I offer this very humble salute to a giant of the giant monster genre.

Rest in peace, Mr. Tajima.

Akira Takarada signs autographs at G-FEST

2010-08-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

On the Monday following G-FEST, while most people were leaving Chicago and saying their goodbyes to fellow attendees, I stayed in town an extra night (leaving early Tuesday morning) to help Mr. Takarada enjoy his final day in Chicago (his flight left late that night).

Monday turned out to be an extremely enjoyable day. I spent it with Mr. Takarada, Robert Scott Field, and J.D. Lees and his family. The hectic pace of G-FEST was behind us, and we could relax and enjoy ourselves without having to worry about resolving parking issues or whatever other problems arose throughout the weekend.

Early in the afternoon on Monday, I asked Mr. Takarada to sign some items for other people (friends and family members) and even a few for myself. Robert Scott Field recorded it for me, and the one and only Damon Foster uploaded it to YouTube for me. (I certainly would've had no idea how to do it myself!)

In any case, here is that video. Enjoy!

Ryuhei Kitamura's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'

2010-08-03T22:46:00.000-07:00

Ryuhei Kitamura (the director of Versus and Godzilla: Final Wars) has directed a new music video of ELEWs cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Nirvana's early '90s mega-hit).

According to ELEWRockjazz.com:

A modern day pop artist and musical revolutionary, piano iconoclast ELEW is making a substantial impression on the music world with a thunderous new style of playing: an inspired melding of ragtime, rock and pop that he calls Rockjazz.

It's certainly not your father's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"!

h/t Kung Fu Cinema.

The inspiration for this blog's name

2010-07-27T16:17:00.001-07:00

Finally, the video containing the inspiration for this blog's unusual name makes it back to YouTube!

As a longtime Siskel & Ebert fan, I love watching old S&E videos on the Internet. One of my favorite clips was their review of the 1987 children's film Benji the Hunted. This particular review is famous (infamous?) for the fact that Ebert recommends the Benji film when he, earlier in the program, panned Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket.

In discussing other strange movie titles, Siskel mentions one of his favorites. That was all the inspiration I needed.

Tales of Adventure in Hollywood

2010-07-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

Meeting the legendary Barbara Steele, the star of many Italian horror classics.

Although the summer months are brutal, living in Rancho Mirage (a.k.a. Brett's Rancho) does have its advantages. One such advantage is the fairly easy access I have to Los Angeles. Little more than a two-hour drive away, I can essentially travel there whenever I'd like.

After seeing its impressive guest list, I knew I wanted to attend the Hollywood Show in Burbank in late July. I made plans, and off I went.

It was a pleasure to meet Mamie Van Doren.

While it's a lot of fun to meet the celebrities who attend these autograph conventions, you must budget yourself carefully. It's easier than you might think to spend more money than you can afford! So it's important to go in with a plan and to do as little impulse-buying as possible. Stick to your plan, and you won't go home bankrupt.

Caroline Munro was a highlight of the convention. I spoke with her about such topics as Christopher Lee and traveling in general. She's as friendly as they come.

The Hollywood Show was held at the Marriott Convention Center in Burbank. This was also the site of Monsterpalooza (in 2009 and 2010) and G-FEST '99. It's a nice area; I just wish the drivers were as nice!

With the incomparable Carla Laemmle, who appeared in The Phantom of the Opera (1925) and Dracula (1931)! Ms. Laemmle, who turns 101 (!) in October, signed autographs steadily throughout the day.

It was great to meet all the celebrities I met at the Hollywood Show. However, I must make special mention of two wonderful ladies in particular.

In between Nika Solomon and Luciana Paluzzi.

For the second time at a convention, I got to spend a great deal of time with Luciana Paluzzi and Nika Solomon. These are two of the nicest ladies you'd ever want to meet. I always enjoy spending an afternoon with them, and I hope to do it again sometime in the near future!

Reptilicus reads Phil Kim's Famous Monsters of Filmland tribute to Forrest J Ackerman at the Melchior residence, but was disappointed to find several typos (Joseph Cotten's name misrendered as "Cotton," among others) therein.

After the Hollywood Show wound down, I was a guest at Ib Melchior's home. Mr. Melchior graciously invited me to spend the night, which was an invitation too good to turn down! Once again (and I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but it's the truth), I enjoyed being in the presence of this multi-talented writer-director.

After dinner, Mr. Melchior and I watched Silent Hill on the SyFy Channel. Neither of us could follow what was going on, but it was especially entertaining when Mr. Melchior interjected some MST3K-style riffs on the proceedings! Suffice it to say, it was quite a memorable evening.

Yup, that's a plate of lasagna, but it wasn't mine, I swear! And I didn't order any stuffed bell peppers, either!

The following morning, I met Peter H. Brothers for lunch at The Grove. I gave him an autographed program of Godzilla: Final Wars that Akira Takarada signed for Peter (after I gave Mr. Takarada a copy of Peter's Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men).

A shot across the bow? Nah, it's just Peter enjoying his meal!

This was my first time meeting Peter in five years! Hopefully we'll get together a little more often from now on.

Brett and Ib Melchior, shortly before I had to leave.

Peter dropped me off near Ib's house, and I said my goodbyes to Ib and his charming wife Cleo. Afterward, I had G-FAN business to attend to.

Brett and George Chakiris, following a fascinating interview for G-FAN.

I met Academy Award-winning actor George Chakiris (West Side Story) for an interview on the Daiei co-production Flight from Ashiya. The interview was enlightening, but what struck me the most was how down-to-earth and approachable Mr. Chakiris turned out to be. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word, and he gave me many great stories for G-FAN.

All in all, it was a very successful trip, and I enjoyed myself immensely. I'm not sure when I'll return to Hollywood, but after all the fun I had this past weekend, I hope it's very soon!

OC: The Webcast #5

2010-07-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

Yours truly is interviewed in the latest edition of Damon Foster's OC: The Webcast. Check it out!

Luciana Paluzzi discusses The Green Slime (1968)

2010-07-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

Brett Homenick and Luciana Paluzzi in July 2010. Brett interviewed Ms. Paluzzi in 2007 about her appearance in the enduring cult classic The Green Slime.

(Originally published in G-FAN #81, fall 2007)

Luciana Paluzzi is an Italian actress who has worked all over the world in many notable films. She’s best known as the villainess Fiona Volpe in the James Bond film Thunderball (1965), in which she starred opposite Sean Connery. She’s also appeared in the original Hercules (1958), with Steve Reeves, and the 1964 film Muscle Beach Party, with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. When it comes to television, she starred in the series Five Fingers for 20th Century Fox and appeared in more than 25 TV movies and series, including Hawaii Five-O and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. G-FAN readers, however, will know her as Dr. Lisa Benson in The Green Slime. Ms. Paluzzi spoke with Brett Homenick about her starring role in that popular cult film.

Brett Homenick: How’d you get involved with The Green Slime?
Luciana Paluzzi: It was an MGM picture, and it was originally called Battle Beyond the Stars. I was asked to do the role. I went to Japan, and I did it. That’s how I was involved.

BH: When you were in Japan, what were your living arrangements like?
LP: I was in a beautiful hotel, and it was very, very plush.

BH: Do you remember anything that went on in the preproduction meetings?
LP: No, because we went to work immediately. I arrived there, and two days later, we did the costumes, and we started to work. You know, it’s (a) long time ago, so I don’t remember exactly what happened. I only know that there was a translator on the set because the director (Kinji Fukasaku) was an adorable man, but he didn’t speak a word of English, nor did the crew, nobody. So everything had to be translated from English to Japanese and from Japanese to English.

BH: You mentioned him a little bit, but just say a few more words about working with Mr. Kinji Fukasaku, the director.
LP: He knew what he was doing. (He) was very skilled, having directed this genre before, and that is why they chose him, because of his work and his reputation. He knew exactly what he had to do, and he was used to direct(ing) these kind of pictures. There were no delays, he came very prepared on the set, and everything went very smooth and very fast. But at the same time, he was just so nice and so nice to the crew, and he was really a very nice man. I heard that he died not long ago.

BH: That’s right.
LP: Which year did he die?

BH: I think he died in early 2003.
LP: Too bad. I remember him with great affection. He was very efficient, and a very good director. I don’t know why they decided to change the title after. I never knew the story behind that because, of course, the other title was a little bit nicer! But it doesn’t matter; it’s still much like a cult picture because recently -- not recently, but last year, I participated in a signing where the stars sign photographs and autographs, and the second-most requested photo, after the James Bond movie that I did, was The Green Slime. It’s very strange because I’ve done so many more interesting films in France, in Italy, in Spain, in the United States, all over the world, and The Green Slime was the second one. The fans came with posters that they wanted to have signed. So I guess it’s a cult picture.

BH: It is. A lot of people have grown up with it, and it remains very popular to this day among people who saw it when they were children.
LP: That is wonderful, especially when you think that much more important films and actors have been forgotten by the younger generation. Not long ago, we were having dinner in a restaurant, and our waitress had no idea who Grace Kelly was, and The Green Slime still survives. Go figure!

BH: Another question that I had regarded Robert Horton. What was it like to work with him?
LP: He was very professional. I have worked with actors that were great actors, but at the time, were going through crises in their life like Richard Burton and Lee Marvin. I did a picture with them (The Klansman, 1974), and it was a period where they were drinking, they wouldn’t show up in the morning, and Terence Young, the director, had terrible, terrible crises on the set because of their behavior. But Mr. Horton was absolutely professional and very, very good at what he was doing. You know, in reality, none of our roles were very demanding! But I never had any kind of friendship with him. I used to talk a lot to everybody else but him.

BH: What was it like to work with Richard Jaeckel?
LP: As I said, adorable, nice.

BH: Well, what about some of the local actors? I don’t know if you would remember any of their names, but Robert Dunham and Kathy Horan were some of the local actors who appeared in the film. Do you have any memories of working with them?
LP: No! The only memory that I have, it was my first picture in Japan, and I did an interview with a lot of journalists present. Somehow, I’m trying to remember how it went, but I know that it provoked a little bit of -- not a scandal, but they asked me a question which led me to answer, “Well, if I were born here, I would rather be a geisha girl than a wife,” and everybody was shocked. They were translating it into Japanese, and I still remember the faces of the people, they looked at me in a bewildered way. I think it was a little bit of a revolutionary answer, so I said, “Well, the wife has to stay home, and they are not allowed to say anything, and they just have to raise the kids, clean the house, and the geisha girls have all the fun. They go out, they talk to the men, discuss politics, world events, laugh with them.” So I remember that there was a long silence in the room, and finally everybody started to chuckle. I wished I knew what they were saying! It came out in all the papers the next day: “Luciana wants to be a geisha girl”! Which I meant in a nice way, but at the same time I meant to be a little provocative because I was feeling sorry for the wives! Of course, things have changed a lot since then. Many years have passed.

BH: Wow, that’s very interesting! (laughs) Well, what I’ve heard is that the aliens in the film were actually played by children wearing suits. Is that your memory of it?
LP: Yes, you’re right.

Ms. Paluzzi holds a copy of G-FAN magazine. Photo courtesy Luciana Paluzzi.

BH: Were there any accidents that happened on the set, anything involving special effects, or just anything?
LP: No, not that I recall.

BH: Do you have any other interesting stories from the set?
LP: No, I’m terribly sorry. I know that things all went very smooth because, as I said, the director was so well-prepared, and there were no delays. It was like a general came on the set, and everything was going scene after scene after scene. I don’t think we were a day late. I’m sorry, I have many more things to tell you about other movies including Thunderball, but The Green Slime was pretty smooth!

BH: What did you think of the film when you saw it?
LP: You know, for the time that they did it, I thought that it was well-made. Today, of course, it’s so passe, it’s so old-fashioned, but at the time, I thought that it was a fun movie. I mean, it’s not my kind of movie, I don’t like science fiction in general. I did the movie because I thought it would be fun to go work in Japan , because it was a different culture, because it was something different from what I’ve done before, and I never did it again. But I had a great time, and I liked the movie when I saw it because I thought, you know, for what it was at the time, it was well-done. And I guess it was because, as you say, at the time the kids were interested in it. But today, it looks really (like) what it was, (a) 40-year-old picture.

For more information about Ms. Paluzzi, please visit her official Web site: http://lucianapaluzzi.com.