'Godzilla Minus One' Banner in Roppongi!

Godzilla Minus One ballyhoo at Toho Cinemas Roppongi. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today, I went to Toho Cinemas Roppongi to check out The Creator (2023), the latest joint from Gareth "Stone Age" Edwards. While there, I spotted the banner above promoting Godzilla Minus One (2023), which comes out on November 3.

As for The Creator, well, I guess I don't have any particularly deep thoughts. I think it's Edwards' best film, but that really isn't saying much. I've only seen each entry of his filmography once, and that was when each one was new, so it's a little hard to rank them, but I suppose I'll give it a go. From best to worst, I'd probably rank them: 1) The Creator, 2) Godzilla (2014), 3) Rogue One (2016), 4) Monsters (2010). 

I saw Monsters on the plane when I was moving to Japan and was bored silly by it. I wanted to walk out on Rogue One by about the halfway point and only stuck around because the theater was packed, I was sitting in the middle of it, and I didn't want to create a disturbance by putting on my winter coat and suddenly leaving the theater. So, out of politeness, I stayed. (I mean, this is Japan, folks.)

There were some interesting ideas in The Creator, but, not only did the movie fail to build up to an exciting climax, it became less interesting as it went on. I understood what emotions it was going for, but the movie couldn't stand still enough to let those emotions wash over the audience. One example is when Alphie realizes she isn't going to Heaven because she isn't a real person but then immediately falls asleep on John David Washington's shoulder because, oh, well, them's the breaks, I guess. Time for some shut-eye.

Honestly, my favorite part of the film were the clips of Invasion of the Neptune Men (1961) and Evil Brain from Outer Space (1964) shown on television. I've been wondering for years whether we'd see any public domain tokusatsu show up on a TV in the background of a modern Hollywood flick, and I finally have my answer. Honestly, those clips were more of a tribute to the genre than all of the 2014 Godzilla.

Speaking of, I was also a bit amused (in a mordant sort of way) at the robot named G-14. (Get it?) I won't say it was an appropriate name given that the robot was literally a walking bomb, but I will say that its explosion was enough to send all of us back to the Stone Age.  

'Godzilla Minus One' Stomps Its Way into Shinjuku!

Shinjuku gears up for Godzilla Minus One. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Shinjuku has received its fair share of ballyhoo for the upcoming release of Godzilla Minus One (2023), due in theaters on November 3. Interestingly, the new Godzilla flick has to share some ad space with Gareth "Stone Age" Edwards' latest joint, The Creator (2023). Anyway, here's how Toho Cinemas Shinjuku looks at the moment. Enjoy!

ROGUE ONE! Seeing A Star Wars Story in Futako-Tamagawa!

Signage for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in the 109 Cinemas in Futako-Tamagawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I was actually looking forward to seeing Rogue One. The trailer looked rather impressive to me, and the difference in tone from what we usually get in the Star Wars universe intrigued me. I was completely unimpressed with The Force Awakens, and given that this film seemed (superficially, anyway) to be the antithesis of TFA, I entered the theater with the notion that I'd end up enjoying the experience.

I wanna talk to somebody in charge...

I'm not sure the best way to begin, but I'll start by saying that I haven't been this bored by a movie in a long time. Halfway through, I gave up, and when I say that I gave up, I mean I completely checked out. I alternated between staring at the floor, the ceiling, my wrist in search of a watch that wasn't there -- anything but the screen. It was brutal. I can't remember the last time I cared so little about the characters or their actions in a film that I paid to see in a movie theater. As much as I disliked the rebooted Ghostbusters, I have to admit that it held my attention more than this flick did. Yeah, that's not good.

Gareth Edwards is 0-3 with me. But I will give the director credit for one thing. Visually, Rogue One was pretty amazing. I really liked how the film looked. Other than that, however, there just isn't much going on. The Force Awakens might have put me to sleep, but Rogue One made me wish I'd bought sleeping pills at the concession stand. Gotta have a little substance to go with my style.

Oh, and I laughed when I saw CGI Peter Cushing. It was never a convincing effect to me, and it turned the proceedings into a Bizarro World version of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Seriously, just stick to CGI aliens; they're much more believable.

I would have written more, but the Nostalgia Critic and the gang at Red Letter Media have already said everything I would have -- and much better than I could have. Watch their reviews, and you'll know more or less my reaction. When I left the theater, I figured I must have become a grumpy old curmudgeon somewhere along the way who has no time for these goofy blockbusters anymore, but I was relieved to find that I wasn't alone in my opinion.

Who knows, though. Maybe I'll like the next one.

ODDS AND ENDS: A Quick Update from Tokyo

Despite being a fairly routine day, there were some cool goings-on that I thought I'd share. First, I completed an English lesson with actor Kazuki Kato. Kato-san starred in Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit (2008), Kamen Rider: The Next (2007), and Kamen Rider Kabuto (2006-07), among many other titles. It was great to catch up with him again. He's a busy actor currently appearing in a popular stage play.

Even before my lesson with Kato-san, I headed to the Toho Cinemas in Shibuya to see the new Godzilla poster. While the movie is already playing in America (as well as many other parts of the world), we in Japan have to wait more than two months for the flick to come out! I just hope I can avoid the spoilers for that amount of time.

Yes, I had to take a photo with the poster. It's pretty much a required ritual for any kaiju fan worth his salt!