'Warning from Space' at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho!

Well, that's a wrap! The yokai/tokusatsu film festival at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho ended today, and I was quite pleased that I had a chance to see Warning from Space (1956) before the festival closed for good. Interestingly, I caught Warning from Space at this very same theater back in 2012. Time sure does fly, doesn't it?

It's truly a great-looking film with some intriguing concepts and visuals. A bit slow at times, but always worth checking out. This is one of the movies I went out of my way to see during the festival, and I'm very glad I did. I watched the English dub during the New Year holidays, but this was truly the best way to see it. 

'The Bride from Hades' at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho!

I just got back from seeing the Daiei horror film The Bride from Hades (1968) at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho. It was quite moody and effective, and I enjoyed seeing it. The film stars Kojiro Hongo, Takashi Shimura, and Miyoko Akaza as the titular bride, whom I was lucky enough to meet at a couple of events. Overall, an enjoyable afternoon!

'Along with Ghosts' at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho!

The tokusatsu and yokai film festival at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho continues, and today I took in a screening of Along with Ghosts (1969), the final entry in Daiei's celebrated yokai trilogy. 

I first saw Along with Ghosts almost exactly 20 years ago, and (to the best of my recollection) that was the only time I'd ever watched the whole thing before today. I thought it was pretty boring at the time and considered it easily the weakest of the trilogy.

Well, I have to say that my opinion really hasn't changed very much in the last 20 years. I still consider it the weakest of the three. There's great stuff in it, of course -- Kojiro Hongo is always good, the yokai are effectively spooky (even if they are less memorable this time around), and Chumei Watanabe's score is fabulous. So there's a lot to praise. But I just think the story drags when the yokai aren't onscreen. 

Overall, the other two yokai flicks are more entertaining. That said, I'd still recommend Along with Ghosts over any yokai movie that's come after it. I stopped watching the 2005 remake (or whatever it was) halfway through and never looked back, and the one in current release looks even shabbier (if that's even possible). Thanks, but no thanks, guys. I'll stick with the classics.

Gamera Stomps into the Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho!

The Gamera/Daimajin display at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On August 11, I returned to the Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho for a wonderful double feature of Gamera vs. Guiron (1969) followed by Gamera vs. Zigra (1971). Seeing these titles on the big screen is exceedingly rare, but the digital transfers were fantastic. I had a great time with both films.

Last night, I was able to take in a showing of Gamera vs. Barugon (1966), and its elaborate SFX were a marvel to see on the silver screen. I've never seen the film look any better.

Screenings at the Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho will continue, but that's about it for Gamera. The remaining showings will focus on Daiei's other tokusatsu and genre pictures, including ghosts and yokai. I hope to be checking out a few more before the festival ends.