New Content on Vantage Point Interviews!

 

If you like the South Korean monster mash Yongary Monster from the Deep (1967), you'll want to check out my mini interview with one of its English-language voice actors, Dan Keller. Keller played the young boy Icho, who befriends the towering beast in the film. It's a breezy read, so you have no excuse not to give it a look!

Yongary (and Wangmagwi!) Stomp Their Way into New York This September!

Yongary, Monster from the Deep (1967) will wreak havoc on New York this September in glorious 35mm!

Special thanks to Bradford Grant Boyle (via film critic Mario Naves) for the tip!

Fans of Asian monster cinema in the New York area are in for a tasty treat this September when Film at Lincoln Center presents Korean Cinema’s Golden Decade: The 1960s, a film program featuring some of South Korea's best and most influential movies of the era.

The big news for monster movie fans is that a 35mm print of the 79-minute English-language version of Yongary, Monster from the Deep (1967) will be screened as part of the festivities! As the late Gorilla Monsoon might say, it's certainly going to be a happening!

Yongary is currently scheduled for three screenings: 

Friday, September 1, at 4:15 p.m. at Walter Reade Theater

Saturday, September 9, at 2:15 p.m. at Walter Reade Theater

Saturday, September 16, at 8:30 p.m. at Walter Reade Theater

But wait -- that's not all! Space Monster Wangmagwi (1967) is also part of the lineup! Though in all likelihood it will be a digital projection (as opposed to a film print), it's a film once thought to be lost that's only now getting seen in the West. And what better way to see such a movie considered lost for decades than on the big screen?

But that's still not all! The good news keeps coming because Yongary and Wangmagwi will be presented as a double feature! According to the website:

Enjoy two films for the price of one at select double features! Valid on September 9 & 16 with a ticket to this film [Yongary, Monster from the Deep] & Space Monster Wangmagwi. Discount automatically applied when adding both tickets to your cart; double features excluded from 3+ Film Package.

Space Monster Wangmagwi will be screened:

Saturday, September 9 at 4:00 p.m. at Walter Reade Theater

Wednesday, September 13, at 6:30 p.m. at Walter Reade Theater

Saturday, September 16, at 6:30 p.m. at Walter Reade Theater

Tickets are on sale now, so don't miss out on this rare opportunity to see two of South Korea's mightiest monsters on the big screen!

'Yonggary' (1999) Interview Now on Vantage Point Interviews!

Photo courtesy of Marty Poole.

My interview with Reptilian/Yonggary (1999) screenwriter Marty Poole has just been posted on Vantage Point Interviews. Not only does he talk about writing the screenplay, but he also describes directing the reshoots in Southern California. It's all here in latest interview for Vantage Point Interviews -- where content is king.

Keizo Murase Interview Now on Vantage Point Interviews!

Yours truly with Keizo Murase in April 2018.

My interview with Toho and Daiei suitmaker Keizo Murase has just been published at Vantage Point Interviews. Suffice it to say, I'm very pleased with it. Murase-san himself told me that he shared some stories in my interview that he has never shared before in any previous interview. So I think you'll find it quite enlightening!

Over the years, for example, there has been a lot of debate about the original color of King Ghidorah. Well, as the man who painted the King Ghidorah suit, Murase-san offers what ought to be the last word on that debate. Was it originally supposed to be blue? Read the interview to find out!

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

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.)