McDonald's Godzilla Burger Promotion at Roppongi Hills!

Roppongi Hills promotes McDonald's Godzilla Burger! Photo by Brett Homenick.

While passing through Roppongi Hills today, I happened upon a massive (and I do mean massive) promotional campaign for the Godzilla Burger in Roppongi Hills. There were signs all over the place, and it caught me completely by surprise. (But what a pleasant surprise it was!) The photos and videos I took are below, and I hope they convey just how impressive it all was. As you can see, the Hamburglar, Birdie, and even Grimace join in the fun. It doesn't get any cooler than this!

Godzilla the Art by Parco Vol. 2!

Photo by Brett Homenick.

Godzilla the Art by Parco Vol. 2 runs from December 28 through January 9, and today (Thursday, January 4) I had the opportunity to stop by. A friend of mine in the U.S. told me about it, especially due to the blue 1991 Godzilla for sale at the event. (See photos below.) I wasn't too interested in that, but what really caught my attention was the Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) filming suit on display.

Yes, you read that correctly; the signage there said so! (Again, see below.) Apparently, this was in fact the Burning Godzilla suit sculpted by Godzilla suitmaker Tomoki Kobayashi and repainted "black" (their description, not mine) sometime after filming. Naturally, I had to photograph it from just about every angle. Check out the photos below. Enjoy! 

McDonald's Promotes Its Godzilla Burger!

The Godzilla Burger stomps its way into McDonald's. Photo by Brett Homenick.

While stopping by McDonald's tonight for a quick bite to eat, I spotted this advertisement for the Godzilla Burger, which will become available tomorrow (January 5).

Not sure I'll partake, as I prefer to stick to what I know and like. But it's certainly worth sharing, so here you go. What isn't in doubt is that this is the greatest tie-in between McDonald's and Toho since Sayonara Jupiter (1984). Will this burger soar, too? Find out tomorrow!

Shibuya Welcomes an Unexpected Visitor!

Just another day in Shibuya. Photo by Brett Homenick.

"Fucking Donald Trump Lotto." -- Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

While out and about in Shibuya today, I spotted a rather unusual sight. I've seen anti-vaxxers in Shibuya at the height of COVID, but I have to admit this was a new one on me. Quite frankly, it was too amusing to ignore. But it may also haunt my nightmares -- who knows.

Um, anybody got a spare murder board lying around? Photo by Brett Homenick.

Apparently, this activist wants Trump to reveal the truth about who "really" shot former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. I'm not sure how this gent knows what Trump knows on this subject, but I am society, so I judge ye not. 

If we can't get to the bottom of that case, do you think maybe Trump could tell us who shot CR? The late, great Charles Rocket would certainly like to know who, um, did it.

This isn't a political blog, so I won't say anything more than that. (I already have enough weirdos trying to leave their oddball comments on this blog without encouraging any more.) I just thought folks would get a kick out of seeing this surreal sight.

Seeing 'Apocalypse Now' in 4K!

Apocalypse Now (1979) at the Shin Bungeiza. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight (Wednesday, January 3), I returned to the Shin Bungeiza theater in Ikebukuro to catch Apocalypse Now (1979) in 4K. Of course, it was the Final Cut version, which isn't my favorite, as I've always felt the original theatrical edit was by far the best version.

By my count, this would be the fourth time I've seen Apocalypse Now theatrically. The first time I saw it was circa 2018 at Toho Cinemas as part of its long-running program of showing classic movies at 10:00 a.m. That, of course, was the theatrical cut. Then I saw it again twice in 2020 when The Final Cut was released here via Toho Cinemas.

Apocalypse Now at the Shin Bungeiza. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I have nothing to say about the movie that hasn't already been said countless times. It truly is a masterpiece. I will say, however, that the French plantation sequence really drags the film down. Instead of building up to the climax with Kurtz (Marlon Brando), the story gets interrupted by a puzzling sequence featuring wine-drinking and poetry-reciting Europeans. It's completely out of place and just isn't that interesting. 

 Nonetheless, the film looks amazing on the big screen, and the theater was literally shaking during some of the louder scenes -- a nice touch! I'm very glad I had the opportunity to see it again this way.

Takehiro Murata Q&A Now Live on Vantage Point Interviews!

Takehiro Murata in July 2023. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Is there still a little Godzilla in all of us? Only one man has the answer, and Vantage Point Interviews has the scoop! Check out my interview with Godzilla 2000 (1999) star Takehiro Murata!

But that's not all. Mr. Murata's first appearance was in Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992) as Kenji Ando, which he followed up with cameos in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) as Soichiro Hayami, GMK: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) as an F-7J pilot who does battle with Godzilla, and Godzilla against Mechagodzilla (2002) as a convenience store clerk who gets an unexpected surprise. All these roles and much more are covered in the interview.

 Even in 2024, content is king at Vantage Point Interviews. Don't miss it, be there!

Ringing in the New Year with 'Dr. No'!

Dr. No (1962) at the Shin Bungeiza in Ikebukuro. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight (Monday, January 1), I went to the Shin Bungeiza to catch a screening of Dr. No (1962) in 4K. I'd seen the film once before -- sometime in 2015 when I decided to watch all the Bond films I hadn't yet seen, which was most of them. I remember more or less liking the movie at the time, but it didn't leave a big impression on me.

So I was enthusiastic about seeing the picture the way it was meant to be seen. It looked excellent in 4K, which was never in doubt. 

Dr. No at the Shin Bungeiza in Ikebukuro. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Overall, I liked the movie, but I will confess that the first half of the movie is far superior to the second. The first half contains many lush Jamaican locations and fun action set pieces. The second half? Well, they're either stuck on Crab Key or Dr. No's lair. I wouldn't say the second half is bad, but it just can't hold a candle to the excitement of the first. 

Kaiju figures on display at the Shin Bungeiza. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Dr. No himself may not be the series' best villain, but he's certainly a cut above the forgettable baddies of the late '70s and beyond. The last great Bond villain I can remember is Christopher Lee as Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974). After that, even if I remember the actor who played a particular bad guy, I can't for the life of me recall anything about what he actually did in the movie. As the series went on, the bad guys seemed to get more bland and generic. 

More kaiju figures on display at the Shin Bungeiza. Photo by Brett Homenick.

As for Bond himself, nobody is in the same building as Sean Connery. He is by far the best Bond. Based on my 2015 viewings, I'd say From Russia with Love (1963) and Diamonds Are Forever (1971) were my favorite Bond outings.  

Gamera flies at the Shin Bungeiza! Photo by Brett Homenick.

Despite the criticism he gets (and he certainly overstayed his welcome in the role), I'd name Roger Moore my second-favorite Bond. I do remember enjoying The Man with the Golden Gun and For Your Eyes Only (1981) quite a bit, though the two movies he made after that were indeed pretty bad, as I recall.

Manda and King Ghidorah guard the soda machine. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I went a bit off-topic, I suppose, but I really don't have much else to say about Dr. No. It was good, but I just wish it maintained its original level of energy into the second half. What a nice way to kick off the New Year!