Eagerly anticipating this month ... (6-25)

Eagerly anticipating this month ... (6-25)
Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value (2025)
Showing posts with label Takao Okawara. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Takao Okawara. Show all posts

3/30/2020

Godzilla vs. Mothra/ゴジラvsモスラ (Gojira tai Mosura) (1992) - Toho's oddball kaiju turkey

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Several incongruous elements clash on this packed poster for Takao Okawara's Godzilla vs. Mothra

A meteor strikes down and awakens Godzilla. But it also carries alien life: A larvae which becomes the giant butterfly Mothra and the dragon moth Battra.

Godzilla vs. Mothra is written by Kazuki Ohmori (Shoot (1994)) and directed by Takao Okawara (Chô shôjo Reiko (1991)).
A truly odd film, Godzilla vs. Mothra has two cosmos mini-girls that sing of their alien civilization, (see them in the bottom right corner of the poster above.) But mainly it consists of the three kaiju monsters fighting and destroying buildings in long battle scenes that are dreadfully boring.
Godzilla vs. Mothra lacks taste, intellect, filmmaking skills (the sound, music, editing and acting is preposterous) and a compelling narrative.

Related posts:

Godzilla franchise:  Shin Godzilla/シン・ゴジラ (Shin Gojira) (2016) - A sensational Japanese comeback
Godzilla (2014) - The best US Godzilla  

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah/ゴジラvsデストロイア (Gojira tai Destoroyah) (1995) - The king battles crab monster in effects-primed entertainer  Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah/ゴジラvsキングギドラ (Gojira tai Kingu Gidora) (1991) - A future-sent monster needs defeating in bombastic entry
Godzilla vs. Biollante/ゴジラvsビオランテ (Gojira tai Biorante) (1989) - The king battles rose monster in franchise low
Godzilla/ゴジラ (Gojira) (1954) - A Japanese king is born ...




Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: Unknown
Box office: 2.2 - 3.7 bil. ¥ (different accounts), approximately between 20 - 35 mil. $
= Uncertain
[Godzilla vs. Mothra was released 12 December (Japan) and runs 102 minutes. It is the 19th film in the Godzilla franchise and the 4th in its Heisei period. Revamping Mothra as the central enemy monster was chosen, when a poll showed that it was popular among women. Fantasy and child-friendly elements were also incorporated to excite women and children. 4.2 mil. paid admission to it in Japan, the biggest Godzilla audience there for nearly 3 decades. It was the 2nd highest-grossing film of the year in Japan, following Jurassic Park. Internationally it is only noted that it was released in Portugal in 1992. In North America it was released on home video in 1998. Without a more definite world gross and budget for the film, (its predecessor was made for 12 mil. $), it is impossible to accurately rank the film's theatrical performance, which might be anywhere from 'big flop' to 'box office success.' It won 1 of 3 nominations from the Japanese Academy. Godzilla returned in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993). Okawara returned with Bloody Scary Horror (1992). 3,953 IMDb users have given Godzilla vs. Mothra a 6.2/10 average rating.]

What do you think of Godzilla vs. Mothra?

3/28/2020

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah/ゴジラvsデストロイア (Gojira tai Destoroyah) (1995) - The king battles crab monster in effects-primed entertainer

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The frightening Destoroyah monster chomps out of a Tokyo with a burning Godzilla and Godzilla Junior already under attack on this fiery, action-promising poster for Takao Okawara's Godzilla vs. Destoroyah

Once again reckless science produces a catastrophe, as micro-oxygen research fails, causing a veritable army of crab-like monsters to develop. These beasts melt together into one giant Destoroyah monster, who fights a red-glowing, meltdown-nearing Godzilla.

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah is written by Kazuki Ohmori (Totto Channel (1987)) and directed by Takao Okawara (Chô shôjo Reiko (1991)), with clips used from previous franchise entries directed by Ishirô Honda (Godzilla/Gojira (1954)), Koji Hashimoto (The Return of Godzilla/Gojira (1984)), Kazuki Ohmori (Godzilla vs. Biollante/Gojira vs. Biorante (1989)) and Kenshô Yamashita (Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla/Gojira vs. Supesugojira (1994)).
SPOILER Advertised in Japan as the film in which 'Godzilla dies!', Godzilla vs. Destoroyah also has a 'heart-rending' prolonged scene in which Godzilla loses his adopted son Godzilla Junior.
The films' major popularity in Japan is really felt in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, where a whole lot of money is obviously spent on the film's great wealth of special effects. It is furthermore interesting to see the economic transformation in the country since the 1954 original, which is very evident.
The Destoroyah monsters are highly reminiscent of alien creatures, but the general storytelling recipe used here is pretty familiar, and the result with Godzilla vs. Destoroyah is great entertainment, for example for a lovely Sunday afternoon time on the couch.

Related posts:

Godzilla franchise:  Shin Godzilla/シン・ゴジラ (Shin Gojira) (2016) - A sensational Japanese comeback
Godzilla (2014) - The best US Godzilla  

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah/ゴジラvsキングギドラ (Gojira tai Kingu Gidora) (1991) - A future-sent monster needs defeating in bombastic entry
Godzilla vs. Biollante/ゴジラvsビオランテ (Gojira tai Biorante) (1989) - The king battles rose monster in franchise low
Godzilla/ゴジラ (Gojira) (1954) - A Japanese king is born ...




Watch an explosive trailer for the film here

Cost: 1 bil. ¥, approximately 10 mil. $
Box office: Reportedly 3.4 bil. ¥; accounts differ and rank from 18 mil. $ to 42 mil. $ (the first probably a domestic figure and the latter a worldwide total)
= Box office success; some uncertainty - could be a big hit
[Godzilla vs. Destoroyah was released 9 December (Japan) and runs 102 minutes. The 22nd film in the franchise, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah is also the 7th and last in its Heisei period. Toho wanted to beat the preceding two theatrically disappointing entries and marketed the film as Godzilla's last, in which he would die. This successfully boosted publicity, and Toho soothed upset fans by saying that they were planning to reboot Godzilla again in 2005. Ohmori's initial idea to have Godzilla go up against a ghost Godzilla was scrapped. Godzilla actor Kenpachiro Satsuma reportedly nearly suffocated six times due to the carbonic acid gasses emitted by the heavy suit. Original Godzilla composer Akira Ifukube returned and scored the film as his last in the franchise, saying he approached writing the theme to Godzilla's death as if he was writing a theme for his own death. 4 mil. paid admission in Japan; the film was also released in Portugal in 1995, and in Finland, France and Hong Kong in 1996. In North America the film was released straight-to-DVD in 1999. It was nominated for 2 awards from the Japanese Academy. Godzilla returned in the first Hollywood film Godzilla (1998) and then in Toho's much sooner than announced reboot Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999), beginning the franchise's 1999-2004 Millennium period. Okawara returned with Yukai (1997). 5,118 IMDb users have given Godzilla vs. Destoroyah a 7.0/10 average rating.]

What do you think of Godzilla vs. Destoroyah?

Eagerly anticipating this month ... (5-25)

Eagerly anticipating this month ... (5-25)
Kleber Mendonca Filho's The Secret Agent (2025)