12 Down, 8 to Go
The Castro Theater in San Francisco is in the midst of a week-long Godzilla Festival. Below is a collage I put together of the 20 films they’re showing. You’ll notice that not all of them involve Godzilla, but they’re all Toho Studio productions, and of the “guys in foam rubber suits smashing Tokyo” genre.
Now me, I just like to sit in a theater and eat popcorn and watch the movies and occasionally chuckle at the campiness, but some people take this way seriously. Nearly every one of the 12 I’ve seen so far has played to an almost-packed house. At least 600 to 700 people are showing up for these things. I didn’t expect that. I also didn’t expect the Godzilla Shopping Mall they have created in the upstairs lobby of the theater. Patrons are dropping small fortunes on posters, models, magazines, t-shirts and such.
To top it off, the theater is bringing in the old actors from the ’60s films to introduce the movie. They’ve got a translator up there and everything. The guy who played the villain in Mothra was there last night, as was the guy who wears the Godzilla suit. People were so excited to ask him questions, but I mean– all he did in the films was stomp around in a rubber costume. Who cares? Regardless, the films are fun, though Fizzy seems less than enthused than me.
ALSO– Godzilla is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next week! They are coinciding it with the World Premiere of the 28th, and allegedly final, Godzilla film, Godzilla: Final Wars. I’ve seen the preview 12 times now, as they run it before each film. It looks a lot more high-tech than one would expect from a Godzilla film; sort of a less-slick looking Matrix sort of thing but with guys in monster suits added into the mix. It includes a scene where Godzilla kicks the ass of “Zilla,” which is what the Japanese call the monster in the American Godzilla with Matthew Broderick. Apparently he’s a Zilla, but not worthy of the God part. Oh, so I was saying– on November 29th Godzilla gets his star, and his new movie premieres at Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Who knew?
Today’s Question: What is your favorite Godzilla movie?
is it still happening or today is the last day?
Darn, I was in the city today…boy, i missed it again.
“Apparently he’s a Zilla, but not worthy of the God part.”
lol.
happy turkey day!
:o) Sounds like a nice day.
never too early to start praying that we’re still (bcs) #4 come monday.