G-FEST XX Countdown Begins

Artist Tom Tvrdik shares his knowledge at last year's Kids' Thread

 

One month from today, G-FEST XX will be in full swing, and we have begun to prepare for it in earnest. For the second year in a row, the "brains" (and I use that term loosely) behind this blog are overseeing the G-FEST Kid's Thread, which is informally being referred to as "G-FEST Junior" (as a tip of the cap to the G-FAN Junior insert in recent issues and the Godzilla Junior character from "G. vs. Destoroyah"). We are somewhat stunned to report that there will be almost three times as many sectionals as last year, jumping from four to eleven, with an influx of new volunteer presenters to complement the veterans returning to the lineup. All of last year's "Kaiju U." faculty will be back, including J.D. Lees, Tom Tvrdik, and Tim Bean.

 

This year, sectional titles include "How to Draw Kaiju," "Ultraman 101,""Gamera: A Friend to All Children,""Godzilla Story Time," and "Intro to Kaiju Kaos: Smackdown," a game demonstration run by its creator, Bryan Borgman. Also this year we are introducing "Kaiju Kids Quiz Show," which, as the title suggests, is an interactive game show experience that will yield special prizes for lucky participants. (Prizes include Godzilla comics, issues of G-FAN, and, yes, perhaps, even toys.) If you are attending G-FEST XX, please stop by G-FEST Junior (we'll probably be downstairs again) and say hello. We'll have lots of fun and giveaways aplenty!

 

Artist Matt H. with Andy

 

Looking forward to this year's films ramps up the excitement even more. Thursday's first feature is "Twenty Million Miles to Earth," Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion tour-de-force. Meant as a salute to the late special effects titan, "TMME" also happens to be a atmospheric, well-paced story, and the Ymir creature is instantly recognizable by sci-fi fans. Not surprisingly, Harryhausen imbues the space monster with a depth of feeling that is the hallmark of his work, making the reptilian a sympathetic character.

Next up will be Shusuke Kaneko's epic "Gamera 3: Awakening of Iris." At the risk of waxing hyperbolic, there are moments of transcendent awe in this movie, such as the flight and graceful (?) touchdown of final-form Iris. It's a serious film, yet completely fun and engrossing.

After a break for supper, it's on to a pair of pictures from 1967, the first being "Gamera vs. Gyaos." I remember as a kid being fascinated by Gyaos' beam and its ability to pierce Gamera's exterior. I also appreciate the angular and vicious quality of the Gyaos suit. He seems irredeemably mean, which makes him the perfect foil for the friendly turtle Gamera.

Last but not least, we will be treated to "The X from Outer Space," and I am very excited because I have somehow never seen this movie before. I've seen its satirical sequel, "Monster X Strikes Back" (and even reviewed it for G-FAN), but the original has escaped me, until this summer. The G-FAN website describes it as "weird" with a "peculiar charm," and that's good enough for me. It's not often one sees a "new" movie at G-FEST, so when it happens, it's memorable.

Friday night will see the screening of "Godzilla vs. Spacegodzilla," an ambitious G-flick that wants to tell a dynamic story and succeeds, some of the time. There are a lot of elements to "G. vs. SG" that are clearly meant to appeal to children, and do--kids seem to love MOGERA a lot and Little Godzilla a little bit less. Many of the Birth Island scenes are top notch. Unfortunately, some of the space scenes, as well as portions of the final face-off, are embarrassingly bad from a spfx standpoint, straining the suspension of disbelief to the breaking point of even the most ardent fan. Overall, though, "Spacegodzilla" has a sort of 70's vibe to it that I can't help but enjoy.

Saturday night's entry is "Godzilla vs. Megaguirus," one of the best Millenium series films, in which it truly seems that the big G faces insurmountable odds, as human technology and its unforeseen consequences align to pose serious threats to his survival. Every time I watch it, it's always better than I remember it being, so I have modest hope that seeing in the G-FEST context will bring out the film's best qualities. We can't wait to walk through the doors of the venerable Pickwick Theater again!




Our G-friend from FL, Chris, and Andy





 

Finally, we're looking forward to seeing a special group of people that we are privileged to now consider our friends. G-FEST has become for us a reunion of sorts, as well as an opportunity to meet others who "get it," who share a sense of wonder and camaraderie over this specific imaginative world. It's a very unique bond, one that we build our summers around, and here we are, less than a month away from enjoying it once more. We'll be counting the days to G-FEST XX!

Big Fun Columbus!

Vintage Star Wars fans, get your drool cups out starting...now

Our friend Jason F. Williams has opened a new toy shop in Columbus, Ohio. It's called Big Fun Columbus. The Short North District will never be the same!

Ultraman and Jesus...welcome to my internal world...

BFC applies the formula of the Big Fun stores in Cleveland (not to mention Jason's Spaceman Floyd's Cosmic Toys, formerly of Madison, Ohio) to central Ohio in a fantastic location, right on North High Street.

An interior shot of Big Fun...note the vintage lunchboxes

It will be intriguing to watch the "collection" change over time as Columbus toy geeks get acclimated to the place. Hopefully it will bring strange and unusual stuff to the surface.

Some "scores" from BFC: a Bigfoot Air Freshener and Little Godzilla!

At this point in time,  kaiju-related goods are a little thin; we walked out with our first Little Godzilla action figure. (The large Ultraman isn't for sale. There were a few Mothras, a small Red King figure, and some American Bandais to be found.) I'm sure that will change over time as word-of-mouth takes hold.

 If you are ever in downtown Columbus, Ohio, you have to have some Big Fun.

Big Fun is located at 672 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

 

Monster Memory

The Monsterland crew with Loren Coleman

A couple weeks ago we had the distinct pleasure of meeting someone whose writing has fired the imagination of numerous readers. His name is Loren Coleman, and if the name sounds familiar to you, it is because he is the foremost cryptozoologist in North America and quite probably the world. Mr. Coleman has earned that distinction not only through the publication of many thought-provoking books, but also by making quite a few television appearances on shows such as MonsterQuest. His main project these days involves serving as curator of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine. For more about the museum, go here.

Coleman's book "Mysterious America" was a landmark book for me; up until then I was primarily interested in Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, but "Mysterious America" unfolded a far stranger picture of reality that was far closer to home than I ever expected. Of great interest to me still is the "name game," as Coleman refers to it, which is a way of describing the link between strange phenomena and the name of the place where it is experienced. For example, the word "devil" in a place name (Devil's Lake, Devil's Pass, and so on) is often a signal that weird things have long been connected with a given location. "Mysterious America" was also my introduction to the name Charles Fort and the adjective "fortean." (If you want more on Fort go here. ) I have fond memories of repeatedly checking the book out from my local library, and can still see its black and white cover in my mind's eye. (That was, I believe, the first edition.) In writing an article about "The Legend of Boggy Creek" for Mad Scientist #22, I relied on Coleman's "Bigfoot: The True Story of Apes in America" for information and inspiration, and was happy to learn that at least one person got a big kick out of the retrospective (Letters, MS #24).

Getting to speak with Loren Coleman was a dream come true for me, but what was even better was finding out that he was a genuinely kind and decent man who took the time to remember Andy's name and encourage him in his studies. It was also great fun to talk with him about Toho's "Half Human," which was his childhood entry point into the world of the unexplained. (This link takes you to a previous post here at M.O., which serves as a reminder that Mr. Coleman was interviewed by Brett Homenick in G-FAN #69 specifically about "Half Human." All these connections boggle the mind.)

And did I mention it was Andy's tenth birthday? It was one we will never, ever forget.

G-FEST XX Updates

G-FEST XX is on the horizon, and plans are rounding into shape. This year's guests are suitmaker Shinichi Wakasa and suit actor Tsutomu Kitagawa, both of whom were involved in the Millennium Series. G-FEST stalwart Robert Scott Field (Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah) will also be on hand. Another intriguing guest will be filmmaker Shizuo Nakajima, whose "Wolfman, the Legendary Colossal Beast vs. Godzilla" made quite a stir when it was shown in part at last year's G-FEST.

On the movie front, "Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla," "Gamera vs. Gaos" and "Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys" have been announced, but no times have been set as of this writing. The Thursday double-double feature is happening again this year for those who enjoy the "full immersion" experience. (I most certainly do.)

The programming this year will include the return of the G-FEST Kid's Thread, which offers children of all ages lots of Godzilla goodness. We here at Monsterland Ohio have the privilege of organizing this portion of G-FEST. If you will be at G-FEST XX and would be willing to lead a 20-30 minute session for a bunch of kaiju kids, please drop us a line at matzkemark@hotmail.com.  

Stunning Godzilla News!

The good folks at Legendary Pictures have released this photograph, announcing that Akira Takarada has indeed filmed a cameo for Legendary's "Godzilla." He is pictured here with director Gareth Edwards.

Super-fan Tim Bean has been leading the charge for a couple years to persuade the folks at Legendary to cast Takarada in the film. A few rumors were circulating that the distinguished actor had been spotted in Vancouver, but nothing had been substantiated...until now.

It is difficult to overstate how much goodwill this news will create among hardcore Godzilla fans. It sends the message that Legendary "gets it" and will not squander this opportunity to bring Godzilla to a worldwide audience.

G-FAN: Final Poll

Issue 102 of G-FAN is putting out the call to all kaiju fans--it is time to have your opinion duly noted! G-FAN: Final Poll is your chance to sound off on all things giant and Japanese. Although having a copy of G-FAN in hand is always preferable, anyone with internet access can participate. Go here to get started.

MSN Godzilla

Not exactly sure why, but MSN Nerdcore is running a minute-and-a-half, somewhat arbitrary "Godzilla's Best Movies" slideshow. Whatever--it's Godzilla, right? Is this a preview of the cultural ripples that Legendary's Godzilla will be making? Watch for yourself here.

One of a Kind

Our "Invasion of Astro-Monster" poster signed by Akira Takarada

We just received G-FAN #102 in the mail. Included in this issue is the earlybird registration form for G-FEST, which always inspires a little daydreaming around these parts. Readers of this blog will know that G-FEST is a big deal for our family and has become a centerpiece of our summers. It provides fans of Japanese monsters and fantasy with opportunities that are exceedingly rare, such as the chance to come face to face with stars of the genre. Above you see the autograph that was given to us by Akira Takarada this past year, and it is hard to put into words what it is like to have met and thanked people like him. It certainly adds a new dimension to these films to know that you have shaken hands with the actors, and they now have a sense of how much Western fans enjoy their work. All of which is to say that if you have never been to a G-FEST before but have an interest in going, you need to find a way to get there, at least once. I think you will be amazed by the creativity and comraderie you will discover.

Tweet Godzilla to Death!

G-FEST and G-FAN are now represented on twitter! To become a follower, go here.

Mad Scientist Shipping Soon

 

The most excellent fanzine Mad Scientist (Issue # 26) is ready for pre-order and should be shipping soon. Just look at that cover! To secure your own copy, please go here.

Ultraman's Scrapbook

Looking back on G-FEST 19, one moment that stands out was a Sunday panel with Bin Furuya. While answering questions about his career, he also brought a few tangible items from his personal collection that were pretty impressive. One of those items was his own photo scrapbook, which he freely shared with us participants. It was a rare opportunity for Western fans to flip through the pages of Ultraman's scrapbook!

In this still from Monster Zero, Nick Adams and Akira Takarada are in the orange flight suits. Mr. Furuya is one of the black and grey Xians.

This is a great shot of Bin Furuya and his alter ego.



A gathering of Ultra-heroes: Kohji Moritsugu (Dan Moroboshi from Ultraseven); Susumu Kurobe (Shin Hayata from Ultraman) and Bin Furuya (Ultraman's man in the suit).



Sayonara 2012



The Monsterland Ohio Boys meet Ultraman, Bin Furuya

2012 is in the books, and here at Monsterland Ohio it's time to look back on a pretty huge year. Those who care to check this blog out from time to time no doubt noticed a big fat chunk of no posts from September until now. Suffice it to say that my vocation demanded a great deal of my energy and attention over that stretch. The time is right to get back in the game, especially with big kaiju-related treats on the horizon.

The year began with a bang: we had the rare opportunity to attend a filming of Animal Planet's hit series "Finding Bigfoot" and meet the cast. The questions we were given to ask ended up being included, and ever since the episode aired we have had people mention the fact that they had seen us on TV. Although the "best-of" show never ended up on iTunes, I'm hopeful that it will be included on future DVD releases. We were expecially pleased that cast member Ranae Holland visited the blog and gave it a glowing review on her Facebook fan page.

Another highlight of 2012 was having articles included in G-FAN issues 98 and 100. By strange serendipity, my transcript of a panel called "Discovering the Daikaiju Genre" appeared in the milestone hundredth issue, and seemed to fit perfectly from a thematic standpoint. (I have Martin Arlt to thank, so thank you, Martin!)

G-FEST XIX lived up to the hype (and then some). The dynamic duo of Akira Takarada and Bin Furuya helped attract an unprecedented number of fans. We were happy to contribute to the festivities with a Kid's Thread that went very well, and I had the fun of being invited to participate in a panel at the last minute. On a personal note, having my mom and dad on hand made this a very special occasion, in addition to renewing friendships with our kaiju friends from across the globe. The unique fellowship among G-FESTers is one of the main reasons this gathering has become an annual event for us, and we hope to bring more family and friends along for G-FEST XX.



with Robert Scott Field at G-FEST XIX



It was a good year for home video releases. Chief among them was Criterion's Blu-ray release of "Godzilla," featuring David Kalat's commentary track. The Blu-ray release of "Godzilla vs. Biollante" was a pleasant surprise. Christmas additions to our collection were the UltraSeven series and Daimajin trilogy. There should be plenty to watch and review in 2013.

The end of the year was puntcuated by a meeting of the Cuyahoga Kaiju Club. We were able to get together to enjoy some "traditional monster violence." S.H. MonsterArts figures have become very popular with some in the club, and it was cool to see figures like Mechagodzilla up close. Hopes are pretty high for "Pacific Rim" and what it might mean for the impending Legendary Godzilla film. Even though we were there very briefly, it was great to see everyone in the CKC, and it sounds like our group is going to be well represented at G-FEST XX.

We wish you monster fun in 2013!

Finding Bigfoot Season Premiere

Animal Planet has announced the new season of "Finding Bigfoot" will begin November 11th at 10 p.m., with a 9:00 p.m. "pre-show" leading up to the episode.

"Finding Bigfoot" routinely takes a beating in online forums for a variety of reasons, to which I say, "Who cares?" The show is fun. It is post-modern folklore. It is character-driven. The search is the point, not the result. But I digress. Having met the cast, I am pulling for them. They are great to their fans and very generous with their time. We are very much looking forward to a twenty-episode, internationally flavored Season Three. For more info on "Finding Bigfoot" go here.

G-FAN #100; It's a Monster

The one-hundredth issue of G-FAN magazine is arriving in mailboxes across North America as of this writing. It is appropriately gargantuan, with lots of special artwork for the occasion. I am especially glad that Martin Arlt (editor and publisher of Mad Scientist magazine) took up the gauntlet of a "100 Best Moments" article--can't wait to settle in and savor that one.

This issue looks to be an excellent representation of North American Godzilla fandom that falls under the G-FAN/G-FEST umbrella. My "toybox of life" is much richer for having G-FAN to explore on a quarterly basis. Kudos to J.D. Lees and every contributor for sharing their enthusiaism for this genre!

Thanks for visiting Monsterland Ohio--more G-FEST reports are on the way...

G-FEST XIX: Kaiju U. "The Godfather of G-FEST"

Akira Takarada's return made for an extra special experience.

His affection for his North American fans is genuine!