Sunday, December 18, 2011

Travel Guide Holiday Special: 6 Days Left

by Armand Vaquer


The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan holiday "stocking-stuffer" sale has six (6) more days remaining.

This is your chance to get the travel guide for $12.00 total (and that include shipping!) for that kaijulogist in your life (or for yourself).

Don't delay, order today!

For details, go here.



Left, Yuu Asakura with "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan." Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

The Los Angeles Comic Book and Science-Fiction Convention Sunday, January 15, 2012

by Armand Vaquer



I will have a table at the Los Angeles Comic Book and Science-Fiction Convention Sunday, January 15, 2012 at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium Expo Center at 700 West 32nd St., Los Angeles, CA.

I will be selling The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. The celebrity guests include actor Ron Ely (Doc Savage, Tarzan), actress Yancy Butler (Witchblade) and stars of the Adventures of Superboy.

From the show's website:

REGULAR ADMISSION is only $8.00, five years and under are free. Show Hours: 10:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. Each attendee receives a Hand Stamp and Ticket which allows all day access to the Convention, so you can go to lunch and come back to continue shopping. EARLY ADMISSION is only $12.00 and shop early like the Dealers starting at 9:10 A.M. PREMIUM ADMISSION is $12.00 and you'll receive a UNDERWORLD AWAKENING MOVIE T-SHIRT AND FULL SIZE POSTER! In addition, the PREMIUM ADMISSION also includes EARLY ADMISSION! GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE (opens in theaters February 17) give-aways might be added, so check back closer to show date for updates.


For more information, go to http://www.comicbookscifi.com/index.html.

Remember: The Los Angeles Comic Book and Science-Fiction Convention Sunday, January 15, 2012! Mark your calendar!

Monday, December 12, 2011

It's Time Once Again For Godzilla Christmas

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Inventors Spot / Whyismarko

It's the holiday season again and everyone is thinking about buying gifts, eggnog, Perry Como songs, snow, Christmas carols, setting up an enormous light display in front of their house, friends, family, and of course Godzilla. What the hell does Godzilla have to do with Christmas? Well my naive friend quite a lot as you will soon discover.

Over the past couple of decades a new Godzilla movie has been released each year just before Christmas much to the delight of monster movie maniacs around the globe. Of course when I say released I mean released in Japan. The connection with these films and the happiest of holidays has not been lost on the people who dwell in the land of the rising sun and every year it seems that the monster is primed to kick Santa to the curb for good.

A perfect example of this the Christmas tree at the Aqua City Odaiba shopping mall in Tokyo which is shaped like "the king of monsters". Not only is the thing shaped like Godzilla but it also has eyes that glow red and it shoots out steam from it's mouth!

How friggin cool is that!

Only the Japanese would come up with a 40ft Christmas tree that is shaped like Godzilla that breathes fire!

God, they really are years ahead of us aren't they? Our Kong tree that kidnaps a blond female shopper and climbs to the top of the food court is a decade away at best.

Now many of you may think that this is sacrilegious .... and it probably is, but for some reason some people like to replace the characters from the Bible with Japanese giant monsters in their nativity scenes. Why? Who knows? Yet every year pictures of Godzilla nativity scenes start popping up online just after thanksgiving. This image comes from a blogger's list of the 40 worst nativity scenes. Now is Godzilla Marry or Joseph? Is Ghidorah supposed to be the three wise men? Did they eat up all the sheep and oxen? That stable would have to be huge! More questions here than answers I'm afraid.

Merry Godzilla Christmas!

Hundreds flee in terror as the Godzilla Christmas tree attacks a Tokyo mall!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Honda Estate vs. Toho: More Information

by Armand Vaquer


Here's a few more details (and confirmation that there is a legal action pending) from Godzilla historian Ed Godzisewski (right) that was posted at the Monster Zero message board:

Yes, there is a legal case ongoing in Japan. Has been for a while. I have heard about the case from Ryuji for a couple years. The family has preferred to just quietly pursue the case the way it should be done, in court. It all stems from the Japanese system that gives rights to writers (not directors).

The first ruling is due in February.


Looks like we won't have to wait too long.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Honda Estate vs. Toho: Delving Deeper

by Armand Vaquer

Above, the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The story of the alleged lawsuit by the family of late director Ishiro Honda against Toho Co., Ltd. over the Godzilla copyright may have some legs after all.

Over on Facebook, some of us were mulling over the story.

It was asked by one participant: "Couldn't we have somebody in Japan verify if a Complaint has actually been filed? Those are a matter of public record·"

Noted Godzilla historian August Ragone replied that he had looked into it and he is currently "writing up something about this now [for his blog]."

Once he does, I'll post a link to his blog post. This should be interesting!

It appears we may be on the verge of learning something about Japanese copyright law.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Honda Estate vs. Toho Ramifications?

by Armand Vaquer

Above, yours truly with the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios.

The story of the alleged copyright lawsuit against Toho by the heirs of Ishiro Honda over the Godzilla character may have some big ramifications if 1.) the story is true or, 2.), they actually win.

The story does not sound Japanese to me. Maybe in America, perhaps (i.e., Bela Lugosi Jr.'s legal actions over his father's image and The Three Stooges).

If the story is true and Honda's heirs prevail and win the Godzilla copyright from Toho, could we see Noriaki Yuasa's estate taking similar action against Kadokawa Pictures (the successor company to Daiei) over the Showa Gamera and Shusuke Kaneko over the Heisei Gamera? Who knows what (or who) may come out of the woodwork?

It will be interesting to see how this plays out, if true.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Ishiro Honda Family Suing For Godzilla Copyright

by Armand Vaquer

Above, yours truly with Toho's (or is it Honda's?) copyrighted Godzilla character.

It has been reported that the family of Godzilla director Ishiro Honda is suing Toho Co., Ltd. for the copyright to the Godzilla character.

According to this article in Ridersrangersandrambles.com:

In a past case, the copyright for Godzilla was supposed to belong to the Honda estate, but Toho insists on having at least the merchandising rights to the character.


Personally, I don't see how Ishiro Honda or his family has any claim to the rights to the character as Honda was a staff director of Toho, unless there is some codicil in his contract with the movie studio giving him some rights. Then again, there may be something in Japanese law or case law that provides this.

To read the full article (with links to Japanese sites), go here.
"LEGENDARY PICTURES TO DEVELOP AND PRODUCE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE BASED ON TOHO COMPANY’S ICONIC MONSTER, GODZILLA

Burbank, CA – March 29, 2010 – Legendary Pictures announced today that they will develop and produce a new film based on Toho Company’s famed GODZILLA character. Through the terms of the agreement, Legendary Pictures has acquired the rights to produce a movie inspired by Toho’s Godzilla, a franchise the Japanese company created and has nurtured for over fifty years.

Toho’s GODZILLA franchise boasts one of the most widely recognized film creatures worldwide, resulting in a series of books, television programs, video games and more than 25 films worldwide. Legendary intends to approach the film and its characters in the most authentic manner possible. The company will, in the near future, announce a filmmaker to helm the film for an intended 2012 release. The film will fall under the company’s co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. Toho will distribute the film in Japan."

"Godzilla" is coming back -- this time, with Legendary Pictures taking the lead, co-producing and co-financing with Warner Bros. for release in 2012.

Legendary announced Monday it had obtained rights to the iconic monster character from Japan's Toho Co., which has overseen more than 25 "Godzilla" films. Toho will release the pic in Japan.

Legendary said it's planning to announce a director shortly.

In addition to Legendary, producers on the new film will be Dan Lin, Roy Lee and Brian Rogers. Yoshimitsu Banno, Kenji Okuhira and Doug Davison will exec produce.

"Godzilla is one of the world's most powerful pop culture icons, and we at Legendary are thrilled to be able to create a modern epic based on this long-loved Toho franchise," said Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary. "Our plans are to produce the Godzilla that we, as fans, would want to see. We intend to do justice to those essential elements that have allowed this character to remain as pop-culturally relevant for as long as it has."

Legendary noted the film will fall under its co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. Legendary's productions with Warners have included "The Dark Knight," "300" and "The Hangover."

Speculation about a new "Godzilla" has been active since last summer. The Bloody Disgusting web site reported in August that the project was in development.