TV Barn, your official home for local Japanese monster-movie revivals

In last Sunday’s column I plugged the second annual “Godzilla and Friends” film festival, being held this Friday and Saturday at Washburn University in Topeka. But when Washburn failed to post any information online about it, readers started to call and write.  And that’s when I learned that the school’s IT staff had put the kibosh on any website work because the system had been hacked into.

Since it’s my big rubber suit on the line here, I offered to host the site.  So here, including the poster, is all the information you’ll need for the two-day festival, which includes a rare showing of the original 1954 Japanese version of the film that started it all, GOJIRA. Admission is free.

GODZILLA & FRIENDS FESTIVAL II

Washburn University Campus, Henderson Room 112

FREE ADMISSION

Friday – April 6th , 2007

7:00 pm

• Opening Titles + History of Monster Movies
• Introductions of all participants + Rundown of full schedule
• Trailer Reel # 1 (with Gamera trailers)
• GAMERA, GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE (1995) - Part One of recent Gamera Trilogy –Japanese film / Dubbed in English / Color / Widescreen – 100 minutes

Gamera, the giant flying, fire-breathing turtle first burst onto movie screens in 1965 in a low-budget, black-and-white Japanese film called GIANT MONSTER GAMERA. The film was bought and distributed in America under the name, GAMMERA THE INVINCIBLE with American stars added to pad out the movie. Trailers for both versions of this film will be shown before our feature.

For some unusual reason, Gamera became a hit with kids all over the world. The cagey film-makers realized a good audience when they found one and future installments of the Gamera series were not only in color, but featured children in big roles with a last minute rescue by Gamera, who became a ‘friend to all children’. The series ran into the 1970’s and then was put on hiatus.

Creative producers revived the giant turtle in 1995 and created a new trilogy. We watched the last installment of the trilogy (GAMERA – REVENGE OF IRIS - 1999) at our last Festival. This year, we’ll look at the first episode (GAMERA – GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE – 1995) to see where the adventure began.

Future epics featuring the big green turtle with the fireball breath are promised. The first of those (GAMERA THE BRAVE) appeared last year and we will show a preview with clips from that film at our event. We were not in time to obtain clearance rights to show GAMERA THE BRAVE, the new feature film at this festival, but rest assured we will try to do so in the future.

• Give away of Door prizes related to Gamera and other creatures

Saturday – April 7th, 2007

10:00am

• Titles / GOJIRA-related trailers
• Previews of GOJIRA RAIDS AGAIN + other DVD releases +  Preview for Afternoon & Evening events
• GOJIRA (1954) – Original Japanese version Length – 98 min. B/W - Full screen with subtitles

At our last Festival, we honored GODZILLA by running the American version of the original Godzilla film – GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS (1956) featuring American actor, Raymond Burr in several irritatingly long connecting scenes. It was still a fun film overall.

This year, we’re showing the original! This is the original Japanese version of the film entitled GOJIRA (1954) and you will be amazed. This is a much darker, more complex tale of mysterious events, a giant monster and political corruption! Yes, that’s right. Not only is Godzilla some kind of mythic substitute for the atom bomb, but the death of numerous fishermen is covered up by nasty bureaucrats. Now, don’t let this scare you off. It’s still a fun, impossibly bizarre film! We hope the subtitles won’t be a bother, but this IS the original version.

Lunch break – on your own

1:00 pm

• THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS (1962) British Sci-Fi / Original Version / Color / Widescreen / 93 min.

Here is the premise for a classic science-fiction story. A massive meteor shower is witnessed by millions of people around the world. In the morning, those millions of people are blind. The world is in chaos! Stalwart hero Howard Keel is just recovering from an eye operation and it appears he’s the only human being on earth who can see. Then an even stranger event begins to happen. Giant carnivorous plants begin pulling themselves out of the earth and stalking human prey. Stay with me here. Keel and a small band of people with sight try to scramble to a safe haven and escape the slithering, shuffling plants called the Triffids. Oh, yes and if you try to run away, they shoot some gooey stuff on you to make you stand still. Author John Wyndham wrote the original book on which this movie is based and (even more odd) it’s not nearly as goofy as it sounds. The Triffids provide a number of genuinely scary moments – when Keel and youngster Jenina Fay are trying to start their truck, a giant Triffid emerges from the fog behind them to try to ensnare their vehicle. You’ll be surprised at this unique and chilling feature.

3:00 pm

• Godzilla roar contest with microphone + Godzilla drawing contest
• Trailer for GAPPA – THE TRIPHIBIAN MONSTER (1967) – KTWU will be showing this film tonight at 10:30 pm
• PRINCE OF SPACE (1959) – 45 min. – B/W with commentary

Ok, gang, this is a truly goofy, bad Japanese sci-fi movie. The super-powered Prince of Space seems to be easily bamboozled and the villains all dress like giant chickens and operate from the back of a panel truck.

4:00 pm

GORGO (1961) Complete feature – Great Britain / Color / Widescreen – 78 min.

This may be the best giant monster movie ever made, with the exception of KING KONG. The Brits knew how to do it right. First, you provide a giant creature that keeps the local fishermen in a small village in fear, then you capture it, put it on display at London’s Piccadilly Circus and well, wrap it up in 78 minutes without any romantic stuff (notice there is NO leading lady in the cast) and you’ve got a show every kid in town wants to see! This one is not disappointing, even though the special effects are only slightly above a Godzilla movie.

Dinner break

7:00pm

• Trailer Reel # 2 (British & American Monster trailers) – 10 to 15 min.

• Trailer Reel # 3 (Japanese Monster trailers) – 10 min.

• GODZILLA TOKYO S.O.S. (2003) Complete feature - English dubbed version - Color / Widescreen – 91 min.

This 2003 Godzilla film was next to last in the series of recent Godzilla adventures. As with GODZILLA: FINAL WARS - 2005 (which we screened last year), this film is basically a remake of a remake of a remake, BUT the special effects will knock you out! Light years away from the old airplanes on wires and tiny melting tanks, these films have taken Godzilla to a whole new level…and they’re still great fun! Mothra and a newly re-animated Mecha-Godzilla return for more action.

• Give away of Godzilla Door Prizes and Winners of the Drawing contest announced

And to repeat ... the event is FREE

For those who can't attend, or those wishing to bone up for the filmfest, may I once again plug my friend Bill Tsutsui's excellent book, Godzilla on My Mind.