Kris' Ramblings

I recently got my hands on the fantastic "Art of Godzilla: King of the Monsters" book. I had wanted it primarily for all the concept art. It does not disappoint in terms of gorgeous full page spreads of surreally beautiful kaiju art as well as close-up shots of a few gorgeously detailed clay models. I was a little disappointed to see very few rough sketches, and at least one two page spread is laid out rather poorly with Godzilla himself almost lost in the gutter/fold of the book. Still, the art is wonderful and the interviews and discussions were fascinating. I don't think I've read anything on the movie-making process in years, and the amount of digital storyboarding that goes into a modern special effects extravaganza is impressive.

And, while I'm talking Godzilla, let's throw in my (nonspoiler) commentary on "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire". (Does anyone know how you're supposed to say "Godzilla x Kong"? Do you pronounce the X? Is it a stand-in for "plus"? "With"? "Multiplied by"? "Cross" like so many anime use it?)

Anyway, it was a very fun movie. The plot was much more coherent than "Godzilla vs. Kong", the returning human characters were used well, and the monster fights were good fun. The last movie felt like I'd missed an installment where technology suddenly took a leap forward, and I had the sense the villains' background was left on the cutting room floor. (Though I have some hope the Monarch series might fill the latter in. Yes, it's on my watchlist.) This one felt like a much more natural continuation of previous movies, and I enjoyed the new character, Trapper. "Kaiju vet" is a cool job title. There should be a slice of life manga or something about adventures in kaiju veterinary practice. Like the world discovered that most of them are only rampaging because of a sore tooth or something.

Also, Godzilla curling up in the Colosseum in Rome like a cat was oddly adorable, and I love that it's inspired a flood of even more adorable art. Like this and this.

So, I haven't done movie chatter in a while... I'll try not to dump any major spoilers, but there may be some. Thus, I'm putting it all behind the cut.

( Click for my chatter )

I'm going to blather about "Godzilla vs. Kong" now. There will be spoilers.

( Beware the full movie spoilers! )

So, I've now finished the 80's/90's Heisei Godzilla series.

I'm sad to see it end. The movies aren't likely to crack my top ten list of most re-watchable movies and I think the 90's Gamera Trilogy still wins for my favorite kaiju movies, but I wholly enjoyed this series. Random comments:

--I loved the old-school suits, models, and other practical effects. While a lot of the green-screen work was shaky and the limits of the budget show in a few street scenes where it's obvious some people aren't part of the movie... and thus aren't reacting to Godzilla rampaging just two blocks behind them, the practical effects were usually incredibly detailed. This era's Mechagodzilla was a special favorite, and the models and suits used to bring it to life were great.

--I've gotten the impression that the human castmembers are usually considered nothing but plot devices in these movies while the monsters are the real draw. But, I actually liked the protagonists of most of the movies and was solidly rooting for them against Godzilla. Particular standouts were Kazuma from "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II" and Miki, who is the only regular across the movies to have a story arc.

--Despite the above point, I do confess to a sniffle when Godzilla died at the end of "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah". He was the antagonist, but given his last acts were just trying to see his son - the only other of his kind - one last time, well...

--Little Godzilla is adorable, and I rather wish he'd gotten a movie of his own after aging up to Godzilla Junior.

Well, I guess it's on to the 2000's era movies now. Though there are only six of them. But, I do mean to get to the older movies too. I've already randomly watched the non-Godzilla "Space Amoeba" from the same company just because this movie poster looked at a glance like Gamera photobombing his rival company's movie.

So, I finally finished the 90's Gamera trilogy. And, you know what? It was really good.

No, I'm not kidding. It's well-made, the special effects by and large hold up, heroines Nagamine and Asagi as well as poor luckless Osako are engaging, and it's generally like watching a good sci-fi/fantasy anime. Because I can't not think anime when Gamera goes all shounen Determinator toward the end of the third movie, blasts off his own hand to free himself, and then absorbs his opponent's attack to make a new hand out of fire. And, all that rather than use the hand in which he was holding a rescued girl who hated him and who had caused much of the movie's trouble.

So, yeah, I've been pulled down the kaiju rabbit hole. Honestly, "Pacific Rim" probably started it. From there, it was off to the adorable "Gamera the Brave" then the excellent trilogy, and then... Well, yes, I did take a peek at the first three of the 60's Gamera movies. Because the entire original run came on the same bargain basement set as the 90's movies, and I figured, why not? The three older entries I watched can't compare to the later movies, but I found "Gamera vs. Gyaos" to be pretty fun in its way.

Anyway, I'm all outta Gamera now*, so, there's only one place to go from here. Godzilla. And, Amazon with their $5 add-on DVD's has been merrily enabling me. I figure I'll eventually work my way through the 80's/90's Heisei series and some of the 2000's standalone movies, and then come back and gabble some more.

...No, none of this has given me a fanfic bug, so you can stop worrying. This is a fandom like the MCU, which I love, but only occasionally gabble about because, for whatever reason, it doesn't demand art and fic from me.

(* Unless the proposed new movie happens. Warning: trailer includes some violent/unpleasant imagery.)

I hadn't mentioned it previously, but, yes, I attended Otakon 2016! It was the final year in Baltimore, and I was sad that I didn't get a last visit down to the Inner Harbor proper. But, with temperatures in the mid to upper 90's and a heat index over 100, it was simply too hot to spend more than the minimum amount of time outside. Still, it was a good year. I got to visit my favorite sandwich place, Macado's twice on the drive to and from Baltimore (and try their giant cinnamon bun... mmm...) and, while we were in Baltimore, we hit Pappa's Restaurant one last time for the fantastic crabcakes.

As has become the norm, we kicked off Thursday with a movie. This year, it was Star Trek Beyond, which I much enjoyed. The plot was straightforward but fun, the character interactions great, and the whole movie a fun ride I suspect I'll enjoy watching again and again once it's out on DVD. And, as a bonus, Mom, the biggest Star Trek fan in our group, finally got to see one of the new movies in the theater.

Then, of course, it was Otakon time on Friday.

( Click for rambling... )

So, yes, Otakon 2014. It's come and gone, and, yes, I went. I was afraid the trip wouldn't happen this year due to a variety of family health issues, but, with a lot of prayer, it did, and it was wonderful. Lots of fun, lots of rest, lots of great food. (Brownie smothered in cookie dough ice cream, fudge, Oreos and whipped cream... Mmmm....)

Seeker and I started out on Thursday by going to see Guardians of the Galaxy. As seems to be the norm now, Marvel did not disappoint. The movie had just the right mix of hilarious and awesome plus some gleeful subversions of tropes the viewer was set up to expect. (That Power Walk... *cackle*) Then, it was off to the Cross Street Market to try a crabcake from Nick's Seafood. It wasn't quite as good as Faidley's, but not bad at all.

Finally, it was on to Otakon on Friday. This was my ninth visit. And, it was an oddly - though not unpleasantly - laidback convention. There was nothing I had my heart set on this year. The con's primary focus seemed to be "Sailor Moon" to accompany the releases of the old and new anime, and I've never been a fan of "Sailor Moon". So, with no premieres or must-see guests, Seeker and I just picked whatever sounded interesting and drifted that way.

( Click for rambling... )

So, I started watching "The Devil is a Part-Timer!" (or "Hataraku Maou-sama") in which a ruthless demon king is forced into an ignoble exile as a fast food employee. A surprisingly cheerful fast food employee who aspires to attain a full-time position and who tends to use up what little demon power he regains in helping people.

This caused me to realize something: Inter-dimensional baby swap! It All Makes Sense Now. Search your feelings! You know it to be true!

What? No, I'm okay. Really.

In other fannish ravings, every new trailer is making me want to see "Pacific Rim" more and more. Especially this one. It makes my inner seven year old Voltron fan happy. And, the scene starting about 2:14? "This rock boat is my fist!" ....Now, I want to re-watch Gurren-Lagann.

I've gotten to see a lot of awesome stuff lately, so here's a nice, rambling post in which I will rave about some of said awesome stuff.

( To the Movies... and the Chatter! )

Fangirling: Well, aside from Ratatouille and Harry Potter, I've thus far managed to catch all the movies I wanted to see this summer (POTC3, Transformers). Plus, I got to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe belatedly while at the beach the other week. So, the commentary, in the order that I saw them:

( Cut to guard against spoilers )