I've been curious about Zone Fighter, Toho Studios' answer to Ultraman, ever since seeing this picture of him shaking hands with his recurring guest star Godzilla. While I've read about the series online (there's a good overview here), it wasn't until today that I stumbled across a video clip of the show:
There are more videos at Dailymotion if you're interested (they're all of the top results when I Google Zone Fighter Godzilla), but the clip above is all I've gotten around to watching so far.
I think my favorite thing about it is all the nonverbal communication going on between Godzilla and Zone Fighter. They seem to have a real... understanding between them. I almost feel like I'm missing some sort of subtext in the scene.
At least Godzilla gets more respect here than he did on Ultraman.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ReplyDeleteFor the first time outside Japan a book has been published on Japan's foremost director of Fantasy Films: “MUSHROOM CLOUDS AND MUSHROOM MEN – The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda” by Peter H. Brothers (AuthorHouse, ISBN: 978-1-4490-2771-1, October, 2009).
Known primarily for directing such classic Japanese monster movies as Rodan, Mothra, Attack of the Mushroom People and the original Godzilla, Ishiro Honda (1911 - 2011) has been an undeservedly overlooked figure in mainstream international cinema.
MUSHROOM CLOUDS AND MUSHROOM MEN is the first and only book to cover in English print Honda’s life as well comprehensively evaluates all 25 of his fantasy films. It is also gives objective and critical analysis of Honda's filmmaking methods, themes and relationships with actors and technicians.
Making use of extensive interviews from Honda’s colleagues as well as a wealth of original source material never before gathered into one volume (including previously-unpublished essays) and nominated in 2009 for a “Rondo Award,” MUSHROOM CLOUDS AND MUSHROOM MEN is an affectionate tribute to the most-prolific and influential director in the history of fantasy films.
(Three-time “Rondo” Award Nominee Peter H. Brothers is also the author of the new horror-novel Devil Bat Diary).