G-Fest XVI ( and a couple of meals )

Great report, nocarolina. My friend introduced me to "The Mysterians" and "Destroy All Monsters" last year. Both very FUN movies.

I actually got to see the original, Raymond Burr-less Godzilla on the big screen a few years back. Very good movie.

improviser, I'm always glad to learn of another roadfooder who appreciates these silly ( but fun ) movies. Of course, silly and fun certainly don't describe 1954's "Gojira" ( "Godzilla, King of the Monsters" to those of us on this side of the Pacific Ocean. ) Godzilla's first film is a dark, somber and intense movie that is, to my knowledge, the only giant monster film to ever show the grim aftermath of a monster's attack on a city; an overcrowded hospital filled with the dying victims of Godzilla's fury, their screams of agony punctuated by the sounds of children crying for their dead parents as Akira Ifukube's haunting musical score is heard. It's too bad that the Godzilla movies eventually evolved into a series of 'monster versus monster' films that were aimed at a juvenile audience ( I still love them though. ) I've been lucky enough to see the uncut and undubbed version of "Gojira" ( pronounced GO-zhee-rah ) in a theater twice, and have just recently added it to my DVD collection.    

Having just experienced a longtime dream coming true, I decided to take one last spin around the dealers room before meeting up with some friends for dinner.  

These heads belong to the people-friendly Sanda and the people-eating Gaila, the "battling brothers" from Toho's 1966 epic "War of the Gargantuas".

As much as I hated to miss the costume contest that evening ( homemade outfits of everything from Godzilla to Ultraman ), I left G-Fest to meet up with a group of my fellow kaiju fans for dinner. Our destination was the Chicago Kalbi Restaurant on Lawrence Ave., on the city's northwest side. 

The Chicago Kalbi is a Japanese/Korean restaurant where large groups can dine in private "rooms", and the customers prepare their own meals on an in-table hibachi.  

I ordered a dish called bulkogi, which is strips of ribeye beef served with white rice and a mildly spicy dipping sauce on the side.  

Here you see my rather pathetic attempt to use chopsticks properly...

After dinner, I said goodbye to my friends and headed over to the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge IL for a special late night showing of 1964's "Godzilla vs. The Thing" ( nowadays better known by the more appropriate title "Godzilla vs. Mothra" ) and 2008's "Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit", which is the only Japanese movie so far to combine slapstick comedy with giant monsters.

During the waiting time for the first film to begin, a head shot of Godzilla occupied the screen, and a number of the theatergoers decided to pose for pictures with their favorite kaiju...     

Finally the first film started, and the audience registered their approval at the top of their lungs. G-Fest guest Kenji Sahara has a sizable role as a villain in "Godzilla vs. The Thing/Mothra/Whatever", and his initial appearance on-screen caused the crowd to go slightly berserk. Both films recieved a very enthusiastic reception from the crowd, especially the Godzilla film, which is considered by fans to be one of the best in the series.    

It was 1:30 AM when the second feature ended; I made the hour-long drive back to Lansing and called it a night ( zzzzz... ) The convention continued through late Sunday afternoon, but it was without my participation - I slept all day. See y'all next year at G-Fest XVII....

Awesome write up nocarolina - and PACKED with pictures!

I love the old 50's, 60's, 70's monster movies.  Always have.  And I'm also a big fan of Kalbi.  It's always fun to sit around the table chatting an grilling.  Promotes a slow food dinner focusing on both the food and conversation.

Thanks, WarToad. Besides the Japanese stuff, another big cinema passion of mine is sci-fi and horror pictures from the 1950s, especially the low budget stuff like "It Conquered the World" and "Monster from the Ocean Floor". I have almost every sci-fi, horror and fantasy film from that decade in my DVD collection; there were over two hundred and I'm missing less than a dozen. There was a lot of good stuff of that nature in the '60s too. The '70s, not so much. My collection also contains virtually all of the classic Universal horror films from the '30s and '40s, as I grew up idolizing Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. ( stuff like this is why I have "The Incredible Shrinking Savings Account"! )   

This large model of the monster Varan is from my small collection, and was displayed in the modelers room at 2001's G-Fest. It's a vinyl kit from Japan, and since my modeling skills are rather meager, my friend Bill assembled and painted it for me. Varan "starred" in the 1958 Toho film "Daikaiju Baran" ( "Giant Monster Baran" ), which has the strangest genesis of any Japanese monster movie. It started out as a joint project of Toho Studios and our own ABC television network, and was planned as the first feature film made especially for American television. ABC backed out after production began, however, so Toho completed the black and white movie and released it to Japanese theaters in '58. In 1962, an extensively altered ( and inferior ) version appeared in American theaters under the title "Varan the Unbelievable".     

I'm right there with you.  I have a large collection of Zatoichi (The Blind Swordsman) DVDs going, mostly all 60's, early 70's stuff, as well as any and all classic Toho samurai and monster films.

Bob, your trip reports are always interesting.  I am not a Sci-Fi fan,  but appreciate others passions. 

Thanks, susanll. I appreciate your appreciation!   WarToad - I don't know if you're aware of this or not, but on August 18th, Sony is releasing a three disc box set featuring "Mothra", "The H-Man" ( one of my favorites ), and "Battle in Outer Space". The DVDs will contain both the original Japanese and the American versions of the three films, and Amazon.com is already accepting pre-orders for the set. 

Looks like a good time-my Bob was always in to hot wheels, and he went to many conventions around the country.He, of course, never reported on the food. He did sell tons of cars, though.

WarToad


I'm right there with you.  I have a large collection of Zatoichi (The Blind Swordsman) DVDs going, mostly all 60's, early 70's stuff, as well as any and all classic Toho samurai and monster films.

Zatoichi! I've got to get back on my Zaitoichi kick, add them back to my netflix queue. I've seen a few, but the one that most stands out is Zatoichi vs. meets Yojimbo. Loved it.
 
Anybody here a fan of the Lone Wolf and Cub movies? Also known as the Baby Cart series. Great stuff.

improviser

WarToad


I'm right there with you.  I have a large collection of Zatoichi (The Blind Swordsman) DVDs going, mostly all 60's, early 70's stuff....

Zatoichi! I've got to get back on my Zaitoichi kick, add them back to my netflix queue. I've seen a few, but the one that most stands out is Zatoichi vs. meets Yojimbo. Loved it. 

 
A few exceptional episodes you should look for, and personal favorites:
 
Zatoichi's cane sword (1967)
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert ((1965)
Zatoichi and the Doomed Man (1965)


 

I'm familiar with Zatoichi, but I don't think I've ever seen one of his movies ( can't say for sure... my memory ain't worth squat nowadays. ) My interest in samurai films is pretty much limited to Daiei Studios' Daimajin series. Those three movies contain some of the best special effects that I've ever seen in any Japanese film. 

What this country needs is a return of a good ol' fashioned Creature Feature.

Bob,

WOW!!! How did I miss this thread???? I have been incredibly busy to such a degree that I did not realize that I missed the Fest. I always think about it every July 4th and how I will miss Comic Con this year too.
You gave a great overview of the fest and succeeded in making me jealous. What people don't realize is that some of the simplest appearing toys are very expensive. ..And the ones that look real good are astronomical.
I always love the models....

As a major fan, Kenji Sahara and Harou Nakajima would be great to meet. Without them, these films would never have been as good as they were. I have a few Nakajma as Godzilla figures...
Its funny, I think you covered every monster, though I am not sure Hedorah (the Smog Monster) was among the toys. That is one of the better kaiju films in a weird way.

People should know that The War of the Gargantuas ( Sanda and Gaila) is famous for the nightclub scene with the lady singing " The Words Get Stuck in my Throat" just before the beast picks her up and tries to swallow her.  It was covered by Devo...

TOHO:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6EN4xg6qY

DEVO:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I32dcY6Okg&feature=related



mark

Mark, I'm glad that you enjoyed my G-Fest report. You're sure right about the prices on those kaiju toys and figures from Japan. I've seen first-timers to the fest pick up a vinyl figure of recent vintage ( an 8" Baragon, for example ) from a dealer's table, look at the price and then drop it like a hot potato; they expected a price like fifteen or twenty dollars, only to have the price tag say ninety-five bucks or more. Definitely not an inexpensive hobby. Meeting Kenji Sahara was quite a thrill for a lifelong "Gojira-phile" like myself; a friend of mine who's traveled to Japan extensively over the years was fortunate enough to meet producer Tomoyuki Tanaka and legendary kaiju director Ishiro Honda before they passed away. I had to laugh when you mentioned the song from "War of the Gargantuas" - that tune is just soooo awful!

Since I inadvertently excluded Hedorah from the kaiju parade, here's my chance to make it up to him...