Kyle chats with Millennium Godzilla actor Tsutomu “Tom” Kitagawa!
Otanjobi omedeto gozaimasu, Gojira-san!
Today is Godzilla’s 64th birthday! …and while Tokyo is celebrating with a big Godzilla Festival in Shinjuku, I thought this would be a very appropriate day to release this interview with Godzilla suit and stunt actor Tsutomu Kitagawa, recorded at this year’s Monsterpalooza in Pasadena California. We had Kitagawa on the podcast once before during a panel at G-Fest with Shinichi Wakasa (see episode #87: Godzilla Meets His Maker).
Kitagawa’s career started with Japan’s stunt crew working in a myriad Super Sentai series. From 1975 through 1998, he was jumping, punching and kicking his way towards becoming the King of the Monsters.
I absolutely love hearing these actors’ stories of their journey and becoming the different kaiju or even to being the Godzilla and of course, I feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity to hear Kitagawa’s story. Hopefully we’ll have him on the podcast again in the future!
MUSIC FOR MILLENNIAL MONSTERS:
1. Godzilla X The Fleet Escort Force by Michiru Oshima from Godzilla Tokyo SOS (2003)
2. The King Of The Monsters Returns by Nobuhiko Morino from Godzilla Final Wars (2004)
Kaijucast #249 Godzilla Suit actor Tsutomu "Tom" Kitagawa[ 1:00:53 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
November 3rd,2018 Podcasts |
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Kyle, Clancy and Dave go right into it!! with a Daikaiju Re-Discussion for Godzilla Final Wars (2004).
Are you ready for Operation Final War!?
That’s right, folks we are once again talking about the 28th film in the Godzilla franchise, Godzilla Final Wars (2004). This movie was out first ever daikaiju discussion, so that’s right… it’s been almost 9 years since we talked about this movie in a discussion format. Do you long time listeners feel old yet??
I’ve been digging our new discussion format, because I’m a crazy busy body apparently, but I really wanted to give this movie more than it deserves for this episode. We went for the deep dive, people! Believe it or not I didn’t cover everything that we could have about this film.
To some, Godzilla Final Wars is the ultimate tribute film to the entirety of Toho’s kaiju and special effects history
Hope you enjoy the episode – please make sure you check out the awesome Godzilla Final Wars linkage down below!
OPERATION MONSTER MUSIC:
1. Gigan Awakens by Daisuke Yano from Godzilla Final Wars (2004)
2. Nichiei News (M1) from Godzilla X Megaguirus (2000)
3. Gotengo Launch by Keith Emerson from Godzilla Final Wars (2004)
4. Godzilla Final Wars (2004) Japanese Trailer Audio
4. Godzilla vs Tokyo by Zebrahead from G.Lasts… Tribute To Godzilla 50th (2004)
DAIKAIJU DISCUSSION:
I was reviewing the list of discussion films and have decided that we need to another “classic” for November’s movie. Your homework assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to watch the 1973 Godzilla vs. Megalon and turn in your thoughts, questions and reviews for the discussion episode before November 23rd.
Our next Daikaiju Re-Discussion will be for 1973’s Godzilla vs Meglon — tune in next month for more giant monster awesomeness!
Jeff, Gretchen and Kyle discuss the horrors of kaiju cinema* for this Halloween season!
I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR, FOLKS!
The change of summer to fall, the cloudy skies before the rains… plus the month of October / Halloween Season!
Thus it’s time to get spooky! We’ve gathered around the ouija board to ask a very important question of the Godz: “Are kaiju movies horror?” I guess the correct question would be more like: what counts as horror in a kaiju film? I have never really considered the kaiju genre to be more than influenced by horror but both Gretchen and Jeff are big time horror nerds, so I thought that would be a good subject for the roundtable-style chat.
Before we dive into our discussion of the scariest aspects of these movies, part of this episode is a brief chat with Ultraman and horror screenwriter Chiaki J Konaka. Konaka was the guest of honor at this year’s HP Lovecraft Film Festival and we were fortunate to have a few minutes to chat with the writer. Big thanks to the film festival organizers for the interview hookup!
Make sure you chime in on the Kaiju Corps Facebook Group to let us know what you thought about this horrific episode – or if we missed some of your favorite horrifying moments in kaiju cinematic history?
MONSTROUS MUSIC:
1. Matango International Trailer Audio (1963)
2. Feel in My Heart (Reference Music) from War of the Gargantuas (1966)
3. Frankenstein Conquers the World US Trailer 1965)
4. Shadow In The Sky by Akira Ifukube from Rodan (1956)
5. Skulls In The Stars by Necronomidol from VOIDHYMN (2108)
DAIKAIJU DISCUSSION REMINDER:
Later this month, I’m subjecting my co-hosts to Godzilla Final Wars, the final Godzilla film of the Millenium era. It’s been ages since I’ve sat down to watch this one and I’m kind of looking forward to dipping my toes into this unique film in the franchise. If you’d like to send in your homework (aka your thoughts questions and reviews) for the episode, please do so before October 21st and use our handy form.
*Hey, we know that poster image is all cobbled together in photoshop from all manner of japanese poster elements – if you recognize what any of those are from, you deserve a kaiju cookie!
Kaijucast #247 Horror in Kaiju Cinema & a chat w/Chiaki J Konaka[ 2:13:29 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
October 17th,2018 Podcasts |
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I assure you, we are not discussing a movie starring King Seesar and Angilas in this episode. We’re re-examining 1975’s Terror of Mechagodzilla.
We’re back with a closer look at one of the films we have covered many moons ago, back in 2011 when the podcast was only on episode 28! This episode (#245) is our Daikaiju Re-Discussion for the 1975 Terror of Mechagodzilla. I’m joined for the discussion by Adam Alexander, of the Monster Project (and Die Like Gentlemen) and Dave Helfrey for the discussion, but we’re also welcoming Ishiro Honda’s biographers Ed Godziszewski & Steve Ryfle back to share their thoughts on Ishiro Honda’s return to Godzilla and his closing chapter to the Showa series.
TERROR OF MECHA-MUSICA
1. Invaders’ Last Moments by Akira Ifukube from Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)
2. Terror of Godzilla US TV Commercial (1978)
3. Condensed AIP Terror of Mechagodzilla Intro (1978)
4. Kaiju Daisenso: Ending from Terror of Mechagodzilla by The Monster Project (2007)
CATASTROPHIC EVENTS:
10/5 – 10/7 HP Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland, OR w/ Chiaki J Konaka (and much much more)
DAIKAIJU DISCUSSION:
What have I done??? I’ve agreed to take a deep look at our first ever film in the discussion schedule, Godzilla Final Wars (2004). If you’d like to watch this film and then send in your thoughts, questions and reviews for the discussion, please make sure to do that before October 21st. Thanks, I hope!
Kyle, Rachel, Jeff, Gretchen and Dave wow the crowds at Rose City Comic Con with daring tales of kaiju enthusiasm!
Almost all of this episode was recorded at Portland’s own home-grown comic convention: Rose City Comic Con – unfortunately we ran a little long and so I asked Gretchen to pop in to fill in the listener with the missing information from the panel.
Big thanks to the staff of Rose City Comic Con for letting us get up on stage again!
SINGULAR SONG OF SERENITY:
1. Mothra by the 5.6.7.8’s (2014)
Our next movie up for re-discussion, Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)
DAIKAIJU DISCUSSION REMINDER:
Don’t forget this month’s movie for the Daikaiju Re-Discussion will be TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (1975) and the deadline to turn in your homework is September 21st – thanks!
Kaijucast #249 Godzilla Suit actor Tsutomu "Tom" Kitagawa [ 1:00:53 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
