Godzilla
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The end of a one journey

This post is long overdue. I’ve been putting it off for far too long. After delaying the inevitable, its time I say goodbye to this blog.

I’m getting a bit a head of myself. I’ll start at what has happened since the last post. I put this blog in hiatus back in September of last year. I was in the middle of returning to college and didn’t have enough time to work in this, study, and write for Monkeys Fighting Robots. I decided to put this blog on hold until I had time to catch back up on it. Unfortunately things started happening all at once. After I was done with college in December I had to start studying for my certification test and get my Occupational Therapy Assistant License. Afterward, I found myself in a move. Then as I was job hunting, I finally had my book be released.

Handbook for Surviving a Giant Monster Attack

Yes, I wrote a book. The Handbook for Surviving A Giant Monster Attack is available on Amazon from Severed Press. The book is the reason why I started this blog in the first place. I wanted to show my knowledge as a fan of giant monsters. It did help me to connect with Derek Koch of Monster Kid Radio who helped direct me towards Severed Press. I’m eternally grateful for his help.

Still, with the book out and me constantly writing for Monkeys Fighting Robots, while still doing a day job, a line has to be drawn somewhere. Unfortunately this means I have to finally say goodbye to this blog. Know this isn’t my goodbye to the Kaiju community as its more than obvious Giant Monsters will always be a part of my life. Instead, its saying goodbye to a project I’ve which has been a part of my life for over three years. Still, there comes a time when you have to direct your energy towards more important projects.

I know this blog didn’t get nearly as much traffic as I do over at Monkeys Fighting Robots and I never did get as much interaction as I hoped I would. Still, I had a lot of fun doing it. In closing I would like to leave you with the 5 Ultra Vows. Some of which are valuable even today:

1. Never going to school on an empty stomach (good advice)

2. Be careful of cars when walking down the street (also good advice)

3. Hang your futon on a sunny day (If you have a futon this is pretty good advice)

4. Do not depend on people (I’m pretty sure this one means in an ALL the time sense)

5. Play run around and play barefoot on the ground (be honest, we all need to do this a bit more)

I will probably post on this blog again when I do Podcasts or plan to attend conventions. Speaking of which I’ll be at Midwest Media Expo on April 28th-30th. I have my usual Godzilla panel scheduled. Overall though this is the last post of substance I’ll make on this blog for the foreseeable future. If you want more of my writing, then please buy my book. For everything else…”So long and thanks for all the fish.”

 

Leave a comment Posted on American Giant Monsters, Monkeys Fighting Robots, Podcast, Review, Transformers

Podcasts and Reviews

Giant Spider Invasion

I’m still working on getting back into making sure to give this blog the attention it properly deserves. Until then though I’m still create content elsewhere. First up, check out my appearance over at Monster Kid Radio where Derek M. Koch and I discussion, the Giant Spider Invasion. Afterward, follow these links over to Monkeys Fighting Robots and check out reviews of the recent issues of Power Rangers and Transformers. You’ll enjoy it, trust me.

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Mobile Suit Gundam: 08th MS Team


 2157b5ab3a6706da69dea6450e21421e A Gundam series that takes place in primarily a jungle area and emphasizes guerrilla tactics? I’m hesitant to make the comment this show is “Vietnam Gundam” but now as I write this review I wonder if that’s not me being a bit too cautious on my part. Anyways, this is another OVA side story of the One Year War from the original Mobile Suit Gundam. One that asks: Can love bloom on the battlefield?

On his way to this new assignment on Earth, pilot Shiro Amada has an encounter with a Zeon pilot named Aina Sahalin. Later on Earth, Shiro becomes the leader of the 08th MS team tasked with suppressing Zeon forces in Southeast Asia. Together with his team, Shiro works to keep his comrades safe and to find a way to make it out of the war alive. Unfortunately, Shiro will see Aina again as she’s the test pilot of the new Zeon mobile armor, the Apsalus, that is being tested in the same area.

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The series offers a very unique experience compared to other series. It doesn’t empathize the traditional head to head battles with mobile suits crashing into each other type of action that we see in other series. Instead there is a great focus paid on stealth, infiltration, and setting traps for the enemy. One episode showcases the efforts to plan, set, and practice an operation to take out the Apsalus. Once again the Gundam Franchise does its best to dive deeper into how people work through war.

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The characters also offer a very interesting mix of different individuals with unique motivations. Shiro has a relationship with an enemy pilot, Sanders has survivor’s guilt, and Michel working on keeping his relationship alive with his girl back home. The Romeo and Juliet aspect of Shiro and Aina’s relationship is the real stand out though. The two are very cute together and as the viewer you’ll find yourself rooting for them to make it in the end. They have a rocky road though that they’ll have to experience first.

The machines in this series are great entries to the UC Gundam franchise. The Apasalus really is one of the better designed mobile armors that exist in Gundam History. If the Zeon has been able to mass produce this machine they would have definitely won the war. Also, I love the EZ-8, even though its a machine that is made out of spare parts I still think its a pretty awesome machine. Especially the way Shiro pilots it. That man really knows how to push a mobile suit to its breaking point.

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The one aspect of this series that most fans are very familiar with is that it had a hand off mid way through its run. It was originally directed by Takeyuki Kanada between episodes 1-6, but from 7 to the ending it was instead done by Umanoskuke Iida. It does make a person wonder if the Kanada would have finished the series in a different way then what we actually got. It does make a person think.

That “What If” aside, this series is still really good. I highly recommend it to any fan of Gundam but also Giant Robots in general. It proves the point that love can indeed bloom on the battlefield.

RATING: A-

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Colossal News: Godzilla: Resurgence and Attack on Titan are coming to America.

Godzilla: Resurgence

If you haven’t been following the news from the San Diego Comic-Con you really should. They just made some big announcements about Godzilla: Resurgence and Attack on Titan’s Live-Action film.

The full story can be found over at my write up on Monkeys Fighting Robots. Give it a click you won’t be disappointed.

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Destroy All Monsters

Destroy All Monsters

Sometimes studios have to retire a property for a while. When they do they sometimes try to have a celebration to show just how incredible the franchise was and all the joy it brought to others. Destroy All Monsters was this type of movie and was supposed to be the final Kaiju film from Toho. Then something glorious happened. It reignited the love and kept the series alive.

In the far future, mankind has quarantined the monsters of the world on an island called Monsterland and people no longer have to worry about their rampage. Until an alien race known as the Kilaak take control of the island and release the monsters onto the human race. Now a group of humans must work you to find a way to bring the monster under control and fight back against these alien invaders.

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This movie suffers from a bit too much human interaction. Captain Yamabe and his crew essentially save the planet but they aren’t exactly the most interesting bunch. Also there is the whole “earring” scene where Yamabe removes the device controlling her is a bit disturbing. I mean how many other scenes in movies involve ripping a woman’s earring off her? Not many or at least not in Kaiju scenes. Also, it probably wasn’t the best idea of the Kilaaks to decide not to leave any of the monsters at Monsterland, especially when they decide to make it their base of operations on Earth. For an advanced race they really seem to make a lot of stupid mistakes.

The monsters attacking the world is cool enough. Seeing them rampage at the different locations across the globe is definitely the highlight of the entire movie. The final fight scene at the base of Mount. Fuji is a pretty good beat down against King Ghidora. It would have been better if there had been more evil monsters for the Kilaaks to send against the monsters of Earth. Ghidora had previously defeated by a pair of monsters the last time he came into the picture in Godzilla vs. Monster Zero and in this movie he is terrible outnumbered to the point he doesn’t really stand a chance against the monsters of earth. Also, the whole, firebird monster turning out to be the Kilaak’s ship is totally lame.

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This was supposed to be Tohos last giant monster movie but it did so well they made more. It is good but it could have been better if their was more actual focus on the monsters instead of the humans. Still it resulted in more movies getting made so it’s influence can’t be overlooked.

RATING: C+

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Beast Wars Season 3

Beast Wars Here it is. The review of the final season of Beast Wars. It’s been a fun ride and a great opportunity to not only celebrate the anniversary of this incredible series but to also help others know just how incredible it is. There is only one question, does the last season bring it home or fail in the end?

After resolving the cliffhanger of the previous season, the Maximals find themselves moving into the Ark. They now must protect it from Megatron who wishes to use it to win the Beast Wars. As they keep up the fight they will get a new recruit named Depth Charge, but he is more focused on getting revenge on Rampage. Unfortunately, the Predacons will also get some help and it involves a lost comrade.

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This season really kicked it up a notch. From fixing the timeline, to the introduction of the Transmetal 2s, and the finale which was nail biting, every episode helped to move the plot forward. Also, it featured some interesting new characters like Depth Charge and Tigerhawk. All around a pretty impressive and interesting season.

This season isn’t without questionable episodes. The episode where Cheetor teaches the cave children but then Megatron decides to use them for his own means only barely qualified as an episode which moved the plot. The season wrapped up a bit faster with three discover of the Nemesis. Still this isn’t enough to bring it down much.  

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There really is one plot point I’d like to talk about. This is the whole deal with the Vok.  This mysterious alien race helped to motivate the series at just the right time. In this season they only get one episode and sadly it doesn’t really help to wrap up who or what they are. Also they are never really used again except for minor references therein there in other Transformers series. It might be nice to have the IDW comics take them out for a bit and explore them in more detail.

With this series properly reviewed I can focus my attention on more Transformer related series. Of course I’m probably going to make my next theme month be Transformers but I don’t have it planned for this year. Hopefully next year. I’ll keep you posted crew.

RATING: A-

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Son of Godzilla

Son of GodzillaMonsters have often shown they are not too different from people. They often have feeling emotions, hopes, and goals. Sometimes they even have children. Today we look at one of the most famous monster children in existence, The Son of Godzilla.

On a supposedly deserted island, a group of scientists are working on a device which will control the weather. Unfortunately their work has caused radiation to leak out and have an effect on the environment. The most notable of these changes include the large mantis creatures called Kamacuras appearing and stumbling upon a discover, a large egg. When the egg hatches a new born member of Godzilla’s race emerges. Adopting the small creature as his own, Godzilla must protect and teach his young son Minilla the ways of the world. Still, will this new father be able to protect him from the looming threat of the giant spider Kumonga?

Son of Godzilla

Ill be the first admit Minilla has never been one of my favorite monsters. I had seen him in Godzilla’s Revenge so many times I had associated him with his incredibly dopey dub voice and mannerisms. He’s cute enough but in a more “he’s so goofy look he’s cute” kind of way. Frankly a much cuter monster was Little Godzilla with his Chibi like proportions. Minilla, other than being adopted by Godzilla really doesn’t have anything distinct going for him.

The other monsters introduced into this movie are far more memorable and intimidating than Minilla. The giant mantis Kamacuras became symbolized with being the cannon fodder character of Toho thanks to how many of these characters are introduced and destroyed in this film. Kumonga, the giant spider was also introduced. Surprisingly, despite my arachnophobia his appearance had never bothers me. Instead I rather liked watching Godzilla kick he large eight legged butt. 

Son of Godzilla

This film isn’t without its redeeming qualities. The human characters are entertaining enough and the love story blossoming between Goro and Saeko is cute. Also, one of the biggest moments in this film comes with its ending. After a combined father son effort to defeat Kumonga, the pair try to escape the effects of the weather control device which is causing the island to become buried under snow. Minilla falls behind and instead of leaving his son to die, Godzilla comes back for him and holds him close to keep warm. This scene of the two of them being put into some type of natural suspended animation as they hug one another is a very touching scene which always tugs on the hearts of many fans. 

The best way to wrap up this review would be to compare it to another film featuring a spawn of a Giant Monster, Son of Kong. Son of Kong is the better film but it is sadly not nearly as well known as this film. Thought this film does have the redeeming value of actually showing a father and a son interacting, it just isn’t as nearly as entertaining as watching the young ape try to step up and be the new contender on the island his father once called his kingdom. Sorry, Son of Godzilla, you did okay but there is far better Kaiju films out there and this is what hinders you most as a film. 

RATING: C+