The Storm of the Pacific may be one of Toho’s better-known war films from their high war roster, especially from a global perspective. It was released in the U.S. as “I Bombed Pearl Harbor”. It was also Toho’s first color widescreen production in the genre. I do consider this one of their finest war films, and most certainly the best one generally made about Midway. (more…)

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is joining forces with Toho for a multi-year partnership that kicks off with the introduction of a kaiju-themed movie theater. Launching at the brand-new Alamo Drafthouse Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California, this collaboration marks the start of a nationwide rollout of Godzilla-centric programming and exclusive merchandise. This article will act as a roundup of the various updates to come from this collab. (more…)

Author: Michael Zamar

[Continued from Match 473] (more…)

Author’s note. This article is Part 2 in a series covering Toho’s Rebirth of Mothra trilogy. For Part 1, see my essay Rebirth of Mothra (1996): A Historical Retrospective. I also wish to thank the following individuals for their contributions to the following essay on Rebirth of Mothra II (1997): Mariko Godziszewski, for translating research materials; and Norman England, for sharing personal photos taken at the time of the film’s release, all of which are marked as such in captions.

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During a trip to Seoul, I looked out at the city from my hotel room. From a large electronic display in the distance, I caught a glimpse of a large hand followed by a pink flash. While I couldn’t tell exactly what it was, I knew it had to be Godzilla related. A while later, while walking through Myeong-dong and enjoying various Korean street foods, such as Tteokbokki and Gimbap, I got to the large screen that had grabbed my attention earlier. Sure enough, it was an advertisement for “Godzilla X Kong: The Ride” at Lotte World, in Seoul. (more…)

Directed by Ishiro Honda, Half Human (known in Japan as Monster Snowman) was the first creature film from Toho after Godzilla (1954) and Godzilla Raids Again (1955). It reunited Godzilla stars Akira Takarada, Momoko Kochi and even Sachio Sakai in another supporting role right beside the duo who are acting as a couple once more. It sounds like a really exciting concept headed by a great crew and dependable cast, though it was plagued by controversy regarding its portrayal of the mountain people as backwards in a very stereotyped manner to its then mountainous region inhabits. This was the reason it was never released on video, only seen by theatrical, bootleg or TV syndication. The heavily altered American version, which we’ll be reviewing today, ultimately became the most widely seen edition of the film through its video releases. (more…)

Perhaps a subtle anti war movie, Desperado Outpost is clearly ahead of its time for character development and story of flawed corruption and distinct honor. This would be the first of several similar themed war themed films directed by one of my all time favorite directors, Kihachi Okamoto. His experience in the Japanese Air Force during World War II would have lasting impact on his life as shown through his career with his anti-war stance while portraying the absurdity of it, as demonstrated through some of the outrageous situations that play out between Desperado Outpost and future films.
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The King of the Monsters had his presence known at this year’s Anime Expo, held earlier in the month from July 2nd to July 5th at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California. Included in this article are some photos and a video from the event.

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Mystery films often succeed or fail based on the strength of their central puzzle. While memorable characters and polished performances certainly help, audiences ultimately invest in the hope that the investigation leads to a satisfying conclusion. Black Showman largely accomplishes that goal. Although it stumbles with uneven acting, underdeveloped characters and a climax that occasionally asks viewers to suspend too much disbelief. That said, it’s an engaging mystery that at least airs on the side of being a bit unpredictable that makes for an enjoyable watch, although not one with much replay value. (more…)

As first reported by Deadline, Apple ordered a new live action TV show around Monarch, Titans and Godzilla for their Apple TV+ service. Working with Legendary, Toho and Safehouse Pictures, which has a first look deal with Legendary, with the series expanding on the MonsterVerse which first started with Godzilla (2014).

Season 1 of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters launched in 2023, with a second season following in early 2026. A currently untitled spinoff has also been announced, featuring the Lee Shaw character. This article is a roundup of news for the ‘Legacy of Monsters’ related shows. (more…)