Good Sunday morning! Time to talk “Kaiju.” Kaiju means “monster.” Japan’s cinema industry made a staple of these for decades.
Kaijū is a Japanese word that literally translates to “monster,” and is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment. Kaiju films usually showcase monsters of any form, usually attacking a major Japanese city or engaging another (or multiple) monster(s) in battle. Related terms include kaijū eiga, a film featuring giant monsters or a single monster; kaijin (referring to roughly humanoid monsters); and daikaiju (giant kaiju), specifically meaning the larger variety of monsters. Godzilla is an example of a daikaiju; others include Gamera, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah, Mechagodzilla and Daimajin. The term ultra-kaiju is longhand for kaiju in the Ultra Series. Toho has produced a variety of Kaiju films over the years (many that featured Godzilla and Mothra) but other Japanese studios contributed to expanding the genre in Japan by producing Kaiju films and shows of their own.
Now you know the history, here’s a few of my early favorites.
First up, of course, the first Godzilla movie!
1954 – Godzilla – Ishirô Honda http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpz2qz_1954-godzilla-ishiro-honda_shortfilms
Then the sequel to Godzilla from the following year, 1955. Everyone always says sequels aren’t that good. Here’s proof!
Godzilla Raids Again (If the video doesn’t play, copy and paste this link into your browser): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOo0CstvnM4
The success of these Godzilla movie led to a plethora of other monster movies. With the next billed as the “Ultimate Monster Movie” from 1968.
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS 1968 – GODZILLA Movie TRAILER www.dailymotion.com/video/x8oqwe_destroy-all-monsters-1968-godzilla_shortfilms
Finally, today’s throw-away film. This is the missing link between the 1933 King Kong film and the 1954 Godzillafilm. Sorry I don’t have a trailer for this. This is the only remaining bits from that film.
KING KONG APPEARS IN EDO (1938) Surviving Footage 江戸に現れたキングコング (If the video doesn’t play, copy and paste this link into your browser): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_2jUC60Ye4
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