Tag: Toho Studios

When Godzilla Minus One Recreates The Fear, Fans Can Cheer at this Proper Reset of a Beloved Icon!

Here, Gojira and Godzilla will be used synonymously to explore his appeal world-wide, and Godzilla Minus One shows how The East is dealing with the West(ern) threat.

Godzilla Minus One TrailerSpoiler Alert

A primer is needed to help describe where Godzilla Minus One fits in the lore. Technically, not all of TOHO‘s Gojira films belong in one long continuity. Fans know his longevity is due to how he is represented over the nearly seven decades.

Throughout the Shōwa era (1954–75), he eventually became a hero who often saved Japan from other kaiju and alien invaders. During the Heisei period (1984–95), he was an anti-hero. In the Millennium (1999–2004) years, I saw the beast as neither friend nor foe (each film was standalone, save for Against Mechagodzilla and Godzilla: Tokyo SOS). The Reiwa era (2016–present) recognises how this terror is simply a force of nature. Although this studio’s animated trilogy (2017-18) is its own universe, I think they fit under the same umbrella.

Just where this Japanese studio’s latest belongs is somewhere with the first movie and Shin Godzilla. Not only do long-time fans hear Akira Ifukube’s signature score, which really defines the monster’s presence, but also we see nothing has changed in Gojira’s design. Aside from larger dorsal fins and how they activate when he’s ready to breathe fire, the outline can not be altered by much.

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[Unboxing] Magic the Gathering, Godzilla, Ikoria & This Franchise’s Future…

MTG Booster Box (36ct) Ikoria Lair of Behemoths (IKO) — Twenty ...By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Not every set of Magic the Gathering is worth playing. My interest lays less on being devoted to this hobby of CCGs and more on where the narrative is headed. The story-based focus has been at the forefront for years now, and I can thankfully ditch the expensive side of the hobby and simply enjoy the tale.

After War of the Spark, the story concerning the desert gods from Amonkhet came full circle (died) and lest Hazoret returns, I’m biding my time to see what the next expansions offer.

When I heard about a partnership with TOHO Studios, my interest peaked at what’s going to happen. Planeswalkers Vivien Reid, Lukka and Narset will no doubt be important. Plus, you can never go wrong with giant monsters! Ikoria fulfills my fondest desires with the trample mechanic. The two recent additions–mutate and companion–might break standard play, but I’ll rely on reports than experiment to find out myself. For now, I can also go full on Kaiju with alternate art cards in my play deck on those kitchen table games with my buddies.

As my unboxing video shows, I got extremely lucky with pulling not one but two of the few most talked about cards.

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Oh No, There Goes Toho. Here Comes WotC’s MtG Godzilla!

It’s no joke! TOHO Studios and Wizards of the Coast are teaming up with this crossover that isn’t in the cards.

Magic the Gathering Godzilla StampJust what I thought the teaser I saw on April 1st with a huge footstep in rock by Wizards of the Coast was a joke, nope, they were deadly serious with the next set of Magic: The Gathering cards. This Renton, Washington based company got in touch with Toho Studio‘s to offer a tie-in to their Gojira property in the form of alternate art cards! The good: they are legal for game play, with the titular character available in one of the three designs as a buy a box promo. The bad: the remaining 15 cards to finish this set are only available in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Collectors Boosters.

Hard core monster enthusiasts will pay a premium to find and own each of these Godzilla series set of cards. Will I buy and play with them? Maybe, after being triple card sleeve sealed. Continue reading “Oh No, There Goes Toho. Here Comes WotC’s MtG Godzilla!”

Afterthoughts on Godzilla: Planet Eater

Godzilla Planet EaterBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Available to watch on Netflix

The survivors from Godzilla from City on the Edge of Battle must be facing an existential crisis in the finale of Toho’s animated trilogy. The Planet Eater sees the mighty one dormant for a good half of the film, and the alien Bilusaludo and Exif (who allied with the human race) seem not too concerned. In the final part of Toho’s animated trilogy, the question of who is helping whom is looked at, and not everyone is being cooperative.

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Breaking Down Gojira, Living at the City of the Edge of Battle

Image result for Gojira, City on the Edge of BattleBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

For a brief moment, I thought TOHO animation‘s curiously titled Gojira, City on the Edge of Battle (決戦機動増殖都市) will become a Star Trek episode. Knowing Mecha Gojira would appear, I thought about Hasbro’s Transformers and a city transforming into a figure like Trypticon than Metroplex. Thankfully, this movie is nowhere close to realizing that, but I knew Mecha Gojira was making a comeback. I wondered how?

Part two is on Netflix. While it’s tough to beat a theatrical presentation, as it was presented in Japan, anyone with a 72 inches (or more) television will be in for a treat. The surround sound mix is very good, and it requires more oomph to make the windows of my home to rattle. I bought a 7.2 audio receiver so I can have two subwoofers than one and hoped to test it out with the right movie. This film comes close to tearing down the house.

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Thoughts on Toho’s Creation of Godzilla: Monster Planet

Godzilla Planet Eater

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

  • Spoiler Alert

Toho Picture‘s Gojira: Kaijū Wakusei (Monster Planet) had me asking a lot of questions and I had to view it at least three times to see if any answers lay buried in the layers.

Netflix’s quiet release of the first film of the series had me excited, and the tease it made has me thankful that the wait to see part two will not be too long. When considering Kessen Kidō Zōshoku Toshi (literal translation: Decisive Battle Mobile Breeding City) arrives May 2018 in Japan, it’s safe to assume the worldwide release by Netflix will be near the end of the year — if not beginning at the start of the next, if I’m to assume there’s a pattern. For the last film of this animated trilogy, it could sedge way to new live action films, or look at an earlier chapter altogether.

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