New "Godzilla & Hiroshima" Trailer Released

by Armand Vaquer





Spanish producer and director Jonathan Bellés has unveiled a new trailer for his doctoral project documentary, Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Rise of Kaiju Eiga.

The trailer, with an original music score, features Godzilla suit-actors Haruo Nakajima and Kenpachiro Satsuma, actor Akira Takarada and directors Shusuke Kaneko and Masaaki Tezuka.

The trailer also features shots of the Lucky Dragon No. 5, the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, the torii gate at Miyajima as well as the Godzilla statue and the Seven Samurai mural at the main entrance of Toho Studios in Setagaya, Tokyo.

Above, Jonathan Bellés at the Godzilla statue in Hibiya, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I joined Bellés in Japan last February when he began his interviews, starting with special effects Eiichi Asada (Godzilla x Mechagodzilla, Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. and Godzilla Final Wars) and first assistant special effects director Yoshikazu Ishii (Godzilla Final Wars). 

Bellés Interviews: Behind The Scenes At Toho Studios

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Jonathan Bellés setting up his equipment. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 
During my recent trip to Japan, I joined producer/director Jonathan Bellés at Toho Studios for his first interviews in Japan for his documentary, Godzilla and Hiroshima: The Rise of the Kaiju Eiga.

Above, Jessica Claros reviewing her notes. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At Toho, we were joined by interpreters Jessica Claros and David Munoz as well as Yoshikazu Ishii. For the interviews, we were permitted to use a meeting room that overlooks the main entrance to Toho Studios.

From the meeting room's window, we could see the Godzilla statue and Seven Samurai mural.

Above, interviewees Yoshikazu Ishii (center) and Eiichi Asada (right) arrive at Toho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a bright and cheery room with couches, tables, a big-screen television set and carpeting.

Above, Eiichi Asada being interviewed. David Munoz stands in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We arrived at the studio an hour early so Jonathan Bellés could set up his equipment, which included lights, reflectors and several stands.

Above, Eiichi Asada during his interview. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The first to be interviewed was special effects director Eiichi Asada. While Jonathan Bellés manned the camera, Jessica Claros questioned the interviewees from notes provided by Bellés. Munoz assisted whenever someone got stuck on a phrase or needed more clarification. Both Japan-based interpreters specialize in Japanese-Spanish language interpreting.

Above, Yoshikazu Ishii as he was interviewed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following Asada's interview, Bellés then interviewed Yoshikazu Ishii on his role as assistant (under Asada) special effects director of Godzilla Final Wars. When each interview was completed, group photos were taken. The first one (below), was with Eiichi Asada.

Above, from left are David Munoz, Jonathan Bellés, Asada, Jessica Claros and Yoshikazu Ishii. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After the interview with Yoshikazu Ishii, another group shot was taken, this time with yours truly in it.

I did manage to break away and grab a quick bite to eat (curry and rice) at the studio cafeteria and buy a few souvenirs (a t-shirt for my daughter Amber and a hat and jacket for me).

Above, Jessica Claros and Jonathan Bellés. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was interesting to observe how Jonathan Bellés works and get past the language barrier. The two interpreters did a fine job during the interviews. The final shot (below), courtesy of Jonathan Bellés and David Munoz, was taken during camera set-up for Yoshikazu Ishii's interview.

Above, from left, Armand Vaquer, Yoshikazu Ishii, Jessica Claros and Jonathan Bellés. Photo by David Munoz.

Bellés interviewed several others at different locations following my departure from Japan. They include Akira Takarada, Masaaki Tezuka, Koichi Kawakita, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Teruyoshi Nakano and others.

Jonathan Bellés Making Progress On "Godzilla & Hiroshima" Documentary

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Jonathan Bellés with Eiichi Asada at Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Jonathan Bellés, who is currently hard at work in Japan conducting interviews for his upcoming documentary, Godzilla and Hiroshima: The Rise of Kaiju Eiga, has already interviewed the following (whose names kaiju fans should be familiar with): Akira Takarada, Koichi Kawakita, Eiichi Asada, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Yoshikazu Ishii, Shusuke Kaneko and Teruyoshi Nakano.

Last week, I joined Bellés at Toho Studios when he conducted the first two interviews (Eiichi Asada and Yoshikazu Ishii) and was his guide around the Hibiya and Ginza sections of Tokyo. We found that the Lucky Dragon No. 5 exhibit was closed for the day when we arrived. Bellés said he would go back on another day.

Along with the interviews with the aforementioned (and more to come), Bellés plans to take a trip to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum.

"Cool Dimension" Review

Cool Dimension (2006)
DVD By Sentai Filmworks

by Armand Vaquer

Happy New Year!

Last weekend, I picked up Yoshikazu Ishii's ("Mr. G-Fest") Cool Dimension in Little Tokyo and viewed it this morning.

Bear in mind that this is Mr. Ishii's first feature as a director. He previously was assistant special effects director for Godzilla Final Wars.

From AsianMediaWiki:

Three leather-clad, cool and glamorous lady assassins, Shiori, Mika, and Junko, win over guys with intelligence and attractive bodies. They are given the mission to eliminate a target but there comes an intruder and the battle begins. Forced into becoming an assassin since childhood, Shiori now with conflicting conscience, decides to leave her boss. But can she really quit before killing one too many?

Actually, the movie involves three Japanese women assassins for an organization under hire. They are sort of anti-Charlie's Angels. The plot in this movie involves the latest "job" the girls have to do, which is killing a reporter who has the goods of a corrupt politician.

As the synopsis from AsianMediaWiki states, one girl, Shiori, has second thoughts about what she's doing as her conscience has surfaced.

The story is rather pedestrian and the viewer can pretty much predict the next scene before it happens. There's some martial-arts action and one nude scene in which the politician sits as a spectator blowing CGI smoke-rings as a couple gets it on. The scene is laughable as the girl is letting out orgasmic moans, but her partner isn't really doing anything to be moaning about.

Above, Yoshikazu Ishii, Stan Hyde and Armand at dinner in 2005. Photo by Richard Pusateri.

Also, two girls are being beaten with sticks, pipes and whatnot while under a tarp. But they hardly display any wounds. While they are still under the tarp, supposedly unconscious they are shot at (practically at point-blank range), yet one survives with no bullet wounds! The shooter was apparently a very bad shot! Additionally, the first target of assassin Shiori receives a shot at point-blank, yet he drops dead with no wound! These scenes really stretches one's "suspension of disbelief" to the limit!

Still, this little (72 min.) B-movie is entertaining with loads of hot Japanese women throughout.

Director Ishii's efforts here are laudable and he shows great potential. The storyline could have been much improved. It is a good effort for a beginning director.

My grade: C+.

*****

Cast:

Kenichi Endo - Kurokawa
Yoko Mitsuya - Shiori
Mitsuho Otani - Mika
Mika Shigeizumi - Junko
Satoshi Matsuda
Satoshi Nikaido

Director: Ishii Yoshikazu
Writer: Sato Midori (writer), Yamamoto Norihisa (writer)