Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

A Japanese news article popped up this weekend and it sounds like G3D is a go or nearing a go. Keith is having Oki from Henshin! Online translate it. In the mean time here's a poster image that was with the article:

nice art! I have my doubts that this movie will be good, but at least it's something new. best of luck to banno on this project.

Kickass! *hopes they actually use the Kiryugoji suit in the film*

But... Vegas? I thought the city was slated to be NY...

Here's what Aaron and I have been able to decipher so far, though we need some details confirmed. It definitely looks like the project about to move forward to the next big step. It should still be noted that it's not a "done deal" in terms of financing, but it looks like they are about to secure it and move from pre-production into an actual shoot. Other details:

- Expected budget of 3 billion yen ($25 million US... way up from $9 million)

- Banno and Co-Producer Kenji Okudaira signed contract with Toho this past October finalizing copyright details

- Production to begin in March 2006, running through January 2007, and planned to open in Japan and the U.S. in summer 2007

- Toho will handle distribution in Japan, no mention of U.S. distributor

- As you may have gathered from the poster, the storyline seems to have changed somewhat. No mention of the 9/11 angle any longer in the article, nor New York. Story still opens in Iguassu (Iguacu) Falls in Brazil, where Godzilla faces off against the "pollution monster that destroys nature". The battle continues in Mexico, California and concludes in a final decisive battle in Las Vegas.

- Banno is touting the project as being of great interest because of the poor performance of traditional Hollywood movies this past year, and the rise of the home theater.

- Of note: http://godzilla3d.com/en/specification.html has been updated, and confirms much of the information above regarding dates and the location of the shoots. Also, I believe this is new clarification on the credits of those involved:

Director : Yoshimitsu Banno
SFX Director : Eiichi Asada ("Godzilla Final Wars")
Co-Director : Keith Melton ("Journey of Man : Cirque du Soleil")
Director of Photography / Supervisor of Visual Effects : Peter Anderson
("CaptainEO" "Shrek2 / 4D" "T2 / 3D")

Some conjecture on my part here: I think the switch to Las Vegas is probably an indication that they have the interest and/or investment of people in the industry there. Las Vegas has long been a leader in these kind of productions with IMAX & IMAX 3D, productions such as "Borg Invasion 4D" and "Star Trek The Experience", "Wild Safari 3D", the premiere of NASCAR 3D, the attractions and facilities at places like the Hilton and the Luxor and so on.

AWESOMENESS!!!

I cannot WAIT for this!

I just hope it's well made. That's mainly what bugged me about GFW: Yes, it can be a hell of a lot of fun watching it (I *do* still have an inner child ) but the movie, minus a few outstanding parts, was mostly poorly made.

SO, I have no problems with a new Hedorah-ripoff, "Deathla," nor does Godzilla flying bug me in the least (can't wait, honestly), I just want it done well!

*ahem*

Oh yeah, and if they managed to get the Kiryugoji suit, I'd be jumping for joy! implausible, but not impossible!

And pessimists were convinced it would never happen.

Awesome. Thank god we will a director who will for better or worse make one of the most truely unique Godzilla films ever much better Nyquil Tzeuka

Las Vegas is great location for Godzilla to destroy. All those Neon buildings and what not. I can't believe this is going through! Godzilla in 3-D on IMAX. Even if it's super cheesy, it'll still be awesome!

Ever since this project was proposed, I was very much against it. However, a good deal of my pessimism was born from the proposed 9/11 angle among other things that now look like they've been dropped.

This is starting to look a lot better.

Don't read too much into the budget and the length of the movie, for a few reasons:

- Budget figures as given to the press are often overstated or understated, depending on the goal of the production company or studio
- The technology involved in a 3D film, and an IMAX one at that, is generally more costly, inch for inch
- I believe that there is a somewhat hard limit to the length of a IMAX film and even more so for a 3D IMAX film, which is why most of them come in at around 40 minutes. The production is still film-based (not digital), and the projectors can only handle a limited size reel.

EDIT: I just noticed something when looking at the poster more closely. Other than the Las Vegas sign, the only really distinguishable LV landmark in the picture? The Luxor Hotel, which happens to have a great (and absolutely huge) IMAX 3D theatre. Coincidence or conspiracy? You be the judge!

I really don't know for certain that NYC/9-11 was dropped. Simply that it wasn't cited in this article, or amongst the locales on that one G3D page. It is still in the story summary on the official site, but it does seem updated now.

And, YES, Chris, if they actually shoot in California or LV, I'm there! It would be pretty great to be one of those in a running, screaming crowd in a kaiju film.

Damn, looks like the thing's going to end up being made after all...oh well, as long as it ends up being made available on DVD I guess I'll be alright with it all .