Rialto's G: Opening Day San Francisco

[August]

I went to the 4:30 screening of GODZILLA today at the Castro Theater [http:/www.castrotheater.com] here in San Francisco. Nice print, no better or worse than the print Toho struck for the Egyptian Theater in 1999, although I did notice that a couple of scenes seemed to be from a different print -- the sound and picture quality changed slightly, but was very noticable (to me). I did not have this impression from Toho's 1999 version, which I saw six or seven times (LA and SF). Strange. I will have to watch Toho's DVD this weekend to see if I am just imagining things.

I thought that the subtitles, while better than the 1999 print, were not superior to those of the print circulated breifly during the early 1980s (I
have a full transcript from Ed G.'s old Japanese Fantasy Film Society club). But, to be fair they were very good, although there seemed to be a couple of missing lines, usually just combined with another line to save time and
subtitle space. I hope that the eventual DVD (Toho LA mentioned last year
that a company was negotiating for the rights to such a home video release), will be more complete -- as a purist of the original film, that is my wish, although I don't think that this can be hoped for, really. But, no matter.

I don't know how many people attended the first screening at 2:00 pm, but
there were about -- what looked like -- 60 to 80 people in the theater,
which seats 1400 (I am told, including the balcony, which I believe was
closed). When the theater let out at 6:00 pm, I did not see anyone waiting
to get into the next screening, which was at 7:00 pm (I wonder how many
people will go to tonight's 9:30 performance?).

Being the huge fan of the original that I am, I will most likely go back and
see the film on Sunday night, and then again during the week (Wednesday
evening), before going again to see it with the local G-Gang next Saturday.

The crowd was very respectful (I was amazed, really, as I was expecting the worst from them), except for a couple of snickers here and there (mostly at the Japanese actors!), and two annoying filmgoers: a 12 year old boy (wearing a Godzilla shirt) who kept kicking my seat and talking to the screen -- which didn't last long when I told him to kept it to himself (his dad didn't seem to hold the reigns that tight on his hyperactive child) -- and a hipster girl (dressed like a Mod) and her hipster boyfriend in the row in front of me, who kept wispering to each other, as she kept shifting, moving, pointing at the screen, and playing with her hair! Where's the Prozac when you really need it?

Anyhow, it could have been worse (and I have been to worse Godzilla film
screenings, believe me), and except for the annoyingly self-centered people, I had a good time.

If you miss seeing this in your town (aside from personal/family emergencies), you are a loser who cannot call yourself Godzilla fan with a straight face. Do you want to see this film get a wider release? D you want the it released in a deluxe DVD package?

Then put your money where you mouth is -- tell them with your cash! Run, do not walk, to your local theater to see GODZILLA!

[JordanGLC]

My plan is to see this tomorrow at the 1:00 pm screening. Alas, my gf has to work and my Dad has other commitments so I'll be going solo. Anyone else from the board going to this screening?

[joshuajh]

i went to the 9.30 firday night showing. it was pretty great, and the theater seemed almost full.

[August]

Excellent news, Joshuajh! Did you see the fliers for GODZILLA-FEST San Francisco? How was the crowd reaction?

[Legion]

[joshuajh]

yeah, they had flyers for the film festival and another one. i intended to grab them on the way out, but i was so impressed with the movie i forgot. they were also selling copies of the 'japans favorite mon-star' book. the audience reaction was pretty cool, everyone cheered when the title appeared and each time more of the monster was revealed. the theatre itself was also pretty amazing, it was my first time there. they had an organ player before the show started and the organ sank down into the stage as the lights went down.

[JordanGLC]

[swfreakjpb]

[August]

How do you figure that, Legion79?

[Legion]

[August]

No hard feelings, but do you judge/label people, based on sound bytes? I beg your pardon, where did you get that from? I said that I am a purist of the original film. That's all. It's my favorite Monster Movie from the 1950s, but I don't live breath and eat it.

BTW, I've hardly a nerd -- I have a life (and friends who aren't into this stuff), date good-looking women (who aren't into this stuff), am active in the local music scene (have produced over 400 live music events, including Incredibly Strange Wrestling, in which I performed), and have lived on my own since my Mother died when I was 17 (I moved to Tokyo for several years), not in her basement.

Face it, everyone here is a nerd (some on the inside, others on the outside, and unfortunately others are both). Calling ME a nerd is like throwing a brick in glass house; first off, you are posting on a Godzilla Message Board. Secondly, your icon is an original Bullmark or Marusan Mothra. Must have cost a pretty penny (I hate to tell you, but that's kind of nerdy, too).

If I am a "nerd," what do you call the guy who I saw walk into the theater wearing a rubber Godzilla head piece and rubber Godzilla feet? I rest my case.

[joshuajh]

[Legion]

[Legion]

[anguirus23]

[kpa]

[Dagarah72]