GFW: Theatrical run in France

[Electric Dragon]

Since my earlier thread on this subject was closed when somebody posted his irrelevant anti-french comments, I'm starting this new thread.
Maybe it's funny to see how GFW does in a theatrical run in the west, and at least the canadians here might be able to read the french reviews, and maybe translate them. (I might try to translate some review, but neither my french nor my english is perfect.)

French première: August 31

French trailer:

French poster: (Free translation of the tagline: Accept no imitations!)


French reviews:





edit: Changed the link to the poster, since the link seemed to be dead.
By the way, if anyone is in Paris now (end of june) there will be a few early screenings, and Kitamura will also be present at some screening.

[gforever]

[planetxleader]

[Electric Dragon]

A small update:

Kitamura was in Paris some days ago to promote the film, and here are two interviews made at that occasion:

(20 minutes long video-interview in english.)
Kitamura starts talking about GFW after five minutes.

(Text in french.)

[Kaiju Nexus]

Just watched that interview...

Ryuhei Kitamura is...kind of a dick. I definitely loved GFW, but Ryuhei just seems really opinionated. Not that having strong opinions is a bad thing, but damn he's arrogant.

And that remark about Azumi 2?! I think Kaneko probably told him off about GFW, so now Kitamura is a little pissed at him. lol.

[jamaal7]

[pochan]

Hi

Does anyone know or could point me to a link with more information as to which cinemas in Paris will be showing GFW? Since I'm based in the UK, heading out to Paris to see the movie on a big screen is quite an attractive idea

Also does anyone know if it will be subbed or dubbed? I don't speak French, but I do speak Japanese

Wish someone had picked the movie up for a UK release though...

Thanks

[Jim Ballard]

[china]

[GiganGoji]

"...[Versus] was well accepted in France...so I always had a good impression of France..."

He speaks like Taka! ("it was so stupit...")

[neo godzilla jr]

[planetxman]

[gfanikf]

[Dr. Tongue]

[planetxman]

[gfanikf]

[planetxman]

[jamaal7]

Now, this is an interesting discussion.

I had wondered for a good while whether or not Kitamura was really a fan of Godzilla. I can remember him expressing interest in the earlier films and going to see them as a kid. I think that was in an interview on Henshin! Online. So maybe his fascination with the action films of 1980's is responsible for his attitude toward the Millennium Godzilla films. Indeed, Kitamura mentioned in an interview that when he was 15 or 16, he would attend all-night showings of Godzilla films. He also mentioned, with fondness, Monster Zero.

I must say I like his 'defense' of suitmation and distaste for overreliance on CGI. Kitamura spoke of the traditional Japanese way of making kaiju eiga with apparent pride, as something unique, something Japan contributed to the general sci-fi genre.

Kitamura is a professed fan of the analog type of effects of an earlier period. By his own admission, he wanted to bring this style and a feeling of power and speed, with incessant fighting to Final Wars.

God willing, I'm going to re-read the interviews available to us, e.g. the ones on Henshin! Online, and then re-watch the whole 3 disc set which sure would have been greatly enhanced by the inclusion of English subtitles.

[planetxman]

[Cookie]

[AnguirusAnguirus]

[Jim Ballard]

[jamaal7]

After watching GODZILLA FINAL WARS (a few times)and re-reading the interviews, I've arrived at the following conclusions:

1. Kitamura is enamoured of the '70's Godzilla films, with their action, pacing and general over-the-top style.

2. Accordingly, whatever is the antithesis of this 'style' he is not going to like.

3. He tried to update this feel in Final Wars. Whether or not he did is a matter of debate. That this period (the early 1970's) witnessed entries in the series that are not found on the highest shelf of the Closet of Critically Acclaimed G-films might lead some fans to think that (a)Kitamura is not really a fan and (b) Final Wars is really a kind of parody of the franchise and series. Or, GFW is a kind of experiment, a vehicle for the Ryuhei Kitamura treatment.

(To me the real 'problem' with the later Showa-Era films was not the stories or concepts, but things related to budget and resources. No one, I think, would question their entertainment value.)

4. Accordingly, he would not like films that took a more serious approach to the genre, like the Heisei Gamera films (an attitude that I personally would not understand). Kaneko's Gamera and Godzilla films are well made, visually impressive and entertaining kaiju films to me. So I must disagree with Kitamura regarding them. You would think that he would at least like the kaiju athleticism of Gamera: GOTU. Perhaps with his opinions about recent kaiju films he was 'clearing the decks' for his take on the genre. Or, maybe he just didn't like the recent giant monster films.

EDIT: I forgot to add that Kitamura said somewhere that GFW was going to be a rock-n-roll monster movie, or words to that effect. This helps to account for the pacing and the score, at least. There is a video/MTV-like quality or feel to the film. GFW is kind of like a live action videogame.

[jamaal7]

Then again, it would seem that Kitamura loves Godzilla, but felt that the recent flims were not action-driven enough, and took themselves too seriously. His comments in interviews give me the impression that non-stop action, over-the-top pacing and continuous fighting-human vs. kaiju, kaiju vs. kaiju, human vs. aliens- was to Kitamura a kind of shot of adrenaline that the franchise needed.

There's so much going on in Final Wars, and so much to see along with a story. Once the language barrier is overcome, the narrative is entertaining. This was evident from the screenings at the Egyptian in Hollywood in July. Being able to understand the dialogue addded a whole other dimension to Xilien character's psychosis.

Then there are the quiet moments, like between Ozaki and Miyuki on the Gotengo, when she questions the value and worth of her research, and he reasures her that it will be needed in the future. In saying this, Ozaki is expressing his hope that there will be a future, even at a rather bleak moment in the story. The film's score at the point provides a rather moving, quite piece that seems to convey the introspective mood Miyuki and Ozaki are in.

Godzilla Final Wars continues to be very watchable, always entertaining.

[Electric Dragon]

Today is the french première - it seems like it is only shown in a few cinemas in the big cities.
Edit: GFW opened in at least 12 cinemas in 12 different cities.
(Paris, Aix-en-Provence , Caen, Ecole-Valentin, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Angers, Nancy, Lomme, Strasbourg, Rouen.)

But there are of course lot's of reviews in french newspapers and magazines online, for those of you who haven't had enough of reviews already - for example


...ugly visuals, apathic rhythm, horrible decorations, vulgar framings - this film has nothing, absolutely nothing going for it. (0/5)


...in its genre it does succeed. (3/5)


Not to be missed by fans of B-movies and those who are curious. To be avoided by others (2/4)


...presented as the last in the series - apparently a lie. (-/-)


A tasty cocktail of old and new... (2/4)


An undigested fruits salad of the most uniteresting elements - too bad for those who has a certain respect for the genre. (1/4)
Première

A big event for those who loves comic strip cinema that is not ashamed of its nature, (3/4)
Ciné Live

...over-the-top kitsch. (2/4)
Studio Magazine

Here is cinema that dares much and departs in all directions. (3/4)
MCinéma

edit: some more reviews:

The monsters are static, as if they were made of cardboard, and the scenes of combat and destruction are more caricatural than seizing. Godzilla is 50 years old, and that is to much for a lizard. (1/4)
Les Inrockuptibles

...a little pearl of popular cinema, mixing the charming kitsch of the fifties with the latest technology. (2/4)
TéléCinéObs

Ryuhei Kitamura privileges a parodic and ironic imagery, between tributes to "The Matrix" and homosexual iconography.
It's not very serious, a little boring, sometimes amusing. (-/-)


During more than two hours, the boredom reigns supreme. (1/4)
Zurban