Kazuki Omori arguably revived the Godzilla franchise in the late 1980s and the early 1990s. As the director and screenwriter of the popular Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) and Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), Mr. Omori helped revitalize the G-series, which had mostly stayed in hibernation since 1975, with bold new ideas and contemporary story lines. … Continue reading KAZUKI OMORI RECALLS THE HEISEI GODZILLA SERIES! Toho’s Writer-Director Shares His Memories of the King of the Monsters!
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REFLECTIONS OF HIROSHI KOIZUMI! The Toho Star Opens Up About His Career!
Hiroshi Koizumi is one of the Godzilla series' leading men and one of its most popular actors. Mr. Koizumi starred in the second Godzilla film ever made, Godzilla Raids Again (a.k.a. Gigantis the Fire Monster, 1955), and went on to star in countless other kaiju films. Some of these credits include: Mothra (1961), Atragon (1963), … Continue reading REFLECTIONS OF HIROSHI KOIZUMI! The Toho Star Opens Up About His Career!
GORO MUTSUMI REDUX! A Second Interview with the Godzilla Series Villain!
Goro Mutsumi is an actor who is well-known to G-fans as the alien leader in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) and Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975). Mr. Mutsumi's other genre credits include the Toho sci-fi epics The War in Space (as another alien leader!) and Espy (1974). He also co-starred in the Tsuburaya Productions television series Fireman (1973). … Continue reading GORO MUTSUMI REDUX! A Second Interview with the Godzilla Series Villain!
A GAIJIN’S LIFE IN JAPAN! Tom Korzeniowski Reminisces About 1960s Tokyo!
As Vantage Point Interviews readers know, many gaijin have appeared in a great many of the science fiction films we love. In most cases, little is known about the Westerners who acted in these films. Tom Korzeniowski is one of the Americans who made a splash in the Japanese film industry during the 1960s, but one … Continue reading A GAIJIN’S LIFE IN JAPAN! Tom Korzeniowski Reminisces About 1960s Tokyo!
MAKING GODZILLA FLY! An Interview with Godzilla Director Yoshimitsu Banno!
Writer-director Yoshimitsu Banno helmed the controversial and environmentally aware Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster in 1971 and served as assistant director on the 1974 disaster film The Last Days of Planet Earth (a.k.a. Prophecies of Nostradamus). Oriental Cinema editor Damon Foster and Brett Homenick interviewed Mr. Banno in July 2005 about his work on both … Continue reading MAKING GODZILLA FLY! An Interview with Godzilla Director Yoshimitsu Banno!
SHINE BRIGHT! Kenji Sahara on His Motion Picture Career!
Kenji Sahara (born May 14, 1932) has appeared in more Godzilla films than any other actor. Mr. Sahara appeared in the original Godzilla (1954) in two small roles and went on to star in such popular titles as: King Kong vs. Godzilla, Godzilla vs. the Thing, Son of Godzilla, Destroy All Monsters, Terror of Mechagodzilla, … Continue reading SHINE BRIGHT! Kenji Sahara on His Motion Picture Career!
SAKYO KOMATSU ON SCIENCE FICTION! Japan’s Arthur C. Clarke Discusses His Filmmaking Foray!
Mr. Sakyo Komatsu is often called the Arthur C. Clarke of Japan, and with good reason. He is arguably Japan's best known science fiction writer, and the movie adaptations of his novels are legendary. Films such as Submersion of Japan (both the 1973 and 2006 versions), Espy, Virus (1980), and Tokyo Blackout were based on … Continue reading SAKYO KOMATSU ON SCIENCE FICTION! Japan’s Arthur C. Clarke Discusses His Filmmaking Foray!
KAZUAKI KIRIYA ON ‘CASSHERN’! The Director Recalls His International Box Office Smash!
Japanese filmmaker Kazuaki Kiriya made waves both in Japan and in America when he released his 2004 opus Casshern to theaters. A groundbreaking sci-fi/action film, Casshern earned Mr. Kiriya praise around the globe for his unique visual style. Casshern is currently available in the United States on DVD. Mr. Kiriya came to the United States … Continue reading KAZUAKI KIRIYA ON ‘CASSHERN’! The Director Recalls His International Box Office Smash!
TATSUYOSHI EHARA CONTINUED! The Second Half of the Toho Actor’s Filmmaking Memories!
Tatsuyoshi Ehara is a prolific Japanese actor whose career stretches all the way back to the 1940s. Born on March 26, 1937, Mr. Ehara began in entertainment as a child actor. His entry point into the world of filmmaking was at Shochiku Studios, the home of legendary auteur Yasujiro Ozu. Moving to Toho Studios in the … Continue reading TATSUYOSHI EHARA CONTINUED! The Second Half of the Toho Actor’s Filmmaking Memories!
THE HEISEI GODZILLA SERIES REVISITED! A Conversation with Actor Andrew Smith!
Andrew Smith (1967-2017) is an American-born actor in Japan who appeared in several Godzilla films during the 1990s. His acting credits include parts in: Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992), Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993), and Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994). Not only has he acted in Godzilla films, but Mr. Smith also wrote … Continue reading THE HEISEI GODZILLA SERIES REVISITED! A Conversation with Actor Andrew Smith!
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