Ishiro Honda

Ishiro Honda
Author: Steve Ryfle
Publisher: Wesleyan University Press
Total Pages: 368
Release: 2018-04-10
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 0819577413

“An appreciation of Japanese fantasy-film history through the eyes of a filmmaker whose name is obscure but populism remains influential.” —Chicago Tribune Ishiro Honda, arguably the most internationally successful Japanese director of his generation, made an unmatched succession of science fiction films that were commercial hits worldwide. From the atomic allegory of Godzilla and the beguiling charms of Mothra to the tragic mystery of Matango and the disaster and spectacle of Rodan, The Mysterians, King Kong vs. Godzilla, Honda’s films reflected postwar Japan’s anxieties and incorporated fantastical special effects, a formula that created an enduring pop culture phenomenon. Now, in the first full account of this overlooked director’s life and career, Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski shed new light on Honda’s work and the experiences that shaped it—including his days as a reluctant Japanese soldier, witnessing the aftermath of Hiroshima, and his lifelong friendship with Akira Kurosawa. The book features close analysis of Honda’s films (including, for the first time, his rarely seen dramas, comedies, and war films) and draws on previously untapped documents and interviews to explore how creative, economic, and industrial factors impacted his career. Fans of Godzilla and tokusatsu (special effects) film, and of Japanese film in general, will welcome this in-depth study of a highly influential director who occupies a uniquely important position in science fiction and fantasy cinema, as well as world cinema. “Provides the reader with a lasting sense of the man—his temperament, values, philosophies, dreams, and disappointments?behind some of cinema’s most beloved characters.” —Film Comment

Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men

Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men
Author: Peter H. Brothers
Publisher:
Total Pages: 282
Release: 2009
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 9781449027711

Here, for the first time in English print, is the inspiring story of a humble and soft-spoken man who became one of the most-prolific directors in the history of fantasy films. Raised in a primitive Japanese village by a Buddhist monk, Ishiro Honda fell in love with films at a young age and soon enrolled in film school with the intent of one day becoming a director. Called to enlist in the Imperial Japanese Army druing World War II, he returned with a knowledge of the futility of war and a dread of the atomic age. A dedicated craftsman who directed over 80 films during a remarkable 60-plus year career, Honda is undeservedly remembered mostly as the "greatest director" of the famous Japanese monster film series; however, he was in fact much more. Utelizing a wide-variety of source material never before assembled into one volume, Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men is an objective critical analysis and definitve study of a man whose fantasy films -- when seen in their original versions -- are "beautiful nightmares" of quality and subtext which transcend the visceral thrill of watching monsters destroying cities. Honda's admirers include George Lucas, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg and his films are masterpieces of entertainment that have enthralled audiences for generations . . . and will for generations to come.

Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters

Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters
Author: August Ragone
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Total Pages: 216
Release: 2007-11
Genre: Art
ISBN: 9780811860789

Behind-the-scenes hero to anyone who's thrilled by giant monsters duking it out over Tokyo, Eiji Tsuburaya was the visual effects mastermind behind Godzilla, Ultraman, and numerous Japanese science fiction movies and TV showsbeloved around the world. The first book on this legendary film figure in English, this highly visual biography details his fascinating life and career, featuring hundreds of film stills, posters, concept art, and delightful on-set photos of Tsuburaya prompting monsters to crush landmark buildings. A must-have for fans, this towering tribute also features profiles of Tsuburaya's film collaborators, details on his key films and shows (most available on DVD), and features on the enduring popularity of the characters he helped create.

Japan's Favorite Mon-star

Japan's Favorite Mon-star
Author: Steve Ryfle
Publisher: ECW Press
Total Pages: 376
Release: 1998
Genre: Godzilla (Fictitious character)
ISBN: 1550223488

Bigger, badder, and more durable than Hollywood's greatest action heroes, Godzilla emerged from the mushroom cloud of an H-bomb test in 1954 to trample Tokyo. More than 40 years later, he reigns as the undisputed monarch of movie monsters, with legions of fans spanning several generations and countless international boundaries.

Godzilla on My Mind

Godzilla on My Mind
Author: William Tsutsui
Publisher: Macmillan + ORM
Total Pages: 260
Release: 2017-01-16
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 113705557X

This year, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of his first appearance on the screen, the original, uncut version of Godzilla was released in American theaters to the delight of Sci-Fi and B-Movie fans everywhere. Ever since Godzilla (or, Gojira, as he is known in Japan) crawled out of his radioactive birthplace to cut a swath of destruction through Tokyo, he has claimed a place alongside King Kong and others in the movie monster pantheon. He is the third most recognizable Japanese celebrity in the United States, and his fan base continues to grow as children today prove his enduring appeal. Now, Bill Tsutsui, a life-long fan and historian, takes a light-hearted look at the big, green, radioactive lizard, revealing how he was born and how he became a megastar. With humorous anecdotes, Godzilla on My Mind explores his lasting cultural impact on the world. This book is sure to be welcomed by pop culture enthusiasts, fans, and historians alike.

Monsters are Attacking Tokyo!

Monsters are Attacking Tokyo!
Author: Stuart Galbraith
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 1998
Genre: Films fantastiques
ISBN: 9780922915477

The Incredible World of Japanese Fantasy Films Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan: these manifestations of Japanese postwar psyche are among the most amazing creations of modern cinema. These heavily illustrated work takes an inside look at the story of these movies which is supplemented with interviews with Toho actors, directors, screenwriters and the all important special effects men.

Behind the Kaiju Curtain

Behind the Kaiju Curtain
Author: Norman England
Publisher:
Total Pages: 250
Release: 2021-11
Genre:
ISBN: 9781937220105

Norman England's gutsy and insightful stories will do more than just entertain. This is the first and only book in English to take you on a deep dive into the Japanese film industry. You will join well-known directors, cast, and staff for tales of backroom set dealings. The author's own unlikely story starts with joining the Japanese crew on a George Romero-directed TV commercial shot in Los Angeles. Afterward, in Tokyo, Norman England learns to navigate the sets of giant monster icons Gamera and Godzilla. The book concludes with the premiere of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. This diary from the front lines is essential reading for Japanese cinema enthusiasts and filmmakers everywhere.

The Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films

The Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films
Author: Salvador Jiménez Murguía
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 423
Release: 2016-07-29
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 1442261676

Although the horror genre has been embraced by filmmakers around the world, Japan has been one of the most prolific and successful purveyors of such films. From science fiction terrors of the 1950s like Godzilla toviolentfilms like Suicide Circle and Ichi the Killer, Japanese horror film has a diverse history. While the quality of some of these films has varied, others have been major hits in Japan and beyond, frightening moviegoers around the globe. Many of these films—such as the Ringu movies—have influenced other horror productions in both Asia and the United States. The Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films covers virtually every horror film made in Japan from the past century to date. In addition to major and modest productions, this encyclopedia also features entries on notable directors, producers, and actors. Each film entry includes comprehensive details, situates the film in the context and history of Japanese horror cinema, and provides brief suggestions for further reading. Although emphasizing horror as a general theme, this encyclopedia also encompasses other genres that are associated with this theme, including Comedy Horror, Science Fiction Horror, Cyber-punk Horror, Ero Guru (Erotic Grotesque), and Anime Horror. The Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films is a comprehensive reference volume that will appeal to both cinema scholars as well as to the many fans of this popular genre.

Atomic Dreams and the Nuclear Nightmare

Atomic Dreams and the Nuclear Nightmare
Author: Peter H. Brothers
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2015
Genre: Atomic bomb victims in motion pictures
ISBN: 9781508975830

For the first time in English print, the complete story of the making of one of the most significant and influential films of the 20th Century. Originally intended to cash-in on the then current trend of American monster movies, what resulted instead was the cinema's first anti-nuclear treatise to reach an international audience. Gathered from previously unpublished sources, rare photographs, personal interviews and with shot-for-shot descriptions of both the Japanese and American versions, "Atomic Dreams and the Nuclear Nightmare" is a tribute to the greatest monster movie of them all.

Dvd Savant

Dvd Savant
Author: Glenn Erickson
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Total Pages: 346
Release: 2004-11-01
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 0809510987

A compilation of selected review essays from Erickson's DVD Savant internet column.