So, over at Wandering Through the Shelves, one can find the weekly film picks. A topic is picked each week and one chooses 3 films related to that topic. This week it is Asian Horror films of which I know dick all (pardon my sarong). I decided there are some Asian Horror films I have seen so here are my three. Oh, and last night Windows 10 decided to blow up and kill me the way Pat Hatt said it would...yup the evil thing is back...again!
1. GODZILLA-1954
This is where it all began with a man in a monster outfit. I mean who doesn't love this bad dude. We are kind of to blame anyway since he is from the nuclear fallout. Remember that Hiroshima and Nagasaki were blitzed only 9 years before. He stomps around and can breathe fire and destroys Tokyo. Later on he fought King Kong, Rodan I think, and even ended up being a good guy. What's not to love.
2. GAMERA-1965
This starts where a little boy visits his scientist dad and begs his dad to be able to take out the new top secret sub built for one (or 2-can't remember) around the Bay for a spin. What's a great dad to say about a sub that cost millions of dollars but let his son take this sub out for a spin. The boy does and meets Gamera! This is a cute turtle with big ole teeth who can walk upright when he wants to and can fly! Yup, he just brings his 4 legs into the shell and then, like the engine who could, fire bursts forth from the openings like a rocket, and he flies around. Of course he destroys a few things along the way but seems to have a soft spot for the little irritating boy. I used to love watching this and all these films on the old UHF channel on Saturday afternoon. Hey at least I didn't talk about Mothra with those 2 little Japanese singing gals who flew with the giant moth....until now.
3. WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS-1966
Has anyone seen this flick besides moi? They are 2 brothers, one green-he's evil and one good...he's brown. The brown dude was raised by humans and is gentle and sweet while the Green guy is one badass. What is funny is it stars Russ Tamblyn-who the hell is Russ Tamblyn? He played the leader of The Jets in West Side Story, he was the youngest brother in 7 Brides for 7 Brothers and co-starred in a great film called "The Haunting" (later). He must have needed the money or just thought this would be a huge career move. Anyway this dancing man doesn't dance in this film. The one thing I remember quite vividly is when evil green dude, after destroying a city, picks up a screaming woman and throws her in his mouth. Green dude looks like he just ate a brussel sprout and spits her out. Poor lady wasn't even good enough to eat-a real self-esteem killer if you ask me.
So these are my 3 horror films and I am sticking to it. Which Asian horror films have you seen?
I love that you went the monster movie route. I've only seen Godzilla, but I like how campy this genre can be. It's fun.
ReplyDeleteYes, well, that's all I know and I felt the campiness for this challenge:)
DeleteWell you did it! You found the one movie within this theme that I've seen. I was sure that I would have seen nothing from this week because I have zero interest in this particular genre of film, I'm not a horror fan so the idea of watching it and having to read subtitles at the same time is about as appealing as a root canal.
ReplyDeleteGodzilla is fun in its super cheesy way but once was plenty for me.
hahahaaa-I know what you mean so I picked the films I have seen from way back. I went the cheesy route plus I didn't see any other type of Asian Horror
DeleteMonster Movies! Yay! I've seen all of these, even War of the Gargantuas. I don't remember that scene, unless my one vivid memory of it is wrong. I remember him eating a woman and spitting out her blonde hair. I dunno, it's been 30+ years since I've seen it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was her blond hair but that's what my young brain took in and I am going from memory. Either way sad end for the lady
DeleteThe first two I've heard of, of course, the third not so much. You may be the only one that seen it haha
ReplyDeleteHahahaa, well, so far the one above has seen it too...who knew:)
DeleteI've seen all three, many, many times...
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness-good for you Alex. I am surprised you even saw the Gargantuas flick
DeleteRobert T. Ironside: Query: Why did I let my agent talk me into Godzilla? Eve, make a few phone calls and see what you can find out. And bring me a cup of coffee!
ReplyDeleteHi, dear BB! I watched these terrible old Asian monster flicks on UHF channels, too. It strikes me how far movies have come since those years when guys in rubber costumes stomped around on table top cities and munched on toy cars and buses. I can't remember ever feeling very scared when I watched movies like these. Films like Psycho and Night of the Living Dead reinvented screen horror and rendered giant lizards, spiders, praying mantises, crabs and 50 foot women obsolete.
Thanks, Birgit!
There is something nostalgic about these films-Saturday afternoon watching these flicks rather than being outside...ahh the memories
DeleteI don't like horror movies or books, so I try to stay away from them.
ReplyDeleteYes well these are the cheesy kind. I know what you mean though
DeleteThe sad, sad thing is that I immediately knew who Russ Tamblyn was.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder I never got a date in high school.
Hahahaaa-I bet you saw him in Tom Thumb didn't you? Wait, I did which means I was an Uber-geek
DeleteA great selection of movies, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you read this:)
DeleteNow you've stepped completely outside my wheelhouse. I'm not a fan of horror (period) and I'm certainly not flying to another country to watch one!!! :)
ReplyDeleteHahahaaa-I have not seen any new asian horror films so this is all I could think of:)
DeleteP.S. I also knew who Russ Tamblyn was... he's Amber Tamblyn's father. She played Joan in Joan of Arcadia. Russ made a few guest appearances on that show.
ReplyDeleteYup you are right plus Amber starred as Emily (the first) on General Hospital where Russ Tamblyn also appeared.
DeleteI remember watching Godzilla growing up, even at a young age I realized how fake. Haven't heard of the others.
ReplyDeleteBetty
Oh nothing is better than the man in a suit. It is so bad, it's fun:)
DeleteI try not to watch Asian horror films because they tend to be more gore and scary than anything we can remake in America.
ReplyDeleteYup which is why I have not seen any except for the monster films from the 50's and 60's
DeleteI try not to watch Asian horror films because they tend to be more gore and scary than anything we can remake in America.
ReplyDeleteAsia comes out with some really scary stuff. I haven't seen those three, but Ringu, A Tale of Two Sisters, Phone...all creepy. The Host was awesome.
ReplyDeleteI saw the American The Ring and I can't think about it because it gives me the whillies. Other people joining in have picked what you mentioned
DeleteI know I haven't seen these three and not sure that I've ever seen an Asian 'horror' movie.
ReplyDeleteHahahaaa-this was a toughie because I haven't seen any Asian horror film-too scared to
DeleteWhen I was a kid the original Godzilla movie terrified me. I think Raymond Burr was the only Caucasian in the movie.
ReplyDeleteGood ole Raymond Burr! Yes he was in it before he did Rear Window I think although they came out in the same year
DeleteI'm impressed you've got some knowledge here, because we were a little stumped (and didn't even think of Godzilla). Not our forte, but thanks for the great insight. High five!
ReplyDeleteJ
I could only go this route because I haven't seen others that I know will be picked
DeleteSorry, not my scene. I gave up monsters a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteYup...I understand:)
DeleteNever been a fan of the creature feature (sorry, Godzilla). And I was going to say that Russ Tamblyn is Amber Tamblyn's father, but I see other commenters have beaten me to it.
ReplyDeleteYup and actually I think Russ Tamblyn was the bigger of the 2 stars but his career was in the 50's and early 60's.
DeleteI saw Godzilla many years ago- but I only vaguely remember it. I don't watch many monster movies, but it was fun to read about these. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
It's so hard to find these campy monster flicks now-I would love to revisit them
DeleteGodzilla was really an actor in a suit? I'm gullible enough to believe it. I think I've only seen parts of the movie, because as you know I'm bwak, bwak, bwak. Last year I actually saw a Japanese horror movie on TV... at night...alone. The Husband had come in about 1/4 way and asked "Are you sure you want to watch that? I got hooked before I could turn the channel. It was about a bunch of college-age girls visiting someone overnight. Throughout the night, the house and its owner, who of course is something evil, kills them off and they turn into ghosts. They end up doing the same thing to others who visit the house. Very creepy and spooky. It's a good thing I can't recall much of the details.
ReplyDeleteI think someone else writing about this theme picked this movie as it sounds familiar. It would freak me out.
DeleteInteresting! All the monster movies with the 'kaijus'... Unfortunately, I haven't seen any of it in actual viewing, just some footage and all. Nice picks!
ReplyDeleteI hope one day you will see these flicks in all their campy glory:)
DeleteI vaguely remember watching Godzilla. To be honest Asian monster movies or not my thing but their horror movies are creepy, scary, had me sleeping with the lights on. Ringu... yikes!
ReplyDeletehugs, Asha
Haven't seen any of these. Just not really into the Godzilla/King Kong type of features.
ReplyDelete