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From SciFiNow
Something of a Legendary Pictures stalwart thanks to his work with Christopher Nolan on Inception and Batman Begins, Ken Watanabe nonetheless brings Japanese cinema’s seal of approval for Legendary’s Godzilla reboot, playing Dr Ichiro Serizawa. But, as the actor exclusively reveals to SciFiNow, he had more than a few reservations about taking the nuclear menace back to Hollywood…
What does this version of Godzilla mean to you?
In Japan, this year is the 60th anniversary of Godzilla, since the original 1954 film. And we’ve had 28 different Godzilla movies since then. But Asian people know that the 60th anniversary is a very special one, because we have twelve animals for a year, and there are five cycles of the twelve for a ‘life’ and so 60 means being reborn.
So this is like Godzilla is being reborn, back to the original, and Gareth [Edwards] knows about that.
Were you worried about re-doing something so quintessentially Japanese?
If you are telling the Godzilla story, you cannot separate it from the nuclear element, and the first thing I asked was whether there was going to be the nuclear element, as that now, in Japan, is a really sensitive problem. And I was worried how I could use that, how I could make that OK, but Gareth understood those feelings.
But with this I was really nervous. I obviously have so many Japanese friends, and all of them were saying, “A Godzilla movie? In Hollywood? The last one was…” But I trust Gareth.
How was working with Gareth?
Before I met Gareth, the producers at Legendary said to me, “He’s the next generation’s Chris Nolan. I said, “Really?” They said yes. And I trust them. After this.
Are you ever worried about being typecast in Hollywood?
No. I think I play lots of different types of characters. They’re just Japanese.
Something of a Legendary Pictures stalwart thanks to his work with Christopher Nolan on Inception and Batman Begins, Ken Watanabe nonetheless brings Japanese cinema’s seal of approval for Legendary’s Godzilla reboot, playing Dr Ichiro Serizawa. But, as the actor exclusively reveals to SciFiNow, he had more than a few reservations about taking the nuclear menace back to Hollywood…
What does this version of Godzilla mean to you?
In Japan, this year is the 60th anniversary of Godzilla, since the original 1954 film. And we’ve had 28 different Godzilla movies since then. But Asian people know that the 60th anniversary is a very special one, because we have twelve animals for a year, and there are five cycles of the twelve for a ‘life’ and so 60 means being reborn.
So this is like Godzilla is being reborn, back to the original, and Gareth [Edwards] knows about that.
Were you worried about re-doing something so quintessentially Japanese?
If you are telling the Godzilla story, you cannot separate it from the nuclear element, and the first thing I asked was whether there was going to be the nuclear element, as that now, in Japan, is a really sensitive problem. And I was worried how I could use that, how I could make that OK, but Gareth understood those feelings.
But with this I was really nervous. I obviously have so many Japanese friends, and all of them were saying, “A Godzilla movie? In Hollywood? The last one was…” But I trust Gareth.
How was working with Gareth?
Before I met Gareth, the producers at Legendary said to me, “He’s the next generation’s Chris Nolan. I said, “Really?” They said yes. And I trust them. After this.
Are you ever worried about being typecast in Hollywood?
No. I think I play lots of different types of characters. They’re just Japanese.
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From Epoch Times
A new Godzilla trailer and poster was unveiled for WonderCon in the past week, say reports.
Director Gareth Edwards appeared at the presentation Saturday to show footage from the remake of “Godzilla,” which is coming out in May.
Edwards spoke at the event, telling the Los Angeles Times about his influences.
“I grew up watching Spielberg movies,” he said, referring to director Steven Spielberg. “What they did so well — as well as having epic, fantastic spectacle — they made the characters feel real and human. We were trying to do the same thing here.”
According to the Times, the “Godzilla” clip appeared to pay homage to “Jaws” with the outline of Godzilla and an aircraft carrier.
Godzilla is also seen confronting a Mothra-type creature at an airport.
“I feel the best designs are strongest when they work in silhouette,” Edwards told the Times. “We built him in 3-D and designed him in black and rotated him. If you saw a sign warning ‘Godzilla crossing,’ you’d know right away it was not a deer or a bear.”
He said creating Godzilla–one that appears fresh and original–took about a year. “Forget the giant monsters,” he told them. “If this really happened, it would be a life-changing experience. You have to take it seriously.”
“Bryan Cranston did all the motion capture for Godzilla,” Edwards joked, according to MTV.
Edwards also talked about the secrecy surrounding the movie.
“All good ideas in the marketing of this film are all down to me. All the mistakes, the things you don’t like was the marketing team,” Edwards quipped.
A new Godzilla trailer and poster was unveiled for WonderCon in the past week, say reports.
Director Gareth Edwards appeared at the presentation Saturday to show footage from the remake of “Godzilla,” which is coming out in May.
Edwards spoke at the event, telling the Los Angeles Times about his influences.
“I grew up watching Spielberg movies,” he said, referring to director Steven Spielberg. “What they did so well — as well as having epic, fantastic spectacle — they made the characters feel real and human. We were trying to do the same thing here.”
According to the Times, the “Godzilla” clip appeared to pay homage to “Jaws” with the outline of Godzilla and an aircraft carrier.
Godzilla is also seen confronting a Mothra-type creature at an airport.
“I feel the best designs are strongest when they work in silhouette,” Edwards told the Times. “We built him in 3-D and designed him in black and rotated him. If you saw a sign warning ‘Godzilla crossing,’ you’d know right away it was not a deer or a bear.”
He said creating Godzilla–one that appears fresh and original–took about a year. “Forget the giant monsters,” he told them. “If this really happened, it would be a life-changing experience. You have to take it seriously.”
“Bryan Cranston did all the motion capture for Godzilla,” Edwards joked, according to MTV.
Edwards also talked about the secrecy surrounding the movie.
“All good ideas in the marketing of this film are all down to me. All the mistakes, the things you don’t like was the marketing team,” Edwards quipped.
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While from all accounts it wasn't a trailer but footage (I wasn't there so I can't say definitely), the crowd certainly seems to be in awe over it. More info as we get it, below is some of what Gareth Edwards said via Zap2It.
Update: The reveal was footage of the Hawaii scenes some of what we have seen in glimpses in the trailers but there is also a reveal of Muto that we haven't and the beginning of a showdown between Godzilla and Muto. Check out the video below.
"We did think about looping the [trailer] footage for two hours," Edwards jokes of the well-received trailer for his movie. Don't worry -- there is still other footage. In it, we actually meet the monster: "Godzilla tells you who he is," says Edwards.
(Original post had trailer which was removed per Warner Bros.)
Update: The reveal was footage of the Hawaii scenes some of what we have seen in glimpses in the trailers but there is also a reveal of Muto that we haven't and the beginning of a showdown between Godzilla and Muto. Check out the video below.
"We did think about looping the [trailer] footage for two hours," Edwards jokes of the well-received trailer for his movie. Don't worry -- there is still other footage. In it, we actually meet the monster: "Godzilla tells you who he is," says Edwards.
(Original post had trailer which was removed per Warner Bros.)
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The first and third are almost the same, the middle one is one of the few body shots of Muto. Posted in Toho Kaiju Union onFacebook by Jeremy Williams.
Update: Clearer shot of Muto.
Update: Clearer shot of Muto.
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The official Godzilla movie page on Facebook posted that they will have exclusive interviews with Gareth Edwards as we get closer to May. Keep watching there page https://www.facebook.com/GodzillaMovieUK to see them as they're posted! First one up is at 5pm GMT. Be sure to like the page and keep up to date. First teaser video is here: http://instagram.com/p/l-IBh-zaoy/
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Newsarama.com posted it's 10 to Watch for 2014: MOVIES, in the description for it makes note about the monsters Godzilla would fight the Mutos and seems to give away info on just what they are. Whether they are being creative or this is actually how and where they come from we shall see below is the post.
Godzilla
Born off the coast of Japan in the aftermath of a nuclear explosion, the lizard-king Godzilla returns to theaters in 2014. Directed by avowed kaiju mega-fan Garth Edwards (Monster) with a final script by Frank Darabont, this new film coming on May 16 looks to crush earlier renditions of Godzilla and leave Godzilla-sized footprint for a new generation.
In this new Godzilla, the monster known in Japan as Gojira will be fighting against test-tube monsters, dubbed Mutos, created in a secret government lab that threaten to take over the world. Godzilla’s cast is a veritable goldmine of acting talent, with Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston and Kick-Ass star (and future Avenger) Aaron Taylor-Johnson leading an ensemble which includes Ken Watanabe, Juliette Bionche, Elizabeth Olsen (also a future Avenger), and a staple of the Godzilla franchise, Akira Takarada.
Edwards’ Godzilla is coming out on the 60th Anniversary of the titular lizard’s birth.
Godzilla
Born off the coast of Japan in the aftermath of a nuclear explosion, the lizard-king Godzilla returns to theaters in 2014. Directed by avowed kaiju mega-fan Garth Edwards (Monster) with a final script by Frank Darabont, this new film coming on May 16 looks to crush earlier renditions of Godzilla and leave Godzilla-sized footprint for a new generation.
In this new Godzilla, the monster known in Japan as Gojira will be fighting against test-tube monsters, dubbed Mutos, created in a secret government lab that threaten to take over the world. Godzilla’s cast is a veritable goldmine of acting talent, with Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston and Kick-Ass star (and future Avenger) Aaron Taylor-Johnson leading an ensemble which includes Ken Watanabe, Juliette Bionche, Elizabeth Olsen (also a future Avenger), and a staple of the Godzilla franchise, Akira Takarada.
Edwards’ Godzilla is coming out on the 60th Anniversary of the titular lizard’s birth.