GODZILLAFEST begins a weeklong series of films at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco today, leadign off with GODZILLA VS DESTROYER, one of the better Godzilla films from the 1990s.

Being a San Francisco event, this is a little bit outside the area of what we normally cover here. However, the festival is (with a few exceptions) essentially the same one that stomped its way through the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood back in July, just before Hollywood Gothique got up and running. Therefore, I may take this opportunity to post a few items gleaned from the Los Angeles festival, including some interviews with the director of the two most recent Godzilla films (not counting GODZILLA: FINAL WARS, which is due to premier at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood at the end of this month).

Among the films will be WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS, with actor Russ Tamblyn appearing in person to answer questions after the film. Also in person will be numerous cast and crew from the films, including Tsutomo Kitagawa, the man-in-the-suit in the recent Godzilla films.

I know many Western audiences view Japanese science-fiction films with disdain, but the selection of titles at the Godzillafest is good enough to make anyone with an open mind reconsider. The original uncut, undubbed GODZILLA (1954) will be screened, along with more recent films, like the wonderful GODZILLA, MOTHRA, KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL OUT ATTACK, and the almost equally impressive GODZILLA: TOKYO SOS.

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Godzilla (1954) Film Review and Interview