Talking Videodiscs (aka-Thank You Rose Bowl Flea Market)

Always happy to run across older video formats when out in town. Especially when it happens amongst the colorful crowds at the hallowed Rose Bowl Flea Market, of which today's marked the first of 2015. Bargain hunters, master hagglers, and curiosity seekers galore come from occasionally incredible distances to buy, sell, trade everything from used furniture to antiques to pop culture ephemera. And today, despite often difficult rain, we ran across this longtime holdover from the pre-video rental store boom of the 1980s.

Enter the almighty,  and often forgotten RCA videodisc. Introduced in the very late 1970s,  the video disc was an essential dream own for young cinephiles like myself when the only way one could rewatch a favorite film, was to head out to the local movie house for a re-release. Outside of this, and early cable outfits like the Star Channel, there was little to no other way to check out a Disney favorite,  let alone Star Wars. While I at the time had heard about grown ups owning a rudimentary VTR, or even 16mms, there was no one around to allow this to feel like reality.

That was until a parent's friends introduced me to the wonders of VHS around 1982(and another,  to the RCA videodisc). Being only able to play whatever they had for a few hours was exciting I must confess. But the video disc, was another curious animal altogether. Comprised of a slim plastic shell that encased a thing,  vinyl-record sized reel of tape designed to be loaded fully into the player. Upon insertion with the power on, an indicator would notify the user that the tape has been loaded, , allowing the shell to be removed for the duration of play. If the film ran a certain length, there would be a notification to change discs. This was especially fun when viewing epics such as Gandhi. If the curious see this primitive method carrying echoes of the long gone 8-track, one couldn't be blamed at all. The mindset behind the player has traces of that classic music format all over the discs themselves.

The videodisc format was also important to my youth in that they were among the very first home movie formats I had ever seen being marketed to the masses. Even years later, the only way one would see home video go sell-thru, was via specific titles. Up until this point, most home video releases were for rental purposes only, and the major studios saw no reason for the average person to collect VHS. It wasn't even until the latter part of the decade with MCA/UNIVERSAL's long delayed release of the repeatedly re-released E.T. The Extraterrestrial,  that major department and grocery stores would be caught dead selling movies. So most tapes in video rental stores were sold to vendors at bulk only prices akin to 89.95 each. So the videodisc,  was a bit of an olive branch to what would become our current landscapes of five dollar blu-ray, and stocking stuffer DVDs. I still retain vivid memories of videodiscs selling with a handsome furnished wood color television displays at the local GEMCO.  The Capacitance Electronic Disc method was initially developed in the early 1960s, and took nearly twenty years to hit store shelves under the SelectaVision moniker. So considering just how wild the home video world would become in a mere thirty-plus years post 1981, makes for a sweet slice of future shock in and of itself.

Smoky, Yet Alive..

Reporting with signal cleared up yet again, and with tale of a most troublesome brush with a killer. Was a battle one could only run across whilst traversing the more treacherous corners and byways of life on foot. And with an enemy who's claws detach with intent to linger long after an attack. But keep in mind, that it is a killer. Not a killer of life, but rather a killer of time. (although, many may argue both being of the same ilk) A beast known for incapacitating some of the more resilient of our species. Bombarded by the best weapons imaginable, this creature finally found itself defeated and well assimilated into the Kaijyu like so many before it.

So yes, this flu was a bit of a monster.

Can't say I had ever experienced anything like it in my lifetime. And even though hospitalization was never deemed necessary, the convalescence and requisite fighting that it took to ward away symptoms was significant enough for a year's worth of job-delaying illness. More than grateful to be back among the world of the living (even though it was quite refreshing to be confined to more than one home, reading, typing, and exchanging ideas with others equally as infected for a few days), and eager to begin sharing thoughts on a great many things viewed again. So keep eyes and feelers lively, the true monster has returned, and boy is it ever hungry!

2014: An Evolution Of Commentary

Started putting together another writeup when it came rumbling back that there is indeed a need for discussion of visual media to become more interactive. It just seems like the online fan community is ready for something a little more direct than what tends to be currently possible. And this is moreso than the (already?) mere realm of blogging/posting/commenting model. As wonderful, freeing, and often gratifying a method this is, numerous discussions in real life have brought about thoughts regarding what is to become of this new culture of comment that has grown in the wake of the blogosphere. Even as social networks wrangle together the anarchy of online barbs and bland platitudes, there is much to be said about a greater awareness of how stories are made and then sold to us. The psychological and social implications of this nascent world we are now typing and sharing within might just herald a new, extended language of discussion between enthusiasts, and I would like to perhaps play with the possibilities as the new year takes shape.

And perhaps the way to do this, is to embrace the speed of communications, and bring the model back to its origin by way of real-time film discussion.

And while one might assume we are talking about something akin to live streaming, a part of me wishes it would be possible to do this without the need for cumbersome keyboards, and straining eyes fixed at a small screen. As exciting as the online realm has become with these activities, a lacking element seems to be a faith in half-formed ideas. The kind that allows for greater boughs of understanding; something that the speed of "posting" tends to cancel out, often to the propagation of static arguments when all one required was a little more time to iron out a thought. As fast and efficient commentary has become in such a brief few years, it is this element of discourse that often gets lost in the mix. Almost as if imaginary doors are closed after statements are left behind on a comment board, or beneath a YouTube window, these tend to grant evidence that few methods eclipse the speed/malleable interplay of human dialogue. And while livestreaming does sound like a good possibility for Cel Count Media in the near future, the urge to experiment with something more direct and live remains pretty strong.

Not too much unlike Cinema class, a local screening with outdoor seating, preceded by intro discussion, and closed by way of post-film thematic exchange just sounds super attractive(if a bit tricky in the logistics). Yes. The Kaijyu sees 2014 as the year matters took a new, slightly more ambitious tune with the Kaijyu. And it feels like the right time to begin adding new features beyond the normal internet footprinting that happens after a few years of writing. The screening and writing feel like organic beacons to what could eventually be something published on paper. Have really been feeling a wish to expand matters onto another format for some time, and as busy as 2014 is already shaping up to be, this feels like the most appropriate time. As posts become more and more theme-driven, and reviews begin mutating into more story, idea, and communication-based, it's natural that the Kaijyu take on something slightly more challenging. Considering that my favorite film of 2013 ended up being something not quantifiable on any mechanistic level, the Kaijyu is set to wander in ways never thought possible before.

Quite excited about the coming months. For updates, Twitter is still the very best way to see what I am up to. A podcast at Cel Count is under way today, and am eager to share more hidden, wondrous things with all of you, so stay connected, and be sure to keep up with the feedback. We'd love to hear your thoughts, so keep it coming!

State Of The Kaijyu: A Settling Of Debris

Yes. It has been quiet on these pages. But this is not for lack of good reason. With some grand transitions coming together in the real, columns and reviews are only being put on the periphery for the time being. With school, and work changes ahead, there is even a feeling like the words being shared here and in various other locations might find themselves another home in time. A place where electricity, and the intertubes cannot reach. Analog space taking up residence in someone's book bag, or landfill. That's right. The Kaijyu is considering print.

So when considering ideas for book(s), I've been looking back at previous posts and writeups and centering on what binds much of this together and realizing that much of it has to do with intent, and the delivery. There is also a need from my words to consider how we watch stuff and contextualize it in the real world- even when the stories themselves seem so far removed from them. Despite all the fantastical weirdness that tends to come up around here, it has always been in the name of finding some particle of human truth to it, and perhaps this is where my focus will lie.

On the watching front, it has been mostly sampling movies as well as the latest anime, and while nothing is entrancing me the way Flowers Of Evil did, there are some decent offerings that give me mild hope. I'm even willing to admit here to having great respect and admiration for Kyoto Animation for finally producing Free!, which is equal opportunity sex positivity at its best. Been so long since we have seen something this overt, and unabashedly fun for the guy-oggling set.

Has been admittedly rough to summon up the energy to watch anything remotely dense as time is sparse. And after Pacific Rim succeeded for me on a multitude of personal levels, it has been tricky to think of anything to counter such a thing but some of my favorite anime and fantasy films. It's especially so when one has to come to terms with the fact that this just doesn't happen that often. There are only so few milestones out there, and the thought that the only thing one can do to sustain a certain vibe is to go back rather than explore further can be a little disappointing. This is where the spirit of the obscure find can be the ultimate expedition worth embarking on. But alas, the Mom & Pop video store is all but an ancient memory now, and sites like Netflix can only do so much. So what to do?

I'm sure solutions are forthcoming to those willing to look. And I'm certain there are so many cool, weird, telling titles out there that can fuel an extended chapter or two. But for now, it's largely about going back into the well, along with some more personal thoughts on animated/filmed media, and what it is about it that makes it so impactful for so many of us. I just know that in my case, it is less these days about escape, and more a means of figuring out what it is that we most want at any given time, no matter how perverse, or bizarre.

So while life and work is happening, the monster mind is still blazing away with the blowtorch. And will find the time to post and research for the larger projects. It's all falling action these days, and I'm excited to see how all of this is navigated from hilltop to bottom.

Like V.Zero promised several years ago, this is all an "eternal work in progress", so thanks for sticking it out with me.

Overdrive is almost here.

State Of The Kaijyu: Springtime For Monsters!

Firstly,

Mending from almost two weeks worth of airbound illness, and more than eager to be back in the cockpit. There are many more worlds of weird, and fun to explore, so keep those backpacks filled with essentials, things are continuing on all fronts..

Second,

Beginning to see my way through some major life trajectory changes, and as a result, posts will likely remain this sporadic for the time being. But don't let this be a hint of an oncoming closing of gates. In fact, much of what is in the real life planning has everything to do with the writeups shared here, and elsewhere. It only felt right to pull up a few stakes in the name of taking the best advantage. Living in a new location has been enlightening beyond words, and in that regard, it feels more than time to do more in the living department. Knowing how this will impact future writings, this decision seems all the more invigorating.

After all, a great deal of what makes the Kaijyu especially fun for me, is the bridging between strange visual culture intermingled with the social world at large. And it wasn't in any way a planned theme that eventually became something of a backbone here. It like so many things formed in the doing. And now that I feel like I have some focal point to work with on these pages, it feels quite appropo to study outwardly in tandem with various weekly screenings/events/editorials, podcasts, etc. Blogging is essentially a means to keep the abilities fresh, and to hopefully expand them. There is a great need for immediacy with these pages, and there are times when it simply won't do to force out a writeup simply for the sake of itself. Believe it, or not, there are weeks when many films/shows are viewed and are never reported on. Often this is the case simply because the subjects themselves exhibit very little to muse or expound about. - Which makes one wonder if many creators find themselves in a similar predicament; unable to find the inspiration necessary to provoke ideas, tortured by an almost pathological need for work to be done. And while it is true that even the most lackluster work is capable of eliciting some laugh, accidental profundity, or even wholesale rage, it is a very particular series of patters that one must find in order to pack a post with a fitting response.

Here's to a future of strange discovery! It's bound to be an illuminating voyage.

The Throughline

After much of the extensive pausing that has graced the walls of this blog over the last year-plus, it has nagged me what it is that binds a majority of my writeups/reviews. Considering it as some mildly consistent body of work comprised of hours upon hours of grinding through whatever thoughts were found floating about in need of some manner of home, while discomforting in some respects, also deserves examination if even for a moment. Which is hopefully why these words are coming out in rapid succession this morning, at the beginning of the year of the Water Snake. Perhaps with some calm resolve, this could help clear up the fog of so many recent breaks. While real life has taken a significant point in matters, it hasn't been without thinking endlessly about what topics make for good editorial, be them here, or at AD, or any number of places. Daily schedules notwithstanding, it is also about finding something new to consider, even if the subject itself has been adequately written about elsewhere. So where does the Kaijyu seek out its own brand of thought?

Likely within an insufferable need to clear the air between fan behavior and an awareness of more grounded social context. And while none of it is entirely successful, it does feel very much like a common denominator that binds even the most gonzo peek at a bloody post-tokusatsu tribute. Which is also why the occasional darker than average piece of horror or doc comes my way and has to attain some manner of coverage here. Even the more obvious multiplex experience can carry with it some manner of social challenge that the average crowd might consider in between the opulent production value and explosive sound mix. One of the bigger things that film school helped me understand was that everything created is equally capable of coming through with something that is beyond the often extraordinary trappings we are sold into watching it for. Ostensibly it's just looking out for some semblance of the personal that could transcend the package. When novelty wears off, especially in a media climate such as now, one may find it important to seek out just what it is that draws them to certain works. What does one walk away from them with? What did it help us consider? What is it to be truly entertained?

And it these thoughts continue through at places like Anime Diet, where the occasional cartoon review, or look back at fandoms of days past reside. Attempting to sum up feelings about a medium that has meant so much to me since childhood remains a challenging and occasionally rewarding part of my online life. And its also hard to imagine a medium more telling of a culture and its social nuances than anime, so there is often a wealth to be mined by looking at the trajectory it has granted itself in half a century. And like anything else, it is riddled with a need to make a quick yen, but it also has within it, the power to encapsulate a time and attitude like few other forms of art. Its often visceral nature is not unlike varying types of rock music from folk to punk to sheer noise. And whether or not we acknowledge such a thing, it never ceases to raise an eyebrow or two, or jolt someone into a soap-box-stepping frenzy. And it cannot merely by a reflection of the fans themselves so much as the work that helped illuminate these feelings that were brewing under that surface in the first place. "Just look at that passion all over those walls" It's a visceral, occasionally beautiful kind of love that is hard for some to see the value in, but still deserves some much needed examining from the ground floor.

So what it all comes together as, perhaps is best summed up as a multi-tentacled means of figuring out where one goes after the flaming fanboy begins to cool down. Where one can truly roost, and still appreciate the past whilst looking heartily toward the future. It can just as easily be magical as it could be gritty, horrific as it could be gorgeous, honest as it is bugnuts crazy. It isn't nearly as tonally schizophrenic as one might have imagined. After all, it is imperative that a wanderer seek themselves whilst being lost. It isn't easy to chart a map without a north star, or a compass, but the work brought forth by the challenge makes it all worth while. We are all visitors, and it remains to be seen how many choose to remain as tourists. So there is indeed value in staking out all possible hidden paths. The magic is in knowing where these paths intersect.

Farewell To Inspirations

I wanted to just go ahead and mark today for a new post, not to share more thoughts regarding the ideas and work behind amazing works of fiction that infiltrate our minds, but rather to acknowledge and celebrate the passing (literally and figuratively) of a singular human icon that made its final pass over the skies of LA midday today. Was pretty much an ordinary Friday at work when the space shuttle Endeavour passed over the workplace during lunch hour roughly around 12:30 PM PST today. Making one of it's numerous passes over the LA/OC area today, I was able to get an ample look at the craft mounted atop an airliner at an impressively low altitude. Low enough to get a good look at the finer details as the suns rays bounced off their mutually sparking frames.

Not merely an unusual sight on a clear Los Angeles sky, but a shining, almost melancholy reminder of humankind's greatest attributes, all well represented in a flight that I'm sure left many with a sense of awe, inspiration, pride, and possibly sadness at the loss of an icon of an age. Of the possibilities inherent in the collaborative best in all of us.

Kaijyu-OH.

The training has been rigorous, and the pressure points have been memorized.

Been taking a while to return to these pages. And despite the fact that a much-needed explanation (which really shouldn't happen to be completely frank, as living in a new place, and saddled with new work responsibilities has taken up a surprising amount of energy and time as of late) should be in order, it may tickle some to know that a long-considered podcast is very much in the making. The labs have been boiling with ideas. Ideas which seem to be gathering quite a bit of traction for Cel Count Media, and in turn, posting here as well as Anime Diet. Most of which may spend more time talking up nastier shows of the past, as well as the usual cinema pop schtick we tend to celebrate. It has been especially fun exposing the locals here to works I once enjoyed in a past life. Having the opportunity to re-evaluate many of these with older tastes has been truly inspiring, and I can't wait to share them with all. Even ones that can so easily be considered "bad" suddenly carry with them a certain amount of freakish charm that simply isn't found anywhere anymore. The current anime output can only be blamed for this, as I can now safely say that more often than not, it isn't a climate made for me anymore. And while here are winners here and there, there is no substitute for the J-media equivalent to a scuzzy pizza joint in the bad end of town.

So expect lots more leaping back n forth on that time machine, because we're bound to wear that sucker out pretty soon.

State Of The Kaijyu: Finding A Way Out Of Gotham

Well as things slowly begin to stabilize here at the clandestine island labs, it might be within mere days that posting and updates may resume with at least semi-frequency for the time being. Much of which is based on the status of base location, and the possibility that this may change within a mere few weeks as of this. With the Lupin posts, the initial plan was to allow that (and Twitter-naturally) to make the sum of my online presence for a while, but the creature is getting restless yet again, and it feels more than overdue that a few observations, and perhaps a review or two will help keep this URL busy for a while. And since the summer movie season is upon us this weekend with The Avengers, it only felt proper to go ahead and share thoughts.


And while we're at it, I currently can't stop watching the final trailer for Christopher Nolan's finale to his Batman trilogy. Seriously. It has been a long time since a trailer has owned me like this. Slow, melancholic, and ultimately emotional, this looks like the finale I could only hope such a team could accomplish. While it does make me a little sad that James Newton Howard is sitting out the ending, the composition here via Zimmer remains thoroughly engaging, and atypical of the man. Still not sure about how Selina Kyle fits into all of this, but hey I'm willing to play ball as long as Chris and his brother Jonathan are pitching all the ideas. Facing up to not only a terrifying enemy with ties to his past, but also facing up to what he began rooted in his own father issues hinted at via what we see here is pretty powerful stuff. Thematically, this is is the most logical way to close the curtain on this particular interpretation of the mythos, and for me, the most exciting stuff, is what has yet to be revealed- things I'm sure will shock and perhaps provoke to no end..While I may not always make mention of superhero stuff on this blog, there has always been a personal connection I've had with the world of Batman, and I must admit that Nolan's vision of Gotham has possibly become my de-facto rendition, so all of this feels more than a little bittersweet. Not necessarily because it is ending either. But rather that after such a powerful second film, a third never felt truly necessary. So in many ways a third feels like either a guaranteed letdown, or sadistic dare. I really want this to be the latter, as it could fully say quite a bit about our current standing on the national stage, as well as grant fandom some truly unique and eloquent hard lefts in regards to what the comic book film is capable of..But after The Dark Knight, this feels like a high-wire challenge that could only fail, so I'm keeping my hopes cautiously high.

Meanwhile, looking back at an obscure piece of OVA history...I cry..Seriously folks, sometimes anime can be a measure of just what is up with the social norms of a certain country, be them troubling, or sometimes downright horrifying. Both may very well be the case with Blue Flames. Not sure I have ever written a piece under so much reflexive terror and confusion. Possibly an AD post for the ages.

A Larcenous Kind Of Love

In case some of you might be curious as to where I've been as of late, well it hasn't merely been preparing for some large living changes that are days from taking place, but it has also been musing many things Lupin, as the first TV series featuring the legendary master thief has been rolling out this season, and with occasionally impressive style. So after some excited words exchanged via Twitter, the folks at Anime Diet went ahead and charged me, and Reality Check Fail's ElectricV01 with chatting up the series, and we're now two posts in!

Directed by Michiko To Hatchin's Sayo Yamamoto, Lupin III: Fujiko Mine is off to a fun start, and is streaming simulcast via Funimation(For members) for those looking to get in on the action, so stop on by, won't you?

State Of The Kaijyu : Tripping The Life Lulltastic?

Not going to make up any excuses as to my current status. As of this moment, Kaijyu's concentration lies heavily on new stuff I've been able to watch, read, or places I've been able to go. And since the flow of life has remained wildly busy in more than one manner, a big sporadic post here or there will have to suffice until further notice. To be completely blunt, I haven't been seeing much lately that has me charged up enough to write about them beyond the occasional Twitter post. But fear not. There are many new potential posts in the planning, along with reviews and write-ups that have already been submitted to their appropriate places. (Two of which are awaiting release at VCinema-one of which concerns a 1990s favorite that continues to inspire me in many ways.) Not to mention a recent, and very hopeful prognostication piece over at Anime Diet, where I offer thoughts on what excites me most about the coming year.

So for the time being, my Twitter feed will remain as busy as I can make it until time and material frees up. With some more than exciting changes on the roster within the next month, things might begin looking much busier around here, as well as at Cel Count Media. As a matter of fact; count on it. 

The Kaijyu Comes To VCinema!

Well. Figured it was more than overdue to spill about what has been going on behind the scenes as of late. True to this (and other) blog's roots, reviews and thoughts are more than waiting in the scaly wings, as I've been hard at work fine-tuning a wholly new & challenging life schedule. But the biggest news to come out of this resides in the newest place fellow monsters can check out for my signature (read: silly) rantings and ravings. Turns out after much radio silence, I'll now be providing occasional commentary for the fantastic souls over at VCinemashow! A truly one-of-a-kind home for news and reviews spanning asian cinema of all shapes and morphology, my duty will likely mostly consist of thoughts regarding anime films/ OVAs, and various strangeness in between. I must admit to being a little nervous, but that can only better fuel the excitement. So please, add VCinema alongside everything else to get a more vivid picture of what excites us about far east visual culture & more! It's bound to be a worthwhile trip.

Even Monsters Get Spoiled...

Well I guess it's time to just admit it. A large part of why I haven't done much on this site over the last few weeks is simply because it becomes a slightly tricky thing to come up with the kind of material one finds adequate after watching a series/series that actually surpasses expectations. After an event such as this, one like myself cannot help but feel like any other meager bit of casual watching or even re-watching warrants a writeup. For those curious, I am of course still reeling after finishing the 24 episode return of anime veteran, Kunihiko Ikuhara, Mawaru Penguindrum. And even though we are amidst a new season of tv anime, I have yet to find another show to deliver that kind of experience. Which is not to say that I haven't been having a great time with Chihayafuru. But for a show that good, it is also incredibly straight-forward, which is fine, but rarely do stories like those get under the skin quite the way Ikuhara did with his.

Should you be interested in more of my thoughts regarding Penguindrum, might I point you in the direction of my most recent post at Anime Diet? Even upon finishing, I still had plenty to discuss regarding the series, its themes, concerns, and twists. So much so that I had to refrain from allowing it to pollute every other project I have a part in (It can even be argued that this is EXACTLY what I am succumbing to right this moment!).

So on that front, it seems time to delve back into one of my favorite directors, and see where I stand with them now. New review definitely in the works, as are preparations for a truly appropriate episode of Double Chop! Stay tuned.

For The Curious: 2012 Opening Moves

For the curious, the beginning of this most unique New Year has largely seen more activity elsewhere. And in that regard, it feels a lot like things have started on a more heavy-handed note than initially expected. In the days following the demise of US anime distributor, Bandai Entertainment, a post occurred on Kotaku regarding one of the oldest, creakiest arguments against piracy that essentially tipped me into hyperdrive. Having actually worked within the industry, and witnessing many things for myself, this post was the last I could take of such notions..and thus...Anime Diet became home to something that was wholly unexpected, and has become far more impression-making than I had even remotely anticipated.


And speaking of Bandai,..I think Mike Toole said it best..




In other news, the halls of Cel Count Media are beginning to glow with the warm colors of diversity, as another show entered the fray- and a most welcome return to a show I truly missed!

Join Jenny P. and myself as we restart our journey into our mutual lives as cinephiles from one generation to another with The Double Chop, where our first go-round pitts the lesser-remembered Jackie Chan in America romp, The Protector against John Carpenter's still-infectious paean thumb of the nose to whitebread Hollywood, Big Trouble In Little China! Join our monthly show, as we share personal movie memories, and stack them up against ones we both know we like. Truly unusual, fly-on-the-wall, verite podcasting!

With seeking new forms of employment, my focus is a little out of the realm of heavy blogging at the moment, but it should return at full speed soon enough. Posting will continue to happen when the inspiration occurs. Until then, Twitter is always the best way to see what's currently happening with me, and current projects. With a bit of extra work, and yes luck, things should be back to pseudo-normal. Either way, thanks for the feedback, and dialogue. It is always appreciated.

Pause Button (On a rock?)

And now...a little break..Won't be a long one, I promise. Two recent views of some favorites have left me with some pretty good material to type on about. But until then..

Zero-Limiter Holiday

Just a speedy mid-holiday update as trip to visit family winds down, and mere hours remain before the journey home commences. Best thoughts to all who have been able to celebrate what is indeed in our hands whether they be friends, family, or both. Aside from spending time with the desert clan, much has been watched, mostly via a pair of absurdly large screens (One plasma, and the other with True HD enabled). And while I personally would never consider screens that opulent, it is a great way to explore the limits of certain works available on Blu-ray. Of the most notable I caught were Rebuild Of Evangelion 2.22 (Which looked and sounded terrific, justifying the very project's existence.), as well as The Mist, and the recently released Evil Dead II. Again, as nice as it was to experience with such grandeur, I'm not sure I would ever go this far for my movies. There is still a part of me who prefers the theatre experience, and home is home.

Regardless, being able to be in a house where in one room, Kiki's Delivery Service is playing while Lupin III: Castle Of Cagliostro is playing in another, feels like a massive paradigm has shifted. Not only with family, but with media in general. And that's pretty exciting, despite the new challenges that seem to crop up with each new technological growth spurt. My only hope is that ease of access doesn't cheapen this love of art and story to the point where everything is mere distraction, incapable of inspiring thought or discussion. Those who are familiar with this site know full well where these concerns stem from, and as access tinkers with value, the challenge becomes ever greater to have some kind of determined amount of impact. And while it took many years to finally reach a point where Miyazaki films could be treated as something wholly mainstream on these shores (memories of working at a major local video store, virtually forcing the sole copy of My Neighbor Totoro onto confused families swiftly come to mind.), there is always the danger of being seen as just more for the pile as entertainment overflows, and submerges our minds. Quality speaks-yes, but consumers also have limits.Much like how I can be with looking at the latest array of new shows available via Crunchyroll, or another legitimate anime streaming site, it becomes something of a blurring point, making writing off to become one of the more accessible options.

That said, it's exciting to witness this latest toy era, but I often question the cost. And as the family and friends section of the weekend becomes hijacked into yet another celebration of a culture's fascination with the material (yet endlessly ephemeral), it is at least good to know that not everyone has let their monitors speak for them, and allowed their thoughts and words come across. If the culture of the real remains the focus, and the audio-visual end continues to work as an extension of it, bringing out new ideas and debate, perhaps we're all the better for it.



And speaking of discourse...

State Of The Kaijyu: Prelude To Revolution

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and not a turkey in sight. (Lest you consider a belated session involving The X Files: I Want To Believe, anyway) With the weather bearing down on many of us in the So-Cal area, as well as an upcoming trip to the old hometown, things will likely continue to be mildly quiet around here. Which isn't in any way implying that I haven't had my hands full with new, and old stuff to watch over the last several days. In fact, true to my most recent Anime Diet post, it has quickly become a retro season of sorts for me as not only did I get another chance to look and share thoughts on an obscure 1980s favorite in California Crisis, but a healthy number of titles by way of several sweet sources. Now not initially ready to share about all of them on the Diet (after all, I find that spreading the fun around is a lot more interesting), there will be a few posts regarding a few on these pages. But for now, seriously give that AD post some loving, as I find that it's ambitious one-shot OAVs like those that helped solidify my love of the medium in those oh so physical days of the pre-wired.

In other, mildly online project related news:

 

Pretty exciting stuff, I feel anyway. After a year of running a show, a part of me is so ready to take it to the next logical tier. Updates as they come(via Twitter, of course!)

 

Between Tengoku to Jigoku

Aside from spending my Saturday at Pacific Media Expo, which was quite fun for the most part, I partook another viewing of the then-underappreciated Kurosawa favorite, High and Low, which helped me formulate more thoughts concerning the current state of affairs. And as thousands continue to speak out against criminality in the corporate and governmental worlds, it rang a particularly deep chord within me this time around, especially in regards to how the film portrays nearly self-made shoe powerhouse , Kingo Gondo's shifty, negligent board members, as well as his creditors who plot to wring control, and continue to abuse their positions for greater shares of wealth. Kidnapping plot aside, which seemed more a desperate act than anything truly diabolical, it is the action of those already on the "inside" that promote an unhealthy influence upon a society's only recently begun restoration. And while the morality of the film wavers, even within the ivory walls of Gondo's home, it is easily seen as a reaction to loss of status for not only him, but his wife and family. But when everything has transpired, it remains clear that his demeanor is that of a survivor, and not of those so easily pushed to the abyss that they themselves commit crimes beyond the redeemable.

I love how the film so easily could have portrayed the hardened businessman as a model from a simpler time, with a clean rep, and white-tinted actions, but it plays on our ability to empathize with the man as he grapples with negotiating with a kidnapper. Streaks of grey are all over the place, the film lives up to the title, and we are presented with an impeccably staged, refreshingly honest look at the lives of those in places of power, without allowing the compass to lean too hard to one direction.

But when I watch the online chatter via Twitter, news video, and read the testimonies, one cannot help but feel that many of those like the ones surrounding Mr. Gondo throughout his central crisis have been on the winning team for far too long, with a public at long last ready to hold them accountable. But the largest tragedy when considering the film, is the role of the police, public servants dogged in the pursuit of not only the perpetrator, but some semblance of truth for those willing to sacrifice so much for others. Not being able to see this reflected on the streets of a number of our major cities is enough to not only sadden me, but seek to further damage the very idea of democracy and social justice.


And when the film finally takes us to hell, it serves as a reminder of how much worse the human heart can be when it feels suppressed and impotent. It is something many in the current movement are fighting to rise beyond. Further sending home that we are all capable of so much more. Now if only more in the towers were to follow suit.

The Fleeting Fear

The last days of October are rushing by with almost distressing speed, and all the while I'm pretty bogged down with work and stuff to watch. So much in fact, that my annual diet of horror has been left more than a little wanting. And finally having a workable Netflix Streaming setup has run at odds with an unpredictable bandwidth- an unexpected development. Regardless, time will be made over the next few days to drink in a few of the more recent films available on streaming. Some of which include John Carpenter's The Ward, which came and went earlier this year with me unable to catch it. Also recently added has been The Last Exorcist, which has received enough positive talk to pique my curiosity. And speaking of the verité-horror, despite my more rational wishes (again), a part of me feels the need to check out Paranormal Activity 3 after such a strong opening weekend. Something must indeed be working with that kind of haul. And with the two guys responsible for Catfish at the helm, no doubt it should have a unique feel.

Also here to report that a review copy of a book covering the life of one of my original movie inspirations has been in my possession for a little while, and nearing completion. Am currently debating whether or not it would be best to review it in sections, rather than in one post. And seeing as how lunch has been my designated reading time, it hasn't been the most expedient manner to fully digest it. That said, there's a lot of illuminating stuff in it that deserves sharing about in these pages. Now if you'll excuse me, it's time for the Attack The Block Blu-ray extras. Oooh yeah..

Feel the storm? It's coming..

Much of the east coast is prepping for the worst in regards to an immense all-out water& wind-based assault, all the while many of us on the west are contending with late blooming temperature creep. And all the while, matters here at the base are nearing something of a turning point in the lifetime of the Kaijyu on the web. With work schedule being the way it has been, alongside an extended technological quagmire, it was as if the usual stomping on these pages were becoming little more than a stunted crawl. I'm just here to report that while there will definitely be more to come, it'll be on a front a little larger than previously shared. Starting sometime next month, a new project will seek to better expand upon news and views often shared here, as well as via Variable Zero, Anime Diet, and even Combo Attack. All done with the hopes of presenting content in a much more wildly diverse, and hopefully fun manner. What it is, I cannot reveal just yet. But Just know that the stifling quiet of the last few months is going to come to an abrupt end very soon!