In 2005, director Shinpei Hayashiya first screened a version of Shinkaijû Reigô [aka Deep Sea Monster Reigo; Reigo vs. Yamato; Reigo the Deep Sea Monster vs. The Battleship Yamato, A-140F6]. After a subsequent upscale “re-production” period, the film was released in August 2008 in its final form — and of course we’re still waiting for it in the West.
Now Hayashiya has announced a follow-up film, featuring pretty much the same kaiju (then named “Reigo”, now “Raiga”). Where the first was set during World War 2, however, and gave us the historic Yamato super battleship as a “protagonist”, this one is placed in modern-day Tokyo, with the protagonist looking like a normal schmuck.
Actually, the main protagonist is played by veteran Yukijiro Hotaru, who gained his main daikaiju eiga cred through his role as Inspector Osako in Shusuke Kaneko’s 1990s Gamera trilogy, Gamera daikaijû kuchu kessen (aka Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, 1995), Gamera 2: Region shurai (aka Gamera 2: The Advent of Legion, 1996) and Gamera 3: Iris kakusei (aka Gamera 3: The Revenge of Iris, 1999). He also appeared in Shusuke’s Kurosufaia (aka Cross-Fire, 2000) and Gojira, Mosura, Kingu Gidorâ: Daikaijû sôkôgeki (aka Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, 2001). Other genre credits include Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure (1997), Zeram and Zeram 2 (1991 and 1994), Gakkô no kaidan 3 (aka School Ghost Story 3, 1997), Boogiepop wa Warawanai: Boogiepop and Others (2000), the excellent schoolgirl zombie flick Stacy (2001) and Hayashiya’s earlier Reigo film. He seems to specialise in policemen and comic relief, bringing an endearing (and sometimes slapstick) humour to his roles.
In Raiga, he shares the limelight with a group of cute actresses: Miyu Oriyama (pictured below, with Christmas bikini and cake), Mao Urata, and Manami Enosawa.
The newly released teaser trailer begins with a definite nod to Raiga’s daikaiju progenitor, Gojira (Godzilla), adding a nice acknowledgement of copyright issues in the urgency of Hotaru’s character’s denial that this new beast is the King of the Monsters. Watch it here or go to the YouTube page to choose a high definition alternative:
Synopsis:
Global warming causes the southern polar ice cap to gradually melt, disrupting the ecosystem and luring ancient sea monsters to Japan. Eventually an enormous sea beast called Raiga enters Asakusa via the Sumida River and begins wreaking havoc on the buildings there. (Nippon Cinema)
The film is being made using traditional daikaiju eiga SFX technology (that is, suitmation and scale model buildings) — news which many will greet with enthusiasm. No doubt, as has become usual, enhancements to the image will be made using not-so-traditional CGI.
Below is a series of production shots:
Director Shinpei Hayashiya undergoes a monstrous transformation
as he dons Raiga’s spines
- Source: NipponCinema via Don of Quiet Earth and Kaiju Search-Robot Avery
- Official Website
This one’s gonna rock!! It definitely looks like a few steps up from the previous film and looks to be a blast. Hopefully it won’t be so long before we get to see both films here in the West.
This is one that really does excite the kaiju-enthusiast in me. With Godzilla in retirement, this might be as close as we get to the genuine article for a while — and it looks like it’s a bit further up the quality scale than, say, “Monster X Strikes Back!” (as fun as that was).
Ooooooh sweet.Reigo’s future cousin pumped with roids.This looks like its gonna fun.:D
Let’s hope so. I’m hanging out for some decent traditional kaiju action…
Hey ‘Zillachery’!! Yeah; Rob, it’s got me very excited as well. Can’t wait till we get to see this beauty.
It’s a very good looking suit. I do admit the Godzilla similarities, but oh well.
Man, I’m dying to see just EITHER “REIGO”, “RAIGA”, and/or “MONSTER X STRIKES BACK” here in the States (even if it’s via DVD-premiere). Man, I HOPE John Sirabella of Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock reads this blog. We need our Kaiju Fix. (plus, I’m glad that Suitamation is recognized as the Art Form it truly is.)
One more thing: Reigo’s and Raiga’s extremely close resemblance to Godzilla is downright creepy. Funny that TOHO’s lawyers didn’t go into action over these productions.
Hi, Lawrence. I thoroughly agree with you. It has been announced that “Monster X Strikes Back” will be released in the US on DVD (from Media Blasters):
http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/01/26/media-blasters-licenses-monster-x-strikes-back-attack-the-g8-summit/
Hopefully the others will follow!
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48 GO GREEN
The Ultimate International Eco Film Fest
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48 Go Green is a 48-hour short film festival with a difference. With the power to inspire and to change the world, 48 Go Green was born out of the creativity of the world’s filmmakers, the passion of its story-tellers and the immediate need to save our environment.
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The top 16 films will be prestigiously screened at the Las Vegas NAB show.
This year there will be no committee of judges. Instead the public will vote on their favourite film in the competition.
Message from Executive Producer Francesco Vitali:
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