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MONSTERS IN THE MOVIES A Book By John Landis

Sources: Entertainment Earth / Fangoria.com

Monsters in the Movies Book:

Can't get enough monsters in the movies?
This 320-page hardcover book will satiate your need!
Fascinating and entertaining insights into the world of moviemaking.

Can't get enough monsters in the movies? Then this is the book for you! The 320-page hardcover book features fascinating and entertaining insights into the world of moviemaking, and includes memorable contributions from leading directors, actors, and monster-makers. This should satiate your need!

“I’m doing a book for DK Publishing called MONSTERS IN THE MOVIES, which is basically a sort of an overall compendium. It’s going to have thousands of photos,” Landis recently told Fangoria.com. “Really, it’s a very unusual and fun book. It’s a very entertaining book to open. It’s not about horror films, but it is about monsters in the movies so that means horror films, science fiction films, fantasy films—any film with a monster. DK Publishing is a big British publisher; they do penguin books. They make very beautiful illustrated books. You’ve seen their STAR WARS and James Bond books.

“I’m almost finished,” Landis continues. “It’s mostly chapters and photographs, but I have wonderful…instead of interviews, I would do conversations. I have very unusual conversations with a bunch of my friends who are monster makers, so there’s obviously [AMERICAN WEREWOLF’s] Rick Baker, but there’s also Chris Lee and Ray Harryhausen and David Cronenberg and Sam Raimi and Guillermo del Toro and Joe Dante, but they’re different because they’re not like an interview. They’re much more conversations where we really discuss monsters. It’s great fun, and it’s something I didn’t realize would be so much work when I took the job, but I’m pleased with it. It’s a fun book. “

Order MONSTERS IN THE MOVIES from Entertainment Earth For $39.99 - HERE

Kinokuniya Bookstores-L.A. Re-Orders Monster Japan Travel Guide

by Armand Vaquer

Above, "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" in the travel section at the Little Tokyo store of Kinokuniya Bookstores.

Good news was received this afternoon.

I received a voice mail message from Kinokuniya Bookstores' Little Tokyo (Los Angeles) store stating they have one copy of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan left and they wanted to re-order more.

Accordingly, I called them back and completed the sale. So, a new supply of the travel guide will be on their travel section bookshelf this coming week.

Above, Kinokuniya Bookstores' Little Tokyo store entrance.

Kinokuniya Bookstores' Little Tokyo store is located in Weller Court at 123 Astronaut E S Onizuka #205, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Telephone: (213) 687-4480.

Besides books, Kinokuniya also carries Japanese CDs, DVDs, toys and calendars.

Kaiju Life

by Armand Vaquer

When I finalized my plans for a trip to Japan to promote The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan, I contacted Sonoe Nakajima, the daughter of the original Godzilla suit-actor Haruo Nakajima, and invited them to lunch or dinner while I was in Tokyo.

Sonoe Nakajima wrote back and said that they were going on a vacation trip at the time of my vacation in Japan and wouldn't be available. She did say that she would have a copy of her father's book, Kaiju Life (Kaiju Jinsei) that was published by Yosensha Co., Ltd. for me at my hotel, Hotel Asia Center of Japan.

I arrived late in the afternoon on Sunday, December 5 at the hotel. When I checked in, the clerk went to the back room and brought out a package saying it was from "Nakajima." I knew immediately that it was the book Sonoe said she'd leave for me. After I got settled in my room, I opened the package and there was the book and autographed "To Armand" with his signature and the date "2010.12.3" (December 3, 2010).

The book itself is an attractive softcover edition with a jacket. The book is in Japanese, but it contains many rare photographs of Mr. Nakajima in action as Godzilla and other monsters in Toho's stable as well as his private life and history. Some are in color on slick paper, the rest are in black & white and on non-slick paper. They are all well reproduced regardless. The number of photos Mr. Nakajima included in his book rivals the number contained in August Ragone's book on special effects pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya. There's that many of them!

Although the book is in Japanese, and I don't read Japanese, I would have bought a copy anyway just for the photographs. Fans of Godzilla and Mr. Nakajima would find this book essential to their collections.

In return, I left copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan for the Nakajimas.

Peter H. Brothers Gone Batty: Completes Novel Based On Lugosi Movie

by Armand Vaquer

Peter H. Brothers reports that he has completed his first novel.

It is based on the Bela Lugosi melodrama, The Devil Bat, which was produced in 1940 and released in January 1941 by Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC).

In the movie, Lugosi plays Dr. Paul Carruthers, a research chemist who is embittered (Who else besides Bela can play such a role with relish?) that one of his formulas brought a fortune to his employers, but practically nothing to himself.

To avenge this affront, Carruthers creates giant bats who are conditioned to attack anyone wearing a special scent (in a shaving lotion) he concocted.

Above, author Peter H. Brothers with his first book, "Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda" in his back yard.

Brothers says:

"Devil Bat Diary" is complete! Clocking-in at 53,000 words it is a novelization of what "really" happened in the movie "The Devil Bat" based on the recently-discovered journal kept by the reporter Johnny Layton. I have already contacted a couple of publishers and will contact several more. Keep your fingers crossed and I will keep you posted on my progress!

This should be an entertaining and interesting read!

Top Five Godzilla/Kaiju Books

Top Five Godzilla/Kaiju Books

by Armand Vaquer

With Christmas just around the corner, it is worthwhile to take a look at what English language, mass-market books to buy for the newbie or longtime kaiju fan.

Most of these books are still available through various sources such as Amazon.com, eBay, Barnes and Noble, Border's Books, etc.

So if you are wondering what to buy, here's my top five Godzilla books:

Number One. Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters by August Ragone is the top book to pick up without question. Ragone is thorough in his research on the genius of Japanese special effects with many rare photographs. Toho Co., Ltd. and Tsuburaya Productions cooperated in the production of this book and it shows! Hardcover.

Number Two. Japan's Favorite Mon-Star by Steve Ryfle is a valuable reference book on the history of the Godzilla movies. Although dated (this one cries out for an update as it ends with the 1998 U.S. Godzilla), Ryfle's research on the King of the Monsters makes this a must-have in your book collection. Softcover.

Number Three. Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda by Peter H. Brothers is the first (it came out last year) English language biography of Japan's top director of science-fiction and fantasy films. Although it has no photos and there's some glaring typos, this is a must-have book for G-fans. Softcover.

Number Four. Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo! by Stuart Galbraith IV is a collection of interviews of actors, directors, special effects directors and others organized by topic. Although the organizing could have been better executed (some fans feel it is too disjointed), it is a valuable resource as it includes interviews with some who have since passed on. Softcover.

Number Five. Godzilla On My Mind by William Tsutsui is a tome of what Godzilla means to fans. If you're looking for a filmography, this isn't the book for you. But if you're interested in Godzilla and his pop-culture influence, grab this book. Softcover.

Others

A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series, 2d ed. by David Kalat. This edition just came out and I haven't read it yet. But, I am told that it is an excellent book on the Godzilla series. It is available at Amazon.com. Hardcover.

The Official Godzilla Compendium by J. D. Lees and Marc Ceracini is long out of print and if one can find one, it is generally pricey. It is a good introductory book aimed at the small-fry fan. It has reached the status of a collectors' item. Softcover.

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan by Armand Vaquer came out this year and is a travel guide to Japan tailored to fans of Japanese science-fiction and fantasy films featuring movie locations, attractions, transportation and accommodations. Magazine format.