tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118098779778491600.post1372551451195932704..comments2024-03-22T12:27:50.002-07:00Comments on Die, Danger, Die, Die, Kill!: Gekko Kamen (Japan, 1958)Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15890338576052689861noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118098779778491600.post-55579664501244960302014-11-30T09:30:23.744-08:002014-11-30T09:30:23.744-08:00No apologies necessary, Ben. I appreciate your com...No apologies necessary, Ben. I appreciate your comments.The Toei park definitely has its share of cheesy attractions, but it also has a nice selection of props, posters and costumes. Also, the Animation Museum there features giant statues of Grandizer and Mazinger. How cool is that?Toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15890338576052689861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118098779778491600.post-72269770689762784272014-11-30T06:39:34.515-08:002014-11-30T06:39:34.515-08:00Somewhat coincidentally, I attended a screening of...Somewhat coincidentally, I attended a screening of this very Gekko Kamen film at the Laputa theatre in Asagaya when I was in Tokyo last January. <br /><br />It was a really nice experience - we were the youngest people in attendance by quite some distance, and I assume most of the audience were retirees reliving their youth. It was also of course very much the kind of film where my inability to follow most of the dialogue didn't distract from my enjoyment at all - the universal language of bad guys going "HA HA HA, PRO-FESSOR" conquers all.<br /><br />I too was overjoyed at the sight of Skull Mask and his gang cruising around in a station wagon, and I love how Gekko Kamen seems to have been created by taking all the distinctive attributes of a prior costumed pulp heroes adn combining them into one character (mask, turban, sunglasses, cape, pistols, motorcycle...). <br /><br />He is super-cool, clearly, even if the child-friendly nature of the film did tend to make him rather ineffectual when it comes to the actual evil-fighting stuff, in marked contrast to his Turkish cousins. (How long does he spend blazing away with those guns without ever actually hitting anything, etc?)<br /><br />Also, I didn't know Toei had a theme-park in Kyoto - that's definitely on the list for my next visit! Given the kind of Toei films I usually end up watching, I dread to think what kind of attractions they might have there, but... 3 seconds thought of course reminds me of their wider presence as a massive entertainment conglomerate whose remit stretches far beyond the production of insane '70s exploitation films, so, there ya go.<br /><br />Apologies for the monster comment anyway, and glad to hear you had a good time in Japan!<br /><br /><br />Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14951955227326548340noreply@blogger.com