If you liked Banno's take (Godzilla vs. Hedorah aka The Smog Monster) on Godzilla, if you liked Godzilla's heroic persona of the 70's, if you like IMAX and/or 3D, then you're going to LOVE this!

oh my stars!

bring it on!

If they can do this, then . Godzilla movies play like IMAX 3-D presentations if one genre ever did: little plot, big spectacle.

This is a brilliant idea. Perfect for Imax.

After I saw Final Wars last Sat, I felt ok with it being the last one, but this would make a great coda.

I'll check it out.

Will it even come to the U.S.?

YEAH!

Who knows, but with Toho having distribution rights in Japan, Banno and his investors will need to make their money back elsewhere it would seem. Also, it looks like two of the main characters are New Yorkers, plus the big battle will be in NYC. These things IMO point to U.S. screenings.

Given the fairly limited number of IMAX movies produced, I would imagine that it will play worldwide.

I'll drive a couple of hours to get a chance to see this!

You know what would be interesting? Has anyone been to "Honey I shrunk the Kids" at Disneyland? Now THAT would be a cool place to see a Godzilla presentation specially designed for that theater.

When G walks they could shake the whole rooms like it's real.

I'd definately check this one out.

and when he breathes - blow out hot stinky steam from ceiling tubes.

Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster is the first movie I ever saw in a theater when I was growing up. Just thinking of the first time Godzilla uses his breathe to fly brings a tear to my eye. (sniffle)

Since there are only 16 IMAX theatres in Japan (compared to 136 in North America), it would almost surely need an international release to make the film more profitable. The article mentions that Toho is handling the domestic release and another company is handling international distribution, so a US release is very likely.

Here's a link to Advanced Audiovisual Productions, Inc.'s website regarding the project. Any well-to-do kaiju fans out there, here's your chance to get a producer credit on a Godzilla movie! How cool would that be?!?

Something weird on the site is how they refer to Godzilla as "Queen of the Jungle" and "she". Memo to Toho: intervene!

Looks like there's still some life in this long-stalled project:
Godzilla 3-D Comes to Kerner

No mention of IMAX in this article...

I seen that too, got excited, I cant wait, I still pissed at 1998's Godzilla for wreaking what could of been an awesome franchise. It would be awesome to see the real godzilla and all the classic monster with awesome visual effects. Instead we get a giant iguana lizard and stupid humans.

I hope they do this right, it could be awesome.

I would have been happy with a US theatrical release of Godzilla: Final Wars.

On a somewhat related note, the Henshin Online link in the first post has an article about the japanese soundtrack to King Kong v. Godzilla, which I just ordered. Looks like a real nice package.

You do know that Final Wars is available on DVD, right? Not that it's much to write home about, though some of the fight scenes are impressive.

This could be the greatest thing ever, for me. I've been a rabid Godzilla fan since I was 5 years old (25 now) so I'd kill for the chance to see some Big G action in 3-D on an IMAX screen. I really hope Bano can pull it together. I'm a major fan of Godzilla v. The Smog Monster, even though Tomoyuki Tanaka hated it and barred Banno from even doing another Godzilla flick because of it.


I have that soundtrack, put out by LaLa Land, and it's awesome.

He wanted a theatrical release.

However, for that to happen, Godzilla 2000 would've actually had to make money when released wide here in the states nearly a decade ago. I remember seeing it opening weekend, and even with an okay dub, thought it brought new life into the franchise -- something the previous Japanese flicks and the American remake pretty much almost drove into the ground.

I'm confused, is this is a new Godzilla film?

What was originally announced is this was supposed to be a short 45-minute Godzilla film to play in IMAX theaters worldwide. When the project was announced two years ago, these were the details provided:

1) As mentioned, the film wouldn't be any longer than 45 minutes.
2) Funding was to be provided by Toho, however, outside production companies would work on the film (meaning this is the first Godzilla film since the American remake not to be worked on by Toho). However, due to this agreement, Toho would get rights to the film in Japan and international distribution would be picked up by other studios.
3) The film was to be shot in 70mm, intended for 3D audiences. The original title for the short was called Godzilla 3D to the Max.
4) Two directors would helm the project -- one for the Japanese footage, the other for American footage.