Monday, October 7, 2013
Sunday, October 6, 2013
CREATURE FEATURE : King Caesar
King Caesar (キングシーサー Kingu Shisa) is a fictional Kaiju from the Toho produced Godzilla series. King Caesar's appearance was inspired by the Shisa, a beast that looks like a combination between a dog and a lion. It first appeared in the 1974 Showa film Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla. It then appeared thirty years later in the 2004 Millennium film Godzilla: Final Wars.
Appearance
King Caesar is a combination of a dog and a lion, and possibly some type of reptile. He has large clumps of light brown fur growing on different areas of his body. His skin is made up of brown scales. King Caesar has a row of gems on his head that make up a crown like shape. In order to awaken King Caesar, a direct descendent of the royal Azumi family must sing his activation song. Years later when King Caesar appeared in Godzilla Final Wars he did not need a song to awaken.
Special powers
Within the context of the character's fictional universe, King Caesar possesses remarkable speed, athleticism, durability and fighting prowess. King Caesar also had the ability to shoot energy back at his opponents if they shoot energy attacks into his eyes. He used this twice with great effectiveness against Mechagodzilla before the robot wisely changed tactics and used missiles instead.
The Millennium incarnation in particular displayed great lower body strength, and was able to leap high in the air and roundhouse-kick the much heavier and spiked Anguirus like a soccer ball. In the video game Godzilla: Unleashed, King Caesar was able to absorb sunlight and release it as a beam weapon; this ability was never shown in the film continuity.
Origins
Showa
In Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, King Caesar was the guardian of the Azumi family. He could be awakened by fulfilling a prophecy and an ancient song.
The Simians knew about Caesar and that it would awaken to prevent them from attempting world domination. When their Mechagodzilla was repaired after being damaged, the aliens sent the cyborg to conquer the Earth once more.
King Caesar was awakened and he confronted the robot. At the beginning, Caesar was able to successfully fight back by reflecting the cyborg's laser beams through his own eyes and then reflecting the projectiles back at his adversary. However, Mechagodzilla was too strong even for the guardian and almost defeated Caesar.
However, Godzilla arrived to aid King Caesar. Still, Mechagodzilla was more powerful than both of them and horribly outmatched the duo. Godzilla, who had been struck by lightning repeatedly prior to this battle, converted that electrical power into an electro-magnetic attraction ability, essentially becoming a living super electro-magnet during the fight and used it to pull Mechagodzilla towards him when the latter attempted to flee when it began to run low on power and ammunition. Godzilla held his robotic clone in place, allowing Caesar to ram the giant robot repeatedly. Godzilla finished off the machine by ripping off its head, and fell into the sea when Mechagodzilla's body exploded. King Caesar then returned to the rock formation from where he emerged. The alien base built into the mountain then self-destructed, sealing the entry and allowing King Caesar to rest peacefully until he would be needed again.
Millennium
In Godzilla: Final Wars, King Caesar was one of the many controlled monsters of a race of alien beings known as the Xiliens. He appears in Okinawa (in a twist of irony, as he was its protector in the Showa series). King Caesar stomps through a factory, crushing everything in his path. Suddenly, an enormous flying object arrives on the scene and removes the giant monster.
The same thing happens to all the other monsters that were attacking the cities throughout the world. The Xiliens come and tell Earth that they saw that the planet was under attack and destroyed the towering titans to save Earth and that a meteor is falling to Earth, threatening all life.
However, it is discovered that the Xiliens were controlling the various monsters and that the meteor did not exist. The Xiliens then release the monsters to finish destroying the cities. However, the crew of the Gotengo freed Godzilla and lured him to the places where the controlled monsters were so he could fight them.
King Caesar, Anguirus and Rodan are pitted against Godzilla at Mt. Fuji. He successfully defeats all three monsters. King Caesar, Anguirus and Rodan are then left in a heap at the base of the mountain. Godzilla did not kill his fallen foes as a nod to their status as allies of Godzilla during the Showa era. This is in contrast to the remaining majority of the monsters seen in the film, all of whom, aside from Zilla, were enemies of Godzilla during the Showa era, and were slain either by Godzilla, the Gotengo, or the mutants who were part of an anti-monster task force near the beginning of the film.
Film Appearances
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
Terror of Mechagodzilla (Stock Footage)
Godzilla Final Wars
Video games
King Caesar appears in the video games Godzilla Trading Battle, Godzilla: Unleashed as a playable character, sporting a look with similarities to both Showa and Millennium era designs. He is able to fire solar heat beams from his eyes.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Figure Review Pacific Rim's Leatherback
When I heard there would be figures for Pacific Rim I started planning a spot next to my other kaiju figures Godzilla, Gamera, and the like. Then the first series of Pacific Rim figures came out from NECA and I was a little mixed, don't get me wrong they were cool but the one kaiju Knifehead seemed to be a little on the small side. But I thought about it and remembered he is a category 3 kaiju, so now series two is here and this series kaiju is Leatherback a category 4 kaiju. Well lets just say he made up for it, Leatherback is big, he has some serious weight to him and he stands over an inch taller then Knifehead and that is with the fact he stands hunched over like a gorilla might stand and he also has some width to him. Detail on him is very good and he has more articulation then Knifehead has, ankle, knee and hip for the legs, shoulder, elbow and wrist as well as fingers on his arms. His neck and mouth move as well, but some of the articulation doesn't seem to do to much, and some joints are not as clean as those on Knifehead, also the top of Leatherback's head is the flaps but they aren't really meant to move. Overall I'm very happy with this figure definitely recommend him.
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| Leatherback and Knifehead |
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| Leatherback and Movie Maniacs King Kong |
Godzilla 2014 Trailer Rumor
Additionally note the new trailer (or possibly just a teaser) has found it's way online but Legendary and Warner Bros. are again requesting it be removed. When it is officially released or we get official info on a new trailer release we will post it , thanks.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
CREATURE FEATURE : Manda
Manda (マンダ) is a fictional Kaiju (Japanese giant monster) created by the Japanese film making company, Toho. Manda is a serpentine creature similar to a Japanese dragon with four small legs and prominent horns. Manda does not have any special weapons, but can wrap his body around an enemy and crush them in the manner of a constrictor snake. Manda can also swim very fast and breathe underwater. His first appearance is in Atragon (1963).
Origins
Showa Series
In Atragon, Manda is a sea-dwelling dragon that lives in the sea and is the guardian of Mu, an underwater kingdom. Manda is one of the primary antagonists along with the Empress. When the submarine warship Gotengo attacks, Manda fights it and wraps his body around the ship, trying to crush it. But the Gotengo discharges electricity on Manda and shocks him. Manda unwraps itself and tries to swim away, but the Gotengo pursues him, later firing its Absolute Zero Cannon to freeze Manda.
Manda reappears again on Monster Island (along with several other kaiju including Godzilla, Rodan and Anguirus) in Destroy All Monsters. Aliens called Kilaaks come to Earth and take control of Manda and the other monsters, making them attack cities worldwide until the humans manage to free the monsters from alien mind control. After this the monsters are sent to fight King Ghidorah, although Manda does not fight in the battle, merely watching from the sidelines with Varan and Baragon. After Ghidorah is killed, Manda and the other monsters return to Monster Island.
The Manda prop used in Destroy All Monsters had no horns or whiskers on his face and the long fuzz running down his back was gone.
Millennium series
In the Millennium series, Manda is the first monster to be killed in Godzilla: Final Wars, playing a minor role, once again as an adversary of the Gotengo. The Gotengo attacks Manda who is wrapped around its hull. The super-submarine manages to shake him off and sails into an underwater volcano to see if it can lure Manda inside. The plan works, but Manda is merely injured and continues to pursue the Gotengo. The submarine then whips around and fires its Zero Cannon which hits Manda, causing him to freeze instantly, after which Gotengo uses its drill to easily pierce the frozen Manda, causing the monster to shatter and die. In this movie Manda (along with Zilla and Kamacuras while flying) is computer generated.
Movie Appearances
Atragon (1963)
Destroy All Monsters (1968)
All Monsters Attack (1969, stock footage)
Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975, stock footage)
Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
Other Appearances
He also appeared in Godzilla: Monster War.
Manda is used as the name for a giant snake, and boss of the Snake Summons in the Naruto manga series.
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