"There is so much writing in English on Japanese cinema that can't be accepted at face value — not because the writers are careless, but because the differences in culture and language are just too intricate. When I see August Ragone's name on a piece of writing, it gives me permission to place my faith in it completely. Among Japanese fantasy film historians, he's the best working in English." —Tim Lucas, Video Watchdog

Saturday, April 2, 2011

"GODZILLA VS. MEGALON" DVD A HOAX?
Pie In My Eye? Or Much To Do About Nothing?


This is a story that truly stretches the Borders of Reality! @ Toho

Apparently, there is a contradictory report posted by another website about the previously entry concerning an upcoming GODZILLA VS. MEGALON DVD, alleging that was never happening in the first place. This is curious, because my source claims there were active inquiries asking for their participating in providing materials for a proposed set of special features, and that an audio commentary was mentioned. While I was asked to keep the identity of my source secret, I do have several e-mails which are contrary to these dismissals. I could have attempted to save face by saying, "I know I said that this wasn't an April's Fool joke, but it was — gotcha!", but that's not me.

Sure, I could have contacted Media Blasters or Toho for some kind of confirmation, but as is usually the case with private business dealings — before official announcements are made — if you're not involved on either the Licensor's or the Licensee's side, they will either blow you off or tell you to mind your own business. Or deny it altogether. So, was my source mistaken? Did those who were seeking my source's participation, lie? Was this an "elaborate hoax"? Or was this done to make me look silly? Or to "discredit" me? (Can you feel my eyes rolling into the back of my head?)

I certainly don't feel silly, nor angry, embarrassed, or remotely upset. Rather, I find this pretty insidiously funny, actually. "Sh*t happens", as they say. Now, whatever the case may be, I'm sure that it will "all come out in the wash". Surprisingly, this turgid soap opera actually has become far more interesting that the original subject of the story. Or is it? Again, I do have those e-mails from my source, which would open about a dozen can of worms... But, would that really be worth it? I leave that to the individual to decide. As for me, it looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines!

"Holy shit, Jet Jaguar! What will we do!?"

12 comments:

Dr. Jerrold Coe said...

At least that poster's pretty kickin'

August Ragone said...

Indeed.

Jay Watson said...

None of this ultimately matters August. Your blog will always remain "THE" blog for all maters Kaiju et al. Best of luck at Monsterpalooza; have a blast!
- jay

Armand Vaquer said...

You raised an excellent point about possibly being "blown off," etc. by either Media Blasters and/or Toho had you contacted them directly for confirmation.

Case in point: When the first rumors about Legendary Pictures getting the rights to do an American Godzilla surfaced, I contacted Toho and they neither said yes or no, just a "no comment," but with a snicker. I knew by the way it was said that something was definitely going on. I was proven right.

Media Blasters may not have had the same finesse as Toho did when asked about "Megalon." Your source may still be correct, but they (Media Blasters) don't want to say. Yet. - A.

P.S. Funny how much effort was put into trying to prove you wrong.

Kilowog said...

:(

At least at WonderCon, IDW mentioned they were in talks to get Sanda and Gaira to appear in the Godzilla comic, that's what I take away from today.

August Ragone said...

Thanks, everyone! Nathan, that might be the best idea ever for an American comic book, Godzilla or not. Let's hope that they don't screw that up like almost every American kaiju product has in the past.

Unknown said...

The way I've been told the story, is that after GoodTimes Entertainment went bankrupt, the assets and rights were sold to a company called, Gaiam, a livestyle company out of Louisville Colorado. That Toho regained the right to show the film, but not the right to release it on DVD/Bluray. Maybe Gaiam has decided to release it on their own, in the same way that ADV did Destroy All Monsters. Gaiam still releases horrible DVDs under the GoodTimes label, mostly bad knockoffs from Brazilian company, Vídeo Brinquedo (Toyland Video). You still may of been told correctly what is to happen, just with the wrong players.

AcroRay said...

For an April Fool's joke, you'd think something a little more elaborate would get cooked up. I mean, it isn't like Megalon *isn't* going to get a DVD release someday. Someone will eventually get around to it. :-/

(Cool poster art you shared up there, though! I've never seen that one before.)

kevin said...

Media Blasters is extremely selective about whose emails they answer. It's kind of snarky of them to act as if this could have been easily verified at the source. They pick a select few website owners to correspond with for each genre they deal with, and I doubt that list has been updated in the past 4 years. Kudos to Keith for knowing the precise address to use and getting through quickly, but most inquiries get blown off.

Kilowog said...

@August - Oh the guys at IDW seem to be painfully aware of how bad things have been, their WonderCon presentation was basically "We swear this won't suck". Among other things they promise to not create any of their own monsters because the idea is lunacy when you have the rights to the Toho monsters. That and they say Toho gives their approval to every issue before printing.

I'm optimistic for once :)

August Ragone said...

Ray, this wasn't an April Fool's joke; please check my next blog entry, a commentary on this story by my source, Emiko Jade Frost, the daughter of actor Robert Dunham (who was featured in MEGALON).

Blockhouse & Kevin, thanks for the information; it's very much appreciated!

August Ragone said...

Dear Readers,
Please check out my follow-up entries on this story; it gets curiouser, and curiouser...