"The great book of movie monsters exposes the private lives of more than 300 of your favorite creatures, each one depicted in all its glory. Discover the truth about their fears, their loves, their favorite foods, their superpowers, and the accomplishments that earned them a place in movie history. You'll also learn about the films they starred in, as well as the directors and special effects technicians who brought these monsters to life."--Cover.
Do you believe in monsters? We dare you to take a look inside this cursed tome containing some of the most iconic and obscure monsters from the history of cinema. Cower in fear of Count Dracula and his dreaded children of the night. Abandon hope as the mightiest kaiju ever seen on film decimate all around them. Pray that silhouette at the end of your bed is just a shadow and not the dreaded Babadook. Spanning nearly a century of cinematic terrors, The Ultimate Book of Movie Monsters showcases creatures from genres such as horror, fantasy, B-movies and even musicals. Along with legendary beasts like Frankenstein’s monster, Godzilla, the Living Dead and the (mostly) friendly creatures of Monsters Inc., you’ll find film facts, creature strengths and weaknesses and over 150 full-color pictures of the monsters themselves. From the era of stop-motion beasties to the cinematic showdown of the century in Godzilla vs. Kong, film lovers and horror aficionados will find plenty to keep their lust for terror satiated. But beware, for the beasts that dwell within these forsaken pages may just keep you up all night. You have been warned...
From cinema's earliest days, being scared out of your wits has always been one of the best reasons for going to the movies. From B-movie bogeymen and outer space oddities to big-budget terrors, Monsters in the Movies by horror film maestro John Landis celebrates the greatest monsters ever to creep, fly, slither, stalk or rampage across the Silver Screen. Landis also surveys the historical origins of archetypal monsters, such as vampires, zombies and werewolves, and takes you behind the scenes to discover the secrets of the special-effects wizards who created such legendary frighteners as King Kong, Dracula, the Alien, and Freddy Krueger. Monsters in the Movies by John Landis is filled with the author's own fascinating and entertaining insights into the world of movie-making, and includes memorable contributions from leading directors, actors and monster-makers. The book is also stunningly illustrated with 1000 movie stills and posters drawn from the unrivaled archives of the Kobal Collection. Contents Introduction by John Landis... Explore a timeless world of fears and nightmares as John Landis investigates what makes a legendary movie monster • Monsters, chapter by chapter... Feast your eyes upon a petrifying parade of voracious Vampires, flesh-eating Zombies, slavering Werewolves, gigantic Apes and Supernatural Terrors • Spectacular double-page features... Thrill to the strangest, scariest, weirdest, and craziest movie monsters ever seen • The ingenious tricks of movie-making... Marvel as the special-effects wizards reveal how they create movie magic • A monster-movie timeline... Discover John Landis's personal selection of landmark horror films
Nessie. Bride of Godzilla. Gamera vs. Wyvern. Mothra vs. Bagan. Batman Meets Godzilla. All fans have heard of these tantalizing lost films, but few know of their full histories...until now. With information straight from the Japanese sources learn how Gamera was made in 1965 to make use of miniature sets made for a disastrous movie about giant rats called Giant Horde Beast Nezura which was partially shot in 1963. Marvel at a blind Godzilla's battle with the invisible monster Chamelegon in Tokyo S.O.S.: Godzilla's Suicide Strategy! Watch in amazement as Godzilla and Kong battle in the flames of Mt. Aso in Continuation: King Kong vs. Godzilla! Explore the tortured history of the Toho/Hammer team-up Nessie about a kaiju-sized Loch Ness Monster. Recoil in horror at the sights of Great Prophecies of Nostradamus, a 1974 film so controversial that a self-imposed ban was placed on it by Toho. Baffle at Hanuman, the monkey monster of Thailand's Chaiyo Studios which teamed with Ultraman and his brethren in 6 Ultra Brothers vs. the Monster Army. Puzzle over a psychedelic Italian colorized version of Godzilla, King of the Monsters! code-named "Cozzilla." Then uncover the $100,000 fan made epic Legendary Beast Wolfman vs. Godzilla! But that's not all-this book also contains essays by kaiju fan experts such as Dr. Ayame Chiba, Stan Hyde, Mark Jaramillo and Ted Johnson on subjects as diverse as unmade Kong films to heretofore unknown independent films like Atragon 2 and Wanigon vs. Gamaron!
From the 1920s through the 1950s, Universal Studios was Hollywood’s number one studio for horror pictures, haunting movie theaters worldwide with Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, among others. Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror explores all of these enduring characters, chronicling both the mythology behind the films and offering behind-the-scenes insights into how the films were created. Universal Studios Monsters is the most complete record of the horror films of this legendary studio, with biographies of major personalities who were responsible for the most notable monster melodramas in film history. The stories of these films and their creators are told through interviews with surviving actors and studio employees. A lavish photographic record, including many behind-the-scenes shots, completes the story of how these classics were made. This is a volume no fan of imaginative cinema will want to be without.
“A stellar book; an entertaining and vivid look at Japanese pop culture, its globalization, and American encounters with Japan.” —Theodore C. Bestor, author of Tsukiji: The Fish Market at the Center of the World Ever since Godzilla (or, Gojira, as he is known in Japan) crawled out of his radioactive birthplace to cut a swath of destruction through Tokyo, he has claimed a place alongside King Kong and others in the movie monster pantheon. He is the third most recognizable Japanese celebrity in the United States, and his fan base continues to grow as children today prove his enduring appeal. Now, Bill Tsutsui, a life-long fan and historian, takes a light-hearted look at the big, green, radioactive lizard, revealing how he was born and how he became a megastar. With humorous anecdotes, Godzilla on My Mind explores his lasting cultural impact on the world. This book is sure to be welcomed by pop culture enthusiasts, fans, and historians alike. “Godzilla On My Mind is a good read, well written, occasionally provocative and full of facts that show it to be well researched as well as a labour of love.” —Dr. Dolores Martinez, author of The Worlds of Japanese Popular Culture “William Tsutsui’s Godzilla takes a fresh, original, and appealing look at one of our more intriguing pop culture icons. Although informed by careful scholarship, the book is highly accessible. It’s funny, stimulating, and an overall pleasure to read. I’ll never look at Godzilla the same way again!” —Susan Napier, author of Anime from Akira To Princess Mononoke
This cinefile’s guidebook covers the horror genre monstrously well! Find reviews of over 1,000 of the best, weirdest, wickedest, wackiest, and most entertaining scary movies from every age of horror! Atomic bombs, mad serial killers, zealous zombies, maniacal monsters lurking around every corner, and the unleashing of technology, rapidly changing and dominating our lives. Slasher and splatter films. Italian giallo and Japanese city-stomping monster flicks. Psychological horrors, spoofs, and nature running amuck. You will find these terrors and many more in The Horror Show Guide: The Ultimate Frightfest of Movies. No gravestone is left unturned to bring you entertaining critiques, fascinating top-ten lists, numerous photos, and extensive credit information to satisfy even the most die-hard fans. Written by a fan for fans, The Horror Show Guide helps lead even the uninitiated to unexpected treasures of unease and mayhem with lists of similar motifs, including ... Urban Horrors Nasty Bugs, Mad Scientists and Maniacal Medicos Evil Dolls Bad Hair Days Big Bad Werewolves Most Appetizing Cannibals Classic Ghost Stories Fiendish Families Guilty Pleasures Literary Adaptations Horrible Highways and Byways Post-Apocalyptic Horrors Most Regrettable Remakes Towns with a Secret and many more. With reviews on many overlooked, underappreciated gems, new devotees and discriminating dark-cinema enthusiasts alike will love this big, beautiful, end-all, be-all guide to an always popular film genre. With many photos, illustrations, and other graphics, The Horror Show Guide is richly illustrated. Its helpful appendix of movie credits, bibliography, and extensive index add to its usefulness.
Behind-the-scenes hero to anyone who's thrilled by giant monsters duking it out over Tokyo, Eiji Tsuburaya was the visual effects mastermind behind Godzilla, Ultraman, and numerous Japanese science fiction movies and TV showsbeloved around the world. The first book on this legendary film figure in English, this highly visual biography details his fascinating life and career, featuring hundreds of film stills, posters, concept art, and delightful on-set photos of Tsuburaya prompting monsters to crush landmark buildings. A must-have for fans, this towering tribute also features profiles of Tsuburaya's film collaborators, details on his key films and shows (most available on DVD), and features on the enduring popularity of the characters he helped create.
"Topics are dragons, dinosaurs, and prehistoric or mythological giants from 1953's The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms; "big bug" flicks, with 1954's Them; ordinary animals grown to improbable proportions in 1955's It Came from Beneath the Sea; animals that threaten mankind including 1963's The Birds; blobs and other beasts such as 1958's The Blob"--Provided by publisher.
Learn the secret histories behind Japanese movie monsters like Godzilla, Mothra, Gamera, and Ultraman and how talented screenwriters breathed creative life into the monsters well before the special effects technicians could!
