1. The supreme law is the well-being of the people. It is not the well-being of the economy. 2. The Right Wing - Left Wing dichotomy is a product of Revolutionary politics and does not exist outside them. They mean the same thing today as they meant in 1793: Right Wing means favoring a limited … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Mostly Politics, with a Godzilla Chaser
Godzilla
Marking Godzilla’s 70th Anniversary at the ‘Everyman’
The Godzilla series turned seventy years old this month, and I marked the occasion by writing a piece for The Everyman (which is now on Substack): There are few cinematic creations that achieve the status of genuine myth; of a tale embodying deep, complex truths about the world and of the civilization that gave them … Continue reading Marking Godzilla’s 70th Anniversary at the ‘Everyman’
Friday Flotsam: 26 to 48, America Lists, and ‘Godzilla x Kong’
1. First and foremost is some pretty big life news: after much searching and many applications, I've been offered a full-time teaching job with a traditional Catholic, classical education school. The only slight catch is that it's, ah, rather far. I live in Metro Detroit, and the job is in Phoenix, Arizona. Which means that … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: 26 to 48, America Lists, and ‘Godzilla x Kong’
Immediate Reaction to Seeing ‘Godzilla: Minus One’
So, my immediate reaction is "Go see this film. It's only getting a limited release in the US, but this deserves all the support it can get." Wow, it's been a long time since I've seen a film this good in a theater (that wasn't a re-release or special showing). I'm trying to make a … Continue reading Immediate Reaction to Seeing ‘Godzilla: Minus One’
‘Godzilla: Minus One’ Trailer
I had barely been aware of this film until I saw the trailer today. Wow, this looks good! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y58x0QOmdb8 From what I can tell, it's a semi-remake of the original with modern effects, taking Godzilla back to his origins as a post-war embodiment of the atom bomb and the general devastation Japan suffered. I note … Continue reading ‘Godzilla: Minus One’ Trailer
Kaiju Appreciations: Zilla (Update)
Another Kaiju Appreciation update, this one for Zilla, the unfortunate kaiju from the Roland Emmerich / Dean Devlin film from 1998. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfRVnLY1OoA&t=34s (Gotta give a CONTENT WARNING on this one: the song has a pretty heavy and crude F-Bomb near the middle) G-98 may be the textbook example of how not to make an … Continue reading Kaiju Appreciations: Zilla (Update)
Kaiju Appreciations: Legendary Kong
As I said, part of my Lenten fast is giving up most video content. However, this doesn't extend to working on my own videos, since I want to pick up on the pace on those. And today I finished and uploaded my latest one: an appreciation for Legendary Kong, the version of Kong from the … Continue reading Kaiju Appreciations: Legendary Kong
Friday Flotsam: Mostly Battra, Some Christmas
1. It’s almost Christmas already, and with that the end of the year. This year for Advent I did a hard fast: no meat or sweets (except protein shake) and no eating between meals. It was tough at first, but lately I’ve barely noticed it. I am very much looking forward to being able to … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Mostly Battra, Some Christmas
Kaiju Appreciations; Death Ghidorah
Got another Kaiju Appreciation up over the weekend, this one for Mothra Leo's first opponent, Death Ghidorah. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0dWe48OyNw&t=84s So, Death Ghidorah heralds from the first of the Rebirth of Mothra trilogy, which spun off Mothra in a whole different direction. The twin fairies are now an older and younger sister duo, with a third, evil … Continue reading Kaiju Appreciations; Death Ghidorah
Match-Up: Smog vs. Thing
A fun thought experiment to follow up yesterday's review: (For our purposes, we'll posit a human-scale Hedorah) This match-up struck me about the time I was working on my 'Hedorah Appreciation' update. Two viral, nigh-indestructible aliens whose original forms are all-but unimaginable, pose an existential threat to all life on Earth, and can regenerate from … Continue reading Match-Up: Smog vs. Thing
Serpent's Den 