Gunhed (1989)

[Goji]

Cimmerian and CT nailed it. There are a lot of good things about GUNHED, especially in the SPX department, but as a whole, the film is a dud. I also agree that his work in BYE-BYE JUPITER was quite impressive. It's a damn shame that the only Godzilla film that was saw any of his true talent translated to was BIOLLANTE..most likely due to his reported problems with alcohol after both GUNHED and BIOLLANTE flopped at the box office.

Cimmerian, I'm curious, how did you see GUNHED as a youngster? I know it had a VHS release, but I recall that being sometime in the late 90's. Did you snag a copy of the Japanese version when you were younger?

[Goji]

Here's one of those cases where when I say "cool story bro", I literally mean it! (minus the sarcasm of course).

I sort of wish I had seen it around that age, personally. When the film got the VHS release (I wanna say it was '98, but somebody correct me if I'm wrong), I didn't even know it was a Toho production, but I do recall seeing it in stores at the time. I was 13 that year, and my primary focus was still on Toho's monster films, some of which I still hadn't tracked down (SPACE AMOEBA being the main one, which I never did find. I actually didn't even see the film until the MB disc was released =/). My only bootlegs were of the Heisei Godzilla films, and I was very fortunate enough to have have tracked them all down by the fall of '96. /end nostalgic rant.

[Rody]

Post removed for un-necessity.

[Julia Bristow]

Sure the acting might not be up to snuff but it didn't matter that much to me as the film was pretty entertaining and as many have said before, the effects are pretty damn good considering the time Gunhed was made and yes it is a shame that Kawakita's effects work slacked off quite a bit in the 90's.

[o.supreme]

I have a VHS of this film (cant even remember where I got it), But I've had it for probably close to 20 years and watched it once. It could quite possibly be the film I have not watched in the longest time in my entire collection. This or the Ultra Q 1990's movie.

[Goji]

Wow, really?! Could you maybe submit a pic of the box art to the VHS box art article on the main site?

I always assumed the ADV release was the only VHS release. Does your version feature the full international credits?

[o.supreme]

My apologies for the confusion Goji, its not an official VHS, just a copy I made for myself from an acquaintance I had back in college in the early 90's. He was from Japan, and had tons of random stuff he just taped off TV (or from video stores) before he left. Sadly I only have a fraction of them now. I'm pretty sure the ADV VHS & DVD are the only official North American release.

[Goji]

Ah, I see. Bummer.

Yeah, I don't think it got a release before ADV picked it up, but stranger things have happened. I didn't know that ATTACK OF THE MUSHROOM PEOPLE or the rarely seen U.S. cut of LATITUDE ZERO had gotten VHS releases until relatively recently.

[hammysammy59]

Cimmerian and CT nailed it. There are a lot of good things about GUNHED, especially in the SPX department, but as a whole, the film is a dud. I also agree that his work in BYE-BYE JUPITER was quite impressive. It's a damn shame that the only Godzilla film that was saw any of his true talent translated to was BIOLLANTE..most likely due to his reported problems with alcohol after both GUNHED and BIOLLANTE flopped at the box office.

Wow, if this is true, that's a huge bummer. Almost makes me feel guilty goofing on the hit-and-miss effects work of the latter Heisei movies.

I've always been curious about Gunhed though (and Bye Bye Jupiter) but just haven't gotten a chance to check 'em out yet.

[g2kmaster]

And my thoughts can be found here, along with some production history notes.

http://journalismg2km.blogspot.com/2012 ... unhed.html

Can't say you won't dislike Toho a little more after reading.

[Tohosaurus]

The original idea of having Gunhed actually be a Godzilla movie before Godzilla was completely written out of the movie and more changes were made actually strike me as something I want to see someday. Actually, that movie would probably really pop with some amazing Hollywood grade special effects and a decent budget, so maybe Legendary could pursue that if LPG does well.

[Megalon-5]

The idea of Godzilla battling a powerful computer and it's vast array of robots would make for an interesting story imo. I wouldn't mind if Toho did a "Godzilla vs. Gunhed" type film in the future.

Also, g2kmaster, is there any more information on that third script that won the contest, the one involving Miki? I'm a bit curious of what the script was about.

[g2kmaster]

Guy's script didn't win the contest. Not officialy, only in spirit since two things from Guy Tucker's script was used through out the Heisei series.

Here, let me have Guy Tucker (RIP) explain the predicament himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDdp0LJ1 ... _CXAVZWl0=

Skip to 6:50

[Megalon-5]

Thanks for the link! Very interesting behind the scenes story there. I'm curious to what his script was like, seeing as it had a tremendous impact on the Hesei era.

[g2kmaster]

I think there are members who could answer that here, but IDK if they still post here or if they would be willing to talk about the script.

[Megalon-5]

Ah, not to sound nosy g2kmaster, but would you know who those members are by chance? I'm really interested in learning about the script.

[FlamingZilla23]

Didn't Gunshed come from an unmade Godzilla film? No i never saw the film personally so i can't really make an opinion on it.

[Megalon-5]

Yeah Gunhed originated from an unused Godzilla script, you can read about it here: http://tohokingdom.com/cutting_room/godzilla2.htm

[g2kmaster]

Ah, not to sound nosy g2kmaster, but would you know who those members are by chance? I'm really interested in learning about the script.

I do, and I guess I'll go ahead and ask. I only hesistate in that Guy was a dear friend to this individual, thus emotions may be something that comes up. I'll shoot the dude a message.

[Megalon-5]

That would be great. Thanks for your help man!