upcoming

Sci-fi Movie Night

What:

Science Fiction Pint and Pizza Night featuring Classic Japanese Monster Movies with Daikyojū Gappa (Giant Beast Gappa) (1967), Invaders From Outer Space (1957) and other psychotronic weirdness, trailers, short films and strange giveaways Wednesday, May 19, at Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. in Arcata. Doors open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., cost is free with $5 minimum purchase of food or beverage and is all ages. Sponsored by La Dolce Video,  Daisy Drygoods, Vintage Avenger,  Tin Can Mailman, The Clothing Dock and more!

Even mightier than ‘King Kong’!

Daikyojū Gappa (Giant Beast Gappa)is a 1967 tokusatsu kaiju film. The sole foray into the giant-monster arena from Nikkatsu Studio(producers of the classic The Burmese Harp)presents a cutesy clone of Toho’s Rodan with a plot lifted from British city-stomper Gorgo (coming to Arcata Theatre Lounge May, 26). An infant version of the title creature (only one of an apparent species) is found on Obelisk Island by a group of Japanese reporters, caged and spirited away to Japan to become a media attraction. Naturally, this incurs not only the ire of the island natives, but the wrath of Baby Gappa’s full-grown parents, who storm off to Tokyo to inflict rubber-suited mayhem on some particularly cheap-looking model buildings. Nikkatsu’s lack of experience with the genre shows in the goofy-looking monster suits, shoddy effects and exaggerated cuteness. It’s also evident from the film’s tongue-in-cheek approach that the producers had no illusions about the inherent silliness of this project — an attitude somewhat less prevalent in Toho’s monster series. Also known as Monster from the Prehistoric Planet.

He’s Back! Super Giant, aka Starman, “the creature made of the strongest steel,” returns from the Sapphire Galaxy to once again fight monsters, chase flying saucers and defeat evil-minded aliens in a deliriously surreal mix of science fiction, surprisingly moody photography and wild superhero action. Wanting the Earth for themselves, scaly-skinned Salamander Men from the planet Koolamon begin eviction proceedings by assaulting humans with their radioactive breath, a space virus, high-decibel sound waves, a salamander nurse with a penchant for scaring kids, and most fiendish of all, a diabolical dance company! Thankfully the bizarre creatures that form the High Council of the Emerald Planet send Starman, their cosmic crusader in bulging tights, to save the Earth from the amphibious Invaders From Outer Space (1957). As expected, Starman promptly goes into a whirlwind of leaps, back flips, and karate chops that turn our peace-loving-alien-and-friend-

of-children-everywhere into a frenzied killing machine out to kick reptile butt!

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