It's amazing to me that of the 3 MG designs, the least popular one (by a FAR margin) is the one we have a Monsterarts of. So strange.

Rescue Force isn't as "conveniently" available on YouTube like Ryukendo. It's on there, but it's unlisted. Toku-Central on Facebook(I gave you the link a looong time ago, it's buried in you Visitor Messages) has the links though.

Like Matrixbeast said, you need a torrent program. I use utorrent personally.

It absolutely blew my mind when Monster Arts Mecha Godzilla was revealed to be Mecha Godzilla 2. I always thought he had the worst design of the 3.

You're not alone. When GvsMG was released in '93, even the Japanese market didn't care for the new MG. The Garuda combination was popular (which is why Kiryu has the shoulder cannons), but the design itself is weak and "soft." The original MG (and especially it's second version from '75 which added the control unit under the head) was a huge hit with kids, so Toho was very disappointed with the new one's lack of success as merchandise. Hence why Mogera was dusted off and resurrected as MOGERA (or MOGUERA if you prefer) for GvsSG instead of another MG. It even got the gattai robo combination thing going in an attempt to punch up interest in it.

Of course, MOGERA was even less popular than the Hesai MG, so there you go...

Huh. I never knew Toho's reason to change Mogera into the robot until now. I always thought it was an odd decision.
I'm not surprised MOGERA wasn't popular (Though, to be honest, I kinda like him. What can I say? Dat drill nose :lol)

Anyway, do you have a clue why they chose to release MG2 not only as the first Mecha Godzilla, but as one of the very first of the Monster Arts line, despite his apparent unpopularity in Japan?

You'll get no argument from me. I freaking love the Mobile Operations Godzilla (Universal) Expert Robot Aerotype. I've been a sucker for the SPIRAL GRENADE! since I first saw the movie. But then again I love Spacegodzilla too so I am already a weirdo in that sense.

I do not know why they have decided to go with the Hesai films seemingly in toto rather than focus on the more recent Millenium films or the classic Showa ones. The only rationale I can think of is the same reason why we are getting 20th Anniversary and other retro Power Rangers related merchandise -- because the fans who were kids when the Hesai films came out are the ones old enough to have some disposable income now.

Frankly I think it's leaving money on the table not putting out a Monsterarts Kiryu. He was really the only "new" design monster from the Millenium films which people really went bananas over. (I am not counting the GMK Goji as that was not really new, although why we don't have an Monsterarts of that that Goji either is also insane.)

Well, wasn't Showa filled with Vs film stagnation and a decline in popularity? Perhaps that's why they chose to not release monsters from that era?

Toho & Bandai have never been afraid to merchandise the Showa films. We get lots of new stuff with classic Gojis -- '54 of course, but also '63 (typically with his arms out to the side, heh) and '64. And while I doubt anyone is lining up for a perfect Son of Godzilla Monsterarts Kamacuras, I think it's odd that we have not seen popular monsters such as Gigan, or Anguirus, or Baragon, or Showa MG, or Titanosaurus, or Hedorah, even Showa Rodan. King Ghidorah's design is close enough that asking for a Showa KG versus the Hesai one is just plain silly; the same will be true for Mothra.

It gets weirder when you consider that of the main tokusatsu-related lines from Tamashii Nations -- for the purposes of this discussion I am saying SH Figuarts, SH Monsterarts, and Ultra-Act -- Monsterarts is the only one "stuck" in one era. We get Kamen Riders and Super Sentai senshi from all over timewise (moreso with the Riders than the Super Sentai, though), and Ultra-Act goes all the way the first Ultraman right through the most recent main Ultra with Ultraman Zero. So why doesn't Monsterarts have the same breadth of offerings? Especially when Toho has never shied away from having that product out there in the past?

I don't know the reason, but it is fun to speculate! :D

:lol "Against" isn't a good name, but I've never been a big fan of Japan's something X something naming scheme either.

Agreed.

I'm quite baffled why Showa and Millennium are being ignored, especially with Final Wars's send off to everyone.
I really wish for the focus to shift off of Heisei. As much as I love characters like Destroyah, Space Godzilla, and Biollante, there's so much to offer from Showa and Millennium that I just want more.

And Mothra. She's been in every era. What the hell, Toei? Where's her Monster Art?

Us daikaiju fans don't have a moment to spare, we can only speak in acronyms! :D

Rescue Fire 29 & 30. 29 was alright. It kinda reminded me of that episode of Ryukendo where the Jamanga sent a magic bomb into the SHOT base, and Kenji and Fudou couldn't transform, but not really. It's also assuring to know that Tsubasa listens to the same kind of music as me...

30 was pretty awesome though. New much improved Opening(not to say I don't like RESCUE FIRE, but Bakuchin Kanryo is just so much better), Taiga's history, Gaia Leon(with Insert Song sung by Masaaki Endo. Automatic coolness), and a new Ending. The song isn't as good as Burning Hero, but the visuals are so ridiculous that I can't not love it(seriously, the guy who sings the song even shows up). Next episode looks rather good, looks like it introduces some plot device.

What site do you use to download and stream hd of toku?

TV-Nihon.

Rescue Fire 31. Great Wyvern GX happens and it's crazy and I love it. So the blue orbs increase Tatsuya's endurance, so I predict that, they'll be able to have Great Wyvern GX combined longer with each additional blue orb, until they'll be able to use it long enough to defeat Donkaen.

Rescue Fire 32. Good episode. I loved Jokaen's strategy for trying to take out Fire-3, way better than any plan Maen thought of. I also liked the way Rescue King faded into Ide yo Gaia Leon!

Was going to watch Ultraman last night but ended up getting caught up in the darama (which is like drama but more dramatic) of the Super Bowl last night. My wife is still out of town for a few more days so I'm definitely watching something tonight, either a few more episodes or one of the movies.

Ultraseven X Episode 8 -- Blood Message. Easily the creepiest episode so far in an series filled with creepy episodes. As a "phantom serial killer" stalks the employees of a drug syndicate, DEUS investigates because of a strange message written in blood by the bodies of the victims. Pretty much a straight horror episode, this mixes elements from classic American psychological horror (specifically Psycho), Italian giallo, and modern J-Horror.

The alien looks somewhat like the Kryloid from Ultraman Tiga, oddly enough.

Overall an effective and tight little episode. This series kicks it hard.

Rescue Fire 33. I liked the kid in this episode. I could relate to him, what with the losing of things. Other than that, there were some funny bits, like Fire-1 trying to scold the kids, and they were trying to forge his chakusou pose. :lol And the kid's fake Jakast outfits weren't of much worse quality than the actual Jakasts. Seeing Jokaen in the "Watch again" segment was a treat.

Rescue Fire 34. Meh, I wasn't really feeling this one. Though the scene with Jokaen wailing on Fire-1, 3, 4, and 5 while Tama was singing to that kid was beautiful. Next episode looks good, Jun has been so side-lined as of late.

Ultraman Episode 28 -- Human Specimens 5 & 6. The Dada show up and generally cause inconvenience for everyone they run into. A strange episode with the strangest monster to date in the series, and that is saying something when you think about it. The Dada are pretty obnoxious as an Ultra Monster, constantly disappearing and teleporting and all that. Never cared for them and this episode didn't change that. Some good 2 Fisted Man Of Action stuff from Captain Muramatsu, though, and you cheer when Ultraman kills these Dada SOBs just because you want them to die! :lol

Rescue Fire 35. Great Jun episode. I loved how the episode didn't start at or around Fire Phoenix. We also got good back story for Jun. If only HeliFalcon got to do the Final Rescue... Next episode looks pretty cool, Fire-1 gets another blue orb!

Ultraman Episode 29 -- A Challenge to the Underground. I guess Tsuburaya and company knew the last episode was kinda weak because this one is non-stop science and technology, with the monster Goldon showing up literally within seconds of the start of the episode. He's an interesting monster, so of like a golden Brontosaurus (as they were called at the time) but with a pretty nasty tail.

The big draw in this episode for me was Ide's drill tank, named Pelucidar. What a great name for a drill tank! There's some neat effects of Pelucidar burrowing through the Earth but sadly it never stops looking like a model. Still, it's a classic Golden Age style drill tank and it is rather quaint and charming.

Also get good characterization from Cap, Ide, AND Hayata, which is always nice.

Ultraman Episode 30 -- The Phantom Snow Mountain. Eiji Tsuburaya once said that Mighty Jack was his favorite of his TV shows because it focused on the people much more so than the monsters, aliens, or technology. I think that mentality is on display in this episode. The monster, Woo, is secondary to the story of a young woman who is an outcast in her village, hounded and tormented by everyone else. It also deals with the metatextual rationale for the existence of the Science Patrol itself, and why they fight monsters.

One of the strongest installments in the series, I think.

I've never been able to get into Ultraman. I really don't know why. The slimmer suit allows for more dynamic action than Sentai mechs, the very sci-fi stories should appeal to me, but I just don't know why I can't get into the franchise...

I find that I am in a similar boat with the modern Kamen Riders. I mean, I dig the hell out of the Showa Kamen Riders. So I am already on board with the general concept. But the modern Riders, I don't know, I find myself just not engaging with them when I watch the shows. I can't put my finger on it.

Personally, I have found that if you got into tokusatsu from Kamen Rider or the Super Sentai, you have a harder time going over to being a Goji or Ultra fan. If you got in as a daikaiju fan, you usually can accept the Super Sentai (there being a daikaiju element there) but have a harder time with other stuff. Just a trend, not sure if there is anything to that.

I will say this -- Ultraman (generally) strayed the least from it's core formula, and that can be a turnoff for some people. I mean, for a long (long) time, the series was the same formula pretty much every episode:

Strange Occurance -> Team Investigates -> Monster Appears -> Optional: Team Challenges Monster -> Ultraman Appears -> Fight -> Scwatch!

The other major franchises have their formulas but Ultraman's is it's bread and butter. I have known some viewers who bemoaned this; others relish it.

(Of course this is not hard and fast; shows like Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle are radically different, and even Ultraseven broke this format fairly frequently.)

That makes as much sense as anything, I guess.
I actually began a daikaiju fan, loving Godzilla, but I guess Ultraman's episodic nature turned me away.

Ultraseven X Episode 9 -- Red Moon. DEUS investigates after three young women in white dresses are found slashed by a beast. But there is, as always, more to this story that it seems. A tragic monster story, dealing with a lunar eclipse and the ramifications of young love and insecurity from 100 years earlier. Strong episode. Not as creepy as the last one but still really good.

The preview for 10 looks like we are going to be addressing the main mystery of the show -- as the series is 12 episodes long this makes sense.

Ultraseven x Episode 10 -- Memories. After a meteorite supposedly lands in the area of th lake which Jin has dreamed about, he investigates, finding a twisting conspiracy inside the Department of Information, as well as finding out more about hte mysterious woman in white. Very strong X-Files vibe off this episode, along with a healthy dash of Orwell (which makes sense given the subject matter). No real action but a deepening of the core mystery of the series. Onto the next one...

Ultraseven X Episode 11 -- Aqua Project. The truth about the woman in white and the shadowy "Aqua Project" are laid bare as the stage is set for the final battle. Continues the same general feeling of the previous episode (which makes sense as it flows directly from it), and finally answers some questions. But no all of the questions, as Jin's connection with Ultraseven, nor who the three people who we keep seeing with the strange wavey effect around them are. Assuming that will come shortly.

Ends with a "To Be Continued" into the finale in episode 12.

Rescue Fire 36. Great episode. I was completely expecting the blue orb to go to Tatsuya, but was pleasantly surprised to see Jokaen get a hold of it. The fact that Great Wyvern GX beat the Hyper Triple Gattaien without a new toy(?) really made that fight more powerful emotionally(also, Great Wyvern GX took a total beating. I guess you could say it was between a rock and a fire demon). True proof that a burning Rescue Tamashii can turn 0% into 100%. Next episode looks epic, even with my less than enthusiastic opinion on Rescue Force.

Rescue Fire 37. Perfect. That's all I have to say.

Ultraseven X Episode 12 -- New World. The final battle against the shadowy rulers of the world has come. Jin, Kei, S, and Elea all bring the fight to their mysterious foe, but it will take the savior, the red giant, to free the world from their control.

Great wrapup to the series. It sticks with the more mature approach to the Ultra hero and we finally get all of the answers. And the answers make sense, so bonus with that.

All in all I really liked this series. It's very creative in that while it does use a version of the MOTW, it is not what you would expect necessarily. There's lot of touches reminiscent of other sci-fi shows, and the characters are well developed and likeable. Plus at only 12 episodes it is not a huge investment of time. Give this one a shot, you may like it.

Rescue Fire 38. Is also perfect.

Why is Toho so stingy with Godzilla (And Mothra) releases in the states? :I
"We'll release the DVD once 9 years ago then flip off everyone who missed it. Reprints? Lol what's that?"
I am also firmly convinced they never released the Rebirth of Mothra trilogy here with Japanese audio.

I swear. It's like Toho doesn't want Western audiences to be daikaiju fans...

The only Zilla DVDs I own are of the Toho Master Collection. The only other mvoies I own are on VHS tape.

I own all but 1 of the Master Collection (I'm missing Terror of Mechagodzilla, which I have the normal DVD for (Which, iirc, has dual audio and subs), so I don't really have much reason to trade up).
I'm missing Godzilla Vs. Biollante, GMK: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, King Kong Vs. Godzilla, Godzilla 1985/Return of Godzilla, Son of Godzilla, Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla, and Destroy All Monsters.

Of them, Return of Godzilla doesn't seem to exist, and Vs. Mechagodzilla and Destroy All Monsters are going for too damn much.

Next year is the 60th anniversary of Godzilla, right? While I doubt no company is insane enough to release a 29 movie box set (Technically 28, but Gojira and Godzilla: King of the Monsters are treated as 2 separate films these days), I do hope that some titles will get re-releases (And the Mothra trilogy will get a proper release).

I bet we'd see that before a complete Hitchcock box set with every movie.

I would kill for a release of the Mothra trilogy. I'm dying to see those films and I can never find working torrents for them :(

Tell me about it. All I can find is a dual feature of Mothra 1 and 2. I'd be willing to accept the fact if they only have English dubbing if they ever release the 3rd movie...

Don't get so worked up about the Hesai Mothra films. They're pretty rough going, all told.

G 85, you can get a really nice subtitled boot like I did. Totally worth it.

I've seen Mothra 2. I enjoyed it. I want to watch the entire thing.

I've found subtitled bootlegs of 1985 and Mechagodzilla, but I just unsure if I want bootlegs, is all.

Godzilla 85/Return of Godzilla is unlikely to ever be officially released in this country ever again. The home video rights are tied up in litigation and have been for a long time. So a bootleg may be your only way to go.

The second Hesai Mothra film is better than the first, but's sort of faint praise as the first one was terrible. Just barely watchable. The daikaiju were neat but the never-ending stuff with the kids and the fairies was just awful.

If you want to blame someone for the releases of Godzilla films in the west, it's Sony and their subsidiary Classic Media. They handle distribution of most of the Toho daikaiju films. It's Sony/Classic Media who determines what films they release in the US and how.