JW-Gojifan

Hey everyone, it's me again. Sorry I have not been posting for a while. A lot came up and I could not post anything. Just to let you all know, I am back and while my writers block is still pretty bad, my art ideas are not. It has been a while, but I think it is time to get out my Gaomon again to experiment digitally.

First off, I hope you all had a great New Years and are having a wonderful Valentine's Day. As many of you know, the GxK trailer dropped today, and I cannot tell you how hyped I am for it. It looks much better than trailer 1 and it looks like Legendary is keeping Shimo obscured for now but man, the look on Kong's face for that reveal. That is worthy of a chef's kiss.

While he may not be as physically imposing as Ghidorah, Skar King is formidable, using his bone whip with deadly precision. Plus, I think it is a neat idea to make this character a rival to Kong since he really doesn't have many well known enemies. Think about it, he's battled dinosaurs like the T-Rex, V-Rex and Gorosaurus, battled a giant snake and even MechaniKong but only Gorosaurus, the Rexes and MechaniKong were memorable enemies. While Kong has had reptilian enemies, none of them have ever been mammalian so Skar King could be the most formidable foe for Kong. Maybe here is when he gains the title of King Kong.

I am just so dang excited for this movie. The only other two that have my attention are Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and Sonic 3; come on, who isn't excited for Shadow the Hedgehog?

On top of that, I have the idea to start streaming and making videos to talk with fellow fans about what we are passionate about, not just Kaiju, but games, movies, and more. Could be a way to connect with people.

Anyway, those are just a few things I plan on doing so you can expect some new posts in the future.

Ever since I was little, I have always had this fascination for dinosaurs and monsters. Books, movies, games, you name it, whenever a dinosaur was present on the cover, I gave it my undivided attention. Made things even better when I discovered Godzilla; not only was he a dinosaur, but a king as well so I followed every bit of Godzilla media I could find, developing a passion for the series.

Then of course once I was in school (middle school), people would always make fun of me for liking Godzilla, always saying that the films were objectively bad simply due to the time period. Sometimes it got so bad, arguments would break out or I would isolate myself. Reminds me of that one panel from the comic books:

Still to this day, Godzilla remains my all-time favorite character in media. His series has shown that he is extremely versatile, which is why the Godzilla series has lasted as long as it has; there is a Godzilla film for everyone. Ever since the MonsterVerse began back in 2014, the Kaiju genre has come back to life, many classic monsters getting good updates and new ones being introduced. This past year alone has shown not only Godzilla, but Kong and Gamera getting some much needed attention. I have already talked about some of the new things this year, but I will give my full thoughts on the others.

Skull Island

Ever since the reveal that Kong would get his own animated show, it was like a dream come true though I knew it would not be as liked as the 90's Kong show. Anybody remember that one? Kong being the half-brother to the main character and the two literally merging their minds when a fight broke out? Anyone?

Anyway, the show itself is decent. The human cast is okay, but Mae Whitman's character is definitely one of the more stand out performances. Definitely makes her relate to Kong in a way though she had a companion in Dog. Kind of saw the whole story of her mother hiring mercenaries to find her coming a mile away though.

Kong himself is shown with his standard brown fur on the poster advertising the show but it is black in the actual show. What happened? Did the show runners only watch the 2005 film? Kong at that age and when he is fully grown has brown fur, a nod to the 1933 look that used rabbit fur on the model. That said, he leaves quite a presence whenever he shows up. Plus, Kong has a bit of an arc, though we don't know about it until episode 7, which is an entire flashback and the reason why Kong refuses to go near the water.

While we were introduced to new Florofauna on Skull Island, they don't really stand out, save for the killer Chameleons. There was one Titan however that I personally think was a worthy addition to the MonsterVerse: The Kraken.

This Titan is truly malevolent. It was awakened after Kong's fight against three giant chameleons, and he went to clean his wounds, his blood stirring the creature. It then went on to kill an entire community of shipwreck survivors, including a young woman that Kong had bonded with. The creature then proceeded to taunt Kong, waving its tentacles above the water, even throwing whales at him, all to get Kong into its domain to fight it out.

The fight between Kong and the Kraken is a brutal one. Plus, I like how Kong does not get any help, even as he is being drowned by this thing. He manages to injure it and swim to the surface, eventually gaining the upper hand and unleashing all of his fury on the Kraken; he keeps going until he can't punch anymore, ultimately ripping it in half. It makes for one of the more satisfying victories for Kong.

This one falls into the decent category.

Gamera Rebirth

Out of all the Kaiju that needed some love, look no further than Gamera. His last film released in 2006 and it flopped because audiences were getting tired of Kaiju films. Now, he gets a show that updates him and his classic foes as well. I like the story, the music, and of course, the battles. Even the main characters I liked. Sure, they were kids, but kids were a big part of the Showa Gamera series but unlike the Showa era, these kids are actually likable.

Speaking of the music, I think we can all agree that Gamera's theme, Anger is the best of the soundtrack.

Plus, the Kaiju themselves are given plenty of screen time and the battles are epic; Gamera's battles against Gyaos and Guiron being the show's highlights. Not to mention their personalities shine through.

Gamera reminds me of his 90's incarnation; tough as nails and refuses to give up.

Gyaos and S-Gyaos are ravenous and pure evil.

Jiger is feral and laughs when she causes pain.

Zigra has the mind of a predator and is cunning

Guiron chops first and asks questions later.

Viras is sadistic yet intelligent.

Despite the animation, Gamera Rebirth is definitely worth your time, especially if you are a Kaiju fan. Since the show has ended, it does leave the door open for a possible season 2, especially since a baby Gamera is seen in the last shot.

Godzilla vs Megalon

Crazy to think that the characters Megalon and Jet Jaguar have turned 50. It's even crazier that the same guy who directed Godzilla vs Gigan Rex made a follow-up, paying homage to the 1973 film, especially with the dropkick and Seatopian agents being used again.

Megalon is simply a beast and the fact that Godzilla struggled against this guy shows the monsters potential, especially when he caused an entire city portion to sink. More obscure Kaiju like Megalon need more love especially since Mechagodzilla and King Caesar will be celebrating their 50th anniversaries too.

Monarch Legacy of Monsters

Now we come to the one I was anticipating a lot. Monarch was such a different concept when it was introduced back in 2014, almost like G-Force but intent on studying the monsters rather than destroying them. It left a few questions;

What would happen after the San Francisco incident?

What new monsters would be introduced?

Would old ones, aside from Godzilla, be seen?

What would the story be?

Turns out....

The show is disappointing. I was expecting Monarch to be out there in the world, not only being under scrutiny by the government, but discovering new monsters, finding ways to prevent another attack. Instead, we are treated to characters with daddy issues, love triangles and cheating couples. When I think of the MonsterVerse, I think of Godzilla and Kong fighting and killing other Titans to maintain balance in nature, Monarch making new discoveries, and themes of Man vs Nature, how both must coexist or die.

We are introduced to a trio of characters who are not interesting; Cate, May and Ken. One is completely unlikable, one is a sellout, and the other is just okay. In fact, out of the trio, Kentaro Randa is the only one I thought was okay since he actively tries to find ways out of dangerous situations and has others best interests in mind.

Lee Shaw is the only one of the cast I think is really good. Maybe that is because I like Kurt Russel's acting or the fact that he and his son, Wyatt, play the same character. Speaking of which, the best parts of the show are the flashbacks with Kieko Miura, a young Bill Randa and Shaw.

Thanks to them, we are introduced to a new Titan, the Ion Dragon and we see the remains of the USS Lawton, the ship that sank in 1943, leaving Randa as the only survivor. Is it just me or does the Ion Dragon look almost identical to Gyaos?

Aside from that, only one other monster has been seen, the Frost Vark. So, this thing is yet another mammalian Titan only it has the ability to consume fire and is drawn to heat, absorbing it which can freeze living things to death. It can also burrow underground.

However, I do have some problems with the flashbacks. I'm the kind of guy that prefers a timeline to go from Year 1- Year2 and onward. Instead, the time jumps from 1959 to 1954 to 1955 and so on and so forth. Had I known the main characters would have been as forgettable as they are, just leave it in the past as those characters are far more memorable.

Plus, the show seems to have retconned the graphic novel, Godzilla Awakening. By the end of the story, Godzilla has destroyed one of the Shinomura and is following the second, only for the US Government to detonate Castle Bravo, killing Shinomura yet feeding Godzilla.

So yeah, the show is a mixed bag. On one hand, the monsters look fantastic, just like in the movies. On the other hand, the main cast is boring. I was not expecting anything oscar worthy, but I do not like the cast. The characters in the flashbacks are fine but the modern day cast just not good and for some reason, Monarch is treated like some deep underground government project when they officially became public in 2014. Makes me wonder why Cate just didn't hand the files over regardless of what May said since she pretty much did not care what happened to her father.

I think the only way I will keep watching is just for the monster scenes, maybe just wait until the scenes appear on YouTube. Such a disappointment.

But you know what isn't disappointing?

Godzilla Minus One

When it comes to Japan, they really know how to make Godzilla scary. It should come as no surprise that Godzilla Minus One has many talking about it, a lot even calling it the best film of the year, myself included. Nearly everything about this film is perfect, the main lead, the music, cinematography, special effects, especially the special effects considering this movie was made on a budget of less than $15 million.

Originally, I thought it would be a full-on remake of the 1954 film, but it isn't as it shows Japan recovering from the aftermath of WWII and then Godzilla comes along, taking even more from the country, it really shows the people's resolve to protect their home. Minus One is right up there with the 1954 movie as one of the best and darkest in the franchise and I can't wait to buy it.

That said, Minus One seems to have set a precedent, a lot of people saying Godzilla should only be portrayed the way he was in Minus One, a terrifying monster. That can't be further from the truth, because the final bit of Kaiju media proves the franchises versatility.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Ever since Godzilla vs Kong released, fans have speculated where the MonsterVerse would go now that the two alphas put their rivalry aside. Then the original teaser trailer came along, and we were introduced to the villain of the story, Skar King.

I have heard a lot about this guy, how he has made a serpentine whip out of the bones of other Titans he killed, originally protected others until he became power hungry, was the cause of the Ice Age because he can control Shimo, the First Titan, and apparently has some history with Godzilla, who not only defeated him long ago, but imprisoned Skar King in Hollow Earth and now, he wants revenge.

When he meets Godzilla again, I kind of want him to give a sinister look like he is saying, "I'm back and here to kill you," but when he meets Kong, I kind of want him to be like, "You're no challenge." I get the feeling he will not only be controlling Shimo, but an army of other Titans, like the hyena ones chasing Kong in the trailer. After all, Skar King was the reason the Kong's and Godzilla's went to war in the first place, and if his signature red handprint is anything to go by, he was on Skull Island, possibly leading the Skull Crawlers to wipe out those who opposed him.

So yeah, the story sounds wild, but GxK has no doubt sparked some controversy among the fanbase, especially since Minus One released. Now most are expecting the human cast to be perfect even though they will not be. Adam Wingard himself said that in GxK, we will be spending more time with the Titans.

Kong is looking more grey than normal. He's clearly been hardened by his time in Hollow Earth, but I am curious to see how his story unfolds, especially now that it seems he will no longer be alone. The original working title for the films was Son of Kong, the same name as the film that followed up the original in 1933. Only now, there are theories floating around that the young ape we see is actually the son of Skar King.

Then we have Godzilla, who has evolved. Not only is the trailers tone a source of controversy, but Godzilla's new look as a lot have questioned the color tone, a few even saying that the character has become feminized. This look is clearly inspired by MireGoji from Godzilla 2000 and Godzilla vs Megaguirus, where the Big G's spikes were a purplish hue, and his Atomic Breath was orange. Even in earlier entries, Godzilla's Atomic Breath was a steam rather than fire.

On top of that, Godzilla has slimmed down enough to where he is running alongside Kong at the end of the trailer. Plus, Kong is wearing some kind of brace. My guess, Kong fought Skar King once and was badly injured, forcing Monarch to patch him up. The fact that Godzilla and Kong are working together makes me so happy! Makes me want to see Gamera join them. Together, they would be unstoppable.

To those saying that Godzilla running is unrealistic, he charged towards King Ghidorah in King of the Monsters, bodied Kong in their second fight and even charged towards Mechagodzilla in Gvk's final battle. If that is unrealistic, how about the Showa films where Godzilla ran in those movies, did a victory dance, flew using his Atomic breath, even absorbed lightning to turn himself into a living magnet? Plus, the Hollow Earth theory has been debunked for a long time yet is a pivotal part of the MonsterVerse, being mentioned in 2014, when the Titans looked for radiation underground, Brooks talking about the Hollow Earth in KSI, it being the reason how Godzilla is able to traverse the entire planet so fast and being officially shown in GvK, that film especially when gravity inversions were shown.

Needless to say, the MonsterVerse is the Showa series reincarnated; It started off on a serious note, but the grim tone eventually went away for spectacular battles and crazy situations. Once the Godzilla series began targeting a younger audience, it suddenly became available for everyone, which is why the King of Monsters has endured for so long.

So yeah, those are my thoughts on all of the Kaiju media that has released this year. Some of it was good, some of it was bad. At least there is something out there for everyone.

Been a while since I posted a journal. How about something I have been waiting a long time for. As many of you know, Gamera is among my favorite Kaiju ever. Since his re-characterization in the 90's, he has proven to keep up with and even surpass Godzilla at times. It seems history has repeated as Gamera Rebirth is far more entertaining than Godzilla Singular Point.

When watching Singular Point, I tried to keep up, but in the end, I was left disappointed. I will admit that the anime did have some fantastic moments, like Godzilla Ultima's first scene with Akira Ifukube's theme blasting proudly. However, while many did seem to enjoy it, as a second season was announced, as well as the anime receiving awards, I am just not excited for season 2.

That said, I was initially skeptic of hearing that Gamera was returning in a six-episode anime. So far, I was not convinced as Singular Point disappointed me as well as the Polygon films, though I did reserve judgement when it was announced. After the first trailer, it gave me hope that the show would be good even if the animation style looked subpar. It at least got people talking, especially Dangerville (Love that channel).

Then the first official trailer dropped, and I was convinced. It looked fun, action packed with returning monsters, and showed right off the bat that kids would be the central characters. It felt like a nice blend of the Showa and Heisei Gamera eras.

When it comes to Gamera stories, they generally stand out, especially since the 90's gave the Kaiju origins tied to humanity. Here, it is pretty much the same. Rather than an Atlantean civilization, an organization called the Eustace Foundation created the Kaiju as a way to purify earth by wiping out most of the human population, explaining why the Kaiju in the show are maneaters. When it is explained that some children possess a certain code that Kaiju require to multiply and propagate, it makes the Foundation despicable as we are shown a flashback of kids being sacrificed to the Kaiju. This is where Gamera comes in as he defends humanity, especially children as some could possess the code.

Since the kids are the main characters, they may not end up being fan favorites, but they are likable. Boco is the main character, constantly pushed by his mother to study and become a genius, telling him that he has no real friends and is kidding himself, but Boco genuinely cares about his friends, Joe and Junichi, not wanting to lose contact when he does move to a new town.

Boco proves to be important since he contains a code that the Kaiju are looking for and how he is able to connect with Gamera. In fact, Boco is the one to give the monster its name, believing wholeheartedly that Gamera is an ally.

Joe is like a big brother character. Ever since his mom and brother were killed in an accident, Joe has had to step up as his father gave in to despair and began drinking. When with Boco, he promises to never let anything happen to him despite not wanting to treat him like his brother.

I was surprised when he decided to sacrifice his life to save his friends. He was a hero.

Junichi is best described as an intelligent tomboy. She loves tech and collecting odd magazines that teeter on the fantastical.

Brody was a character I thought I would hate since his first impression is that of a bully and that he is the son of a general. He first comes off as pompous but is later accepted into the group and becomes a good friend. By the end, he is likable.

The main adult characters are Emiko and Mr. Tezuki, who both work for the Eustace Foundation. It is their job to safeguard citizens, particularly children. While Emiko never had many friends growing up, she was genuinely curious, adults finding her annoying. As for Tezuki, he tried to help his father open a business, but it went under, putting the two into poverty. Tezuki worked all throughout his childhood to get himself an education, becoming a negotiator with many connections. One character is genuine in their actions while the other is not.

Emiko turns out to be a villain, intending on allowing the Kaiju to wipe out most of humanity, willing to kill the kids all for her own selfish gain. As for Tezuki, he wants nothing else to do with the Foundation after Zigra's attack, coming across the Foundation's plan, deceiving them and saving the kids.

As for the monsters, I actually managed to predict four of the five that Gamera would battle. Starting with Gamera himself, he rocks! This is one of my favorite interpretations of the character. He is heroic and fearless, never backing down regardless of the pain.

Gamera's role is heavily inspired from his reinterpretation as a guardian as he was stolen from the Foundation and genetically reprogrammed, explaining why he is fighting the other Kaiju in the first place. He knows what will happen if he fails so he cannot afford to lose. To combat the other Kaiju, Gamera has the standard abilities of flight, physical strength, and fireballs. However, Rebirth give him new abilities, like being able to give off an EMP blast and a single use, last ditch move, the Orylium Beam. Gamera has truly returned.

Just like how Ghidorah comes back whenever Godzilla is revived, you can bet that whenever Gamera shows up, Gyaos is never far away.

My favorite version of Gyaos is in the 90's trilogy and the Rebirth version does take some inspiration from that version: attacking in swarms, a voracious maneater, and overall, just a complete monster. I especially found it horrifying when they were small, using their scalpel beams to cut people up and eat the remains, followed by them just swallowing others whole.

Jiger was a welcome addition to the roster as she has not been used in a long time. However, I feel like she was done dirty. Her behavior is similar to that of Gyaos: multiple eggs hatching and the younglings eating people, but once the food runs out, they turn on each other.

On top of that, Jiger only has one ability, her tail. I know that Showa Kaiju had ridiculous abilities but that made them stand out. Jiger had suction powers, solid saliva missiles, even parasitic eggs. Now, all she has is a mucus membrane that can reduce incoming damage and uses her prehensile tail like a spear.

That said, I do like her Reiwa design a lot more than her Showa counterpart, and the way Gamera kills her was not only brutal but satisfying as well.

Zigra was a Kaiju that had the most drastic redesign out of the original monsters. So much so that his first reveal had me question whether or not it was actually him. He went from an alien Goblin Shark to a massive skate-like ray, and I am all for it. Gamera vs Zigra is probably the most forgettable out of the Showa films but here, the character is done justice.

Since Rays are related to sharks, Zigra has a predatory instinct and is ultra formidable in water. Rather than use a triple beam, he can charge up Liquid Shots and fire them with surprising accuracy, hitting targets up to 32 Km away. Then of course, Zigra takes home the gold in terms of underwater speed, using super-cavitation to reach speeds of over 200 knots.

While the Showa version was vulnerable to bright lights and had to stand on its fins, Reiwa Zigra is a lot more believable, using its fins like a Pterosaur wings and using his developed legs to walk. The oddest ability Zigra has is his tail which is not only prehensile but can extend at least ten times his body length.

If you were to ask me my favorite Gamera Kaiju aside from Gyaos, I would say the Legion. If you were to ask me my third favorite Gamera Kaiju, then I would say Guiron. Ever since watching the movie for the first time, I fell in love with this Kaiju. It had such a ridiculous design that it instantly became a personal favorite. The fact that it had a knife for a head, could shoot shuriken's out of its face, and could leap super high was enough to make it formidable.

Now, with Gamera Rebirth, Guiron has been elevated to something even cooler. Similar to how Gigan was given a drastic and super cool redesign for Godzilla Final Wars, Guiron's Reiwa look is simply perfection. The knife is now armor, the shuriken's are essentially scales shot off of a railgun, and the agility is still there but now, there are new additions, like Guiron's body being elastic, allowing it to put force into its slashes.

When I was predicting which Kaiju Gamera would fight, I originally believed he would battle Barugon. It seemed fitting that the final monster would be the first one he ever fought. However, that was not the case as the final monster is Viras. Viras' design in the Showa series was so laughable, I could not take it seriously even if I tried. Thankfully, the monster does have a pretty neat redesign, still appearing squid-like but having new abilities and lore surrounding it.

Out of all the Kaiju, Viras is the oldest, well over 100,000 years old, found in a mummified state. It was even said to be the strongest of all the Kaiju, used for a ritual to reduce the human population and purify the planet.

In terms of abilities, Viras is strong, using his eight tentacles to grapple enemies, discharge electricity, project a forcefield around his body, fire a laser called the Lightning of Hemueden, and control gravity to a point where he can fly.

While the promotional material said Gamera would face five Kaiju, he technically fights six. The final monster is actually a mutated Gyaos dubbed S-Gyaos, a possible nod to Super Gyaos from 1995. S-Gyaos is unlike its other counterparts. In fact, the Eustace Foundation calls it an ugly duckling and ugly is the perfect word to describe it. This thing has six eyes, is far bulkier that other Gyaos to the point where it can't even fly but is an adept swimmer, and its crest resembles facial fins.

It can still fire off the signature Scalpel beam, but it can use its tongue to implant an RNA virus into a host, corrupting its genetic signature.

Chronologically, S-Gyaos is the first kaiju to be seen as the Foundation members modify its DNA to keep it alive as a contingency plan.

As for the battles, there were two I was looking forward to the most, those being Gyaos and Guiron's battles. I was not disappointed.

Starting with the Gyaos fight, it obviously takes inspiration from the 2015 concept trailer, especially when a swarm of small Gyaos fly at Gamera and he blasts them. I had no idea the beatdown would be so satisfying; Gyaos may be the Ghidorah of the series, but she is a pretty frail monster with good agility. Thanks to the animation, the monsters move so fluidly, especially Gyaos, and that beatdown almost made me feel sorry for her; getting her wing burned, having a foot incinerated, neck stepped on, almost ripped apart, an eye nearly gouged out and rag-dolled before being finished. For the first fight, I was hungry for more. Definitely one of the best fights Gamera has had, and it only got better by episode 4, titled, "KILL."

The fight I was looking forward to the most was Gamera vs Guiron. Thanks to the animation, the monster no longer looks ridiculous whenever it leaps around. This was the fight that nearly killed Gamera.

Guiron is a force to be reckoned with thanks to its agility and armor; this guy took a fireball head on when Gyaos, Jiger and Zigra were killed with a single blast and Guiron took it like nothing happened. Then of course, he cuts into Gamera's side, takes out one of his eyes with a shuriken, slices off his right arm and even impales him. If Gamera was not the determined Kaiju we all know him to be, then the show would have ended early. I had no idea the finisher would be among his best kills: Gamera retreats into his shell, spins and, when Guiron jumps, Gamera flies up, bisecting Guiron lengthwise.

Thanks to this fight, Gamera is not able to fully recover and has to battle two more monsters in a weakened state.

The way the show ends nearly had me in tears. Gamera has been through a lot and when S-Gyaos appears, he is not fully healed yet continues to fight. He is about to finish his enemy when S-Gyaos forces its tongue down Gamera's throat, injecting an RNA virus to rewrite Gamera's genetic makeup.

The monster is stunned and Gamera flied high, spinning so fast in all directions, Gyaos cannot pierce Gamera's defenses, getting completely eviscerated in the end.

However, the damage is done and Gamera is corrupted, returning to his original purpose though he is able to fight back enough to come to his senses. Realizing the Foundation will not stop, Gamera resorts to a final move he knows will be his end. He fires the Orylium beam, cutting into the moon and destroying the base, instantly killing the Foundation board members. With the last of his strength used up, Gamera crumbles, having given his life to save the world.

While Gamera may have died, his legacy is not lost. As the Summer of Kaiju draws to a close, Boco, Brody and Junichi promise to keep in contact, bidding Tezuki farewell and meeting baby Gamera, future protector.

Gamera has done it again! He has given audiences a good show and was more entertaining than Godzilla. For a show called Rebirth, it's like Gamera never left and I am so glad that the character has gotten more love and attention. Now we just need a brand new Gamera film like what the 2015 concept trailer showed.

If you are a Kaiju fan, watch this show if you haven't already. Gamera has been done justice. Sure the animation may look weird and the episode length may not be what was expected, but the music, story and of course, the monster battles, more than deliver. Welcome back Gamera!

In honor of the 30th Anniversary of Jurassic Park, I would like to go over some of my all time favorite moments from my second favorite franchise.

As you know, I am a sucker for dinosaurs. I mean, just look at my name. it kind of gives it away. I remember watching the original at just three years old and rather than be scared, I was enthralled, especially when I saw the T-Rex. Thanks to JP, We're back, land Before Time, and Walking with Dinosaurs, I became a fanatic, though, looking at dinosaur media now, I definitely prefer the retro looks but appreciate the science behind making dinosaurs act like real animals (the exact same thing JP did). Just look at how good Prehistoric Planet is. I like to think of it as this generations version of Walking with Dinosaurs. But now, let's take a look at some of the best moments from the series that introduced a generation to the most successful group of animals of all time, from one of the greatest series of all time.

10. The Aviary Scene (Jurassic Park III)

Despite the poor reception Dominion received, I still believe that JP III is the weakest film in the franchise. That is mostly because there is no overlaying message of corporate greed. In fact, JP III is the only film in the franchise that has no such themes and feels like a generic dino film with some action scenes thrown in.

That said, there is one scene that made the film worth while: the Bird Cage attack. It has some of the best buildup to the danger and shows that it is not just dinosaurs that the survivors have to worry about.

Because of this scene, Pteranodon became my personal favorite pterosaur. Plus, what they do to Billy is kind of terrifying, forcing him into rapids where he can barely stand, followed by two of the pterosaurs clawing and pecking at him, before drawing blood and going into a frenzy, all while Alan and Paul try in vain to rescue him, followed by one of the most ominous shots in the franchise, like the third Pteranodon is saying, "You're next!"

9. San Diego Incident (The Lost World: Jurassic Park)

While the Lost World Novel is drastically different from the film, it's final act pays homage to the original Lost World film from 1925. While a carnivore is not brought to civilization, the damage caused is still severe.

Lost Worlds final act was merely a taste of what could have happened if predators ended up in a populated area (possibly why Dodson had many predator species relocated to BioSyn sanctuary in Dominion). Plus, the Bucks rampage was also an homage to Kaiju films, especially since the scene shows a group of Japanese businessmen are running from a reptilian monster; anyone I know? Though in the end, the Buck is lured back to the boat, reunited with its infant and the main villain dies due to his hubris.

I definitely prefer this ending of Lost World compared to the novels ending which just broke me inside.

Plus, I feel bad for the Buck. He reminds me of Kong in a way; taken from his home to be exploited and once he escapes, it becomes chaos.

8. Indoraptor Reveal (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom)

If there is one thing Fallen Kingdom got right, it is capitalize on the series' theme of greed. Genetic power is a whole new frontier and you bet your bottom that people would leap at the chance to exploit it. It's like the space race of the 1960's only with DNA splicing.

Also, am I the only one that got We're back vibes when the Indoraptor was first revealed? The host setting up the beast, the music building up the moment, followed by a dramatic reveal. Plus, the scene has my favorite track from the score, "Thus Begins the Indo Rapture." That chorus that goes with the reveal is something special to me, like the mother of all hybrids has been created. And to think that it was considered a prototype with a lack of any sense of obedience or empathy. Imagine if Mills had gotten his way.

7. Grim Opening (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom)

A films opening is supposed to set the tone for the rest of the film. When concerning dinosaurs and man in the same place at the same time, how can we have the slightest idea of what to expect?

I remember this opening being shown to test audiences and was said to have been met with a standing ovation. After seeing the opening myself, I concur. While there are those who say that the original's opening is the best, mostly because of the camerawork, the characters reactions and what you can't see being just as effective as what you do see, Fallen Kingdom's opening is top tier and very Crichton-esque. Again, the camerawork is done extremely well, the tension is high and the fact that the opening even uses a moment that was cut from the original film's ending is just the cherry on top.

Plus, I don't think T-Rex has been this scary in media since Lost World and it was about time we got something good.

6. Welcome to Jurassic Park

Every once in a while, there comes a movie that defines a generation. In the 90's, that film was Jurassic Park, which went on to become the highest grossing film of all time, spawning a franchise, endless merchandise, but most importantly, a love of dinosaurs.

While the original's opening showed a sense of danger, it wasn't until we were introduced to a true giant: Brachiosaurus. We, like the characters, were in awe at the sight of such an animal. Tie it all in with John Williams score, and the Brachiosaur scene became something truly breathtaking. To this day, I can't watch this scene without getting goosebumps and cracking a smile. It reminds me why I love dinosaurs and have continued to love them.

5. Trailer scene (The Lost World: Jurassic Park)

Easily the darkest film in the franchise, The Lost World made for the tensest moment in the series. Considering it was the only scene from the novel to be adapted to the film showed just how important it meant to the filmmakers.

While the trailers being attacked is a memorable moment, the Rexes reveal is super impactful with near perfect buildup; the iconic roar, something big moving through the trees, and the reveal of not just one, but two adult dinosaurs, looking for their infant, their parental instincts kicking in to make sure such a thing does not happen again.

You really feel like you are hanging on for dear life and the feeling of falling to your doom can't be a pleasant one, especially when Sarah falls and the glass slowly cracks as she shifts her weight. Just when you think everyone is about to be pulled up thanks to Eddie Carr's quick thinking, chaos theory shows its face again with the Rex pair showing up to finish the job, leading to the most brutal death in the history of Jurassic. Just goes to show that animals don't care whether your intentions are good or bad; if you are a threat or seen as a meal, you are fair game.

That said, Eddie Carr died a hero. If is wasn't for him, Ian, Sarah and Nick would have all died and, chances are, that Roland would have successfully killed the Buck while Ludlow would have set up Jurassic Park San Diego. It's all a domino effect.

4. Malta Chase (Jurassic World Dominion)

Say what you will about Jurassic World Dominion, I personally believe it is a fitting entry in the franchise with some great dino designs (Therizinosaurus. Need I say more?) While there were plenty of moments to choose from, the one that caught my eye the moment the advertisement started was a chase through a city. I've heard some criticisms that this was another motorcycle chase, but we didn't really see one in JW, it was just a few seconds. Here, it's a full-on race for survival. That, and the fact that the Atrociraptors refused to give up, (being trained to not stop until their target is dead) just added to the danger. One slip-up, and Owen could have died. In fact, he and Claire almost became shish-kabobs had it not been for the bike crashing into White, though I did hear that all Atrociraptors did survive.

3. T-Rex breakout/ Must go Faster (Jurassic Park)

Jurassic Park was a film that certainly left its mark on the world, having a dedicated fanbase and kickstarting a series that has been kept alive for 30 years is quite the achievement. While the Brachiosaur scene was emotional and awe inspiring, we knew (especially those who read the novel) that chaos would soon follow. Enter the first appearance of Tyrannosaurus Rex. It is often considered a perfect scene due to the atmosphere since there is no music, lighting, and of course, the reactions of the characters. While Grant and Ian are calm and collected, Lex and Tim are terrified, especially since Gennaro flat out abandoned them. as kids, we understood why Lex and Tim acted the way they did. While the dinosaurs could look amazing, never underestimate a hungry predator.

Then of course we get one of the best chases in the franchise, and another reason why the dinosaurs are so great. Shortly after Ian is rescued, the Rex returns and so begins a tense car chase. After several grueling seconds, which to the characters would feel like eternity, the animal gives up and patrols her territory. It's an epic scene.

2. Main Street Battle (Jurassic World)

Jurassic World was a film I felt like I had waited my whole life to see. It was like time never stopped when audiences returned to Isla Nublar; it felt like nostalgia done right. While there were classic elements present, the introduction of the Indominus Rex showed why new isn't always better, and while the original dangers of genetic power were touched on in the first park, the hybrid brought those dangers to life as it single handedly brought down the entire park in just a day's time due to so many unknown variables.

Before the film released, I, like many others, had the idea that the hybrid and the original T-Rex would go at it, leading to so much fan art, it made me want to see the fight already. Then it happened. Like what Godzilla vs Kong did in 2021, the main street battle was nothing short of a spectacle, though it did worry me once Old Rexy started to lose; I was afraid that the filmmakers learned nothing since 2001 (Though I did see the intentions as to why since there are more predators than just T-Rex). That said, when it was revealed that Blue was alive, followed by the Lost World theme, my heart raced and I was cheering at the top of my lungs. Once the Indominus got dragged into the Mosasaurus' lagoon, I kid you not, the whole theater went silent until I started clapping, followed by a roaring applause. It made for one of the absolute best theater experiences of my life.

1. When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (Jurassic Park)

Here it is. My number one favorite moment. What better way to end this list than with what is quite possibly the best ending in the series? This was the scene that made T-Rex my favorite dinosaur. The Rex is not only awe inspiring, but the Raptors are also terrifying. Just imagine of there were more, like the books. The reason this scene is so good is because it has great tension, suspense, and payoff. Plus, at the request of Spielberg, the Rex got one more chance to shine (As opposed to the original concept where Grant would operate a lift to kill one raptor by ramming it into the Rex skull while Hammond would kill the second with a shotgun). Thanks to the Rex's untimely appearance and the JP music, good old Rexy was portrayed as an unlikely hero, something that would carry over into the Jurassic World movies. With this scene, it became the perfect way to end a tense chase and show once and for all, that Dinosaurs were back from extinction.

And there you have it! My top 10 favorite moments celebrating 30 years of Jurassic Park. What are your favorites?

Hey guys. I know it's been a while since I last posted something, but I feel like I am going through a bit of a freeze right now. I have all of these ideas, but I don't have the time to work on them. Whenever I do have time, I try to continue my writings but sometimes I don't feel like it is enough. Given my DRGN stories, I want to post whichever one I finish first, but I want there to be development and no confusion. I have some done, but what happens in between, matters too.

Thankfully, I have my notes saved and have some inspiration. Whoever writes knows that only the writer knows their story better than anyone; it is a puzzle only they can solve. Regardless if anyone sees my work or not, I will feel proud of it. That inspiration not only comes from drafts I have found on writing websites, but music and even some films (I am trying to work on my dialogue and build some characters up through foreshadowing).

I have looked through a few literary pieces, including a good pal of mine's works as well, @Blazing-Saint's Heroic Demons series and it has also proven inspirational. I know it's tough putting it all into words, but I will get there.

While I do have my DRGN ideas, I do have something else planned. I'm sure as you all know, I am a sucker for monsters, dinosaurs and creature features. I had an idea from many years ago, involving a Jurassic Park/ Skull Island story that was eventually lost but I never forgot the idea. Then the MonsterVerse rose to fame and that old idea evolved into something else. Thanks to the masters of monsters like @Trollmans and @Transapient, I have put together a rough MonsterVerse timeline though I am unsure of the biology (unlike @Trollmans. That guy is a legend).

It will include some of the most well known monsters in Kiaju history, not just Godzilla's, but Gamera's and Kong's as well. The idea is basic, but it's there, including the scrapped story I once had before I discovered DeviantArt. I want to come up with monsters of my own, but my art skills have plummeted since I began writing so much.

On top of that, I want to try my hand at digital art, starting with a piece that was drawn for me by SlicedLemons:

It's a rough idea of my OC's and with enough practice, I can at least try digital coloring since I have a Gaomon. It will take some time, but I can make this work.

One last thing, since I have not seen a film in theaters since Mario, I do want to continue my Movie Thoughts since you guys seem to like them so I will give my thoughts on classic movies from back in the day. I will also get back to my Monster Journal series, but this time, organize them based on whichever characters I choose from a certain era. Lastly, I won't be using anyone else's pieces anymore since some don't want their art being used and replies for permission can take a long time, so it is back to movie stills. The same will apply to my reviews.

Before I can make all of this happen, I have to go through most of June entertaining people since I got a part in a show called Lost in Yonkers. For most of June, I may be quiet with the occasional comment. Rest assured, I at least have a plan though progress is slow. Still, I am in awe at how many of you decided to watch me, Maybe I will set up a subscriber tier.