SECRET MOVIE CLUB presents
Part of our NOVEMBER KAIJU FREAK-OUT Series (and Edwin Caesar Gomez’s guest-programmed birthday!!!), Tuesday, November 15, 2022
LOCATION: The Secret Movie Club Theater, 1917 Bay Street, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90021
*Please note entrance/parking is actually in the back of the building. Make a right on Wilson Street, then a right behind the building. We’re the first set of black steps after the big gate.
7:30pm GODZILLA 1985 (1985, dir. R. J. Kizer & Koji Hashimoto, Japan, 87mns, 35mm)
9:20pm GODZILLA 2000 (1999, dir. Takao Okawara, Sony, Japan, 107mns, 35mm)
Along with our Gamera 1990’s re-boot trilogy series on Saturday, November 5, 2022, we’re going to be checking on the biggest kaiju star of all time-Godzilla-and see how he was doing at the beginning and the end of this era.
But most importantly, our very own Secret Movie Club Team Member Edwin Caesar Gomez celebrates his birthday today and guest-programmed these two titles.
First up is Godzilla 1985 which is actually a re-dubbed and re-edited version of Toho’s 1984 Return of Godzilla. After the Godzilla franchise had gone dormant in the mid-1970’s, it was only a matter of time before the beast awoke from the icy depths of the ocean to return and wreck havoc on Japan. Just as the US domestic market had done with the original Godzilla in the 1950’s, it re-dubbed and re-cut the Japanese version of the movie to sell to folks who don’t love subtitles.
Godzilla 1985 is a blast in a number of ways, including the return of Raymond Burr as “Steve Martin” who is called to help assist the Pentagon figure out a way to deal with a newly resurgent Godzilla. Still played by a performer in an amazing suit, Godzilla finds itself thrust into the Cold War politics of the 1980’s between Regan’s America, Russia, and Japan, when nuclear tensions (or least the posture of nuclear tensions) was still a nerve wracking concern of the entire world. In fact, such concerns never really left.
We follow this up with Godzilla 2000 made specifically in response to Sony’ s own Godzilla movie of a few years before. As turn of the millennium fears gripped everyone from computer owners to apocalypse prophets, Godzilla had to get in on the action. In this movie, Japan has its own “Godzilla Prediction Network” which now treats the big guy as a kind of natural disaster that hits Japan from time to time.
But when Godzilla rears, this time he fights a UFO that harnesses Godzilla’s own DNA to become a creature called “Millennian”. But when Godzilla’s DNA proves to be unstable, “Millenian” becomes an even more unbeatable foe called Orga! (See the metaphor here folks). But Godzilla still has a few tricks up his scaly sleeves when he and Orga face off in front of a terrified Tokyo.
So come get your kaiju on with two Godzilla titles of the 1980’s and 1990’s. But most importantly, celebrate the miracle and blessing that is Edwin Caesar Gomez as he celebrates his birthday. We’re lucky to have Edwin on our team. And we’re even luckier to have him hand pick two of his favorites. On 35mm!
Best always,
Craig Hammill
Secret Movie Club Founder.Programmer
*Please note that though we strive to always show titles on 35mm film if advertised, we may have to screen digitally if the print we receive is in such bad shape or if we don't receive the print in time because of a shipping delay. We will do our best to alert the audience. When this does occur, we will offer each ticket holder who chooses not to attend a complimentary ticket to a future event in exchange. (Disclaimer: Good for 90 days – Future screening must have available tickets, cannot be a fundraiser, and must be comparably priced)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
REFUNDS:
We can offer refunds up to 24 hours before showtime. Please request a refund through Eventbrite and we will process ASAP. After that, no refunds. Sorry.
However if something last minute comes up and you can’t make the screening, for whatever reason, just write to us before showtime: community@secretmovieclub.com and we’ll offer you complimentary tickets to a future screening, good for 90 days. (Disclaimer: Future screening must have available tickets, cannot be a fundraiser, and must be comparably priced)
HELPFUL SECRET MOVIE CLUB (1917 Bay Street, 2nd Floor, LA, CA 90021) THEATER PARKING TIPS:
We recommend that you park just outside our theater. Remember our theater is actually in a beautiful street art alleyway in the back of the 1917 Bay Street building. You get to our entrance by taking a right on Wilson, then a right behind the building. We are the first set of black steps on the right after the big gate.
There is also a parking lot at the corner of Mateo and Violet Street, just 2 blocks from our theater, which costs $7 per car.
HOW CAN WE STAY ON TOP OF NEWLY ANNOUNCED 35MM SCREENINGS, EVENTS, ETC?
You can follow us on Instagram/Twitter: @secretmovieclub or Facebook: @secretmovieclub35mm
You can also subscribe to our weekly email newsletter at secretmovieclub.com or by writing to us at community@secretmovieclub.com and using the header “SUBSCRIBE ME TO NEWSLETTER”.
HOW CAN I CONTACT YOU IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS:
You can always email us at community@secretmovieclub.com with any other questions, concerns, thoughts, recommendations.