IS THAT HAPPY FOR YOU?

Three years later, Ryuhei Kitamura's AZUMI has hit American shores and the director himself is interviewed by Ed Douglas over on ComingSoon.net. He's a straight shooter and here he is talking about taking on GODZILLA: FINAL WARS:

"So I met producer Mr. Tomiyama, he's been making Godzilla movies for the last 15 years, and I told him that I loved Godzilla back in the '70s, but after the '80s, I didn't like it and I don't go and watch anymore. "Only Godzilla freaks [went to see them], so I have to be very honest with you, because I don't want to get into trouble after I start making the movie with you. I don't like the Godzilla movies for the last 15 years. I think there's something missing because back in the '70s, Godzilla had more power, more crazy things." Godzilla had lots of fun in it, very stupid things and funny things. Recently, they lost that kind of spirit. That's what I told him, so why do you want me to do it? And this producer said, "I want something new for the last Godzilla. I know that I've been making mistakes." So I said, "Okay, if you ask me to do it, I will do the upgrade version of '70s Godzilla, that's what I'm going to do. Is that happy for you?" and he said yes."

And he did.

Read more here.