Monster World (film) (Johnsonverse)

Monster World is a 2015 American kaiju adventure film directed by Timothy Hill, based on the multimedia franchise of the same name. It stars Spike Spencer, Tiffany Grant, Michelle Ruff, Tom Kane, Allison Keith, Colleen Clinkenbeard, and John Hurt. A pilot for the revived series that premiered later that year, it follows NERV attempting to quash the Invadors, who have returned with an even bigger invasion force.
The film began production in early 2012, with filming taking place in TBA. It was released on June 19, 2015, receiving widespread acclaim for its storytelling, editing, acting, and effects.
WORK-IN-PROGRESS
== Plot ==
To be written by BNSF1995 at a later date.
== Cast ==
=== Voice actors ===
* Spike Spencer as Shinji Ikari
*Tiffany Grant as Asuka Langley Soryu
*Michelle Ruff as Rei Ayanami-Ikari
*Tom Kane as Gendo Ikari
*Allison Keith as Misato Katsuragi
*Colleen Clinkenbeard as Dr. Ritsuko Akagi
*John Hurt as Dr. Kozo Fuyutsuki
*Michael McConnohie as Ryoji Kaji
*Bridget Hoffman as Maya Ibuki
*Matt Greenfield as Makoto Hyugi
*Jason C. Lee
*Kurt Stoll
*Caitlyn Glass
*TBA as TBA
*TBA as TBA
=== Suit actors ===
* Tim Johnson as TBA
*Chloe Johnson as TBA
*Belle Armstrong as TBA
*TBA as TBA
*TBA as TBA
*TBA as TBA
== Production ==
=== Development ===
In 2012, TBA.
=== Casting ===
The film had several characters recast; Sue Ulu, John Cleese, Kendra Benham, and Carol Amerson were replaced as Ritsuko, Fuyutsuki, Maya, and Hikari by Colleen Clinkenbeard, John Hurt, Bridget Hoffman, and Caitlin Glass, respectively, though Cleese later returned to his role after Hurt's death in early 2017. Spike Spencer, Tiffany Grant, Michelle Ruff, Tom Kane, Allison Keith, Michael McConnohie, Matt Greenfield, Jason C. Lee, and Kurt Stoll remained in their respective roles as Shinji, Asuka, Rei, Gendo, Misato, Kaji, Makoto, Shigeru, and Kensuke.
=== Live-action filming ===
=== Animation ===
=== Soundtrack ===
== Release ==
The teaser trailer depicts Alpha Squad fighting a horde of MechaGodzillas (something that never happened during the original series due to the fact there was only one MechaGodzilla suit available; the advent of the Johnson Aligned Universe changed this, resulting in the construction of a staggering 20 additional suits, and hundreds of plywood dummies destroyed and replaced on a regular basis). It is also confirmed that Ritsuko and her cyborg army will appear; it is rumored that it will be revealed that Ritsuko, even in her human form, was responsible for signaling and mind-controlling SpaceGodzilla, and forming, controlling, and stealthily leading the Mutant Horde.
The main trailer premiered during halftime of Super Bowl XLIX on February 1, 2015, depicting several scenes from the movie, such as a major assault on an island that turns out to be SpaceGodzilla's fortress, Shinji's new jetboots (and his subsequent rescue of Asuka from a Titanosaurus, and their thrilling flight through the island while on the run from other Mutants), the Invadors fusing King Ghidorah with a Ghidorah from a parallel universe, Godzilla being dropped into an oil refinery and blasted by the Invadors' kaiju forces all at once, and Alpha Squad being halo-dropped into New York City. Other shots shown included Gendo shedding a tear for as-of-yet unknown reasons, Misato pushing Kaji away, Cyber-Ritsuko smirking, Shinji and Asuka kissing passionately, Rei getting an eye gouge from Hikari and later hitting her head against a wall, and Fuyutsuki looking with apprehension at something. The trailer ended with Godzilla in full view roaring at the camera, followed the names of Spike Spencer, Tiffany Grant, and Michelle Ruff, the film's logo (unchanged from the TV series), Unit-01's roar, and Godzilla's Millenium roar, hinting at a major event in the film.
Shortly after the trailer premiered, fans with too much time on their hands, using editing software, managed to spot Kaworu Nagisa. Many thought it was simply a flashback, while other say that, as an Angel, he works in mysterious ways. Director Timothy Hill debunked the theory, stating that Kaworu was still dead and will remain as so, and that the so-called Kaworu-spotting was really Rei seen from a funny angle and in abnormal lighting. though he also hinted at bringing him back via a flashback in the eighth season. The fact that a casting call for the character was leaked and that Steven Blum had been reported in the studio has sparked rumors.
Initially, this movie was to be pushed back to November 2015 to accommodate the Johnson Aligned Universe film Nemesis after a 60th Anniversary Godzilla co-production with Toho for November 3, 2014 release was announced, a film that was released as Terror of Godzilla (a crossover with CLANNAD that spawned a trilogy). However, Nemesis was instead moved to March, and Monster World was moved back to its old release date, the coveted June release slot. Despite the change, Nemesis still takes place in its original spot on the Johnson Aligned Universe timeline in September 2014, so as to maintain the integrity of the universe and the major Konata and Kagami plot thread (arguably the most-anticipated part of the movie).
== Reception ==
=== Critical response ===
The movie was released on June 19, 2015 (the same day as another movie belonging to Johnson subsidiary Disney, Inside Out) to critical acclaim. Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie a rare 100%, with its critic consensus reading, "TBA". Metacritic also gave it a score of 100 (indicating "universal acclaim"), and gave it an overall score of four stars.
=== Box office ===
The movie was also the highest-grossing film in June and July, and still commanded large crowds in mid-August. The film was a massive hit in the Japanese states as well, receiving a huge amount of promotion, advertising, and previews. On opening day in the Japanese states, theatres reported have run out of refreshments (a similar situation occurred upon the Japanese release of EarthBound in 1997), and several even had to cancel screenings of other films so their screens could be used as overflow, angering those not there to see Monster World (these irate patrons were actually the vocal minority).
Things were no better in the United States mainland. Gridlocks were reported in San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, New York, and Boston, all owing to massive theatre crowds, many of whom had camped out for several days in anticipation of the film.
=== Accolades ===
At the TBA, TBA.
== Home media ==
On November 1, 2015, the film was released on DVD, Blu-ray, and USD.
Category:Johnsonverse