2 Warps to Neptune

Godzilla 1985 was released in Japan a year earlier as Gojira, the first film to feature the big guy since 1975’s Terror of Mechagodzilla. Like the original Gojira from 1954, the U.S. version was heavily edited, and heavy-handed scenes with Raymond Burr were inserted.

There were three versions of the Dr. Pepper commercial: the long version above, a shorter version, and a Diet Dr. Pepper version introducing Godzilla’s bride-to-be. I remember all of them, and I remember how disappointed I was in the movie, which I saw in the theater. (If I recall, a Dr. Pepper machine appeared prominently in one of the American scenes.)

Trailers and promos for Godzilla 1985 are below.

A heaping thank you to everyone who follows the blog, has left an appreciative comment, sent an appreciative email, shared or featured my posts (and given me credit), given me a heads up, consented to be interviewed, or submitted material for me to feature. Most of the work I do here happens between 5:30 and 7:00 in the morning. Your contributions and positive feedback are my fuel. (That and coffee.)

The idea behind 2 Warps to Neptune is to virtually recreate, as far as possible, the land, customs, and artifacts of our collective youth. The ultimate goal is not to relive the past, but to study it. My focus is on how a confluence of cultural forces—Star Wars and the resulting sci-fi boom, D&D and the fantasy boom, the evolution of the comic book industry, the video game and personal computer revolutions—gave rise to a new species of person we now refer to as geeks or nerds, though I’d argue the terms are nearly meaningless today.

Right now, the 2 Warps to Neptune Facebook page is the extent of my “social media presence.” I post different stuff there to (1) make it worthwhile for everyone who “likes” me, and (2) to save some space on the blog. I chose Facebook because it’s easy and it gives me the most flexibility as an anonymous page. (I’m anonymous because I’m a manager in a very large company in flux. I also have a separate writing life.) I know many of you prefer Google+ and Twitter, but I’d rather concentrate on finding and writing about nifty and gnarly subject matter. (Having said that, I’m Chase Neptune on Google+.)

This blog is not about me. It’s about us. To that end, I’d like to start featuring more guest posts and/or collaborations with other writers. Topics up for analysis/review include films and books, film novelizations, magazines, comics, coloring and activity books, LPs and cassettes (Kid Stuff Records, Disney Read-Alongs, etc.), toys, games (video, board, role-playing), amusement venues (arcades, theme parks)—anything and everything that sheds light on ’70s and ’80s kid culture. Send me an email at 2warpstoneptune@gmail.com if you’re interested.

I’m not sure how long I can keep this up, programs, but I’ve definitely got another year in me. Thanks again.

It’s true. I do have a sweet ass. Thanks for noticing, Google!

He’s not naked enough for you already?

Some of my stuff is featured today on UnderScoopFire!, a smart pop culture site dedicated to ’80s kids. The feature is called Monday Memory-gasm (oh-oh-oh, did you feel it?), and writer Howard Decker, who edits USF, dares to insinuate that John Lithgow would defeat Sharon Stone in a mud wrestling match. Villain!

Give USF a thorough ogling when you can. They’ve got, like, podcasts. I didn’t even know my laptop had a microphone until my wife told me.

For what it’s worth, if you “like” the 2 Warps to Neptune page, then you’ll see my posts (part of them, anyway) in your Facebook feed. You can also make hilariously snarky comments, if you so choose.

You’ll also see (I think) whatever random philosophical observations I decide to make, such as, “Hey, I just listened to Daft Punk’s Tron: Legacy soundtrack 28 times in a row, and I didn’t even really like the movie,” or, “Hey, on the last season of The Brady Bunch, Jan starts to look better than Marsha,” or, “Hey, just remember what old Jack Burton does when the earth quakes, the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the pillars of Heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton just looks that big old storm right in the eye and says, `Give me your best shot. I can take it.'”

It took me months to figure out how to synch Facebook to WordPress, people, so obviously the whole thing could end poorly.

In for a penny…

See if you can spot it.

Last Friday, I posted some Don Davis art depicting huge asteroids smashing into the Earth. This Friday, I’m posting real photos of an actual meteor that exploded over Russia. See scary video here.

(Photos via Reuters, Perth Now, and CBC)