Trailer for the 1998 Japanese theatrical release of Pulgasari (1985).
I’m currently reading A Kim Jong-Il Production by Paul Fischer and, against my better judgement, it’s really gotten me in the mood to watch this film again.
[MONSTER] Pulgasari.
Japanese/Korean name: プルガサリ/불가사리
Romanized name: Purugasari/PoolgasariAlignment: Ami
Type: Magical monster
Inspiration: Pulgasari
Status: Dead.From: Pulgasari
Trivia
- In Korean, “pulgasari” means “starfish”.
- The monster is based on Pulgasari from Korean mythology. It resembled a bull.
- Pulgasari is considered to be a North Korean propaganda film. Kim Jong Il, the son of the ruler at the time, ordered for South Korean director Shin Sang Ok to be forcefully taken to North Korea. Shin’s wife was eventually abducted as well. Jong Il was a fan of Japanese giant monster movies, and he helped produce Pulgasari with Shin. The director and his wife were able to escape later. When ADV released Pulgasari on home video in the west, the packaging said that it had been banned for a decade. This may be false or an exaggeration.
- Kenpachiro Satsuma, Pulgasari’s suit actor, portrayed Godzilla in the Heisei series.
- Several members of Toho helped make the special effects in Pulgasari.
- There is a loose American/Romanian remake of Pulgasari called Galgameth. It was written by Shin Sang Ok.
Source: tokumonster.tumblr.com
The North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il has a passion for cinema. But he could never find a director to realise his vision. So he kidnapped one from the South, jailed him and fed him grass, then forced him to shoot a socialist Godzilla. Now, for the first time, Shin Sang-ok tells the full story of his bizarre dealings with - and eventual flight from - the world’s most dangerous dictator. By John Gorenfeld.
Pulgasari has gained some popularity over the years because of the shocking story of Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee’s kidnapping and strange captivity as the director and leading actress - the latter one excluding this film - of a total of seven films, for which the couple was simultaneously commissioned and forced to do by North Korea’s government.
Kenpachiro Satsuma said he prefers Pulgasari to American Godzilla.
This week’s film is Pulgasari, which was directed under unbelievable circumstances by by Shin Sang-ok and Chong Gon Jo, and originally released in North Korea sometime in 1985, and in Japan on the 4th of July, 1998. This is the Japanese theatrical poster.
Radio Blue Heart presents TALES FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN!
Episode 27: Pulgasari!
A giant monster movie from that most powerful and prosperous of nations! The Democratic People’s Republic Of Korea! (or North Korea to us imperialist dogs).
This film was made with the best cast and crew that North Korean intelligence could kidnap! South Korean director Shin Sang-ok and leading lady Choi Eun-hee. All under the direct orders of produce Kim Jong-il!
a King controls the land with an iron fist, subjecting the peasantry to misery and starvation. An old blacksmith who was sent to prison creates a tiny figurine of a monster by making a doll of rice. When it comes into contact with the blood of the blacksmith’s daughter, the creature springs to life, becoming a giant metal-eating monster named Pulgasari.
This is the DEAR LEADERS greatest cinematic achievement so far! Failure to like it will result in being shot for treason!
Once again this film is PUBLIC DOMAIN and not copyright protected in the US at least. You can make and sell your own DVD of it, download it, show it for free or for profit. Or remix it or use it for stock footage
