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CTV News
17 minutes ago
- CTV News
‘Rooting for him': Godzilla fans celebrate the monster as it turns 70
SAN DIEGO — Godzilla has morphed over the years, but one constant is the devotion of its fans, who celebrated the Japanese monster's 70th anniversary at the pop culture convention Comic-Con. The Japanese studio Toho, which created Godzilla, maintains a calendar of events to celebrate the beast often called the king of monsters, and Comic-Con is on the agenda. Godzilla was born on November 3, 1954 with the launch of the first movie about it, directed by Ishiro Honda. 'I am a very big fan of Godzilla,' said Angela Hill, a teacher who traveled from Arizona to take part in Comic-Con, which this year featured events and displays celebrating Godzilla. One of the world's largest celebrations of pop culture, Comic-Con brings together 130,000 people, many of whom come dressed as wizards, princesses or characters from movies, games or TV series. As the story of Godzilla goes, a prehistoric amphibious beast is awakened and mutated by nuclear bomb testing in the Pacific. It emerges from the sea and attacks Japan in a rage, symbolizing the deadly power of nukes. 'I think because he came from such a historic event -- like, a lot of other monsters are just interesting creatures, but they don't hold the grief of a nation,' Hill said, referring to the US nuclear bomb attacks against Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. At the pop culture watering hole in San Diego, people lined up to shoot pictures and video with an image of Godzilla, which was also the theme of a panel discussion on Friday that featured Shinji Higuchi, who co-directed a reboot in 2016 called 'Shin Godzilla.' The movie franchise includes nearly 40 films and has spawned hundreds of animated productions about the monster as well as TV series and graphic work. 'Rooting for him' On Saturday the writers Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle signed autographs of their book 'Godzilla: The First 70 Years,' which sold out at Comic-Con. 'It's a rich history,' Ryfle told AFP. 'This is the longest running feature film franchise in cinematic history that's focused on a single, continuous character. It's been around longer than James Bond.' He said the key to its longevity is that Godzilla has evolved over time but stayed faithful to its origins. 'Godzilla has been serious, it's been scary, it's been heroic, it's been funny. But at the same time this is a movie character that's rooted in something that's very real,' Ryfle said. 'And that's the trauma that Japan experienced, both during World War II, and also the trauma of the aftermath of World War II, the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,' he added. He said Honda, who directed the first Godzilla movie, was a veteran who used the film to send a message against war and in particular against nuclear weapons. Michelle Pena, a Godzilla fan who waited in line to get the autograph of the two writers, said part of the monster's charm is how it has changed over the years. 'Good, bad, hero, anti-hero, you know. And I like that,' she said. 'He's not, like, lovable,' she added. 'He's a big dinosaur-looking thing, you know. He's scary. But, like, you really, really find yourself rooting for him.'
CTV News
44 minutes ago
- CTV News
Wrestling match slams into Downtown Windsor
The Downtown Showdown was held Saturday, with hundreds of wrestling fans filling the streets to see the free event. Downtown Windsor transformed into the venue of a live wrestling match on Saturday evening for the Downtown Showdown. From leaps off the top rope to suplexes echoing off the canvas, the event brought hundreds to the corner of Ouellette and University Avenue. Hosted by Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, the free event featured seven fights. Wrestling fan Steven Bowes told CTV News it's 'special' to have the event hosted outside in the downtown. WINDSOR DOWNTOWN SHOWDOWN WRESTLING The Downtown Showdown wrestling event was held at the corner of Ouellette and University Avenue on July 26, 2025. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) 'I think it was a pretty awesome idea,' said Bowes. As part of the outdoor setting, local bars and restaurants opened their doors and patios to the hundreds of additional customers. 'We've been working day and night, probably for the last two weeks, since our last event to set us all up,' Coun. Renaldo Agostino said ahead of the event. The Downtown Showdown was the latest fight-filled night to descend on the city's core after Rumble on the Roof, featuring boxing matches atop the Pelissier Street parking garage, was held earlier this month.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Get a head start on back to school shopping. Here are some tips
Back to school is around the corner and parents are already thinking about shopping for school supplies. Julie Cole has some sage advice.
