Get Your Giant Monster On

This afternoon, indulge your secret desire to see men in robot costumes thrash the tar out of other guys in giant monster get-ups (come on, you know you love it) when the American Cinematheque continues its annual Giant Monsters festival at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

Today’s bill offers the latest incarnation of the long-running Japanese space hero Ultraman with three episodes of Ultraman Max (2005), two of which were directed by Japanese maverick Takashi Miike (Audition) and another by kaiju specialist Shusuke Kaneko (Gamera, Guardian of the Universe). Then stick around for some vintage super action with the 1971 debut episode of Mirror Man, as well as a brand new (and reportedly darker) theatrical update of the series, titled Mirror Man: Reflex, which enjoys its U.S. premiere at this screening. Note to purists, etc: the Cinematheque web site points out that all material shown on tonight’s bill is in Japanese with English subtitles and taken from digital video sources.

Trivia hounds with a bent towards the perverse will be pleased to note that Japanese economist Kasuhide Uekusa earned the nickname “Mirror Man” for his penchant for looking up school girls’ skirts with a hand mirror. However, there will be no such action at today’s screening (at least, I think not).

6:30 p.m.: Ultraman Max

8:15: MiMirror Man (TV) and Mirror Man: Reflex

web address: http://suicidegirls.com/news/all/16984/Get-Your-Giant-Monster-On/