My mom woke me up around 7:20...when we were supposed to leave at 8:00. Bleah anyway I got up, took a shower and packed my things. After my mom told my brother goodbye for nearly the three thousandsth time we left. This was a freaking' easy drive up. We used Yahoo! Maps and Driving Directions to get there. The progressed and we eventually got to north river road, which is near the hotel. We couldn't find it though. -__-". Mom and I got confused when we read the directions too slowly for a very quick manuver. We ended up in a parking lot and my mom asked this guy where we were supposed to go to get to the Holiday Inn Chicago..he answered. After following his advice..we decided to just go our way and we ended up there in no time. 8:00. We checked into the hotel and then we returned to the room. During the checking in mom got mad at me and bitched the whole way to the room, claiming that she'd never take me to G-Fest again. Gotta Love my mommy. =) Anyway we got to the room and sat....and sat....and then went to bed. I couldn't sleep at all and the excitement for the next day was at a peak.

We woke up around 8:00...because mom had asked the front desk when registration began, they replied 9:00...which in reality was 11:00. I suppose they were just on an earlier schedule so they could prepare rooms and such. Before we left...mom wanted Ice so I headed out side to pick some up...and I didn't know where to find the machine...who came to my rescue? A maid, but whilst all this was going on I saw Teruyoshi Nakano, Special Effects Director of the Godzilla films 1971-1984! w00t! Anyway, I got the ice and the ordeal was over like that. Anyway we got there early and no one was there so..my mom went to smoke a cigarette and we came back inside around 11:00..and there was a huge bunch of people. We got in line and in around 10 minutes or so became registered participants in G-Fest XI! w00t! Hoo-Rah...and all that. My mother went and sat down at what would soon become her base of operations...a small patio near the pool. We looked over the program and found that the only thing to do for a while...was watching Monster Zero (1965) at the Pickwick Theater. Mom said the tickets would be like 20.00 or something so I said maybe I should only go to 2 of the 3 films. Terror of MechaGodzilla was showing that night and with it was the opening ceramonies...I decided I'd see it and Godzilla X MechaGodzilla. Interesting note: In the program booklet it lists the films on two different pages. On one page saturday was to show Godzilla X MechaGodzilla...and on the other...a saturday showing of Godzilla X Mothra X MechaGodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. I was so happy! I figured they'd have the premiere of S.O.S. as a surprise to all the fans, but I wasn't sure. Anyway the day went on and we stayed in the room and watched Gammera, the Invincible which is about a giant turtle...yep...then War of the Monsters...and Return of the Giant Monsters...then we headed downstairs. I looked at the line to the dealer's room....which was ungodly long so I went to a costuming session instead. It had some really cool people talk about how to make your own giant monster suit. I learned a lot and mom has now sworn to make a monster costume -_-. Anyway I got to touch a Gulaila mask which is a part of the Gulaila suit from The X From Outer Space...yeah. During the break that occurred an hour into the program I proceeded upstairs to get in line for the dealer's room...which had gotten much smaller. I met these two people in a furious debate over something I didn't even know about from Monster Zero. We talked and crap...though I can't remember their names. -_-; I also asked them if they noticed the Tokyo S.O.S. thing..they noticed it and this guy behind us said that I was right. He had it confirmed by J.D. Lees, the guy who is in charge of the festival. Anyway I got to go into the dealer's room and it was fucking awesome. It was twice, no...maybe triple the size of my grandmother's house. I finally bought Issue #65 of G-Fan...MY FIRST G-FAN YAY!!!. I also bought a 1998 Bandai Grand Ghidorah which normally sells for around 80.00 for 35.00...box included. =). Then we waited around and left for the Pickwick. Mom wouldn't take a cab because it was 20.00 there and back. We ended up getting lost..but thanks to a kind gentleman at the 7/11....yes the 7/11 we got there. It was great. We quickly got our tickets and mom got us popcorn and pop. We took our seats...sadly near some obnoxious critics. They were very misinformed, anyway, J.D. came out on stage and announced that the print we were going to be watching was subtitled...which was met with applause, he then let Mr. Nakano have the floor and Robert Scott Field...whom I think is a great person, he is also an actor from Godzilla v.s. King Ghidorah (1991), translated what he said. This continued with Nakano explaining his inspiration for the dinosaur Titanosaurus (Ty-Tan-O-Sar-Us) which wasn't as popular in Japan as it was in the U.S....and Mr. Nakano said "Americans Just Have Good Sense." He explained some of the tricks used to make the monster look more quick and agile...and claimed that since the suit had a long neck instead of being a vicous prehistoric beast it was more of a docile drugged up monster. One he finished the film began with the Toho Logo and was met with instantaneous(sp?) applause. The film's print wasn't alright..but the movie was good fun. I also find the Japanese version much better than the American one. After it was over my mother and I left in the pouring rain and got to the hotel. The night ended with me talking about Terror of MechaGodzilla and my mom and I watching Pulgsari.

We woke up around the same time as yesterday, and went downstairs. This time there was a short line..but only 1 person working the desk so we waited a while and mom's back was screwing up again...so she went and sat down and I got our passes. Once I got my pass we went up to the room to write our names. Afterwards we headed back downstairs to go to a special event that Mr. Nakano was doing...but alas...too crowded so I headed up to the dealer's room...where I spent a good chunk of cash. I ended up buying alot of figures...but saved some money. =) Here's what I bought
**Godzilla Directory Sets 3-7** paid:25 dollars saved: none
**Godzilla High Grade 10 set** paid:19 dollars saved:6 dollars
**Bandai Burning Godzilla 1995** paid:50 dollars saved:50 dollars
**Bandai Destroyah 1995** paid:40 dollars saved:15 dollars
**Bandai Rodan 56' 1991** paid: 50 dollars saved:20 dollars
**Bandai Angilas 1989** paid:25 dollars saved:25 dollars
**Bandai Baragon 01' 2001** paid:20 dollars saved:0 dollars
**Bandai Mothra 01' 2001** paid:25 dollars saved:0 dollars
**Bandai MechaGodzilla 75' 2002** paid:12 dollars saved:0 dollars
**Banpresto Godzilla 54'** paid:20 dollars saved:5 dollars
**Y-MSF Megalon** paid:35 dollars saved:-5 dollars
...you get the idea.
Anyway around 2:00 mom decided to stay in the room, and I went around to a live director's commentary of Godzilla v.s. MechaGodzilla (1974) It was good fun. I learned quite a bit of stuff I didn't know about the film and mr. Nakano is fun to listen to....though unless Scott was there I couldn't understand anything. I watched the Japanese version..no subtitles...and surprisingly I understood most of it. O_O Freeeakky. Anyway I then proceeded to the dealer's room to pic up the Godzilla X Mothra X MechaGodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. Offical Movie guide and headed downstairs..to get autographs. I got in line behind a guy with an eyepatch. Turns out he was in the costume contest as doctor Serizawa. Goji Girl...someone I have heard about before was giving away free stuff while walking down the line...she ran out and told us she was sorry but gave me a 2.00 off coupon for anything at her store. As the line moved on he and a family behind me asked me to take their pictures. Ok...the dear doctor had a camera I didn't know how to use...and didn't tell me how to use...so the pictures probably didn't turn out. Anyway I finally got to speak to Mr. Nakano again..not understanding of course. Anyway he signed my MechaGodzilla figure and my G-Fan issue..then I talked to Robert Scott Field. He asked me how I was...and I replied okay, considering I shant ever be a photographer...he laughed, as he had seen my previous ordeal..I thanked him and Mr. Nakano as I left. good times mate....good times. After this I headed up to the room to watch Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. After a while my mom and I came downstairs to enjoy cake and punch and group singing of Happy Birthday for Godzilla. After that there was a Kaiju Music Video competition...mom says that my GMK one was better than the winner...I sort of agree...my video matched the music better...I believe I could have taken 2nd..but my video's quality is very low. Then there was the costume contest which was good fun. Plenty of kids costuming including a kid dressed as Gyaos that never stopped running through the room. After this mom and I went upstairs so that she could call Jr....her boyfriend. After that we went downstairs to watch the fan film contest and then headed to watch Tokyo S.O.S. After being lost for nearly 45 minutes we made it to the theater. Thankyou God...and Mom. It was good fun...and then it happened. I heard Blue Oyster Cult's "Godzilla"....then I saw three guys in crappily made mothra, godzilla, and mechagodzilla suits...breakdancing..it was hilarious. Once inside we got our seats. It was packed. Nearly 800 people were there and were eager for the film. A chanting of "SOS" began in the audience and the three stooges mentioned earlier starting making noises and beating eachother up. The film then started and it was a wonderful experience. One thing sticks out in my mind though. When the Shobijin appear on screen for the first time...and little boy behind us asked "Dad....who are they." he then replied "Those are Mothra's fairies...they're hot." ...he's my hero. Anyway we finally got home after getting lost again. This trip has to be my best vacation ever.

This was the last day of the convention...which I didn't get to attend...oh well. I spent the day going home, but I had a great time at G-Fest and I can't wait till next year.

I felt that it didn't live up to its hype. Though it is indeed an action packed and fun experience there should have been more development. Though, it could have made it a much longer film, I would have gladly sat through it. Mothra's death was very nice looking though I don't think it had the shock value of Mothra's death in GMK. The sudden death is the only aspect that works...but it occurs too quickly in my opinion. I think that the larvae were unnecessary to the film's plot, and while I do understand it is an homage to Mosura tai Gojira (1964) it happens too quickly. It takes perhaps 10 to 15 minutes for the larvae to be born and swim to Tokyo. The fights were nice, and the special effects have improved but there are a lot of elements that should have been tended to. That's why I felt somewhat let down by this film, so much of it was good...but it had so much potential to be something grand. Overall it was an enjoyable experience...but I felt like I was reading a 25 chapter book but I was skimming through it at a ridiculous pace to finish. I had 2 hopes for this film...it would be better than Gojira x MekaGojira (2003) and that it may outdo GMK...it was a bit better than GxMG though I felt more character and story development was left out of S.O.S. than in GxMG. No competition between GMK and S.O.S., there could have been, but due to certain aspects of the story it fails. Though ultimately it is a good film, I give it a B+...yerp...B+