Korean Kaiju Movies Pt 1 - (Lost Films)

[@varanid9]

When I was a little kid growing up in Korea, my sister took me to see "Wang-Magi" at the local theater in Seoul. I guess it was 1965 that it came out, in black and white. The name means "King Witch" (Warlock?) or something like that. It starts out with aliens in orbit around Earth; they wear silver overalls with tubular helmets on their heads that have a single rectangular cut-out for the eyes where you can see they are (apparently) simply people. Wang-Magi is in the background in a cage but you don't see it clearly. They send him down to earth in a sort of pod that floats down at night and explodes against a hillside. Then, out of the smoke, you see Wang-Magi, now gigantic, emerge. The miniature city sets look pretty real because they seem to be actually outdoors in natural sunlight instead of in an enclosed sound stage as in most Toho films. Wang-Magi's only special power that I can recall was that he squirted a thin stream of something out of his forehead that would ignite a moment later after it had drenched buildings. The monster spends much of its time walking around holding a woman in his hand (for some reason). The claws on the life-sized hand prop looked square and I recall moviegoers commenting on its fakeness. It seemed, to me, to be made of concrete. I think her friend or maid or assistant or something, another woman was with her, along with a small boy (yes, this film had its own Kenny!), who, at one point, crawls into Wang-Magi's ear. He tries to hurt Wang-Magi by using a pocket knife to slit its eardrum, then, in impotent fury, with a Karate-type cry, whips out his pecker and pisses in it, which got a laugh out of the audience. At the end, the hero, a jet fighter pilot, also ends up in Wang-Magi's hand, can't recall how, and rescues his love by jumping out with his love using his emergency parachute. She voices concern about the boy, they look up and see "Kenny" hanging onto the parachute lines further above them (yeah, right). The jet fighters, I think, sprinkled something on the monster that killed it, but, I don't remember what it was, SCIENCE! I guess, LOL.

[@varanid9]

OK, now that I watched the rest of your video, I see where you say Wang-Magi was released in '67. I thought it was earlier, but, I was so little then, I hardly even knew what the hell was going on on screen, so my memory is kinda hazy. I also see you had a shot of the aliens in their space suits. I don't remember a ray, but, that depression between the monster's eyes squirted out a thin fluid; probably cheaper than optical effects at that time. It was very low budget compared to the Toho films.

[@varanid9]

Ah, one more memory: Wang-Magi walks toward a white wooden banner shaped like an arch, with Korean characters painted on it and, in "massive" slow motion, kinda karate chops it down the middle. This seemed to amuse the Korean audience :)

[@AcevedoVideoStore]

Very interesting.

[@youwayo]

Available now.

[@FallingPicturesProductions]

Film's been re-released now, how accurate were your memories?

[@superstrangevideo]

Actually, Monster Wangmagwi us NOT a lost film. It only plays in S Korea and was not released in the US. The rights holder has refused to release it to anyone outside the Korean Film Archive. So lost it's not.

[@AcevedoVideoStore]

@Ellis Deister The film does appear in film festivals in South Korea. I think the last time it was shown was in 2018 or 2019. So unless your in South Korea, there is no way to watch the film in any other place.

[@Firecat7409]

It's coming to the USA in Sept. Thanks to SRS Cinema. Yea!!!

[@Phantanos]

@@Firecat7409 It's on TUBI and it is a bare bones story with effects so bad that it makes Yongary a masterpiece..

[@Firecat7409]

It's so tacky its great haha

[@RandomVideoGameGuy792]

Super strange video, did you watch the video? Paper Finz explicitly explained that there is a copy of the film in South Korea, since it plays at film festivals, so yeah. There is some information for you to consume.

[@voronOsphere]

"Pulgasari" 1985 is on KZbin! It's a trip! I didn't know about an earlier, South Korean version.

[@Robert.R.83]

I would bet money that 60's pulgasari is a hoax

[@chickennuggets9792]

Same thing with ”Reptilian”!

[@RobotGooseStudios]

There's actually more lost kaiju films from other countries (Which I'm planning on making a Lost Media series and I will cover them). Notable ones include Tuko Sa Madra Kakaw (1959), Anak Ng Bulkan (1959, both from the Philippines. This film was on KZbin but I can only find clips) Gogola (1966, a Bollywood film and my most wanted piece of lost media to be found) and Tokyo 1960 (a film from again, the Philippines, and might be a re-edit of Gojira, or it could be a bootleg) I have more Lost Kaiju media from TV as well

[@axiorsomethin130]

I never knew Philippines has a giant monster monster movie

[@williamjones3945]

👌 OK thean dude

[@erniefink8120]

Anak Ng Bulkan does exist, as was remade as Vulcan in 1997 kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZKzYXtopN1le7s (no subs)

[@salehstudioz2946]

@@axiorsomethin130 Basiclly Me Either

[@nickymejias5763]

to me trhe sequal was better than the last one

[@Phantanos]

Monster Wangmagwi has been released on TUBI streaming tv.

[@Phantanos]

Yongary🦖 was released MGMUA video in a clean widescreen print along with the British King Kong Knock-off KONGA🦍.

[@manuelborja8243]

I didn't even knew that other neighboring countries made Kaiju movies, thanks for sharing!

[@Drumzilladude]

That's racist .. hahahahaha

[@thundertits]

​@@DrumzilladudeI wouldn't go that far but assuming no other countries made Kaiju movies is a bit daft

[@interwebkaiju]

SRS is apparently going to release The Flying Monster on blu ray and vhs! Sci-fi Japan just put up an article.

[@Peanut323]

I was confused for a second until I looked it up. Apparently the film was released in the us as War Of The God Monsters

[@RandomVideoGameGuy792]

Peanut head is right, you can also buy it online as a DVD (and maybe as a Blu-ray).

[@christianshults2044]

Yongary is actually a favorite of mine for the country. Both versions are but for different reasons. I remember the remake and when I was younger thinking it was another version of Godzilla that was an alien or was controlled by aliens.

[@rei6078]

I read and there seems to be a screenplay archived for Bulgasari (1962)? I think it was a legitimate movie but idk. I love the video btw! :D I think I will watch Yongary.

[@theCreature22]

Yeah, Bulgasari is (was?) definitely legit. The script is archived and there is a full production list and reviews for it. I understand the Prince in this film is killed and revived as Bulgasari, and the 1985 version may have remade some of the original shots from this version. One of my friends from Seoul was talking to me about it and he’s not fully convinced the film is lost- I’d like to think he’s right. He’s hopeful it might be in the hands of a private collector and turn up one day.

[@karuskaltugov1992]

Where can I read the screenplay?

[@AcevedoVideoStore]

If we have a picture of Pulgasari (1962) poster. That means there has to be a physical poster in existence. Or someone could just make this up.

[@fierypezdog]

I know that these were not found when this video was made but I think all of these movies have been found by now but that's a good thing anyways great video!

[@Duncaster]

Here’s an update. Space Monster Wangmagwi is finally getting a release later this year thanks to SRS Cinema. So that’s one less lost Korean kaiju film!

[@PaperFinz]

Thanks for the info. It's great to hear this once lost film is finally about to surface.

[@Monstermania101]

Ahh this is giving me great vibes, love the music are your editing, I think I need to watch some showa era kaiju films! Maybe mothra or King Kong Escapes :)

[@PaperFinz]

thank you, and those are some good choices.

[@fanmadeproductions3493]

This films does exist. Go to the lost media wiki.

[@DGCpicturesEntertainment]

You should use 'Walk in the Woods' more often. It is a beautiful piece.

[@fembotheather3785]

Wangmagwi is on video. It's not very good, but it's worth a watch for completists.

[@VolumedMusicMan]

Grew up with Yongary! Saw it many times!!!

[@meldreamsdocometrue]

0:37 its not Pulgasari, but Bulgasari

[@WeaZel8166]

I think yongary came from space by crash landing on earth (maybe back then with the dinosaurs? but idk!) and for years he's been a deep sleep and he finally awakens to destroy the world.

[@WeaZel8166]

Then again I'm not sure :/ It's a possible theory (",-] Do you agree

[@derpindustries1846]

Nice Halo music dude it’s rare to see a Halo fan that aswell loves kaiju

[@Irrelevant402]

Damn Korea needed to be more careful with its movies.

[@scottandrewhutchins]

I have Yongary on VHS. I thought it was really boring. Maybe I'll give it another try some time.

[@dinoguy163]

Interesting

[@AcevedoVideoStore]

I would say the same thing.

[@user-ph4ok5yw9n]

Йонгари 1967 года самый лучший фильм о кайдзю !

[@remiotomio]

i remember watching Pulgasari, here’s a FULL recap about it. (spoilers) We see a blacksmith make some tools for the farmers. It was peaceful until the king decided to take all iron objects and make weapons for his army. Uncle gets jailed and some wasn’t but the sister and brother wanted him out. The guard(?) gives him food but he doesn’t want it and the guy FORCEFULLY FEEDS THE POOR OLD MAN,SHOVES THE BOWL IN HIS FACE. The sister and brother decided to visit him to give him some rice but the guard blocks them and tells him that if he lets them see him he will die. Then the sister and brother throw rice at his jail cell grill but the rice gets dirty. He makes the kaiju and prays to god to make this kaiju alive. He dies and the other prisoners cry. The guards take him out of the jail cell and the people cry but the brother and sister find the little rice sculpture. So they go back to their homes and the sister decided to (fuck what was it again?) her brother’s ripped clothes. She accidentally stabs her self and her blood drops on the kaiju making _Pulgasari_ . They don’t notice him yet but when he eats the multiple needles they notice him. _Pulgasari_ jumps on the girl’s hand and grabs the needle. The brother calls him cute and they decided to sleep together. He gets out of the bed and eats the door lock. Everyone’s pots have been bit and call him a bad guy. The brother and sister call him a good guy. They find in a pile of farming tools and he became bigger. To be continued I’m fuckin tired.

[@HydraSpectre1138]

The South Korean version is lost. You may have watched the more known North Korean version, which was based on the same story.

[@mutagen28]

Shout outs to the Halo 3 Soundtrack

[@venomouslizards]

What's the movie at 0:27? I know I've seen it before, but I can't find it anywhere. Thanks.

[@PaperFinz]

Young-Goo and Dinosaur Zu-Zu (1993) i believe its still on youtube.

[@venomouslizards]

Paper Finz Thank you, you don’t know how long I spent trying to re find this movie.

[@stuartjohnson5686]

Space Monster Wangmagwi not lost anymore, SRS Media is going to be taking pre-orders sometime in September 2022.

[@deonwhite201]

Very interesting video

[@michaelbruns449]

Totally awesome, luv them all...

[@rileyroberts6003]

Did you cover on anything on the lost 1999 version of yonggary? Simply wondering

[@SlapstickGenius23]

It’s The Reptilian! The 1999 theatrical cut isn’t available to the public anywhere, not even in South Korea.

[@yoda908]

1st one is actually called Bulgasari.

[@PatrickGreeneFearwriter]

I just wanna say thank you for using the pronunciation "Va-RAHN" which sounds much cooler than the usual Western pronunciation "VER-rin."

[@user-ht2cy5jz1e]

i dont think it sounds cooler

[@Aprocrisin]

no i think western pronunciation is better

[@godzillaandfriends6688]

I remember this video but it was kind of different at the beginning you were talking about the smoke monster from a king Kong professional wrestling movie

[@veraxiana9993]

oo i hear that halo background music starting at 2:10, very nice 👌

[@Zain_production]

When I was little I watch attack of the super monster it about super hero defend dinosaur kajiu I watch is so good

[@dr.samuelhayden808]

Good news to those who haven’t heard Space Monster Wangmagwei will be getting a American home video release sometime in august or September by SRS

[@firetop-cn8vb]

It's true

[@AnaMerryNguyen]

Whatever starts with the Y horror of the deep more like whatever starts with e or something horror of the deep

[@caroliesimon4290]

I love yongary it is the best film in America.🤑❤️👍

[@godzillagaming6090]

Alien monster wangmagwi was found!!!

[@VincentMelo-lv4ye]

How about the movie actually called the giant hula monster or the 50 foot woman

[@redlinrangerstudio5331]

yeah halo music, this youtube knows his taste of good music 2:10

[@dawngable5271]

Ive seen the pulgasari film its on the internet it was actualy was filmed in north korea

[@pankake4004]

Proof?

[@AcevedoVideoStore]

@@pankake4004 I think Dawn is talking about the 1985 film. The 1962 film was made in south korea.

[@titanstudios2683]

Imagine if Legendary use Yonggary, Pulgasari and Wangmagwi in the Godzillaverse

[@clixs000]

They wont

[@brycevo]

Sad to see so much lost media

[@Da_Trololz]

Wangmagwi is found as home release thanks to SRS Cinema back in September.

[@lewisgoldsberry2201]

Yongary is Leader of Monsters

[@SlapstickGenius23]

The 1962 Pulgasari looks like Bela Lugosi’s portrayal of Dracula!

[@Turtle-xk5qt]

I actually own Yongary monster from the deep! I remember how he died from scratching himself to death from some itching powder or something?

[@GangstaMojo]

Pulgasari is a 1985 film and that's not the poster for this movie and it's also on KZbin....Bulgasari might not be the name od that 1st film. I think the imdb is a copy & paste of the Pulgasari plot. The kanji needs to be translated.

[@AcevedoVideoStore]

What website you found this. 1:01

[@RandomVideoGameGuy792]

Guys, just stop. We all know that Wangmagwi was released on Tubi, VHS, DVD and Blu-ray, but that was after this videos release. So stop it, please.

[@kaijutoaster3739]

Bulgasari is real, it was remade later in 1986

[@ajteran281]

1984

[@paulforder591]

Who knows if prints of these lost South Korean films will eventually turn up? And, that Pulgasari poster from 1962 looks authentic enough, but where's the actual film? It may be awhile before any of these lost films are transferred to DVD--assuming there is sufficient demand by kaiju fans to see them. 😎😎🎥🎥🐉🐉

[@rileyroberts6003]

By the way, check out the yonggary chronicle project as it documents the 1999 version which is lost. Tell me when you did and what did you think of it.

[@PaperFinz]

haven't seen that yet, but do plan to see it soon as i am interested in that particular version of the movie.

[@rileyroberts6003]

You should probably watch it before it gets taken down from KZbin

[@voronOsphere]

Thanks for doing this vid!

[@godzillafan-qj5yu]

Walk in the woods Halo 3

[@Daikaijustudios9083]

3:21 can someone send me a link to this video?

[@Wally480]

What happened to part 2?

[@Godzillaguy1440]

Note:wangmagwi’s death ray comes from his lower forehead. And it’s a weird gas beam.

[@demonikexorcist]

You missed the x from outer space 1967

[@superstrangevideo]

X From Space is not a lost film ace.

[@AcevedoVideoStore]

Also, its a Japanese film.

[@TIMWReigo]

When it comes to Yonggary I prefer the all cg monsters remake

[@GangstaMojo]

I think the Bulgasari is the movie Yogmaya

[@WocklessGamingforAnimeMoms]

Wangmali looks more like a hoax to me than the first one does. Idk that's just my gut feeling I guess based on the costumes and whatnot. Yongary is a classic. Wanted to see it as a kid but never did.

[@Aluhcav]

Weirdly Yongary is based off a real myth in Korea.

[@SlapstickGenius23]

Do you mean Pulgasari?

[@Aluhcav]

@@SlapstickGenius23 No, there is a much shorter, and somewhat more lost to time foot note of a story, that talks about a creature that is more in line with Yongary, but I do now of Pulgasari.

[@Transy0o2]

The real kigo in Korea is kimja oo

[@st.playing.fan.2004]

2:11 You said horror of the deep it's monster from the deep.

[@THATGuy5654]

Every time a country starts making giant monster movies, they end up with a big lizard. Japanese Godzilla begat British Gorgo. Every time someone makes a super hero universe, it ends up with a muscular guy who can fly. American Superman begat Japanese All Might. Which is all to say that I feel like Korea gets picked on more than the average country for doing exactly what every other country does. Perhaps not completely unjustly. But thanks for a balanced look at these kaiju!

[@stuartjohnson5686]

Japanese: Gojira, English: Godzilla, Before the Japanese had Gojira/Godzilla the US had King Kong, a giantg ape not a reptiile, which of course was what influenced Gojira in the first place. West would do westerns and East would steal the plots for samurai and vice versa. The Magnificent Seven was original Seven Samurai, but Yojimba was originally A Fist Full of Dollars (an Italian Western) so it balanced out. And Star Wars aka Star Wars: A New Hope lifted its plot and characters from the Japanese movie A Hidden Fortress, the droids were farmers who tought war would be glorious and found out it wasn't, the princess was a samurai's daughter and the future jedi and the smuggler were two different parts of the personality of the samurai protecting her. I have also seen a Japanese movie based on an American novel about one of those hard boiled private detective that used to be so popular in the US. That was interesting, but depressing since the bad guys won. The original Kamen Riders don't fly. And when they introduced Skyrider who could fly the original Japanese audience did not like it so he eventually stops doing it. The original premise was he was a man who enjoyed hang gliding before he got turned into a cyborg and it made sense therefore to give him the ability to fly, Ultraman Leo like all Ultramen being aliens can fly but in combat he's more like Kamen Rider minus the motorcycles and again the original Japanese audience didn't care for it. And the series became the lowest rated Ultraman series and to save money they kill off all but 2 regulars cast members, one whom just goes and becomes Midoranger in Goranger.

[@youwayo]

Don’t forget the beast from 20,000 fathoms! Anyway, it really depends on the what it is really and how it is executed. Also In the argument of they did it first vs they did it better, Japan wins at both unfortunately and is the epitome of the latter. Japan didn’t invent movies, video games, comics, or cartoons, but they revolutionizes it as soon as they got their filthy hands on it. When it comes to Giant Monster movies, Japan didn’t invent it, but really pushed it to the next level after Godzilla’s debut. As for being criticized for “copying” other countries, I think there is reason why. I think it is the lack of originality and innovation. Just look at most of aeni (korean animation). Lots of South Korea’s early animation in the 1960’s and 70’s were just bad knock-offs of Japanese media with no real innovation imo. Even with modern Korean animation (like Closers) people would assume it is Japanese cause of how similar the artstyle it is to Anime. At least when Japan copies something, they would try to put innovation and do their own thing on it. Korea is doing that as well (Webtoons) but it is not recognized that well unfortunately.

[@rayvenkman2087]

And then you have the situation with France’s Doctor Omega vs UK’s Doctor Who...

[@AcevedoVideoStore]

The Korean Film Archive has two to three completed prints of Space Monster Wangmagwi, in existence. As the original materials, unfortunately do no longer exist. They know the desire of releasing the film, outside of Korea. But are held back, due to copyright reasons.

[@PaperFinz]

that's interesting. can i get the link for the Archives if you don't mind? Thank you.

[@PaperFinz]

@@AcevedoVideoStore Thanks!

[@superstrangevideo]

That's probably bullshit. They are just sitting on it to be pricks, because they just don't want anyone to copy it. A clip of it has shown up in a video right here on KZbin, so where did that originate from and why don't they care about that?kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnSqcp2inNelmrs I'm sure the supposed owner would love to make money on it, if he is even still alive now. I really seriously doubt there is a legitimate owner of it. As I said, the Korean Film Archive is just bullshitting you and sitting on it to probably try to generate as much interest in it as they possibly can, to determine if an official (worldwide) release of it would be profitable for them or not. They know full well that the other drivel they put up on their KZbin channel (for free no less) no one wants, and is not profitable for them to make that officially available on DVD or Blu ray. Bottom line, they offer the crap no one wants , absolutely free, and I'm sure no one has the rights to that material either.

[@AcevedoVideoStore]

@@superstrangevideo Okay, a little harsh. But I would disagree with you, of the Archive not releasing it. Because back in 2019, SRS Cinema tried to get a home video release of Wangmagwi. But the copyright holder decline, saying it won't be profitable. Also through some research I did, the company that made the film. Century Company, are still around today and operste movie theaters in South Korea. So they could still hold the rights to the film.

[@Peanut323]

Hey guess what

[@IAmADonut921]

1:51 what is wrong with her face?

[@manugodzilla6717]

What Is this at 0:24 the polgasari hmmm

[@Zombiedoctor66666]

It's yonggary pulgasari is 0:18

[@samanthatan1313]

Godzilla and kaiju

[@Bake-kurijra]

Pulgasari exists you duns

[@normarodriguez8415]

That one dis like

[@Zinwaq]

0:43 into this and you sound absolutely disinterested and bored with the subject matter. Sadly it takes away from this interesting subject matter. Also, Kaiju is a JAPANESE word so why aren't you telling us from the beginning the Korean word for it?

[@NinjaNezumi]

Japan did not give Monster Movies their true start. Jesus. You are ignoring decades of Drive In and other Monster Movies. Willis O'Brien and Ray Harryhausen were NOT Japanese :P Japan had an amazing history of Monster Movies, but it was not the True Start. I really do love your site but stop saying this stupid line :P

[@nogo6880]

Was this before pulgasari got pirated?