By Mimi Chen
Recently AsAmNews had a chance to talk to the Japanese actor Ken Watanabe. While it was an extremely short interview, Mr Watanabe, thru the assistance of his interpreter, acknowledged that working on Godzilla, King of the Monsters was “good, interesting. I think this movie is great entertainment with a deep underlying message.”
When asked about the message, he responded that it was to “respect the titans, respect nature.”
As a Japanese native working on a title that was originally from Japan but then “Americanized,” Mr Watanabe said that when he read the script, he felt it harkened back to the original version of Godzilla as described in the older films.
He acknowledged that he always has to adjust to the individual situation, “one by one” working in the world of American movies.
His acting process is to make himself comfortable before he goes onto the set.
When he was young, he said, he didn’t “believe” in the idea of working in a foreign country. “After high school, I wanted to become a musician, a trumpeter, but I realized”I had no talent to be a good musician. And then I wanted to go a different way and chose acting.”
Mr Watanabe still plays trumpet on the side for fun and the music of choice is “jazz.” he says, with “Bud Powell” being his favorite artist. If someone wanted him to play trumpet in the movie, he said maybe.
“It depends on the script,” he said.
As for the future, Mr Watanabe said, he doesn’t “have a target and goal.” He likes the flexibility of being able to adjust to having different kinds of work.
Godzillas, King of the Monsters opens nationwide in theaters May 31.
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