PEOPLE

Godzilla's bite isn't quite as big as its hype - at least in the United States. On opening weekend, the Hollywood version of Japan's favorite mutant lizard collected $55.7 million at the box office - a monstrous disappointment to producers and distributors. Godzilla, the movie, cost $125 million to make, and Sony Pictures spent $50 million just to promote it in the U.S. Despite attention-grabbing stunts such as launching Godzilla goodies in a prominent New York toy store at midnight, sales of the merchandise are trailing cute Teletubbies spin-offs by 200%. Also caught in the monster fallout: a cinema chain whose stock plunged 6% after it warned of lower earnings when the lizard didn't stomp out its competition. Television rights to the movie are said to have gone for about 30% less than the original price. But the show's not over for Godzilla, the star of 22 movies in its native Japan. The Tokyo release is set for mid-July, and the monster may just be more welcome back home.

SULTAN FINDS IT A SQUEEZE IN MYANMAR

Many leaders calling on the Myanmar regime have enjoyed the plush hospitality at the state guest house in Yangon. Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong slept there. So did Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad. But the digs were deemed inappropriate for the Sultan of Brunei, right, and his two wives. On a recent state visit, the sultan and his party of nearly 30 people checked into a five-star Singapore-owned hotel instead. The layout of the guest house, sources say, was apparently not suited to the needs of such a large entourage.

POLITICAL PARTIES EYE CHONG'S POLLING POWER

Political novice Chong Chan-yau failed to win a seat in Hong Kong's legislature but he woke major parties to his vote-gathering potential. Chong, who is blind, fared better than even some veterans in the complex polls. He received 12,377 votes compared to 7,485 for his Liberal Party rival. Chong, 42, seen here with a young fan, has already declined an invitation to be an adviser to the Democrats, who won the most elected seats. While the fund-raising director for Oxfam Hong Kong isn't sure he will run again, the territory will be watching out for him.