UPDATED June 2024
Ahhh yes...GODZILLA.
When Legendary pictures unleashed the beast upon the
populace once more on the 60th anniversary of the original Toho classic in 2014, I
decided I'd do a little tribute to the King of the Monsters, his many
incarnations and films, and what he's meant to me all these years later.
Obviously, 2014 came and went a while ago, and there have been several more films to this point, and this page will reflect this and be updated as the years - and movies - continue on.
So, join me now on a trip down memory lane, with pictures, art, and reminiscence....
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Obviously, 2014 came and went a while ago, and there have been several more films to this point, and this page will reflect this and be updated as the years - and movies - continue on.
So, join me now on a trip down memory lane, with pictures, art, and reminiscence....
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"Godzilla - King of the Monsters!
Nobody knows the origin of
this indestructible monster, but many believe that Godzilla was some kind of an
ancient god...others felt Godzilla was
prehistoric monster, awakened from a million years sleep by atomic
explosions.
Thinking this awesome creature a threat to civilization, attempts
were made to destroy Godzilla with modern war machines.
To Godzilla, these implements of destruction and their
tremendous firepower were merely toys. He batted them away and easily destroyed
them.
Annoyed and angered by this attempt, Godzilla set out to destroy
the cities.
The sound of his screeching roar and earth-shaking footsteps
sent thousands running form their homes, fearing for their lives.
He crushed all in his path, and set the countryside aflame
with his fiery breath.
All of man's military might was no match for Godzilla -
bullets, tanks, rockets...they had no effect on this giant.
His fierce attack left the cities in ruins.
There seemed to be no way of stopping this six hundred ton
monster, as whole city blocks became a raging inferno."
-from the prologue of TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (1975)
First G-flick I ever saw - this was in 1973 or so - during a week long Monster Rally on the local Chicago Morning Movie...
..."Mommy, who is Godzilla?" I asked...
I had NO idea who (or what) Godzilla was - I watched this more for King Kong (...I know, the shame of it all!..) but got the surprise of my young life - I was 5 or 6 a this point - and when The Big Guy burst out of that iceberg? Hoo-boy!
Ah, memories....
This is not the best of films - it plays off more as a comedy, even in the badly dubbed American version - the Japanese cut is FAR more satirical - but to a young, *already* monster-obsessed little kid, it was pure magic.
For me, THIS is the DEFINITIVE version of Godzilla and has always stuck with me....still love the imposing size of the beast, huge fins and alligator-styled head piece....
Just released on Blu-Ray for those interested...
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GODZILLA (1954)
Second one I ever saw, sometime in the fall of 1974...
The film, although oddly paced for a seven year old, made a HUGE impression, blowing me away with it's grim visions of nuclear evil...
....Nah!!!! The heck with that with that philosophical drivel!!!! It was time to watch Tokyo get flattened!!!!
The movie still stands as a terrific Monster-On-the-Loose flick with Raymond Burr spliced in for commentary...(I was already familiar with him from reruns of "Ironside")
Love the suit as well - very raw - with ears!
I've come to appreciate the original Japanese version much more in recent years...a grim parable of how badly Japan was physically and psychologically scarred from the effects of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, in addition to the ongoing nuclear testing by the United States in the Pacific....
GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN/GIGANTIS THE FIRE MONSTER (1955)
I saw this in 1990 on VHS - not one of my favorites, even if it does introduce
Angillas....
This is one of the first of the numerous monster-on-monster flicks Toho would become
famous for...
To me, it's too choppy - the entire production feels rushed
and half-hearted, and the monster battles are too frantic to be believed....as a friend of mine pointed out, Godzilla and Angillas look like their having tickle fights....
GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA (1964)
One of the last of the original series I saw, it never seemed to surface on Chicago TV much, although, after I caught my initial screening sometime in 1982 or so, it reappeared nearly every six months like clockwork....go figure....this was on late-night at the time, and I thought I'd stay up and check it out on a whim...I was 15 by that point, but Godzilla still held my attention, even then.
I see why this film is so highly revered by the fan base...it's the last time in the Showa series where Godzilla is portrayed as outright menacing, superb pacing, fantastic effects and battle scenes, and one of the best G-suits, ever.
Saw it again shortly before I began writing this, and the film still holds up beautifully. A masterpiece of it's type.
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Interesting piece of art
As an aside, some extra suits were produced for the exportation of the Gigantis film to America - to be rechristened The Volcano Monsters for US release, never happened though, and the suits were unused...note Godzilla's appearance, foreshadowing his look in King Kong vs. Godzilla seven years later....
GHIDORAH, THE THREE HEADED MONSTER/INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER (a.k.. MONSTER ZERO) (1965)
These two films could have been Part One and Part Two....and pretty much are, truth be told!
I saw Monster Zero sometime in 1974/75, which introduced me to both Rodan, Mothra and King Ghidorah.....Ghidorah itself I never saw in it's entirety until 1987...for the record, I far prefer Zero - nostalgia? Sure, but Zero has a considerably more sophisticated and satisfying plot.
If I'm completely honest, Ghidorah just comes off as juvenile and silly, almost a children's flick, truth be told...
Monster Zero, while a bit lax on monster action, has a far more adult storyline to it as I stated earlier...not to mention I had *no* clue that this was a Godzilla movie when I tuned in that warm summer night in '74 or so and promptly got my circuits blown, so I am rather attached to it...
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DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968)
This film was very influential on me - not only did it introduce me to characters like Manda, Gorosaurus and Varan, but I was lucky enough to see it on it's initial broadcast on Chicago TV (WFLD-32, no less!) in the mid-70s....a true classic of it's kind, one of the best - if not THE best - of the giant monster mashes of it's day.
Originally intended as the finale to the Godzilla film series, it brought in such fantastic numbers that it breathed new life into the franchise....
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Above is the original concept art for the character - didn't quite turn out like this, btw...and below, the first issue....
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BTW, does anyone remember the Godzilla carton from 1978...?
It was pretty cool, but why did they get Ted ("Lurch") Cassidy to do Godzilla's roar...? And Godzooky? *shudders*
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GODZILLA 1985
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In 1987, Dark Horse Comics produced a six issue mini series based on Godzilla 1985, which was OK, but the real surprise was *this* little gem...anyone else remember this...?
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GODZILLA VS. BIOLANTE (1989)
Four years would pass until Godzilla was heard from again...Toho sponsored a contest where participants submitted their ideas for a Godzilla film, and the best script would be the basis for the next movie- this was the result.
While a bit on the dry side, it is one of the more original ideas in the canon - and Biollante is fantastic, both as an idea and in actual realization.
I had caught some reference to Biollante in a magazine some time in 1990, but didn't see it until late '91.
It's actually a decent film - a tad slow at times, perhaps, but also one of the most intelligent and thought-provoking - with some great action sequences and some interesting plot points as well.
This is also where the Hesei series began in earnest....there was a pervading subliminal theme of "Godzilla vs. Godzilla" during this run, whether by genetics, technology, or menaces from outer space, not to mention some liberal "borrowing" from popular films of the time...sometimes it worked, sometimes not...
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GOZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH (1991)
One of my all-time favorites.
...granted, the plot - a huge melting pot of sci-fi cliches - Godzilla's beginnings, the revamp of a classic adversary, Doctor Who styled/inspired time travel ideals, and even a T-2 style cyborg - is logically ridiculous, but, hey....
This film just blew me away first time I saw it - fantastic pacing, the characters compliment the story rather than deter from it, terrific effects and model work for the time, and Mecha-King Ghidorah is a marvelous retooling .
Yeah, let's not mince words, the plot is a bunch of silly BS, but aren't all of these...?
The film's a terrific action flick, with a nice retelling of Godzilla's origins.
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GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA (1992)
With the success of King Ghidorah, it was inevitable that Toho would resurrect another monster from the past - and so it was with Mothra in 1992...
I'm not too fond of this one - borrows a lot from the Indiana Jones films, and the plot is a bit too kid friendly for my taste.
Still, Battra (the Black Mothra) is a nice twist on an old theme, and there are some great visuals to be had as well.
They'd fare far better next year....
Anyone remember Godzilla Vs. Charles Barkely advertising scheme around this point in time...????
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GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA (1993)
One of the best - if not THE best - of the Hesei series...
Reintroducing Classic Foes provided Big Box Office Returns, so Toho pulled out all the stops this time - Mechagodzilla, Rodan, and Little Godzilla all return here.
This is just a great action film, plain and simple, with a fast moving script and thoughtful theme of life against artificial life with regards to the uprising of AI, and with more KA-BOOM than you can shake a stick at....nearly a perfect Godzilla movie, well worth multiple viewings.
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It was around this point in 1994 that I discovered J.D. Lee's marvelous fanzine G-FAN - find them at www.g-fan.com - and have had been reading ever since....
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GODZILLA VS. SPACE GODZILLA (1994)
Ewwww....what a mess!
After the triumph of Mechagodzilla comes this awful, convoluted mess...part Godzilla, part kiddie flick, part romance, it tries to be all things to all people. The results are dismal.
Space Godzilla is an interesting concept, but very little is done with him, and the resurrection of Moguera from The Mysterians was a nice tip of the hat to the old days, but he comes across as a poor man's Mechagodzilla here.
The evolution of Little Godzilla visually is almost as bad as Minya or Godzooky, and that says a lot!
With the beginnings of an American Godzilla film in the works, the end was in the cards for Toho's legendary beast, but a Grand Finale was definitely in the cards as well....
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GODZILLA VS. DESTROYAH (1995)
"GODZILLA DIES!!!!!"
...or so the headlines read - even CNN picked up on this, the "final" Godzilla movie...
The storyline is dark and somber, not unlike a funeral dirge, with several ties to the 1954 original.
The film borrows from several different films series - most notably Alien - but the action sequences here are far more adult, Destroyah is one of the most viscous opponents Godzilla has ever faced, and Godzilla Junior is beautifully realized.
The final scenes are the most touching, with Godzilla's final demise of an almost poetic nature....the film concludes with a ray of hope and wonderful final montage of scenes from the series....
Was this truly the end...? Don't bet on it!
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Shortly after the conclusion of the series, Toho launched a new Mothra trilogy, aimed at a much younger audience, while while Dalei resurrected their Gamera series for a trio of surprisingly original, well produced and received films that still resonate with fans today...and, of course, the announcement of a new American-made Godzilla some time in 1997/8....
Hot on the heels of this came an avalanche of merchandise....
Trendmasters launched their toy line, of which I owned quite a few...
Random House launched a series of novels by Marc Cerasini...
....and Dark Horse comics launched another mini-series....
In August of 1996, I attended the second or third G-FEST in Chicago, and the guests of honor were the late Haruo Nakajima and Kenpachiro Satsuma - "The Men Who Were Godzilla" - among all other sorts of mayhem!!!!
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The less said about the American Godzilla of 1998 - the better!
All that hype and hope, and what stink bomb THAT was!
Ah, well...at least we got to see the REAL King of the Monsters incinerate him in Final Wars....but more on that later....
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GODZILLA 2000
The last of the Toho films to make it to these shore's theaters until 2016, it was produced so quickly, it seemed almost a retaliation for the American disaster of 1998...this signaled the beginning of the Millennium Series, the last string of films Toho has produced until recently...
In all honesty, most of this series - with a couple exceptions - left me cold.
The overall concept was that each individual film would be self-contained and unrelated to the others in the series - neat concept, but the majority of these movies were lacking in original ideas and just very paint-by-the-numbers, plot wise.
Got to see Godzilla 2000 in the theaters - and while not the best of the series, the film overall has some great moments, some interesting camera angles, and a slick twist in the tail, plot-wise...
It starts off very promising, but just falls flat in the second act until the finale, but, by then, a lot of the momentum went out it and never quite returned 100%....still, the Rob Zombie "Superbeast" commercial was just awesome!
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GODZIILA, MOTHRA, KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL OUT ATTACK (2001)
The best of the Millennium Series - and probably the single best Godzilla film, ever, barring maybe the original.
Transforming Godzilla and the rest to the level of ancient angry spirits and sacred protectors - not to mention several sly nods to classic moments in the series - gave this film an edgy, unique quality unlike many of it's predecessors.
Brilliantly directed by Shusuke Kaneko - the man responsible for the highly acclaimed Gamera trilogy of the '90s - he gives this film the same wonderful touch that elevated Gamera to new heights.
A must see - my personal favorite of the Millennium series.
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GODZILLA FINAL WARS (2004)
Marking the 50th anniversary of Godzilla - not to mention the final Toho film until 2016 - came this bizarre mish-mash.
Part Godzilla, part Japanese folklore, part alien invasion, part Anime stylizing, hints of Terminator and The Matrix, a soundtrack by Keith Emerson, just about every prominent and obscure Toho monster, plus a whole lot of Kung Fu fighting and you get this odd piece...
I was pretty underwhelmed by it all - it concentrates far too much on the alien invasion and the genetic warriors shtick - not enough city crunching action, and barely any Godzilla 'til the second half. Lots of plot elements "lifted" from Ghidorah, Monster Zero, and Destroy All Monsters leave this a confused mess.
Still, Godzilla and Minya walked off into the sunset at the conclusion - reminiscent of the outset of Terror of Mechagodzilla - signifying this was NOT the end of the series, but I expected far better for Godzilla's 50th, especially in the wake of GMK...
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2009 saw the release of Always Zoku Sanchōme no Yūhi (Always Sunset on Third Street 2) in Japan - the opening moments featured a dream sequence which involved a very convincing CGI Godzilla doing what he does best - stomping Tokyo flat!
While just a tease, it's now more a foreshadowing of things greater to come....
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GODZILLA (2014)
NETFLIX ANIME TOHO GODZILLA SERIES - 2017/8
GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS (2019)
Not sure where I found this, but my Goddaugher Bonnie Fontanne colored this for me....
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DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968)
This film was very influential on me - not only did it introduce me to characters like Manda, Gorosaurus and Varan, but I was lucky enough to see it on it's initial broadcast on Chicago TV (WFLD-32, no less!) in the mid-70s....a true classic of it's kind, one of the best - if not THE best - of the giant monster mashes of it's day.
Originally intended as the finale to the Godzilla film series, it brought in such fantastic numbers that it breathed new life into the franchise....
It was during the latter half of the 1970s that I caught the
lion's share of the original run of Godzilla flicks, with one or two
exceptions...
Things like Godzilla's Revenge, Son of Godzilla, Godzilla
vs. the Sea Monster and Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster (and, of course, all of the
aforementioned thus far) were regular staples in my television diet, although this quartet
didn't make much of an impression on me....save for maybe Smog Monster, cuz it
was *so* out of left-field as far as the canon goes...
It was also in this time period I saw things like Rodan,
Mothra, the entire original Gamera series, Dagora, Varan, Yongary, Monster from a
Prehistoric Planet and so on...not to mention Godzilla's thinly veiled
appearance in an episode of Ultra Man....
All I can say is: Thank You, Chicago TV!
In 1976, NBC acquired the rights to Godzilla vs. Megalon -
for the broadcast, the film was cut down to an hour, but what made it unique was John Belushi's interludes in a Godzilla suit, hamming it up between commercial
breaks....for all it's cheesiness, it was a remarkable and rather amusing moment...
The last of the original series I saw in the 70s was Terror
of Mechagodzilla - films like Godzilla vs. Gigan, Godzilla Raids Again, and the even
the original Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla I didn't catch until they popped up on
VHS in the 1980s - but even as Godzilla waded out to sea at Terror's conclusion, I
knew we had not seen the last of the King of the Monsters...and although it would
be many years before he would return to theaters, when he did, my closest friends and I finally got
to see him on the big screen...
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In the meantime....
Starting in 1977, Godzilla actually had his first comic book! It ran for two years with twenty four issues, and this was the first I one I got my grubby little hands on...
...and the final issue....the series didn't quite drum up the response originally hoped for...
BTW, does anyone remember the Godzilla carton from 1978...?
It was pretty cool, but why did they get Ted ("Lurch") Cassidy to do Godzilla's roar...? And Godzooky? *shudders*
GODZILLA 1985
Godzilla vanished for close to a decade after Terror of
Mechagodzilla in '75...then I began hearing rumbles of a new Godzilla film to be
released in Japan
in time for Christmas of '84...
...turned out to be quite the success, too, and soon New Line
Cinema snapped up the rights, and, in September, Godzilla 1985 hit theaters in the
USA...
While not the slam-bang smash-fest we were all hoping it might be, it
was the first time my high school friends and I had ever seen Godzilla on the big screen - and
it would be the last for fifteen years, but that's later in our story...
The American version also brought back Raymond Burr - along with footage form the original 1954 film - reprising his role as reporter Steve
Martin from the original, in a nice nod to yester-year....although he was referred to as "Mr. Martin" here due to the popularity of comedian Steve Martin in the decades since the original film
This also began the film cycle known as the Hesei
series....although Toho would not pick up the baton again for another four
years....
Hey, remember those Dr. Pepper commercials at the time the film was released? Did it inspire *you* to drink more of the soda...?
....yeah, me too...*burp!*
In 1987, Dark Horse Comics produced a six issue mini series based on Godzilla 1985, which was OK, but the real surprise was *this* little gem...anyone else remember this...?
GODZILLA VS. BIOLANTE (1989)
Four years would pass until Godzilla was heard from again...Toho sponsored a contest where participants submitted their ideas for a Godzilla film, and the best script would be the basis for the next movie- this was the result.
While a bit on the dry side, it is one of the more original ideas in the canon - and Biollante is fantastic, both as an idea and in actual realization.
I had caught some reference to Biollante in a magazine some time in 1990, but didn't see it until late '91.
It's actually a decent film - a tad slow at times, perhaps, but also one of the most intelligent and thought-provoking - with some great action sequences and some interesting plot points as well.
This is also where the Hesei series began in earnest....there was a pervading subliminal theme of "Godzilla vs. Godzilla" during this run, whether by genetics, technology, or menaces from outer space, not to mention some liberal "borrowing" from popular films of the time...sometimes it worked, sometimes not...
GOZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH (1991)
One of my all-time favorites.
...granted, the plot - a huge melting pot of sci-fi cliches - Godzilla's beginnings, the revamp of a classic adversary, Doctor Who styled/inspired time travel ideals, and even a T-2 style cyborg - is logically ridiculous, but, hey....
This film just blew me away first time I saw it - fantastic pacing, the characters compliment the story rather than deter from it, terrific effects and model work for the time, and Mecha-King Ghidorah is a marvelous retooling .
Yeah, let's not mince words, the plot is a bunch of silly BS, but aren't all of these...?
The film's a terrific action flick, with a nice retelling of Godzilla's origins.
GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA (1992)
With the success of King Ghidorah, it was inevitable that Toho would resurrect another monster from the past - and so it was with Mothra in 1992...
I'm not too fond of this one - borrows a lot from the Indiana Jones films, and the plot is a bit too kid friendly for my taste.
Still, Battra (the Black Mothra) is a nice twist on an old theme, and there are some great visuals to be had as well.
They'd fare far better next year....
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Anyone remember Godzilla Vs. Charles Barkely advertising scheme around this point in time...????
GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA (1993)
One of the best - if not THE best - of the Hesei series...
Reintroducing Classic Foes provided Big Box Office Returns, so Toho pulled out all the stops this time - Mechagodzilla, Rodan, and Little Godzilla all return here.
This is just a great action film, plain and simple, with a fast moving script and thoughtful theme of life against artificial life with regards to the uprising of AI, and with more KA-BOOM than you can shake a stick at....nearly a perfect Godzilla movie, well worth multiple viewings.
It was around this point in 1994 that I discovered J.D. Lee's marvelous fanzine G-FAN - find them at www.g-fan.com - and have had been reading ever since....
GODZILLA VS. SPACE GODZILLA (1994)
Ewwww....what a mess!
After the triumph of Mechagodzilla comes this awful, convoluted mess...part Godzilla, part kiddie flick, part romance, it tries to be all things to all people. The results are dismal.
Space Godzilla is an interesting concept, but very little is done with him, and the resurrection of Moguera from The Mysterians was a nice tip of the hat to the old days, but he comes across as a poor man's Mechagodzilla here.
The evolution of Little Godzilla visually is almost as bad as Minya or Godzooky, and that says a lot!
With the beginnings of an American Godzilla film in the works, the end was in the cards for Toho's legendary beast, but a Grand Finale was definitely in the cards as well....
GODZILLA VS. DESTROYAH (1995)
"GODZILLA DIES!!!!!"
...or so the headlines read - even CNN picked up on this, the "final" Godzilla movie...
The storyline is dark and somber, not unlike a funeral dirge, with several ties to the 1954 original.
The film borrows from several different films series - most notably Alien - but the action sequences here are far more adult, Destroyah is one of the most viscous opponents Godzilla has ever faced, and Godzilla Junior is beautifully realized.
The final scenes are the most touching, with Godzilla's final demise of an almost poetic nature....the film concludes with a ray of hope and wonderful final montage of scenes from the series....
Was this truly the end...? Don't bet on it!
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Nice piece I found online depicting the Hensei/'90s series....
Shortly after the conclusion of the series, Toho launched a new Mothra trilogy, aimed at a much younger audience, while while Dalei resurrected their Gamera series for a trio of surprisingly original, well produced and received films that still resonate with fans today...and, of course, the announcement of a new American-made Godzilla some time in 1997/8....
Hot on the heels of this came an avalanche of merchandise....
Trendmasters launched their toy line, of which I owned quite a few...
....there were several lines of trading cards....
Random House launched a series of novels by Marc Cerasini...
....and Dark Horse comics launched another mini-series....
In August of 1996, I attended the second or third G-FEST in Chicago, and the guests of honor were the late Haruo Nakajima and Kenpachiro Satsuma - "The Men Who Were Godzilla" - among all other sorts of mayhem!!!!
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The less said about the American Godzilla of 1998 - the better!
All that hype and hope, and what stink bomb THAT was!
Ah, well...at least we got to see the REAL King of the Monsters incinerate him in Final Wars....but more on that later....
There was a cartoon series produced based on this incarnation, and, oddly enough, it was considerably better than the film - note I said "better", not "good"!
GODZILLA 2000
The last of the Toho films to make it to these shore's theaters until 2016, it was produced so quickly, it seemed almost a retaliation for the American disaster of 1998...this signaled the beginning of the Millennium Series, the last string of films Toho has produced until recently...
In all honesty, most of this series - with a couple exceptions - left me cold.
The overall concept was that each individual film would be self-contained and unrelated to the others in the series - neat concept, but the majority of these movies were lacking in original ideas and just very paint-by-the-numbers, plot wise.
Got to see Godzilla 2000 in the theaters - and while not the best of the series, the film overall has some great moments, some interesting camera angles, and a slick twist in the tail, plot-wise...
It starts off very promising, but just falls flat in the second act until the finale, but, by then, a lot of the momentum went out it and never quite returned 100%....still, the Rob Zombie "Superbeast" commercial was just awesome!
GODZIILA, MOTHRA, KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL OUT ATTACK (2001)
The best of the Millennium Series - and probably the single best Godzilla film, ever, barring maybe the original.
Transforming Godzilla and the rest to the level of ancient angry spirits and sacred protectors - not to mention several sly nods to classic moments in the series - gave this film an edgy, unique quality unlike many of it's predecessors.
Brilliantly directed by Shusuke Kaneko - the man responsible for the highly acclaimed Gamera trilogy of the '90s - he gives this film the same wonderful touch that elevated Gamera to new heights.
A must see - my personal favorite of the Millennium series.
GODZILLA FINAL WARS (2004)
Marking the 50th anniversary of Godzilla - not to mention the final Toho film until 2016 - came this bizarre mish-mash.
Part Godzilla, part Japanese folklore, part alien invasion, part Anime stylizing, hints of Terminator and The Matrix, a soundtrack by Keith Emerson, just about every prominent and obscure Toho monster, plus a whole lot of Kung Fu fighting and you get this odd piece...
I was pretty underwhelmed by it all - it concentrates far too much on the alien invasion and the genetic warriors shtick - not enough city crunching action, and barely any Godzilla 'til the second half. Lots of plot elements "lifted" from Ghidorah, Monster Zero, and Destroy All Monsters leave this a confused mess.
Still, Godzilla and Minya walked off into the sunset at the conclusion - reminiscent of the outset of Terror of Mechagodzilla - signifying this was NOT the end of the series, but I expected far better for Godzilla's 50th, especially in the wake of GMK...
2009 saw the release of Always Zoku Sanchōme no Yūhi (Always Sunset on Third Street 2) in Japan - the opening moments featured a dream sequence which involved a very convincing CGI Godzilla doing what he does best - stomping Tokyo flat!
While just a tease, it's now more a foreshadowing of things greater to come....
At the time, one of the most hyped films in a while, but, alas, also
one of the more disappointing...
Visually speaking, Gaerth Edwards nailed it - a nice update
on the classic Godzilla design, with some Jurassic Park-styled ethics involved as
well...some terrific action sequences, two decent adversaries - dubbed "M.U.T.O.s"
(Massive Unidentified Terrestrial
Organism) - and an amazing array of city-stomping special effects...when you got them, that is...
And that's my
beef with this flick....Godzilla seems to be a guest star in his own
movie...he gets maybe ten minutes of screen time and that's it - the two
M.U.T.O.s are on screen FAR more!
I wanted more
Godzilla in "Godzilla", damint!
*sigh*
Never mind that the
plot has issues, and the acting is lukewarm, at best - save for Bryan Cranston,
but they kill him off a third into the film....but you don't go to
this kind of movie for character depth or deep meaning, do you?
Still, it was
fun, one of the better action films of 2014...better was coming
One last thought on this film - did anyone notice how the male M.U.T.O.'s design was not all that removed from the Gamera series adversary, Gayos...? The mind reels.
One last thought on this film - did anyone notice how the male M.U.T.O.'s design was not all that removed from the Gamera series adversary, Gayos...? The mind reels.
Godzilla - 60 Years of Nuclear Destruction!!!!
GODZILLA RESURGENCE a.k.a SHIN GODZILLA (2016)
With the huge financial success of the 2014 film, it was not
a tremendous shock to learn that Toho would once again revive their franchise, and,
towards the end of 2014, it was announced that, indeed, Toho would be re-launching
their iconic character in a film slated for 2016 release...
The photos of the updated design of the charter caused quite
a stir when they saw the light of day in late 2015...when the film was released
in Japan in July of that year, it was an immediate hit, and was also hugely
successful in it's limited theatrical run in the USA in October of that year.
As it stands, this film is a bit of an oddball in the canon - more a
political commentary/comedy than an action film, there are many different
themes running through it, and, again, Godzilla is in the movie for maybe fifteen
minutes...
...and, quite frankly, it talks WAY too much, and my patience grew very thin with it.
...and, quite frankly, it talks WAY too much, and my patience grew very thin with it.
The effects are genuinely amazing, and the idea of
Godzilla just now appearing, the havoc it would cause in the world's governmental and political theaters, and Godzilla himself being a continually evolving creature
makes for an interesting backdrop to the tale.
Watch this one with an open mind and a ton of patience....there
are many things to savor...and while this is not atypical of the series,
it's well worth checking out carefully...
Will Toho produce more? Time will tell.
NETFLIX ANIME TOHO GODZILLA SERIES - 2017/8
The announcement of the trilogy of cartoon Godzilla films by
Toho was met with a raised eyebrow by me, I must admit...I am not a fan of
Japanese anime by any stretch - I find the animation's styling too choppy and
angular - but I was willing to have a
look.
All three films have been released theatrically and are readily available on Netflix - Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle and Godzilla: The Planet Eater spin an interesting story, heavily imbued in symbolism and theological/ideological designs...there are not a tremendous amount of monster battles in any movie, and most of he action happens towards the conclusion of each film....
Are they worth seeing? I'd say yes, but do so in small doses with an open mind and do not expect Battle Royals - it's not that kind of story line....
GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS (2019)
The success of Legendary's 2014 Godzilla venture was obvious
to produce a sequel, with the revived interest in the character spurring both Shin-Godzilla
and the Netflix anime series, and with Toho itself announcing a new series of
"multi-verse" films to begin around 2020, the pressure was on for Legendary
to produce something truly spectacular...
When the sequel was initially announced in 2014, the news of
the inclusion of Rodan, Mothra and King Ghidorah in the movie sent me in shiver
s of delight...but it was going to get even better...
The film resembled more the 1960s Godzilla films - with direct references to Monster Zero, Ghidorah (I mean, c'mon, the film is essentially a remake of it!), Destroy All Monsters and literally dozens of nods to each of the individual character traits through the series 65 year run....
...I defy the die-hards to fins *ALL* of them - Good Luck with that - there are far too many!
The film didn't receive the critical backing that the 2014 movie did - most called the plot fluff, and well, to be honest, the movie does not have the same gravitas as Gaerth Edwards films five years ago, but that's not the point....
This is a Summer Action Movie, plain and simple, and, in that regard, it delivers BIG TIME....my only beef was that it was light on Mothra, but that is neither here nor there, really - the Monsters appearance are true to form, and their initial appearances - Rodan in particular - are breath-taking....the Big Rematch was next
Ona side note, Toho had announced plans to reboot the franchise in a "shared universe" context at this point....will they deliver...? Stayed tuned..
The film resembled more the 1960s Godzilla films - with direct references to Monster Zero, Ghidorah (I mean, c'mon, the film is essentially a remake of it!), Destroy All Monsters and literally dozens of nods to each of the individual character traits through the series 65 year run....
...I defy the die-hards to fins *ALL* of them - Good Luck with that - there are far too many!
The film didn't receive the critical backing that the 2014 movie did - most called the plot fluff, and well, to be honest, the movie does not have the same gravitas as Gaerth Edwards films five years ago, but that's not the point....
This is a Summer Action Movie, plain and simple, and, in that regard, it delivers BIG TIME....my only beef was that it was light on Mothra, but that is neither here nor there, really - the Monsters appearance are true to form, and their initial appearances - Rodan in particular - are breath-taking....the Big Rematch was next
Ona side note, Toho had announced plans to reboot the franchise in a "shared universe" context at this point....will they deliver...? Stayed tuned..
HAPPY 55TH ANNIVERSARY GODZILA! 1954 -2019
GODZILLA VS. KONG (2021)
Originally scheduled for release in early 2020, the long anticipated rematch was pushed back due to the COVID crisis to March 2021, released simultaneously in theatres and pay-per-view….it did remarkably well, not only in terms of box office and downloads, but with reviewers, too….well enough, in fact, to see a continuation of the Legendary series with a new film scheduled for 2024…
…a pretty basic plot brings the two beasts on a collision course and the brawls are spectacularly wild and over the top…
GODZILLA: SINGULAR POINT (2022)
Story wise, this is more of a sci-fi/human interest tale, with some interesting elements that harken back to the Toho serie(s), while adding touches of films like The Matrix and Fahrenheit 451 (watch closely, you’ll catch it) into the mix, with a somewhat surrealist vibe to the whole thing. Well worth the time.
GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE (2024)
OK, I was truly NOT impressed with this one...I realize this is supposed to be a "tribute" to the Showa era, but, good grief, Adam Wingard made some really divisive decisions here - I mean, turning Godzilla's fins PINK? Gimmie a break! - and the plot is THIN, to put it mildly....and the special effects are on the level of a video game...a cheap one...
I dunno, this thing came off in two ways to me:
1. A way to sell toys
2. A rush job, more action than anything
Granted this one was a HUGE hit - ensuring the future of the Legendary series - and it does have a few cool moments, but I sincerely hope it takes a more serious turn again - after the depth and maturity of both Monarch and Minus One, this sort of thing won't cut it for me anymore...one final observation:
When the Showa era went silly like this, it died off pretty quickly...
Wonder if we ever will see a Godzilla vs. Gamera film....with today's technology, the possibilities are endless!
Thanks for taking this little jog down memory lane with me - brought back a lot of happy memories, as I hope it did for you....
In closing, just some random images I found on the Web...
Not sure where I found this, but my Goddaugher Bonnie Fontanne colored this for me....
Speaking of my Goddaughter, she did THIS piece for me a number of years ago....like it?
Check out her other works at:
She does commissions (hint!)
...so much for dignity!....
And, in short order, my Top Ten Godzilla films:
1. GMK
2. Godzilla (1954)
3. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1993)
4. Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)
5. Destroy All Monsters
6. Godzilla vs. Destroyah
7. Godzilla vs. Mothra (1964)
8. Monster Zero
9. King Kong vs. Godzilla
10. Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster
_____________________________________________________________________________
1. GMK
2. Godzilla (1954)
3. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1993)
4. Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)
5. Destroy All Monsters
6. Godzilla vs. Destroyah
7. Godzilla vs. Mothra (1964)
8. Monster Zero
9. King Kong vs. Godzilla
10. Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster
_____________________________________________________________________________
Finally, I wanted to give a shout
out to a podcast a few folks here might appreciate called Kaijucast - -
you can find them at Kaijucast.com - very informal, but also well-informed -
covering everyone from Godzilla, Gamera, Ultra Man and all sorts of rubber
suited fun, including terrific interviews with folks like Ed Godziszewsk,
publisher of Japanese Giants
magazine...great stuff!
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