Godzilla, King of the Monsters trailer

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Incredible Godzilla 2014 vs. Biollante Fan Art

Here's a truly awe-inspiring fan art showing the 2014 Godzilla battling an updated Biollante. Biollante is the massive, Godzilla/plant hybrid monster that appeared in Godzilla vs. Biollante(1989). This was one of the best and most original monsters from the entire series. This is how it might look if the Biollante appears in the Godzilla sequel. It would really be something to see. Both monsters getting ready to fire their weapons.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Original 'Godzilla' Soundtrack Vinyl Cover Art





As recently reported on Bloddy Disgusting, Death Waltz Records is releasing the original Gojira 1954 movie soundtrack by Akira Ifukbe on vinyl. The record will be released on June 21st in both a green vinyl and 400 limited edition blue and white, "Atomic Breath" vinyl. The amazing cover art pictured above is by Cheung Chung Tat. The Godzilla in the picture is actually the Heisei design Godzilla of the 1990's, done in a retro look with Japanese Zeros flying in the background. Truly awesome. Go to Bloody Disgusting to stream the full album and reserve your copy today. 

Artistic Godzilla 2014 vs. Muto Oil Painting Fan Art

Here's a beautiful and artistic oil painting of Legendary's Godzilla facing off with the large, female, winged Muto monster in the climactic battle scene from Godzilla 2014. It'a a really stunning fan art. An almost mythic confrontation of Good vs. Evil.

Godzilla Atomic Breath Movie Stills

Here are a couple of incredible movie stills from Godzilla 2014. Godzilla uses his trademark atomic breath to kill the Muto monsters. The top image shows Godzilla firing on the Female Muto in the climactic final battle scene. The bottom image shows a Godzilla meme posted on Facebook comparing King Kong's T-rex battle with Godzilla ripping open the male Muto's mouth and firing his atomic breath at point blank range, the kiss of death. I don't care for the meme, but it shows the image pretty clearly. Below s a fan art of the same scene. I'm really glad Godzilla used his atomic breath in this movie. If e didn't have it, it wouldn't be Godzilla. Go see this movie now!





Godzilla 2014 Akira Takarada Airport Movie Still

Here's a movie still from Godzilla 2014 showing a scene that was ultimately cut from the final version. It shows veteran Japanese Godzilla actor Akira Takarada as the immigration officer interviewing Sergeant Ford(Aaron Taylor-Johnson) at the Japanese airport.

Takarada, a fan favorite appeared in the original Gojira in 1954 as Hideto, the dashing young sailor, Hideto, part of the love triangle including the beautiful Emiko and Dr. Serizwawa, who creates the oxygen destroyer which ultimately kills Godzilla. Ken Watanabe's character is also Serizawa. It's a real shame Takarada was cut from the movie, but his scene will surely appear in the Blue-Ray or special edition.






Cool Godzilla 2014 Fan Art

Here's a really cool Godzilla 2014 fan art showing the big G walking in the ocean and turning. This clearly shows the detail of the new design with a strong chest, thick, tapering neck and small head. Notice the expert details of the scales and plates on the chest and body. Awesome!




Sunday, May 18, 2014

Godzilla's Colossal Opening Beats Spider-Man at Box Office!


Well, I called it here first folks, and if you don't believe me, check out my earlier post:

Here's to all you nay-sayers out there that said Spider-man 2 would do better on the merits of it's a sequel to a household-named, famous character franchise. What's Godzilla, buttered toast!? You can get more famous than him. 

It's official, Legendary Pictures' Godzilla is a smash hit(notice I didn't day 'monster'), obliterating any competition at the box office this weekend and doing even better overseas. It officially earned $93.2 million in it's opening weekend, far above initial estimates around $70 million. It slowed down on Sunday, falling short of a hoped $100, but still beat out Amazing Spider-man 2 which earned $91 million in its opening weekend and has dramatically slowed down since then. Take that Spidey! Go spin a web or something. 

Godzilla broke a lot of stuff in the movie, but he didn't break any records though, falling only $2 million short of Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier for the biggest opening weekend this year. 

Reviews of Godzilla were mixed, but generally positive, especially of people who had low expectations going into it. Who can imagine that!?:) But even those who criticized Godzilla would have to admit, it's still a much better film than either of those mangled superhero movies. 

The summer is just getting started though, and it will be interesting to see what happens when the highly anticipated X-Men: Days of Future Past opens this coming weekend. Can Godzilla hold his own against Hugh Jackman and the huge ensemble X-men cast? Personally, I'm excited, but I think the overwhelming number of characters will work against it. Anyway, I think you know whose corner I'm in. Godzilla has returned to reclaim his throne. Long live the King!




 

Interview with Steve Ryfle, Author of "Japan's Favorite Mon-Star" about Godzilla 2014

Japanese Fans: Godzilla 2014 is fat

Here's a great interview with a true Godzilla expert about the new Godzilla 2014 reboot from Legendary Pictures. Steve Ryfle is author of Japan's Favorite Mon-Star, a great, unauthorized biography of the Godzilla series. This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in Godzilla and I've referred to his book many times in writing this blog. Steve is also currently working on a biography of Godzilla director Ishiro Honda.

He's actually interviewed by his wife about is opinions on the new film. I have to say, he answers every question expertly and I agree with everything he says. He answers such interesting questions like:

Is the new movie a sequal or an origin story?

How much does it honor the Japanese films?

How does it compare to Ronald Emmerich's 1998 Godzilla?

Why haven't there been any new Japanese Godzilla movies?  and...

Is Godzilla too fat?

It's a great read. My hats off to you Mr. Ryfle. See if you agree with what he says, and be sure to get a copy of his book.

Yahoo Movies!


Friday, May 9, 2014

Why is Godzilla So Popular?

Godzilla 2014 Pencil Sketch and More Fan Art2014 marks the 60th anniversary of the original Gojira in 1954. This year the world will see the fury of Godzilla unleashed in the new reboot from Legendary Pictures. With all the excitement, it's timely to ask the question why is Godzilla so popular and endured so long with a career spanning 60 years and 30 movies?

Let me get a little philosophical for a moment and examine a deeper question. What does Godzilla represent? Of course, we know that Godzilla was originally a metaphor for the nuclear attacks on Japan during the war, but I don't mean in the original Gojira or the 2014 reboot specifically, but overall, as a character.

Why do we need Monsters?

The Epic of Gilgamesh is the earliest written story, over 4000 years old, and it's filled with monsters and gods. But stories of monsters are much older than that, dating back to the beginning of human speech. I'm sure the first human conversation was something like, "I couldn't see it very well, but something was chasing me!"

The ancient world was a dangerous place with wild animals like bears and lions and natural disasters like earthquakes and typhoons, not to mention things like war, famine, and disease. Life was short and full of very real dangers, so why do we have monsters in stories? Of course, there's a fantasy, escapist quality to it, but it's more than that. Monsters are bigger than life, outside our ordinary experience. Monsters are usually half hidden, unseen, just beyond the firelight. They represent a fear of things we can't expect or imagine and we need to put a face to our fears. Monsters are our fear of the unknown. 

Another clue came when I was reading one of my favorite stories from ancient Greek literature,The Iliad, the story of Helen and the Trojan war. The introduction was written by a French woman Simone Weil before WWII:

“The true hero, the true subject, the center of the Iliad, is force. Force as man’s instrument, force as man’s master, force before which human flesh shrink back. The human soul in this poem is shown always in its relation to force: swept away, blinded by the force it thinks it can direct, bent under the pressure of the force to which it is subjected. Those who had dreamed that force, thanks to progress, now belonged in the past, have seen the poem as a historic document; those that can see that force, today as in the past, is the center of all human history, find in the Iliad its most beautiful, its purest mirror…..force is what makes the person subjected to it into a thing.”

When I read those words, I immediately thought of Godzilla. That's what he is to me, an unstoppable, god-like force. Force is what makes the person subjected to it into a thing. At this point, "monster", and "force" are interchangeable. Monsters represent a challenge, something to be overcome and define the hero. It's overcoming great challenges in our lives that defines us. This is most obvious in challenges like war or sports.

About Monsters, I think Godzilla director Ishiro Honda said it best;

"Monsters are tragic beings; they are born too tall, too strong, too heavy, they are not evil by choice. That is their tragedy"

So, Godzilla represents an unstoppable force of the unknown. But, I think that's only half the answer. If so, Godzilla would have just been a great movie monster in Gojira and it would have stopped there, but it didn't.

The Hero Monster


Godzilla started as a dark metaphor for the atomic bomb and the horrors of war, but he didn't stay that way. Unlike most movie monsters, he became the hero, especially to children. This change wasn't gradual over time, but happened all at once in one movie. That movie was, Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster(1964) and was the 5th movie in the series. In all previous films, Godzilla was clearly an evil creature bent on destruction. But Ghidorah changed things. In that film, both Godzilla and Rodan re-emerge, wreaking havoc. But then Ghidorah appears from space and is an even greater threat. Baby Mothra tries to persuade the other two to join her in battling Ghidorah to save the Earth, but both Godzilla and Rodan are stubborn and care nothing about what happens to the world. Then bravely, Mothra goes to confront Ghidorah alone. That when it happens. When Mothra is getting pummeled by a far stronger Ghidorah, Godzilla suddenly appears over the mountain to save the day, followed closely by Rodan and the three of them join forces to defeat the space dragon.

From that movie on, Godzilla would walk a fine line between destroyer and savior, sometimes more one or the other. At times, he would come to the aid of those in danger to battle another monster, but usually these battles were territorial. This was his world. He would save the planet from some marauding monster, only to turn around and destroy it himself.

In addition, Godzilla has personality. There have been were many other giant movie monsters created by nuclear radiation, but they were mostly imagined as giant animals acting on instinct. This was the main problem with 1998's Godzilla film by Ronald Emmerich. That monster, often referred to as Gino, Godzilla In Name Only, or simply Zilla, spent most of the film running and hiding from the military. But the true Godzilla has personality, and attitude and never ran from a fight. This personality would grow and change over the years. As the hero, we identified with Godzilla. We were rooting for him now. His victories became our own. Children especially, imagined being him, stomping through cities. Godzilla goes his own way, and isn't swayed by others. This independence is attractive to kids as well as adults. Godzilla was invulnerable to attack and possessed a deadly offensive weapon, his trademark, blue atomic ray. These things also set him apart from most monsters.

Godzilla was a hero with immense power and strength. In this he was like Superman, the greatest hero of comic books, who can overcome any difficulty or adversary. It's been said that Superman is as strong as he needs to be. It's no surprise then, that as our world grew, so did Godzilla to match the times. The original Godzilla was 50 meters(164 feet) tall. The new Godzilla in 2014 is over twice as big at 106 meters(350 feet). He is at once the irresistible force and the immovable object. Godzilla becomes as big and as strong as we need him to be.

I'm sure Godzilla will endure for years to come. He will continue to grow and evolve and be our unstoppable, lovable monster hero. 



Thursday, May 8, 2014

Incredible Godzilla 2014 Art Movie Poster

If a picture's worth a thousand words, then this awesome, new Godzilla 2014 art movie poster says it all. Will this movie get here already!?



Godzilla: The Art of Destruction Book Trailer


Below is a newly released trailer for the book, Godzilla: The Art of Destruction by Mark Cotta Vaz. This in-depth book chronicles the making of Legendary Pictures Godzilla reboot with director Gareth Edwards. It features lots of concept art and behind-the-scenes development.










Here's the official description:

Published to coincide with the release of Warner Bros. and Legendary’s Godzilla, directed by Gareth Edwards, this visually stunning book presents an extraordinary new vision for the beloved character through a dynamic selection of concept illustrations, sketches, storyboards, and other pre-production materials. Godzilla: The Art of Destruction is the definitive book on one of the most anticipated films of 2014. Featuring interviews with the director and key crew and cast members, the book tells the complete story of the making of Godzilla from concept to final frames. Comprehensive and enthralling, Godzilla: The Art of Destruction is a book that no fan will want to be without.


Review

Art of Destruction provides a glimpse at how the filmmakers envisioned the chaos and devastation they wanted their film to encompass. From what we’ve seen from the finished product, they did a hell of a job translating the ideas from page to screen. Even the cover of this book is freaking epic.”
Giant Freakin Robot

Below is a cool image from the book, showing Godzilla trapped in the ice. There's also another image from the trailer showing a nuclear submarine perched upside down in the mountains. I hope we see these shots in the movie. Get your copy of this awesome book, today!









Godzilla 2014 3D Spot with New Footage!

Here's an absolutely amazing short Godzilla 2014 featurette (Spanish sub-titled)with director Gareth Edwards and others on how they converted the film into 3D and that Edwards said it was better than shooting the movie first in 3D because you have more control afterwards.

But most excitingly, the spot features new footage we haven't seen before, especially of Godzilla swimming  toward naval ships in the ocean with his huge spines and tail coming up. Later, there's an aerial shot of Godzilla swimming with ships on both sides like an escort. There are also shots of Muto's feet dwarfing soldiers beneath as it walks.

I can't wait!


How Did They Make Godzilla's Roar? And Video

The Star

Akira Ifukube
Godzilla's characteristic roar is undoubtedly one of the most original and unmistakable sounds in film history. The roar has gone through many tunings and tweaking over the years including the newest version in 2014, but the basic roar has remained the same. But, how did they make the original sound?


The man responsible was Japanese composer Akira Ifukube,  who wrote Godzilla's iconic music themes and scored most of the Godzilla series. In making the original Gojira in 1954, Ifukube and his team had very little time to write the music and create the movies sound effects. For Godzilla's roar, they first looked at real animal sounds like lions, tigers, or elephants. These proved unsatisfactory, however. Godzilla was an enormous monster beyond our imagination, so it stands to reason he should have a wholly unique and unearthly sound. Ifukube hit on an idea to use a stringed intrument, an inorganic sound. He used a contra bass( double bass), one of the lowest pitched stringed instruments in the world. He actually had to borrow one of the rare instruments from the Japan Art University's music department. He loosened the strings and ran his hand across them with a leather glove. They recorded the sound and played it back at reduced speed to create Godzilla's iconic roar. He also created Godzilla's thunderous footsteps with a primitive amplifier.

Unlike American movie monsters, which used animal sounds, this technique of using metallic, or inorganic sounds would become standard practice for Toho's monsters, including the likes of Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah. Notable exceptions are King Kong and King Caesar, both mammalian monsters, which used elephant sounds.

Of course, Godzilla's roar has been updated for his new appearance in 2014, but the base is the same. Below are a couple of related videos. The first is the full roar from Godzilla 2014. This is the scene in Chinatown and his roar is a challenge to the other monster, Muto. It's so loud and powerful and sooo long it goes on forever. You feel like he's going to swallow you whole. Members of the press at advanced screenings said it shook the whole theater! The second video is a mini-documentary with Godzilla director Gareth Edwards and others about how they wanted to pay homage to Godzilla's characteristic sound.







Sublime Godzilla 2014 Bridge Photo

This sublime image just blows me away. It shows Godzilla's massive size and power as he advances toward the bridge. The fog makes him look more mysterious and scary. Just awesome!



Wednesday, May 7, 2014

King vs.God

I really like this.

How Big is the New Godzilla in 2014?

Japanese Fans: Godzilla 2014 is fat

The original Godzilla in 1954 was 50 meters(164 feet) tall. He's gone through many size changed over the years and reached a maximum of 100 meters(328 feet) in the 1990's:

Showa series 1954-1975, 50 meters(164 feet)
Heisei series  1985-1995, 80 meters(262 feet)-100 meters(328 feet)
American "Zilla" 1989, 65.5 meters(215 feet)
Millennium series  2000-2004, 55 meters(180 feet)-60 meters(196 feet) Final Wars, 100 meters

Not to be outdone, in 2014 the new American Godzilla from Legendary Pictures is slightly larger at 106 meters(350 feet) making him the biggest Godzilla of all time!

How Many Godzilla Movies Are There?

Godzilla 2014 Deviant Art Selection

2014 marks the 60th anniversary of the release of the original Gojira in 1954 and the new Godzilla 2014 reboot from Legendary Pictures is the 30th Godzilla film, 28 from Japan and 2 from America.

Toho’s (the Japanese Studio responsible for Godzilla) Godzilla movies can be broken down into three series:

1. The Showa series: 15 movies from Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1954) to Terror of Mechagodzilla(1975). (The term Showa comes from the name of the Japanese emperor of the day.)

2. The Heisei series: 7 movies from Godzilla 1985 (1984) to Godzilla vs. Destroyah (1995) (This series takes its name from the current Japanese emperor.)

3. The Millennium series: 6 movies from Godzilla 2000 (1999) to Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

American Godzilla Films

Godzilla(1998) Tri-star and Sony film directed by Ronald Emmerich and starring Mathew Broderick.

Godzilla(2014) Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. directed by Gareth Edwards and starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranson, and Ken Watnabe.

Godzilla Filmography

  1. Godzilla (1954)
  2. Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
  3. King Kong Vs. Godzilla (1962)
  4. Godzilla Vs. Mothra (1964)
  5. Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
  6. Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero (1965)
  7. Godzilla Vs. the Sea Monster (1966)
  8. Son of Godzilla (1967)
  9. Destroy All Monsters (1968)
  10. Godzilla's Revenge (1969)
  11. Godzilla Vs. Hedorah (1971)
  12. Godzilla Vs. Gigan (1972)
  13. Godzilla Vs. Megalon (1973)
  14. Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)
  15. Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)
  16. Godzilla 1985 (1985)
  17. Godzilla Vs. Biollante (1989)
  18. Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah (1991)
  19. Godzilla & Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992)
  20. Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)
  21. Godzilla Vs. Spacegodzilla (1994)
  22. Godzilla Vs. Destoroyah (1995)
  23. Godzilla (1998)
  24. Godzilla 2000: Millennium (2000)
  25. Godzilla Vs. Megaguirus (2000)
  26. Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)
  27. Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)
  28. Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)
  29. Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
  30. Godzilla (2014)

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Godzilla 2014 Official Movie Soundtrack and Plot Details!



The Godzilla 2014 Official Movie Soundtrack by Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee, Alexandre Desplat has been released and is available on Amazon. In addition, the track list pretty much spells out every scene in the film, revealing the basic plot outline and recalling scenes we've already seen in the trailers. Below is the official track list with my own interpretation added

Read the track list here:

1. Godzilla!  (Film opens)

2. Inside The Mines
(Giant Chongqing Sinkhole cavern in China)

3. The Power Plant
(The destruction of Janjira nuclear plant in Japan. The scene where Bryan Cranston's wife, Juliette Binoche dies)

4. To Q Zone
(Cranston and Taylor-Johnson go back to the power plant site, now a Quarantine Zone and government coverup)

5. Back to Janjira
(Cranston is captured and interrogated. "Your hiding something" scene. Meets scientists Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins for first time)

6. Muto Hatch
(Mutos emerge from giant monolith)

7. In The Jungle
(Giant Muto in jungle)

8. The Wave
(tidal wave in Hawaii)

9. Airport Attack
(Godzilla attacks spider Muto at airport)

10. Missing Spore
(?)

11. Vegas Aftermath
(Destruction of Las Vegas, small Statue of Liberty destroyed)

12. Ford Rescued
(?)

13. Following Godzilla
(Ford wants to join military train convoy?)

14. Golden Gate Chaos
(Godzilla attacks bridge with school buses)

15. Let Them Fight
(Watanabe's plan to let Godzilla and flying Muto fight each other)

16. Entering The Nest
(military tries to stop Mutos at the same time?)

17. Two Against One
(Perhaps winged and land Muto attack Godzilla...giant caterpillar?)

18. Last Shot
(Godzilla uses his atomic ray)

19. Godzilla's Victory
(Godzilla wins, roars)

20. Back To The Ocean
(self-explanatory.  with sunset?)

Soundtrack features score from Grammy Award-winner, Golden Globe-winner, and Academy Award Nominee Alexandre Desplat.
In Summer 2014, the world s most revered monster is reborn as Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures unleash the epic action adventure Godzilla. From visionary new director Gareth Edwards (Monsters) comes a powerful story of human courage and reconciliation in the face of titanic forces of nature, when the awe-inspiring Godzilla rises to restore balance as humanity stands defenseless.


Godzilla 2014 Merchandise Buying Guide



Here's a great guie to all the various Godzilla 2014 marketing products. Everything from action figures and books, to clothes and costumes and everything in between. Get you Cristmas shopping done early this year.

Scifi Japan


Godzilla 2014 Expected to Have "Monster" Opening Weekend.




According to various tracking sources and industry experts, the new Godzilla 2014 reboot is expected to make in the woods of $60-70 million its opening weekend at the box office. And be even stronger in international theaters. Personally, I believe it will be even bigger, hopefully beating Spider Man 2 at $90 million.

Godzilla will be roaring all the way to the bank. The reboot will not only launch a new studio franchise, but usher in a new golden age of giant monster films on the big and small screen with the likes of Pacific Rim and the TV series "Enormous" in development. There are sure to be lots of imitators from other studios and the smaller straight to video market.

The Hollywood Reporter

How Big is Godzilla Anyway?



How big is Godzilla? That's not such a simple question as it may seem. If you mean the new Godzilla 2014, I'll get to that in a moment, but first I think it would be good to put Godzilla's size into a little historical perspective. Godzilla 2014 marks the 30th Godzilla film and the second American production. Since the original Gojira in 1954, Toho Godzilla films can be divided into 3 separate series and Godzilla's appearance and size have greatly changed over the years:

1. The Showa series: 15 movies from Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1954) to Terror of Mechagodzilla(1975). (The term Showa comes from the name of the Japanese emperor of the day.) The original Godzilla was 50 meters(164 feet) tall with a weight of 20,000 tons. This size was maintained throughout the Showa series. Godzilla's appearance significantly changed however, with 8 different suit designs over the course of the series. Although Godzilla's historical origins were maintained, there was actually very little continuity from one movie to the next with the exception of Terror of Mechagodzilla as a direct sequel to Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.

2. The Heisei series: 7 movies from Godzilla 1985 (1984) to Godzilla vs. Destroyah (1995) (This series takes its name from the current Japanese emperor.) For his return in Godzilla 1985 and again for Godzilla vs. Biollante, Godzilla grew to 80 meters(262 feet) and 50,000 tons. In Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, he had a new origin story and emerged at 100 meters(328 feet) and 60,000 tons. Unlike the Showa series, the Heisei movies are continuous with one film a direct sequel to the next. This is in no small part to actress Megumi Odaka whose popular character Miki Saegusa was a common thread in all the films from Biollante to Destroyah.

Godzilla(1989) In his first ever American film, Godzilla was imagined as a giant, mutated iguana and stood 65.5 meters(215 feet) tall. This Godzilla was rather unpopular with fans and is often referred to as Zilla or Gino(Godzilla In Name Only). The Godzilla 2014 reboot has no connection with this movie whatsoever.

3. The Millennium series: 6 movies from Godzilla 2000 (1999) to Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
In the Millennium series, Godzilla was reduced to a more believable 55 meters(180 feet) and in Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All Out Attack(GMK), he was a slightly larger 60 meters(196 feet). For Godzilla Final Wars, the last Japanese movie, he returned to 100 meters. These movies also showed continuity with the exception of GMK and Final Wars.

Godzilla 2014

In the 2014 reboot by Legendary Pictures, Godzilla is slightly larger than the Heisei series at 106 meters(350 feet), making him the biggest Godzilla of all. Yet, this was far below initial estimates of 120-150 meters.

So let's recap Godzilla's height changes over the years;

Showa 1954-1975, 50 meters(164 feet)
Heisei  1985-1995, 80 meters(262 feet)-100 meters(328 feet)
American "Zilla" 1989, 65.5 meters(215 feet)
Millennium 2000-2004, 55 meters(180 feet)-60 meters(196 feet) Final Wars, 100 meters

Godzilla 2014: 106 meters(350 feet)

Why has Godzilla's size changed?

Godzilla's size changed to reflect the times, both architectural and economic. The original Godzilla was 50 meters to match the cityscape of the time. At this scale the Japanese craftsman had to pay meticulous attention to detail to miniature work. This was also a matter of pride, as there had been a long tradition of expertise in miniatures in Japanese film making.
For Godzilla's return in 1985, it was decided that Godzilla be larger to reflect growing skyscrapers and he was 80 meters. This grew again in the 1990's to 100 meters. This was also done to reflect Japan's economic prowess at the height of the bubble economy and national pride was at an all time high since the war.  The problem with this scale is that miniatures and buildings have less detail and look like, well, miniatures. By 2000 however, the bubble had burst and also for nostalgic reasons, Godzilla was reduced to a more believable 55 meters, yet still larger than the original. And film makers could show off detailed miniatures again. And of course, in the King's return in 2014, he should be the biggest ever at 350 feet(106 meters)

Godzilla opens May 16 and stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranston, and Ken Watanabe. It doesn't open in Japan until July 25th. I have to wait until then, dammit!

Godzilla in Ancient Japan Fan Art

What is Godzilla 2014 had appeared in feudal Japan? This compelling and artistic fan art shows us. It depicts perhaps a slightly smaller version of Godzilla emerging onto a beach in fog. We see two figures on a rock in the foreground and a temple on the cliff side in the background. This is a real classic.

Awesome New Godzilla 2014 Poster Art

Here are some more movie poster art showing Godzilla against different city back drops. Classic destruction.




Monday, May 5, 2014

Awesome Muto Fan Art Image

Here's an incredible fan art by Evilx 180 of Muto,  the new monster opponent in Godzilla 2014. This shows the final, winged Muto. These monsters seemingly are able to absorb radioactive energy and use it as a weapon, as can be seen in the red, glowing body parts. This is truly a deadly adversary, worthy of the King of the Monsters. Godzilla opens on May 16.

First Godzilla 2014 reviews: Monsters Shown Sparingly, But Effectively

Japanese Fans: Godzilla 2014 is fat

Before the May 16th release, Godzilla 2014 has been shown in selected preview showings for the press. The first reviews are in and very complimentary. And they confirm Godzilla's atomic breath!

The first reviews from the Vulture say Godzilla has limited screen time and doesn't appear until after the first hour. This is in keeping with many classic monster movies including "Jaws" and "Jurassic Park" and director Gareth Edwards was heavily influenced by Jurassic Park. The sparing use of the monsters helps build suspense and engage the audience. Edwards said that if you show everything at once, it leaves you no where to go.

The review from avpgalaxy.net was even more enthusiastic. It said about Godzilla:

"They nailed his character. He's intelligent, badass, and above all, scary...He's massive, and his ridiculous size is totally believable: every step, every roar, every movement carries so much weight. His roar is so loud..it shook the room."

and...

"Oh and his atomic breath...I needed new underwear."

This comes as no surprise to this writer. I said long ago after Gareth Edwards was hired, that he was the right man for the job and knows how to use effects sparingly, yet effectively to tell the story.
Every image, every trailer, every word, just makes me more excited about this movie. They got it right this time!

Read the full article at Movieplot.

Japanese Fans: Godzilla 2014 is "Fat"



A recent article at IGN reported that Japanese fans who saw a the Godzilla 2014 trailer said they thought the new Godzilla was too fat. They were, "annoyed with how fat the monster appears in the American trailer." and America had "done a Super-Size me". Others named Godzilla as "Calorie Monster", or "Godzilla Deluxe". Click on the link above for the full article.

 

Now, the Godzilla from the old Japanese series was never thin. He' always been "big" and had a triangular body shape and was bottom heavy. Early on in the Showa era movies of the 60's and 70's, Godzilla and the other monsters were portrayed in battle like sumo or pro-wrestlers and Godzilla has always had a bit of a pot belly. The original Godzilla had a height of 50 meters(164 feet) and this was maintained throughout the Showa series. However, in the Heisei series of the 1990's, Godzilla grew to 100 meters(328 feet). He was quite massive with thick, heavy legs. I believe this reached a peak with Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla(1994) when Godzilla actually did look fat. My sister and I had a nickname for him, "Thunder Thighs".  Godzilla went on a major diet for his appearance in Godzilla: Final Wars(2004). He was his thinnest ever and could actually run and turn on a dime, something I never liked. He moved too quickly and lacked weight and drama.

The new Godzilla 2014 is slightly larger at about 106 meters(350 feet). Actually, as much as I'm excited about the new movie and pleased that Legendary Pictures has remained true to the overall design and character of Godzilla, I partially agree with the Japanese fans. The new Godzilla is a little too "heavy". The neck is shorter and very thick. The head is a bit small and lacks definition in the shoulders. From the neck down, Godzilla gradually grows in contour. It's obvious that Legendary design was based on a bear. The face is distinctly bear-like and Godzilla resembles a standing bear from the front. I believe they did this to make Godzilla look less anthropomorphic, less like a man in a suit.

Godzilla look has changed frequently over the years. This is simply the next stag in his evolution. So in conclusion, I agree the new Bear Godzilla is a little fat and thick necked, but he's always been a little fat and I like it.



Godzilla 2014 B-roll Footage Video

Here's a new video of B-roll (rough cut, raw, alternative) footage from the new Godzilla film by Legendary Pictures. It shows behind the scenes or unused clips. You can see the cast cutting loose, joking around, or Director Gareth Edwards giving actors some tips. The anticipation is building in the last week before the movie opens on May 16. Enjoy.


Sunday, May 4, 2014

M.U.T.O. Video Clip

Here's a cool video clip from the movie showing General David Strathairn telling us that M.U.T.O. actually means; Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism. Not exactly the best of acronyms for a monster, but we'll take it. We see a good shot of the flying, bat-like Muto on the monitor. I'm ure we'll see extra-terrestial monsters in future sequels like King Ghidorah, I hope. In that case, they'll need a new acronym. M.U.E.O. doesn't sound so good. Cool clip though. Can't wait!


Godzilla 2014 vs. Avengers Fan Art

Here's a nice Godzilla 2014 vs. Avengers fan art. The Avengers are all closing in on big G, but he doesn't notice. His attention is on the Red Ronin robot who actually fought Godzilla in the 70's Godzilla comics series. I'm sure we'll see it in the comics, but sorry Avengers, no chance and Ronin is son to be crap metal. Long live the King.

Godzilla 2014 FIAT Car Commercial

Here's a cool T.V. car commercial for FIAT with Godzilla who wants to "eat Italian" munching on cars, but the new FIAT is a little too big to swallow. It's funny, but the effects are fantastic. Check it out!


Godzilla 2014 vs. Pacific Rim Movie Trailer

Here's a really cool, fan-made trailer for a Godzilla 2014/Pacific Rim crossover movie called "Ring of Fire". It uses footage from both Pacific Rim and Godzilla trailers and is really good. However, you might like to read this:
4 Reasons a Pacific Rim/Godzilla Crossover is a Bad Idea

We've seen crossover fan-art and we'll probably see it in the comics. What might be.


Saturday, May 3, 2014

Incredible Godzilla 2014 "Let Them Fight!" Video Clip

Godzilla vs. Muto

This is an absolutely incredible video clip from the new Godzilla 2014 movie. It features Ken Watanabe and shows us why he is so important to the story. The military has obviously been unable to stop the monsters, so they are going with Watanabe's plan to let Godzilla and Muto battle each other. David Strathairn's General speaks to Watanabe and says:

"This Alpha Predator of yours Dr., Do you really think he has a chance?" Watanabe then gives his already famous quote from the movie,

"The arrogance of man is thinking nature is in our control and not the other way around."

and then...

"Let them fight!"

Then we see Muto flying through sky scrapers and Godzilla rising between the buildings to take on the challenger. You can see it in Godzilla's eyes;

"Bring it on!"

This will be the biggest movie of the summer!




Friday, May 2, 2014

"Godzilla Rising" Video Clip


Here are some full view stills from the new Godzilla 2014 movie. They come from an incredible video shot of Godzilla rising up in a cityscape. My guess is he just got knocked down by Muto and is getting back up. Click the link at the bottom to see the looped video clip. Amazing!!!








Gyfcat

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...