Gareth Edwards to Direct Godzila 2 and 3

With his smash hit Godzilla by Legendary Pictures, soft spoken, and virtually unknown director Gareth Edwards has been thrust into the limelight and the big times. His only film prior to Godzilla was Monsters, a low budget, independent sci-fi movie about alien invaders which won rave reviews and turned heads in Hollywood.

Now Edwards talent for making monster movies has been proven at the box office. Godzilla has already made over $112 million domestically and nearly double that overseas.

As recently reported on Godzilla Movies, Legendary Pictures has confirmed Edwards is set to direct Godzilla 2 and 3, as well as the Star Wars spin off movies. They already have story ideas for Godzilla 2, but it's still early in development and they don't even have a script yet.

The web is all a buzz as to what kind of story or monsters will be in the sequel. In an article on KDrama Stars via JapNation AniManga, it was reported that in selected Asian countries and not in the US, there was a post credits scene to Godzilla. It showed an army of flying Muto being led by Mothra who creates hurricane force winds with her wings.

Also, in a Cinema Blend interview, Godzilla star Aaron Taylor-Johnson suggested Mothra as a possible sequel monster. There was also apparently an Easter egg scene in Godzilla where the Fords return to their abandoned home and there was a long dead moth inside an old terrarium.

Mothra is one of Godzilla's greatest adversaries. She's the complete opposite of Godzilla, beautiful, graceful, and benevolent; a guardian goddess. Will the Mothra appear in Godzilla 2? I personally doubt the rumors. Although beloved by fans, I think it would be difficult to make Mothra a believable monster to modern American audiences. She's a giant moth for goodness sake. The name itself is a play on words. Also, Mothra is too similar physically to the flying Muto.

But there's a deeper reason. Mothra is a benevolent monster-goddess defending mankind. She first battled Godzilla at a time when he was clearly the villain. But Gareth Edwards's Godzilla comes out as the hero, saving us from the 'evil' Muto. To keep Mothra's character intact, you'd need to do a role-reversal for Godzilla. Or, heaven forbid, make Mothra bad.

No, I think we're more likely to see another of Godzilla's foes resurrected. Probably a space monster, King Ghidorah I hope. The genetically morphing Gryphon monster would be great too. That unmade monster was dropped from an earlier script of the Tri-Star Godzilla movie. Only time will tell who Godzilla will fight next, but one thing is certain, the King of the Monsters will return.

Gareth Edwards' 'Godzilla' Brings Back Suspense to Summer Movies

This great article at Moviepilot by Sean Huchinson really hits the nail on the head. He goes against nit picking critics and tells us how Gareth Edwards and Godzilla have brought back a kind of storytelling that in this modern age of instant gratification, Hollywood has forgotten about; teasing an audience. This kind of movie was made popular by the bearded one himself, Steven Spielberg in monster movies like Jaws or Jurassic Park, where the big monster shots don't come until the movie is more than halfway over.

These days, the Michael Bays of the world throw up as many special effects on the screen as possible, and the story takes a back seat to the action. This environment has made audiences impatient for the next fix.

People complained that the new Godzilla had too little screen time, but they didn't understand Edwards was teasing us and creating suspense. Hollywood would do well to follow Edwards example and audiences shoul learn to be teased again. It'l make for much more interesting films.

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:

 Godzilla 2014 vs. Amazing Spiderman 2: Who Will Win?

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!

Yahoo

 

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

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!

Why is Godzilla So Popular?

2014 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. 

How Did They Make Godzilla's Roar? And Video

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.

How Big is the New Godzilla in 2014?

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?

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)

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!

"Zombie Apocalypse" is Dead, "Kaiju Apocalypse" Looming

 


One of biggest Horror/Sci-fi trends in the last few years has been a boom in zombie movies. Inspired by the original "Night of the Living Dead", movies about the re-animated dead in masses, with a hunger for human flesh have been all the rage in Hollywood, from highbrow movies like, "28 Days Later", to dark comedies like "Shaun of the Dead". Strangest of all are the
Zombie Romances such as, "Warm Bodies". All of this reached a peak with the immensely popular "Walking Dead" TV show and "World War Z" with Brad Pitt.

We will undoubtedly see more zombie movies, but I think the "Zombie Apocalypse" run is nearing it's end. AMC Theater's Movie Talk show host John Campea said it best, about zombie movies: "They're all the same. They really are." People want something different

Instead, I see a new Apocalypse looming on the horizon. The Kaiju Apocalypse boom has just begun. Movies about giant monsters trampling cities and battling each other are the next big thing. Of course, the word Kaiju or daikaiju comes from Japan and means giant monster. The original "Gojira" was released in 1954 and inspired a whole genre of fantasy films. Godzilla and other kaiju monsters movies and off shoots like Ultraman and Gamera are adored by fans worldwide.

The kaiju fever started with the release of "Pacific Rim", Guillermo del Toro's story of giant "mecha" robots fighting invading monsters. But that was just the herald announcing the return of the king. Gareth Edwards' "Godzilla" opens in theaters May 16. Legendary Pictures has promised a truer adaptation of the King of the Monsters than the disappointing American film by Ronald Emmerich. But that's not all! There is a kaiju TV show in development, "Enormous" adapted from the comic book series. Enormous is about a post apocalyptic future where giant marauding monsters (not zombies)have destroyed civilization.

So, the Kaiju Apocalypse is already in motion. We'll undoubtedly see the continuation of two franchises, Pacific Rim and Godzilla and will inspire lots of imitators. Instead of the living dead chasing and preying on individual humans, we'll be seeing more kaiju causing destruction on a much bigger scale. What's next? How about zombies vs. kaiju? Well, somebody is going to think of it. Let's enjoy the ride.

Godzilla 2014 vs. Amazing Spiderman 2: Who Will Win?

No, this isn't a crossover movie idea, though that's not half bad, and it's not a fan-made movie poster like the Captain America one. This is a battle of the trailers and speculation about which movie will be better or make more money. The trailers for Godzilla 2014 and The Amazing Spiderman 2 came out around the same time and the movies are released in the same month next year; Spiderman 2 coming out first on May 2nd, and then Godzilla on May 16th.

A lot of this talk comes from the guys over at the AMC Theaters movie talk show on youtube. Host John Campea and others wouldn't say which one would be better, but all agreed that Spiderman 2 would make more money mostly on the merits that it's a sequel of a successful franchise  with a hip, young cast, whereas Godzilla 2014 is more of an unknown and has to contend with bad memories of the previous American Godzilla film 10 years ago. They have a good point. Check it out:


Also, some in the industry analysed the two trailers and said that the Godzilla trailer was good for people who know Godzilla, but not so good for people who don't.

Personally, I think Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have overcome two main problems in promoting their film;

1. They need to make Godzilla appeal to wider general audience, not just Godzilla or monster fans. Besides the obvious superior special effects, they need to play up the human drama and that this is a very character driven story. This movie takes the high road. It's a disaster film that focuses on how the events affect the world and peoples lives in a believable way. It's not just a monster action movie like Pacific Rim. Also, they need to show off their, albeit slightly more mature, stellar cast. This film's got some heavy hitters; Arron Taylor-Johnson(Kick-Ass), Bryan Cranston(Breaking Bad), and Elizabeth Olsen(Martha Marcy May Marlene). It also has international stars Ken Watanabe(Last Samurai, Batman Begins) and French actress Juliette Binoche. David Strathairn also co-stars. His name is not as well known, but his face and voice are. We hear him giving the motivational speech to the Halo jump team at the beginning of the trailer. At this point, Legendary shouldn't play up their director, Gareth Edwards. We know he's a great film maker; he cares about telling a compelling story and uses special effects effectively, but he's an unknown and this is his first major Hollywood picture. Save the director bios until after the movie is released.

2. They need to distance themselves from the Ronald Emmerich Godzilla film. That film was a general disappointment with fans because the design and character of Godzilla was so altered. It was a giant, mutated iguana that spent the whole film running and hiding from the military. Gone were Godzilla's trademark aggressiveness, atomic breath, and invulnerability. Legendary needs to make it clear that this is a reboot, not a sequel and has no connection to the previous film whatsoever. This is precisely why they are giving us glimpses of the monster. Also, I think in future trailer, we'll see Godzilla use his atomic breath. They want to make it clear to us this is the Godzilla we know and love.

However, I think Godzilla has something in it's favor that will help it to be a critical and financial success; it's different and something we haven't seen before.
I know superhero movies are a hot commodity in Hollywood now and more are on the way. I love them too, but they've been around for a while. Now, when I see a new superhero movie, even if it's good, I often feel, "Been there, done that".The more I see, the more I feel I'm watching the same movie over and over, they just rotate the characters. I think many people might feel the same way. But Godzilla is something very different. It's not just a fast-paced action film with superheros diving through the sky and lots of energy beams flying everywhere. It has a slower pace, a darker feel, building suspense and our interest. I think that's why many people will choose to see Godzilla. This and the fact it will be a superior movie will make it a huge hit, potentially bigger than Spiderman

Godzilla 2014: The Hedorah Connection(Yoshimitsu Banno)

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In 2010 Toho producer Yoshimitsu Banno from Japan along with American producer Brian Rodgers were shopping around Hollywood with a Godzilla reboot project. Banno had initially tried to develop a 3D Godzilla film for IMAX, but that deal fell through. They eventually came to Legendary Pictures and CEO Thomas Tull who picked it up, making both men executive producers. On May 16, 2014(4 years later), the world will witness the new vision of Godzilla from Legendary and director Gareth Edwards.

Godzilla 2014 Executive Producer
Yoshimitsu Banno

But who is Yoshimitsu Banno? Well, he just happens to be writer and director of one of the strangest and most memorable Godzilla movies of all time Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster(1971), a.k.a. Godzilla vs. Hedorah, and was once banned from ever doing another Godzilla film.

Hedorah: a Unique Vision

Hedorah stands out among the 28 Japanese Godzilla movies. Inspired by pollution on local beaches, Banno wanted to create a film with a dark theme of environmental awareness with his new shape-changing monster Hedorah. It has the most direct social message of any other Godzilla sequel. However, that's not the only thing that makes it unique.

In a stark departure of past Godzilla films where violence and the death of thousands in monster attacks is never directly shown, Hedorah graphically shows dead bodies and people being killed by the Smog Monster and creates a very grim tone.

Hedorah takes a very negative view of the young generation of the day. The movie opens with the young, beautiful Miki in body paint and a skintight suit, dancing on a nightcub table in front of her loser boyfriend Yukio. Whereas the deeply concerned, Dr. Yanno and young son Ken are trying to understand and find a solution to the problem, and Dr. Yanno is actually scarred in his attempts,  Yukio is portrayed as a completely irresponsible, thrill-seeking drug user. Constantly blaming the older generation for the pollution problem and Hedorah's arrival, he is always dragging Miki and young Ken into harm's way for kicks. The fatalistic youth in the movie just want to have a big, Woodstock-like orgy party before the end of the world. This is in sharp contrast to later films like Godzilla vs. Gigan, where the hippie youth are the comical, bumbling heroes of the story.

In the strangest scene of this or any other Godzilla film, we see the big music party on Mt. Fuji with teenagers dancing, when the camera cuts to show the silent, pale faces of  long dead Japanese farmers watching from the tall grass. The ghosts of the older generation watch scowling at the decadence and apathy of the Japanese youth.


But environmental message, death, an apathetic youth, or mysterious ghosts is not the thing that fans remember most from Hedorah and is not what got Banno in trouble. The most memorable scene is when Godzilla flies! Hedorah flees in its flying saucer form, then Godzilla turns around, spreads his arms and fires his radioactive breath which propels him backwards like a rocket and overtakes and actually falls on top of Hedorah. This undeniably silly scene enraged Godzilla creator and producer Tomoyuki Tanaka to the point that he forbid Banno from ever working on a Godzilla film again. Now, 42 years later, we see Banno as executive producer on a new American Godzilla film that may turn out to be the most successful of all time.

The Future

The new Godzilla reboot will feature monster opponents called Mutos which seem to evolve and change form over the course of the story. Did this take a cue from Hedorah, Is this Banno's legacy re-envisioned? It remains unclear, but the Mutos will have a very different origin and will be a metaphor for a very different threat, more along the lines of biotechnology. But that's not all Banno has in store. In a recent interview on G Fans Universe, Banno revealed he's currently working on a sequel to Godzilla vs. Hedorah and even named a new, good monster Midora who would help in the fight against Hedorah. Please follow the link to read the full interview. Is he talking about a sequel to Legendary's Godzilla in 2014, or is this the beginning of a new Japanese Godzilla series? Will we have two Godzilla franchises running on both sides of the Pacific? One thing is clear and I've stated long ago. Pacific Rim was just a pre-cursor. Legendary's Godzilla will usher in a new golden age of Kaiju fantasy films for a whole new generation.

Will Godzilla 2014 Muto Monsters Be 'Evil Mothras'?

Multi-legged kaiju Carcass(teaser trailer)

Muto sketch

Legendary Pictures' Godzilla reboot is coming out on May 16, 2014. And an official trailer is
soon forthcoming. It's been previously stated that Godzilla will have multiple monster opponents in the film, but what will these monsters be like and how to they fit into the story? I'll take a look at what we know to date with some educated guessing and outright speculation.

The Facts:

This is the official story synopsis:

An epic rebirth to Toho's iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, pits the world's most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

From the Trailers:

'Centipede' kaiju fan art

1. In the first teaser trailer from the 2012 Comic-con that was leaked online recently, there was the colossal charred carcass of a multi-legged centipede-like kaiju.

2. In the newer 2013 Comic-Con trailer, there was an additional scene of a giant 8-legged, spider-like kaiju attacking an airport, smashing planes, when Godzilla's enormous foot comes down beside it, dwarfing the other kaiju. An attendee of the trailer later made the sketch above and posted it online. This footage has yet to be released to the general public, but I guess will be included in the new trailer coming very soon.

From toy pre-sales:

1. One toy pre-sale from Urban-collector, Deluxe "Destruction Pack" description named the 8-legged monster Muto, meaning 'transformation', or short for 'mutation'.

2. Another pre-sale toy from http://www.tfaw.com, "Godzilla 2014 Movie Destruction Pack Assortment" describes "Winged Muto".

giant centipede

Transforming Kaiju?:

But what are these new kaiju foes? It seems clear from the synopsis that they aren't extraterrestrial monsters like King Ghidorah, but home-grown kaiju created by man. The much larger kaiju carcass from the trailer was initially described as a giant centipede. Later others thought it more closely resembled a giant mutated isopod or sea louse, a deep sea relative of the pill bug. So perhaps we have a spider monster and a giant centipede monster from the sea?

giant isopod, sea louse

Are these two different monsters or could these be different forms of the same creature? Could this be a morphing monster or one going through different stages of it's life cycle? If this is true, it's not without precedent. Many of Godzilla's monster opponents took on different forms most notable, The Smog Monster, Hedorah. This would make sense since one of Godzilla 2014 producers is Yoshimitsu Banno who was the director of Godzilla vs. Hedorah. Other monsters with many smaller creatures and one final adult form (often being able to fly) are the crustacean like Destroyah, The giant dragon-fly monster Megaguirus, and crystalline space monster from the 90's Gamera trilogy, Legion.

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus horde

What relationship if any exists between Godzilla and these monsters? Why do they fight? I doubt they just happen to bump into each other. Is Godzilla seeking them out to destroy them or is it the other way around? In movies past, monsters have actively sought out Godzilla to feed of his energy like Ogra in Godzilla 2000 or Megaguirus. And Godzilla himself is attracted to powerful sources of nuclear or electrical energy. Could this be a predator/prey relationship? There is a very good scene in Godzilla vs. Megaguirus where a swarm of smaller monsters attacks Godzilla to drain his energy. I think we will see a similar scene in Godzilla 2014.

Mothra

A new Mothra?

One of the most interesting takes on this was an article I read from Godzilla Fans Universe
where the author suggests that Godzilla's monster enemies were inspired by real life events. The article quotes a Japanese research paper, published in June, 2012 that studied the effects of irradiated soil on silkworm larvae in the aftermath of the Fukushima Earthquake and resulting tsunami/nuclear power plant disaster. The silkworms were exposed to contaminated soil to see how it would affect their development. The larvae were contained in 4 canisters. The researcher, Dr. Tomita detected abnormally large growth in canister number 4. He even said in the paper, "They reminded me of Godzilla." This report was published in several Japanese journals and later picked up by the BBC. Could this have inspired Legendary Pictures? It reminds me of Dr. Niko Tatopoulos investigating giant earthworms at Chernobyl at the beginning of the Tri-star's Godzilla film. 

Battra larvae

Silkworm larvae have claws and multi-legged segmented bodies. The giant carcass
from the trailer could the be larvae form of a gigantic moth monster. Sound familiar? Could this new creature be a modern-day homage or interpretation of Godzilla's most famous foe Mothra? Mothra was a benevolent God battling an evil Godzilla. But wait, in 1992's Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla battles Mothra's evil twin, Battra, first in larval form and then in winged, adult form.

Battra

In the leaked teaser trailer we see the charred carcass of the centipede/larvae creature and then see Godzilla turn and roar in profile. The battle seems to be over. But one writer on the Godzilla facebook page had a different interpretation. That wasn't a dead body, it was the molted skin as the creature took on it's final adult winged form. The battle was only half over with Godzilla turning to face his enemy. Wow!

So there you have it. Godzilla will battle the Mutos, first a horde of smaller insect monsters, then a giant larvae and finally a winged adult monster reminiscent of Mothra's dark twin Battra. Well, maybe.

The official trailer is expected around Nov 3rd, the 59th anniversary of the original release of Gojira in 1954. We're sure to get a better peek at the enemy monsters as well a Godzilla himself. Stay tuned on this site for more trailers and news.

Top 5 Reasons Godzilla 2014 is going to be a 'Monster' Hit

The King Returns!

15 years ago, Tri-star and Sony brought us the American Godzilla starring Matthew Broderick and directed by Ronald Emmerich. That movie left a bad taste in peoples' mouths. Fan sentiment was pretty much the same; "That was a cool monster, but that wasn't Godzilla."
Now, after the release of Pacific Rim, about giant kaiju and robots in mortal combat, and after some very exciting things were revealed at San Diego's Comic-con, people are starting to get excited about Legendary Pictures Godzilla reboot next year. I've been following the development of this story from the start, and this Godzilla will be different. I predict this will be one of the biggest movies next year. Here are the top 5 reasons Godzilla 2014 will be a monster hit.


1. The Director--Gareth Edwards. The virtually unknown Monsters director made a very small movie about alien invaders that made a big splash and turned heads in Hollywood. The soft-spoken, British director understands how to make a good monster movie. First of all, he's a big Godzilla fan. Second, he knows that with any monster movie, you have to start with the human story.  You develop the characters and get to know and care for them. You allude to the monsters, but only show fleeting glimpses that create an atmosphere of fear and builds suspense. When the monsters do appear and do battle, you are more engaged because of the strong character narrative. Godzilla will be a special effects extravaganza, but Edwards knows how to use them effectively, sometimes sparingly to tell the story.

In interview, Edwards said that no matter what scene they were shooting, whether there was a monster in it or not, they always tried to tell the story from an emotional point of view. Then when they went back to add the special effects, "‘I completely forgot there’s a whole other layer to this!’ We have been painstakingly worrying about the characters and their journey and on top of that is this spectacle embedded in the whole film – and it makes you feel really good.”


2. The Studio--In March 2010, Legendary Pictures and partner Warner Bros. jointly announced that they were developing a new Godzilla reboot picture. This is the same collaboration that created such great films as, The Dark Knight, 300, and Inception. Thomas Tull, chairman and CEO of Legendary Pictures said,

“Godzilla is one of the world's most powerful pop culture icons, and we at Legendary are thrilled to be able to create a modern epic based on this long-loved Toho franchise…Our plans are to produce the Godzilla that we, as fans, would want to see. We intend to do justice to those essential elements that have allowed this character to remain as pop-culturally relevant for as long as it has."

They were also keen to distance themselves from the mistakes of the past Godzilla film and they've been developing this project carefully for the past 4 years and the time is ripe for the return of the king.

3. The Story/Script-- For a monster movie, Godzilla's script comes with quite a pedigree, being penned by some of the best screenwriters in the business. David Goyer(Batman Begins, Man of Steel, Superman vs. Batman) wrote the original story idea. Later Max Borenstein(Seventh Son) wrote the main script. Finally, David Pearce((Iron Man 3) and Frank Darabont(Shawshank Redemption, Walking Dead) added a little polish. Darabont especially is known for writing characters and stories with emotional depth. The result is an emotionally charged, character driven story about humans trying to survive in a world of giant monsters.

Here's the official plot synopsis from Legendary Pictures:
"An epic rebirth to Toho's iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, pits the world's most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence."

Just as in the original Gojira(1954), Legendary's Godzilla will have a somber tone and serious subtext. Unlike Pacific Rim, where the monsters are merely aliens from someplace else, and our technology is used to defend us, Godzilla was created by us and our misuse of technology. Godzilla will still have a nuclear theme, but in a more modern way.
On the other hand, there will be plenty of action and monster battles. We know from photos on set, that Godzilla destroys an aircraft carrier, giant monsters attack Waikiki Beach, and the climactic battle takes place in San Fransisco. At the Comic-con, there was a teaser trailer(not shown to the general public)  with a scene from the movie where Godzilla fights a spider-like monster at an airport. An Attendee later sketched a drawing of the monster and posted it online.




4. The Cast--When planning Godzilla, director Gareth Edwards wrote down a list of his 'dream cast' and it's said that he got everyone on his list. The story will focus on the movies three main characters, Lieutenant Ford played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson(Kick-Ass, Kick-Ass 2,), his nurse wife played by Elizabeth Olsen(Martha Marcy May Marlene) and his stepfather scientist played by Bryan Cranston(Breaking Bad). In addition, there is an international supporting cast, Ken Watanabe, Juliette Binoche, and Sally Hawkins. These are some pretty heavy hitters with great acting credentials. There sure to deliver wonderful performances in an emotional story.


5. The Monster--Whereas the 1998 Tri-star monster was a complete departure from the traditional design, looking like a giant, mutated iguana, Legendary has made good on their commitment to stay true to the original character. We now this because we've seen very close to the final design. The Comic-con's Godzilla Encounter exhibit displayed earlier concept sculptures and a short, up-close encounter video of Godzilla seen from a window. It looks like Godzilla. It's a bipedal creature  with dorsal plates, a tapering neck, and small head with red, feral eyes. Later, a promotional poster in Brazil showed Godzilla's face. And at an estimated 120-150 meters(394-492 feet) tall, this is the biggest Godzilla ever. We can rest assured that this monster will be original, but recognizable as the king of the monsters.


So, there you have it. This will be a Godzilla movie that remains faithful to the original character, has an emotional, character driven story with great special effects and a stellar cast of performers. Legendary really has a winner on their hands. We are seeing the beginning of a whole new golden age of kaiju movies, now from American fans of Japan's most beloved and recognizable star. 

5 Reasons 'Godzilla' 2014 will be a Huge Hit

Return of the King!
15 years ago, Tri-star and Sony brought us the first ever American Godzilla movie starring Matthew Broderick and directed by Ronald Emmerich. Although it was a financial success, "Godzilla" was a disappointment with critics and fans alike. Emmerich created outstanding special effects and a giant rampaging monster that was Godzilla in name only. The creature spent most of the film running and hiding from the military. Fan sentiment was pretty much the same; "That was a cool monster, but that wasn't Godzilla." More to the point, nobody involved in the picture was a fan or cared anything about the original material. They were out to make their "own" Godzilla.

Now fast forward to July 2013, "Pacific Rim" by Guillermo del Toro is released, a sci-fi action movie about evil giant "kaiju" and heroic robot "jaegers" that do battle over the Earth. It's a tribute to kaiju eiga, "Japanese giant monster movies" that started with Godzilla and spawned many sequels as well as numerous imitators like Gamera and Ultraman. The movie was a big success at home and abroad.
Then, only a couple of weeks after it's release, there was the annual San Diego Comic-con where Legendary Pictures(the same studio that made Pacific Rim) unveiled next year's  Godzilla reboot by Gareth Edwards. They had an amusement park like exhibit, the "Godzilla Encounter" which took participants inside a Godzilla attack, with glimpses of the new monster. The also had a Godzilla panel with the main cast and a teaser trailer(not released to the general public) with footage from the movie. The time is ripe for a new America movie. I've been following the development of this film since the news first broke in 2010 and updating news through this website and let me tell you, this is going to be a huge international success that will be loved by fans and casual moviegoers alike. I predict it'll be one of the biggest movies of 2014 and even give Avengers a run for it's money. Here are 5 reasons why it'll be a huge success:


1. The Director--Gareth Edwards may not be well known now, but after next year, get used to hearing his name. The soft-spoken, almost shy British director made a very small movie that made a very big splash. 2010's Monsters, about the aftermath of an invasion of large, tentacled, aliens was made on a shoestring budget and was filmed with a crew of 5 including 2 actors. It was filmed using handheld cameras on locations throughout Central and South America. It was acclaimed by critics, made a financial success, and turned heads in Hollywood. I think of Edwards as the "Anti-Bay"(Michael). The Michael Bays of the world think all you have to do is throw a bunch of dazzling special effects in the audiences' face and that will distract them from the fact that; 1. The story doesn't make any sense and 2. We don't care anything about the characters. Edwards is different and knows how to make a good monster movie. You start with the human characters, you develop them and get to know and care for them. You allude to the monsters, but only show fleeting glimpses that creates an atmosphere of fear and builds suspense. Edwards' background is in visual effects and Godzilla is sure to be a special effects extravaganza, but he knows how to use them effectively, sometimes sparingly to tell the story. But, you don't have to take my word for it, listen to what the cast has to say:

Lead actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson said that despite the fact it's a multi-million dollar picture,  "The Godzilla crew is such a small group of people that it feels more like an independent movie than anything I've ever worked on."
He also said he did very little green screen work and that Edwards is very clever at special effects. Most shots were on location and they will build the effects around that.

Co-star Elizabeth Olsen said much the same and, "it was going to be a fun ride to be a part of; it has a strong character narrative, but at the same time it satisfies the destruction and all that. It looks amazing."

In interview, Edwards said that no matter what scene they were shooting, whether there was a monster in it or not, they always tried to tell the story from an emotional point of view. Then when they went back to add the special effects, "‘I completely forgot there’s a whole other layer to this!’ We have been painstakingly worrying about the characters and their journey and on top of that is this spectacle embedded in the whole film – and it makes you feel really good.”


2. The Studio--In March 2010, Legendary Pictures and partner Warner Bros. jointly announced that they were developing a new Godzilla reboot picture. This is the same collaboration that created such great films as, The Dark Knight, 300, and Inception. Thomas Tull, chairman and CEO of Legendary Pictures said,

“Godzilla is one of the world's most powerful pop culture icons, and we at Legendary are thrilled to be able to create a modern epic based on this long-loved Toho franchise…Our plans are to produce the Godzilla that we, as fans, would want to see. We intend to do justice to those essential elements that have allowed this character to remain as pop-culturally relevant for as long as it has."

Legendary was keen to make clear that their film would a reboot and have no connection to the previous American Godzilla. Since then, they've maintained that commitment to be true to the original character and work with people who are fans. Producer Brian Rogers first brought the project to Legendary and had been trying to develop a Godzilla project for years. He was working closely with Yoshmitsu Banno, Toho Pictures Executive and director of Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster(1971). Also, when Gareth Edwards got the call from Legendary to offered him the job as director, he just happened to staring at his "Gojira" DVD on the shelf. They've been developing it carefully for the past 4 years. In the meantime, Legendary also made Pacific Rim to get audiences warmed up to giant monsters again and get things ready for return of the King. Godzilla is a tent-pole film for Legendary and they have a lot riding on it. They want to make sure it's a big success and start a new American Godzilla franchise.

3. The Story/Script--Godzilla co-star Bryan Cranston said:

"We think that you'll be able to wipe the memory of the old Godzilla, 12 years ago.. or whatever that was, right, completely out of your system. This Godzilla is very different. A very, character-driven Monster movie.." 

The creators of the film pulled heavily from the original Gojira(1954). In that first film, Godzilla was a dark force of nature, a metaphor for the atomic bomb and the misuse of technology. Legendary's Godzilla will have a very similar tone and message. Elizabeth Olsen said:

"It's about us attempting to control nature and it just ultimately not working out in the end..."

There will also be a lot of action. And don't worry, there are other monsters for Godzilla to fight. Based on filming details, we know Godzilla appears in Japan and later attacks an aircraft carrier, Godzilla battles a spider like monster in an airport, Waikiki beach is destroyed by some giant beast(s) and the climactic battle takes place in San Fransisco.

Here's the official plot synopsis from Legendary Pictures:
"An epic rebirth to Toho's iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, pits the world's most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence."

An attendee of the Comic-con teaser trailer made a sketch of the spider monster and posted it online, described by one attendee as similar to the Cloverfield monster, but with long, spindly legs

For a monster movie, the Godzilla script has been penned and rewritten by some of the best screenwriters in the business. In this day and age, it's normal for a big-budget movie to get several re-writes by different authors. The original story credit will go to David Goyer who wrote Batman Begins, Man of Steel, and has been announced as the writer for both Superman vs. Batman, and Justice League. Max Borenstein was brought in to write the main script from Goyer's idea. Borenstein also wrote Legendary's upcoming Seventh Son and Jimi, a Jimi Hendrix bio picture. Later, Drew Pearce(Iron Man 3) touched up Borenstein's script in a '4 week polish'. Lastly, Frank Darabont(Shawshank Redemption, Walking Dead) fleshed out some of the characters and add more emotional depth to the story which is his specialty. The result is an emotionally charged, character driven story about humans trying to survive in a world of giant monsters.

4. The Cast--When planning Godzilla, director Gareth Edwards wrote down a list of his 'dream cast' and it's said that he got everyone on his list. The story will focus on the movies three main characters, Lietenant Ford played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson(Kick-Ass, Kick-Ass 2, Avengers: Age of Ultron), his nurse wife played by Elizabeth Olsen(Martha Marcy May Marlene) and his stepfather scientist played by Bryan Cranston(Breaking Bad). In addition, there is an international supporting cast, Ken Watanabe, Juliette Binoche, and Sally Hawkins. These are some pretty heavy hitters with great acting credentials. There sure to deliver great performances in an emotional story.


5. The Monster-- This is probably the part that people are most concerned about. 1998's Godzilla design was a complete departure from the traditional elements that make Godzilla. Legendary Pictures stated they would honor the original design, but at San Diego's Comic-con this year, we got to see it, or at least very close. The 'Godzilla Encounter' event/exhibit displayed earlier design sculptures and a brief view of the new Godzilla as it walked past the window. Edwards said it was pretty close to the final design. It looks like Godzilla. It's a bipedal creature  with dorsal plates, a tapering neck, and small head with red, feral eyes. Later, a promotional poster in Brazil showed Godzilla's face. We can rest assured that this monster will be original, but recognizable as the king of the monsters.


So, there you have it. This will be a Godzilla movie that remains faithful to the original character, has an emotional, character driven story with great special effects and a stellar cast of performers. Legendary really has a winner on their hands. We are seeing the beginning of a whole new golden age of kaiju movies, now from American fans of Japan's most beloved and recognizable star.