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!
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
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.
Sorry everyone, my trailer was taken down, too like everywhere else, but here is a great review that sums upall my comments too. This is from Beyond the Trailer. She also compares thefeeling of Godzilla 2014 with Pacific Rim. Great review, watch below. And don't worry, the Official Trailer shoul be coming out on Nov. 3rd., the original release date of Gojira(1954) November 3rd is Culture Day in Japan and also Godzilla Day. Keep your hats on.
Godzilla roars into theaters May 16(Friday), 2014.
Nearly everyone on the planet knows that the most famous monster to come out of Japan is Godzilla, from Toho studios. The original "Gojira" (1954) was the first ever giant monster movie from Japan and also the first feature film monster to use a man in a rubber suit. Godzilla has 28 films to his credit and a career spanning over 60 years. There is also a new American Godzilla 2014 movie in the works by Legendary Pictures. And most people know the second most famous monster from Japan is Gamera, the flying turtle from rival studio Daiei Pictures. Gamera first appeared in 1965 and has 12 films under his belt. An interesting fact is that in Japan, movie theaters are owned by the studios and will only show that studio's films. If you want to see Godzilla, go here. If you want to see Gamera, go there.
But what most people don't know is that there have been many other entertaining kaiju eiga(giant monster movies) to come rom Japan that feature neither of these mon-stars. Most of these films were made in the 60's and 70's in an age before computer graphics. The special effects however, are good and there is something very satisfying and tactile about a real actor in a suit that CGI can't match. In fact, two of Godzilla's more famous monster co-stars got their start in their own movies. The stories of these films are often much more complex and interesting than those of more "realistic" American Sci-fi films. This is a top 10 list of these entertaining and lesser known kaiju films.
10. X From Outer Space (1968)
Monsters: Guilala, a.k.a. Gilala, a.k.a Girara
This was the first kaiju movie by studio Shochiku. In the future, the spaceship Gamma is sent from Japan to Mars to investigate U.F.O.s The Gamma encounters a U.F.O. which coats the ship in strange spores. The spores are returned to Earth, where they grow and develop into the giant lizard/chicken-like monster Guilala. The beast shoots fireballs from it's mouth and turns into an energy orb to fly. It sets out to destroy Japan and all attempts by the military fail. It is finally stopped by coating the creature with Guilalalium, a substance which causes it to shrink back to spore size. The spore is then shot back into space.
The movie tries to take itself seriously, but it's kind of hard because of the rather comical appearance of the monster with bulgy limbs and odd, spotted skin. Still, the special effects are pretty good. Guilala had a second movie, The Monster X Strikes Back/Attack the G8 Summit(2008). This film however, was a pure comedy and political satire featuring many actors impersonating famous political figures like Bill Clinton and former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. In this film, Guilala fights another giant, Take-Majin, a Golden idol God played by gangster action star and comedian "Beat" Takeshi Kitano. Gilala was also the subject of a light-hearted T.V. commercial by career consultants, The Ladders.
9. Frankenstein Conquers The World (1966)
Monsters: "Frankenstein", Baragon
During WWII, the Japanese obtain the immortal heart of the Frankenstein Monster in a sealed case, from Europe. The heart is taken to Hiroshima for experimentation just before the dropping of the atomic bomb. The heart vanishes in the blast. Many years later there is a wild Caucasian boy spotted killing and feeding on animals. The boy is eventually captured and soon is believed to be the reincarnation of the Frankenstein Monster. The boy has a strong resistance to radiation and is also growing in size at an alarming rate. Frankenstein is also befriended by the beautiful Sueko, who sympathizes with the child-like creature. Frankenstein grows to a giant and escapes. There are many disasters and deaths which are wrongly blamed on Frankenstein. These are actually caused by a new monster, the subterranean and man-eating Baragon. Frankenstein is sought out by Sueko and others, but instead are found by Baragon. The monster advances with the intention of eating Sueko, but she is saved by Frankenstein who suddenly appears and battles the monster. In the end there is a titanic earthquake that splits the earth, swallowing the two monsters.
This s surely one of Toho's most bizarre films with a European monster who appears with no suit at all and little make up. The battle scenes are fast paced, with the two monsters grappleing like wrestlers. but the lack of suit for Frankenstein kind of breaks the suspention of disbelief. Baragon later had a very brief cameo in the famous Destroy all Monsters(1968) along with Godzilla and a whole monster cast. Baragon was scheduled to destroy Paris in that movie, but was replaced with Gorosaurus. The Baragon suit was also used several times on the T.V. show Ultraman. Baragon was later resurrected in the movie Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001). In that film, Baragon was good, a protector of Japan, but was killed by a very evil Godzilla in one of the best fight scenes ever made.
This movie was made by the same team that did the Heisei Godzilla films of the 90's. A period fantasy based on Japanese mythology. After Prince Yamato kills his brother, the Emperor exiles him. Yamato possesses a strange and deadly "power", which he can't fully control. Later he meets the priestess Oto who is supposed to be sacrificed to the Lava-demon god, Kumasogami. Yamato and his comrades come to her rescue. Kumasogami can morph its limbs into weapons, but Yamato defeats him with green energy beams from his eyes. Yamato and Oto later encounter the sea serpent Kaishin Muba, but Yamato's destiny is to rid the world of the eight-headed dragon, Orochi which is the reincarnation of an evil god. In the climactic battle scene, Yamato is transformed into the giant mecha warrior, Utsuno Ikusagami.
This is an exciting movie with great special effects and monsters. It is the retelling of a famous Japanese myth similar to the story of Hercules and the Hydra. In the original story, Susanoo, (Susanoo-no-Mikoto), the hot-headed god and brother to the godess Amaterasu, is cast out of heaven. On Earth, he meets an old couple whose daughter is to be sacrificed to the eight-headed dragon, Orochi. Susanoo falls in love with the girl and sets out to slay the monster He succeeds by getting the eight heads drunk and then cuts them off. He finds a magical sword in the tail of the monster. That sword, along with a magic mirror and embryo shaped magatama jewel are the magical regalia of the Japanese Imperial family. Susanoo and his love exchange hair combs as a symbol of their love. This story is close to my heart because it comes from the area of Japan where I live. Susanoo is enshrined at Kumano Taisha in Shimane Prefecture and is said to be the spot where Susanoo fell to Earth. Kumano Taisha is closely associated with the more famous Izumo Taisha nearby. Kumano is a shrine for finding a spouse and I have an American friend who was married there. They also have a large mural of the story of Susanoo. My wife and I have hair combs we bought there.
7. Rebirth Of Mothra Triligy (1996, 1997, 1998)
After appearing in Godzilla vs. Mothra(1992), Toho decided to give mothra her own series of movies. For number 7, I've included all three. These films were squarely targeted at children. Mothra's benevolent twin fairies are back, we now know as Moll and Lora, along with a new character, their evil sister fairy Belvera. The twin fairies spend most of their time riding around on Fairy Mothra and Belvera on a small dragon named Garu-garu. Each film has child protagonists who help the fairies along. The stories are not so serious and focus on adventure, nevertheless, the special effects are fantastic. Mothra appears in a dizzying array of forms throughout the trilogy, no doubt targeting the toy market and include: Mothra, Mothra Leo, Fairy Mothra, Rainbow Mothra, AquaMothra, Primitive Mothra, Armor Mothra, Light Speed Mothra, and Eternal Mothra. We also see a lot of King Ghidorah in various forms, a pairing that starts to get a little old. It's hard to believe Mothra could take out King Ghidorah by himself, but I have to admit, the Grand King Ghidorah in Mothra III is probably the most impressive Ghidorah ever put to film. Too bad Big-G wasn't there to take him on.
Rebirth of Mothra I
Monsters: Mothra, Mothra Leo, Death-Ghidorah
Long before Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), we see the first appearance of a four-legged Ghidorah monster. Millions of years ago, a huge monster, Death-Ghidorah arrives to destroy Earth. The invader is stopped, however by giant monster moths who are the guardians of a race of tiny people called Elias. Death-Ghidorah is imprisoned in the Earth under a magical seal. Only three Elias sisters survive, Moll, Lora, and Belvera. The first two stay with the last Mothra, but the last sister becomes twisted and vengeful at the extinction of her race. In modern day, Mothra lays an egg and is weakened. Also, a group of loggers unintentionally uncover Death-Ghidorah's prison and Belvera releases him. Mothra attacks, but is losing. Her egg hatches and Mothra Leo larvae emerges to help its mother. Death-Ghidorah mortally wounds the larvae and Mothra saves her child, but dies as a result. Mothra Leo spins a cocoon and transforms to adult form. Mothra Leo returns with a vengeance and defeats Death-Ghidora, imprisoning him once more. Rebirth of Mothra II (Mothra 2: The Undersea Battle)
Monsters: Mothra Leo, Dagahra
The coast of Japan is ravaged by poisonous starfish-like creatures called Barem. With the help of some children and a strange creature "Gorgo", the fairies uncover the hidden temple of an ancient undersea kingdom called the Ninai Kanai that rises out of the sea. This civilization created a sea monster guardian called Dagahra, which has turned evil and is releasing the Barem. Mothra Leo attacks, but is severely wounded and covered in Barem. The children and fairies try to find the hidden treasure that will save Mothra an belvera and some brainwashed fisherman try to top them. It is discovered that Gorgo is the hidden treasure and they use his power to revive Mothra. He transforms into Rainbow Mothra to fight Dagahra and again into AquaMothra to take the battle underwater. AquaMothra defeats the monster. Everyone escapes as the temple sinks beneath the waves again. The world is saved. Rebirth of Mothra III (Mothra 3: King Ghidorah Attacks)
Monsters: Mothra Leo, Cretaceous King Ghidorah, Grand King Ghidorah
A huge meteor lands on Earth containing Grand King Ghidorah who has visited Earth's ancient past and is believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. A boy, Shota plays hooky from school to investigate the meteor. Meanwhile, school children all over start dissapearing and are taken by Ghidorah to an organic dome near the meteor. Rainbow Mothra arrives to battle, but King Ghidorah is far too powerful and Mothra only just escapes. Later, Lora is turned evil by Ghidorah and attacks her sister Moll, trying to pull her into the dome. Fairy mothra saves Moll and Belvera is trapped inside. Moll teams up with Shota and tells him Ghidorah needs the energy of the children. As Ghidorah is far too powerful, it is decided that Mothra must travel to Earth's past to battle the older form of Ghidorah. Using Moll's energy, Mothra transforms to Light Speed Mothra. He travels to the past and battles Cretaceous King Ghidorah and defeats him, but not before a piece of it's tail falls off burying itself in the earth. Mothra is exhausted, however and encased in a suspended animation cocoon by the other prehistoric Mothra larvae. In the present, Ghidorah disappears, but is soon replaced by a new Ghidorah hat grew from the broken tail from the past. Mothra revives in the present and transforms to Armor Mothra who finally defeats Ghidorah. In the end, the three Fairy sisters are reconciled.
6. Varan The Unbelievable (1962)
Monsters: Varan
A group of scientists journey to a remote saltwater lake to catch rare butterflies. The local villagers worship a monster diety Varan who lives in the lake and scientists are killed by the monster. The millitary arrives, but his only results in angering Varan. It destroys the village before spreading the membranes between its limbs like a flying squirrel and flies at supersonic speed to Tokyo. Varan seems unstoppable but is tricked ino eating bombs which explode inside. The monster returnes to the sea before the last bomb goes off.
This is a really solid Kaiju Eiga film with good special effects and music. It was made in black and white, which really adds to the dark atmosphere. I'm just guessing here, but I think the name Varan comes from the word varanoid, which is the scientific name of a class of large lizards which includes prehistoric mosasaurs and modern day Komodo dragons. Varan made a tiny cameo in Destroy All Monsters(1968), with only a glimpse on screen. There were several other planned projects and appearances that were later scrapped. Varan remains one of the most unknown and under appreciated kaiju from Japan. He really deserves a comeback.
5. King Kong Escapes (1967)
Monsters: King King, Robot Kong, Gorosaurus, giant snake monster
This movie is so much fun to watch and has great action. An evil genius, Dr. Who (not to be confused with the other doctor from England) has succeeded in creating a giant robot version of King Kong. The purpose, well..to dig up a special radioactive substance "Element X", which is somehow associated with his 007-like plot of world domination. What better way to mine a radioactive ore than by using a giant robot gorilla? The only problem is, the radioactivity makes Robo Kong short circuit. The solution? Kidnap the real Kong to work in the mine, of course! At the same time a submarine crew with some Americans have gone to Mondo island to look for the real Kong. Instead, they find Gorosaurus, a giant dinosaur that advances toward the female crew member Susan Watson. Kong suddenly appears and saves her, killing the dinosaur in almost exactly the same way King Kong did in the original 1933 film. He also saves the crew from a giant sea snake. Dr. Who succeeds in kidnapping Kong and the submarine crew. Dr. Who uses a special flashing light on top of Robo Kong's head to hypnotize Kong into working in the mine. Kong soon recovers and all escape back to Tokyo. Robo Kong pursues and catches Susan. Kong goes to the rescue and the battle rages as the two giants climb up Tokyo Tower. Who will win?
This was Kong's second film appearance after the immensly popular King Kong vs. Godzilla. The Kong suit was much improved over the first film. A little known fact was that the story was loosely based on an American, Rankin/Bass TV cartoon, The King Kong Show. It was the first appearance of Gorosaurus, who despite being killed, reappeared in Destroy All Monsters, destroying the Arc de Triumph in Paris, a role originally meant for Baragon. He also gave a famous kangaroo kick to King Ghidorah in the climactic battle scene. The confident and arrogant Dr. Who was wonderfully played by Eisei Amamoto, well known to Kaiju fans and instantly recognizable for his incredibly bad teeth. He had many small roles in Godzilla films including the kindly toymaker in All Monsters Attack and Princess Salno's short lived butler in Ghidorah, the Three Headed Monster right before the plane blows up. In 2001 he starred in Godzilla GMK, my all time favorite kaiju film, as a strange old man who prophesies the coming of the guardian monsters against a very evil Godzilla. It was his last film role before his death in 2003.
4. War of The Gargantuas (1970)
Monster: Gaira, Sanda
This film was a kind of sequel to Frankenstein vs. Baragon. The two giant monsters are said to have grown from Frankenstein's cells, though this is not clear in the film. They are described as brothers. The story is sublime and takes on almost mythic proportions. It is a giant version of Caine vs. Able, a battle of dualities. One monster is green and aggressive, a man-eater whose domain is the ocean. Its name is Gaira, derived from the Japanese word for "sea". The other monster is brown, peaceful and kindly towards humans. It lives on land and name is Sanda, derived from the word "mountain".
One day, a giant green humanoid monster Gaira appears in the sea. Part hairy, part scaly. it battles a giant octopus before destroying the ship it was attacking and eats most of the crew.Later, it invades an airport and eats more people. The Japanese military attacks it with electricity and nearly kill it, before its brother Sanda appears and helps. It comes to light that Sanda was found in its youth by some scientists and spent some time with humans before escaping to the mountains and growing to gigantic size. Later, Sanda discovers his brother's bloodlust for humans, and enraged, attacks him. The two giants battle until they are finally destroyed by a volcanic eruption.
There are subtle emotions that play out between the two monsters. Sanda is the most moralistic and emotionally expressive of any other kaiju, not just because he is friendly to humans, but he tries to help his brother, too. He just doesn't like a pretty girl like King Kong. We feel him torn between two worlds. Ironically, because Sanda is acted in a suit, these emotions play better on screen than in Frankenstein of the previous film. I can't help but think that these two monsters were in part inspired by the famous 17th century artwork of two gods, Raijin and Fujin, the deities of thunder and wind respectively. One imagines they are brothers and seem ready for battle. I see Gaira and Sanda reflected there.
3. Daimajin Trilogy (1966)
Monsters: Daimajin
Daimajin is the story of stone idol monster that can change its face and was made by Daiei Studios, the same studio responsible for Gamera. Daimajin stands apart from other Kaiju Films and is one of the few stories to take place in ancient Japan There were three movies, all made in 1966 and released months apart.
Daimajin
In ancient Japan there is an earthquake that the villagers believe is the spirit of Damajin, a spirit trapped in the mountain. They follow the priestess to the shrine to pray. The feudal lord is a good man, but his chamberlain Samanosuke has been waiting for a chance to take over. He takes the opportunity and murders the lord and his wife, but their young son Tadafumi and daughter Kozosa escape with the help of a loyal samurai, Kogenta. Later the three are aided by the pristess who takes them deep into the mountains to where the stone idol statue stands with a peaceful, Buddha-like face half buried in the mountainside. The place is secret and they start to live in a small temple need the statue. Years later, Tadafumi has become 18 years old. The people of the village have suffered under the tyranical rule of Samanosuke. Attempting to gather loyal supporters for a rebellion, Kogenta and Tadafumi are captured. Samanosuke kills the priestess and orders his men to go and destroy the stone idol. In the mountains, they discover Kozosa who is forced to take them to the statue. The samurai hammer a large wooden stake into the forehead of the idol and are horrified when blood seeps from the hole. Then there is an earthquake that swallows up all the samurai. Kozosa prays to Daimajin and offers her life if it saves Tadafumi and Kogenta. The rocks fall away and the statue steps forward. Daimajin raises its arm and the benevolent stone face changes to the green face of an angry deity. Tadafumi and Kogenta have been tied to crosses to await execution. Daimajin appears and starts destroying the castle. The samurai try to stop it, but the idol is too strong. It frees the heroes and kills Samanosuke, impaling him on the wooden stake from its forehead. Daimajin goes on a rampage, destroying everything indiscriminately. It is about to crush Kozosa, but is stopped by her tear landing on its foot. The statue's face becomes peaceful again and the spirit returns to the mountain. Now lifeless, the statue crumples apart.
Return of Daimajin
In the second film, Daimajin now stands on a small island in the middle of a lake. The lake is bordered by two countries which are happy and peaceful. There is another country nearby that is unhappy and ruled by an evil lord. People keep escaping this land and moving to the happier countries. The evil lord is jealous and sees an opportunity to invade take over the other lands. There is soon to be a festival. People are on the run from the evil ruler and keep going to the island with the statue. Eventually the evil ruler's men blow up the statue with gunpowder and the broken pieces fall into the lake. Near the end of the film, there is an earthquake ad the wrathful Daimajin rises from the lake to punish the evil lord and destroys everything in its path. At the end, Daimajin stands in the waters and his face changes back to the peaceful one. His body changes to liquid water and disappears into the lake.
Wrath of Daimajin
In the third and final film, Daimajin now stands on top of a mountain. Some men have been captured by an evil warlord and forced to work in a labor camp. The four young sons of the men decide to try and save their fathers. Along the way, they stop to pay respects to the statue as not to incur his wrath. Later, angered by the evil warlord and at the pleas of one of the boys, Daimajin awakens. It destroys the labor camp and kills the warlord. It's the first time that Daimajin unsheathes and uses the short sword he wears at his waist, using it to impale the villain in the same way as the first film. This movie is also different n that the protagonists are commoners, not noblemen.
Daimajin remains a very popular monster with kaiju fans and is a good example of the dichotomous nature of Japanese kaiju. They are both savior and destroyer. Daimajin is a fearful demon, but is pleaded with to save the people. This dual nature is so clearly expressed in Daimajin's two faces. As with the Gargantuas, Daimajin is performed in a suit, but the actors eyes are visible, allowing the expression to come through. His eyes flash with rage as he dispatches the villains and at times look compassionately on the helpless. Daimajin's armor and flayed skirt are not that of a samurai, but belong to a much older period of Japan's history.Daimajin never fights any other monsters, but in one issue of Godzilla comics by Dark Horse in the 1990's, Godzilla fights a Daimajin-like stone demon called Gekido-jin.
There was talk a few years back of a new Daimajin movie that never happened, but in 2010 there was a short lived TV show called Daimajin Kanon. This show was rather silly though and changed the story a lot. It took place in modern times and was more like Masked Rider or Ultraman with a band of superheros. Daimajin's look is much altered. He's got riped abs and pecks, but gone were his human eyes and two faces.
2. Rodan (1956)
Monsters: Meganuron, Rodan (male and female)
Rodan is known as Radon in Japan and the name is derived from the word pteranodon. Most likely, the name was changed in America as not to be confused with the radioactive element radon. Rodan was the first daikaiju eiga filled in color and after the first two Godzilla films.
A small mining town is gripped by terror as miners go missing and are then found mutilated. Two police officers are killed in a similar fashion. The true killer is a giant hideous insect that emerges from the mine and attacks a miner Shigeru and his fiance Kyo in her home. The creature kills some more policemen and escapes into the mine. The monster is identified as meganuron, a giant, prehistoric insect larvae. Shigeru and the police descend into the mine, discover the body of Kyo's brother and finally kill the monster, before an earthquake causes a landslide and traps Shigeru inside. He is later found wandering outsde the mine and suffering from amnesia. In one good scene, at the hospital Shigeru watches a small bird in a cage which triggers a horrible flashback. He recovers his memory and relates his story. He was trapped in a giant, underground cavern and sees many meganuron along with an enormous egg. The egg hatches and a gigantic bird-like monster emerges. Dwarfing the meganuron in size, the monster quickly starts eating them. A few days later, a giant U.F.O is sighted. It has a wingspan of 500 feet and flies at supersonic speeds. The military track down Rodan's lair in a dormant volcano. The attack to no avail and a second rodan is spotted. The first monster(presumably male) attacks and destroys Sasebo and returns to the volcano. The military attack again, hoping to trap the monsters inside. The attack causes a volcanic eruption and one rodan creature is caught in the lava with its mate flying round helplessly. In the end, instead of escaping, it dives into the lava, choosing to die together with its mate.
Rodan later appeared in Godzilla films such as Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster and Destroy All Monsters. Rodan came back in a smaller version in the 1990's movie Godzilla vs. Mechagodzillaand had a close connection to Baby Godzilla. Rodan also destroyed New York in Godzilla: Final Wars. The original Rodan movie posed a question, If the giant meganuron insects were the larvae, what would the adult be? This question was answered in 2000's Godzilla vs. Megaguirus.In that film, a swarm of two meter dragonfly monsters attacks Godzilla before the giant "queen" Megaguirus monster appears.
1. Mothra (1961)
Monsters: Mothra larvae, Mothra adult
One of the best monster movies of all time, with colorful, almost cute monster hero. In this film the real villain is the scrupulous entrepreneur. Infant Island was the location of atomic tests by the fictitious nation of Rolisica. A ship runs aground there after a typhoon. The sailors are later rescued and amazingly are unaffected by radioactivity. They claim it was because of a special drink given to them by the native inhabitants. A Japanese-Rolician expedition led by the capitalist Clark Nelson goes to the island to investigate. There they encounter the natives and two tiny, twin "fairy" girls dubbed the "Shobijin". They find a hieroglyphic cross-star symbol that translates to "Mothra". They also find the enormous egg of Mothra, their god. The tiny girls plead with the visitors to protect their island from more atomic tests. They agree and keep the secret upon returning. Nelson, however, seeing an opportunity to get rich, later returns to the island to kidnap the girls, shooting any natives who get in the way. He opens a show in Tokyo with the two girls singing. Despite efforts from the reporter and scientist protagonists, Nelson refuses to let them go and the girls sing and summon Mothra telepathically to save them. The mothra larvae hatches from the egg and swims towards Tokyo, destroying a ship along the way. It attacks Tokyo and is imperious to the military attacks. Nelson takes the girls and escapes to his native country of Rolisica. Mothra spins a cocoon and emerges as a giant moth. Mothra pursues the girls to Rolisica. Nelson is finally killed in a shootout with police, but Mothra continues her rampage. The heroes see the shadow of a cross from a church steeple and are reminded of Mothra's star symbol. They organize to paint a giant version of the symbol on the airport runway. Mothra lands, retreives the girls and peacefully flies back to Infant Island.
The fairies were played by a pair of singers known as the "Peanuts" who later appeared in Godzilla vs. Mothra and Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster. They were not twins or related. The fictitious country of Rolisica is a metaphor for America and Russia and the vilian Nelson represents the unhindered capitalism that came in the post war economic boom in Japan. There was also alution to Christianity and Mothra's symbol, which was used again in future Mothra films, closely resembles the Celtic cross. Mothra is the most popular and recognizable Kaiju after Godzilla and has appeared in over a dozen films.
It may be a little known fact that since Gojira, a.k.a. Godzilla, King of the Monsters in 1954, there have been no less than 28 Godzilla films, not counting Sony's 1998 Godzilla with Matthew Broderick. And there is a new American Godzilla 2014 movie in the works from Legendary Pictures.
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)
This is my top 10 Godzilla movies list. All the movies have their merits, but this is a top 10 list of the most fun to watch. You'll have to forgive me, the original 1954 "Gojira" does not appear here. It's a classic, I know, but when I'm in the mood for Godzilla, it's not usually the first that comes to mind. The same goes for Godzilla 1985. Perhaps it's because neither have any other monsters. It comes as no surprise that you’ll see a lot of Mothra, King Ghidorah, and Mechagodzilla in my list.
10.Godzilla vs. Biollante(1989): One of the most original Godzilla movies, the story was the product of a national contest. The winner was a dentist. The story centers around international corporate espionage over possession of the Godzilla cells. Godzilla goes up against the creation of an unethical scientist, a cross between a rose bush, Godzilla’s own cells, and the soul of a young girl and takes its name from an old Nordic legend. Biollante is an impressive match for Godzilla. The music is bad, but the story is interesting, the special effects are great and it’s probably the best Godzilla suit design.
9. Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah(1991):
Probably the most complicated story of any other movie. It features time travel, a new terrestrial origin to King Ghidorah, and is the only movie to fully explain how Godzilla was created and shows us what he looked like before he was mutated by the atomic bomb. It’s the most controversial Godzilla movie, made at a time when economic tensions between America and Japan were at an all time high, it features evil westerners from the future and American soldiers in WWII being killed by the Godzillasaurus. It also has an unforgettable scene where Godzilla cries. Both King Ghidorah and Mecha King Ghidorah are amazing. The battles and music are great.
8. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla/ Godzilla vs. The Bionic Monster (1974):
This is a classic. The first appearance of Godzilla’s robotic nemesis. It’s so fun to watch. It features four monsters including fan favorites King Seesar and Angilas. This is from the days when Godzilla was still a hero. Aliens create a robotic monster to kill Godzilla so they can take over the world. The action is great and fast paced.
7. Godzilla vs. Mothra: Battle for Earth(1992):
The hero is an Indiana Jones like adventurer that gets caught up in the search for the legendary Mothra. Godzilla fights Mothra and her evil twin, newcomer Battra, who was in part inspired by the old Megalon monster. The climactic battle takes place in Yokohama. Are the combined forces of Mothra and Battra enough to stop Godzilla?
6. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II(1993):
The pinnacle of the Heisei series. Mechagodzilla is constructed by man using the technology recovered from Mecha King Ghidorah. It also features Rodan and baby Godzilla. Godzilla is nearly killed and is saved by an unlikely ally in one of the best climaxes to any Godzilla film. A solid story and great special effects make this one a show stopper.
5. Destroy All Monsters(1968):
One of the most famous monster movies of all time. All the Giant monsters are set loose on the world, being controlled by a malevolent race of aliens. Eventually they join forces against a familiar enemy, King Ghidorah. This one features a wonderful score and engaging human story. It also has one of the greatest battle sequences ever set to film. A must see!
4. Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.(2003):
The story is eloquent. It combines high-technology and ancient gods. Mechagodzilla returns from the previous installment. Making Mechagodzilla a cyborg with the first Godzilla’s skeleton inside it, was a stroke of genius. In this one, Godzilla is back along with Mothra. The fairy twins come to plead with the humans to return the restless bones of Godzilla to the sea where they belong. Mothra is impressive and the fight scenes are really well done. The Mothra larvae get their chance at Godzilla, too. Will Tokyo survive the battle?
3. Ghidorah, the Three Headed Monster(1964): I love this one. The original appearance of King Ghidorah is still the best. A beautiful foreign princess survives an assassination attempt and afterward believes herself to be a Martian and starts prophesying the appearance of giant monsters. The dashing young policeman Shindo and his sister must protect her from the assassins as the monsters appear one by one. Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra must combine forces to defeat King Ghidorah. Even by today’s standards, this one is amazing. The appearance of each monster is dramatic and the fight sequences are great.
2. Mothra vs. Godzilla(1964):
Still one of the best. A classic tale of evil vs. good, masculine vs. feminine, yin vs. yang. Mothra must defend her egg against a marauding Godzilla. The fight between them is one of the best in Kaiju history. Also, the battles with the Japanese military are very well done. One of the best of all time.
1. Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (GMK)(2001):
My pick for the best Godzilla movie of all time. The one that breaks all the rules. In this one, Godzilla is bad and Ghidorah is good. Three guardian monsters, Ghidorah, Mothra, and Baragon must defend Japan against a truly evil Godzilla. The story is original and the power and special effects are truly riveting. To learn more about this one, read my review
The Dark God
Anyone who knows me well knows I’m a huge Godzilla fan. Always have been. I’d like to write a review about my new all time favorite movie. 2001’s Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidora, Giant Monsnters All-Out Attack. (That’s a mouthful) or GMK for short. I’ll focus on the ending and why it’s such a great film. This one is awesome. It’s one of the most original Godzilla movies ever made. It takes everything you think you know about Godzilla and turns it on its ear. It comes as no surprise, because it’s directed by Shusuke Kaneko who directed the Gamera trilogy of the 1990’s, which are some of the finest Kaiju-eiga (giant monster movies) ever made. I like Kaneko’s take on Giant Monsters because he puts them squarely where they belong, in the realm of fantasy, not just pure science fiction. (Spoiler warning! If you don’t want to know how the movie ends, I suggest you change your mind and keep reading. It won’t spoil your enjoyment of the film.)
There are a total of four monsters in this film, Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah and Baragon. In this one, Godzilla is bad, and I mean really bad. The other monsters are the legendary guardians of Japan. Yes, you heard it right, Ghidorah is good. The human story centers around Yuri, a female news reporter, which harkens back to older Showa era films where journalists were often the protagonists, her co-workers and her father; an Admiral in the Japanese Self Defense Forces. The basic premise is Godzilla appears to destroy Japan, while Yuri slowly uncovers the mystery of the three guardian monsters, who one by one appear to battle Godzilla along with some help from the Japanese military. We are told early on about the secret of Godzilla’s power. He was created by the nuclear bomb, but is possessed and made immortal by the tormented souls of those killed by Japanese soldiers during WWII. I think this is a very interesting reversal. Originally, Godzilla was a metaphor for nuclear aggression against Japan, but now the director is suggesting that Godzilla’s purpose is to punish Japan for atrocities commited by the Japanese against others. I think this is a sign of the times when the Japanese are trying to come to terms with their past. Anyway, enough politics.
The special effects are great in this film and the fight scenes are fantastic. I especially like the fight between Godzilla and Baragon. It contains many long shots and set against a natural background. I always think Godzilla looks better in a natural setting than in a cityscape. Also, the sound effects and quality are really powerful. You can feel the explosions like you were there. I really like how they portrayed his atomic ray. He has to warm up. His dorsal plates glow white hot and there is an electric buzz. At the same time, he opens his mouth in a great inhale before firing. It’s very dramatic.
The thing that really drives the film is the dark nature of Godzilla himself. Godzilla really looks menacing here. He has no pupils, only the whites of his eyes which makes him look truly evil. The design of his head and face are much altered from previous millennium movies. In the previous films, Godzilla was made to look very reptilian, even lizard-like with a narrow pointed snout. A look I don’t really care for. In GMK, he has a squared, jaw and looks more like a dragon or crocodile. In profile, he is hunched over with a huge pot belly. To be honest, I didn’t like this look the first time I saw the film. He looked old. But later, I realized that was the point. If the 100 meter tall Heisei Godzilla of the 1990s was Godzilla in his prime; if he were human, say a man in his thirties, then this Godzilla is middle-aged. He’s older, but has lost nothing. In fact, he’s grown stronger and more experienced. This is the darkest incarnation of Godzilla we’ve ever seen. He’s sadistic and plays dirty. He kicks enemies when they are down and takes pleasure in destroying his opponents. He also goes out of his way to kill individual human beings. This is also the most intelligent Godzilla we’ve ever seen. He’s a seasoned general, a grey fox who’s been through a hundred battles and can’t be taken advantage of. Several times in the film, he is attacked from behind by either monster opponents or the military, but he senses it and swerves at the last moment to counter attack.
The film also offers the most unique way to destroy Godzilla. He’s killed by his own personality. In the end, the three guardian monsters are not enough to stop him, they are all destroyed. The military is helpless and Godzilla keeps coming. He rises from the depths once more and targets Yuri and her friend. Just then, a kind of drill missile emerges from inside Godzilla, being fired by Yuri’s father from a mini-sub which Godzilla swallowed earlier! The missile comes out from a wound on Godzilla’s shoulder and explodes, causing him pain. Enraged he attempts to fire his atomic ray at Yuri, but instead it shoots out of the hole in his shoulder. His internal environment has been compromised, like a punctured lung and doesn’t work properly. Though surprised, he attempts it a 2nd time with the same result and falls back beneath the waves screaming in agony.
This takes me back to another Kaiju film, this time not Godzilla, but a Gamera movie Gamera vs. Barugon(1966) In this film, which is the best of the old Gamera movies, Gamera fights yet another monster named Barugon. Barugon can fire a lethal rainbow ray from spines in its back. In true Gamera fashion, the humans use the monster’s characteristics against it and construct a huge parabolic mirror and reflect the ray back on Barugon itself seriously wounding, but not killing the monster. Frustrated, the hero, Keisuke says Barugon must produce another rainbow. That’s when the jungle girl Karen, played by the beautiful actress Bibari (Beverly) Maeda, teaches us a law of the jungle and says that if an animal does something and is injured, it will never do that thing again, and Barugon doesn’t, until its death. (Incidently, Ms. Maeda frequently appears on Japanese TV today. She’s in her 50’s, but looks good for her age.)
Now let‘s return to GMK. Godzilla falls beneath the waves and luckily Yuri’s father finds his chance to escape and pilots the mini-sub through the hole in Godzilla’s shoulder. Godzilla notices this and attempts to use his atomic ray yet a third time, but now submerged, the cold sea water comes into direct contact with Godzilla’s super-heated nuclear furnace and he explodes. This is what separates Godzilla and shows him as a true monster and not just an animal. He is so blinded by his own rage and lust for revenge that he kills himself. Profound!
Whether you’re a Kaiju fan or not, I recommend watching this movie. Long live the King!
Well, in 2004 we saw Godzilla: Final Wars, supposedly the last and greatest Godzilla movie. Yeah right! Another reviewer hit the nail on the head when he said this movie plays like a greatest hits album or a video game. Overall, I found it disappointing. It was unabashedly unoriginal, which was a shame because I so liked director Ryuhei Kitamura’s previous movies, especially Versus, which was very original. Even the opening title sequence was a disappointment, simply a montage of previous Godzilla movies with some modern music, how boring! Everything in this movie is meant to remind you of the past, particularly the Showa era movies of the 60’s and 70’s. This film is a hodgepodge of many different movies. It’s Godzilla times The Matrix, times X-men, times Equilibrium (a pretty good Christian Bale sci-fi movie featuring Gun Katta fighting), and a little bit of Dragon Ball Z thrown in for good measure. It feature no less than 13 monsters, which is part of the problem. I didn’t really like Godzilla’s design either, which is also a mixture of various Godzillas. Kitamura said he wanted a Godzilla that could run, so he’s much thinner and lighter. He’s too thin in my opinion and lacks mass and accentuates the fact that it’s an actor in a suit.
But my main problem with this movie is the battle scenes. There are far too many and too short, most lasting less than a minute, sometimes less than thirty seconds. They lack any real drama. This goes for the rest of the movie itself. Kitamua wanted to make a fast-paced movie and he does. It keeps our head spinning. There are so many monsters, that there is almost no story or character development. This is in sharp contrast to the previous two installments in the series, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S., the Kiryu saga, which are much better movies.
Anguirus A.K.A. Angilas
Godzilla: Final Wars does have its moments. The scenes at the Antarctic were original and cool. Also, the fight between Godzilla and his three former allies, Anguirus, Rodan, and King Cessar is pretty fun. It’s notable that he doesn’t kill them, only knocks them out. My favorite character is the new Anguirus. (or Angilas as I grew up with him) This scrappy fan favorite has a new look and cool new attack and frankly steals many scenes from Godzilla. He more entertaining. If you’re a fan, of course you’ll want to see it and have fun. But if want a good Godzilla movie, look elsewhere, particularly Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah, Giant Monsters All-Out Attackmy personal favorite or revisit the past Showa movies.
The Future?
As a fan I’m really concerned about the future and longevity of Godzilla. Final Wars was made because interest in Godzilla was waning in Japan and I think I know why. Hed been built up too much. He’s too unbeatable. This was a trend that really started in the millennium series and was most apparent in Final Wars. In years past, we knew Godzilla to be the hero and the King of the Monsters, but we never thought him to be unbeatable. He’s been defeated many times. Watching a good Godzilla movie is like watching a good Rocky movie. You want to see him get knocked down and then get back up. In Final Wars, He beat all the world monsters single handed without breaking a sweat. When you create a monster who is completely invincible, he ceases to be very interesting. Would you pay to see Rocky if he won all his fights by knock out in thirty seconds?
Regardless of how these movies were marketed,(being double billed with a kids anime movie like Hamutaro) they were really made with the adult fans in mind. We adult fans prefer the darker Godzilla.(I know I do!) and may boohoo the more childish movies of the 60’s and 70’s, but as a kid, those were some of my favorites. I liked seeing Minya in Son of Godzilla and I wanted to be the little boy in All Monsters Attack who had a magical transistor radio and could travel to monster island. The child fans of today are the adult fans of tomorrow. I don’t think Toho has done enough to build a fan base with children and that’ why interest is waning. Living in Japan, I can talk to a lot of kids and they don’t talk much about Godzilla. Boys talk about Kamen Rider or even Ultraman, and it’s hard to find Godzilla toys in the stores.
Now with Godzilla 2014 by Legendary Pictures on the horizon, it seems it's time for America to take up the mantle again. Perhaps it's necessary to breathe some new life into the series. Everything I've seen from Legendary so far makes me optimistic the movie will be a hit, and I mean with Godzilla fans, not just the box office. It's interesting to speculate the future. Will Godzilla 2014 spawn a new series of movies in America, or will Japan start making new movies again. In that event, I have some advice for Toho. Drop Godzilla down a peg or two and make him a hero to children again. He doesn’t always have to be dark. And for future movies, well how about a remake of King Kong vs. Godzilla? Tag team him up with Angilas again, or if Toho and Daiei could set aside there differences, how about a dream bout between Godzilla and Gamera? How wouldn’t pay to see that?
