Recommend a Godzilla film
08-29-14 | 11:58 AM
#26
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
I have the 2 of Toho collection.
Godzilla vs King Ghidorah/Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle For Earth
Godzilla Tokyo S.O.S./Godzilla Final Wars
I enjoyed them both so I probably sure you really like them too.
Godzilla vs King Ghidorah/Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle For Earth
Godzilla Tokyo S.O.S./Godzilla Final Wars
I enjoyed them both so I probably sure you really like them too.
08-29-14 | 02:02 PM
#27
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
See, now I'm a lifelong G fan who thinks the Millennium series is the weakest of the three original eras. The only credit I give those films is that each one was essentially a sequel to the original film, so they all adhere to a different history.
Godzilla 2000 is campy fun, but I'm not a huge fan of the suit redesign. Too angular and sharp, and those spines are absurdly huge. Orga is a great enemy, but isn't used nearly enough.
G vs. Megaguirus is a slog; one of the worst entries in the entire series.
GMK is a breath of fresh air, one of the best films in the series. I love the mythology, the score and all the kaiju redesigns. Easily one of the best G suits ever made.
GXM & S.O.S. make for a good double feature. I like Kiryu as a character and was glad to see they did a direct sequel following a solid entry. S.O.S. is a little underwhelming next to the previous film, but both are among the best of the Millennium films.
Final Wars sucks. I don't like the Ratzilla design, the script is terrible, the acting is worse, the score sucks, and so many classic monsters are given a dearth of screen time.
Godzilla 2000 is campy fun, but I'm not a huge fan of the suit redesign. Too angular and sharp, and those spines are absurdly huge. Orga is a great enemy, but isn't used nearly enough.
G vs. Megaguirus is a slog; one of the worst entries in the entire series.
GMK is a breath of fresh air, one of the best films in the series. I love the mythology, the score and all the kaiju redesigns. Easily one of the best G suits ever made.
GXM & S.O.S. make for a good double feature. I like Kiryu as a character and was glad to see they did a direct sequel following a solid entry. S.O.S. is a little underwhelming next to the previous film, but both are among the best of the Millennium films.
Final Wars sucks. I don't like the Ratzilla design, the script is terrible, the acting is worse, the score sucks, and so many classic monsters are given a dearth of screen time.
08-29-14 | 03:43 PM
#28
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Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
^ I would agree with this.
GMK in particular was great because it went back to the days of Godzilla being a Terrible Force Of Nature.
GMK in particular was great because it went back to the days of Godzilla being a Terrible Force Of Nature.
08-29-14 | 05:03 PM
#30
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
The six recent movies in the "Millennium" series...
1. Godzilla 2000 (1999)
2. Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)
3. Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)
4. Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)
5. Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)
6. Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
...are, to me, some of the strongest movies in the whole series. I think it's the most consistently good; the "Showa" series (1954-1975) and the "Heisei" series (1984-1995) have lots of ups and downs while the Millennium series is pretty good from start to finish.
1. Godzilla 2000 (1999)
2. Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)
3. Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)
4. Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)
5. Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)
6. Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
...are, to me, some of the strongest movies in the whole series. I think it's the most consistently good; the "Showa" series (1954-1975) and the "Heisei" series (1984-1995) have lots of ups and downs while the Millennium series is pretty good from start to finish.
08-29-14 | 06:11 PM
#31
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From: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
So true. I remember seeing it for the first time and being so impressed that they made him like that. Even cooler was what the made it very mythical as well. And Godzilla's being was more emotional as well. Very interesting production choices all around for it. So refreshing for the character.
08-29-14 | 06:57 PM
#32
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From: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
I personally think that the Showa series was solid from the first film to when about Astro Monster happened. I like that one but that's when G went more for the kids too. After that one its pretty much crap. Enjoyable but crap. Then G returned in the 1980s to full glory. Heisei period was very good in what they did for the Kaiju. Space Godzilla and Destroyer are dips down but the fights were worth it. Also I liked the continuing presence of Miki, I had never seen that in a Godzilla film as a kid. I think. I don't think Showa had such a prominent recurring human role.
It's safe to say that Gojira is the best G film. While the fights in this series have always been fun thematically speaking G is at his best when he's a villain.
It's safe to say that Gojira is the best G film. While the fights in this series have always been fun thematically speaking G is at his best when he's a villain.
Last edited by Solid Snake; 08-29-14 at 07:07 PM.
08-29-14 | 07:20 PM
#33
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From: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
True. I like G vs. KG but it is weak and kind of bloated.
My favorites for Heisei was Mothra and MG. Mothra was kicking ass. Biollante though is easily the most original of the Heisei. Was nice to see an original and unique Kaiju.
My favorites for Heisei was Mothra and MG. Mothra was kicking ass. Biollante though is easily the most original of the Heisei. Was nice to see an original and unique Kaiju.
08-29-14 | 07:42 PM
#34
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
I need to re-watch the last few G movies, from G2000 on. I re-watched TOKYO SOS last year and enjoyed it a great deal as I did the first time I saw it. I tend to like the 1990s G movies better than the 2000s, though. I'm a huge fan of G. VS. MECHAGODZILLA (1993). It's really a quirky series, but I've gone through periods where I've re-watched them all in order and I hope to do that again a few more times before I die. True G fans watch the bad ones multiple times as well.
08-29-14 | 09:10 PM
#35
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From: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
True or not. Crap is crap. G had his wonderful share. I'm a G fan. I admire the whole franchise but I'm never watching some of them again. What may have catered to my childhood doesn't work so well at times with me now. Unless I felt the need to go through a certain period of G just for enjoyment, I'd rather not be cluttered with crap.
08-29-14 | 09:31 PM
#36
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
Of the ones in the Classic Media set, the original subtitled Godzilla 1954 was the best. But it's not cheerful. It starts with a reference to a real-life incident where Japanese commercial fishermen got radiation poisoning from an American A-bomb test. (That got left out of the Americanized version.) There's a scene in a hospital where people are lying side by side on the hallway floor, presumably because the beds are all full. But the special effects are old.
Last edited by Nick Danger; 08-29-14 at 09:40 PM.
08-29-14 | 09:56 PM
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From: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
The girls singing and the camera showing al the destruction is the emotional one for me.
It's funny. As a kid, you grow up loving G cuz he's a badass hero. But holy fuck is he an amazing villain.
It's funny. As a kid, you grow up loving G cuz he's a badass hero. But holy fuck is he an amazing villain.
08-29-14 | 11:07 PM
#38
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I saw the 60 anniversary screening of the original as a new (and it must be said very poor) DCP (or a really crappy projected DVD, as another fan to whom I spoke said the new 2K restoration was stunning). There are certainly some character archetypes that we've seen one too many times, some parts are still cheesy, and there were some titters in the audience at rather inopportune moments. But it must be said, the bleak, almost documentary-flavored tone means some scenes are still fairly sobering, particularly the aftermath of G's rampage, which is pretty gruesome and haunting, especially accompanied by the choral music and imagery of destruction.
Last edited by hanshotfirst1138; 08-30-14 at 07:27 AM.
08-30-14 | 04:40 AM
#39
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
I saw the 60 anniversary screening of the original as a new (and it must be said very poor) DCP (or a really crappy projected DVD, as another can to whom I spoke said the new 2K restoration was stunning). There are certainly some character archetypes that we've seen one too many times, some parts are still cheesy, and there were some titters in the audience at rather inopportune moments. But it must be said, the bleak, almost documentary-flavored tone means some scenes are still fairly sobering, particularly the aftermath of G's rampage, which is pretty gruesome and haunting, especially accompanied by the choral music and imagery of destruction.
08-31-14 | 03:41 AM
#40
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Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
All of that is why "Godzilla Raids Again" is such a massive piece of shit. I saw it for the first time earlier this year and I couldn't believe how bad it was in terms of the total departure from the serious message G'54 had. I felt like Toho went from a great film with a powerful message to "Summer Blockbuster Popcorn film money grab" in one step.
08-31-14 | 06:17 AM
#41
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
All of that is why "Godzilla Raids Again" is such a massive piece of shit. I saw it for the first time earlier this year and I couldn't believe how bad it was in terms of the total departure from the serious message G'54 had. I felt like Toho went from a great film with a powerful message to "Summer Blockbuster Popcorn film money grab" in one step.
08-31-14 | 07:16 AM
#42
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From: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
Well to be honest... Honda never really had a chance to go back to the more dark G. He tried but Toho kept going light.
08-31-14 | 01:25 PM
#43
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Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
I love 1954, but going light was a good business decision. There wouldn't have been a franchise lasting 60 years if they had stayed with grim allegory.
08-31-14 | 04:02 PM
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From: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
That's why Toho kept going with it. They noticed that regardless of what 1954 was... Toho saw that the kids LOVED G. He was a marvel to the children regardless of what he was in tone.
09-01-14 | 10:01 AM
#45
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
^ Which is the approach they more or less chose with the Edwards outing. I liked it overall, but was kind of disappointed that they chose the good guy approach.
09-01-14 | 11:16 AM
#46
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Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
I wasn't so much disappointed with Edwards' "good guy" approach as I was that they sold it as G being a malevolent force intent on punishing man. Don't sell people one thing and give them another, but since the film ultimately reminded me of the latter Showa films I wasn't displeased by any means.
09-02-14 | 03:45 PM
#47
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Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
^ Exactly.
I was not disappointed at all in the recent G'Film... but man, the trailers leading up had me believing Godzilla would be an even worse version of the GMK Godzilla.
I was not disappointed at all in the recent G'Film... but man, the trailers leading up had me believing Godzilla would be an even worse version of the GMK Godzilla.
09-04-14 | 09:50 AM
#49
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
I've been grabbing the blu rays as they come out this year.
Haven't seen these since I was a kid and saw them on saturday afternoon tv.
Any thoughts on viewing order for all of them.
Or maybe watching them in groups like Showa or Millenium etc.
Haven't seen these since I was a kid and saw them on saturday afternoon tv.
Any thoughts on viewing order for all of them.
Or maybe watching them in groups like Showa or Millenium etc.
09-04-14 | 11:40 AM
#50
Re: Japanese Godzilla Movies
GMK had the first genuinely creative idea involving Godzilla since the first movie, where he's possessed by (or the manifestation of) the souls of those killed in World War II who are pissed that the people of Japan are trying to forget the past. It's too bad that the movie itself forgets all about this around the halfway mark and descends into mindless action.
Which is fine, since it's very well-done mindless action, but you don't get to introduce Big Ideas only to sweep them under the rug and never mention them again. The characters seem to be actively rooting for the Guardian monsters to defeat that nasty old Godzilla so that they can go back to forgetting the past and acting like insensitive pricks. There's no speech at the end, nobody saying, "Hey, maybe we should show a little fucking respect so this doesn't happen again." Nope, it's just a celebration of the defeat of Godzilla.
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and Tokyo S.O.S. may be less impressive as far as the action scenes go, but they're far superior to GMK in terms of their themes. The final scene in S.O.S. is a culmination of everything set up in Against. The original Godzilla is dug up to fight the new one, and it's made clear that this is a very bad fucking idea, and Japan suffers the consequences. They could have left it there like GMK and just focused on the spectacle, but they ended with the most beautiful finale since the first movie, with the original Godzilla redeeming himself by putting himself to rest and taking the new Godzilla with him.
The Millennium movies have their flaws, every one of them, but when they're good, they're astonishingly good.
Which is fine, since it's very well-done mindless action, but you don't get to introduce Big Ideas only to sweep them under the rug and never mention them again. The characters seem to be actively rooting for the Guardian monsters to defeat that nasty old Godzilla so that they can go back to forgetting the past and acting like insensitive pricks. There's no speech at the end, nobody saying, "Hey, maybe we should show a little fucking respect so this doesn't happen again." Nope, it's just a celebration of the defeat of Godzilla.
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and Tokyo S.O.S. may be less impressive as far as the action scenes go, but they're far superior to GMK in terms of their themes. The final scene in S.O.S. is a culmination of everything set up in Against. The original Godzilla is dug up to fight the new one, and it's made clear that this is a very bad fucking idea, and Japan suffers the consequences. They could have left it there like GMK and just focused on the spectacle, but they ended with the most beautiful finale since the first movie, with the original Godzilla redeeming himself by putting himself to rest and taking the new Godzilla with him.
The Millennium movies have their flaws, every one of them, but when they're good, they're astonishingly good.
