Comments (Page 60)
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Xenotaris, it’s okay to have opinions. But what Gman was saying didn’t seem to be quite as much about personal preference as it was about general fact. So you said movies weren’t shot in color until 1960s first of all, which is not true. There are movie from 1950s (Radon, Earth Defense Force, just to name familiar examples) which were shot and screened in color, never ‘colorized’ (even the posters say in color). Plenty movies in 1940s shot in color but not quite widespread until early 50s. Just saying, check your facts if you want to have a debate.
And then next, you did say that you don’t like artists, and find them pretentious, things like that. Since you said it, I think you should take a little more responsibility, because it is almost as insulting as your avoidance and denial, as it contradicts to your views on virtually entire world culture to make such claim. Then when you put down artists, then you view them as beneath you, and who is pretentious then? I understand you get defensive, and sometimes we can all get irrational, but that isn’t any way to win a debate, I don’t think Gman was out of line or out to get you for your opinion.
But on to my analysis of why I think Godzilla 1954 works best in Black & White. While true enough, 1954 was pretty rough time for Japanese economy so color film was more expensive, I still don’t think they would have shot it in color even if they had the resources, because the monochrome shades really create atmosphere of melancholy and darkness that go with the first Godzilla really well. The imagery mixed with aftermath footage from the war creates stunningly heartbreaking imagery, which would not translate the same in color, because the bright and vivid spectrum takes away from the sorrow of the scene.
King Kong in color is sort of guilty pleasure of mine, because I find the strange added colors very fun and soothing, while I still think that it takes away from the experience of the film. However, it works better for King Kong in my opinion because it is not formed around an actual tragedy which America was facing at the time, unlike Godzilla in Japan. Maybe my Japanese roots are taking over when I say, but I also think that what my people faced, what my great grandfather personally faced was a terror which cannot even be understood to fullest extent by my generation or the current generation. When you take into account that Godzilla comes from a real world tragedy, made as Japan’s way to accept their karma and come to terms with what happened, then it makes only too much sense why it was shot in such a style that it brings out all of the sad and unsettling feelings.
Gman made very excellent points about the photography crew, and how their previous work with cinematic genius Mikio Naruse really shows in the film. I agree that it would obscure original film makers’ vision in less than satisfying way. I have seen ‘colorized’ old movies and shows, the techniques give too much saturation because the coloring is unnaturally added, and every time you see teeth, they look like they been coated with whiteout and then painted gray, and then clothes look too solid colored, skin looks orange. Colorization of motion pictures rarely come out looking good, but single photograph could get better coloring detail.
While the Japanese and film technique lover in me would feel somewhat offended if colorized edition Godzilla is released, I won’t really make a big deal about it, because art is art, and art is a creative vision for anybody who has it, but I definitely don’t think it is necessary thing either.
I say things to get you mad, sorry I won't do it again. I just disagree with the sentiment that it should stay Black & White. I mean the Black & White version exists for those who want to see that one, so they could have a color version for people who want to see that one as well. Like give people options.
Xenotaris,
You said it before you edited your post.
Yeah a little, it kind of does
Hey when did I say I disliked artists? I am an armature writer so i would have to dislike myself?
The face reminds me of a Xenomorph.
Xenotaris,
"Well duh, there was no color films prior to the 60s..."
This is categorically and incredibly false. Color film stock has existed since 1935. So yes, The Wizard of Oz is an exception amongst hundreds and hundreds of other films made between 1935-1960. During this time, many film studios still chose to use black and white film stock. Black & white films have also been used in modern times such as Schindler's List, The Artist, Sin City, Good Night and Good Luck and Christopher Nolan will be making next year's Oppenheimer in black & white. So it's equally an artistic decision.
Knowing that color stock existed in the 1950s, cinematographers had to light Godzilla '54 as a black and white film, not a color film, understanding that the process would look better with that in mind.
You may not like artists, but like it or not, the men and women involved in all these movies you watch consider themselves artists for the craft they entered. Therefore you don't care for anyone who made the Godzilla movies, Alien films and Jurassic Park franchise.
"In the case of Godzilla '54, however, it's a film that was shot and lit with black and white film stock in mind. You can't light a black & white film the same way as a color film. Much of the movie's shots are composed with that kind of mindset."
Well duh, there was no color films prior to the 60s... well maybe Wizard of Oz but that was the exception. I bet if the 1950's could, they probably would have used color instead of black and white. Also I don't see the big gripe, oh it will ruin the film because we put it color, sounds like artist elitism too me.
Whatever it is, Toho has been extra quiet about it. It wrapped filming in June and we haven't heard a peep about it. Rumor has it's the big 70th anniversary film.
Xenotaris,
Some older movies are arguably ruined by complete HD remasters, since it reveals more than the filmmakers intended to be seen for the time.
In the case of Godzilla '54, however, it's a film that was shot and lit with black and white film stock in mind. You can't light a black & white film the same way as a color film. Much of the movie's shots are composed with that kind of mindset.
Colorizing it is like dubbing: Whereas English audio-dubs take away from the original performance of actors, a colorization takes away from the original work of directors of photography. I for one have no interest in altering that.
The original movie is a beautifully shot film Masao Tamai who also worked closely with the prolific director Mikio Naruse. And Sadamasa Airikawa's effects photography blended so beautifully with his work and gave Tsuburaya's effects an almost documentary look. B&W can be gorgeous, as the '54 film is, and colorizing would destroy that visual artistry.
That neck is too thick for that tiny head
Ik where my money is going now
Also, here's some links to a fan made colorized version of Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1956).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eYfKdGdISc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMrwwPQE4bA
(Note: Not The Full Movie)
They also made colorized versions of Godzilla: Raids Again, Varan the Unbelievable, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, and Gamera.
(Again, only clips, not the full movies)
Yeah, Cozzilla looks like a rainbow barfed on it.
Looks good. I hope we get figures like this for the other monsters.
Yes I know but I also think they don't want an new color version that is better than Cozzilla
whether its in color or Black & White, its the same movie how would it be ruined? I bet older color movies are now ruined by their HD remaster editions huh?
There is an Ai colorized version of the original 1954 by Kodd1980 on the internet archive. The American cut would make a fit for colorization personally. If anyone has a Godzilla King Of The Monsters '56 colorized version please drop a link.
i think varan should be a maybe not a zero
Both are basically eldritch monsters so i dont think its worth anything to assign a gender
Shin Godzilla and Singular Point Godzilla might be asexual
Sorry* I reply the same thing twice
I personally believe it would be his own take on Godzilla. Yamazaki has been my favourite director since 2002 when I watch my favourite movie RETURNER in theatre! And I come to know his style very well, and he hasn’t made film that is not direct adaptation since RETURNER and before that his first film JUVENILE. I think he probably continuing his trend of adapting popular culture to the big screen in his own unique way. I been waiting for my favourite director to direct a full feature Godzilla movie for such a long time, I really hope is Godzilla. My friends and I even have a little ‘pool’ going, hehe.
I think showa to heisei its pretty clear hes a guy.and I think maybe zilla can switch genders like some frogs. its millennium-onward where genders start to get a little whacky.
In godzilla 2000 and g vs. megaguirus Im pretty sure hes a guy. and in final wars the xilean laeder says in the english dub : "this godzilla guy is one tough dude" and the way hes portrayed in the kiryu trilogy isnt really that fitting of a female character. so I think hes was thought of as a boy throughout the making of those films. but gmk is quite confusing. since the godzilla in that movie is comprised of a buch of spirits, it might have both male and female spirits within it. so I guess the gmk zilla is a non-binary more-or-less.
the monsterverse godzilla is one hundo' percent male.
godzilla earth is a plant pretty much but if it does have a gender its proly male. shins and sp godzilla might switch genders to when they evolve.
To add further confusion to Godzilla 1998, the creature designer gave "him" female genitalia
this is from what MDK had posted
Another common source of confusion regarding Godzilla's gender comes from the 1998 American Godzilla film directed by Roland Emmerich, which featured an incarnation of Godzilla that lays eggs asexually. Even despite this ability, this version of Godzilla is explicitly referred to as a male in dialogue, with Nick Tatopoulos even calling it "a very unusual he" after discovering its ability to reproduce asexually. The film's official novelization even refers to Godzilla as the "father" of his asexually-produced offspring.
Godzilla King of the Monsters 2019, so yeah Legendary Godzilla is totally a male. But other Godzillas could be female like Zilla.
Ah, the 90's back during the Jurassic Park trend
Yeah, I actually think that the first act of 1998 is pretty good for the most part. They do a great job building up his appearance. The scenes where he attacks the fishing boats, the scene where the military find the footprints and the scene where he first shows up in New York are really well done and make him come off as really threatening and destructive. It actually feels somewhat similar to the original 1954 Godzilla, and I think if they had kept that tone through out the entire movie, it could've worked really well. The movie starts to fall apart after he's fully revealed and you realize that he isn't really the true Godzilla, along with the military causing more destruction than the actual monster and the movie trying too hard to be like Jurassic Park and Aliens.
That is a very fair point and I would agree. I definitely do think that they tried to keep the radiation theme. But after the beginning of the movie it falls apart.
Stop it! He's already dead!
In all seriousness though, you do make some good points about the differences between 1998 and the Reiwa series.
The only thing I would slightly disagree with, is the statement of Zilla not being a symbol for the danger of radiation. I would argue that he could be seen as one, since he was mutated by nuclear testing.
Interestingly, they actually expand on the cook saying "Gojira" and the mythology of it in the 1998 novelization.
Also, here's the link to the topic where I compared MonsterVerse Ghidorah to the devil:
glad to have you back buddy
Aww, too bad. I thought one day, I could see a cute little size of Legendary Godzilla but of course make sense how it is impossible to appear.
One of the photos in the first image shows the Isla de Mara volcano outpost that Rodan was in.
Thats actually kinda funny. But if I had a cameo to make fun of me, that would probably be my complant too.
