New Replies (Page 725)
The King Kong vs. Godzilla debate is something that will probably never be resolved within the fanbase, even though it is absolutely clear the intent of the film was for Kong to win. Toho themselves are guilty of this, as Tomoyuki Tanaka retroactively declared the fight between Kong and Godzilla to be a draw in his Definitive Godzilla Introduction book. (Tanaka's fight record for Godzilla in the book is extremely generous by the way, right down to declaring his final battle with Biollante to be a victory, when it was a draw at best.)
Gman- I'm still amazed that people are still arguing about who the winner was.
^The Shin Godzilla vs. Godzilla'14 debates will die down. I don't think that debate will last into the next decade, if even the next 5 years. It's certainly not going to be as widely remembered of an argument as the victor of King Kong vs. Godzilla--Which 55 years later is still being discussed.
I'd say the everlasting debate of Godzilla 2014 VS Shin Godzilla, as in which movie and Godzilla is better.
^
And it's entirely hypocritical on their part. No one complains about the origin changes and the new abilities that the heisei Godzilla has because to them, it's still Godzilla. I mean, we look into the heisei series, futurians travel to the year 1992 to get rid of Godzilla from history, which dates back to 1954 based on Terasawa's book "the birth of Godzilla."
We go back to 1944 to stop a dinosaur species dubbed godzillasaurus, from turning into Godzilla in 1954. When we return to 1992 after teleporting the dinosaur off of Rogos island, it's believed Godzilla had vanished, which in reality he never did. 54 still happens because it's the original and a different animal. That's also why everyone still knows who Godzilla is. Terasawa found out he was wrong after discovering an article about a 70's sub sinking that mutated the dinosaur into the heisei Godzilla that attacked in 1984. Everything from 55-75 is ignored in the heisei timeline.
Huge-Ben- I know, but some people say it's GINO because of the new origins and powers.
@dragon king ultra,
If it has maple leaf like dorsal fins, fires a devastating atomic ray, looks and feels like Godzilla, represents some of the troubled times in Japan, it's Godzilla.
The thing about King Kong vs Godzilla 62 is, Toho declared Kong the winner. Of course, the original Japanese version and the American version have the same ending with Kong emerging from the ocean and swimming back home. The one thing that IS different between the two, is that in the American version, Kong lets out a seemingly victorious roar as proof as the winner, while the original Japanese version, you hear Godzilla let out a roar while Kong is swimming away back home and then followed by Kong's roar.
I think the main thing to Kong vs Godzilla 62 to remember is that Eiji Tsuburaya was heavily influenced by King Kong 1933 to make movies. So, if he decided he wanted Kong to win, it's only fitting for it to seem that way.
As for what I feel like may be the most debated conflict in the fanbase is probably going to be which series is the best. I'll stand by the Showa era.
I mentioned that my opinion of comics being canon was the unpopular one, last time I checked when I brought up the notion around here in one of the other debates :P
My most debated thing is whether or not Shin Godzilla is Godzilla or just another GINO, (I think it's Godzilla.)
I'd say one of the most debated things is whether or not Hollywood is fit to create Godzilla movies.
Thought of something else that may be unpopular.
Comic books are not Canon and never will be.
Another chapter plus some monster backstory.
A. Godzilla is not a wimp like Big Foot.
B. You're not going shout Bible Curses at him and drive him off like a mere demon.
C. Flame throwing dinosaur monsters, super weapons, tanks and helicopter gunships are cool.
D. I always thought of Godzilla as a tornado, a force I see as unstoppable.
E. My dogs like Godzilla.
I got one, one I plan on including in my writing eventually, but I'll give you guys a free preview:
Despite his blank, blind eyes, one could easily see the intense determination that Godzilla possessed.
He turns to face the Destroyer, with crystalline dorsal plates glowing an intense blue colour. A white blueish-white light forms at the back of the King of the Monsters' throat, and then.....
Darkness. Although the day was bright and sunny just a moment ago, darkness suddenly filled the air as a blueish-white stream of energy shot out of Godzilla's maw, straight at the Destroyer.
Half of the Destroyer's face is completely vaporized, leaving searing white heat scarring. Once this brief burst of the true power of a god resides, the light returns to the Earth.
I disliked Son of Godzilla for a long time. Rewatched before G14 came out and realized it's a great movie. So much fun, I think I prefer Ebirah Horror from the Deep between the two, but that's not a knock against Son of Godzilla I just really love Horror from the Deep
The King of the Monsters,
Love it. More or less mirrors many of my thoughts--Though the idea that Godzilla was only preserving his species at the beginning and learning to care for Minilla is a new interpretation. I enjoyed reading that. It's refreshing to read such praise for an otherwise highly underrated film.
^
Outstanding short review of Son of Godzilla there @the king of monsters.
diversity in talent.. makes for a potentially great story line. I really want a good story line in this movie. I think Ghidorah is going to be referred to as a mythological creature.. with a grand back story. BTW.. did anyone else notice the 3 headed Transformer in the latest trailer? talk about stealing a concept from the kaiju world.
Savage.
SAAAAAAAAAAAAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAGAGAGAGAGGEGEGEGEEEE
I've always felt that Son of Godzilla is often unfairly dismissed simply because of Minilla's presence and Godzilla's design. The film has a very likable cast of characters, specifically Goro Maki and Saeko Matsumiya, and the human scenes never drag on when the monsters aren't on screen. The cast of actors does a good job in their roles, and Goro Maki remains my favorite role for Akira Kubo in the Godzilla series. The film also wisely gets the humans into the monster action, whether they are hiding from Kamacuras or cowering and shooting their rifles as Kumonga's legs try to grab them. Just having the humans physically confront one of the kaiju is a refreshing touch.
The monsters also have plenty of character in the film. Minilla is mischievous but lovable, and his interactions with the stern anti-hero Godzilla are great to watch. The movie does a fantastic job concluding Godzilla's character development; at the start he is only preserving his species by rescuing Minilla, but by the end he legitimately has come to care for his son and against his own best interest stays on the island to comfort Minilla as it freezes over and they fall into hibernation. Kamacuras and Kumonga are excellent villain kaiju too. The Kamacuras are mean and nasty bullies who have no problem picking on the humans and Minilla, but get what they deserve once they meet Godzilla and Kumonga. Kumonga is a legitimately threatening villain, a kaiju who eats other kaiju. The scene where he nearly kills Minilla and Godzilla races to save his son is legitimately suspenseful, and the final battle is terrific as well, with Minilla rescuing his father at one point and their combined efforts finally defeating Kumonga.
Last but not least there's Masaru Sato's score. While Sato's may not be Ifukube, his scores compliment Fukuda's films extremely well. His Son of Godzilla score features many great pieces, from the cute and playful Minilla theme to the energetic Kamacuras theme and the ominous Kumonga theme. The "Godzilla vs. Kumonga" piece is another standout, beginning with a faster-paced version of the film's Godzilla theme and eventually building into the film's main theme. My personal favorite piece in the score has to be the end title, which begins slow and somber, but by the end swells into a heartwarming and triumphant close to the film, perfectly supplementing the onscreen action.
I know that was kind of an informal mini-review, but off the top of my head that's why I love Son of Godzilla so much and view it as a true classic of the Showa series.
The King of the Monsters,
Not disagreeing with your take on Sea Monster or Son of Godzilla in the least, in fact I largely agree--Would you elaborate more on them? Specifically Son? I find that to be an excellent entry.
The Stan Winston Godzilla design is slightly better than the Legendary design.
Toho claims that the 2016 Godzilla is the strongest incarnation, yes. But they also said the same thing about the 2014 Godzilla at one point.
Neither one add up and is likely just used for marketing purposes.
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep and Son of Godzilla are almost as good as the Ishiro Honda-directed classics of the early Showa era.
Godzilla 2000 comes off as an extremely lazy and rushed film that believed it could justify its own existence just by erasing the bad taste left by G98. The American re-edit takes steps to actually remedy this.
Destroy All Monsters is one of Ishiro Honda's weaker efforts, and for most of its runtime feels like a watered-down version of his previous films. Only the final battle really makes the film memorable.
Rebirth of Mothra I and III are both good movies.
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II is my favorite Godzilla film.
I probably have a few more, but those are ones I can think of off the top of my head.
Didn't they state that Shin Godzilla was the strongest?
I'm very mixed when it comes to my opinion on Godzilla vs. Gigan.
"I think films won't be able to preserve Godzilla for long."
I think after 60+ years of movies and more and more techniques used to preserve, copy and remaster films being developed all the time, this is quite frankly untrue for any fandom.
"And by the way, if you want a REALLY unpopular opinion, my favorite G-Film of all time is Gigan."
Gigan used to be one of my favorite films as it was the very first Godzilla movie I ever saw. These days I need more than nostalgia to get me through a movie, though. It's a hard one to sit through regardless of sentiment. I don't hate it by any stretch and still have fond memories of the film, but, ironically, once the battle starts I lose interest and it kind of drags. Those characters were too entertaining to take a time out during the second act.
I'm not sure if this is an unpopular opinion, but let's roll with it:
I think films won't be able to preserve Godzilla for long.
I think things like animation (be it serialized or installment-based) and comic books will be the eventual successor to live-action film as the main Godzilla media to preserve the character for future generations.
"There's no reason we can't have a mature conversation over Godzilla."
Well last I checked, we were :) Cheers.
"I don't think you're entirely accurate there." His own effects showcase it themselves. You can see his effects go downhill from each film.
"You're not going to win me over with any arguments against Kawakita,"
This was never my objective or mission. Quite frankly, I'm not here to change your mind. I'm sorry if you felt this way.
"I think the man is too harshly dumped on by the more snobbish side of the fanbase."
That may be the case. We can thank Toho for deeming Biollante less superior at the box office, and if his drinking rumor is true. The effects on Biollante alone would make Stan Winston's head spin.
"But yes, your criticisms are fueled by your personal feelings."
Again, pointing out a films weaknesses is not personal feelings. I don't have feelings towards the movies. I enjoy them for what they are. But, with weaknesses in any of these films, it stops them dead in their tracks from being completely enjoyable.
"You're entitled to them, I just don't agree with them."
And this is perfectly fine. I'm just not going to be confronted by an illusion and confusion by how poor some of these films are.
We enjoy the heisei series, this is perfectly fine bro. I'm not here to change your mind or downgrade your opinion on this subject. I'll agree these films are made for entertainment purposes, but with weaknesses, they become less and less enjoyable. I don't hate these films nor anyone else's opinion.
We've both have been fans for nearly 30 years together. There's no reason we can't have a mature conversation over Godzilla.
Ha oh no it wasn't a mockery thing, they were just very surprised anybody would think that highly of the "dark era" of the Showa films, but they were good natured about it, just more of a "Seriously? Gigan? Strange Americans...." It was actually kind of funny. Besides, they helped me learn some Japanese to greet Nakajima San with while we waited in line.
Also, I like 2005 Kong more than the original
