Godzilla 2016: The Monster He Should Be?

Judging Anno's past work he seems pretty good a conceptualizing grotesque or disturbing things. Some the the Angels and even the Evas in his Evangelion series were interesting to say the least even on the low budget that show had. I'm more worried about his ability to create likable characters and a story than being able to make a monsterous Godzilla.

Looking at the director and assistant I think we'll get a pretty original looking Godzilla, and if they make a story that fits the nightmare look I'd enjoy it.

DURP004 - How very interesting! I have never seen the Evangelion series. Do you believe it is worth viewing? Regardless, I am pleased to hear the information you have presented - it is definately encouraging! :)

I remember that leaked comic con trailer for 2014 ,how dark,apocalyptic, and yet poetic it was and how they made Godzilla look like an angry god come to deliver judgment. We were taken for fools and given a fairly straight forward monster flick with Godzilla as a superhero. It sounds likethe new team want to actually give us what we were expecting last year. 

NPINKHAM19 - I understand and respect your opinion immensely! Indeed, it does seem that the new team is interested in delivering a Godzilla that reflects the nightmare of atomic power! Hopefully we will get that vision! :)

I want to note that Higuchi had initially planned a much more violent and gory battle amongst the monsters in Gamera 3, but Daiei held him back. I find this interesting since Gamera 3 probably has some of the most graphic kaiju images in the genre. I wonder how far he'll be allowed to go in order to create his great "nightmare."

Will Godzilla return to his original roots? My answer, yes. 

All I want for this movie is to have a great story to foreshadow the greatest worst nightmare. I want great characters who know how to give great acting. I want great special effects. Of course Shinji Higuchi will take care of that. I want this movie to have a meaning, a message to carry along with it. I want Godzilla to be so badass looking that it could top my favorite Godzilla design, that being the 91 suit. I want this movie to succeed at the box office so that more Godzilla films can be brought about. I want the best for it. 

When bringing the whole "greatest worst nightmare " into the equation, only one film comes to mind. Godzilla 1954. Godzilla was a nuclear nightmare in that film, it carried the message of how dangerous the h-bomb is and how hazardous the radiation is. He killed thousands among thousands, he caused really great destruction that could be counted up to at least a billion. Mankind was seemingly helpless until the oxygen destroyer came into play. The scenery in this film is still haunting to this very day. 

I'm hoping that these 2 men can give this film a lot of heart. Something that can relate to the Godzilla films of the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Even if they bring in another monster, the greatest worst nightmare can still happen. Look at Godzilla raids again, Mothra vs. Godzilla 64, the return of Godzilla 84, and Gmk. Godzilla is still a haunting terror in those films and is a wrecking ball.  

I'm hoping for a film that can be the quality of Gamera 3 and carry the power of the 54 Godzilla film together. Both of those films are datk, gritty, serious, and show just how small mankind is to these monsters. The recent attack on titan trailer revealed just how far Shinji Higuchi has progressed in the arts of special effects. I know he'll do Godzilla justice in the arts of tokusatsu.

Will it be the most terrifying incarnation of Godzilla to date? That much has yet to be seen. I enjoy a lot of Godzilla films, but I've yet to see anything overcome the 54 film.

Is it something I would enjoy? Hell yes! I love nothing more than a Godzilla who is terrifying, sadistic, seemingly unstoppable, "more frightening than I ever thought possible."  The question I keep asking myself is, will it be solo or not? I personally want a solo film. It's been 32 years since the last, that being the 84. 84-2014 is 30 years but add this year and the next. Anyway, Godzilla started off as a monster of pure nightmare-ish hell on earth. It's something that I enjoy the most. I love Godzilla fighting other monsters as well. I just like Godzilla being a killer, a (God.)

News is very slow right now. However, come September or October, we should hear something then. There's so many things to speculate at this point. All I know is if Toho can make a Godzilla film like the 54 film in 3 months, then they should be able to pull off something monumental and spectacular for next year.

GMAN2887 - How interesting! I was not aware of the fact that he was held back in his depiction! I recently watched the Gamera Three and you are quite right; it does depict some extremely gory images - especially the first instance in which Gamera burnbs and mutiliates the Gyaos! Hmm, indeed; I wonder just how much freedom Higuchi will be given! :)

HUGE-BEN - I could not agree with you more! Our lines of thought are coterminus! :)

Personally I wasn't a fan of the series. I know a lot of anime fans really like it some considering it the best series ever. To say the least it starts out really strong but tempers down as it goes. If you ever saw the series Lost it's somewhat similar in the way more questions keep piling up with almost no answer or end. You also have to watch the movie End of Evangelion after you finish the series as the series ends in one of the most horrible endings I've ever seen, with you simply thinking, "what the hell just happened" after the credits role. Since This is somewhat rectified in the movie I'm guessing it was due to the poor funding the show had.

So overall I'm probably one of the few people who would say not to watch the original show. Recently it's been released in movies, which I haven't watched and probably won't. I'm sure some people will recommend it highly though so maybe it's great and I just missed the point seemed a bit pretentious to me to be honest though.

DURP004 - Thank you very much for this information; I will certainly consider your words should I choose to watch Evangelion. I was not aware that so many people enjoyed the series! How neat! :)

I for one like the show, but the recent movie adaptations (Rebuild of Evangelion) seem a bit more... "mainstream"? There's less ambiguity and more action pumping through the movies which begin to diverge from the series after the first one.

I still recommend watching the series as it is a landmark anime whether one likes it or not-- The stock footage gets a little grating, but the movies fix that for the better.

GMAN2887 - How excellent! I will certainly take your words under advisement. If I may ask, how long is the series and when did it first air? :)

It first aired in the mid-90s I believe. There's around 25 episodes, give or take. So it's not a long series. But I do recommend watching the film End of Evangelion as the true finale. It was practically made due to the negative reaction to the series' end.

The Rebuild of Evangelion movies will consist of four films. The first three have been released, but it looks like the fourth and final film will be further stalled by Godzilla. They're not a straight adaptation of the anime series, so it would be worth seeing both and looking at them as two seperate entities that go about different ways of telling the same story.

GMAN2887 - Interesting. I find it odd that there was such a negative response to the ending sequence. If I may ask, which do you prefer with regards to a) the ending, and b) the pair of series? :)

I certainly prefer the movie ending over the series ending. There was too much ambiguity left in the air by the end of the series and I was more satisfied with the film's conclusion.

As for which series I prefer, it's a tough call. I typically introduce the movies to people these days because it tends to get them into the material more gently. I like to look at them as companion pieces: More interesting to compare to each other than standing on their own.

GMAN2887 - Fascinating! Is there a theme to this series and the accompanying films? Moreover, is there a metaphore prevalent throughout? I ask this because (not to make a gross generalization) the vast majority of Japanese films and shows I have had the pleasure of viewing typically run heavy with subtle plot threads typically drawn from ancient mythology. I absolutely adore the style, and am curious if Evangelion follows in the same vein. :)

The show has a lot of references to most types of religions, christianity takes the front seat for the most part with visuals and names. Of course according to some people who worked on the show these are simply there for asesthetic look rather than having meaning, while others say it does. Basically every character suffers from some type of psychological or sociological condition apparently because Anno was going through a deep depression while writing this. Ironically of all the conditions the characters displayed I didn't really see depression as one of them.

Depending who you ask and where you look there are some sites that list a variety of undertones that the show has, while other sites go more with my idea that the show is just pretentious and people looking for deep meanings within it are digging deeper than they need to go. Both sides have points, so it's up to the viewer really to decide where they stand with it.

DURP004 - Now that is quite interesting! I will certainly have to look further into this series! I greatly appreciate your insights! :)

@Huge-Ben

Your words regarding Toho Godzilla 2016 express exactly what I want to see and experience with this film. With the directors we have and their words regarding the subject and the genre, I am confidant that we'll see a momentus, startling movie, something that will be quite remarkable.

I do not expect a kiddie film, or a movie without heart that caters, in a calculated way, to specific demographics. This Godzilla should be rather dark, a cautionary tale with fantastic effects and that look that tokusatsu imbues whatever it touches. I would expect Godzilla's presence, or even the threat of his return and appearance, to influence the narrative even when he's not in the scene. A sense of something approaching, inexorable, that cannot be comprehended or defeated, is what I would like to feel when things start happening, and his return is confirmed.