Your Unpopular Godzilla Opinions

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.

^

Outstanding short review of Son of Godzilla there @the king of monsters. 

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.

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

Thought of something else that may be unpopular.

Comic books are not Canon and never will be. 

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

Mothra vs Godzilla is boring and no good. This makes me sad because Mothra is one of my favorite.

Invasion of Astro Monster is a great film except for that horrible dance.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah is a top 5 Godzilla film.

Godzilla 2014 is in the bottom half, while Shin is top 2.

Titanosaurus has the best roar.

The Gamera heisei series is better that the Godzilla Heisei series with special FX.

The Return of Godzilla and Shin Gojira are the best in the entire series!

That Gamera heisei series is pretty sweet and I would argue it is better in more than just special FX.

My unpopular opinion. Even though Planet of Monsters comes out this year, I'm more excited for King of the Monsters.

"That Gamera heisei series is pretty sweet and I would argue it is better in more than just special FX."

Agreed. In fact I don't think a single kaiju movie has topped Gamera 3: The Revenge of Irys since its release. (Another likely unpopular opinion--If I haven't stated it before.)

Godzilla 2000 is my favorite design, Legendary Godzilla is my second, and Godzilla 1991 comes in 3rd.

The Heisei films are great, minus GvSG, GvMothra, and GvMG.

The showa films had the best stories of the entire series, but also the worst special effects

Godzilla is way cooler as a bad guy

GvMG 1974 is the best film of the whole series

akira ifukubes scores should be played or used as source material in the Monsterverse movies

If Bryan Cranston would have made it to the end of Godzilla 2014, the movie would have made 600 milion plus at the box office

Also still think Legendary screwed up by killing him off, he should be on the head of Monarch operations working with Serizawa for GKOTM

The introduction to the skullcrawlers in Kong was god awful. We get John C reily narrating their appearance with no element of suprise or suspense whatsoever.

The last fight Scene where Kong is chained up by the boats is so unrealistic. You literally have to turn your brain off to watch it. There is no way those people aren't killed by the skullcrawler while Kong is tied up for that long. It's like where you see if you can hold your breath for as long as someone is in the movie. Just count how many seconds Kong is tied up and you'll know what I mean. 

 Legendary Godzilla needs bigger teeth and more powerful atomic breath.

Godzilla should never faint for longer than a few minutes, that was ridiculous. He kicks ass and he leaves, he doesn't faint.

I grew up with the Heisei series and honestly Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992) and Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah are in my Top 5 movies of the entire Godzilla franchise.

Pacific Rim is the best Kaiju movie in the last 17 years.

Not really Godzilla, but relates to Godzilla movies so guess I'll add it.

^Given my Gamera 3 comment, I can largely agree with this sentiment.

@Trapzilla,

Showa had the worst special effects? What weed you smokin'? More blatant disrespect to Eiji Tsuburaya the master of monsters and tokusatsu. 

Anyway, The Gamera trilogy, Pacrim, and Shin Godzilla are the best Kaiju films to date. 

Kong skull island>Godzilla 2014. 

@Huge-Ben some bomb ass shit from Cali haha. The miniatures were better I'll give you that but in terms of suits and atomic breath showa loses.

Godzilla 1989/1991 has the best roar of any Godzilla 

^I don't think that's unpopular.

@Trapzilla,

"But in terms of suits and atomic breath, Showa loses."

Funny that the atomic breath in the 90's heisei series didn't create explosions but 4th of July sparks. Koichi Kawakita had a much higher budget and failed at capitalizing on it. He used the Bandai Destoroyah toys...His effects were too sparky and glittery to be honest. Very rarely did we see the monsters with wings actually flap them. They looked like cardboard floating and gliding in the air. That's not using your craftsmanship to the fullest in special effects. Just because the suits may be better in terms of looks doesn't mean better effects.