Posted on 06/25/2004 3:11:11 PM PDT by Long Cut
After banging around on some threads lately, it has become obvious that a decent number of FReepers are fans of Japan’s most famous monster, GODZILLA.
This is certainly understandable; that worthy creature has appeared in 28 movies over 50 years, has had two animated TV series, as well as a series of novels devoted to his exploits. Most of the movies we enjoyed as kids, whiling away Saturday afternoons in the days before cable with those great old ‘60s and ‘70s films with the Big G and his buddies Rodan, Mothra, Angilas, and a host of others. Lots of fun memories there, right? (C’mon...how many of you almost drove Mom crazy by trying incessantly to imitate the famous roar of Godzilla...at the top of your lungs? ‘Fess up.)
Myself, I have over 20 of Godzilla’s best (and worst) films on tape and DVD, as well as Daikaiju Eiga (giant monster movies) with other famous creatures of yore...Gamera the fiery turtle, Gorgo, and King Kong.
What is it that draws us to these creatures? Why do we take such pleasure in watching men in suits trash fake cities? WHO CARES?!?! They’re FUN!
Not only that, but they are perfectly suitable for our own children, being free of the sex and profanity so common today. Heck, I still own several Godzilla toys from years ago, and some NEW ones I “impulse bought”, to my wife’s chagrin, a few years ago when the American “GINO” (Godzilla In Name Only) came out.
Godzilla is actually a great fit for conservatives, is he not? Let’s see...he is steadfast in a fight, never running from confrontation and always standing up for himself.
He favors personal weapons, bringing his famous Atomic Breath (“Assault Breath”?) everywhere, carrying it concealed until needed. He has also taught his children the safe use of this weapon, as a good father should.
He is a good family man, taking care of both of his children single-clawedly, and homeschooling them besides. In fact, when one was taken by government agents (possibly from HHS), he retrieved the lad by leveling a city. As mentioned, he taught both the proper use of FIREarms.
He disdains illegal aliens, especially those from the planet Kilaak, whom he turned to cinders himself instead of bothering to wait for the INS. Repeat atmosphere-crossers, like Ghidorah, get similar treatment. In fact, no illegal aliens have ever faced anything but trouble from the Big Guy. He even destroys their ships, to prevent recidivism.
He hates government intrusion in his private life, such as when the government sends battalions of tanks to stop him from peaceably going for a walk. Not even David Koresh, however, reduced tanks to molten slag in defense of his Liberty.
He’s a team player as well as a good leader, having rallied other monsters to a cause and leading them on to victory, that being the obligatory stomping of (illegal) space alien ass, and of course the severe beating of Ghidorah.
He has no patience with the Endangered Species Act, which he proves by mauling and torching endangered giant mantises, spiders, and moths who pester him.
Yes, there’s a lot to like about the old geezer, and I figure that this is as good a place as any to discuss his and his bunch’s finer points.
So what’s your favorite movie? Favorite monster? How about the best battle, or what fight would you like to see? Let’s chew on that for a while...it’s the weekend!
Gotcha! You're on it!
The size effect in water is mitigated by using a small amount of soap in it. It seems to cut down on the effect.
They also use some CGI to help, at least in the 2000's. Due to budgeting constraints, they have been unable to use it as freely as American producers.
Hey, if you find something that makes water look "smaller" if added, sell it to the Japanese!
I think I read somewhere that one was based on the other.
Ultraman was just getting popular in Japan in the 70's when "Godzilla versus Megalon" was planned, so they included a space-looking robot in it to tap that audience. The resemblance is deliberate.
I think even Godzilla himself would hold off on the atomic breath if he saw her!
Sounds like computer graphics have been a relief to some people.
Destroys surface tension, thus producing very fine droplets.
They have steadily been increasing the amount of CGI in the films, a little at a time as they master it. They don't generally like to use a new technology whole-hog (ala Jurassic Park) until they are sure they fully understand how to use it effectively. It was also too expensive for them fore a lot of years. The average budget for a G-Film was only about $10 million.
Have a good morning, everyone! I'll check back this afternoon or evening sometime, have fun!
Great picture, too!
Vade, see what I mean about the technology advancing?
The more you mix in computer wizardry, the more you can do. (And the less time you will probably spend telling a story.)
I hardly ever go to see anything new. I have a growing library of old stuff, though.
Where did that scene come from?
Michael found it.
I checked the URL...it's from Ain't It Cool News, and it apparently is a scene from "Godzilla: Final Wars".
It's also interesting to look at a true visual spectacle picture, The Four Feathers of 1939, and compare it to a recent Hollywood remake. The original is still stunning with its color photography of North Africa and its huge armies of extras. Some politically incorrect Kipling-esque dervishes and fuzzy-wuzzies, white-man's burden attitude is detectable, but this is more toned down than you might expect. A story is told faithful in its broadest outlines to history although the mainline plot is bunk.
Hollywood's recent remake substitutes a lot of computer wizardry for spectacle where none is needed, then unaccountably writes the very-much-needed climactic battle of Omdurman completely out of the picture.
They still make feel-good human-interest or comic movies on trivial stuff. Will Jack Nicholson find love with Diane Keaton or will she go for Keanu Reeves? But they've lost their way on everything else.
I used to watch that avidly, even as a toddler (late 60s, early 70s).
Mom wouldn't let me watch the evening news with all the death reports, but had no problem letting me watch Japanese monster movies. Go figure.
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