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!
The 1990's Heisei Godzilla was often teased for his fluffy thighs. They must have put him on a diet.
It'd best be a man inside that suit. That person simply cannot cross its legs.
A black pantsuit can hide thighs like that.
In one of the recent movies, however, "GMK", the monster Baragon was played by a woman. I believe it was the first time that was ever done in a G-film.
I bet the wearer of said pantsuit has it designed by the suit designer for the Godzilla movies.
Back-from-leave PLACEMARKER.
his roar was, is, and shall ever remain one of the best monster roars ever created.
Actually, he had about a dozen different sound he made through the years, including grunts, screams, and growls.
His famous "SKRRRREEEEEEEEOOOOOOONNNNKKKKKKK!" call has evolved through many different incarnations. Like his appearance, its sound was based, in large part, on his "personality" in the particular movie he was in.
In the first "Godzilla", it was deep, powerful, and resonated. It well-suited the ambience of fear in the movie. For films in which he was "the Good Guy", it was of a higher, less-threatening pitch. Godzilla actually had a pretty good vocabulary.
It wasn't even a real animal's roar, either. It was created by Akira Ifukube, the longtime composer of the Godzilla series (who was responsible for Godzilla's theme-march), by rubbing a resin-coated glove along a contrabass and amplifying it. Certainly, that simple effect became one of the most recognizable sounds in movie history, never equaled.
Google "Godzilla roar .wav" for a LOT more sites and sounds. I figure this thread could use them!
Cool! thanks.
I'd say those thighs and ankles were patterned after a certain NY Sinator who shall be NAMELESS in the void.. but she was an unknown in 1990.
Not that they didn't try, but the producers said at the time that, even after hundreds of hours with the finest sound-producing modern equipment available, they couldn't top the original.
He gets all the excercise he needs by STOMPING stuff.
I used to do that when I was a kid...I admit, sometimes I still do...I can even do a pretty good Godzilla scream...
LOL!
True!
It, androars of ALL toho monsters, can be found at Barry's Temple of Godzilla's sounds page.
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