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!
From monsterzero.com...
Just when we thought he was gone and dead the terror is back! Devlin and Emmerich's American Godzilla makes an appearance in Godzilla Final Wars
What's it got to do with Dims? This thread was meant a a diversion from politics that fans could hit for a laugh or two, then go back to the debating.
For the 50th anniversary of the Godzilla series, in the movie finale FINAL WARS, the American Godzilla will be making an appearance. The X-seijin who plan on conquering the earth, create and release a murderous kaiju called Zilla in Sydney, Australia. An all-out battle unfolds between Zilla and Godzilla. In this dream battle between the Japanese and American Godzilla, Kitamura said with confidence, "I wanted to do something that nobody would expect."
The American Godzilla has a gigantic head, a long tail that makes you think of a lizard and thin limbs. After 6 years since its debut, it’s been revived. Now he challenges the Japanese Godzilla for the title of "Godzilla". 　
Even in Japan, Godzilla (98’ American version) was a hit, taking in around 30 million dollars. However, there was a controversy about the design regarding the pros and cons of it. Director Kitamura is one of the critics too, and says he can watch and enjoy the American Godzilla if he keeps in mind that this is not the real Godzilla. In order to have the Japanese Godzilla protect his own namesake, the American Godzilla was selected to do battle with him. 　
The production staff makes sure the rights to use Godzilla are exclusive to Toho. In America there are imitation products on the market that have the name"Zilla."Producer Tomiyama has the ability to get rid of these products if he chooses to. Tomiyama thinks that the American Godzilla is a representation of these imitation products therefore he named the American Godzilla in FINAL WARS simply "Zilla". The significance of this perfectly suits this kaiju who has had the word "God" taken out from the name "Godzilla".
When Zilla appears in Sydney, humanity’s last hope is a revived Godzilla who is beneath the ice in Antarctica to do battle with it. The details of the battle are under wraps, but the Sydney street will be decimated. Kitamura, who studied film direction in Australia, said it would be an honor to have Godzilla destroy his second home.
"I want to compete with America. I want to overwhelm the American Godzilla (which is a symbol of CG) with the Japanese technique of suitmation,"says Kitamura. In the movie, Godzilla is made from a suit, and Zilla is made from CG. "I’m putting in the movie what people all over the world want...Zilla. I want to reach the height of the series and return Godzilla back to being strong and cool again. There are times also when Godzilla behaves affectionately and humorously which I think will make Roland Emmerich laugh if he sees this movie," Kitamura says with confidence. FINAL WARS opens December 4th.
This film will SO rock...
Cool. Thanks for the ping!
No sweat. GFW looks like it'll be one Helluva flick. I might even start looking forward to seeing a movie again. Haven't done that since LOTR finished up.
I don't bother going to the theatre much myself. But, I will look into this.
As for Godzilla, he's a Japanese citizen, so he can't even vote in the US. His overall outlook is certainly conservative, though. Other than that, he's stayed clear of politics his whole "life".
Most of the other actors in G-films are Japanese too. You might see the odd American here or there, but they're usually expats.
One thing though...in 1968's Destroy All Monsters, Godzilla burns the UN building to the ground. Close enough? (I always cheer at that scene)
Want to get on the 'Zilla Ping List?
Oh, and it seems that, in the new movie, Godzilla WILL meet his American counterpart (known as "GINO" to fans, from the 1998 American "Godzilla"). There's some footage of him as well.
Personally, I'd LOVE to see the real McCoy kick that dumb, wuss iguana's skinny butt.
http://www.monsterzero.us/
And all should be well.
http://www.clubtokyo.org/monsterzero/
However, the one I get in my browser window when I get to the site is different. I don't know why this is.
just leave out the www and for some reason it does ok so it would loook like
http://monsterzero.us/
If all else fails, just type "MonsterZero" into Google. It comes up at the top.
This bring back good memory
I am one of Generation X Freepers that remember watchign Godzilla on local LA station back in da day
OMG that were those days
Our old buds at MonsterZero (do a Google search...linking to them is tough!) also have an article up with photos of the upcoming DVD's of Son Of Godzilla and Tokyo: SOS, together with another which shows the upcoming toys from GFW.
Enjoy, and it's good to be back!
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