Kaiju and general GIANT MONSTER mania

[megladon8]

So there's a very old "Rate/Rank Godzilla Movies" thread on MatchCut, but I think it's about time we have a thread devoted to giant monster films of all kinds.

"Kaiju" is one of the official-unofficial words used to describe this genre. Since the genre is mostly known for the Godzilla, Gamera and other Toho monster films of Japan, this Japanese word - roughly translated to mean "monster" or "beast", with the extension "daikaiju" meaning "giant monster" - has become synonymous with guys in rubber suits beating the crap out of each other in the middle of model cities.

And while most probably know the genre for the '60s and '70s Godzilla efforts which were camp-tastic flicks with throwaway plots and characters, there are some real gems to be found throughout the years and literally thousands of entries in this genre of filmmaking.

A rundown of some of kaiju cinema's most popular characters:

GODZILLA

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7198/godzillaxo2.jpg

First Sighting : 1954

Disregarding the American abomination starring Matthew Broderick, Godzilla is one of the most popular entities ever to grace the silver screen. Even people who have never seen a Godzilla film in their lives know what Godzilla is, and most even know the basic back story - that he was created as a metaphor for the massive destruction of Hiroshima by the atomic bomb.

His actual size has been far from consistent over the years. Some say 50 meters, some say as high as 100 meters. In any case, he's big - big enough to topple buildings with his footsteps or a single sweep of his enormous tail. Godzilla is also capable of breathing fire (or in some films, nuclear energy, which he builds up by sucking on nuclear reactors - see Godzilla 1985).

His allegiances have also been inconsistent at best. The original 1954 incarnation of Big G was an evil one, as he tore through Tokyo without hesitation. Just a few series entries later, however, Godzilla became Earth's saviour as he battled Ghidorah in Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster.

While his filmography has some moments that are certainly less than stellar, Godzilla remains one of, if not THE undisputed king of giant monster cinema

[megladon8]

MOTHRA

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/9656/mothramy3.jpg

First Sighting: 1961

Though the creature Mothra appeared in book form prior to the silver screen, her breakout film role was in Mothra in 1961, followed by Mothra vs. Godzilla in 1964. Though she has certainly wrought havoc all over Japan, she has more-or-less been a "good" character throughout the years.

In the original film, Mothra, she is defending the innocence of Infant Island - a land of primitive people which is found by explorers who then attempt to exploit the land and its people.

The character of Mothra can be seen in many different "life stages" throughout the various films she has appeared in. Sometimes she is just a larva, able to spray strands of silk to trap her attackers. But her most common form is, of course, the full-fledged moth, whose enormous wing-span can blow cars off of streets, and whose psychic abilities give her an edge over many other kaiju who rely on sheer braun.


(KING) GHIDORAH

First Sighting: 1964

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6925/ghidorah1ga0.jpg

The three-headed gold dragon from space, King Ghidorah has only ever played one role in the kaiju genre - the bad guy. However, King Ghidorah is almost always found to be controlled by one alien race or another, using his incredible powers for their own twisted plans of universal domination.

Ghidorah first came about in 1964 with Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, a film where Mothra attempts to bring Godzilla and Rodan together with her to defeat the evil golden dragon and save the Earth. So began a long string of Godzilla-the-good-guy movies, considered by some the be the absolute worst Godzilla has to offer, and by others to be the best.


MECHAGODZILLA

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6950/mechagodzillajv5.jpg

First Sighting: 1974

Arguably one of Godzilla's most popular opponents, Mechagodzilla is a manufacutred villain created by an alien race called the Simians. In his first appearance in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, he appears to be Godzilla himself - flesh, blood, bones. Even Godzilla himself is confused when he finds himself fighting his twin!

But when the flesh-suit is torn off it reveals a mechanical titan of terror underneath - Mechagodzilla!

Mechagodzilla has gone through many incarnations, just like the original giant lizard of Toho lore. More than once, he has even been man-made and piloted by Japanese fighter pilots in an attempt to fight Godzilla!

Armed with jetpacks, rockets in his shoulders and hands, and energy blasts from his mouth, Mechagodzilla is a formidable foe for Godzilla.

[megladon8]

KING KONG

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6821/kongiu6.jpg

First Sighting: 1933

Flying back over to North America for a minute, King Kong sits right next to Godzilla in terms of wide recognition. Since his first (and, in my opinion, best) appearance in 1933 in the classic action/adventure film King Kong, he has appeared in several different films and TV shows.

King Kong has without a doubt the most personality of any of the kaiju listed here. While his tirade in New York City does cause a lot of destruction, he is hardly to blame, and if anything he is seen as the sympathetic hero of the film. Whether you see him as a misunderstood beast, an ancient deity who could not live among modern society, or just a monkey with a severe case of gigantism, looking into his puppy-dog eyes and seeing the star-struck adoration he feels for Ann Darrow is perhaps one of the purest looks at "love" we have yet to see in the movies.


GAMERA

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2674/gameraja2.jpg

First Sighting: 1965

Lets shoot back over to Japan for one of my personal favorites: Gamera. In essence a giant turtle with a jetpack, Gamera is one of Earth's greatest heros, defending us against beasts as strange as Guillon (a monster with a sword for a head) and as unrelenting as the Gyaos (a race of giant bird-like creatures whose only purpose is destruction).

I must stress that the trilogy of Gamera films from the 1990s are absolute REQUIRED VIEWING. These form a trifecta of the very best that the genre has to offer - incredible action sequences, genuinely interesting plot and funny characters, and just a great movie-watching experience. They begin with Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, where Gamera must defend the Earth against hordes of the aforementioned Gyaos. In the second installment, Gamera 2: Attack of Legion, he must do battle with Legion, a hive-mind race of beings who use infect planets with giant flower pods which launch their seeds into space to invade other planets.

In the last installment, Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris, a young girl awakens an ancient monster to do battle with Gamera, and avenge her parents who were killed by Gamera while he was fighting the Gyaos. This is perhaps the only giant monster films I've seen which addresses the issue of the collateral damage caused by these huge monster fights which always seem to happen in populated areas. In a very cool flashback scene, we see Gamera through the girl's eyes - no longer a hero, but a demonic looking villain whose wrecklessness leads to the deaths of thousands.

[megladon8]

DAIMAJIN

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/4922/daimajinul4.jpg

First Sighting: 1966

First appearing in his own film trilogy in 1966 (Daimajin, Return of Daimajin and Wrath of Daimajin), this is one of the lesser-known kaiju, but also one of the best. Daimajin is similar to what we westerners know as a "golem" - an animated statue or sculpture. The Daimajin is a giant samurai warrior statue possessed by an ancient spirit.

The Daimajin films do something that very, very few kaiju films have done before or since - it's actually quite frightening. Not in an "I'm so scared I can't even sleep" kind of way, but they're eerie, unnerving and have an incredibly dense atmosphere. The beautiful photography gives the monster himself a startling presence.

These are kaiju films for people who think the cheesiness of the Godzilla or Gamera films won't suit them.


ULTRAMAN

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/934/ultraman1kk0.jpg

First Sighting: 1966

Ultraman isn't actually a giant monster, but he is giant, and he defends the Earth from monsters, so I figure he qualifies. Plus, he's frickin' awesome.

Ultraman first began as a TV series in 1966 in Japan (which was dubbed for American audiences) and has had countless incarnations since then - TV series', movies, comics, books, video games. I don't think there's any story-telling medium Ultraman hasn't invaded.

To make matters even more complicated, every new appearance tends to be a whole new Ultraman. There are so many different Ultramen, I don't think I can even count them. Just some of them are:

Ultraman Gaia
Ultraman Max
Ultraman Mebius
Ultraman Tiga
Ultraman Dyna

There are at least a dozen more, each of them with a different variation on the red-and-silver costume, and with a different human host.

The way Ultraman works is similar to the American comic cook character Captain Marvel/Shazam. A human makes a bond with an Ultraman (one of a race of intergalactic protectors) and are given the power to transform into Ultraman whenever they need to save the world.

The series' are known for their outlandish monster designs and Ultraman's ever-growing list of powers. He seems to be able to do pretty much anything. If a monster's only weakness is having chocolate chip cookies full of laser beams injected into his scalp, you can guarantee that Ultraman is just a few hand gestures away from pulling a syringe fullof laser-chip cookies out of his ass.

While they're pretty much kids' shows, the Ultraman shows are just great fun for the goofy kaiju lover. I strongly recommend the 2005 series "Ultraman Max".

[bac0n]

Anybody looking for me can find me in this thread.

Interesting note on King Ghidorah - although he has been Godzilla's principle adversary in every film in which he has made an appearance, he has not always played the role of villain. In 2002's Godzilla Mothra King Guidorah: Giant Monster All-Out Attack, he plays the part of an ancient Japanese water god who is resurrected to battle Godzilla, a demonic surrogate for vengeful dead spirits.

The movie basically turns around the whole Godzilla-as-goodguy convention on its head - and it works surprisingly well. A must-see for fans of the genre.

[megladon8]

Anybody looking for me can find me in this thread.

Interesting note on King Ghidorah - although he has been Godzilla's principle adversary in every film in which he has made an appearance, he has not always played the role of villain. In 2002's Godzilla Mothra King Guidorah: Giant Monster All-Out Attack, he plays the part of an ancient Japanese water god who is resurrected to battle Godzilla, a demonic surrogate for vengeful dead spirits.

The movie basically turns around the whole Godzilla-as-goodguy convention on its head - and it works surprisingly well. A must-see for fans of the genre.


Yeah, this is probably my favorite Godzilla film of all :)

I completely forgot that he wasn't an all-out bad guy in this one, though.

I still like to think he would've done a little more city-trashing than needed in this movie - just to keep is bad-guy spirit up to snuff. :cool:

[bac0n]

Yeah, this is probably my favorite Godzilla film of all :) Yeah, you and me both. Further, this is the only Godzilla film that, like Gamera: Revenge of Iris, explores to a certain degree the human cost of all the monster destruction. It really works to cement Godzilla in the film as one evil motherfucker.

[balmakboor]

I'll be following this one closely. I've been grazing in the genre for about a year now and my favorites have so far been the first of the recent trilogy of Gamera movies, Rodan, and War of the Gargantuas.

A few comments:

I get a ridiculous thrill out of how epically fake the battles are. I love how the cities and cars look like models and the monsters like men in rubber suits. Polished special effects are overrated.

I also enjoy how the monsters can be difficult to pin down. What they represent can fluctuate almost scene by scene and so can their physical size. I've especially noticed this frequent changing of size in Godzilla and King Kong movies.

It made me realize that E.T. and the It's Alive movies owe a lot to these Kaiju movies. E.T. represents different things to each character. The It's Alive monsters evolve considerably throughout the trilogy.

Is it just me or do the early Ishiro Honda films like Gojira and Rodan look like Ozu films with monsters?

[megladon8]

I'll be following this one closely. I've been grazing in the genre for about a year now and my favorites have so far been the first of the recent trilogy of Gamera movies, Rodan, and War of the Gargantuas.

Glad you're enjoying what giant monster flicks have to offer!

I will be doing another "profile" of Rodan in the next day or so.



A few comments:

I get a ridiculous thrill out of how epically fake the battles are. I love how the cities and cars look like models and the monsters like men in rubber suits. Polished special effects are overrated.

I do, too, and I think it's a case of "you love it, or you don't".

You should check out "Ultraman Max". Some AWESOMELY bad model work there :lol:



I also enjoy how the monsters can be difficult to pin down. What they represent can fluctuate almost scene by scene and so can their physical size. I've especially noticed this frequent changing of size in Godzilla and King Kong movies.

One of my favorite "hard to pin down exactly what the hell he is" monsters is King Caesar...

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/5158/kingcaesar.jpg

50% lion
50% lizard
50% bunny rabbit

150% awesome

[D_Davis]

Although not strictly a kaiju film, I cannot recommend the Shaw Brothers film Super Inframan enough.

http://image2.sina.com.cn/ent/x/2005-03-03/U825P28T3D668422F326DT20050309 160019.jpg


It's a border-kaiju!

[bac0n]

Super Inframan is great fun. It has all the trappings of classic daikaiju monsters, except, well, the giant part.

[MadMan]

Honestly I need to watch more monster movies.

[megladon8]

RODAN

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5050/rodanpx1.jpg

First Sighting: 1956

Though actually called Radon, this monster became known as Rodan in the USA and the name stuck! How's that for interesting?

Rodan is a giant flying lizard-bird monster. He first appeared in his own film - Rodan - in 1956, one of several filmes released by Toho after the success of Gojira, in hopes that they could find a new hit monster. Though nothing ever struck gold the same way that the '54 classic did, Rodan nevertheless became an incredibly popular monster in the Toho kaiju universe.

Similar to many kaiju, Rodan began life as a villain, devouring the citizens of Japan every chance he got. And while hoaky in execution, the original Rodan film features an ending that's kind of sad/bittersweet.

Rodan has fought both with and against Godzilla on many occasions, though his disappearance from newer films in the franchise is a bit puzzling.


BARAGON

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/1269/baragon2rp1rv6.jpg

First Sighting: 1965

Baragon is kind of like the little bitch of the Toho universe. He is always having his ass handed to him, and I don't know that I've ever seen a movie where he actually did any good. In Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, Godzilla beats him so hard that I can't help but actually feel a bit sorry for him...he's totally useless in a fight.

Baragon first appeared in Toho's 1965 camp classic Frankenstein Conquers the World, where "a Frankenstein" created by the Japanese military must do battle with Baragon, a giant monster attacking Japan.

This four-legged wonder called Baragon also has the distinction of being one of the few monsters that got goofier looking over time. In the beginning he actually looked somewhat menacing - the spikes on his back, the horn in the middle of his face. He looked like he could at least do some damage. Over time, however, they've increased the size of his ears, given him puppy-dog eyes, and have made him work strictly on all-fours.

Seeing Godzilla lay waste to him in GMK is like watching someone kick a puppy.

[megladon8]

SUBJECT DESIGNATE: CLOVERFIELD

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/2651/cloverfieldmonster.jpg

First Sighting: 2008

The monster from Cloverfield - though it doesn't really have a name, and "Cloverfield" is just a government-given codename - is one of the strangest giant monsters I've seen. Its strangely jointed arms and legs, enormous tadpole-like tail and bulbous glands on its head (which I assume it uses to breathe) make it an odd sight to behold. Even after seeing the film from start to finish, it's hard to make out exactly how this monster is put together from head to toe.

The film itself is - to me - something that will be remembered in 15 or 20 years. The first of its kind, instead of having a convoluted plot akin to many kaiju films, this one opts to show the "ground level" story of an attack by a giant monster. Once the attack begins, it's relentlessly paced, and - dare I say - actually quite frightening. When I saw the film with a friend opening day, he even dared to say it was "the most frightening movie he'd ever seen theatrically". Perhaps that's a bit much, but it goes to show that giant monsters aren't always silly movies to watch on a "guys night" with lots of beer.

Aside from a BIG problem I have with an ending scene...

...sorry, no explanation of "they were disoriented" is going to convince me that they wouldn't have noticed the monster RIGHT THERE when they got out of the helicopter crash...
...I would say this was one of 2008's most pleasant surprises. Skillfully shot, solidly acted, great effects work, and surprisingly intelligent...Cloverfield is a great movie, and a memorable monster to say the least.

It's still alive.

[lovejuice]

ok....when are we going to see Violante....you know, that giant mutated rose with fangs? that movie is my absolute favorite in the big G saga.

[megladon8]

ok....when are we going to see Violante....you know, that giant mutated rose with fangs? that movie is my absolute favorite in the big G saga.


Hmm...I honestly don't know that one.

Sure you have the spelling right? I can't find anything about it at all.

[lovejuice]

Hmm...I honestly don't know that one.

Sure you have the spelling right? I can't find anything about it at all.

hmmm...curious. it's actually 'b' not 'v'. perhaps it's north american phonetic thing. :P

http://i3.iofferphoto.com/img/item/302/350/81/godbio.JPG

http://www.godzilla.stopklatka.pl/godz-zdj/biolante.jpg

awww...aren't she adorable?

http://www.toyvault.com/Godzilla/Biollante%20Plush%20-%20Large.jpg

[megladon8]

I have never seen that one, and I must now.

Thank you for bringing it to my attention!

*rep*

[bac0n]

Biollante is one of the coolest of all of Godzilla's adversaries - certainly the most unique of them. And now I have a jones to watch it. And I have a bottle of beer in the fridge at home. Hrm.... a plan for the evening is coming together...

[lovejuice]

I have never seen that one, and I must now.

Thank you for bringing it to my attention!

*rep*

in fact i haven't watched it for like....a decade and a half, so i don't know if it's any good. i vaguely remember bitching score and supposedly moving story.

[megladon8]

Biollante is one of the coolest of all of Godzilla's adversaries - certainly the most unique of them. And now I have a jones to watch it. And I have a bottle of beer in the fridge at home. Hrm.... a plan for the evening is coming together...


Do you have it on DVD???

*plans to either ask for a burn/copy...or plan a full-scale raid on bac0n's house*

[lovejuice]

Biollante is one of the coolest of all of Godzilla's adversaries - certainly the most unique of them.
unless i'm mistaken, it's the only "she." correct?

[megladon8]

unless i'm mistaken, it's the only "she." correct?


Nope, Mothra's a girl!

[lovejuice]

Nope, Mothra's a girl!

aahhh. yes. also i have this vague feeling that king ghidorah might be a she. is that possible?

[D_Davis]

Biollante - Isn't this the film in which that psychic chick with the HUGE freaking ears first appears?

This film injected new life into the G-franchise, that's for sure.

[D_Davis]

Super Inframan is great fun. It has all the trappings of classic daikaiju monsters, except, well, the giant part.

It's a man-sized kaiju film!

:)

Same as the Yokai Monsters movies - those are awesome as well.

[bac0n]

Do you have it on DVD???

*plans to either ask for a burn/copy...or plan a full-scale raid on bac0n's house*Thanks to the magic of Region-Free DVD players, I have the entire Heisei Godzilla Series on DVD (with the exception of Godzilla 1985, which I'm sorta lukewarm about and i have on VHS tape which is good enough for me). :cool:


unless i'm mistaken, it's the only "she." correct? Hard to tell its sex, really. Biollante apparently contains the spirit of its creator's deceased daughter. Whether or not that makes it a she remains a point of conjecture.


Nope, Mothra's a girl! In some films, Mothra is referred to as she, in others, as a he.


aahhh. yes. also i have this vague feeling that king ghidorah might be a she. is that possible? It could be, I suppose, tho I don't remember any instance of its gender being discussed.


Biollante - Isn't this the film in which that psychic chick with the HUGE freaking ears first appears?

That would be Miki Saegusa, who, yeah, returned for all subsequent Godzilla films, up until Godzilla vs. Destroyah. The only Godzilla film where I thought her ears appeared huge was Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla, where she had that awful short haircut and those big honking ear rings which wiggled whenever she tried her psychic powers. In the other films, where her hair was longer and her ears weren't so accentuated, she looked quite pretty.

[MadMan]

Cloverfield has the distinction of being one of the few horror movies made over the past 10 years that truly scared the crap out of me. Those goddamn creepy crawly bug things, whatever the hell they were, in that tunnel scene, equaled me=screaming curse words at the screen. And they had to pop up again later.

[lovejuice]

save for emmerich's, i haven't watched any big G movie in almost two decades. so color me surprise that Godzilla versus Biollante dates very well. the effect is quite good. sure, everything looks modelly and rubberly, but the mayhem and the monsters themselves are exciting enough to watch. i suspect it has to do with the models, no matter how fake they appear, are still physical objects which're way better than any sub-par cgi could wish for.

the story is good, rather involving with a lot of parties. the big G, biollante (godzilla rose), the human which are consisted of the japanese, the american (villain), and the middle-eastern saradia (also villain, but pretty cool nonetheless.)

the only thing that makes me disappointed is the score. i remember it to be very good. which it's not, sadly.

[megladon8]

You really have me jonesin' to see this one, lovejuice.

I love the films with totally outlandish monsters, which this one seems to have.

Another one (an older Toho release) that has a famously strange monster is Dororo.

[KK2.0]

i haven't watched a giant monster movie since well, Cloverfield and The Host, and enjoyed them both greatly.

as a kid i was a huge ULTRAMAN fan, i used to sketch the monsters and follow other similar films that appeared on TV occasionally, japanese series were surprisingly popular in Brazil during the 80's until early 90's.

I remember watching some episodes of Gamera, and an ultraman rip-off called SPECTREMAN which had the best music theme like, evar!

found it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qitm2uB1Re0

[lovejuice]

I remember watching some episodes of Gamera, and an ultraman rip-off called SPECTREMAN which had the best music theme like, evar!

found it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qitm2uB1Re0
spectre! man! spectre! man! gahhh!!! can't get the song off my head. :frustrated: :)

[bac0n]

OMG I MUST FIND THIS SPECTRE MAN THING YOU SPEAK OF.

[megladon8]

Daimajin is such a great movie. Watched it last night - second viewing for me, first for Jen.

I love how Majin's presence is felt all throughout the film, not only due to the earthquakes signifying his awakening. It always feels like this beast is watching over all the events taking place, just waiting for the perfect time to begin his wrath.

Great movie, and beautifully shot.

[bac0n]

Daimajin is such a great movie. Watched it last night - second viewing for me, first for Jen.
...
Great movie, and beautifully shot.

Great payoff too, probably my favorite in any movie, period. Ooooooh do the bad-guys get what's coming to them!

[Qrazy]

So all of you fans of the genre, can you rank all of the Kaiju/Monster films you've seen from best to worst for me?

[megladon8]

So all of you fans of the genre, can you rank all of the Kaiju/Monster films you've seen from best to worst for me?


King Kong ('33)
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack ('01)
Gojira ('54)
Daimajin ('66)
The Host ('06)
Destroy All Monsters! ('68)
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris ('99)
Invasion of Astro Monster ('70)
Terror of Mechagodzilla ('75)
Rodan ('56)
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion ('96)
Cloverfield ('08)
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla ('74)
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster ('65)
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe ('95)
Super 8 Ultra Brothers ('08)
Godzilla 2000 ('99)
Godzilla: Final Wars ('04)
Mothra vs. Godzilla ('64)
War of the Gargantuas ('66)
Godzilla Raids Again ('55)
Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. ('03)
King Kong ('05)
Godzilla vs. Destroyah ('95)
Godzilla vs. Megaguirus ('00)
Godzilla & Mothra: The Battle for Earth ('92)
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla ('02)
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah ('91)
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2 ('93)
Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla ('94)
Godzilla 1985 ('84)
All Monsters Attack! ('69)
Godzilla ('98 / Emmerich)


I may have missed one or two, but I don't have my DVDs here to look at.

[Qrazy]

I may have missed one or two, but I don't have my DVDs here to look at.

No worries, thanks. Mostly just interested in what the best ones are.

[lovejuice]

Godzilla vs. Destroyah ('95)
Godzilla vs. Megaguirus ('00)
Godzilla & Mothra: The Battle for Earth ('92)
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla ('02)
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah ('91)
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2 ('93)
Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla ('94)
Godzilla 1985 ('84)


based on the low rating of these, do you mean to say you are not too enamored with the revisionism of the big G? i have watched none of this, but always nurture some interest. you think, i should cap that?

[megladon8]

based on the low rating of these, do you mean to say you are not too enamored with the revisionism of the big G? i have watched none of this, but always nurture some interest. you think, i should cap that?


I actually like them quite a bit, but they aren't as great as the ones above them.

I find that the '70s "Godzilla" films had some great hoaky cheese, and this was the prime era for that kind of "so bad it's good, guys in rubber suits" fun.

For the '90s revision, I felt like it was trying to recapture both this hoakiness, and the great story-telling of some of the earlier films like the original Gojira. But, in my opinion, they failed at both.

I know D_Davis' favorite "Godzilla" film ever is Godzilla & Mothra: The Battle for Earth from the '90s. So I guess it's just different things for different people.

I don't actively dislike any of the movies until the last 2 or 3 on my list.

[D_Davis]

Daimajin is such a great movie. Watched it last night - second viewing for me, first for Jen.

I love how Majin's presence is felt all throughout the film, not only due to the earthquakes signifying his awakening. It always feels like this beast is watching over all the events taking place, just waiting for the perfect time to begin his wrath.

Great movie, and beautifully shot.

It's a brilliant film. Probably the most atmospheric of all kaiju films.

[D_Davis]

based on the low rating of these, do you mean to say you are not too enamored with the revisionism of the big G? i have watched none of this, but always nurture some interest. you think, i should cap that?

These are all the best for me:

Godzilla vs. Destroyah ('95)
Godzilla vs. Megaguirus ('00)
Godzilla & Mothra: The Battle for Earth ('92)
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla ('02)
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah ('91)
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2 ('93)
Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla ('94)
Godzilla 1985 ('84)

I love the second series. For my money, G-films don't get any better than Heisei period. Awesome costumes, cool stories, and good characters.

The Battle for the Earth is my favorites G-film, followed closely by Destroyah.

The Millennium Series is my second favorite, with Godzilla 200 being tops, followed closely by Final Wars.

[Russ]

I know this belongs more in the comic book thread, but since it's related, I just wanted to mention one of my favorite indie comics from the 80's, Jeff Nicholson's Ultra Klutz, a parody of Ultraman/Giant Monster films. Of course, all the best parts of the comic were the knock-down drag-out fights in Tokyo with the recurring cast of giant turles, lizards, aliens, etc.

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1869/446e39cd733765160n.jpg


There was a great side story featuring a boozin', smokin' band of tough guy superheroes called the Justice Louts. :)


http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4374/a809664270724dd69a5b6b1.jpg

[megladon8]

Russ, I'd never heard of that, and I'm repping you for bringing it to my attention.

One of the web comics I'm working on is kaiju-related, so I really want to check this out for inspiration.

Thanks!

[megladon8]

Godzilla 2000 has one of the greatest endings in cinema since forever.


"Why does Godzilla keep protecting us?"

"Perhaps it's because...Godzilla is in every one of us!"

*Godzilla blows up the rest of the city*

[bac0n]

So all of you fans of the genre, can you rank all of the Kaiju/Monster films you've seen from best to worst for me?

My Favorites:

Newer Ones (1990-present)
1) Gamera: Guardian of the Universe
2) Godzilla Mothra King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack
3) Gamera: Advent of Legion
4) Gamera: Revenge of Iris

(interesting note: all of the above films are directed by Shusuke Kaneko. who, as it happens, fucking rules)

5) Godzilla vs. Rodan: Battle for Earth

Cheesey Ones:
1) Terror of Mechagodzilla

Classic Ones: (Pre 1975)
1) Destroy All Monsters
2) Daimajin
3) Mothra vs. Godzilla
4) Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster
5) War of the Gargantuas
6) Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster
7) King Kong Escapes
8) Invasion of Astro-Monster. (aka Godzilla vs. Monster Zero)

Note that I didn't include the original Gojira, nor did i include King Kong, as I don't really consider them daikaiju films per se'. Rule of thumb, tho: if the film is directed by either Shusuke Kaneko or Ishiro Honda, you're in for a treat.

[megladon8]

For anyone interested, James Rolfe (better know as "The Angry Video Game Nerd") did a retrospective of every Godzilla movie last fall.

Here's the page with links to all the videos. (http://www.cinemassacre.com/new/?page_id=1373)

Some are quite short, and he often doesn't have much to say other than outlining the general plotlines, but it's nonetheless informative for anyone who has no idea how to approach this series.

[EyesWideOpen]

Have you watched Big Man Japan, meg? It's an interesting take on giant monster movies. I didn't love it but it's definitely worth a watch.

[megladon8]

Have you watched Big Man Japan, meg? It's an interesting take on giant monster movies. I didn't love it but it's definitely worth a watch.


No, it's one I'll have to wait for a DVD release for.

Not showing anywhere around here.

But yeah, I do really want to see it. It looks like it could be a lot of zany fun.

[EyesWideOpen]

It's on dvd already. I just watched it on netflix instant watch.

[megladon8]

It's on dvd already. I just watched it on netflix instant watch.


Nice, I had no idea.

Thanks!

[megladon8]

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3656/kisshk.jpg

[Dead & Messed Up]

As good a place as any to post this...

The Valley of Gwangi is a joyful celebration of Ray Harryhausen's craft, and it's also not too bad of a story. Originally written by Willis O'Brien of King Kong fame, this film follows many of the same beats of that film, but by placing the events in a Western, the film develops a unique personality of its own. Although it's half an hour before the dinosaurs arrive, the film moves at a steady clip, with James Franciscus providing a bit of Han Solo puckishness as horse wrangler Tuck Kirby. Still, the film hits its stride when pteranodons and styracosaurs start attacking the group of people who unwisely invade the eponymous valley. The standout sequence is an incredible scene where four cowboys lasso an allosaur; there isn't a single visible seam that breaks the illusion, even though the sight is clearly impossible. Jurassic Park fans will note a couple of familiar shots.

B

http://thisrecording.files.wordpress. com/2008/05/gwangi4.jpg

[megladon8]

Great write-up, DaMU. I've been meaning to check out more of Harryhausen's creature features.

I adore Jason and the Argonauts.

I still find there is something incredibly attractive about those old stop motion effects. I wish someone today would continue using them...they're just so fun, and awe-inspiring in their creativity.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Great write-up, DaMU. I've been meaning to check out more of Harryhausen's creature features.

I adore Jason and the Argonauts.

I still find there is something incredibly attractive about those old stop motion effects. I wish someone today would continue using them...they're just so fun, and awe-inspiring in their creativity.

It's cool to see that stop-motion still has some fantastic adherents in Nick Park and Henry Selick, who both utilize it to the absolute best of its ability. As for Harryhausen, I thought I'd seen quite a few of his features as a child - it turns out I'd barely scratched the surface. So long as you approach them the way you might approach a Jackie Chan or Fred Astaire picture (i.e. as a way to enjoy a master craftsman doing what he loves), there's so much awesomeness.

My next "big thread" is going to be a countdown of his best creatures.

[bac0n]

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3656/kisshk.jpg

This picture is just... so wrong on so many levels...

[Spun Lepton]

The art that inspired Godzilla and other giant monsters
http://io9.com/5542753/the-art-that-inspired-godzilla-and-other-giant-monsters/gallery/

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/8/2010/05/picture_67_01.png

Some good stuffs.

[megladon8]

That's AWESOME Spun. Thanks for posting.

[Russ]

Best one:

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/2354/ungcc.jpg

[Russ]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81P8nvqsLfL._AA1500_.jpg

[megladon8]

That's awesome.

[Russ]

I...I really don't know what to say...


KGm71Qo_djs&feature=player_embedded

[MadMan]

As good a place as any to post this...

The Valley of Gwangi is a joyful celebration of Ray Harryhausen's craft, and it's also not too bad of a story. Originally written by Willis O'Brien of King Kong fame, this film follows many of the same beats of that film, but by placing the events in a Western, the film develops a unique personality of its own. Although it's half an hour before the dinosaurs arrive, the film moves at a steady clip, with James Franciscus providing a bit of Han Solo puckishness as horse wrangler Tuck Kirby. Still, the film hits its stride when pteranodons and styracosaurs start attacking the group of people who unwisely invade the eponymous valley. The standout sequence is an incredible scene where four cowboys lasso an allosaur; there isn't a single visible seam that breaks the illusion, even though the sight is clearly impossible. Jurassic Park fans will note a couple of familiar shots.

B

http://thisrecording.files.wordpress. com/2008/05/gwangi4.jpgI love that movie so much. I've seen it endless times, and I have found memories of when AMC used to show it during their Fearfest, back when they actually aired old school horror movies and not just ones from the 80s and 90s.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Watched Rodan with my bro and dah over Thanksgiving. It's hard to not be critical of such an ineptly constructed movie. I think they use the same footage of Rodan peeking through rocks about thirty times, and sometimes they flip the footage horizontally to suggest the second Rodan. The flick is just terribly shoddy. I should probably dig deep into its thematic resonances, and I should probably say something like, "Hey, they were doing the best they could with the time and money they had," but come on. I think Godzilla handled the whole guy-in-cheap-monster-suit-as-metaphor-for-radioactive-destruction thing better. And I'm not even that big on Godzilla.

[Thirdmango]

Watched my first Godzilla movie this week. I started with Ghidorah The Three Headed Monster. I laughed quite a bit and really enjoyed myself. I especially liked the bits of Godzilla and Rodan fighting with rocks.

[Scar]

I'm sure I've posted this somewhere, but I recently revisited it.... Glorious as ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKTVaKk6SX0

If you absolutely, positively can't stand Motorhead, skip to the 5:40 mark.

[Milky Joe]

I saw a screening of the Shaw Brothers Mighty Peking Man a couple weeks ago. Basically Shaw Bros do King Kong. It was awesome.

[Spun Lepton]

I picked up the Gamera Trilogy Blu-ray for $10 at Target recently. Definitely worth that sticker price.

[MadMan]

I enjoyed Rodan (1957) this year. Too bad I didn't get to some of the other monster movies I had on my Instant Viewing queue before Netflix pulled them. Although some MSTK episodes featuring Gamera movies are still on Instant so there is that, I guess.

[Dead & Messed Up]

"Goodbye, Gamera!"
"Kenny... get bent."

[Russ]

A couple of months ago, I met this really interesting artist here in Columbia, SC, known locally as That Godzilla Guy (Sean McGuiness). He was selling a lot of terrific, Kaiju-themed artwork (smaller paintings, $25 apiece) and when this thread was bumped it reminded me of TGG. He's also the guy that did the webcomic, Twisted Kaiju Theater. Here's a link to his Facebook page if anyone wants to check out his artwork.

That Godzilla Guy (https://www.facebook.com/SCGodzillaGuy)

[Spun Lepton]

Thought about posting this in Random Thoughts, but I think it fits better here.

Kaiju Sakaba
http://kotaku.com/get-drunk-with-kaiju-at-this-new-japanese-bar-1542919431/@bricken

[megladon8]

Watched Godzilla Final Wars for the first time since its original release 10 years ago.

Was astounded by how horrible it is. Probably the very worst Godzilla movie.

[D_Davis]

That's one I'm keeping in my memory.

One of the most fun times I ever had in the theater.

That's how I want to remember GFW.

[Skitch]

Probably the very worst Godzilla movie.

As someone who's been working through them chronologically the last few months...no way.

[Scar]

I have watched the abridged version of Final Wars many times, and its fun.

[number8]

There's an abridged version?

I watch Final Wars all the time. It's my second favorite Godzilla movie.

[Scar]

There's an abridged version?

I watch Final Wars all the time. It's my second favorite Godzilla movie.

Ha, yeah, the fast forward button. Sometimes you just need a monster fix. I know you love all the other stuff in that movie, while I just like watching Godzilla fuck shit up.

[Sycophant]

I don't think I saw anyone mention that Toho is putting out a new Godzilla movie next year, co-directed by tokusatsu/kaiju superfan Anno Hideaki (Evangelion) and Higuchi Shinji (effects director of Kaneko Shusuke's glorious early 90s Gamera films).

http://io9.com/evangelion-creator-hideaki-anno-to-co-direct-japans-new-1695226453

Like, this can't not be amazing.

[Skitch]

The third gen Godzilla movies are so damned entertaining. Not to knock the older ones, but those ones with Godzilla's son are the worst.

[megladon8]

As far as I'm concerned the only right answer to "what's the best Godzilla movie after the original?" is GMK.

[MadMan]

I forgot to bump this thread last year when I was viewing every Godzilla movie they had on Netflix Instant Viewing. Also I still need to see Mothra and somehow get my hands on Destroy All Monsters.

[Skitch]

I forgot to bump this thread last year when I was viewing every Godzilla movie they had on Netflix Instant Viewing. Also I still need to see Mothra and somehow get my hands on Destroy All Monsters.

Crackle has a bunch of em, so check there.

[megladon8]

Just received Godzilla vs Megalon and Godzilla vs Biollante.

Getting close to owning every Godzilla movie ever.

I really wish someone would release 1985 on DVD/BluRay.

[Skitch]

I just got vs Megalon a couple weeks ago! I'm nowhere near owning them all, but by god, I will.

[D_Davis]

Has 1985 ever been released on anything other than VHS?

[megladon8]

Has 1985 ever been released on anything other than VHS?


Not that I know of. I own the VHS tape (it's actually the first Godzilla film I ever saw).

[MadMan]

Crackle has a bunch of em, so check there.

Thanks.

[Russ]

This is from another forum, but I had to share:


Picked up the non-Ric boy X plus Diamond reissue of Kiryu Mechagodzilla from Godzilla SOS.

I have no idea what any of that means, but I gotta admit, that is one sweet Meachagodzilla!

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff324/astrojester/mechagodzilla_zps0vzeumrq.jpg

[Russ]

just ordered this bad boy, a childhood favorite. Looking forward to experiencing it all over again.

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff324/astrojester/gorgo_zpsdwblsdv0.jpg

The blu ray restoration is apparently miles beyond the previous two horrendous DVD offerings.

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff324/astrojester/26f2c72e-a2dd-4930-bc23-1edbd33808be_zpsusyjva8y.jpg

And they apparently went all out for the extras on this blu ray release, appealing to fans to help locate rare photos and comics.


Fans will love VCI's gaudy collection of ancillary extras. This is the first good transfer I've seen of the original trailer, which must have had every kid in the country begging to see Gorgo. I myself saw one B&W TV commercial at age nine, and convinced my parents that I'd crumble into bits if I couldn't see it that coming Saturday. The art and still galleries must include every scrap of ad paper and still photo issued both here and in Europe (I, ahem, am a proud owner of a U.S. one-sheet). And collectors have contributed issues of old Charlton Gorgo comic books with their Steve Ditko art, as well as a French photo-story book along the lines of an Italian fumetto. A restoration video is included as well.

I remember the destruction of all those famous London landmarks being especially pleasing. :)

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff324/astrojester/GorgoLondon_zpsaprzgolh.jpg

[Skitch]

One of my all time fav MST3Ks, because I still like the movie. "They pulled into port and everyone was okay, they went out for lunch and felt BETTTER!!!" :D

[D_Davis]

https://i.imgur.com/3rUea50.jpg

[megladon8]

Oh my that is beautiful.

Thanks for sharing, D.

[D_Davis]

Oh my that is beautiful.

Thanks for sharing, D.

Yeah!

Found that on Imgur this morning. Love it!

[bac0n]

Wow, awesome print!

[MadMan]

That print is badass.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah is fairly cool, and a dark environmentally oriented monster flick. Also this is one of the rare older Godzilla films to feature up and close up violence. Also Godzilla using his breath to fly is awesome.

Godzilla vs Gigan is...okay. The characters are not very interesting, and it takes a bit too long to be interesting. I did enjoy the tag team fights, and Godzilla reacting to a life sized replica of him was funny.

I also viewed Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002) last year. Decent, fun movie, and its neat that it has a female lead. I want one of those Godzilla hats the Japan Self-Defense Forces were wearing.

[bac0n]

Godzilla vs. Gigan has one of the better super awesome finishing moves, where Anguirus flies into Gigan spikes first while Godzilla holds him. That was pretty flippin' sweet.

[MadMan]

Godzilla vs. Gigan has one of the better super awesome finishing moves, where Anguirus flies into Gigan spikes first while Godzilla holds him. That was pretty flippin' sweet.

Yes, that was radical. The fights were good.

[MadMan]

I would love it if Anguirus pops up in one of the new Godzilla films.

[bac0n]

The Showa Era Godzilla films (the original 1954 Gojira through 1975's Terror of MechaGodzilla) recently got the Criterion Collection treatment, which to my delight I got for Christmas.

I was thinking about working my way through them, in order of release. Would anybody care to read my thoughts on them in this thread?

[Irish]

Would anybody care to read my thoughts on them in this thread?

HELL YES ARE YOU KIDDING YES YES POST POST!

[Scar]

Dude.

[bac0n]

Actually, ya know what - I might just make a new thread of it. Need to do a little homework but should get started in a few days.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Skitch]

Would anybody care to read my thoughts on them in this thread?
What kind of dumbass question is this?

[megladon8]

Yusssssssss.

Bring it!

[MadMan]

POST EM

Also I keep forgetting to bump this thread everytime I watch one of these flicks. The last one I viewed besides the newest Godzilla movie was Destroy All Monsters last year thanks to Tubi TV. I loved it-lots of goofy fun, all of the major players involved, and of course plenty of monster violence.

[Skitch]

Destroy All Monsters is the shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

[MadMan]

Destroy All Monsters is the shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

I was amused by the "Japan in 1999" bit. In the future there will be lots of yellow jumpsuits!

[Skitch]

I was amused by the "Japan in 1999" bit. In the future there will be lots of yellow jumpsuits!

I'm cool with adopting this future fashion.

[bac0n]

Yeah, futurists in the 60s were so much more optimistic than they are these days.

[MadMan]

I'm cool with adopting this future fashion.

I just want the JSDF hat the one guy wears in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla that I can't post because Photobucket has gone to shit. I took a pic of it on my phone when I watched that one during Comet TV's month long Godzilla movies thing they did a year or two ago.