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
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