The Kaiju/Monsterverse Thread (Kong & Godzilla)

[Silver Nemesis]

I keep thinking about Minus One. It's one of those rare films that I feel was aimed specifically at me, as if the filmmakers' creative instincts were perfectly aligned with what I as a viewer wanted. That hardly ever happens these days, but Minus One is exactly my kind of movie. I don't see how anyone could make a better kaiju film.

I wonder what its chances are with regards to award season. Shin Godzilla swept the Japanese Oscars at the Japan Academy Film Prize, and I'm sure Minus One will too. But what about the American Oscars? It should definitely get a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, but it wouldn't meet the Oscars' idiotic DEI criteria to qualify for Best Picture. It isn't diverse, it isn't woke, and there's no feminism or LGBTIQCAPGNGFNBA+ content. It's also a profoundly masculine film, with some critics interpreting it as having a right-leaning political subtext, and I don't think that would sit well with modern Hollywood. They might also resent its success when so many of their own ill-fated blockbusters have bombed this year.

If nothing else, I'd like to see Naoki Satō's score receive some recognition. It has a distinctly Japanese Studio Ghibli vibe that's hauntingly beautiful. It reminds me of Joe Hisaishi's best work. Very moving.

I really want to see this film again. I'm glad I got to experience it on the big screen, and now I can't wait for the Blu-ray release.

[Silver Nemesis]

Godzilla Minus One has now grossed over $76 million on a production budget of less than $15 million. It's presently ranked #179 on the IMDb Top 250 and has been shortlisted for a Best Visual Effects Oscar. It has not, however, been submitted for Best International Feature Film. Instead Japan's submission in that category is a film called Perfect Days.

[The Joker]

[The Joker]

Godzilla Minus One





And in light of "Steamboat Willie" entering the public domain, why not? 

[The Joker]

[The Joker]

[Silver Nemesis]

Godzilla Minus One, my favourite movie of 2023, is now officially an Oscar-nominated film. It's the first Godzilla movie to receive an American Academy Award nomination (Best Achievement in Visual Effects). It's also received 12 nominations at the 47th Japan Academy Film Prize, which is the Japanese film industry's equivalent of the US Oscars.

Its box office run has reached $100 million worldwide on an estimated budget of $10-15 million: https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2024/01/25/godzilla-minus-one-hits-100-million-watch-exclusive-black-and-white-clip/

On a less positive note, I watched King Kong Lives (1986) a few weeks ago. Otherwise known as King Kong 2, it's an inferior sequel to the 1976 film produced by Dino De Laurentiis and is probably the worst Kong movie I've seen.

The final forty minutes or so are moderately entertaining, when Kong's on the rampage squashing and eating people, but everything leading up to that is dull. And one thing a movie about a giant rampaging monkey should never be is dull. They didn't even use John Barry's theme music from the previous film, which was a big letdown.

I also think it should have been titled 'Bride of Kong' instead of 'King Kong Lives'.

[The Joker]

Godzilla Minus One, my favourite movie of 2023, is now officially an Oscar-nominated film. It's the first Godzilla movie to receive an American Academy Award nomination (Best Achievement in Visual Effects). It's also received 12 nominations at the 47th Japan Academy Film Prize, which is the Japanese film industry's equivalent of the US Oscars.

Its box office run has reached $100 million worldwide on an estimated budget of $10-15 million

I saw that. It's safe to say that "Godzilla Minus One" is undoubtedly the most recognized and acclaimed Godzilla movie thus far. Which, is deservedly so. The original 1954 "Gojira" is a fine piece of cinema as well, but much of it's praise, outside Japan, was much, much belated. As the '56 Americanization cut was much more widely known and seen for decades.

On a less positive note, I watched King Kong Lives (1986) a few weeks ago. Otherwise known as King Kong 2, it's an inferior sequel to the 1976 film produced by Dino De Laurentiis and is probably the worst Kong movie I've seen.

The final forty minutes or so are moderately entertaining, when Kong's on the rampage squashing and eating people, but everything leading up to that is dull. And one thing a movie about a giant rampaging monkey should never be is dull. They didn't even use John Barry's theme music from the previous film, which was a big letdown.

I also think it should have been titled 'Bride of Kong' instead of 'King Kong Lives'.

Admittedly, KKL is not a great movie in the slightest. If you ever pick up the recent blu ray, have a listen to the Audio Commentary track by Ray Morton. Who was the author of "King Kong: The History of a Movie Icon". It makes the movie a little more watchable. As Morton provides numerous anecdotes and tidbits about the making of the movie, and what was going on behind the scenes (which wasn't all that much dissimilar to how productions were being handled during Cannon Films' final days). 

[Silver Nemesis]

As Morton provides numerous anecdotes and tidbits about the making of the movie, and what was going on behind the scenes (which wasn't all that much dissimilar to how productions were being handled during Cannon Films' final days). 

I got a strong Cannon vibe when I was watching it.

[The Joker]