The Kaiju/Monsterverse Thread (Kong & Godzilla)

[thecolorsblend]

Tardy to the party. Watched Skull Island a few months ago. But hadn't had a chance to start with Godzilla 2014 and work my way through the franchise properly.

Until a few days ago, that is.

Tonight, I'm watching GKOTM and I'll probably GVK knocked out before the end of the long weekend.

I'm enjoying the Monsterverse. I enjoy the superficial fun and excitement along with the commentary each film (so far) has had. There's a bit of meat on the bone for those interested in finding it.

This is the type of franchise I'm interested in following these days.

[The Dark Knight]

When you consider the number of crossovers we've had in recent times, Godzilla and Kong v MechZilla has to be one of the most satisfying. I watched it again, the first time in a long time, and it's so good. MechZilla is a worthy foe. When Godzilla charges Kong's axe I just about had tears in my eyes. There's something cathartic about Kong - to give in to our base animal instinct and just go ape. Taking down something clearly superior through sheer aggression, with each impact of the axe and roar reverberating through your soul.

Get a load of this goodness again:

[thecolorsblend]

I'll probably GVK knocked out before the end of the long weekend.

I'm enjoying the Monsterverse. I enjoy the superficial fun and excitement along with the commentary each film (so far) has had. There's a bit of meat on the bone for those interested in finding it.

This is the type of franchise I'm interested in following these days.

I was as good as my word. Watched GVK before the end of the weekend.

I enjoyed it. There are some plotholes going on. "Oh no, we can't take Kong away from the island! Because the instant we do, the SECOND that Kong gets out in the open, Godzilla will come knocking!" *a few minutes later* The fleet are cruising the seas and Godzilla is nowhere in sight. I mean, yeah, Godzilla showed up not very long later. But still, they gave you the idea that Godzilla's wrath would be pretty much instantaneous. And it wasn't.

Some other minor things too.

But overall, GVK needed to do one thing: Show an awesome Godzilla vs. Kong fight. And honestly, we got two. So, right there, the movie succeeded in what it set out to do.

I've got some nitpicks. But overall, it was fun to watch. And I can see the comparisons to parts of Batman v Superman's story construction.

Apparently, another GVK movie is on the way and I'll be there with bells on.

[thecolorsblend]

I don't think this deserves a thread unto itself.

Anyway.

Shin Godzilla! I think I'm in love with this movie! Have to keep pausing it because I keep laughing.

My favorite line is probably "My name's Rando Yaguchi. Thank you all for coming here. This operation will be an informal one. Titles and seniority don't mean anything here and you can speak freely. Well, that's it. I'm nominally in charge, and we're relying on you, a crack team of lone wolves, nerds, troublemakers, academic heretics, freaks, and general pains-in-the-butt-of-the-bureaucracy."

The core issue of the movie is how bureaucracy paralyzes decision-making. In a group-oriented culture like Japan where everyone is always looking to everyone else, that's actually a recipe for disaster.

In the movie, every meaningful action the government could have taken against Godzilla is almost immediately stymied by calls for emergency meetings to discuss the matter, ordering studies to examine the long-term consequences of whatever solutions have been proposed, calling absolutely pointless press conferences, etc.

As more and more government officials die, the surviving government officials' job titles get longer and longer and longer.

Meanwhile, as everyone is having a big circle jerk with their committees and cabinet meetings, Godzilla is wrecking shop on their cities, millions of dollars in property damage is being done, refugees have no idea wtf to do, people are dying, etc.

Anyway. For a monster movie, there's a lot of commentary and black comedy going on here, I just love it.

[The Joker]

Shin Godzilla is awesome!

Since this thread may very well be the Kaiju/Kong/Godzilla/Monsterverse thread, I'm going to go ahead and post the recent "Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex" 3-D animated short film that's been posted on youtube.

Written and directed by Takuya Uenishi. The winner of Gemstone's Godzilla contest where the champ gets to work with Toho in a more official capacity. "Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex" also coincides with the 50th anniversary release of the original Showa "Godzilla vs. Gigan" way back in 1972.

It's also interesting to note that some of the G-fans are speculating that this year's "Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex" may very well be something of a stealth sequel to 1995's "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah", and taking place within the 1984-1995 Heisei continuity. This Godzilla, actually being the now-adult Godzilla Junior, last seen in 1995. As the opening shot firmly echoes the final shot of Godzilla Junior from "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah". In addition to including a voice over narration by actress Megumi Odaka, whom is also tied to the Heisei era, explaining that Godzilla last appeared 25 years ago. the approximate time between the release of the two films.

Toho has neither confirmed or denied the speculation about this as far as I know, but it's kinda fun to think that this Godzilla featured in this short film is an adult Godzilla Junior. We never got to see the original "Son of Godzilla" Minya/Minilla grow up to take his father's place in the Showa universe, so it's cool seeing his Heisei counterpart getting the opportunity. 

[Silver Nemesis]

I've re-titled this thread and merged it with seven other pre-existing threads on the subject of Godzilla and Kong so we'll have all the relevant discussions in one place. If anyone wants to create a separate thread for a specific movie, that's fine. Otherwise, this is the best place to discuss giant monster movies, TV shows, games, comics, etc. That can include kaiju films from outside the Kong and Godzilla franchises, such as Gamera, as well as stop-motion monster movies like The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) or Q: The Winged Serpent (1982).

In kaiju-related news, Netflix released a teaser for a new Gamera project last month.

Shin Godzilla is awesome!

Since this thread may very well be the Kaiju/Kong/Godzilla/Monsterverse thread, I'm going to go ahead and post the recent "Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex" 3-D animated short film that's been posted on youtube.

Written and directed by Takuya Uenishi. The winner of Gemstone's Godzilla contest where the champ gets to work with Toho in a more official capacity. "Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex" also coincides with the 50th anniversary release of the original Showa "Godzilla vs. Gigan" way back in 1972.

Gigan's always been one of the best and nastiest Godzilla foes. The idea of there being a whole flock of Gigans is pretty horrifying.

It's also interesting to note that some of the G-fans are speculating that this year's "Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex" may very well be something of a stealth sequel to 1995's "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah", and taking place within the 1984-1995 Heisei continuity. This Godzilla, actually being the now-adult Godzilla Junior, last seen in 1995. As the opening shot firmly echoes the final shot of Godzilla Junior from "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah". In addition to including a voice over narration by actress Megumi Odaka, whom is also tied to the Heisei era, explaining that Godzilla last appeared 25 years ago. the approximate time between the release of the two films.

Toho has neither confirmed or denied the speculation about this as far as I know, but it's kinda fun to think that this Godzilla featured in this short film is an adult Godzilla Junior. We never got to see the original "Son of Godzilla" Minya/Minilla grow up to take his father's place in the Showa universe, so it's cool seeing his Heisei counterpart getting the opportunity.

Son of Godzilla was the second Godzilla movie I saw as a kid (Ebirah, Horror of the Deep was the first), and it remains one of my favourites. I can't imagine that baby Godzilla growing up to be like his dad. He was too cute and friendly with the humans.

But the Godzilla Junior from Godzilla vs. Destoroyah is more like his old man, and the ending of that film does imply that he'll replace his father as the new King of the Monsters. Revisiting that timeline now, over a quarter of a century later, is an interesting prospect.

[The Joker]

Son of Godzilla was the second Godzilla movie I saw as a kid (Ebirah, Horror of the Deep was the first), and it remains one of my favourites. I can't imagine that baby Godzilla growing up to be like his dad. He was too cute and friendly with the humans.

Yeah, I like "Son of Godzilla" as well, and seeing Minya/Minilla courageously fight alongside his dad against the giant spider Spiga/Kumonga, and then go into a peaceful hibernation with Godzilla is one of the better heartfelt moments in the Godzilla filmography.

As far as Minya/Minilla growing up to be like his father, I agree with Silver to an extent. However, I also think he could have very well matured in size to be like his old man, but decidedly more amicable with humans, and definitely more cordial with children. Kinda like Gamera. I mean, since Adam Wingard had the Monsterverse Godzilla emote by actually smiling in GvK, I could easily envision an adult Minya/Minilla Godzilla toying around with rogue kaiju for comedic flair. Like puffing out a smoke ring, causing a potential rival to get choked up/aggravated, and the adult Minya/Minilla Godzilla grinning like, "Well, there's your 1st and only warning pal."

But the Godzilla Junior from Godzilla vs. Destoroyah is more like his old man, and the ending of that film does imply that he'll replace his father as the new King of the Monsters. Revisiting that timeline now, over a quarter of a century later, is an interesting prospect.

Who knows if Toho will ever confirm this theory or nor, but the adult Godzilla Junior vs Gigan Rex is basically my head canon now. 

[Silver Nemesis]

[The Joker]

The worst despair in the series' history strikes Japan!

After the war, Japan has been reduced to zero.
Godzilla appears and plunges the country into a negative state.
The most desperate situation in the history of Japan.
Who?　And how?
Will Japan stand up to it?

Very intriguing teaser and (thus far) description. The original 1954 "Godzilla" certainly acknowledged the feeling of hopelessness and demoralization (treating aftermath of the attacks as something more akin to a reaction towards real life events rather than what audiences were typically used to seeing in giant monster b movies in the 1950's) but this film may very well go into some decidedly dark places if my read on this is correct. The shots of the destruction left behind, and survivors making their way thru it, is reminiscent of those early trailers for Legendary's "Godzilla 2014".

[Silver Nemesis]

This looks a lot more interesting to me than Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Wingard's new movie might be entertaining too, but this one looks like it'll continue the darker and more serious themes of Gojira '54 and Shin Godzilla. I'm down with that.

I also like how it's clearly grounded in Japanese history and culture to distinguish itself from the Monsterverse series. If it's as good as Shin Godzilla, this could be one of the year's best science fiction films.