The Godzilla Thread - Plus other giant monsters, no matter how popular or obscure

[Intelligent Calcium]

Watched the first two episodes of Singular Point, pretty good so far. The English subs occasionally can be, dare I say, "cringe", but I guess that's something you have to deal with these days.

 

[Kari Kamiya]

Watched the first two episodes of Singular Point, pretty good so far. The English subs occasionally can be, dare I say, "cringe", but I guess that's something you have to deal with these days.

Yeah. I've noticed based off of 9anime that there's at least three different subbing groups for the show. First episode had a credit at the end to AnimoTV Slash, of which I just checked and they have episode four's subs up, so I'mma go grab my brother (not the baby brother) and watch that right now. Of the three episodes, first and third episodes had competent subs, but the second, while not terrible, thought they were being "cute" sometimes.

This is what I get for being too impatient to just wait for it to show up on Netflix here, but oh well.

 

[RumblyTumbly]

I'm waiting for the show to pop up on Netflix, but I've heard nothing but good things so far, which is good.

 

[Tad Loaf]

Kong vs Godzilla was solid and I enjoyed it a lot but god damn it feels like such wasted potential in regards to the MechaGodzilla pilot.
If they just completely cut out the Millie Bobby Brown tiro whole and used that screentime for the pilot/company I think it would have drastically improved the movie

 

[Kari Kamiya]

This is wonderful.

 

[RumblyTumbly]

I read the Godzilla Vs. Kong Prequel comics Kingdom Kong and Godzilla Dominion last night.

Kingdom Kong was okay. Pretty basic, but I wish it had covered some of the bases that cover events in the movie. For example:

Spoiler: Spoiler

It would have been nice to see Kong save Jia

But it had some cool monsters for Kong to fight and was ok, which is pretty much how I've felt about all the Legendary MonsterVerse comics I've read to date (I've never read Birth of Kong).

Godzilla: Dominion was the one I liked more though, mainly because it was told entirely though Godzilla's perspective, which was a nice way to change things up, and works well with the artwork. Awakening was...ok. Aftershock was...ok. But this is the first one I've read that felt like a solid standalone story on its own. And it was just cool to see Godzilla swim and move from place to place fighting monsters.

 

[Kari Kamiya]

Wholesome shitposting.

 

[Newman's Lovechild]

The American monsterverse has been disappointing. I don't think Godzilla 2014 was great, but in this series it was the best, even with the monster fight cutaways and the coma-inducing human plot. It was better than the utterly exceptional human plot and characters in KotM, which is the only part I remember about that film, try as I might to forget it.

Godzilla vs. Kong was more of the same. Half the human characters in GvK could have been cut out and it wouldn't have made any difference. No, correction: it might have improved the film. You think 'aw, poor little deaf girl lost her family', but what then? All she was necessary for was to let us know that Kong can sign 'home', in a ripoff of the Planet of the Apes remake trilogy. Completely pointless.

I couldn't even enjoy the monster fights. I grinned a couple of times when the monster confrontations began, but that potential didn't bear out. I've heard two things about the monster fights in GvK: one is that shots looking up at the monsters helps to portray their scale. Not so much when they're also flipping and flying around almost weightlessly. Outside of the hollow earth bits when Kong's actually weightless Godzilla 2014 at least showed these forty-story-high creatures moving with a kind of ponderousness to show their immense size and weight.
The other thing I heard was that the fights look like your old action figures being smashed together. Given the first point, I agree. I'd add one thing: the fights look like your old action figures being smashed together while being filmed on a GoPro camera that's being kicked and rolled around your yard. That fucking annoying trend to have the camera viewpoint buzz around your CGI spectacle like a horsefly, so that you're dazzled by the constant motion but can't actually see anything clearly. The curse of Michael Bay. The godawful neon lighting in the Hong Kong fight didn't help either.

The fights made both Godzilla and Kong look pathetic. Godzilla easily killed Kong, twice, even the time on land when Kong had his thuper-duper badathth battleakth. Only human intervention saved him both times. And don't forget the flying snake monsters. 'Bows to no-one' my ass. Only because the hairy fucker wouldn't survive long enough to bow.
Then Mechagodzilla laid down such a one-sided kerbstomp on both that I couldn't believe it. I don't think even Ghidorah had such an easy time of it in the previous film. Yet another annoying person had to save them, by pouring whiskey over a keyboard to somehow disable MG, before both monsters together could take it down. It proved the Elon Musk stand-in right: that humanity could come up with a way to take down Godzilla and get back to the top of the food chain.

Smaller, random, but still annoying parts: every close-up of Godzilla had his scaly face twitch and smoosh about like bad stop motion. I could swear they were trying to make him smirk like that whateverraptor thing in Jurassic World: Lost Kingdom.
The soundtrack choices ranged from confusing to bad. Like the last thirty seconds of the film, with Kong bombing around his new hollow-earth home to the strains of "All I need is the air that I breathe just to love you". My reaction wasn't 'woo!' as much as 'whuh?'

I just don't like the direction they took with Godzilla as a character in these films. I could go with the idea in G14 that Godzilla defends his territory from other titans and that humans are largely beneath his notice, but there was a kind of theme that became very blatant at the end: "Godzilla, savior of the city!" Yeah, after smashing and irradiating most of it They tried to recreate the success of the Marvel cinematic superhero universe by turning Godzilla into a superhero. They took modern, advanced, slightly better special effects, and used them to recreate the theme of the dopiest Showa era films, rather than the 'atomic force of nature' theme of almost every other film.

I can watch and enjoy Japanese Godzilla films, with their dopey plot points of robots that program themselves to change size, or Godzilla/crystal hybrids from space that want to conquer the Earth. I'm not sure why I expect more out creatively-bankrupt Hollywood, when I know the only subjective improvement it offers are CG effects. Maybe it's because the Japanese films don't try to shove as much lazy human melodrama in your face. Maybe because Japanese filmmakers know how to hold a camera steady. Maybe because the budgets match the plots. Maybe because the suit effects interest me. Maybe because my wallet still hurts after streaming GvK, because of FOMO.

All I know is I'd rather watch bureaucrats bicker in Shin Godzilla.

 

[Kari Kamiya]

The soundtrack choices ranged from confusing to bad. Like the last thirty seconds of the film, with Kong bombing around his new hollow-earth home to the strains of "All I need is the air that I breathe just to love you". My reaction wasn't 'woo!' as much as 'whuh?'

I'm honestly confused by the oldie songs they picked for Kong, 'cause like... they're love songs. Why are they love songs? Especially when they'd cut to Jia, like I get it she's his only connection to Skull Island and supposedly his purpose was halved when the Iwi people were wiped out, but why these songs. Is it because the time-period they came out is similar to Kong: Skull Island's setting?

 

[RumblyTumbly]

I watched Godzilla Vs. Kong again and I can truthfully say that I've seen every Godzilla movie more than once.

Here's my updated series ranking: Worst to Best

Spoiler: Godzilla Series Ranking

N/A] Godzilla [1998] = Fans hate it and call it the worst, but I take a different stance. It missed the mark so much that I don't even count it as a Godzilla film, hence the "N/A" rating. The title is literally the only reason I'm mentioning it.

35] Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle [2018] Anime Trilogy Part 2 = The worst of the anime trilogy and my pick for worst Godzilla film ever made. Not only did they pull a lame bait and switch by not giving us Mechagodzilla as advertised, but the film itself is a boring slog that fails to live up to its potential. This was inexcusably bad, and it doomed the anime trilogy from working.

34] Godzilla's Revenge [1969] AKA All Monsters Attack = I would probably think higher of this movie if more effort went to it. The whole idea of exploring a kid Godzilla fan that is suffering from his parents not being around and being bullied could be a fun and simple kids movie. Unfortunately, the excessive use of stock footage and the annoyance of a talking Minilla gives off the impression of a low rent clip show.

33] Godzilla Vs. Megalon [1973] = This one gets points for its fun and stupid tag team cartoon show of a climactic battle. However, the lead in to it is, to put it as kindly as possible, boring. The whole thing feels like a low rent version of a then typical Japanese TV show like many of the Ultraman successors to come out at the time. The extensive use of stock footage also adds to the obvious cheap feel that the movie has.

32] Godzilla Raids Again [1955] AKA Gigantis the Fire Monster = The first sequel began the tradition of having Godzilla fight other monsters, it introduces us to fan favorite Anguirus, and its the last Godzilla movie to be in that glorious old school black and white. However, it lacks the gravitas of the original film and the bombastic fun of future entries, so it kind of just hangs in the series as an uninteresting and somewhat forgettable entry. That said, the US version is worth watching for its sheer incompetence. By making the movie worse, they made it more memorable.

31] Godzilla Vs. Mothra [1992] AKA Godzilla & Mothra: The Battle for Earth = My pick for the weakest of the Heisei era films. I like Battra as a new addition and the Yin to Mothra's Yang. Unfortunately, much of the film comes off like a half baked recreation of Mothra's greatest hits from the 61 & 64 films, and the family drama only serves to be an annoying distraction. This was also a movie that was cobbled together from other rejected scripts for Godzilla films and Mothra films, and it kind of shows given the disjointed nature of the film.

30] Godzilla X Mechagodzilla [2002] AKA Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla = And this is my pick for the worst of the Millennium series. Its a shame because it cooks up a pretty unique origin for this new version of Mechagodzilla and in a sense, makes it an actual character for the first time. Additionally, the opening scene with Godzilla's attack is terrific, & Michiru Oshima's return as composer delivers another rousing score. Sadly, the movie feels incomplete as its hefty ideas are left dangling & unexplored and the story borrows a little too much from Godzilla X Megaguirus, which was only two entries prior.

29] Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters [2017] Anime Trilogy Part 1 = The first anime trilogy film was also the first indicator of a misfire. The premise is outstanding, and the breath of fresh air a long running franchise like Godzilla calls for. The set up also gives off a "Star Trek" vibe that helps to separate it from anything else the series has done. Sadly, I never fully got on board with the animation style and the ideas are never executed to its fullest potential. A few cool moments, like the reveal of Godzilla Earth at the very end, give hope for the future of the series...which unfortunately goes unfulfilled.

28] Godzilla X Megaguirus [2000] = The 2nd entry in the Millennium series is more ambitious, but also very uneven. There is a kid character...who disappears midway through, and Megaguirus seems to exist solely to give Godzilla something to fight and doesn't feature as strongly in the story as it should. That said, it does have an offbeat weirdness to it that sets it apart from some of the weaker entries, and Michiru Oshima's first score for the series is a home run.

27] Godzilla: The Planet Eater [2018] Anime Trilogy Part 3 = By this point, the trilogy was chalked up to being a failed experiment that disappointed most of the fans. That said, at least they ended with the strongest of the three entries. The movie's biggest strength is actually its unique portrayal of Ghidorah as a non-corporeal Lovecraftian like destructive God, and its presence provides some of the trilogy's most memorable moments. This is also the one that does the best with its non-monster cast as the battle of philosophies between Metphies and Haruo provides some drama...which would have been more meaningful if the movie had been provided a better foundation from the first two entries.

26] Godzilla Vs. The Sea Monster [1966] AKA Ebirah Horror of the Deep = I used to hate this one when I was a kid, but I've grown to like it more as I've gotten older. The island setting and James Bond-esque story provides it a different flavor from what was already the norm in the series. Unfortunately, I think this movie would actually be better if Godzilla wasn't in it. If they had gone with the original King Kong plan or if it was just an Ebirah standalone, or maybe even a Mothra Vs. Ebirah film, it would come off better. Once Godzilla gets involved, the enemies put up against him feel like a cakewalk compared to what he's faced before, and it takes some of the dramatic tension out of the film.

25] Godzilla Vs. Spacegodzilla [1994] = Often maligned by fans, there are obvious flaws with this film, specifically obvious signs of a rushed production. The writing is hampered by a senseless subplot with the Yakuza, and the romantic element never quite feels right either. That said, I do enjoy Spacegodzilla as a villain, and MOGUERA is a fun mecha thrown in there, and Yuki's Ahab like quest to kill Godzilla is a nice human story that also takes advantage of the series' continuity that the Heisei period provided.

24] Godzilla: Final Wars [2004] = The 50th anniversary film was met with negativity in its native country and a split reaction from the fanbase. Its easy to see why. Its a wild and bombastic spectacle that references the franchise's entire history but is also a near complete nonsense story. So its set up to be either enjoyed as pure spectacle or derided for being poorly written gobbledy gook. Personally, I am one of the few that is somewhere in the middle. I enjoy the fun being created and all the monsters on display, but I wish the story had been ironed out a little better. That said, it is fun, almost party like.

23] Godzilla Vs. Gigan [1972] AKA Godzilla on Monster Island = I've been up and down with this one my whole life. As a kid, it was one of my favorites. I loved it and it was probably the one I watched the most in my youth. As I got older, I grew to think less and less of it as the obviously low production values and reused story ideas brought the warts out to the surface and it didn't stand up to scrutiny. However, now in my adult years, I've found it easier to look past the faults and enjoy the fun. It helps that Gigan is a terrific monster opponent, Ghidorah helps raise the stature of the film, & Anguirus gets his day in the sun.

22] King Kong Vs. Godzilla [1962] = This was the first Godzilla movie I ever saw and I guess you could say it was love at first sight as a new fan was born. For that, this film has a special place in my heart. Its historical significance can not be overlooked either. That said, the movie is extremely cheesy and deliberately silly which will impact one's ability to enjoy the movie. Personally, I think the film is a hoot and fun to watch, though I do wish they had done the Kong suit a little better.

21] The Return of Godzilla [1984] AKA Godzilla 1985 = This bold reimagining of the series decided to take Godzilla back to his roots, and the Cold War climate was a perfect stage for Godzilla's rampage, giving the film much of its weight. In several instances, it almost matches the original film, and is an appropriate return to form. Unfortunately, it falls short in other places, particularly in the human drama department. Still, its updated special effects and political intrigue make it a good start to the Heisei series and worth checking out.

20] Son of Godzilla [1967] = Another controversial entry among the fans, but whether or not you enjoy this depends on how much you're willing to accept the more kid friendly tone. Personally, I have always enjoyed this one, and I accepted it the closest the series came to being like Disney (old school fun Disney, not current shit stain Disney). True, Minilla's design is nothing short of atrocious and looks nothing like his dad, but he does provide a nice character full of personality and cuteness, and a nice way to slightly soften Godzilla a little bit, as this is the first time he shows affection for anything or anyone. I also enjoy the puppetry on the Kamacarus and Kumonga, both of whom are superbly executed.

19] Godzilla 2000 [1999] = After the failure of the 98 film, it was great to get a quick response from Toho with a true blue Godzilla film. This was the first real Godzilla film I saw in theaters and it was a great experience. It isn't the best entry by a longshot, but after the disappointment from Tristar, it was nice to get something familiar. It was like a nice slice of apple pie and who doesn't like apple pie? It was complete with monsters, aliens, and one of the series' best cast of humans.

18] Godzilla: Tokyo SOS [2003] = Being the only true sequel in the Millennium series, I give it props. It completes the Kiryu storyline from the previous movie and gives it a more satisfying conclusion this time around. Mothra's inclusion feels like she is, once again, reenacting her greatest hits from the 60s, but having her there with Mechagodzilla helps make it feel bigger. The special effects are also among the series' best, and once again, Oshima's score is excellent.

17] Godzilla Vs. Kong [2021] = The latest in the series gave us the rematch of the century and on that front, it delivered. When it comes to the monster fights and all the fun involved, its the best that the MonsterVerse has ever delivered. The story is paper thin and exists for the sole purpose of giving us the spectacle, but like I said, it achieves that well and makes for a fun movie. Its the least ambitious of the MonsterVerse films, but if the recent success is anything to go by, the film manages to give the people what they want.

16] Godzilla [2014] = The first MonsterVerse film not only created the world of the series and the MONARCH organization, but it also brought Godzilla back after a 10 year hiatus and made up for the sins of the 1998 Tristar film, proving that a US big budget Godzilla film can work. We can talk about the issues with the film, the biggest of which being the premature death of Brian Cranston's character despite him being the emotional core of the first act. After his departure, the film goes to typical monster movie territory, but Edwards' direction provides a grounded and realistic world for these creatures to inhabit and effectively shows their impact on humanity. And despite holding back on the monster action, we got an explosive and exciting battle to close out that gave Godzilla the center stage. It was a good return for the King.

15] Godzilla: King of the Monsters [2019] = The Godzilla sequel in the MonsterVerse upped the ante with three classic monsters Mothra, Rodan, and Ghidorah to share the stage with Godzilla. Like the other MonsterVerse films, it wasn't perfect, but it succeeds in being a wild and fun spectacle that takes advantage of the mythology of these creatures, raising them to the level of Gods. This might be my favorite version of Ghidorah that we've ever gotten and he makes for a great villain. The movie is also helped out by Bear McCreary's wonderful score which is also augmented by the use of the classic Mothra and Godzilla themes. Additionally, I found the human element provided some really solid moments that got overlooked upon initial release. I wish the monster fights weren't all in the rain, but its still a good showcase for Godzilla.

14] Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla [1974] AKA Godzilla Vs. The Cosmis/Bionic Monster = Godzilla's 20th anniversary film gave us one of his greatest foes. The alien invader plot may have felt like old hat by this point, but the end result is a fun entry that embraces 70s camp but also gives us some of the wildest and bloodiest fights in the entire series. There is also a fun build up to King Ceasar and to the final battle. This film also displayed a clear case of improvement after low production values hurt most of the 70s films. This one delivered a big spectacle that manages to be both campy and bad ass at the same time.

13] Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero [1965] AKA Invasion of Astro Monster = The first and definitive Godzilla "alien invader" movie gave us a fun romp. The aliens themselves are the most hilariously fun that the series ever provided, and Nick Adams provides a Western charisma to the film. Additionally, this movie also provides probably the best romantic sub plot in the entire franchise between Miss Namikawa and Astronaut Glenn. Honestly, you could take the monsters out and it'd still be a pretty solid Sci-Fi flick, but you throw Godzilla, King Ghidorah, and Rodan into that mix? Hot dog!

12] Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla [1993] AKA Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla II = You want action and monsters? This movie provides it in spades. We get the 90s upgrades of Rodan, Mechagodzilla, and the Son of Godzilla and mixed in with one of my favorite versions of Godzilla, the Heisei one. As far as fights go, we get all the combinations: Godzilla Vs. Rodan, Rodan Vs. Mechagodzilla, and two Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla battles. The end result is a wild affair and one of the most memorable films in the series. This also features one of my favorite scores from classic composer Akira Ifukube.

11] Godzilla Vs. The Smog Monster [1971] AKA Godzilla Vs. Hedorah = Many fans don't like this one, but I put it high up because it is one of the wackiest and most memorable Godzilla films ever made. With 70s camp and its environmental message on full display, the film manages to be campy and crazy but also kind of horror based with some of its moments. Its also the odd man out of that early 70s period that didn't rely on stock footage for its action either. Its a unique and crazy film that makes you feel like you're on drugs while watching it, but therein lies its appeal.

10] Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All Out Attack [2001] = The best of the Millennium Series by a good mile, this entry is a blast. Kaneko, the director of the lauded Gamera trilogy lends his talents to Godzilla and it mostly works. The fantasy centered story makes it unique in the franchise and its also great to have Godzilla, Ghidorah, Mothra, and Baragon all around, the later of whom finally gets his chance to shine. I'm not a fan of Ghidorah as the good guy this time around, but this monstrous version of Godzilla is one of the greatest incarnations. You get plenty of monster action here, but its woven into a story drenched in mystery and fantasy, and its great to watch.

9] Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster [1964] = Toho's first monster mash was a rousing success as it combined their three most popular monsters Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra and put them up against their grand new monster, the three headed space dragon King Ghidorah. The monster stuff as delightful both with all the star power involved, and with the risks they take by humanizing the monsters a little bit more this time around. The human plot with the princess thinking she's an alien that's also being hunted down by assassins is also one of the most delightfully weird plots in the series' history.

8] Shin Godzilla [2016] = This film is purely a standalone divorced of any series or continuity and exists beautifully in its own world. And because of that, its able to stand as one of the most unique Godzilla films ever made, fully showcasing the impact of a Godzilla on humanity, and its handled very well. We get horrific moments with Godzilla's constantly evolving presence with each escalation proving to be more dangerous than the last. In addition to that, this is also a sly and comedic film with its biting political satire. It is truly one of the finest Godzilla films, and easily my favorite one since the turn of the century.

7] Godzilla Vs. Biollante [1989] = For a film trying to balance ecoterrorism, psychics, genetic manipulation, and so many wacky weapons used to fight Godzilla, you'd think this movie would collapse under the weight of itself. Fortunately, everything is balanced quite well and it makes for one of the most interesting and exciting films of the Heisei period. The special effects this time around prove to be among the series' best, with one of my favorite Godzilla suits and the practical effects marvel that is Biollante. Both battles we get are very well done, and all the military's methods of taking on Godzilla are unique and create great sequences as well. With some likeable characters and an interesting plot to tie it all together, this is a very good entry that is worth watching.

6] Terror of Mechagodzilla [1975] = The end of the Showa series ended with one of its best entries as Honda returns one last time to direct a Godzilla film, and also with Ifukube doing another classic score for the franchise. We also get one last romp with superhero Godzilla, and it is one of his most bad ass outings as he takes on both Mechagodzilla and Titannosaurus. Dr. Mafune and his cyborg daughter Katsura prove to be some of the series' most memorable characters as well. This entry lacks most of the camp of the 70s, as Honda chooses to give it a classier feel and a darker tone. While it didn't give a definitive end to Godzilla's Showa storyline, it did end the series on a high note.

5] Destroy All Monsters [1968]= I ranked this one up high for two reasons: 1) The spectacle of having 11 monsters running around and doing their thing, and 2) How I first saw it as this was the final Showa film I got to watch and it was a great and fun one to go out on. With aliens, spaceships, action, and monsters coming out of your ears, this is not only one of the greatest spectacles Toho has ever produced, and serves as a great tribute to their string of sci fi films through the 50s and 60s. The four monster attack on Tokyo and the climactic battle of Mt Fuji remain two of Toho's most wild and fun action sequences.

4] Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah [1991] = In many ways, this film is the quintessential Godzilla movie. It has wild sci fi elements like UFOs, Time Traveling, and Cyborgs. It has monster action galore with Godzilla taking on his greatest foe, updated for the 90s, and even a Mecha Ghidorah. And, it has an interesting story that features Godzilla and Ghidorah having role reversals between face and heel throughout the film. It also covers the origins of Godzilla, and his ties to Mr. Shindo results in one of if not the finest scene in the entire franchise. Its wild and crazy, but also more impactful than the standard monster film. It also helps that Ifukube came back to score the film, and his music instant raises the quality as it did during the Showa period. Ghidorah's return is a welcomed one, and working in a Mecha Ghidorah is the icing on the cake.

3] Mothra Vs. Godzilla [1964] AKA Godzilla Vs. The Thing = This is often recognized by fans as one of the best of the Showa period, and its easy to see why. It represents the high benchmark of Godzilla's key creators, including some of Honda's best direction, some of Eiji Tsyburaya's best special effects, one of Ifukube's best scores, and possibly even Nakajima's best performance as Godzilla. With its story about greed impeding humanity's ability to unite, and Godzilla in his last truly evil appearance before his heroic turn, and possibly my favorite Mothra, this movie is an undeniable classic for the franchise.

2] Godzilla Vs. Destoroyah [1995] = Had this been the final Godzilla film ever made, it would have been a high note to end on. Toho's swan song to Godzilla results in one of the finest moments in the franchise and the build up to that moment creates a tense and dramatic film. Having Destroyah around also provides one of the series' best designed creatures and one of the most hated heels in the monster menagerie. And appropriately, we get Akira Ifukube to score Godzilla's funeral dirge and its perfect.

1] Gojira [1954] = The first is the best in this case. Its my favorite Godzilla film, my favorite monster movie, and one of my favorite films ever. Its tone and approach helps to separate it from the monster movie contemporaries of the 1950s. Most of them were spectacles, but this one was straight horror, resulting in a bleak, dark, and realistic film. Godzilla's rampage of Tokyo is pretty haunting and mesmerizing to watch, and in black and white, it looks like an old news reel being shown to us, adding to the horror and realism. Its a great film and shows Godzilla at his most pure.

 

[KEKMUHLORD]

I watched Godzilla Vs. Kong again and I can truthfully say that I've seen every Godzilla movie more than once.

Here's my updated series ranking: Worst to Best

Spoiler: Godzilla Series Ranking

N/A) Godzilla (199 = Fans hate it and call it the worst, but I take a different stance. It missed the mark so much that I don't even count it as a Godzilla film, hence the "N/A" rating. The title is literally the only reason I'm mentioning it.

35) Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle (201Anime Trilogy Part 2 = The worst of the anime trilogy and my pick for worst Godzilla film ever made. Yup. Not only did they pull a lame bait and switch by not giving us Mechagodzilla as advertised, but the film itself is a boring slog that fails to live up to its potential, and the lack of Mechagodzilla is anger inducing.

34) Godzilla's Revenge (1969) AKA All Monsters Attack = I would probably think higher of this movie if more effort went to it. The whole idea of exploring a kid Godzilla fan that is suffering from his parents not being around and being bullied could be a fun and simple kids movie. Unfortunately, the excessive use of stock footage and the annoyance of a talking Minilla makes gives off the impression of a low rent clip show.

33) Godzilla Vs. Megalon (1973) = This one gets points for its fun and stupid tag team cartoon show of a climactic battle. However, the lead in to it is, to put it as kind as possible, boring. The whole thing feels like a low rent version of a then typical Japanese TV show like many of the Ultraman successors to come out at the time. The extensive use of stock footage also adds to the obvious cheap feel that the movie has.

32) Godzilla Raids Again (1955) AKA Gigantis the Fire Monster = The first sequel began the tradition of having Godzilla fight other monsters, it introduces us to fan favorite Anguirus, and its the last Godzilla movie to be in that glorious old school black and white. However, it lacks the gravitas of the original film and the simple fun of future entries, so it kind of just hangs in the series as an uninteresting and somewhat forgettable romp. That said, the US version is worth watching for its sheer incompetence. By making the movie worse, they made it more memorable.

31) Godzilla Vs. Mothra (1992) AKA Godzilla & Mothra: The Battle for Earth = My pick for the weakest of the Heisei era films. I like Battra as a new addition and the Yin to Mothra's Yang. Unfortunately, much of the film comes off like a half baked recreation of Mothra's greatest hits from the 61 & 64 films, and the family drama only serves to be an annoying distraction. This was also a movie that was cobbled together from other rejected scripts for Godzilla standalones and Mothra standalones, and it kind of shows.

30) Godzilla X Mechagodzilla (2002) AKA Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla = And this is my pick for the worst of the Millennium series. Its a shame because it cooks up a pretty unique origin for this new version of Mechagodzilla and in a sense, makes it an actual character for the first time, the opening scene with Godzilla's attack is terrific, & Michiru Oshima's return as composer delivers another rousing score. Sadly, the movie feels incomplete as its hefty ideas are left dangling & unexplored and the story borrows a little too much from Godzilla X Megaguirus, which was only two entries prior.

29) Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (2017) Anime Trilogy Part 1 = The first anime trilogy film was also the first indicator of a misfire. The premise is outstanding, and the breath of fresh air a long running franchise like Godzilla calls for. The set up also gives off a "Star Trek" vibe that helps to separate it from anything else the series has done. Sadly, I never fully got on board with the animation style and the ideas are never executed to its fullest potential. A few cool moments, like the reveal of Godzilla Earth at the very end, give hope for the future of the series...which unfortunately goes unfulfilled.

2 Godzilla X Megaguirus (2000) = The 2nd entry in the Millennium series is more ambitious, but also very uneven. There is a kid character...who disappears midway through, and Megaguirus seems to exist solely to give Godzilla something to fight and doesn't feature as strong in the story as it should. That said, it does have an offbeat weirdness to it that sets it apart from some of the weaker entries, and Michiru Oshima's first score for the series is a home run.

27) Godzilla: The Planet Eater (201 Anime Trilogy Part 3 = By this point, the trilogy was chalked up to being a failed experiment that disappointed most of the fans. That said, at least they ended with the strongest of the three entries. The movie's biggest strength is actually its unique portrayal of Ghidorah as a non-corporeal Lovecraftian like destructive God, and its presence provides some of the trilogy's most memorable moments. This is also the one that does the best with its non-monster cast as the battle of philosophies between Metphies and Haruo provides some drama...which would have been more meaningful if the movie had been provided a better foundation from the first two entries.

26) Godzilla Vs. The Sea Monster (1966) AKA Ebirah Horror of the Deep = I used to hate this one when I was a kid, but I've grown to like it more as I've gotten older. The island setting and James Bond-esque story provides it a different flavor from what was already the norm in the series. Unfortunately, I think this would movie would actually be better if Godzilla wasn't in it. If they had gone with the original King Kong plan or if it was just an Ebirah standalone. Once Godzilla gets involved, the enemies put up against him feel like a cakewalk compared to what he's faced before, and it takes some of the dramatic tension out of the film.

25) Godzilla Vs. Spacegodzilla (1994) = Often maligned by fans, there are obvious flaws with this film, as well as signs of a rushed production. The writing is hampered by a senseless subplot with the Yakuza, and the romantic element never quite feels right either. That said, I do enjoy Spacegodzilla as a villain, and MOGUERA is a fun mecha thrown in there, and Yuki's Ahab like quest to kill Godzilla is a nice human story that also takes advantage of the series' continuity that the Heisei period provided.

24) Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) = The 50th anniversary film was met with negativity in its native country and a split reaction from the fanbase. Its easy to see why. Its a wild and bombastic spectacle that references the franchise's history but is also a near complete nonsense story. So its set up to be either enjoyed as pure spectacle or derided for being poorly written gobbledy gook. Personally, I am somewhere in the middle. I enjoy the fun being created and all the monsters on display, but I wish the story had been ironed out a little better. That said, it is fun, almost party like.

23) Godzilla Vs. Gigan (1972) AKA Godzilla on Monster Island = I've been up and down with this one my whole life. As a kid, it was one of my favorites. I loved it and it was probably the one I watched the most in my youth. As I got older, I grew to think less and less of it as the obviously low production values and reused story ideas showed its warts and it didn't stand up to scrutiny. However, now in my adult years, I've found it easier to look past the faults and enjoy the fun. It helps that Gigan is a terrific monster opponent, Ghidorah helps raise the stature of the film, & Anguirus gets his day in the sun.

22) King Kong Vs. Godzilla (1962) = This was the first Godzilla movie I ever saw and I guess you could say it was love at first sight as a new fan was born. For that, this film has a special place in my heart. Its historical significance can not be overlooked either. That said, the movie is extremely cheesy and deliberately silly which will impact one's ability to enjoy the movie. Personally, I think the film is a hoot and fun to watch...though I do wish they had done the Kong suit a little better.

21) The Return of Godzilla (1984) AKA Godzilla 1985 = This bold reimagining of the series decided to take Godzilla back to his roots, and the Cold War climate was a perfect stage for Godzilla's rampage, giving the film much of its weight. In several instances, it almost matches the original film, and is an appropriate return to form. Unfortunately, it falls short in other places, particularly in the human drama department. Still, its updated special effects and political intrigue make it a good start to the Heisei series and worth checking out.

20) Son of Godzilla (1967) = Another controversial entry among the fans, but whether or not you enjoy this depends on how much you're willing to accept the more kid friendly tone. Personally, I have always enjoyed this one, and I accepted it the closest the series came to being like Disney (old school fun Disney, not current shit stain Disney). True, Minilla's design is nothing short of atrocious and looks nothing like his dad, but he does provide a nice character full of personality and cuteness, and a nice way to slightly soften Godzilla a little bit, as this is the first time he shows affection for anything or anyone. I also enjoy the puppetry on the Kamacarus and Kumonga, both of whom are superbly executed.

19) Godzilla 2000 (1999) = After the failure of the 98 film, it was great to get a quick response from Toho with a true blue Godzilla film. This was the first real Godzilla film I saw in theaters and it was a great experience. It isn't the best entry by a longshot, but after the disappointment from Tristar, it was nice to get something familiar. It was like a nice slice of apple pie complete with monsters, aliens, and a pretty solid cast of humans.

1 Godzilla: Tokyo SOS (2003) = Being the only true sequel in the Millennium series, I give it props. It completes the Kiryu storyline from the previous movie and gives it a more satisfying conclusion this time around. Mothra's inclusion feels like she is, once again, reenacting her greatest hits from the 60s, but having her there with Mechagodzilla helps make it feel bigger. The special effects are also among the series' best, and once again, Oshima's score is excellent.

17) Godzilla Vs. Kong (2021) = The latest in the series gave us the rematch of the century and on that front, it delivered. When it comes to the monster fights and all the fun involved, its the best that the MonsterVerse has ever delivered. The story is paper thin and exists for the sole purpose of giving us the spectacle, but like I said, it achieves that well and makes for a fun movie. Its the least ambitious of the MonsterVerse films, but if the recent success is anything to go by, the film manages to give the people what they want.

16) Godzilla (2014) = The first MonsterVerse film not only created the fun world of the series and the MONARCH organization, but it also brought Godzilla back after a 10 year hiatus and made up for the sins of the 1998 Tristar film, proving that a US big budget Godzilla film can work. We can talk about the issues with the film, the biggest of which being the premature death of Brian Cranston's character despite him being the emotional core of the film. After his departure, the film goes to typical monster movie territory, but Edwards' direction provides a grounded and realistic world for these creatures to inhabit and effectively shows their impact on humanity. And despite holding back on the monster action, we got an explosive and exciting battle to close out that gave Godzilla the center stage. It was a good return for the King.

15) Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) = The Godzilla sequel in the MonsterVerse upped the ante with three classic monsters Mothra, Rodan, and Ghidorah to share the stage with Godzilla. Like the other MonsterVerse films, it wasn't perfect, but it succeeds in being a wild and fun spectacle that takes advantage of the mythology of these creatures, raising them to the level of Gods. This might be my favorite version of Ghidorah that we've ever gotten and he makes for a great villain. The movie is also helped out by Bear McCreary's wonderful score which is also augmented by the use of the classic Mothra and Godzilla themes. Additionally, I found the human element provided some really solid moments that got overlooked upon initial release. I wish the monster fights weren't all in the rain and stuff, but its still a good showcase for Godzilla.

14) Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) AKA Godzilla Vs. The Cosmis/Bionic Monster = Godzilla's 20th anniversary film gave us one of his greatest foes. The alien invader plot may have felt like old hat by this point, but the end result is a fun entry that embraces 70s camp but also gives us some of the wildest and bloodiest fights in the entire series. There is also a fun build up to King Ceasar and to the final battle. This film also displayed a clear case of improvement after low production values hurt most of the 70s films. This one delivered a big spectacle that manages to be both campy and bad ass at the same time.

13) Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero (1965) AKA Invasion of Astro Monster = The first and definitive Godzilla "alien invader" movie gave us a fun romp. The aliens themselves are the most hilariously fun that the series ever provided, and Nick Adams provides a Western charisma to the film. Additionally, this movie also provides probably the best romantic sub plot in the entire franchise between Miss Namikawa and Astronaut Glenn. Honestly, you could take the monsters out and it'd still be a pretty solid Sci-Fi flick, but you through Godzilla, King Ghidorah, and Rodan in there? Hot dog!

12) Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla (1993) AKA Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla II = You want action and monsters? This movie provides it in spades. We the 90s upgrades of Rodan, Mechagodzilla, and the Son of Godzilla and mixed in with one of my favorite versions of Godzilla, the Heisei one. As far as fights go, we get all the combinations: Godzilla Vs. Rodan, Rodan Vs. Mechagodzilla, and two Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla. The end result is a wild affair and one of the most memorable films in the series. This also features one of my favorite scores from classic composer Akira Ifukube.

11) Godzilla Vs. The Smog Monster (1971) AKA Godzilla Vs. Hedorah = Many fans don't like this one, but I put it high up because it is one of the wackiest and most memorable Godzilla films ever made. With 70s camp and its environmental message on full display, the film manages to be campy and crazy but also kind of horror based with some of its moments. Its also the odd man out of that early 70s period that didn't rely on stock footage for its action either. Its a unique and crazy film that makes you feel like you're on drugs while watching it, but therein lies its appeal.

10) Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All Out Attack (2001) = The best of the Millennium Series by a good mile, this entry is a blast. Kaneko, the director of the lauded Gamera trilogy lends his talents to Godzilla and it mostly works. The fantasy centered story makes it unique in the franchise and its also great to have Godzilla, Ghidorah, Mothra, and Baragon all around, the later of whom finally gets his chance to shine. I'm not a fan of Ghidorah as the good guy this time around, but this monstrous version of Godzilla is one of the greatest incarnations. You get plenty of monster action here, but its woven into a story drenched in mystery and fantasy, and its great to watch.

9) Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster (1964) = Toho's first monster mash was a rousing success as it combined their three most popular monsters Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra and put them up against their grand new monster, the three headed space dragon King Ghidorah. The monster stuff as delightful both with all the star power involved, and with the risks they take by humanizing the monsters a little bit more this time around. The human plot with the princess thinking she's an alien that's also being hunted down by assassins is also one of the most delightfully weird plots in the series' history.

Shin Godzilla (2016) = This film is purely a standalone divorced of any series or continuity and exists beautifully in its own world. And because of that, its able to stand as one of the most unique Godzilla films ever made, fully showcasing the impact of a Godzilla on humanity, and its handled beautifully. We get horrific moments with Godzilla's constantly evolving presence with each escalation proving to be more dangerous than the last. In addition to that, this is also a sly and comedic film with its biting political satire. It is truly one of the finest Godzilla films, and easily my favorite one since the turn of the century.

7) Godzilla Vs. Biollante (1989) = For a film trying to balance ecoterrorism, psychics, genetic manipulation, and so many wacky weapons used to fight Godzilla, you'd think this movie would collapse under the weight of itself. Fortunately, everything is balanced quite well and it makes for one of the most interesting and exciting films of the Heisei period. The special effects this time around prove to be among the series' best, with one of my favorite Godzilla suits and the practical effects marvel that is Biollante. Both battles we get are very well done, and all the military's methods of taking on Godzilla are unique and create great sequences as well. With some likeable characters and an interesting plot to tie it all together, this is a very good entry that is worth watching.

6) Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975) = The end of the Showa series ended with one of its best entries as Honda returns one last time to direct a Godzilla film, and also with Ifukube doing another classic score for the franchise. We also get one last romp with superhero Godzilla, and it is one of his most bad ass outings as he takes on both Mechagodzilla and Titannosaurus. Dr. Mafune and his cyborg daughter Katsura prove to be some of the series' most memorable characters as well. This entry lacks most of the camp of the 70s, as Honda chooses to give it a classier feel and a darker tone. While it didn't give a definitive end to Godzilla's Showa storyline, it did end the series on a high note.

5) Destroy All Monsters (196= I ranked this one up high for two reasons: 1) The spectacle of having 11 monsters running around and doing their thing, and 2) How I saw it as this was the final Showa film I got to watch and it was a great and fun one to go out on. With aliens, spaceships, action, and monsters coming out of your ears, this is not only one of the greatest spectacles Toho has ever produced, and serves as a great tribute to their string of sci fi films through the 50s and 60s. The four monster attack on Tokyo and the climactic battle of Mt Fuji remain two of Toho's most wild and fun action sequences.

4) Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah (1991) = In many ways, this film is the quintessential Godzilla film. It has wild sci fi elements like UFOs, Time Traveling, and Cyborgs. It has monster action galore with Godzilla taking on his greatest foe, updated for the 90s, and even a Mecha Ghidorah. And, it has an interesting story that features Godzilla and Ghidorah having role reversals between face and heel throughout the film. It also covers the origins of Godzilla, and his ties to Mr. Shindo results in one of if not the finest scene in the entire franchise. Its wild and crazy, but also more impactful than the standard monster film. It also helps that Ifukube came back to score the film, and his music instant raises the quality as it did during the Showa period. Ghidorah's return is a welcomed one, and working in a Mecha Ghidorah is the icing on the cake.

3) Mothra Vs. Godzilla (1964) AKA Godzilla Vs. The Thing = This is often recognized by fans as one of the best of the Showa period, and its easy to see why. It represents the high water mark of Godzilla's key creators, including some of Honda's best direction, some of Eiji Tsyburaya's best special effects, one of Ifukube's best scores, and possibly even Nakajima's best performance as Godzilla. With its story about greed impeding humanity's ability to unite, and Godzilla in his last truly evil appearance before his heroic turn, and possibly my favorite Mothra, this movie is a high mark for the franchise.

2) Godzilla Vs. Destoroyah (1995) = Had this been the final Godzilla film ever made, it would have been a high note to end on. Toho's swan song to Godzilla results in one of the finest moments in the franchise and the build up to that moment creates a tense and dramatic film. Having Destroyah around also provides one of the series' best designed creatures and one of the most hated heels in the monster menagerie. And appropriately, we get Akira Ifukube to score Godzilla's funeral dirge and its perfect.

1) Gojira (1954) = The first is the best in this case. Its my favorite Godzilla film, my favorite monster movie, and one of my favorite films ever. Its tone and approach helps to separate it from the monster movie contemporaries of the 1950s. Most of them were spectacles, but this one was straight horror, resulting in a bleak, dark, and realistic film. Godzilla's rampage of Tokyo is pretty haunting and mesmerizing to watch, and in black and white, it looks like an old news reel being shown to us, adding to the horror and realism. Its a great film and shows Godzilla at his most pure.

This is a great list.

My personal favorite will always be Godzilla Vs. Destoroyah. Like you said, the monster design in that one is one of the best the series has seen and makes for a great final monster battle for Godzilla.

 

[Illuminati Order Official]

I watched Godzilla Vs. Kong again and I can truthfully say that I've seen every Godzilla movie more than once.

Here's my updated series ranking: Worst to Best

Spoiler: Godzilla Series Ranking

11] Godzilla Vs. The Smog Monster [1971] AKA Godzilla Vs. Hedorah = Many fans don't like this one, but I put it high up because it is one of the wackiest and most memorable Godzilla films ever made. With 70s camp and its environmental message on full display, the film manages to be campy and crazy but also kind of horror based with some of its moments. Its also the odd man out of that early 70s period that didn't rely on stock footage for its action either. Its a unique and crazy film that makes you feel like you're on drugs while watching it, but therein lies its appeal.

You, sir, are a man of taste.

 

[draggs]

The American monsterverse has been disappointing. I don't think Godzilla 2014 was great, but in this series it was the best, even with the monster fight cutaways and the coma-inducing human plot. It was better than the utterly exceptional human plot and characters in KotM, which is the only part I remember about that film, try as I might to forget it.

Godzilla vs. Kong was more of the same. Half the human characters in GvK could have been cut out and it wouldn't have made any difference. No, correction: it might have improved the film. You think 'aw, poor little deaf girl lost her family', but what then? All she was necessary for was to let us know that Kong can sign 'home', in a ripoff of the Planet of the Apes remake trilogy. Completely pointless.

I couldn't even enjoy the monster fights. I grinned a couple of times when the monster confrontations began, but that potential didn't bear out. I've heard two things about the monster fights in GvK: one is that shots looking up at the monsters helps to portray their scale. Not so much when they're also flipping and flying around almost weightlessly. Outside of the hollow earth bits when Kong's actually weightless Godzilla 2014 at least showed these forty-story-high creatures moving with a kind of ponderousness to show their immense size and weight.
The other thing I heard was that the fights look like your old action figures being smashed together. Given the first point, I agree. I'd add one thing: the fights look like your old action figures being smashed together while being filmed on a GoPro camera that's being kicked and rolled around your yard. That fucking annoying trend to have the camera viewpoint buzz around your CGI spectacle like a horsefly, so that you're dazzled by the constant motion but can't actually see anything clearly. The curse of Michael Bay. The godawful neon lighting in the Hong Kong fight didn't help either.

The fights made both Godzilla and Kong look pathetic. Godzilla easily killed Kong, twice, even the time on land when Kong had his thuper-duper badathth battleakth. Only human intervention saved him both times. And don't forget the flying snake monsters. 'Bows to no-one' my ass. Only because the hairy fucker wouldn't survive long enough to bow.
Then Mechagodzilla laid down such a one-sided kerbstomp on both that I couldn't believe it. I don't think even Ghidorah had such an easy time of it in the previous film. Yet another annoying person had to save them, by pouring whiskey over a keyboard to somehow disable MG, before both monsters together could take it down. It proved the Elon Musk stand-in right: that humanity could come up with a way to take down Godzilla and get back to the top of the food chain.

Smaller, random, but still annoying parts: every close-up of Godzilla had his scaly face twitch and smoosh about like bad stop motion. I could swear they were trying to make him smirk like that whateverraptor thing in Jurassic World: Lost Kingdom.
The soundtrack choices ranged from confusing to bad. Like the last thirty seconds of the film, with Kong bombing around his new hollow-earth home to the strains of "All I need is the air that I breathe just to love you". My reaction wasn't 'woo!' as much as 'whuh?'

I just don't like the direction they took with Godzilla as a character in these films. I could go with the idea in G14 that Godzilla defends his territory from other titans and that humans are largely beneath his notice, but there was a kind of theme that became very blatant at the end: "Godzilla, savior of the city!" Yeah, after smashing and irradiating most of it They tried to recreate the success of the Marvel cinematic superhero universe by turning Godzilla into a superhero. They took modern, advanced, slightly better special effects, and used them to recreate the theme of the dopiest Showa era films, rather than the 'atomic force of nature' theme of almost every other film.

I can watch and enjoy Japanese Godzilla films, with their dopey plot points of robots that program themselves to change size, or Godzilla/crystal hybrids from space that want to conquer the Earth. I'm not sure why I expect more out creatively-bankrupt Hollywood, when I know the only subjective improvement it offers are CG effects. Maybe it's because the Japanese films don't try to shove as much lazy human melodrama in your face. Maybe because Japanese filmmakers know how to hold a camera steady. Maybe because the budgets match the plots. Maybe because the suit effects interest me. Maybe because my wallet still hurts after streaming GvK, because of FOMO.

All I know is I'd rather watch bureaucrats bicker in Shin Godzilla.

I said I liked the fights earlier but I watched it for the second time a few days ago and nowhere near as good as on first viewing.

Most of the fights in the Heisei movies and a lot of fights in the Showa series are better than the fights in any of the monsterverse movies outside of Godzilla 2014. Many of the Heisei ones even look better. Godzilla stomping through Tokyo in 1984 fighting Super X-1, or through Osaka fighting Super X-2 while Goro's team sets up to bazooka him with germs in Biollante, are better than Hong Kong epilepsy fest. I'd even say they look better, especially 1984. Godzilla pushing the skyscraper over onto Super X-1 is the best special effects shot in Godzilla ever I think. The monsterverse monsters move too damn fast.

Also don't like how one minute the monsters are invincible and the next minute regular old air to air missiles are making Godzilla roar in what kinda sounds like pain. And they didn't hit his gills either, right in the chest.

Godzilla's character remains animalistic but they had to put in their own bullshit about how the monsters are like compelled to fight each other? Why? The MUTOs at least had a reason to go after Godzilla, they feed on nuclear radiation. Why would Godzilla and Ghidorah just hate each other? Rodan and Godzilla? It doesn't appear that there were lots of them running around bajillions of years ago, the earth is a big place even for 300 foot tall monsters. Mothra is the defender of earth is weird yes but in the Japanese movies they gave you interesting settings and characters to sell it to you. Exposition is terribly delivered in the whole series, outside of Skull Island and Bryan Cranston.

But it's all animalistic, I don't give a fuck about cavemen that we never even see worshipping monsters so that's supposed to make me care. A force of nature roused by man's hubris and recklessness is interesting. I care about cute fairy twins and islanders worshipping Mothra because it's an exotic setting and cute twins. Those are interesting. Bryan Cranston was interesting. Who are all these actors? Millie Bobby Brown is the biggest one you've got for 2 movies in a row? You got Samuel L. Jackson and John Goodman and John Reilly and Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson (I know but she's a big name) and Shea Whigham for Skull Island. You got Bryan Cranston (who you stupidly killed off before the halfway mark) for 2014. And Watanabe but you did nothing with him in the first movie like idiots. Why would I care about him in King of the Monsters when you gave me no reason to the first time around?

And trying to cram 9-10 movies worth of ideas and characters and organizations into 5 movies because you don't think you'll get the money to crank out MCU numbers of movies is dumb. A lot of stuff to properly flesh things out and not leave the audience going "how did that happen? What happened to-?" was left out because no time.

Hollywood sausage making mess.

 

[Newman's Lovechild]

@draggs Agreement very much.

"The monsterverse moves too damn fast." The one? advantage of suits is that the awkwardness can help sell the scale of these kaiju. Godzilla: Final Wars left me cold for the same reasons as KotM and GvK - super-limber suits that moved too fast and made me feel like I was watching an extra long episode of Power Rangers. Also moving too fast through the film. Nothing was given special significance. Just a rapid sequence of clashes, effects shots, and 'things I know!' And a shitty human plot.

I may be taking it too seriously. I have trouble resolving how seriously I should take films about giant monsters fighting. The way I see it, I can accept any level of giant cyborgs or guardian moths if the film or the humans in the film take Godzilla seriously. My favourites include the original 1954 film and Shin Godzilla because they're the same simple premise: regular old people against this horrible thing that falls on their city and leaves unimaginable destruction in its wake. It sounds pretentious but the real life commentary in each adds to the experience. I mentioned bickering bureaucrats. I can see why people are bored by that but for me it's half the point. A red-tape government left reeling and panicing in the face of unexpected disaster.

Godzilla vs. Kong is almost the polar opposite. Like you say, too much shit thrown at the wall to see what sticks. We already start with the idea that the walking nuclear bomb is somehow the defender of humanity. Then, hey! Kong's in a Truman Show dome! We're off to the hollow earth! After paying a visit to Atlantis in the last film and doing fuck-all with it Super advanced spaceships for travelling the super gravity warp tunnels underground! A tech company with it's own super warp tunnels reaching from Florida to Hong Kong! And a giant telepathic robot possessed by the ghost of a space dragon! A giant castle even by titan standards built by a race of gorillas! An axe made from a piece of dead tissue that absorbs Godzilla breath and does... something... with it...?

One or two of these might have worked. The 'Heaves' fuck me remind me of the Super-X vehicles, for example. But there needs to be a bit of breathing space for the enormity and ramifications of these things to sink in, for them to be in any way impressive. Throwing every crazy idea in without pause makes the thing feel like a cheap, lazy cartoon with expensive effects.

I get the feeling that the monsterverse and the Snyderverse were accidentally swapped at birth, in the maternity hospital. Snyder's brooding, maudlin attempt to imagine 'how would we react if there was an actual Superman?' should have been applied to the big G. The superheros needed to be taken a little less seriously, the giant catastrophic monsters a little more so.

"Godzilla's character remains animalistic but they had to put in their own bullshit about how the monsters are like compelled to fight each other?"

Like I said, I can go with the territoriality thing with regards to Godzilla. Hippos are one of the most dangerous African mammals, not because they're rapacious predators but because they get so pissed by anything intruding on their patch. The idea gets stretched to breaking point with some of the monsterverse rivalries and 'sensing other titans anywhere on earth', though. Each of the monsterverse films has a facepalm moment at the end. For KotM it was all the remaining titans bowing to Godzilla. It's a hairs breadth away from having them talk to eachother in the Showa films. Godzilla is an intensely instinctual and territorial creature, makes a beeline for any other titan on earth, but it's okay because he recognizes the human act of bowing as submissiveness. Never mind how much of his territorys resources these unrelated species use, as long as they know he's boss.

That came into GvK too. Kong might be able to grasp the concept of 'Godzilla not enemy' but was about Godzilla? Why just turn and walk away? Kong doesn't bow, apparently, and hadn't. Was it because Kong dropped his axe? Was that the bow moment? Was it the fact that Godzilla knew he could make Kong his bitch at any point? It says a lot for the big monkey.

The plot about giant monsters, super science and lost worlds is one thing, just be consistent about the ideas you introduce into it.

While I'm here, I kind of like Mothra. She makes the kaijuverse even wilder because she injects some kind of magical mysticism and spirituality into it, with the twin fairies, themes of sacrifice, and the death/rebirth cycle. It helps her stand out among a lineup of giant radioactive dinosaurs, knowing that, while the rest of them are brainlessly crushing cities and eating power stations, there's at least one that's consciously on our side.
It beats having the biggest brainless city crusher on our side much as I like him and at least she's consistent.

 

[Saul Goodman Fan]

Who’s your guys’s favorite human character in a Godzilla film? Mine’s gotta be either Akane, from Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, because Kiryu pilot gf or Glenn, from Invasion of the Astro Monster, because Nick Fucking Adams.

 

[Kari Kamiya]

Either Yasuaki Shindo or Miki Saegusa. Shindo's way of accepting redemption for being unable to do anything for the Godzillasaurus who saved him and his men's lives was surprisingly deep for a one-shot character. Him also recognizing what he had done to attract destruction to Tokyo playing a part in accepting his fate makes him one of the more sympathetic villains, too, most of them don't really ever show remorse for what they do to deserve nature's wrath. Only other villain who does that (that I can think of) is Emma Russell, whom is my favorite Monsterverse human character if I'm gonna be honest. Her character arc feels like she walked right out of a Japanese drama, it's really weird but I really liked her arc. I know most people didn't care for her, but I find her fate to be appropriate for the character since as it was her who started it, she got to be the one to fix it, which allowed Godzilla to finish the job.

Miki Saegusa I think is a fascinating idea as a character, but she was sadly underutilized/underdeveloped despite being prominent in the Heisei movies. It really does feel like so much more could've been done with her, especially since I don't believe it's ever been fully understood/explained why it is psychics have such connections to Godzilla. And given she was the only other human whom the Cosmos would contact in vs. SpaceGodzilla, it makes me wonder if she was meant to be like a mediator between kaijus and humans, and if she ever remains in touch with Godzilla, Jr. after he was resurrected.

Honorable mention I think goes to Princess Maas Doulina Salno, but technically we never really got to know her as a character since she was possessed by a Venusian spirit throughout the majority of the movie, and we never got the name of that spirit. And whoever that Venusian was was more interesting than the princess herself.

 

[Hot Dog]

I've watched Godzilla since I was a kid and grew up on the classic movies from the 70s through the 90s. It is nice to see him have a bit of an uptick in recent years.

Shin Godzilla was awesome. The creativity and touches of body horror really gave the movie a sense of menace that the Monster verse Godzilla movies lack. I can see the monster verse running out of steam after Godzilla vs. Kong though. Was nice while it lasted.

 

[Clown College]

Miki Saegusa I think is a fascinating idea as a character, but she was sadly underutilized/underdeveloped despite being prominent in the Heisei movies. It really does feel like so much more could've been done with her, especially since I don't believe it's ever been fully understood/explained why it is psychics have such connections to Godzilla. And given she was the only other human whom the Cosmos would contact in vs. SpaceGodzilla, it makes me wonder if she was meant to be like a mediator between kaijus and humans, and if she ever remains in touch with Godzilla, Jr. after he was resurrected.

Oh Miki what a cutey, you bring up a good point about her possibly being a mediator between kaiju and humans. I wonder if there's any novels, manga or otherwise that explain that connection? Maybe there's some media that was never translated from Japanese that has some explanation? They also never really went anywhere with the school children in Biollante who sensed Godzilla was awake again. That would've
been a pretty good side story....Godzilla Psycorps or something.

 

[Kari Kamiya]

Who’s your guys’s favorite human character in a Godzilla film?

Also just out of curiosity, you didn't just so happen to ask 'cause Up From the Depths yesterday uploaded a recorded stream about the concept of human characters in kaiju films? It was either that, or YouTube's algorithm is getting super creepy.

 

[Saul Goodman Fan]

Also just out of curiosity, you didn't just so happen to ask 'cause Up From the Depths yesterday uploaded a recorded stream about the concept of human characters in kaiju films? It was either that, or YouTube's algorithm is getting super creepy.

Nope! I just watched Godzilla x Mechagodzilla and was surprised by how much I liked the human characters and was wondering what other people thought.