2016 Halloween quick guide to Godzilla

[Sculpt]

I saw some interest in watching a Godzilla film in our Halloween season this year. As there are 31 Godzilla films, some very different than others, I thought I'd shoot a quick guide to help match your mood and interest.

In case you're unaware, there is a new Godzilla film released in 2016, from Japanese Toho called Shin Godzilla/Godzilla Resurgence.


Most Japanese productions can be viewed with English dub or subtitles.

Godzilla Fantasy Film: creative, fascinating, cultural, mythical, fun, heart-warming

Godzilla Versus the Thing/Mothra (1964) -- This is the Godzilla film that changed everything. It's not dark, gloomy and man-vs-giant monster like Gojira 1954. Rather it's a fantasy film full of bright colors, tiny twin fairies, human in-fighting and intrigue, a giant moth and Godzilla. Godzilla is still an enemy of man.


Godzilla Horror: Dark, Gloomy, Devastating, Horrifying, Artistic, Social/Political

Gojira (1954) - The English subtitled original is dark, gloomy, horrifying punch in the gut. It's all creative, has a great look, fascinating, devastating, serious, at times slow. I don't recommend it if you are the least bit sleepy.

Alternate Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1956) - is the American edit/version with Raymond Burr staring and narrating throughout, with English dub. It's easier to watch and follow for the casual Westerner, while still presenting (arguably) the essence of the film. Some of the political, social, and anti-nuclear themes and overtones were removed (16 minutes) and replaced with new American produced scenes.


Godzilla Sci-fi: Science-Fiction Fantasy, Action, Intrigue

Destroy All Monsters (1968) - one of the best Godzilla films. It's sci-fi, humans vs space aliens and giant monsters.
Godzilla Versus Monster Zero (1965) - Although a little campy and 'kid friendly', it's also a buddy film co-staring American Nick Adams. It's sci-fi, fighting space aliens, nice pace.
Godzilla Versus Biollante (1989) - specifically for the sci-fi lover, the film is contemplative and fascinating.
Godzilla Final Wars (2004) - Godzilla film lovers paradise film. It touches on all the Toho films and lore, it's fast paced, with karate, good special effects and just an appropriate amount of tongue-in-cheek cheese.


Realism Godzilla

Godzilla (2014) - American production, nice special effects, decent film.


Godzilla Psychedelic

Godzilla Vs the Smog Monster (Hedora) (1971)- psychedelic, artistic and fascinating. Some scary moments, also includes some animated sequences.


== The rest of the films here I don't recommend, but most say these are the best of these types of Godzilla films ==

Godzilla Power Rangers: Action, Myth, Special Effects

Godzilla 2000 (1999) - Godzilla the destroyer is back
Godzilla Tokyo SOS (2003) - some fun with action
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II - action and effects
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) - bizarre, time travel, West is bad.
Godzilla, Mothra & King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) - lots of mythos with the SFX and action.
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) - Godzilla is gonna blow up

Godzilla Cheese: cheesy and kiddie

Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla (1974) - space aliens create a robot Godzilla
Godzilla Vs Megalon (1973) - team fights

[MichaelMyers]

Where do you see the Godzilla franchise headed in the future?

[Sculpt]

Where do you see the Godzilla franchise headed in the future?

That's a great question! My quick answer is the experience of helplessness.

I wish I was the one making those decisions. ::wink::

I also wish I could see the last film... as unfortunately, I discovered the new Toho Godzilla film Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence), is not viewable in America yet (except for some big city theaters)... A film that had it's very successful theatrical run through Japan this past July.

I can't even rent or buy it from Amazon.com.

I can't even find a place to stream it... which considering the state of internet, keeping this film off of it is a really amazing trick.

Reading the description, watching the trailer, reading a few blurbs... it appears this is like Gojira 1954, Godzilla as a force of nature, perhaps corrupted by mankind, wrecking havoc on civilization -- with overtones of the 2011 tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdowns. It looks like a partial retelling of Godzilla Vs Destroyer.

To a large extent, Shin Godzilla, Gojira '54, '85 and 2000 capitalize on the experience of helplessness before a vastly superior force, like a tsunami or the American onslaught of WWII.

The American Godzilla 2014 theme was basically the same: humans prompted a destructive force beyond their control. But also the theme of nature balancing itself is promulgated: MUTOs exist, and they require the predator to balance it.

Future of Godzilla? I see more of this original theme of helplessness... forces of nature, battling titans, humans trying to restrain and defeat these symbolic Titans; with themes of humankind sometimes causing them to appear via their own mistakes.

The writer of Godzilla 2014 is writing Godzilla 2 for 2019 release, and so I would expect a new monster, like the MUTOs were new; but others suggest the 2014 film is filled with hints of Mothra, Ghidorah and Rodan to appear. Are they foreshadowing or homages? Godzilla Vs King Kong is slated for 2020.