My adoration for Big-G, Rodan, Mothra and all of Toho's creations goes back to the earliest part of my childhood. I remember it distinctively. I was 4, and the library was my stomping ground. I came across an old, well worn book from what I believe was the 70's in black and white. And across the cover was a picture of Godzilla and Anguirus wrestling in the second Godzilla flick. The trees came up to their ankles and the buildings to their shoulders. I had never seen anything like it. The book was falling apart but full of pictures of all the old Godzilla greats- Rodan, Mothra, King Ghidorah, King Kong. Their exploits and brawls destroyed cities, villages and caused foreign faces to scream in unending terror.
After bringing the book home I hid it and told my Mom I lost it. There was no way I was letting this one go back to that library.
I immediately realized these movies were available here in the States, and my new quest was to find any of them and make them mine. Sure enough in the VHS section of my library was 2. I skipped my usual Disney dose to pick them both up. One was Godzilla vs Gigan and the other Son of Godzilla.
Since then I've seen all 28 films at least several times. I got into other Kaiju franchises like Gamera and even south Asian ripoffs. I'm an adult now, but my passion for the endless destruction never let off. If anything I've come to appreciate what a truly great and influential film the original 1954 film is. It in one sweep invented the Kaiju, and Disaster genres; and to some degree, the Japanese film industry.
Godzilla is a household name, but Kaiju as a whole is not. Most people would associate any giant monster as just one of Godzilla's one time opponents. They are not really appreciated.
That changed when Guillermo Del Toro (God bless that man) jumped on a dream and set out to make a Kaiju film without guys in suits and only the best CGI available. The results were spectacular. When 'Pacific Rim' got announced as a Gundam vs Godzilla concept I almost fainted. He got an all-star cast and used his brilliant design team to create a modern world with an old school feel (He was even brash enough to use the term 'kaiju' in the film). It was tongue in cheek and some said even akin to 'Independence Day' (whether that be a good thing or bad thing is up to you). It did fantastic in every place except the States and is now considered one of the best 3D and IMAX films ever made. Kaiju was something made for big loud theaters. Those who saw it in the theater were blown away- those who saw it at home on their rinky dink flatscreens and laptops weren't impressed.
Gareth Edwards quietly made a low budget kaiju film of his own simply titled 'Monsters' several years ago. Any one who saw it was intrigued by the amount of seriousness and depth Edwards applied to his baby (he did almost all of the SFX himself) and all for the unbelievable cost of 100,000$. Warner Bros recognized his talent early on, and after acquiring the rights to make a 'Godzilla' film contacted him about an even wilder dream to be realized. A Del Toro sized deal.
It’s no coincidence WB is rolling out 'Godzilla' a year after the mixed response of 'Pacific Rim'. This plan was established over 3 years ago and WB is putting some of their money down that Kaiju could make a comeback.
But Pacific Rim didn't do what WB intended. They wanted a Michael Bay sized audience for PR and the movie being an original, unlicensed movie, people were skeptical. If it wasn't for the int'l success of PR there would've been no chance of a sequel.
Edwards' upcoming film could change that though. Godzilla is well known and well regarded. Most average movie goers remember the 1998 Emmerich monstrosity with thoughts of 'loud' and 'silly'. Which Kaiju is at heart.
Many would go see any crap labeled 'Godzilla' because it’s just that.
But Edwards' vision isn't of mindless characters avoiding a terrible CGI design destroying famous NYC landmarks. It’s what the 1954 Ishiro Honda film portrayed.
Man's arrogance. Nature's indifference. A walking, breathing nuclear disaster.
TOTAL
UNCOMPROMISING
DESTRUCTION
The first teaser trailer which was leaked months ago show what route Edwards is taking.
God be praised. This is what we asked for.
There isn’t some human quality to what he does. He is a force of nature that cannot be predicted and cannot be contained.
To say I have every confidence this will be what I hope it is, is an understatement.
Audiences will be shocked and unprepared.
This’ll be PG-13 I’m sure, and will allow kids everywhere to experience what so many of us adults experienced at their age of the same breathtaking sight (A part of me wants this to go all out and be a hard R- true disaster movie showing the result of Big-G’s rampage. The 1954 film has many bloody bodies and carnage. People forget that’s what happens when a Kaiju plows through a building).
If commercially successful we could get a PR sequel, undoubtedly another ‘Godzilla’ film, and if WB works out the kinks a crossover film. Don’t forget WB also has the license for ‘King Kong’, and through some BS movie science we could get a ‘Godzilla vs King Kong Round II.’
With every sci-fi and fantasy license including comics getting grabbed up by studios, Hollywood is gonna need some fresh ideas.
WB could create by its own power new Kaiju franchises. With illegal downloading and quick to DVD films people are finding fewer and fewer reasons to shell out 10$ for a movie you might not even like, Studios have to exploit advantages for films in actual theaters. Remember the ‘good in theater, not so great at home argument’?
The theater I frequent has before most movies a faux preview with SFX and loud sound that shrinks to the size of a home TV screen on the theater screen with the message: ‘GO BIG. OR GO HOME.”
I agree with this completely. Some movies you just HAVE to see in the theater for it to be as good as it can be. Kaiju is the epitome of that.
And Kaiju in IMAX could be a boon for studios with an eye for selling them theater seats.
Whether or not Gareth Edwards’ ‘Godzilla’ is a success it is undoubtedly a great time to be a Kaiju fan.
Pacific Rim on Blu-Ray, many of the best Godzilla classics are getting a polished remastered edition and on top of that we have one of our own helming what will most likely prove to be everything the King of the Monsters deserves to be.
SSSSSKKKRRRREEEEEEEEEOOOONNNNNKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!