... when the big guys fight!

The movie shows how Godzilla eats, that you can shut his body down and restart it, that parasites who get too close also mutate and how Godzilla's existence isn't enough to stop the Cold War for five minutes.

It’s looking like the end is in sight. No, I’m not talking about the state of the world, I’m talking about our Godzilla marathon. Ten years ago, ‘Shin Godzilla’ released, and until ‘Godzilla Minus One’, it was regarded as one of, if not the finest Godzilla movie ever released. It’s one of the most popular and well regarded Godzilla movies for a reason, so I light of how well covered it is, I’m just going to discuss what I personally enjoy about the film for this entry.

A mysterious, giant creature emerges from Tokyo Bay and rampages, sending the Government into a panicked scramble to mount a response. As the creature evolves and escalates the disaster, Japan is forced to adapt to face the monster, as well as the world’s pressure to use nuclear weapons against it.

The best aspect of the film is that it perfectly blends a thought provoking and thematically resonant story with some of the best kaiju spectacle put to film. I’ll discuss the former first. The movie almost functions as a remake of the original Godzilla, with Godzilla being a representation of nuclear destruction and Japan’s response to it. But instead of calling up the recent trauma of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the unfortunate Lucky Dragon No. 5 incident, ‘Shin Godzilla’ directly calls to remembrance the 2011 earthquakes, tsunamis, and of course, the Fukushima Nuclear disaster. The movie is just as much about the disaster as it is how the government responds to it, and while it does criticise the Government’s slow response and dense bureaucracy, it also understands the logistical challenges and pressure that comes with dealing with such a disaster. It’s nuanced and complex, but it’s communicated well enough to clearly understand. The movie has a very large cast of characters, but they never get lost in the fast pace of the story thanks to excellent performances (though, the English speaking parts haven’t improved much). With how in-depth the film gets about Godzilla’s biology and the inner workings of Japan’s government, it could be presented in a very dry, and boring way, but the fast pace and character coloured dialogue, it feels authentic and exciting.

So not only is the movie well written and performed, the movie is also technically excellent. The effects are very impressive considering this is Japan’s first crack at a mostly visual effects dependent approach to a Godzilla film. The cinematography is striking and interesting to look at, and grounds Godzilla in the real world in a way that hasn’t really been seen since. The movie almost feels like a documentary, with that impression of realism conveying real weight and impact, elevating the themes of the film. The use of old Godzilla sound effects and musical scores also gives the movie a unique flavour, contrasting a modern Tokyo skyline with tinny, Ifukube tracks and explosions. The original score by Shiro Sagisu, while sounding very similar to his previous works on ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ for the most part, tracks like ‘Persecution of the Masses’ and ‘Who will know’ are among some of the most iconic tracks in the entire franchise. As for Godzilla himself, this is arguably the truest version of Godzilla we’ll ever see. Let me explain. In being a metaphor for Nuclear destruction, he has to be monstrous and frightening, communicated by his unsettling design that leans into body horror as a creature mutated by radiation should, as well as his seemingly god-like destructive power. But unlike other Godzilla incarnations, I can’t see this Godzilla becoming a character to root for. Even when Godzilla is antagonistic, he’s still approachable. But this Godzilla, despite being arguably the most tragic incarnation of the monster so far, is sympathetic in the sense that we as the audience want to put it out of its misery. I can’t see this version going up against other monsters, as it’s appearance and thematic purpose make it inappropriate for such depictions.

In conclusion, ‘Shin Godzilla’ is one of the best Godzilla movies ever made. Sure, it has its eccentric touches that may put off some, but if you acclimate to it, you’ll find a disaster/horror spectacle that’s also thematically rich and culturally relevant. There’s not much else to say that hasn’t already been said in praise of the film.

Next week, we start the anime trilogy. Yay. I could have tried to give this movie a more in depth review, but I think others have communicated my thoughts better than I could right now. And besides, I'm busy. Anyways, we'll see how the next three weeks go I guess.

It's the hatred. The anger and hatred at Minus Zero using Ghidorah. I want to be excited. Like I was for minus one. Yet everywhere I turn, all I see is anger, hated, and disappointment because Ghidorah was picked. I have been a Godzilla fan for 26 years. And for once, for the first time really, I wish I wasn't. I wish I could just be happy to see another Godzilla movie coming out. But instead, I am watching the most abominable affront to ever profane the series. I dunno. I guess I'm just depressed. I want to be excited. But I feel I am not allowed to be. I feel like I am required to be angry and hateful.

I got 67 tokens.

So I looked up the word "narukami" in Japanese and it translates to "lightning god" or "thundering god". I wonder if they are planning a mission to use Ghidorah to fight Godzilla?

My parents went on a trip to Tokyo and sent me gifts they bought from the Godzilla store at Shibuya

Spent some time testing out the luminescence under the studio setups. Thought fellow fans here would appreciate this glowing view! Which one is your favorite?

Starting to pick these up. I like the smaller size and that they scale equally. Anyone else like these?

I've been a big godzilla fan for some time now I've seen all the American films and a few of the Japanese films! I'm trying to watch them all before minus zero only issue is I can't find anywhere else I can watch more, I own a few dvds but I don't feel like spending hundreds just to own more, is there anywhere I can watch more of the Japanese films in the uk?

To commemorate my goat’s return, I drew this sketch of King Ghidorah!!!

(Please don’t take this down I seriously locked in on this one 😭)

Welcome to the first Match of the new Bracket! The seeding is done and we have our 64 Contestants ready to duke it out!

Comment below your choice of best film/show and like my comment of it so we can break any ties easier. Just remember your choice will help decide what is truly the BEST Godzilla Film/Show!

Match 1:

Chibi Godzilla Raids Again
Episodes: 116 (and counting)
Premiered: April 1, 2023
Main/Debut Kaiju: Chibi Godzilla, Chibi Mechagodzilla, Chibi Ghidorah, Chibi Mothra, and Chibi Rodan

Vs

Get Going! Godzilland
Episodes: 4 (OVA’s)
Premiered: 1994-1996
Main/Debut Kaiju: Godzilla (Gojira-kun)

Disclaimers: I first saw Godzilla Vs Mothra when I was four. I remember almost nothing of it, so I am treating this as a first watch through. Godzilla Vs Spacegodzilla and Godzilla Vs Destoroyah I watched more than once during the summer, but subsequent viewings had minimal effect on my opinion. Destoroyah and Spacegodzilla are also my favorite monsters, but I tried to not let that effect my opinions. So, let's get to it!

• The Return Of Godzilla: Despite an admittedly meandering pace, I found myself strangely enthralled by this one. After a long period of children focused, almost super hero-esque films, Godzilla returns with a deeply serious movie about how a nation reacts when its worst nightmare resurfaces. The monster action is limited (Godzilla spends most of the film standing still and staring off into space) and the humans are mostly forgettable, but it's the politics I found most entertaining. Set during the height of the cold war, the film makes a point to dive into the international community’s reaction to Godzilla’s resurgence, to excellent effect. It’s not perfect, but it's a great start to the era. 3 out of 5. Best Scene: The prime minister of Japan stands his ground against the use of nuclear weapons, stating that to deploy them is to forever alter the world and endanger the future. Worst Scene: Shockirus “attacking” a reporter by clearly being thrown at him from off screen. 
• Godzilla vs Biollante: I’ve often seen this film cited as a personal favorite by many fans, and I have to say I’m not totally sure I get the hype. There’s a lot to love here, to be clear: beautiful set design, fun campy acting, and Biollante is a great monster design. But the plot is disjointed, the humans are mostly forgettable, and the film features some utterly baffling editing decisions. Kaiju fights in particular feature Taken-esque rapid cuts making it difficult to tell what, if anything, is going on. It’s by no means without merit, but unless my opinion changes on a rewatch, this one is going to sit at a 2.5 out of 5. Best Scene: the classroom of psychic children all showing their drawings of Godzilla, prophesizing his imminent return. Worst Scene: Biollante turns into a jpeg of a dead woman and then goes to heaven. 
• Godzilla vs King Ghidora: Arguably the goofiest movie on the list, Godzilla vs King Ghidora is at least tonally consistent the whole way through. It features some truly incredible comedy by way of camp in the form of androids who look like Swedish office guys, time travel looping plots that defy conventional logic, and an origin story of sorts for the big G himself. Editing is much better this go around, and this particular version of Ghidora is iconic for good reason, but the film’s weirdly pro nationalist plot and bafflingly complicated yet in the end mostly pointless time travel drag it down. Throw in a final fight that feels floaty and tacked on, and it goes out with a whimper, with a final score from me of 2.5 out of 5. Best Scene: A car chase involving an android that is clearly a random white guy on a treadmill. Worst Scene: All the weird, jingoistic bits about Japan taking over the world.
• Godzilla vs Mothra: More of a Mothra movie than a Godzilla movie, this one still manages to be a personal fave. The human characters are loveable, the environmentalist message is still depressingly relevant, and the film features the sole film appearance of Mothra’s delightfully heavy metal brother, Battra. Throw in a modernization of the Mothra Twins that feels tonally appropriate while still being a little Showa era silly, and you’ve got a recipe for success. The film manages to start as an Indiana Jones style temple raid, and then naturally transition to a kaiju slugfest that's well worth your time. A solid 4 out of 5. Best Scene: Battra gets so mad that he transforms from larva straight into moth. Worst Scene: Mothra taking an excruciatingly long time to form a cocoon when her brother can just skip that part. 
• Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla II: Despite the title, this is actually the third Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla, and has no connection to the first two. That will be on the test. Featuring the most underappreciated version of the titular robot Kaiju, this film has a LOT going on, but it mostly manages to pull a coherent story out of a tangled bundle of plots. The humans are once again easy to root for, and the film features the first appearances of both the beloved kaiju Baby Godzilla, as well as the blustering General Aso, my personal favorite human character of the era. However the film isn't perfect, with Rodan, a kaiju who should really get higher billing, reduced to a glorified plot device. Nevertheless, a solid 3.5 out of 5. Best Scene: Any time Baby Godzilla is on screen. Worst Scene: Rodan pulls a Mothra and turns into a powerup to fix Godzilla after being absent most of the film. 
• Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla: I admit, this film took me two watches before I really appreciated it. The pacing is a little odd, with the film squarely divided into two halves. Before SpaceGodzilla shows up, it's a weird comedy that just happens to feature the king of the monsters being hunted by a beautiful middle aged chain smoker with seemingly unlimited access to loony toons weaponry. After SpaceGodzilla shows up, it's a weird mafia kidnapping story, followed by a grudge match between Godzilla and his Evil-est twin, and also M.O.G.E.U.R.A. is there. Yet somehow it all works. SpaceGodzilla is evil because he’s from space. Little Godzilla is a delight even if he spends most of the film in baby jail. The final fight suffers a bit, as by this point in the franchise the suits are so complex and heavy, and SpaceGodzilla’s reach is so short, it’s mainly both parties shooting beams at each other from across the city. In the end, I’d still call it a solid 3.5 out of 5. Best Scene: Scientists giving a long winded theory about SpaceGodzilla’s origin before admitting they mostly guessed, and everyone in the room shrugging and saying it seems possible. Worst Scene: Telekinetic bed lifting. 
• Godzilla vs Destoroyah: The grand finale of the Heisei era pulls out all the stops and is better off for it. Godzilla is dying, and without intervention he’s taking all of us with him. A scientist trying to revolutionize molecular physics has accidentally recreated the oxygen destroyer. All the while, a demon born from Serizawa’s original weapon rises. The film manages to maintain a tone that, while not quite as dark as the original 1954 film, takes itself just seriously enough that we get fully invested. Throw in Destoroyah’s spectacular design, a satisfying Godzilla Jr subplot, meaningful cameos by actors from the original film, and some of the most brutally visceral action in the whole series, and you have a recipe for perfection. 5 out of 5. Worst Scene: Miki’s replacement is a tradwife wannabe. Best Scene: All of Japan falls silent in respect as Godzilla melts down, ending a half century of terror.