Rodan vs. Fire Dragon

[123go]

It has always bothered me the way Rodan flew off in the fight against Ghidorah. The next time he was seen he was engaging the Fire Dragon. Could it be that was the reason he didn't rejoin the battle? It would go a long way towards rebuilding his rep in the showa timeline.

[Billzilla1974]

It's possible he believed (correctly) that the rest of the monsters didn't need his help to kill King Ghidorah and decided to make sure no other threats appeared to turn the tide for Ghidorah. He found the Fire dragon and kept it at bay while the others were finishing off KG.

[GodzillaBurgh]

That's an interesting theory. But, I wonder why the Kilaaks didn't use the Fire Dragon to tire out the monsters and then use King Ghidorah. But, just a thought.

[123go]

That's an interesting theory. But, I wonder why the Kilaaks didn't use the Fire Dragon to tire out the monsters and then use King Ghidorah. But, just a thought.

Poor planning.

Added in 56 seconds:

It's possible he believed (correctly) that the rest of the monsters didn't need his help to kill King Ghidorah and decided to make sure no other threats appeared to turn the tide for Ghidorah. He found the Fire dragon and kept it at bay while the others were finishing off KG.

I like that theory.

Added in 6 minutes 46 seconds:

It's possible he believed (correctly) that the rest of the monsters didn't need his help to kill King Ghidorah and decided to make sure no other threats appeared to turn the tide for Ghidorah. He found the Fire dragon and kept it at bay while the others were finishing off KG.

A good theory that would go along with Rodan's independent thinking. The other monsters needed to be guided and were followers. (anguirus being the most guilty of following) The only other exception would be Mothra. (not the larvae but Imago)

[PitchBlackProgress]

That's an interesting theory. But, I wonder why the Kilaaks didn't use the Fire Dragon to tire out the monsters.

Probably because it was a a common saucer and would have been easy to take down.

[KaijuCanuck]

I don't think Rodan was fighting the Fire Dragon. To me the great thing about the Fire Dragon is that it's an empty threat - the Kilaaks and well and truly desperate at that point, their continued bravado is all false. It was their very last resort to cow the Earth into surrender, now that all their actual weapons were gone.

[123go]

That's an interesting theory. But, I wonder why the Kilaaks didn't use the Fire Dragon to tire out the monsters.

Probably because it was a a common saucer and would have been easy to take down.

But it wasn't easy to take down. It burned Rodan and Godzilla's Flame was useless.

[eabaker]

It would go a long way towards rebuilding his rep in the showa timeline.

Rebuilding his rep? I'm pretty sure that DAM never turned off the fandom or the public at large where Rodan was concerned.

[edgaguirus]

I'm sure the reason was because if made the fight easier to coordinate. There were more than enough wires being used.

Movie wise, Rodan could have been laying back as back up. However, Godzilla and the other monsters didn't need it.

[123go]

It would go a long way towards rebuilding his rep in the showa timeline.

Rebuilding his rep? I'm pretty sure that DAM never turned off the fandom or the public at large where Rodan was concerned.

I think it added to his decline in popularity. A lot of people misunderstood when he just flew off. The movie made it look like one shot from Ghidorah and he was done. I understand about wires and such but it was never clarified in the movie why he didn't rejoin. Although I like the idea of Godzilla and some of the lesser monsters taking on Ghidorah. It at least gave it a different spin on the same old fight. Still, between this and the fact that Return of Ghidorah (in that movie Rodan was slated to take a starring role) was never made, Rodan just became another Kaiju instead of remaining an equal to Godzilla.

[eabaker]

It would go a long way towards rebuilding his rep in the showa timeline.

Rebuilding his rep? I'm pretty sure that DAM never turned off the fandom or the public at large where Rodan was concerned.

I think it added to his decline in popularity. A lot of people misunderstood when he just flew off. The movie made it look like one shot from Ghidorah and he was done. I understand about wires and such but it was never clarified in the movie why he didn't rejoin. Although I like the idea of Godzilla and some of the lesser monsters taking on Ghidorah. It at least gave it a different spin on the same old fight. Still, between this and the fact that Return of Ghidorah (in that movie Rodan was slated to take a starring role) was never made, Rodan just became another Kaiju instead of remaining an equal to Godzilla.

Rodan's reduced presence in the later Showa films can much more easily be attributed to the fact that he is a complicated, expensive character from an effects standpoint, and as budgets and schedules were reduced, it was much simpler to leave him (along with Mothra) out in favor of Angilas, who'd had a new suit constructed for DAM that could be recycled for a few more movies.

At least in the US, Godzilla, Rodan and Mothra remained the only Toho kaiju who anyone outside of dedicated fans was likely to be able to name for decades after DAM came out.

[123go]

Rebuilding his rep? I'm pretty sure that DAM never turned off the fandom or the public at large where Rodan was concerned.

I think it added to his decline in popularity. A lot of people misunderstood when he just flew off. The movie made it look like one shot from Ghidorah and he was done. I understand about wires and such but it was never clarified in the movie why he didn't rejoin. Although I like the idea of Godzilla and some of the lesser monsters taking on Ghidorah. It at least gave it a different spin on the same old fight. Still, between this and the fact that Return of Ghidorah (in that movie Rodan was slated to take a starring role) was never made, Rodan just became another Kaiju instead of remaining an equal to Godzilla.

Rodan's reduced presence in the later Showa films can much more easily be attributed to the fact that he is a complicated, expensive character from an effects standpoint, and as budgets and schedules were reduced, it was much simpler to leave him (along with Mothra) out in favor of Angilas, who'd had a new suit constructed for DAM that could be recycled for a few more movies.

At least in the US, Godzilla, Rodan and Mothra remained the only Toho kaiju who anyone outside of dedicated fans was likely to be able to name for decades after DAM came out.

Well, that is true. Unfortunate, but true.

[LSD Jellyfish]

If you notice, all the monsters that play any substantial role in the climax of the film are all suits. Kumonga appears for a brief shot, as does Mothra, and Manda(who requires wires as well) is absent. Coordinating all of that must have been difficult and annoying and that's why it's really only Gorosaurus, Anguirus and Godzilla putting in work. It's a shame, because rather than the OP's opinion, this film doesn't ruin Rodan at all, but makes KG really pathetic. All they needed to do was add a few cutaway shots of Monsters lile Manda getting shot by gravity beams and the climax would've made sense.

Anyways, going back to the Fire dragon, It's not like Rodan was killed or anything, tons of times by Ghidorah and Godzilla Rodan was forecibly groubded. All the Fire dragon was a durable UFO with heat that disguised it. It ramming Rodan out of the sky isn't shocking at all and given how much heat it was exhausting the fire dragon was probably capable of taking a few hits from the beam.

The Fire dragon was an act of desperation but it's also like it wasn't capable of its purpose. Hypothetically it couldvkept ramming into major buildings. Felt like a plan C more than anything.

It also served a thematic function of giving the human leads something to do, that pretty much no other monster than rodan could do which is why it was essential Rodan be addressed and knocked out of the picture.

[123go]

If you notice, all the monsters that play any substantial role in the climax of the film are all suits. Kumonga appears for a brief shot, as does Mothra, and Manda(who requires wires as well) is absent. Coordinating all of that must have been difficult and annoying and that's why it's really only Gorosaurus, Anguirus and Godzilla putting in work. It's a shame, because rather than the OP's opinion, this film doesn't ruin Rodan at all, but makes KG really pathetic. All they needed to do was add a few cutaway shots of Monsters lile Manda getting shot by gravity beams and the climax would've made sense.

Anyways, going back to the Fire dragon, It's not like Rodan was killed or anything, tons of times by Ghidorah and Godzilla Rodan was forecibly groubded. All the Fire dragon was a durable UFO with heat that disguised it. It ramming Rodan out of the sky isn't shocking at all and given how much heat it was exhausting the fire dragon was probably capable of taking a few hits from the beam.

The Fire dragon was an act of desperation but it's also like it wasn't capable of its purpose. Hypothetically it couldvkept ramming into major buildings. Felt like a plan C more than anything.

It also served a thematic function of giving the human leads something to do, that pretty much no other monster than Rodan could do which is why it was essential Rodan be addressed and knocked out of the picture.

I understand the wires thing. And you're right, Rodan needed to be knocked out of the picture. I suppose if the editing or a scene that shows Rodan flying off to confront the Flying Saucer while the others are fighting would have helped and not looked so bad for him. (one shot from a gravity beam and he's done) As far as making Ghidorah look weak. Perhaps. It would have been nice if they could have incorporated the other monsters better. Maybe they wanted something different than just webbing him up as an ending, but yes, having Godzilla take him out with assists from the much weaker Gorosaurus and Anguirus does hurt Ghidorah a little I suppose. I personally wish a couple of kaiju could have been killed. Manda for sure. Varan. It looked like he killed Anguirus. Those three being killed could have helped.

[Zarm]

I suppose if the editing or a scene that shows Rodan flying off to confront the Flying Saucer while the others are fighting would have helped and not looked so bad for him. (one shot from a gravity beam and he's done)

He held his own in Astro-Monster/Monster Zero. And in Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster, where he was Godzilla's equal in durability and fighting skill, the two of them battling each-other to a stalemate...

I can't recall any specific instances of him getting hit by a gravity beam and surviving, but he's certainly shown the ability to take on KG.

[MaxRebo320]

Actually, I've always sort of liked how he just flees the scene. After having to fight Ghidorah two times before, he's just "Oh hell naw" and leaves it up to the rest. It fits his character.

[KaijuCanuck]

Actually, I've always sort of liked how he just flees the scene. After having to fight Ghidorah two times before, he's just "Oh hell naw" and leaves it up to the rest. It fits his character.

Yeah, Rodan is like modern-day France. He's an ally of the big dog, but remembers when he was his own badass so he likes to complain, bicker, and then f*** off and do his own thing, to the annoyance of everyone else.

[Cybermat47]

Actually, I've always sort of liked how he just flees the scene. After having to fight Ghidorah two times before, he's just "Oh hell naw" and leaves it up to the rest. It fits his character.

It doesn't really fit his character, though. In G3HM, this particular Rodan battles King Ghidorah because Mothra's bravery impresses him, and he wants to help her in her otherwise grim situation. He didn't need to fight King Ghidorah - he chose to.

The other Rodans we see show similar selflessness. One of the original Rodans chooses to die with its mate rather than escape, and Heisei Rodan's entire motivation is to rescue Godzilla Junior, who he believes to be his sibling. And it's impossible to judge FW Rodan, because we never see him free of Xilien mind control.

Added in 1 minute 38 seconds:

Yeah, Rodan is like modern-day France. He's an ally of the big dog, but remembers when he was his own badass so he likes to complain, bicker, and then f*** off and do his own thing, to the annoyance of everyone else.

Hey, that's... really off-topic. This isn't the politics thread, I'm not sure if we even have one.

[123go]

Actually, I've always sort of liked how he just flees the scene. After having to fight Ghidorah two times before, he's just "Oh hell naw" and leaves it up to the rest. It fits his character.

I definitely don't think that fits Rodan at all. The bottom line is that the makers of DAM just didn't think it was necessary to have any explanation for him flying off. In hindsight, it makes him look weak and offsets any perception that he was Godzilla's equal. Later movies reflected that, wires or no wires. The Heisei series had him as lower to middle tier and in final wars he put up as much of a fight as Manda would have. Even in comics he was beaten by z lister Varan. Sad. Maybe the new movies will do him justice.

[tbeasley]

The Fire Dragon always seemed like something tacked on at the last second to give the human characters one last thing to do, not so much Rodan. The little confrontation and the reveal of it just being a flaming UFO is a letdown after the big Mt Fuji/Ghidorah battle royale.