Talkback: Godzilla 2000 Millennium (1999)

[BlacktimusPrime]

I always find it interesting when people criticize unconvincing CGI in a series beloved for presenting what are obviously men in suits as giant monsters.

What?! You mean godzilla was a man in a suit?! My whole world is turned upside down....

[kamilleblu]

I always find it interesting when people criticize unconvincing CGI in a series beloved for presenting what are obviously men in suits as giant monsters.

I'm not expecting 100% realism. It's more about how well the CGI matches with everything else on screen. It shouldn't stick out like a sore thumb.

[JetrellFo]

I always find it interesting when people criticize unconvincing CGI in a series beloved for presenting what are obviously men in suits as giant monsters.

When the physical tech outperforms the digital tech, it' s easy to see why this would be, unless you just need to have something to say about it.

[KaijuCanuck]

You know, for the longest time GMK was my favourite millennium series film, both because it is genuinely great, but also I think I was heavily influenced by the general fan love that it gets. Which it deserves. But re-evaluating now, I think maybe G2K is my favourite. I think for a while I was distracted by surface level things, namely that I’m not huge on the G2K suit and red atomic breath. On a deeper level though, it is kind of a perfect gem of a kaiju flick - really well paced and structured, good mix of familiar and new concepts, and really good, sympathetic human characters. It also strikes kind of the perfect tone between dramatic and fun.

[PitchBlackProgress]

Out of all the Godzilla movies in the franchise, this one and 1985 have the greatest dubs of all the series, that alone makes this film a pure pleasure to watch, and don’t even get me started on the end Godzilla vs. UFO/Orga fight, that things a thing of beauty.

Easily the best film in the Millennium era, hands down. The rest fall so short when compared to this.

[Maritonic]

Out of all the Godzilla movies in the franchise, this one and 1985 have the greatest dubs of all the series, that alone makes this film a pure pleasure to watch, and don’t even get me started on the end Godzilla vs. UFO/Orga fight, that things a thing of beauty.

Easily the best film in the Millennium era, hands down. The rest fall so short when compared to this.

This is very true. I wonder why that is. Could it be because they both got American Theatrical releases, not just home releases?

[Terasawa]

I think any of the Titra/Titan dubs are superior, personally. I understand the phony and somewhat racist Asian accents are a turn off to some but looking past that, those dubs are better scripted and the lip sync is more accurate as well. But beyond those, I think 1985 and 2000 are probably the best of the Godzilla dubs.

[King of the Monsters]

I think any of the Titra/Titan dubs are superior, personally. I understand the phony and somewhat racist Asian accents are a turn off to some but looking past that, those dubs are better scripted and the lip sync is more accurate as well. But beyond those, I think 1985 and 2000 are probably the best of the Godzilla dubs.

Completely in agreement. As far as post-Showa Godzilla dubs go, I think 1985 and G2K are easily the best (not counting the anime dubs), but I hesitate to really compare them with the Titan ones. There was a different level of quality and effort put into the theatrical dubs back in the Showa series I can't really see in much since then, though that's mostly due to the steady diet of Hong Kong dubs we've gotten. Biollante is probably the best international dub, but it still ranks well behind 1985 and G2K for me.

I know the G2K dub gets some flak for being kind of dumb and intentionally campy at times, but I appreciate the writing and think it strikes the right balance between goofy and serious enough to not treat the film as a joke. There's plenty of memorable lines and competent voice acting all-around.

[cloverfan98]

I don't think this film gets enough praise for its cinematography. So many shots are just GORGEOUS especially during Godzilla's first rampage. Besides GMK none of the Millennium films have cinematography that matches G2K and it really hurt those films.

[PitchBlackProgress]

The rest of them came off like TV movies.

[SoggyNoodles2016]

The rest of them came off like TV movies.

I would REALLY disagree with that. Aside from Megaguirus, cinematography is one of the strong suits of the Millennium series. Kiryu shutting down in the ruins of Tokyo, Godzilla's grand entrance in Final Wars, the entirety of GMK, there are too many great shots to count. Godzilla 2000 still holds the crown in best shot, though.

[Zarm]

The rest of them came off like TV movies.

I would REALLY disagree with that. Aside from Megaguirus, cinematography is one of the strong suits of the Millennium series. Kiryu shutting down in the ruins of Tokyo, Godzilla's grand entrance in Final Wars, the entirety of GMK, there are too many great shots to count. Godzilla 2000 still holds the crown in best shot, though.

Not to mention that iconic into-the-credits shot of Godzilla getting hit by lightning from Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla.

I would agree with this. There is a... I don't know, a grounded style that still puts this film on top for me, and that none of the rest match- but in a stylized, more fantastical style, which trades atmosphere and depth for a brighter color palette and more fantastical canvas, the remainder of the Millenium series has its share of gorgeous compositions.

You could compare G2K to a gourmet meal while the rest are more of sugary confections- but they're still the kind of masterfully-crafted sugary confections that retail in high-end bakeries. They may not be the same kind of meal, but they are made with equal craft in their own field.

[eabaker]

Not to mention that iconic into-the-credits shot of Godzilla getting hit by lightning from Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla.

I have literally no memory of the shot you're talking about.

[PitchBlackProgress]

Not to mention that iconic into-the-credits shot of Godzilla getting hit by lightning from Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla.

I have literally no memory of the shot you're talking about.

It’s during the Maser fight in the beginning when Godzilla destroys all the military vehicles, he roars into the raining sky as lightning strikes his dorsal fins.

[UltramanGoji]

Not to mention that iconic into-the-credits shot of Godzilla getting hit by lightning from Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla.

I have literally no memory of the shot you're talking about.

This shot:

[eabaker]

That movie just passes by me like a light breeze. That's a cool shot, but I have no memory of ever having seen it before, despite having seen GxMG four or five times at least.

[PitchBlackProgress]

That movie just passes by me like a light breeze.

This really sums up my experience too, in a really eerie way
It's really how I feel with all the Heisei films post Biollante, everything just seems to breeze by... weird.
G2K sticks out, but everything else is a blur.

[JAGzilla]

A lot of GvsSG is like that for me. This one is decently memorable, though. Regarding the cinematography, it definitely has it's well executed shots, but then there were several where Kiryu just has no sense of mass, looking more like a toy than a believable giant robot. Which is unfortunate, because overall I feel like they handled him very well in this movie.

[KingKaiju]

Anyone else feel like this movie is a lot more... "cinematic" than a lot of the other films in this series? I can't tell what if it's the way that it's shot or the fighting or something, but I feel like this is generally a lot better shot and looking than the following featuress

[PitchBlackProgress]

Anyone else feel like this movie is a lot more... "cinematic" than a lot of the other films in this series? I can't tell what if it's the way that it's shot or the fighting or something, but I feel like this is generally a lot better shot and looking than the following featuress

No you’re definitely not the only one, everything about this movie is leagues better than all the other Millennium films combined. If all the other films were like this one, the Millennium series would have easily been miles better than the Heisei series