"Little things" in Godzilla films you wonder about

[MaxRebo320]

in universe, most of the time it doesn’t make sense why it’s always Japan, does it?

Sure it does: For the most part, we're only seeing the in-universe stories set in and around Japan. And for all we know, other nations are similarly ravaged by other monsters. This is borne out by films as disparate as Monster Zero (we're told Ghidorah appeared in the U.S.), King Kong Escapes (where all monster action in the first two acts occurs outside Japan), Godzilla vs Mothra (Infant Island is near Indonesia), Gamera 3 (Gyaos attack aircraft somewhere over central Eurasia), and others.

Although that may not be the most satisfying answer, it doesn't really have to be any more complicated than that.

Yeah, I always liked to assume some other monsters were attacking other parts of the world between films. A lot of the Ultraman shows, especially the Showa ones, make it clear Japan is just one of many nations ravaged by monster attacks and alien invasions given the presence of various attack team branches. I guess Japan still gets attacked the most, since that's always where the Ultras choose to stay.

[Breakdown]

In the US cut of KKvG, didn't they say they found fossils of Godzilla's kind in Japan? If so then you could rationalize that Japan is Godzilla's kind's natural habitat.

[MaxRebo320]

In the Japanese version of KKVG, Professor Shigezawa mentions how Godzilla's homing instinct will bring him to Japan, which he seems to regard as his "habitat". So make of that what you will.

Speaking of KKVG, there's also the military base Godzilla attacks right after emerging from the iceberg. It's never stated where exactly that is (I've seen some people claim China, while others call is a NATO base - has there ever been any confirmation?), but it's definitely not Japan.

[Voyager]

Speaking of KKVG, there's also the military base Godzilla attacks right after emerging from the iceberg. It's never stated where exactly that is (I've seen some people claim China, while others call is a NATO base - has there ever been any confirmation?), but it's definitely not Japan.

Because of the proximity to the iceberg, I’ve always taken it as the Soviet Union.

[Terasawa]

The tanks blasting away at Godzilla have big red stars on them so I've always assumed it was a Soviet base. It can't have been China because the geography wouldn't make sense.

[MaxRebo320]

Wow, never noticed those stars until now! Thanks 4K remaster!

[Terasawa]

Totally unrelated to this thread, but on the subject of the recent KKvG revelations: I picked up on my latest re-watch that Godzilla is never seen in Hokkaido in the film -- his attack on the train takes place very near Sendai. The American version, however, places him in "Hoe-kai-aw-doe."

[eabaker]

"Hoe-kai-aw-doe."

Oh my God that drives me nuts...

Atleast James Yagi pronounces it correctly in the newly shot footage!

[Terasawa]

"Hoe-kai-aw-doe."

Oh my God that drives me nuts...

Atleast James Yagi pronounces it correctly in the newly shot footage!

That's why Kenji Sahara--erm, Keji Sahaka's--character goes to rescue his girlfriend: James Yagi never told him not to go to "HoKAIado."

[Breakdown]

Given that the Futurians went back in time to seed his creation, wouldn't that mean Heisei Ghidorah was out there somewhere during Return of Godzilla and Godzilla vs Biollante? Was he just asleep on Lagos Island until the Futurians awakened him in 1991?

[Terasawa]

Given that the Futurians went back in time to seed his creation, wouldn't that mean Heisei Ghidorah was out there somewhere during Return of Godzilla and Godzilla vs Biollante? Was he just asleep on Lagos Island until the Futurians awakened him in 1991?

It's more complicated than that because of the way the movie handles time travel (which has been discussed at too-great a length in various threads in the Heisei forum). But basically, no. We're told that Godzilla vanished immediately as the time travelers return from 1944, and that King Ghidorah appeared out of the Pacific at the same time -- in other words, the time travel doesn't erase or change things and events in the past, only in the present.

[eabaker]

Given that the Futurians went back in time to seed his creation, wouldn't that mean Heisei Ghidorah was out there somewhere during Return of Godzilla and Godzilla vs Biollante? Was he just asleep on Lagos Island until the Futurians awakened him in 1991?

It's more complicated than that because of the way the movie handles time travel (which has been discussed at too-great a length in various threads in the Heisei forum). But basically, no. We're told that Godzilla vanished immediately as the time travelers return from 1944, and that King Ghidorah appeared out of the Pacific at the same time -- in other words, the time travel doesn't erase or change things and events in the past, only in the present.

Although it does change the recorded documentation of the past... but not human memories of the past...

The ripple effect is very unpredictable.

[edgaguirus]

It might be excused if just the characters who traveled in time remembered. In a timey whimey sort of way their involvement allowed them to recall Godzilla, but Shindo apparently did as well. When asked to send the sub, he never does ask " Who's Godzilla?" The time travel element of this film adds some good sci fi, but once serving its purpose, is of no real concern.

[Terasawa]

It might be excused if just the characters who traveled in time remembered. In a timey whimey sort of way their involvement allowed them to recall Godzilla, but Shindo apparently did as well. When asked to send the sub, he never does ask " Who's Godzilla?" The time travel element of this film adds some good sci fi, but once serving its purpose, is of no real concern.

They remember Godzilla because he was erased from the present, not the past (i.e. he still existed up 'til 1992).

[TheLastGezora]

Given that the Futurians went back in time to seed his creation, wouldn't that mean Heisei Ghidorah was out there somewhere during Return of Godzilla and Godzilla vs Biollante? Was he just asleep on Lagos Island until the Futurians awakened him in 1991?

It's more complicated than that because of the way the movie handles time travel (which has been discussed at too-great a length in various threads in the Heisei forum). But basically, no. We're told that Godzilla vanished immediately as the time travelers return from 1944, and that King Ghidorah appeared out of the Pacific at the same time -- in other words, the time travel doesn't erase or change things and events in the past, only in the present.

Although it does change the recorded documentation of the past... but not human memories of the past...

The ripple effect is very unpredictable.

Did it actually change recorded documentation of the past? It's been a while since I've seen the film, but I assumed that the newspaper article about the submarine crash still existed in the original timeline- the only thing that changed was Godzilla's presence at the crash.

[eabaker]

It's more complicated than that because of the way the movie handles time travel (which has been discussed at too-great a length in various threads in the Heisei forum). But basically, no. We're told that Godzilla vanished immediately as the time travelers return from 1944, and that King Ghidorah appeared out of the Pacific at the same time -- in other words, the time travel doesn't erase or change things and events in the past, only in the present.

Although it does change the recorded documentation of the past... but not human memories of the past...

The ripple effect is very unpredictable.

Did it actually change recorded documentation of the past? It's been a while since I've seen the film, but I assumed that the newspaper article about the submarine crash still existed in the original timeline- the only thing that changed was Godzilla's presence at the crash.

Hmmm... I suppose you could be right...

[Mecha-SpaceGhidorah]

I would honestly love to know what the writers actually intended.

The idea put forth years ago in that SciFi Japan article that they never changed anything, everything they did was what was already done solves all the problems. It fits so perfectly that it's hard to think that it wasn't their intent. But the biggest counterpoint is that the film does not in anyway make that clear and the simple fact the the writers problems didn't put all that much thought into it.

[Terasawa]

I would honestly love to know what the writers actually intended.

The idea put forth years ago in that SciFi Japan article that they never changed anything, everything they did was what was already done solves all the problems. It fits so perfectly that it's hard to think that it wasn't their intent. But the biggest counterpoint is that the film does not in anyway make that clear and the simple fact the the writers problems didn't put all that much thought into it.

The theater program clearly lays out the timeline in a way that shows the SciFi Japan is ultimately incorrect.

There's some info on it here.

[godjacob]

Not a Godzilla film but this has bugged me for so long I need to say something.

In the Hanna-Barbera Godzilla series, Godzilla fights a monster called the Firebird. The FIREbird lives in a volcano, the FireBIRD is a aerial-based creature that can of course fly, the FIREbird can breath fire etc. All make sense, all are logical traits it should have.

SO WHY THE SHIT CAN IT SWIM & BREATH UNDERWATER AS WELL AS GODZILLA!?

[JAGzilla]

Not a Godzilla film but this has bugged me for so long I need to say something.

In the Hanna-Barbera Godzilla series, Godzilla fights a monster called the Firebird. The FIREbird lives in a volcano, the FireBIRD is a aerial-based creature that can of course fly, the FIREbird can breath fire etc. All make sense, all are logical traits it should have.

SO WHY THE poop CAN IT SWIM & BREATH UNDERWATER AS WELL AS GODZILLA!?

If it was called the Hydrophobic Firebird, you'd have a point. As it is, nothing in the name says it can't operate underwater. Water does extinguish fire, true, but it does not necessarily extinguish birds; there are any number of birds that can swim underwater just fine. Breathing underwater is a bit of a stretch, but no more so than for Godzilla.