what is the Best of the 70s G-Films?

[Tyrant_Lizard_King]

Terror of MechaGodzilla. I like the decidedly darker tone of films took plus MGII and Titanosaurus laying waste to Tokyo is one of the best scenes of destruction in the entire Showa era. Especially love that scene of MechaG standing in the background as his missiles blow the shit out of the street and buildings in the foreground.

[Goji]

It's close between Hedorah and Terror, but I have to give it to ToM in the end. I think Banno's film is more artistically interesting, but Katsura's story, the incredible presence of MechaGodzilla, and Honda's general elegiac tone win out.

This illustrates how I feel pretty accurately. Very well put, sir.

Terror of MechaGodzilla. I like the decidedly darker tone of films took plus MGII and Titanosaurus laying waste to Tokyo is one of the best scenes of destruction in the entire Showa era. Especially love that scene of MechaG standing in the background as his missiles blow the shit out of the street and buildings in the foreground.

Shit, I'd go as far to say it's one of the best destruction scenes in the entire Godzilla series.

[eabaker]

^Absolutely. The MGII/Titanosaurus rampage features two outstanding kaiju suits, beautiful cinematography, crazy pyrotechnics, and fantastic scoring.

[Tapkaara]

For me, it came down to a choice between Hedora and Terror. I voted, though, for Hedora.

It's the most amibitous G-film of the 70s; perhaps after the first Godzilla in '54, it's the closest any other G-film came to being something of an art film. For its daring tone and message, I will give it my vote.

Also, it has some of the best special effects in the series, I feel.

[eabaker]

Also, it has some of the best special effects in the series, I feel.

Y'know, it doesn't get much credit in that regard, but it does have some really impressive shots.

It helps that so much of it takes place at night, of course, but even the few daylight scenes look pretty good.

[Tapkaara]

Also, it has some of the best special effects in the series, I feel.

Y'know, it doesn't get much credit in that regard, but it does have some really impressive shots.

It helps that so much of it takes place at night, of course, but even the few daylight scenes look pretty good.

I agree. One of my favorite effects shots is a daylight one where Hedora is sucking in all of the cars. Very memorable.

[eabaker]

Also, it has some of the best special effects in the series, I feel.

Y'know, it doesn't get much credit in that regard, but it does have some really impressive shots.

It helps that so much of it takes place at night, of course, but even the few daylight scenes look pretty good.

I agree. One of my favorite effects shots is a daylight one where Hedora is sucking in all of the cars. Very memorable.

It's not very often that we get really good shots of the monsters where they're holding a largely static position like that.

[Goji]

^Absolutely. The MGII/Titanosaurus rampage features two outstanding kaiju suits, beautiful cinematography, crazy pyrotechnics, and fantastic scoring.

Damn... now I want to watch TOMG, but I have class in 30 minutes. HNNNNNNNNG.

[Tamura]

Critically, I'll have to go with GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH. It abruptly swerved the series in a new direction it has never revisited since, which took a lot of balls on Banno's part, and the themes are still just as relevant today. It's a fascinating movie to deconstruct.

Personally, it's a three-way tie between Fukuda's films because of the sheer entertainment value.

[heiseisaegusa]

Hedorah is just too wierd for me. It has so many strange scenes like the guy tripping at the club or the building silently crumbling and dont even get me started on the odd cartoon scenes, Godzilla flies and gets slimed on while the antagonist is literally made of crap I dont undersatand its appeal at all. I haven't actually seen TOMG yet but MG74 is just plain awesome the music, story and the battle scenes are just greatness.

[eabaker]

Hedorah is just too wierd for me. It has so many strange scenes like the guy tripping at the club or the building silently crumbling and dont even get me started on the odd cartoon scenes, Godzilla flies and gets slimed on while the antagonist is literally made of crap I dont undersatand its appeal at all.

You basically just listed at least half of the things that the movie's fans find appealing about it.

It's so boldly unusual, and in ways that almost always feel thematically germane.

[eabaker]

Godzilla vs Hedorah is one of those movies I think most people GROW to like.

I will admit that I wasn't entirely sure what to make of it when I first saw it, but it always had a strange appeal to me, whether or not I understood why.

I wonder how much difference it makes to new fans' reactions that these days they get to see pretty much all of the Showa films in their proper aspect ratios. Discovering these movies in the 80s and early 90s, so much of the visual appeal of these flicks was damaged by the fucking pan and scanning. Getting widescreen bootlegs (or, on rare occasion, getting to see one on the big screen, as I did with DAM, Hedorah, and Terror of MG around 1995) was like seeing a whole new movie, and reason for an almost complete ground-up reevaluation.

[heiseisaegusa]

You basically just listed at least half of the things that the movie's fans find appealing about it.

It's so boldly unusual, and in ways that almost always feel thematically germane.[/quote]

Each to their own I suppose.

[Arbok]

For me, it came down to a choice between Hedora and Terror. I voted, though, for Hedora.

It's the most amibitous G-film of the 70s; perhaps after the first Godzilla in '54, it's the closest any other G-film came to being something of an art film. For its daring tone and message, I will give it my vote.

Also, it has some of the best special effects in the series, I feel.

Makes me wish Criterion had the will power to release it... makes me wonder if it might be seen as a slightly more critical darling if it happened and some started to re-evaluate it, in the way House (1977) has grown into a widely loved film, or if it would still get schlocked by some regardless.

[eabaker]

For me, it came down to a choice between Hedora and Terror. I voted, though, for Hedora.

It's the most amibitous G-film of the 70s; perhaps after the first Godzilla in '54, it's the closest any other G-film came to being something of an art film. For its daring tone and message, I will give it my vote.

Also, it has some of the best special effects in the series, I feel.

Makes me wish Criterion had the will power to release it... makes me wonder if it might be seen as a slightly more critical darling if it happened and some started to re-evaluate it, in the way House (1977) has grown into a widely loved film, or if it would still get schlocked by some regardless.

I suspect that a nice Criterion edition, some scholarly essays, and some screenings at art house theaters would help its reputation somewhat. The House comparison is a good one! However, ultimately, because Hedorah is still a significantly more traditional and commerical picture than House, I don't think it would receive nearly the same measure of critical approval.

Hedorah walks a fine line, being basically a commerical product but with strong avant garde influences. It's a wonderful balance for some viewers, but a lot of others would prefer it to be one thing or the other.

[GodzillaSpawn]

I said GvMG '74. My favorite human cast of all those films, the pacing and editing were to my liking, I loved King Seesar's mythology, the interpol bit, and he most memorable climactic fight scenes.

[Megalon7]

I can't pick one. i liked all of the 70's Godzilla films

[Goji]

I can't pick one. i liked all of the 70's Godzilla films

Best first post ever. *bro fist*

[MaxRebo320]

I can't pick one. i liked all of the 70's Godzilla films

Best first post ever. *bro fist*

Ditto. Awesome Avatar too.

[eabaker]

I can't pick one. i liked all of the 70's Godzilla films

Best first post ever. *bro fist*

Ditto. Awesome Avatar too.

I join in the praise string.