Talkback Thread #1: Godzilla (1954)

[Goji97]

I had the Raymond Burr cut on VHS and had watched it numerous times.

Watched the Original Japanese edition a few days ago, man was I missing out.

The scene where the mother tells her child "Don't worry, we will see Daddy soon" was one of the biggest gut punchers I'd ever seen in a movie. I like that Godzilla is almost treated like a natural disaster that can't be stopped.

Even the final moments of the film feel hopeless as they talk about the possibility of another creature appearing

Great movie

[Coobzilla03]

This movie started my favorite movie franchise ever, a 62 year franchise at that. Godzilla represents nuclear warfare and how dangerous it is. It's just the utter devastation Godzilla brings when he heads to Japan. But in the end, I always feel bad for Godzilla when he dies, just like King Kong in 1933. Great movie!

[akanes_kiryu]

I rewatched this last night to celebrate Halloween, beginning the long journey through the Godzilla series with my newbie girlfriend. (We're also planning on doing a video series as a expert/newbie team.)

This was my first time watching it with the Criterion transfer and subtitles. Aside from echoing everything I've ever heard about the picture being the best the film has looked on disc, I felt I understood a lot more of the nuance of the story and characters. I love this film even more now.

[Ivo-goji]

My favorite movie of all time. Maybe the best movie of all time.

[JAGzilla]

Watched King of the Monsters earlier today with my little brother. His first time seeing it, and the first time I'd seen it in probably seven or eight years, maybe more. He seemed to generally like it, with his main comment of note being that "we're going to see your father soon", when your father is dead, is one of the scariest things you can say to a kid. Can't argue with that, I suppose.

I'm kind of mixed on it. Gojira handled the Japanese characters far better, of course. Steve Martin fills the movie with all these great, memorable lines, but his narration gets in the way sometimes, too. And he ultimately doesn't have much effect on the story. I guess he helped convince Emiko to get Serizawa to use the Oxygen Destroyer, but she was already leaning that way anyhow. He just feels like what he pretty much is: tacked on. His version of the movie is still plenty enjoyable for what it is, though.

[Mechagigan]

I've never had a huge problem with KotM, really... for the most part, it even preserves the whole nuclear metaphor, at least enough to the point where it still is a blatant message of sorts. Some of what was added really does contribute neat cinematic drama, though, and some great writing.

[Hellblaze]

As I'm watching the Godzillathon on El Rey, I'm wondering did the Japanese like the Raymond Burr version of Godzilla since they were able to see it. So did they like it? I mean who doesn't love Raymond Burr.

[Godzillian]

As I'm watching the Godzillathon on El Rey, I'm wondering did the Japanese like the Raymond Burr version of Godzilla since they were able to see it. So did they like it? I mean who doesn't love Raymond Burr.

Ishiro Honda was reported to find it amusing

[SpaceG92]

Honestly, instead of dubbing Gojira - I do like how they adapted the movie into almost something else. It's the same events (for the most part) but from another person's point of view. It's an interesting way to dub/localize the movie that I believe worked well for the film.

[Hellblaze]

As I'm watching the Godzillathon on El Rey, I'm wondering did the Japanese like the Raymond Burr version of Godzilla since they were able to see it. So did they like it? I mean who doesn't love Raymond Burr.

Ishiro Honda was reported to find it amusing

Well that's good to hear that he liked it.

Honestly, instead of dubbing Gojira - I do like how they adapted the movie into almost something else. It's the same events (for the most part) but from another person's point of view. It's an interesting way to dub/localize the movie that I believe worked well for the film.

I like that too plus Raymond Burr here was so popular even my mom loves his show. I think they did a good job on him in the movie in both 54 and 84 Gojira movies. It's sad though he died. He was a great actor.

[eabaker]

Honestly, instead of dubbing Gojira - I do like how they adapted the movie into almost something else. It's the same events (for the most part) but from another person's point of view. It's an interesting way to dub/localize the movie that I believe worked well for the film.

Speaking from the perspective of 2017, owning both versions on multiple home video formats, and having had the chance to see both on the big screen, my stance is the same: I love having two different takes, both artistically and in-universe, on the same events.

Looking back to the early 90s, a time when I wanted to see the Japanese version, but didn't yet have access to it (I'm guessing I got my first bootleg copy around 1994/95), I was less forgiving of the changes.

[Lain Of The Wired]

So what's Godzillas deal with bridges in this movie

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

So what's Godzillas deal with bridges in this movie

He doesn't like trolls? Or its a tragic reminder of an incident from his childhood?

[KaijuCanuck]

This is pretty cool.

https://www.cnet.com/news/godzilla-orig ... rack-1954/

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

This is pretty cool.

https://www.cnet.com/news/godzilla-orig ... rack-1954/

Thats awesome!

[UltramanGoji]

This is pretty cool.

https://www.cnet.com/news/godzilla-orig ... rack-1954/

Rad! Wonder if this is a new 4K restoration?

[Loganrules115]

So what's Godzillas deal with bridges in this movie

He doesn't like trolls? Or its a tragic reminder of an incident from his childhood?

Gabara?

[Omegamorph]

I remember reading that the name "Gojira" actually came from the fact they had to prep up the suit early in the morning, so they called it "Gojira" as in "the monster of 5 o' clock"; which goes in contradiction with the traditional origin for the name. Can't remember where I read it though, anyone have an idea?

EDIT: nevermind, found it:

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts ... d-godzilla

does this mean the "Gojira" portmanteau is not the actual name origin?

[UltramanGoji]

I remember reading that the name "Gojira" actually came from the fact they had to prep up the suit early in the morning, so they called it "Gojira" as in "the monster of 5 o' clock"; which goes in contradiction with the traditional origin for the name. Can't remember where I read it though, anyone have an idea?

EDIT: nevermind, found it:

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts ... d-godzilla

does this mean the "Gojira" portmanteau is not the actual name origin?

This is the first website I've ever heard mention that, so I'm going to take it's authenticity with a grain of salt.

[Terasawa]

I don't think it reads that way on the Criterion site. It sounds like the author is saying the nickname "Goji" -not the name "Gojira"- came from the sfx technicians. Basically it's a pun. Besides it wouldn't make sense for the monster to go unnamed until sfx shooting had been underway for a while, and that's the only way the crew would have even known they'd be pulling all-nighters.