Godzilla -1.0 (2023) General Discussion Thread

[LegendZilla]

Why is that concept random or stupid? I think that could be really cool if done well. A similar idea worked out for Half Century War.

Because it's gimmicky and this isn't a comic series. Assuming this is a Godzilla film, I hope they had a good reason/inspiration to start in this timeframe.

When you start working from a gimmicky perspective, ideas are pigeonholed into a setting that they might not otherwise be. In other words, unless you have a reason to justify it, don't forcibly make a Godzilla film set in the 70's just because it would be fun for a small portion of the fans. Part of the reason why Shin Godzilla was popular in Japan was that it was incredibly contemporary, and din't require you to be nostalgic for Godzilla/Japan in another time frame to be enjoyed.

On top of that, if they make a Godzilla film in the style of another time frame, it'll inevitably be compared to the other films set in that time frame. While maybe it could be good, it's setting up disappointment.

If every idea that crosses my mind comes across as overly gimmicky to almost everyone around here, then I don't now what idea won't be. Literally anything can be bound for failure so long as it lacks a solid context for foundation.

[Major sssspielberg!]

Hey, when X-Men: First Class came out I was excited at the prospect of a "thru the decades" series about the X-Men. I'd love a Godzilla trilogy that takes place over multiple decades; the changing threats of kaiju, evolving defense strategies, maybe even mankind learning to live with Godzilla by the end. That's something I've wanted to see since I was a kid, though Half Century War does a pretty good job with that concept.
If the story is there, it'd be an interesting concept to tackle.

[miguelnuva]

I'd rather Toho not worry about following Godzilla through decades and just focus on him in modern times or if they want a past film just worry about the time line later assuming its one off.

I would personally love a story where the events of 54 and 84 happened. The government could cover up the 54 attack and the 84 Godzilla would be trapped still in Mt Mihara.

[imposterzilla]

I'd rather Toho not worry about following Godzilla through decades and just focus on him in modern times or if they want a past film just worry about the time line later assuming its one off.

I would personally love a story where the events of 54 and 84 happened. The government could cover up the 54 attack and the 84 Godzilla would be trapped still in Mt Mihara.

I like that... Would be nice if the 40s event is a covered up event and 54 is largely in part ad well. 84 could have just not hit the mainland and Super X could have knocked him into the volcano.

[NSZ]

[Post-War Tokyo is reduced to a smoldering radioactive ruin overnight with hundreds dead & doomed to die]

Japanese govt.: "YEAH, THAT'S A FEATURE!"

Stretching believability here, fellas.

[imposterzilla]

I mean maybe a section of city at night they could probably cover it up as a typhoon. The radiation that is a sticking point, but there were parts of Nevada and New Mexico that were left radioactive and the locals new, but the government swept it under the rug for decades.

[UltramanGoji]

[Post-War Tokyo is reduced to a smoldering radioactive ruin overnight with hundreds dead & doomed to die]

Japanese govt.: "YEAH, THAT'S A FEATURE!"

Stretching believability here, fellas.

You say that like a large portion of GMK's story isn't about how the original Godzilla attack is treated as basically a legend among contemporary Japanese society.

[NSZ]

Ah, yes, typhoons. Well known for burning cities to the ground.

[Post-War Tokyo is reduced to a smoldering radioactive ruin overnight with hundreds dead & doomed to die]

Japanese govt.: "YEAH, THAT'S A FEATURE!"

Stretching believability here, fellas.

You say that like a large portion of GMK's story isn't about how the original Godzilla attack is treated as basically a legend among contemporary Japanese society.

And it was monumentally stupid then, too.

[UltramanGoji]

And it was monumentally stupid then, too.

I dunno, I thought it was a brilliant way to satirize Japanese nationalism and the denial of war crimes during WW2.

[LegendZilla]

And it was monumentally stupid then, too.

I dunno, I thought it was a brilliant way to satirize Japanese nationalism and the denial of war crimes during WW2.

Goes to show that if a visionary director and/or writer has a a story they want to tell surrounding a particular idea, anything can work.

[eabaker]

And it was monumentally stupid then, too.

I dunno, I thought it was a brilliant way to satirize Japanese nationalism and the denial of war crimes during WW2.

Which can be more broadly extrapolated to apply to any number of other countries' sweeping their pasts under the rug, which a healthy portion of the population is always perfectly happy to go along with.

[shadowgigan]

And it was monumentally stupid then, too.

I dunno, I thought it was a brilliant way to satirize Japanese nationalism and the denial of war crimes during WW2.

I've never looked at it this way. Feels like you've just blown my mind.

[miguelnuva]

[Post-War Tokyo is reduced to a smoldering radioactive ruin overnight with hundreds dead & doomed to die]

Japanese govt.: "YEAH, THAT'S A FEATURE!"

Stretching believability here, fellas.

Who in the early 50's would believe Godzilla attacked Tokyo if a majority of the witnesses were either dead or dying from radiation sickness and the government was saying there was no Godzilla.

[JAGzilla]

It needs to be said that we're living in a time where a huge portion of the American public is able to aggressively deny or downplay the existence of a pandemic that's killed millions worldwide, so I would say never underestimate human willingness to sweep away unwanted truths. Especially given that Godzilla was only on land for like a few hours tops, with only a limited number of witnesses that lived to tell the tale.

[LSD Jellyfish]

[Post-War Tokyo is reduced to a smoldering radioactive ruin overnight with hundreds dead & doomed to die]

Japanese govt.: "YEAH, THAT'S A FEATURE!"

Stretching believability here, fellas.

You say that like a large portion of GMK's story isn't about how the original Godzilla attack is treated as basically a legend among contemporary Japanese society.

You’d be surprised how a large portion of Japan, good and normal people, mostly try to forget WW2, and actually the build up-to it. Nuclear bombings are also pretty similar. It’s why the metaphor works really well in GMK, because it’s the older generation remembering the war that is now forgotten about.

That being said, a prequel where Godzilla appears would still be strange.

[LegendZilla]

[Post-War Tokyo is reduced to a smoldering radioactive ruin overnight with hundreds dead & doomed to die]

Japanese govt.: "YEAH, THAT'S A FEATURE!"

Stretching believability here, fellas.

You say that like a large portion of GMK's story isn't about how the original Godzilla attack is treated as basically a legend among contemporary Japanese society.

You’d be surprised how a large portion of Japan, good and normal people, mostly try to forget WW2, and actually the build up-to it. Nuclear bombings are also pretty similar. It’s why the metaphor works really well in GMK, because it’s the older generation remembering the war that is now forgotten about.

That being said, a prequel where Godzilla appears would still be strange.

I want to ask you an honest question. Is it my ideas themselves you find dumb or is it that they lack context and groundwork for a proper execution?

[darthzilla99]

Why is that concept random or stupid? I think that could be really cool if done well. A similar idea worked out for Half Century War.

Because it's gimmicky and this isn't a comic series. Assuming this is a Godzilla film, I hope they had a good reason/inspiration to start in this timeframe.

When you start working from a gimmicky perspective, ideas are pigeonholed into a setting that they might not otherwise be. In other words, unless you have a reason to justify it, don't forcibly make a Godzilla film set in the 70's just because it would be fun for a small portion of the fans. Part of the reason why Shin Godzilla was popular in Japan was that it was incredibly contemporary, and din't require you to be nostalgic for Godzilla/Japan in another time frame to be enjoyed.

On top of that, if they make a Godzilla film in the style of another time frame, it'll inevitably be compared to the other films set in that time frame. While maybe it could be good, it's setting up disappointment.

I'm going to have to hard disagree that this idea is stupid. For one, it is a very fresh concept that has only been done in a comic and stretching it a bit in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. Every Godzilla film to date has always been set in the contemporary and so it could breathe some new creativity for the franchise. Doing a movie or series of film set in various decades would allow filmmakers to explore new avenues of human catharsis through the ages, question the morals of the past, and ask if the present is about to repeat the same mistakes. Being period pieces of each of the decade also allows trying different styles of photography to capture the tone of the decade. I don't think anyone is suggesting these films be part of the showa (or any other past film series) era continuity.

[LegendZilla]

^I appreciate you backing me up.

[darthzilla99]

^I appreciate you backing me up.

Your welcome. I'm actually surprised that LSD Jellyfish of all people is not supportive of this idea. Usually, Jellyfish (and eabaker) is supportive of new ideas and styles never tried in Godzilla films before. This thought has potential to be another Godzilla vs. Hedorah or Shin Godzilla: a weird experimental one off film that breaths fresh creative blood in the franchise.

[LegendZilla]

^I appreciate you backing me up.

Your welcome. I'm actually surprised that LSD Jellyfish of all people is not supportive of this idea. Usually, Jellyfish (and eabaker) is supportive of new ideas and styles never tried in Godzilla films before. This thought has potential to be another Godzilla vs. Hedorah or Shin Godzilla: a weird experimental one off film that breaths fresh creative blood in the franchise.

I think that they get distracted by how ideas from someone like me just come out of left field without context or groundwork. Would their response be any different if they had come from a professional writer working in the industry?