Talkback Thread: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by Kaltes-Herzeleid »

I did note how when Godzilla realized he was being pursued by the larva duo he only fired his atomic ray in front of them, like he was trying to scare them off. Thought it was interesting indicator that he didn't initially want to fight them.
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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by DragonZord13 »

That is why I always felt Godzilla's turn to the good guy role while a little whimsical makes some sense. Yeah he attacked some things like the boat in GttHM but it always felt like Godzilla was attacking out of fear or confusion not malice. Granted a giant such as he can't be free to roam but the military are just out for his blood in MvsG. It's a bit sad.
Heck Godzilla would go on to befriend a species of monster he originally killed! Granted Raids Again says that Anguirus attacked Godzilla from behind in a surprise attack so... Monster defense.
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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by Tyrant_Lizard_King »

If you pay attention a lot of the destruction he causes in this film is largely by accident. For example he only tore the castle down because he slipped and fell into it. He tore that electrical tower down because his tail accidentally got caught in it.
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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by edgaguirus »

Brings that Ishiro Honda quote to mind.
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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by LockBite »

Is anyone here bothered by the “save the children” plot point that comes up late in the movie? I think it’s unnecessary given that Godzilla being awake is in itself problematic. Who cares if children are in danger at this particular moment?

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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by eabaker »

LockBite wrote: Tue Mar 30, 2021 9:43 am Is anyone here bothered by the “save the children” plot point that comes up late in the movie? I think it’s unnecessary given that Godzilla being awake is in itself problematic. Who cares if children are in danger at this particular moment?
It doesn't bother me, necessarily, but I do consider it slightly false drama in order to keep the main characters active after their role in the plot has essentially ended.
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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by LockBite »

eabaker wrote: Tue Mar 30, 2021 10:13 am
LockBite wrote: Tue Mar 30, 2021 9:43 am Is anyone here bothered by the “save the children” plot point that comes up late in the movie? I think it’s unnecessary given that Godzilla being awake is in itself problematic. Who cares if children are in danger at this particular moment?
It doesn't bother me, necessarily, but I do consider it slightly false drama in order to keep the main characters active after their role in the plot has essentially ended.
It’s definitely the weakest aspect of the film. They should’ve just had the main characters following the larvae out of anxiousness that they would get killed. Their guilt over expending Adult Mothra would be a believable driving factor for them to follow the final battle.

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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by LSD Jellyfish »

Upon rewatching this in preparation for Godzilla Minus One, I have two small but (hopefully) insightful things to add:

-I believe the nets used to drop on Godzilla may have been intentional foreshadowing towards how the Mothra larva defeat Godzilla in the end. Briefly, Godzilla is overwhelmed by the electrical towers and nets, and is thrashing about on the ground. The sound used for the electricity generators is actually pretty similar to the silk sound. Maybe I’m crazy/overthinking it.

-I believe “save the children” ending is just a way of tying it back to the main characters and Mothra. A big deal is made about the good of humanity, helping each other out, contrary to the evil shown by the greedy businessmen and nuclear testing. Despite the danger, a few elements click together in that moment to save the kids. There’s that brief moment of the children surrounding the Shojibin after, and it’s clearly intended to show a kinder and more mindful future.

Does it still seem a little weird and random? Sure, but it actually ties nicely into the overall human aspect of the film. That’s my take on the ending.
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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by edgaguirus »

LSD Jellyfish wrote: Sat Oct 14, 2023 1:50 am Upon rewatching this in preparation for Godzilla Minus One, I have two small but (hopefully) insightful things to add:

-I believe the nets used to drop on Godzilla may have been intentional foreshadowing towards how the Mothra larva defeat Godzilla in the end. Briefly, Godzilla is overwhelmed by the electrical towers and nets, and is thrashing about on the ground. The sound used for the electricity generators is actually pretty similar to the silk sound. Maybe I’m crazy/overthinking it.

-I believe “save the children” ending is just a way of tying it back to the main characters and Mothra. A big deal is made about the good of humanity, helping each other out, contrary to the evil shown by the greedy businessmen and nuclear testing. Despite the danger, a few elements click together in that moment to save the kids. There’s that brief moment of the children surrounding the Shojibin after, and it’s clearly intended to show a kinder and more mindful future.

Does it still seem a little weird and random? Sure, but it actually ties nicely into the overall human aspect of the film. That’s my take on the ending.
Interesting ideas. I think you're spot on with the ending. The businessmen, especially, Tarohata, had no regard for anyone but themselves. The man intent on saving the kids had no interest in saving his own life as Godzilla approached the harbor. Even when he's wounded and buried under debris, his only desire is that our characters save the kids. We see that not only the kids, but also the present generation, are willing to help one another.
I'm the plumber. I'm just hanging around if something goes wrong with her pipes. That's the first time I've used that joke in 20 years.

Twice I've been followed by something that was not human, something that attempted to take my life. I believe that was the cat form of Irena.

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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by Follinollante »

Jiro Nakamura is the egg guy, right?
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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by edgaguirus »

Yes, played by Yu Fujiki.
I'm the plumber. I'm just hanging around if something goes wrong with her pipes. That's the first time I've used that joke in 20 years.

Twice I've been followed by something that was not human, something that attempted to take my life. I believe that was the cat form of Irena.

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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by MC_Lovecraft »

edgaguirus wrote: Sun Oct 15, 2023 1:06 pm
LSD Jellyfish wrote: Sat Oct 14, 2023 1:50 am Upon rewatching this in preparation for Godzilla Minus One, I have two small but (hopefully) insightful things to add:

-I believe the nets used to drop on Godzilla may have been intentional foreshadowing towards how the Mothra larva defeat Godzilla in the end. Briefly, Godzilla is overwhelmed by the electrical towers and nets, and is thrashing about on the ground. The sound used for the electricity generators is actually pretty similar to the silk sound. Maybe I’m crazy/overthinking it.

-I believe “save the children” ending is just a way of tying it back to the main characters and Mothra. A big deal is made about the good of humanity, helping each other out, contrary to the evil shown by the greedy businessmen and nuclear testing. Despite the danger, a few elements click together in that moment to save the kids. There’s that brief moment of the children surrounding the Shojibin after, and it’s clearly intended to show a kinder and more mindful future.

Does it still seem a little weird and random? Sure, but it actually ties nicely into the overall human aspect of the film. That’s my take on the ending.
Interesting ideas. I think you're spot on with the ending. The businessmen, especially, Tarohata, had no regard for anyone but themselves. The man intent on saving the kids had no interest in saving his own life as Godzilla approached the harbor. Even when he's wounded and buried under debris, his only desire is that our characters save the kids. We see that not only the kids, but also the present generation, are willing to help one another.
I'd like to build on this with the observation that after the crew of the boat learn why the man(is he a principal do you think?) is so desperate to get out to the island, there's a great moment when they all look across the water. Very brief, but it beautifully illustrates their totally justifiable fear suddenly being tempered by an urgent call to aid people in trouble. I know we talk a lot about the profound humanity of Toho's Sixties films, but it bears repeating. :angel:

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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by AtomicMorningBreath »

https://twitter.com/RickDaSquirrel/stat ... ICSgw&s=19

Saw this posted on Twitter courtesy of Rick Da Squirrel. BTS from this movie. I've personally never seen this footage. Everyone looks like they are having such a great time.
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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by Legion1979 »

AtomicMorningBreath wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 11:41 am https://twitter.com/RickDaSquirrel/stat ... ICSgw&s=19

Saw this posted on Twitter courtesy of Rick Da Squirrel. BTS from this movie. I've personally never seen this footage. Everyone looks like they are having such a great time.
This is from the Toho 4K UHD disc of the movie that was released in October.

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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by AtomicMorningBreath »

Legion1979 wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:27 pm
AtomicMorningBreath wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 11:41 am https://twitter.com/RickDaSquirrel/stat ... ICSgw&s=19

Saw this posted on Twitter courtesy of Rick Da Squirrel. BTS from this movie. I've personally never seen this footage. Everyone looks like they are having such a great time.
This is from the Toho 4K UHD disc of the movie that was released in October.
Oh very interesting. Do you know if there's any more BTS from those early Showa films floating around out there?
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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by CrimsonBloodX »

Happy 60th anniversary to the time that Godzilla got his ass handed to him by two giant web-shooting caterpillars.
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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by edgaguirus »

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I'm the plumber. I'm just hanging around if something goes wrong with her pipes. That's the first time I've used that joke in 20 years.

Twice I've been followed by something that was not human, something that attempted to take my life. I believe that was the cat form of Irena.

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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by MechaGoji Bro7503 »

60th anniversary! Man, that's a good excuse to rewatch this and Ghidorah for the millionth time, they're both favorites of mine.
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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by king_ghidorah »

I’m going to be real with everyone. This is a safe space right?

This film isn’t in my top 10. I enjoy King Kong vs Godzilla more. Hell, on any given day I’d rather watch GTTHM (which I argue is a better film than MvG), Monster Zero, Gigan or MG 74.

Mothra vs Godzilla is a good film. I’m not arguing that it’s not. But it’s just not as muscular or as fun as the others I’ve mentioned. It’s fine. Solid. But the third act falters. The fights ….are kind of dull and the humans, while fun, are not as fun as the other film’s casts that I mentioned.

It does everything well. It’s a good Goldilocks film of the Showa era in some ways. I just feel that other films have higher highs when it comes to monster action, the score or fun humans.

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Re: Talkback Thread #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Post by JAGzilla »

king_ghidorah wrote: Tue Jun 18, 2024 2:30 pm I’m going to be real with everyone. This is a safe space right?

This film isn't in my top 10.
Just because it's a safe space doesn't mean it's okay for you to go spouting filth and blasphemy, son. :(

I agree with most of your points, though. The score is one of Ifukube's absolute best, it deserves all the praise it gets. But yes, the fights are less interesting than some of the others given the inherent difficulty of executing man-in-suit suit vs. moth/caterpillar puppet battles. And the human characters are mixed. The villains are entertainingly slimy, the Shobijin are the Shobijin, and Junko is decently fun and has the key speech scene, but the main male character and scientist guy are bland and forgettable. And yeah, the forced school kids scene undermines the third act. In those three areas, you can find better in other movies.

That said, Godzilla's entrance and city rampages are top tier, and the Mothra Imago puppet is brought to life very convincingly. This movie has a ton of great points to balance out any weaknesses.
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