Not really possible for the general public to have liked a Godzilla movie much more than they already did.Ōei wrote:This is something that came to mind after some thinking and re-watching of both films. How would G-2014 have done (in public opinion, box office, critically, etc.) if it was like Shin Godzilla?
Over $500 million is a great success for a movie of this type. Consider that Legendary had to overcome: I know we all love them, but the Toho movies aren't typically very good movies. Not even remotely. But they have monsters in them, and that's why we watch.
Then you throw in 98. That gave "real" Godzilla movies a bad name.
And it STILL went over the half-billion mark. That is STRONG for what essentially was a kid's cheesy monster movie franchise. (yeah, I know it didn't start that way, but that's how it is viewed by most)
Making it more like one of the Japanese films would have hurt more than it helped, IMO. Shin was okay....I am still having a problem with how stupid the first form of Shin looked, but overall, it was...okay. Nowhere near as good or realistic (as much as a giant monster movie can be, anyway) as 2014. Still suffered from the same old thing Toho movies always do...massive plot holes and needing some serious leaps of faith to make it work.
But it was enjoyable, because it was Godzilla. You watch it not expecting the same level of movie you expect from Legendary because quite frankly, Toho isn't known for making more "serious" movies, and not as much is expected. And it's all about expectations.
IMO, 2014 did about as well as it could have, and was a great launching point for a franchise or "universe", if Legendary does it right from here on.