Godzilla Films from the 1990s to the Present: Rankings?

[Christopher]

I liked it enough to order Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, a sort of sequel.. more monster action & more Akira Ifukube music! Can't wait.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_Ifukube http://www.ebay.com/itm/360578677392?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Oh, that's the best movie of the Heisei-Era series, tons better than G vs. King Ghidorah. Although in between them (both chronologically and in quality) is Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth.

My favorite thing about Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah is the idea that radiation can turn three animals roughly the size of cats into King freakin' Ghidorah. I mean, I know it's a Godzilla movie and all, but that's quite the growth spurt. And I thought radiation was scary when it just gave people horrible diseases.

I didn't like the Heisei assumption that any prehistoric or monsterish animal exposed to radiation would uniformly turn into a giant kaiju. If that's the case, then why aren't there a bunch of giant humans running around due to radiation exposure? What I found surprising about the original movie is that it didn't say Godzilla was a mutant -- just that he was a prehistoric survivor that had lived undiscovered in the depths, like the coelacanth, and been displaced from his normal habitat by the nuclear tests -- and made radioactive by exposure to them, presumably. The idea that he was actually created/made giant by radiation, even powered by radiation, is an invention of the Heisei series, I believe.

(I believe the first movie to show giant monsters created by radiation was Them!, the giant-ant movie which came out a few months before Gojira. But it posited that it had taken years and many generations of radiation exposure for the ant population to mutate into progressively larger forms, rather than specific individual creatures growing to giant size.)

Also, apparently neither Godzilla nor King Ghidorah breathe oxygen. Or they inexplicably have gills. And King Ghidorah can survive trapped on the bottom of the ocean for hundreds of years after getting one of its heads blown off. And the Godzilla dinosaur can survive for at least 10 years, possibly 50 (the wonky time travel in this movie makes it hard to determine if the "new" Godzilla was really created in the 50s or 90s) in the same location, after being critically wounded no less.

Godzilla's always been portrayed as amphibious, able to survive indefinitely underwater -- see my above comment about the original movie's explanation for his origins. Most Godzilla movies have him appear by rising out of the ocean and leave at the end by returning to the ocean.

And it's long been a conceit of the series that Godzilla has unparalleled regenerative abilities. That was even suggested in the original film -- Professor Yamane argued that Godzilla should be studied rather than destroyed because we could gain new medical insights from studying his ability to survive and withstand radiation and so forth. Other films like Biollante and Millennium have revisited that notion. The general rule is that even when he's seemingly killed, he just hibernates/regenerates undersea for a while -- even for decades, as in The Return of Godzilla and GMK -- and then eventually comes back.

 

[Goji]

In the original series, it was assumed (possibly stated in the original, I don't recall) that Godzilla was naturally an aquatic dinosaur. "King Ghidorah" directly contradicts that by showing us the original dinosaur living exclusively on land and with no anatomical attributes of aquatic creatures. It was transported from its home on land directly into the water by the time travelers. I do not expect the creature that we saw fighting soldiers on land would survive being thrust into the middle of the ocean even when it was at full strength. Least of all when it had been pumped full of bullets. Remember, this is NOT Godzilla, but his "mortal" pre-radioactive exposure self (the movie's plot makes this point clear - possibly the only of its conceits that it does).

 

[Chrisisall]

In the original series, it was assumed (possibly stated in the original, I don't recall) that Godzilla was naturally an aquatic dinosaur.

Cue the Treknobabble...

 

[DWF]

My favorite thing about Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah is the idea that radiation can turn three animals roughly the size of cats into King freakin' Ghidorah. I mean, I know it's a Godzilla movie and all, but that's quite the growth spurt. And I thought radiation was scary when it just gave people horrible diseases.

Also, apparently neither Godzilla nor King Ghidorah breathe oxygen. Or they inexplicably have gills. And King Ghidorah can survive trapped on the bottom of the ocean for hundreds of years after getting one of its heads blown off. And the Godzilla dinosaur can survive for at least 10 years, possibly 50 (the wonky time travel in this movie makes it hard to determine if the "new" Godzilla was really created in the 50s or 90s) in the same location, after being critically wounded no less.

I think Ghirdorah was dead the seawater had just preserved the body.

 

[Christopher]

In the original series, it was assumed (possibly stated in the original, I don't recall) that Godzilla was naturally an aquatic dinosaur.

Yes, that is what was stated, as I mentioned above -- that Godzilla had survived in the deepest parts of the ocean for millions of years (erroneously stated as 2 million years since the rest of the dinosaurs died out). He only came onto land because the nuclear tests displaced him from his feeding grounds, and maybe killed off/drove away enough of the sea life that he needed to hunt elsewhere. After his rampage through Tokyo, he returned to Tokyo Bay and stayed there until the end of the movie.

The second Godzilla who emerged in the sequel Godzilla Raids Again and continued through the rest of the Showa series did spend more time on land, but usually retreated to the sea between movies.

"King Ghidorah" directly contradicts that by showing us the original dinosaur living exclusively on land and with no anatomical attributes of aquatic creatures. It was transported from its home on land directly into the water by the time travelers. I do not expect the creature that we saw fighting soldiers on land would survive being thrust into the middle of the ocean even when it was at full strength. Least of all when it had been pumped full of bullets. Remember, this is NOT Godzilla, but his "mortal" pre-radioactive exposure self (the movie's plot makes this point clear - possibly the only of its conceits that it does).

But still, he's a Godzillasaurus that's managed to survive (as an individual or as a species) for millions of years after most other dinosaurs died out. So perhaps his characteristic regenerative power, as established in the previous one or two films, was already a part of his makeup. Maybe it's what let him survive the radiation exposure, rather than something created by it.

Besides, there's always been an implicitly spiritual aspect to Godzilla and other kaiju. His creator nicknamed him "the Sacred Beast of the Apocalypse," basically an animistic embodiment of the spirit of nuclear destruction -- whereas some later films, especially G vs. King Ghidorah, position him more as a spiritual defender of the Japanese land and people. GMK, of course, took the opposite stance, that he was an embodiment of the angry souls of the Imperial Japanese military's victims, and it was the monsters he fought that were the traditional spiritual defenders of Japan. So he always survives and returns, not just because of his super-regenerative power, but because he's a force of nature, the incarnation of a cosmic principle.

 

[Goji]

My favorite thing about Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah is the idea that radiation can turn three animals roughly the size of cats into King freakin' Ghidorah. I mean, I know it's a Godzilla movie and all, but that's quite the growth spurt. And I thought radiation was scary when it just gave people horrible diseases.

Also, apparently neither Godzilla nor King Ghidorah breathe oxygen. Or they inexplicably have gills. And King Ghidorah can survive trapped on the bottom of the ocean for hundreds of years after getting one of its heads blown off. And the Godzilla dinosaur can survive for at least 10 years, possibly 50 (the wonky time travel in this movie makes it hard to determine if the "new" Godzilla was really created in the 50s or 90s) in the same location, after being critically wounded no less.

I think Ghirdorah was dead the seawater had just preserved the body.

Well, the thing had a heartbeat, apparently.

 

[Chrisisall]

whereas some later films, especially G vs. King Ghidorah, position him more as a spiritual defender of the Japanese land and people.

That's the Godzilla I enjoy most.

 

[DWF]

Besides, there's always been an implicitly spiritual aspect to Godzilla and other kaiju. His creator nicknamed him "the Sacred Beast of the Apocalypse," basically an animistic embodiment of the spirit of nuclear destruction -- whereas some later films, especially G vs. King Ghidorah, position him more as a spiritual defender of the Japanese land and people. GMK, of course, took the opposite stance, that he was an embodiment of the angry souls of the Imperial Japanese military's victims, and it was the monsters he fought that were the traditional spiritual defenders of Japan. So he always survives and returns, not just because of his super-regenerative power, but because he's a force of nature, the incarnation of a cosmic principle.

But it was the presence of Emmy and King Mecha-Ghirdorah that prevented Gdozilla from destroying Japan. That was stated in the movie before Emmy got permission to turn Ghirdorah into a cyborg.

 

[Goji]

Yeah, Shindo was way off on that "Godzilla is my protector" thing. He got himself blown up and is at least partly responsible for Godzilla's destruction in the second half of the movie, since the radiation he absorbed from Shindo's nuclear submarine (which he shouldn't have had in the first place) made him extra strong. He used an apparently illegal nuclear submarine to knowingly and intentionally create/empower a giant radioactive monster all because he thought a dinosaur had personally protected him some 40 years earlier.

Really, he's as much of a jerk in the movie as the evil overacting westerners.

 

[Chrisisall]

Really, he's as much of a jerk in the movie as the evil overacting westerners.

Totally.
I really do like this movie!

 

[Chrisisall]

Well, I just finished my Godzilla marathon.
My favourites are:
Showa:
Godzilla Vs. Hedorah
Destroy All Monsters
Monster Zero
Godzilla Vs. Gigan

Heisei:
Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla II
Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah
Godzilla Vs. Biollante

Millenium:
Godzilla: Final Wars

 

[Gojira]

Well, I just finished my Godzilla marathon.
My favourites are:
Showa:
Godzilla Vs. Hedorah
Destroy All Monsters
Monster Zero
Godzilla Vs. Gigan

Heisei:
Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla II
Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah
Godzilla Vs. Biollante

Millenium:
Godzilla: Final Wars

Those are all good. I come to realize there isn't a Godzilla movie I do not like, I just like some more than others.

 

[Goji]

I tried to choose a top five, but couldn't get it down past six (it was fairly easy to get it to six), so I'm going with that, in chronological order for simplicity's sake.

Godzilla '54 - Goes without saying. It's a dark, bleak yet strangely hopeful, horror movie and commentary on mankind's newly minted capability for nuclear holocaust. The series' most intelligently written film, even if the editing occasionally bogs the pace down early on.

Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) - Very straightforward monster movie, but executed almost perfectly. It marries the best aspects of the fairy tale-esque Mothra and the significantly darker Godzilla series. Even though he's still the antagonist, this is the first film where Godzilla feels like a viable candidate for a long running series. Our human protagonists' involvement in the finale feels incredibly tacked on, but other than that the film really works.

Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965) - My favorite as a kid, and for my money the most "fun" film in the series. It has a great cast - all the usual Toho players like Akira Takarada and Akira Kubo (my personal favorite of their stable), plus Nick Adams! The monsters actually don't appear that much but I barely notice. Ifukube's best score, as well.

Destroy All Monsters (1968) - "Astro Monster" super-sized. That's basically what this is. The same movie, only more so. And hey, it works. The special effects sequences are amazingly elaborate in places and the plot does a better job than its predecessor in balancing the human, alien and giant monster threads in the story. The Kilacks have nothing on those Planet X aliens, though.

Godzilla (1984) - A lot of people don't, but I like that this movie focuses only on Godzilla. He tends to get lost in the shuffle in too many movies that end up focusing on the newcomer monsters (I think he's in the 2002 MechaGodzilla movie for about 5 minutes). I love the dark tone of this movie, the timely political commentary and the strong emphasis on realism... except for when they wheel out that Super X thing, then realism takes a smoke break.

GMK (2001) - Even though it's in an entirely different series, this definitely feels like a follow up to the director's excellent "Gamera 3" from 2 years prior, with its emphasis on Japanese mythology and stronger fantasy elements, rather than the series' usual pseudo-science fiction. It's directed and acted better than any Godzilla film since Ishiro Honda retired, and the special effects may even top the aforementioned Gamera 3 for the best in the genre.

 

[Christopher]

Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) - Very straightforward monster movie, but executed almost perfectly. It marries the best aspects of the fairy tale-esque Mothra and the significantly darker Godzilla series. Even though he's still the antagonist, this is the first film where Godzilla feels like a viable candidate for a long running series.

Largely because it's the first good Godzilla film since the original -- even though it's really more of a Mothra film guest-starring Godzilla as the villain. Godzilla Raids Again had some interesting aspects but was kind of boring, and King Kong vs. Godzilla was basically a far more inept and comedic attempt to tell the same story that MvG did so successfully less than a year later. (Although, to be fair, I've only managed to see the horrible American cut of KKvG, which interpolates a bunch of incredibly boring, interminable new scenes of TV newscasters reporting on the events of the story.) It's also the last film of the Showa era to feature Godzilla's original villainous persona, since he started to turn more heroic in the next one.

Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965) ... Ifukube's best score, as well.

For me his best score is Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II.

Destroy All Monsters (1968) - "Astro Monster" super-sized. That's basically what this is. The same movie, only more so. And hey, it works. The special effects sequences are amazingly elaborate in places and the plot does a better job than its predecessor in balancing the human, alien and giant monster threads in the story.

Unfortunately neither Netflix nor my library has this, so I haven't been able to see it in recent memory.

Godzilla (1984) - A lot of people don't, but I like that this movie focuses only on Godzilla. He tends to get lost in the shuffle in too many movies that end up focusing on the newcomer monsters (I think he's in the 2002 MechaGodzilla movie for about 5 minutes). I love the dark tone of this movie, the timely political commentary and the strong emphasis on realism... except for when they wheel out that Super X thing, then realism takes a smoke break.

Another one I haven't managed to see.

GMK (2001) - Even though it's in an entirely different series, this definitely feels like a follow up to the director's excellent "Gamera 3" from 2 years prior, with its emphasis on Japanese mythology and stronger fantasy elements, rather than the series' usual pseudo-science fiction. It's directed and acted better than any Godzilla film since Ishiro Honda retired, and the special effects may even top the aforementioned Gamera 3 for the best in the genre.

Except I think it's got one of the ugliest Godzilla costumes ever.

 

[Goji]

I have my issues with it, but I'll easily take it over the suits used for "King Kong vs. Godzilla", "Ebirah, Horror of the Deep" (I know it's basically the same suit as Astro Monster, but it had aged horribly), "Son of Godzilla" (yikes), "Godzilla vs. Megalon" (am I watching Godzilla here or The Muppets?) and "Final Wars", with its strangely rat-like head.

Of course, it's entirely subjective. And in my opinion, neither Mothra nor Baragon has ever looked better than in GMK.

 

[Gojira]

I tried to choose a top five, but couldn't get it down past six (it was fairly easy to get it to six), so I'm going with that, in chronological order for simplicity's sake.

Godzilla '54 - Goes without saying. It's a dark, bleak yet strangely hopeful, horror movie and commentary on mankind's newly minted capability for nuclear holocaust. The series' most intelligently written film, even if the editing occasionally bogs the pace down early on.

Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) - Very straightforward monster movie, but executed almost perfectly. It marries the best aspects of the fairy tale-esque Mothra and the significantly darker Godzilla series. Even though he's still the antagonist, this is the first film where Godzilla feels like a viable candidate for a long running series. Our human protagonists' involvement in the finale feels incredibly tacked on, but other than that the film really works.

Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965) - My favorite as a kid, and for my money the most "fun" film in the series. It has a great cast - all the usual Toho players like Akira Takarada and Akira Kubo (my personal favorite of their stable), plus Nick Adams! The monsters actually don't appear that much but I barely notice. Ifukube's best score, as well.

Destroy All Monsters (1968) - "Astro Monster" super-sized. That's basically what this is. The same movie, only more so. And hey, it works. The special effects sequences are amazingly elaborate in places and the plot does a better job than its predecessor in balancing the human, alien and giant monster threads in the story. The Kilacks have nothing on those Planet X aliens, though.

Godzilla (1984) - A lot of people don't, but I like that this movie focuses only on Godzilla. He tends to get lost in the shuffle in too many movies that end up focusing on the newcomer monsters (I think he's in the 2002 MechaGodzilla movie for about 5 minutes). I love the dark tone of this movie, the timely political commentary and the strong emphasis on realism... except for when they wheel out that Super X thing, then realism takes a smoke break.

GMK (2001) - Even though it's in an entirely different series, this definitely feels like a follow up to the director's excellent "Gamera 3" from 2 years prior, with its emphasis on Japanese mythology and stronger fantasy elements, rather than the series' usual pseudo-science fiction. It's directed and acted better than any Godzilla film since Ishiro Honda retired, and the special effects may even top the aforementioned Gamera 3 for the best in the genre.

For me I would substitute Godzilla 2000 for DestroyAll Monsters and my list would be identical. For some reason Destroy All Monsters, while still a very good movie, has not aged well for me.

 

[Chrisisall]

For me his best score is Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II.

I quite agree!

Unfortunately neither Netflix nor my library has [Destroy All Monsters], so I haven't been able to see it in recent memory.

Sumogorilla has it pretty cheap! I recently got two hard to find G flicks there. Good quality.