As a childhood fan of Godzilla films in all of their mid-twentieth century hokeyness, I immensely enjoyed the new American Godzilla film.
I had always hoped for a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster version of the Godzilla films. But even as a 17-year-old, I could tell that the putrid 1998 Godzilla film wasn’t it. A small version of Godzilla that runs away from everything, doesn’t have fire breath, and eats tuna? Please. It was so bad, the Japanese had to kill him in a real Godzilla film (see below).
I think the biggest reason I liked this year’s Godzilla film so much is that it felt like one of the best representations yet of what Godzilla is. He’s a force of nature. You can fight him if you want. You can bomb him if you want. But for what? You may as well be Xerxes ordering his troops to whip the ocean.
In the original Godzilla film, Godzilla was Nature mutated by the power of the atomic bomb. Over several more movies, his image improved to be a “good guy” – a general protector of Earth. In this movie, this idea is successfully blended in by introducing Godzilla as the alpha predator among ancient monsters awakened by modern man’s activities. Godzilla fights other monsters because that’s what he does to survive. That’s the most coherent explanation I’ve seen yet to reconcile his indifferent-yet-protective nature.
The film nails this idea visually multiple times. My favorite were the images of Godzilla swimming along, surrounded by an entourage of Navy ships. He doesn’t attack them, because they are insignificant. The ships follow him so that we humans can feel as if we are in control of the situation. Sometimes we attack him, with no effect.
Of course, being true to the Godzilla source material is only half the fun. The other half is some rollicking monster fights. This film offered some spectacular fight scenes, even if it did leave me wishing for more.
Well, if I want more, the internet informs me that a prequel graphic novel and a movie art book are out there for my consumption (thanks Internet!). They are on my Amazon wish list already!
Anyway – I had a lot of fun watching this movie, and it was satisfying to see such a great incarnation of my childhood’s favorite monster.
What does this have to do with movie marathons? Not much! What can I say? I was inspired by this film!
