How did you discover Godzilla?

[Destroysall]

[Pkmatrix]

It was early 1994.

I was only 8 at the time (geez, I was that little?), and like most little kids every so often I'd get hooked on something and become an uber-fan for a while. At the time, I was hooked on dinosaurs - the result of seeing Jurassic Park in theaters the summer before (wait, why was I allowed in there?) - and devouring every dino-related flick my parents could find (which included "The Land Time Forgot" and "Carnosaur", though they wouldn't let me watch Carnosaur once they realized it was rated R). Now, I'm not certain when exactly (though my guess is January 1994, possibly even New Year's Day), but one Sunday I was at my grandparents' house with relatives when I noticed an ad for Godzilla 1985 playing on WPIX-NY.

Before this, outside dinosaur films, my only exposures to the very premise of a giant monster film were Mothra, Godzilla v. Megalon, and the first half-hour of King Kong Lives, none of which left a long-lasting impression (although, at the time I watched it, I really enjoyed Mothra). For some reason, though, G'85 latched onto me and, despite my being only 8 and having seen the commercial probably around 1 PM, I decided then and there that I HAD to see this movie.

And I did.

And I loved it. I raved about Godzilla for days, and after a week of begging my dad took me to a local video store so I could find another - that film was Terror of Mechagodzilla. I'm sure you could imagine the confusion that went through my little 8-year old head. ^_^()

Still, I ate up ToMG too, and wanted more.

Now, it just so happens that only a few weeks later TNT aired it's Monstervision Godzilla Bash '94 marathon. I think it was Monstervision that really made my fandom permanent - I recorded the whole thing and loved that tape for YEARS. I may still have it somewhere, actually. ^_^()

But, yeah, that's how I discovered Godzilla - just about 16 years ago.

[TerranigmaFreak]

[canofhumdingers]

You know, speaking of books, I did discover a Godzilla book at the main library branch downtown a few years after discovering Godzilla. This was still before the mid nineties "revival" with trendmasters and whatnot. The book looked fairly old & beat up & I think it was a hardcover. But for some reason I could swear it's not the Ian Thorn book.

I seem to remember it had a few pictures from Godzilla '85. It also had pictures of Godzilla fighting some really strange looking creatures that had a distinctly non-Toho feel to them. Looking back now, it must've been pictures from a Zone Fighter episode, but at the time I had no idea what they were.

Does anybody remember this book? Am I thinking of the Ian Thorn book?

[H-Man]

[Legion]

[gila-monster]

I don't remember the exact moment I first discovered Godzilla but I too had an avid fascination in Dinosaurs, reptiles, and animals in general (I still do). I think I knew who Godzilla was when I was growing up since he is referenced quite often in popular culture, but the first time I saw any of the films was when I was in a video store one day and saw a few of them for rental. I guess I convinced my parents enough to rent me Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla and I was pretty much hooked from then on. That was probably around 1996 or 1997... then I ended up renting the rest of them from that store and even was given some as gifts.

A couple years later I saw the American remake in theatres and was pretty disappointed in its presentation. It just didn't feel like the rest of the Godzilla movies felt like. Luckily Godzilla 2000 came out in theatres a couple years after that and I was able to see the big guy on a big screen.

I'm definitely a young fan, in comparison to those who grew up in the 60's/70's, but at the very least it wasn't the Tristar Godzilla film that introduced me to the series. I think I even saw Godzilla vs Biollante before that came out, which still remains my all time favourite Godzilla film.

I also remember taking a Godzilla book out from the library before. It was black and white and had quite a few shots from the movie. I can't remember what it was called and I probably couldn't find it again.

[Joseph Goodman]

The first kaiju flick I saw was probably "War Of The Monsters", when I must have been around four years old. I didn't realize what I had seen until I saw "Gamera Vs. Barugon" many years later. As far as I can remember, the first time I saw anything Godzilla-related was the "Godzilla 1985" trailer on New World's VHS of "Dinosaurus!" around 1986-1987. It wasn't until I picked up that Ian Thorne book from the library a few years later that I was confirmed as a Godzilla nut.

[Flame of Udin]

[howze01]

[Flame of Udin]

[Legion]

[Flame of Udin]

[The Top Crusader]

[Legion]

[MekaGojira3k]

[Legion]

[MekaGojira3k]

[canofhumdingers]

Heh, I had Godzilla, King of the Movie Monsters too, & the binding fell apart within months!

& Legion, you're right, I was thinking of The Godzilla Book. It's very hard to find info on online, but I did find a copy on ebay (for like $200 ).

[H-Man]

[The Top Crusader]

[howze01]

[Legion]

[sentaison]

I had heard of Godzilla, had seen the Aurora model advertised in comic books, but my first exposure to the world of kaiju was from the Ultraman TV show. I was nuts about it and my grandmother (who i believe was a secret sci-fi geek, I first saw Ultraman at her house) had me over to watch a movie she thought I would like: King Kong vs Godzilla! I was hooked! About a month later I saw the '64 Mothra vs Godzilla (still my favorite) and for the last 40 years I've been a huge fan of our favorite saurian movie star.