TALKBACK #4: Mothra vs. Godzilla

[Gman2887]

The only one I really agree with regarding your complaints is the children on the island bit at the end. It felt like a last minute attempt to give the characters something to do while Godzilla gets silked. The rest I buy. I thought Torahotta and Kumiyama's fate were quite fitting. Getting killed by another giant creature while attempting to make money of another had a sense of irony to it. I can buy the fisherman being able to float the egg to shore and I'm not convinced Mothra actually could get the egg back to the island herself. It's about as large as she is and she had a hard enough time dragging Godzilla along. I can understand why the Shobijin asked for help there.

[jellydonut25]

Mothra doesn't just snatch the egg back for the same reason God in Genesis doesn't stop Adam/Eve from eating the apple. People make their own choices and have to live with the consequences. "Give us back the egg or terrible tragedy will befall you."

As for Godzilla not pursuing the egg further, Godzilla's VERY animalistic in this movie. He attacks two separate buildings as though they were foes because one falls on him and one gets in his way when he slips. He forgets about the egg the same way a dog might forget about a stick if there's something that distracts it.

As for Kumiyama and Torrahotta, while maybe their demise could have been saved for later, at least they GET a demise. I suppose things could have been changed such that their demise comes at the end in the battle between Mothra's larvae and Godzilla, but it's something I'm very willing to forgive given the excellently executed previous 70 minutes of film.

[Xenorama]

of course, why is Godzilla even after the egg in the first place? because he's the bad monster, not just an "animal". there's never a reason stated for him trying to destroy the egg. he just has to because it's there? I can even understand why he'd go after buildings, as they aren't natural. but animals don't just destroy eggs on whims.

I also agree about the end of the movie feeling tacked on, as I posted earlier but it can be repeated here- http://xenorama.blogspot.com/2011/06/en ... thing.html .

[jellydonut25]

[Gman2887]

I think there's an equal amount of rationalizing going on with both sides of the argument. I admit, Godzilla's interest and then loss of interest is a little strange, but it never sticks out enough to consider a major plot hole. Personally, Godzilla comes off as fairly mindless in this movie anyway. The "force of nature" title sticks out here more than it did in the Heisei movies. It's not bad thing though. It works well for the film.

[william newell]

[jellydonut25]

^Well, much like I think in the story of Adam and Eve, God basically says, "Eat from the tree of knowledge and DIE." and then when it happens, He relents...though He punishes Adam and Eve, God is still looking out for them and their progeny as His people...


Mothra and the Shobijin are all, "If you don't help us, screw you." Then when they realize the agony through which people are being put they relent because they are ultimately good and kind-hearted and can't allow people to suffer.



If all that touches too close to a religious nerve or something, it's pretty simple: The Shobijin show themselves to be the bigger people.

[Hybrid Gojira]

[Russzilla]

[msunz27]

Happy 50th to one of Toho's classics!

[CWSmith]

Happy birthday indeed^

This movie rocks so hard. It ages like fine wine and I love it more every time I see it. The original is a more important movie, but I think as pure entertainment, this is the absolute pinnacle of the series. Godzilla's best design, Mothra's best design. Compelling human characters that you actually care about and root for outside the monster action scenes. A competent military. Great villains. Great music (even has a couple of ear worm songs from the fairies). Just pure greatness all around.

[tbeasley]

I love this movie. It's really the pinnacle of what they were doing back then with these movies. Outside of Harryhausen's work I don't think anyone did it as well or better than Honda and Tsuburaya. The movie plays with and improves ideas done before in Mothra and King Kong vs. Godzilla. I love how the monsters aren't even the true bad guys. Godzilla clumsily wonders around disoriented after the typhoon, only going on a path of destruction after being enraged by us. And of course Mothra only wants to protect her egg from Godzilla and the two 'entrepreneurs' (played fiendishly well by Yoshifumi Tajima and Kenji Sahara). The scene where a dazed Torahata sees Godzilla in the distance is just too good.

And of course, how can't you be moved by this -

[KingKaiju]

This is one of my all-time favorite Godzilla movies, and one that I can watch over and over again. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but there's something about this film that separates it from the pack for me. I can't tell if it's the more serious tone it takes, the cinematography, or the pace, perhaps it's all of it, but it works so well for me. The movie gives JUST enough time to build us up and let us know what's happening before Godzilla comes out (which I must say has to be one of Godzilla's BEST entrances). Maybe I like the fact that throughout this film, you feel and are aware of, Godzilla's presence throughout the film. Great film though, in my opinion, one of the best in the whole series.

[lhb412]

[Gojizilla]

What a delightful experience this film is. I'm always amazed by it. The human drama, the visuals, the score, everything clicks. I don't want to sound hyperbolic, but this may be a definitive example, along with the original, of just what power these films have. I'm very hopeful that Gareth Edwards will pay attention to this picture as he crafts Godzilla 2018.

[Dr Kain]

[MekaGojira3k]

[Hybrid Gojira]

My Godzillathon continues - after watching MZ earlier, I finished my night off watching Godzilla vs. The Thing.

This has one of the best Godzilla entrances of all time, maybe THE best entrance. I like this movie - it's mainly a serious film and the villains of the movie are truly sinister - the way Kumayama and Torahata meet their demise is satisfyingly just.

I also LOVE the creativity shown by the military in the early Showa films - the assault on Godzilla in the countryside is brilliantly done.

There's no denying how good this movie is, but I actually like MZ more because of the characters. Ironically enough, watching both films back to back made me realize how much more I like the 65 suit over the 64 (and it used to be the opposite).

[Russzilla]

I always wondered about this but never really got a clear answer. I always assumed that the lady photographer found a piece of Godzilla's skin or part of his spine. Can anyone clarify this?

[Benjamin Haines]

[Psycho Soldier]

[Dr Kain]

Are you referring to the radiated rock they find in the water at the beginning of the movie?

[Psycho Soldier]

[lhb412]

[Russzilla]