TALKBACK #5: Ghidorah, The Three Headed Monster

[klen7]

[extremedalek]

[jellydonut25]

ah, I donts uses the internets slangses so muches.

[klen7]

i was really hoping the thread would derail with people coming up with different explanations for OH... Operation Honda!

[lhb412]

Orangutang Harpoon!

[Bluejira]

Old hag

[ILL GREEN]

I usually say my point 5. Wish to call her monster-two but she gets offended.

[jellydonut25]

So, though we haven't been actually discussing this MOVIE recently, it's oddly appropos that this was my most recent random selection.

I like this movie. I actually enjoyed it more than I have been recently, watching it kinda on its own and not in the context of the films it was released around...it's still got some manic, confusing editing, and several effects/monster flubs, but I really like when Godzilla first appears, and I REALLY like the fight between Rodan and Godzilla. This is an epic mosnter battle that never really feels like it received a final battle through any of the films. Unfortunate, because in this film, they are evenly matched in a lot of ways.

The Japanese version does a better job of integrating the human/monster action, but by and large, the humans are doing their thing, the monsters are doing theirs, and the two are only occasionally interacting with one another.

[briizilla]

[jellydonut25]

I love the monster-talk section, personally. It adds to the overall feeling of fun in this one. I prefer Monster Zero as well, but I'm all for different, and this movie has that in spades.

[briizilla]

[jellydonut25]

[canofhumdingers]

Personally, I really enjoy the monster talk sequence. It's kinda hilarious and really adds to their personality. To me Godzilla has always been so much more than just a "dumb animal" and I enjoy things that really show his character and personality. This scene also works because of the overall light-hearted whimsical nature of the film. It's never meant to be taken very seriously but to just be plain fun and it succeeds tremendously at that. The only complaint I have would be the haphazard editing of the Japanese version (specifically the day-night-day jumps). Otherwise I think it's great, and it has been in my top 3 favorite Godzilla movies for several years now.

And what shoddy effects? Ghidorah is masterfully executed (especially his attack on the city) and I can't think of anything that really jumps out at me off the top of my head.

[jellydonut25]

There's the sloppy way that Godzilla's breath is only animated once, and Rodan's beak looking like it's gonna fall off, for starters.

[canofhumdingers]

I wouldn't call Godzilla's breath only being animated once "shoddy" so much as a budget issue. Never noticed Rodan's beak but I'm often surprised at how many things there still are to find despite watching these movies so many times.

[jellydonut25]

[Benjamin Haines]

The monster hand puppets are the weakest effects in this film, but that's true of all of the first five Godzilla movies. They don't bother me.

[MekaGojira3k]

The puppets don't really bother me too much. Although I will admit that's the one thing the Heisei films did right.

[Legion]

[jellydonut25]

[Russzilla]

Open wide.

[ILL GREEN]

[KingKaiju]

I love this movie. It's got a great mix of monster action, comedy, cheesiness, and lots of destruction. We get an introduction to what, in my opinion, is one of Toho's most unique monsters and Eiji Tsuburaya's best creation. I feel like there's a good balance to keeping Godzilla as the monstrous force that he was in Godzilla vs. Mothra, but also gearing towards the kids more and making it much lighter, but not so light that it becomes King Kong vs. Godzilla. Just a fun overall movie!

[Bannon]

I'm choosing this thread for my first post, because this is my favorite, other than the 1954 original. My lifelong fascination with Godzilla stems from the way he morphs from destructive force of nature to hero, our only hope against a larger threat. And this is the movie where that pivot first happens.

Some of my very specific favorite points:

The monster conversation.

The fact that talk doesn't persuade G and R, but Mothra stepping out by example and taking on Ghidorah alone.

Ghidorah himself is awesome, and presents a planetary threat level.

[mr.negativity]