TALKBACK #10: All Monsters Attack

[Jorzilla]

I think that my interpretation is valid. You are free to believe what you want, even if it makes you red in the face.

[Benjamin Haines]

[Jorzilla]

This debate is irrelevant. Functionally it makes no difference if Godzilla is real in Godzilla's Revenge, because within the context of the story all of the monster footage, stock footage and all is clearly the product of Ichiro's imagination. That is most important of all. So it comes down to the more plausible answer, and given they way the subject matter is handled, the film very much works as a "real world" film. It has nothing to do with being an apologist or not. Moreover, despite your insistence that other Godzilla films are selectively referential or self standing (which I agree), you can't deny that Godzilla's Revenge is completely distinct in the context of the Showa films. It literally is a clip-show before clip shows were a thing.

The simple fact is, you cannot prove that this film takes place in the Godzilla universe, and I cannot prove that it does either. So it comes down to makes sense in the narrative structure in the movie.

[Benjamin Haines]

[DannyBeane]

This is a showa Godzilla film. It exists in the Showa Godzilla's continuity. Therefore Godzilla is real in Godzilla's Revenge universe even though most of the film takes place in a kid's imagination. It may not reference what Godzilla or the other kaiju are doing at that particular moment but it makes more sense than saying this is the one Showa film that doesn't count in the continuity. That's all I care about till someone brings up a Honda or Tsuburaya interview that says otherwise.

[Jorzilla]

Godzilla's Revenge story is so self contained it's completely irrelevant to the movie which proceeded it and followed. That's the biggest difference. It doesn't impact any timeline one way or the other if it's included or not.

[Benjamin Haines]

[tbeasley]

[Benjamin Haines]

[tbeasley]

[Benjamin Haines]

[tbeasley]

[Benjamin Haines]

To me that doesn't suggest that it's a break in continuity to a world where Godzilla is just a fictional character, since Ken Yano also has Godzilla toys in Godzilla vs. Hedorah.

[walshiam]

Still, it's all in the mind of a child and his dreams. There's nothing that suggests otherwise. If there was, we wouldn't be discussing this.

[Benjamin Haines]

[angilas]

The only reasons I think it does occur within Godzilla's universe even if it is in the mild of a child:
1. First evidence were given of a monster island existing prior to 1999, and several of its dinzens return in GvGigan cameos who weren't in DaM (kamacuras)
2.Gigan features a monster island Godzilla and Angilas have little issue escaping from so besides Ghidorah still being alive and the corn hippy we can assume this makeshift masterpiece is also set in the 70s.
3. Having finally gotten around to watching the Japanese side of my classic media DVD the fact that the officers immediately know who minilla is when the toy consultant (great job description) tells them "the monster" after their confused response to the kid saying Minya/Minilla was with me. As popular as Godzilla was in the golden age, I can't walk around saying "Bane be with you!" And expect "and also with you" in response from grown men who know of batman. So either their response was unrealistic or they know because Kaiju are a very real threat in their polluted world which foreshadows the climate change references in the 2 subsequent films.

4. Very much a scretch but at least in the Japanese version of the film the kid suggests the toy consultant should use his latest invention to record the roars of monsters. A very astute observation in a world pre 1970 when personal computers and Internet were not in abundance. An even greater suggestion in a world where monsters are real and knowing what they sound like can be the difference between being hired as a general in GvG who tells you it's king Ghidorah and some new monster coming vs one of the pilots of the over a dozen planes that gets swatted like lemmings by the titular kaiju.

At any rate as a kid I looked down on this film because none of the kaiju action was real and Minya was so goofy especially with the dub voice. Maybe how bad final wars was has made me appreciate this more but Gabara was the perfect opponent for Minya, and his Kong reminiscent electrical attacks pissed off Godzilla Sr. for good reason. The cuts to the action in the real world are very entertaining and the subplot of parents trying to make ends meat to provide for their kid and working days without seeing him, and such a young boy understanding the need of his parents to make money in such a polluted environment is very well done. Ichiro for his part with his sound effects and rhythmic musical tone is much more of a kawaii chibi in the original language.

[ILL GREEN]

I do too think it was based within the Godzilla universe. Maybe during the peace time. Besides, by the time this movie came out, kaiju assault on Japan was the norm. They made Saddam Hussien dolls so why not make dolls of monsters. And no one implies that monsters are fantasy of a child's imagination in the movie. They just see Ichiro a daydreamer that can talk to monsters.

[Xenorama]

I recently rewatched this wonderful movie. Ben, if this is set in the same world Godzilla is in, how does Ichiro dream of scenes from Destroy All Monsters (when he's first on Monster Island)? The Manda that is in DAM won't exist for 30 years, yet there he is in Ichiro's dream. Add to that Toymaker Minami uses pictures from DAM for the moon scene in one of his toys.

[DannyBeane]

[Benjamin Haines]

Stock footage is never logical.

[lhb412]

I love that this movie has inspired such an in-depth discussion. Not sarcastic, love it.

[H-Man]

[DannyBeane]

I know this movie gets a lot of flack for being one of the worst films in the series but everytime I watch it, this film endears itself to my heart a little bit more. Gabara is a silly monster, Minya is exceptionally creepy, and the amount of stock footage used is unacceptable, but the core story of a bullied kid growing up in an industrial wasteland, whose parents are always busy and so he must learn to fight for himself is definitely top notch. I truly feel this is the most misunderstood movie in the entire series and I didn't always feel this way. When I first watched this film on TNT's Monstervision back when I was 9 or 10, I thought this film was awful. I didn't appreciate this film through rose colored nostalgia goggles. What happened was I grew up and watched this unpolished gem with fresh eyes. This is now one of my most watched flicks.

[battrafan]

I always thought Gabara was a great design with a unique roar.

I hope Toho brings him back one day with a different origin.

He would be perfect as some sort of ancient deity like King Seesar.

[Rodanex]

Anyone ever listened to the audio commentary by Richard Pusateri? I was recently at a screening of some Godzilla movies in San Francisco and he was one of the guests.