TALKBACK #23: Godzilla 2000

[MekaGojira3k]

I think the dub has some goofy moments but most of the US cut tightens G2k up and makes it overall a much better film than the Japanese cut. The dub, unless I'm mistaken, highlights the relationship between Shinoda, Miyasaka, and Katagiri in a slightly more satisfying way than the Japanese cut.

[GFan]

I'd love to hear the international dub for G2k, what little we got to hear in the trailer was AMAZING-bad (was there ever a later trailer using the Sony dub?) But I haven't listened to any Goji dub post-MOTHRA '92, so I'm sure it's just as bad as the other newer dubs.

[king_ghidorah]

Just have to add:

-I agree that the final fight in this movie is the of the best in the series. The fight is back and forth, and Godzilla is losing for much of it. Easily the best fight scene in either the Millenium or Hesei eras for my money.

-I also agree that this film is the highlight of the Millenium era for me.

-And finally...the American version IS better.

[Legion]

[Alpha OTS]

I get the love. It was the answer to GINO and at the time, it delivered, for me at least. Its a good memory that hits me whenever I watch G2K. I also really like watching it with the dvd commentary.

[walshiam]

I said it once and I'll say it again..........it's one of the best scripted battles of the entire series. The realistic approach made it feel like two animals were going at it like two animals should without the slapstick. Ya know, I used to think baseball was boring to until I realized the strategies involved.

[lhb412]

[jellydonut25]

G2K's love, for me, stems from how much like a 50s/60s monster movie it is (not NECESSARILY 50s/60s Godzilla movie).

You've got a plucky team of likable cast members up against the larger-than-life monsters and they use crazy pseudo-science to do some stuff. It's just a fun monster romp that doesn't bog itself down with overblown origins or barely coherent social messages. It drops you into the middle of its world and says, "Here's a couple days of existence in this universe where Godzilla exists"

[H-Man]

I tore into it for a Toho Kingdom review about five years ago but I've since changed my mind. It's not a classic and it's still in the lower half of the series for me, but I think the one thing it boasts is (mostly) strong performances from its main cast. That's something that really matters in a film like this where Godzilla's appearances are few and far between.

[walshiam]

Few and far between(?)...........you've lost me.

[H-Man]

After Godzilla fights the UFO, he's offscreen for around half an hour. That's a long time to go without Godzilla in a Godzilla movie.

[walshiam]

That's usually because there's more to the story, something that most of the audience doesn't have patience for (especially the fans!)

[H-Man]

[Hybrid Gojira]

I've never liked this movie. The characters cannot save it for me. The battle between Orga and Godzilla is mostly a bore and by the time Godzilla decides to lay waste to the city, the end credits are about to roll. The effects range from awesome miniatures to horrible CGI and very poor matte shots. Godzilla's beach landing is atrocious, and I always thought that from the first time I saw it.

And this Godzilla largely ignores getting ravaged by the military - we see him getting blasted to pieces but he never bothers to retaliate. Bleh.

I haven't watched this in ages...need to give it a chance again I suppose, but it's not high on my list.

Oh yeah, Orga (mostly) sucks. He's such a lame monster with few cool moments.

[Hybrid Gojira]

I watched this tonight.

It's not as bad as I remembered, but it does really suffer in the special effects department. The matte shots...ugh those are generally very poor. The miniatures are really well done, save the scene when the UFO breaks free of the cables and tears apart the bridges.

I like Godzilla's beam charge up - I wish they kept the same effect and in the blue color. The UFO is laughably bad sometimes and some of the CGI helicopters were just awful. One scene looked more like it belonged more in an Asylum movie than it did a Godzilla film. I'm also just not a huge fan of this G design. Some angles make him look very menacing, but more often than not he just comes off derpy.

Overall I am very "meh, it's ok" towards this film.

[jellydonut25]

I agree a few of the matte and composite shots are AWFUL (there's a moment where Godzilla's tail is dragging across the top of some water with no ripples or anything), but I think once the UFO breaks free from the rocks and stops looking like a flying dog turd, it's generally done well.

I think the design comes across more consistently awesome-looking than the '84 design, myself, and I always actually really liked it, especially since it's just kind of a one-off. Yeah, they used it in GxM for the most part, but I'm all for playing with the Godzilla design, which is the one thing I genuinely LOVE about the Millennium series.

I lub this movie and can't wait for the blu to be released and in my hands.

[Hybrid Gojira]

Meh.

I don't mind the new design as much as it usually looks derpy to me.

Didn't GXM use a different suit (though pretty similar overall)?

[klen7]

The GXM suit had more neck movement but was overall the same IIRC

[H-Man]

This is probably my least favorite Godzilla suit after the Musuko-Goji. The design is pretty good, but in execution it's very stiff and stuck with a lame expression on its face. The metallic green skin and bright purple spines were a mistake. I like the updated version of this design that was employed in the Kiryu films although I still don't think Wakasa got the face right.





Godzilla is photographed pretty well in this movie but all the daytime scenes in GXM make the suit look even worse.

[jellydonut25]

love the green skin and purple spines, personally

[Hybrid Gojira]

[DannyBeane]

Over the past decade or so the G2k suit has really grown on me. I'd say its probably in my top 3 favorite suits. The only major issue I have with it is that I wish it was a little more expressive. In scenes where Godzilla is looking at people, it clearly looks like a lifeless piece of rubber. If the eyes could move, the lips would snarl and maybe the nostrils flare. I think it would have been almost flawless.

[Legion]

I've never understood the incredible amount of love for this suit.

[DannyBeane]

[EricDent]

Recently watched the Japanese version, didn't really notice many differences between that version versus the US cut.
I do like this movie, but some of the effects do look silly.
Though I LOVE how huge they make Godzilla look when he's walking behind the G-Trackers.

BTW I did see this in the theater back when it came out.