TALKBACK #25: GMK

[lhb412]

Wow, the whole title wouldn't fit in the subject box!

This is the best film of the Millennium series. Sure we've all complained about it, but it seems to me these qualms are more about unfulfilled potential. I feel with more time and money (and allowing Kaneko to use the far more suitable Varan and Angilas) this film could have really reached the next level. It's not as good or technically proficient as any of Kaneko's three Gamera films, but the only Godzilla film from the 2nd and 3rd series that surpass it in technical quality is Biolantte.

With that extra time and money the special effects could have been better (there are some fantastic effects, but the naff ones stand out when compared to the fact that the rest of the film looks really slick and modern) and the script could have been inproved (a little clarification about how the monsters are being revived by the old man, figuring out something better than having Ghidorah revived twice - things that could easily have been adjusted had there been more time). Perhaps they could have tweaked a few glaring problems in otherwise excellent suit designs?

As for the good: this is actually something approaching a good movie! Not merely "goofy fun" or "something diverting for us fans." The cinematography is a serious step up, the characters are likeable and have various quirks that make them interesting (when's the last time we had fun side characters who, despite limited screentime, leave an impression?), there are moments when people have very natural dialogue - bringing to mind the sense that Ishiro Honda brought to these films that these are real people ...

It has a feeling of freshness absent from most of the 2nd and 3rd series films.

Perhaps the biggest problem this movie has is that it tops itself halfway through: nothing beats the Godzilla vs. Baragon fight. The ending battle has some great stuff in it, but the energy and visuals from this first monster fight aren't even close to being topped.

I still get a tad angry about the substitution of Mothra and Ghidorah in this film. These are monsters with legacies that just do not fit with this film's story. Varan and Angilas, on the other hand, are great scruffy, earthy monsters that are more believable as mythological beasts that menaced the countryside.

[Legion]

While I like Tokyo SOS, this is the only film that truly makes the entire Millennium series worthwhile.

That's really all I have to say for now.

[ryuuseipro]

[Legion]

[Xenorama]

[MouthForWar]

[KaijuHQ]

[canofhumdingers]

[jellydonut25]

[MouthForWar]

[Shonokin]

[Andrew Nguyen]

I know that I stated my opinons before about this movie but I might as well state them again.


This is one of the best Godzilla movies that we've had in a long time. Also after the two disasters of G2000 and GxM, we get a film that pretty much reminds us all about some of the darker aspects of the series. In fact for me, it served as a reminder of why I got into this whole gig and all that.

To add to this, the musical score was very impressive and that I liked it a lot more than most of the others in the Millenium series.

In terms of rankings with the first Godzilla at the top, then whether I feel like it, either GMK or Mothra vs Godzilla would be in 2nd place and then vice versa.


Too bad the remaining three films would not follow in GMK's lead.

[TerranigmaFreak]

[Shonokin]

Godzilla vs Baragon is one of the few Kaiju battles* that I really felt bad for a monster. Baragon really was a trooper who got his butt handed to him. Great battle.

*Also Anguirus vs Mecha Godzilla, it's pretty sad to see Anguirus get so completely abused.

[zekend01]

I agree with quite a bit of what has been said already, and I lean HEAVILY towards the positive side. This is a great film for the casual viewer. Godzy is just f'in badazz, and the scope of battle and urgency were actually fresh-feeling for a change (at this point in the franchise time-line anyway). The effects were consistently the best of any Godzilla movie, and better rendered cinematically than SOS IMO (the jittering camera photography when Godzy moved, fired his AWESOME ray, the start of GREAT sound effects for the franchise, ETC.).

I do wish the end battle had been a little shorter, and I'm not a fan of KG in this movie (I thought Mothra was rendered well for the most part, and Baragon takes all). Some of the themes left me feeling confused: the old man weirdness (Kaneko was a spook-film maker I guess), the rocks, the three disappearing trees/spines of KG in the woods, and why does Godzilla just kind of float to the bottom of the bay after KG's last assault? He was still a threat I guess.... I always kind of thought that's when the vengeful spirits were driven from him, and he was just a regular Kaiju again, and ergo vulnerable to attacks that led to his demise.... But again, NOT clear.

Oh well. Gonna watch it again soon.

[Reaper G]

I've tried to justify Ghidorah's role in this film as a young monster, a la "Rebirth of Mothra 3", that was overtaken by the earth spirits (or whatever).

[MekaGojira3k]

This film has consistently remained my favorite of the millennium series. I love the monster designs, and I dig the story. Despite all of the problems I've heard brought up about GMK Goji I still love the suit and how menacing he looks.

This film also marked the beginning of my becoming more active on MZ. I remember making my first account back when Megaguirus had just been released, and I followed the progress of this film with great interest. Heck, I ended up watching this movie before Megaguirus via a friend's tape of questionable origin. It's just a great film, but it's a shame the dub/dubtitles on the Sony dvd suck so much.

[heroforhirerob]

[KaiserGhidorah]

[Rodanex]

This is a solid, entertaining movie that is easily the best of the millennium series. I still think it's highly overrated though. I can't for the life of me see how anyone can consider this to be the best G-film since 1954. Personally, I consider Mothra vs. Godzilla, Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster, and Godzilla vs. Biollante to be better films.

[MouthForWar]

[Legion]

[jellydonut25]

[Flame of Udin]

It's an alright movie but Mothra and Camel Ghidorah ruin it for me. It would have been amazing had they used Varan and Angilas, they seem tailored for the part and just replacing them at the last minute was retarded on Toho's part. Not only the characters but the execution of the suit's were really a step back. What made this movie good in my book was Godzilla's role as well as Baragon's. They both saved this movie IMO.

and yeah, Ghidorah's head sculpt was meant to be a loose homage to Varan, not very wise.

[MekaGojira3k]

You know when this first came out I almost wrote this whole film off. Probably because of Ghidorah. The design didn't bother me, what bothered me was his diminutive size and role as a good guy.


I also feel that anyone who thinks this is the best film since 1954 needs to be struck repeatedly with a stack of dvds consisting of Mothra vs. Godzilla, Ghidrah, Monster Zero, Destroy All Monsters, Hedorah (so sue me), and Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla 74.