Top 15 Monsters Ever
Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:08 pmSo I've been creating some top 10 lists for my favorite superheros, villains, movies, and so on. When I came to monsters, I had a conundrum. First, I love a lot of monsters. Second, it's really hard to separate Hero monsters and villain monsters, considering that most of them are villains, and the ones that are heroes have been villains before. And there's many, like Gwangi, who are just animals. So I came to a compromise and extended the list to 15. You can keep yours at 10 if you want, but I'm sure that most of you won't.
So, anywho, no limitations on this list except that I personally don't think that Ultraman or hero-machines like Voltron or the Megazord count as monsters, while at the same time I think Mechagodzilla does count. Up to you though.
I'm providing a brief description of why I like them. Not required, but if you want to, go for it.
1. Mothra
She's probably the weakest monster in the Godzilla universe, but somehow manages to pull through more often than not. I like her also because she's one of the more personally developed monsters in the Godzilla universe.
2. Anguirus
Underdog FTW. Anguirus has no beams, is relatively small, but fights like hell with what he has. I see Anguirus as a monster that really doesn't have any beef with anyone but takes a fight seriously when he gets into one.
3. Godzilla
Classic. Without this monster, more than half my favorite monsters wouldn't exist. Beyond that, Godzilla is a very intense hero and villain whichever role he may play.
4. Showa Mechagodzilla
Possibly the most intense evil monster I've ever seen. This guy is sheer power. One of the most foreboding moments in the Godzilla series is when this guy does the simple action of turning his hand.
5. Gwangi
Who doesn't love a bloodthirsty Allosaurus? Gwangi is one of those 'just an animal' monsters. But he loves to kill for the sake of killing. There's several scenes where he will kill someone, then drop their body to go chasing after someone else. I just wish the acting in his movie was better.
6. Showa Rodan
This was my favorite monster as a kid. My brother took Godzilla, so I decided to be unique and find another favorite. At the time, my favorite movie was Monster Zero, so I picked Rodan as my dude. I also beat the crap out of people with him in Godzilla Unleashed.
7. Ghidrah
Classic Godzilla villain. I even appreciate this guy in the Heisei and Millennium movies, even if I don't particularly go insane for those movies. He seems to be a glutton for Alien control. But even when he's a free monster, he's still a force to be reckoned with.
8. Gigan
The Coward Monster. I love this guy's personality in a fight. He is brutal when he's winning, and he gloats, but will run away from a fight at the first sign of losing, only to come back at the opportune moment. He's a kaiju that you love to hate in a fight.
9. Titanosaurus
Badass. Awesome roar, awesome strength, awesome everything. Watching Terror of Mechagodzilla as a kid, Titanosaurus nearly outshined Showa Mechagodzilla. The battles between Godzilla and Titanosaurus one on one are still amazing to me. Cheers to Honda's Monster Swan Song.
10. Biollante
Very well developed origin story, even if the movie isn't quite as awesome as the monster. I love the idea behind Biollante of Godzilla being mixed with a plant. Also, given that she was the first monster to ever consider eating Godzilla is pretty cool by itself.
11. King Kong (American)
Again. Classic. King Kong is practically the original monster. Also, the special effects designer for King Kong practically taught Harryhausen how to walk. Beyond that, King Kong is another of those 'just an animal' monsters which is my favorite role for the monster.
12. Reptilicus
This monster is good campy fun. Not really any other reason why I like him. Reptilicus is just plain awesome.
13. Beast of 20k
Harryhausen's first real creation. And a major inspiration for the Cloverfield Monster (as well as Godzilla and The Host). While the movie was less than par as far as depth of storyline was concerned, it introduced the idea that a monster could have a disease (in this case an airborne disease in his blood), and that the most damming thing about a monster could be, not the damage the creature causes, but the damage that hurting it could cause to those around it.
14. T.H.E.M.
This is an idea that I like much more in concept than in practice. Massive ants? Even bigger ant hills in Nevada? OMFG AWESOME. The movie could have been better, the idea of this monster(s) is great.
15. T-Rex (Planet of Dinosaurs)
This guy scared me as a kid. So he makes it here mostly out of nostalgia. But, his look is just so intense. And the movie does a great job pitting a T-Rex against people who have no clue how to fight it. Plus, this guy was almost as brutal as Gwangi, except this one would actually eat people.
So, anywho, no limitations on this list except that I personally don't think that Ultraman or hero-machines like Voltron or the Megazord count as monsters, while at the same time I think Mechagodzilla does count. Up to you though.
I'm providing a brief description of why I like them. Not required, but if you want to, go for it.
1. Mothra
She's probably the weakest monster in the Godzilla universe, but somehow manages to pull through more often than not. I like her also because she's one of the more personally developed monsters in the Godzilla universe.
2. Anguirus
Underdog FTW. Anguirus has no beams, is relatively small, but fights like hell with what he has. I see Anguirus as a monster that really doesn't have any beef with anyone but takes a fight seriously when he gets into one.
3. Godzilla
Classic. Without this monster, more than half my favorite monsters wouldn't exist. Beyond that, Godzilla is a very intense hero and villain whichever role he may play.
4. Showa Mechagodzilla
Possibly the most intense evil monster I've ever seen. This guy is sheer power. One of the most foreboding moments in the Godzilla series is when this guy does the simple action of turning his hand.
5. Gwangi
Who doesn't love a bloodthirsty Allosaurus? Gwangi is one of those 'just an animal' monsters. But he loves to kill for the sake of killing. There's several scenes where he will kill someone, then drop their body to go chasing after someone else. I just wish the acting in his movie was better.
6. Showa Rodan
This was my favorite monster as a kid. My brother took Godzilla, so I decided to be unique and find another favorite. At the time, my favorite movie was Monster Zero, so I picked Rodan as my dude. I also beat the crap out of people with him in Godzilla Unleashed.
7. Ghidrah
Classic Godzilla villain. I even appreciate this guy in the Heisei and Millennium movies, even if I don't particularly go insane for those movies. He seems to be a glutton for Alien control. But even when he's a free monster, he's still a force to be reckoned with.
8. Gigan
The Coward Monster. I love this guy's personality in a fight. He is brutal when he's winning, and he gloats, but will run away from a fight at the first sign of losing, only to come back at the opportune moment. He's a kaiju that you love to hate in a fight.
9. Titanosaurus
Badass. Awesome roar, awesome strength, awesome everything. Watching Terror of Mechagodzilla as a kid, Titanosaurus nearly outshined Showa Mechagodzilla. The battles between Godzilla and Titanosaurus one on one are still amazing to me. Cheers to Honda's Monster Swan Song.
10. Biollante
Very well developed origin story, even if the movie isn't quite as awesome as the monster. I love the idea behind Biollante of Godzilla being mixed with a plant. Also, given that she was the first monster to ever consider eating Godzilla is pretty cool by itself.
11. King Kong (American)
Again. Classic. King Kong is practically the original monster. Also, the special effects designer for King Kong practically taught Harryhausen how to walk. Beyond that, King Kong is another of those 'just an animal' monsters which is my favorite role for the monster.
12. Reptilicus
This monster is good campy fun. Not really any other reason why I like him. Reptilicus is just plain awesome.
13. Beast of 20k
Harryhausen's first real creation. And a major inspiration for the Cloverfield Monster (as well as Godzilla and The Host). While the movie was less than par as far as depth of storyline was concerned, it introduced the idea that a monster could have a disease (in this case an airborne disease in his blood), and that the most damming thing about a monster could be, not the damage the creature causes, but the damage that hurting it could cause to those around it.
14. T.H.E.M.
This is an idea that I like much more in concept than in practice. Massive ants? Even bigger ant hills in Nevada? OMFG AWESOME. The movie could have been better, the idea of this monster(s) is great.
15. T-Rex (Planet of Dinosaurs)
This guy scared me as a kid. So he makes it here mostly out of nostalgia. But, his look is just so intense. And the movie does a great job pitting a T-Rex against people who have no clue how to fight it. Plus, this guy was almost as brutal as Gwangi, except this one would actually eat people.
Gamera
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