Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

Just curious to see which Godzilla series do people watch the most. Showa, Heisei, or the Millennium series? For me it's easy. Every time I pop a Godzilla movie in to watch, it's 90% of the time one of the Showa Godzilla movies. Which kinda makes sense for me anyways since I had just started watching Godzilla movies at the end of his Showa movies (GvsMG '75) and was pretty much raised on those movies. (thanks to shows like Creature Double Feature in Boston and Philly) I treated watching those movies like I was watching royalty. I sometimes wish that the younger G fans could've experienced being a Godzilla fan around that time. (1970s, early 80s) It was an awesome time to be a Godzilla fan. (getting nostalgic here) Seeing Mothra vs. Godzilla then Godzilla 1985 in the theater was really epic for me. (hey, I was a kid then a teen ) I like the Heisei series, but I pretty much just enjoy watching Godzilla '84, Biollante, and GvsKG '91. The other four are now just ehhhh to me. The Millennium series I barely touch anymore. So there you have it. Tell us your favorite Godzilla era to watch and why. Everyone has their favorites. Tell us yours.

Well, Showa has the numbers on its side. The majority of Godzilla movies are from that period (albeit a narrow majority at this point, but it'll still remain a plurality for quite some years, if not forever).

Showa.

Better direction, better writing, better acting, better music - even better special effects: the newer films have had access to more advanced technology, but when you get right down to it they look less interesting visually, and don't seem to try as hard as the older ones did in spite of the cruder methods back then.

There are a few newer films I like, but I don't have any doubt that the older films are collectively both better and more entertaining films.

I personally think that the Showa movies have aged better over the years. Moreso than the Heisei series and even the Millennium series. When I watch the Showa movies in remastered or better film quality, it really makes you appreciate those movies even more. If I see the Heisei or Millennium movies on an HD movie channel for instance, it makes the movie look kinda cheap maybe? You know what I mean?

A great many of the Heisei and Millennium movies suffer from very flat, tv-style lighting, which is a weakness in the human drama material, and an absolute ruiner in special effects scene.

Mothra vs Godzilla, Son of Godzilla, Godzilla vs the Sea Monster, Godzilla vs Gigan, and Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla are far and away my most watched Godzilla films (if you remove Godzilla vs Biollante)

Heisei series is far and away my least watched, as I can barely even stomach 4 of the films.

Actually, it seems like GvsM '92 thru to GvsD '95 really suffers from that. I've seen the HD broadcast of Godzilla '85 and that didn't look too bad. Biollante also.

Watching the newer Godzilla films sure teaches just how important lighting is in a film. Off the top of my head: G'84, Biolantte, and G2K are superior in this regard.

Yeah, I gotta say, G2K was a pleasant surprise in terms of a general return to Godzilla movies actually looking cinematic.

Showa has the classics. The Heisei series is kind of a rarity, not that I don't watch them, but since they were hard to come by VHS-wise for a long time, the DVDs were basically crap (dub only, pan and scan, flip discs. Aside from GvMG), anytime I watch them there's a bit awe in seeing something I'm not as familiar with than the others. The Millennium series is shiney and new, also it tried doing new (sort of kind of) things each time.

So it all depends on my mood honestly. I can pop most any of them on and be satisfied one way or another, but there are a few select ones I watch almost habitually ('85, MZ).

I prefer the Showa series, as those films seem the most creative and well done (for the most part). They are also very entertaining in a variety of ways. I enjoyed the Heisei films when I was younger, but haven't really watched them much since. Biollante is still one of my favourites, though. I never really grew that attached to the Millennium films, although G2K was great to see in theatres. I'm not even that big a fan of GMK. The Millennium films just seem boring in a lot of ways when compared to the older films from the 60's and 70's.

Showa for several reasons.
1. Nostalgia. These were the only films available while I was growing up.
2.Wackiness. I like weird things and the Showa films are about as crazy as you can get.
3. Lack of Continuity. The fact that most of these films only have the loosest of continuities make them easily more digestible. I can watch them in any order without feeling obligated to watch the next one.
4. I honestly like the stories, characters, and kaiju more. Anguirus is my favorite kaiju and up until Final Wars he was only available in the showa movies.

Hey Russ! Cool to see you here!

Anyway, I haven't watched a Millennium movie in months, and I haven't watched a Heisei movie in almost a year. I definitely dig the Showa more than any of the series.

On a funny side-note, Godzilla Raids Again is near the bottom of my list of favorites, but I've watched it like, four times in the last month. And it was the American version (which I prefer anyway), and I liked it. Why is this happening to me?

I've probably watched more millennium movies recently. I think the early Showa films are the best made Goji flicks. Heisei had some bright moments but by and large Showa had better and more interesting characters. GMK was probably the best made Goji film in years, but the characters were a little blah for me.

Showa, then Millennium, then Heisei.

Specifically I love to just pop in King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla, Monster Zero, Godzilla vs. Gigan, and Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla.
All are great and easily entertain me.

Definitely Showa. Showa forever. Sometimes Millennium, mostly for the lovely miniature scenes most of them have. Heisei only when I'm feeling snarky and masochistic.

Showa, but I don't like less the Heisei and Millenium movies.

The Showa films are easier to pop in and watch than the others. Thus my vote of Showa.