by Jorzilla » Mon Sep 08, 2014 3:47 pm
I'm not trying to say that soldiers are to blame as being inept. Often in these films they are simply out-classed, it has nothing to do with bravery. Hell, I would simply desert if someone told me to climb in a Maser Tank and blast Godzilla in hopes to only delay his advance. Yes, national leaders should be held accountable for actions that end up putting their troops in harm way. Be that against a nation state, terrorist organization, or even a giant monster. I think it's great that Pacific Rim practically opened up with this message.
What I'm getting at, is there seems to be a difference in tone in how the military is portrayed. In a lot of American Giant Monster movies (I hesitate to say majority), there seems to be an understanding that the situation is under control or will be brought under control.
In a film like Gorgo, or a Japanese Giant Monster film, there's often a sense that the situation is frankly out of control. That you can't just bomb your problems out of existence. Again, I think this has to do a lot with the different ways respective audiences have towards a major conflict. If you replace a given giant monster and say: This is actually an invading army, it should come as no surprise that countries that experienced a lot of casualties are more willing to actually show the effects and helplessness at the hands of the antagonist. I don't know if a US audience would be willing to accept a recreation of Godzilla attack on Tokyo Bay in the Return of Godzilla if it had been US troops stationed on the edge of the water getting incinerated.