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Shin-Ben — Godzilla 1954 and my review! plz read. :)
Published: 2015-08-15 23:25:00 +0000 UTC; Views: 1736; Favourites: 41; Downloads: 4
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I've been meaning to do this for a long time now actually. So, I'll get started with it.A film that only had 3-4 months of production before releasing in Japan on November 3,1954. A film that I personally will consider the greatest Godzilla film to date. Tomoyuki Tanaka the executive producer of the Godzilla films from 1954-1995, had wanted to create his own giant monster movie since Hollywood was making their own.
Eiji Tsuburaya was the special effects director. He got influenced by the famous stop motion ever since seeing the 1933 classic King Kong by Fray Wray. Eiji Tsuburaya didn't have the time to produce a stop motion film. He had called Harou Nakajima to play inside a 180 pound latex rubber suit. During the early production, Eiji Tsuburaya had made Godzillas look by using the elements of dinosaurs, mainly the tyrannosaurus rex and the stegosaurus. However, Godzilla was originally going to look like a humanoid creature resembling a mushroom cloud head. That particular design didn't come to fruition.
Harou Nakajima had a 13 minute stroll as Godzilla in the miniature sets of Tokyo. The ominous presence of first seeing Godzilla can't help but give chills. The documentary style realism is also what separates this Godzilla film from all others. While playing in the suit, Harou Nakajima has stated that he had lost 20 pounds while working inside the suit.
Akira ifukube scored the haunting music for this film and would continue for King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla 64', Ghidorah the 3 headed monster, invasion of astro monster, destroy all monsters, terror of mechagodzilla, Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah 91, Godzilla vs. Mothra 92, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2 93', and his final outing in Godzilla vs. Destroyah 95'.
If you were a Japanese movie-goer and was watching this film for the first time, the opening scene would have frightened you. It was related to the lucky Dragon #5 incident that had happened years prior to the film. Godzilla was given the elements of the atomic bomb by film director Ishiro Honda who in my opinion is the greatest Godzilla director.
The thing about this film is its powerful messages. The dangers of radiation and the destructive power of the atomic bomb. People don't like it because it's black and white. I say to them deal with it. Technology wasn't what it is today back then.
Original scenes that didn't make final cut were too brutal at the time. One of which I'm familiar with is the scene where Godzilla rises up over the hillside of odo island. He was supposed to have been eating a cow but, they removed the cow and had Godzilla use his trademark roar.
The legend being spoke about by an old man couldn't but help add a bone chilling imagery. The exorcism ceremony dance also added a particular haunting sense.
When Godzilla is finally discovered, Dr. Yamane tells that due to the repetitive usage of H-Bombs, Godzillas natural habitat was drastically altered and had woke Godzilla up from a long hibernation.
People like to say that Godzilla has regenerative healing abilities. I can't quite agree with that. When Godzilla dies by the oxygen destroyer, there is nothing left but bones and even the bones disappear. When production was happening, I'm also sure that was the last thing on their minds. It's really never been proven by the directors that he did.
Now, my rating. 5/5 stars. Even though the movie is far from perfect, it still has a higher ground than all other Godzilla films. Which of course have their own flaws.
If anyone wants to talk about this particular film, I'd be glad to.
Hope you all enjoy my review and the small facts I brought up! Thanks for reading!
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Comments: 47
A pretty decent commentary.
I like how you just stated the facts and ideals of what the movie had represented.
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I think you'll find this review just as good.
hugeben.deviantart.com/art/Gmk…
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Actually, he does have regeneration, proved in comic books, video games, regular books, ect. In fact, Gojira beat Superman, healing after every attack.
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Please find a reliable resource that came out before 1989 (the actual first film to introduce this ability) suggesting that Godzilla had regenerative healing abilities during the showa era.
Comic books, video games are just marketing they have nothing to do with the films themselves.
Please listen to the mic drop.
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Actually, it has shown multiple times in movies. When he was attacked by monsters, such as Ghidorah, Mothra, Anguirus, ect. He always seemed to return, healed from previous wounds, or just bigger and stronger than before. In King King vs Godzilla, Godzilla took multiple hits, however, he did always either get back up or retreat. When the oxygen destroyer was made, it was supposed to destroy the oxygen in the users body, leaving nothing but bones. When Godzilla 2000 met MechaGodzilla, MechaGodzilla was built on the original's bones. So even if he did become bone, his brain cells regenerated, making him remember, which, in turn, leads him on a rampage. Let's say the Oxygen Destroyer did kill Gojira, destroyed his bones, that means, the bones may have regenerated, causing MechaGodzilla to show up, showing he did have regenerating properties.
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I'm curious as to where you get this information. So, websites, comic books, magazines, etc. All explain Godzilla having regenerative healing abilities during the showa era? Not true. This whole heisei series separated from the showa only explains itself.
These movies aren't all connected to each other. The fact that August Ragone, David Kalaat, and Ed God. Have all confirmed it already. The showa Godzilla was never intended to have regenerative healing abilities.
If the directors don't mention it then someone says right off the bat that he did, puts an "official" label to it and says it's true, I'm supposed to believe that? I don't think so.
Here's the best part, Godzilla in 54', his bones even disappeared. A lot of people believe that the Gmk Godzilla is the 54' reborn. They couldn't be more wrong. In fact, how is something that's dead going to regenerate and grow 10 extra meters? Because the souls? What supernatural power could possess something that's dead? Gmk along with Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Hedorah proves that this whole regenerative healing abilities is a bunch of crap. Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Hedorah had his right arm melted to bone. Guess what? If that regeneration was a factor, he could have healed in no time. The same can be said for Gmk with the shoulder/neck wound. It didn't heal at all and lead to his death.
Oh, just so you know, Godzilla has never fought superman. That cartoon was a different kaiju.
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Not in the cartoon, in a comic book. He also defeated a greek god, the Avengers, ect. When it came to the movie, Gojira '54 did die, however his bones were found later on, untouched. It was part of the story line of Gojira, where Gojira final Wars has all the Godzilla's mentioned. In Godzilla's 200 era, they built Mechagodzilla over Gojira's bones, believing that they could defeat the "incarnation". However, because of his regenerative abilities, Gojira remembers what happened to him, staring to fight back against the system and attacks buildings. Where as the movie, tanks barely hurt him, and the only things that did was electricity, which could burn skin/scales, and the Oxygen Destroyer, which showed in Gojira vs Destroyah, that it does not dissolve the bones, but burns the flesh, muscles, and tissues off.
The directors actually did mention it in a few movies, if you've read some of the newspapers at the time. Also, when you said GMK was a reborn version, filled with souls, you didn't say a Gojirasaurus soul, who knows how to use its own body. They were human souls, where as the regeneration either didn't work or it had none at all. In Godzilla vs Hedorah, I didn't actually see that one, but, however, I did read about it, and I know not that much about it.
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Right human souls. Consisting of Americans, Japanese, and Chinese.
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By the way, are you from www.godzilla-movies.com ?
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Okay. I'm going to tell you that these movies are separated big time.
We all know that Godzilla in 54' was awakened by the atomic bomb. Godzilla dies by the oxygen destroyer. And Dr. Yamane says "I can't believe Godzilla was the only surviving member of its species. But, if we keep on conducting nuclear tests, it's possible another Godzilla will appear somewhere in the world again."
Thus a new Godzilla was found in Godzilla raids again.
Now, fast forward to the heisei series with the return of Godzilla. This Godzilla was bigger and more powerful than the original. This so called Godzilla being a direct sequel to the 54' is complete garbage. So, it's supposed to skip the other 14 films before it? Okay, we all know that Godzilla in 54' died. He has had over 30 years to "regenerate" yet, he didn't.
The heisei series has nothing to do with the original Godzilla nor the rest of the showa films. Godzilla vs. Biollante is a direct sequel to the return of Godzilla. Which again is the first film to introduce the nuclear pulse and regenerative healing abilities. Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah 91' explains the new origins for Godzilla being a Godzillasaurus. This one is mutated by modern day atomic weapons to become twice the size and far more powerful than the original.
Meaning it's separated. The heisei series only explains itself. The entire millennium series are all standalones. Except the kiryu saga. Final wars is a standalone as well.
You can't go by stock footage to say this is Godzilla throughout all the years. That makes absolutely no sense. Godzilla has died in Godzilla 54', Godzilla vs. Destroyah 95' and Gmk 2001. This is where Dr. Yamanes speech comes into play. Meaning there is more than 1 Godzilla.
Comic books are not Canon to the films. Again, they are marketing. They're only made for more money. I mean, the answers themselves are in the films. Newspapers? Stating the directors have in fact said Godzilla had regenerative healing abilities during the showa era? If you have those newspapers, I must see them.
The thing is, no staff members, no directors, and no Japanese recorded documents say that. And where on earth have people like Eiji Tsuburaya, Ishiro Honda, and Akira ifukube stated this?
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One, only souls of the Japanese in World War 2, I've seen the movie. Two, Gojira was not only able tom "survive" the Oxygen Destroyer, but Destroyah itself, which is filled with the elements that could kill Gojira and his son. His son absorbed the radiation after his father dies, regeneration does happen, meaning it's in the same universe because they say the original Gojira is in it multiple times. Three, and how should I put this...Final Wars was not a stand alone film. As much as you like to be right here, it's not. It's more of a multiverse tying movie, mentioning that humanity has been "plagued" by Gojira time and again, starting with '54. Four, Gojira was based off multiple dinosaurs, even in the first film, which makes him a dinosaur. Don't believe me? The body of an old Tyrannosaurus, the arms of an Iguanodon, spinal plates of a Stegosaurus, and a massive brain which Tyrannosaurus and Raptors both had. Five, even if his bones were "destroyed", they were found later, still a part of the story line, just a different branch. So, all the Gojira reincarnations, except for Gojira 2014, branch from there, like a massive tree. Also, as you are aware, like some movies, they have the same beginning, but different stories from the same original idea. So, let's say Gojira 2000 shows up, they mention the '54 in the movie. Godzilla Final Wars, mentioned '54. Need I say more? While I may agree, but you don't realize four Gojira's have died, counting the 200's storyline.
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I actually just watched both the Japanese (with subtitles) and English versions (with Raymond Burr) a couple of days ago and I agreed that this Godzilla is the most haunting and incredible. Actually let me correct that - the original Japanese version is the best ever. I had seen the English version before but never the original. Now after watching them both I was appalled at what a terrible hack job the English version is. I don't blame Raymond Burr - he was wonderful in his scenes - but to see the beautiful message and story telling of the original chopped up into bits and combined with Mr. Burr's scenes made me want to cry. I will honestly probably never watch the English version again. I truly fell in love with the original Japanese version and will continue to enjoy it for the rest of my life.
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We all grew up on the Raymond Burr Americanized film. To actually watch the original for the very first time, the Raymond Burr film becomes junk.
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That's exactly what happened! I watched the original and then the Americanized one the next night and wanted to cry. It was so sad to see what they did to the Japanese version.
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Yeah it was. Though they did add their own twist to it, it still is far cry and a shame when compared to the Japanese original.
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Cool, I have the same action figure!
...I didn't know it was 54, I all ways thought it came out in 1945....
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August 6, 1945 was the bombing of Hiroshima. 9 years later, Godzilla is released.
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Glad you like my review. I'll be sure to do the other 28 films. Including Godzilla 2014. I will not do that tragedy of 98.
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Good really I like many of them including Godzilla 2014 but sometimes the original is always the best
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There's a lot that I love and enjoy the piss out of them. I'm sure you have watched the Gamera heisei trilogy so you should know about this right?augustragone.blogspot.com/2015…
Have you ever watched Ultraman?
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Did you read what I put down on it?
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I am right now. Your knowledge of Godzilla is very impressive.
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I've studied Godzilla for along time. I'll recommend you getting these 3 books. They can be found on eBay and Amazon.
1. Eiji Tsuburaya the master of monsters by August Ragone
2. A critical history and photography of Tohos Godzilla by David Kalaat.
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Thank you! I really love Tsuburaya's Ultra Q & Ultraman. Very nice stories! I love the designs of the Kaiju from those series.
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I've recently watched Ultraman the next. Great film! Ultraman kicks ass!
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You know where I can watch that online without some crappy fandub? Also, watching Ultraman, the Godzilla & Gamera films, Pacific Rim, & Evangelion(Manga & Anime. Different stories, both canon.) gave me an idea to do a crossover fanfic using elements of all of them. It's essentially the EVA fighting the Ultra Kaiju & eventually fighting the more powerful DaiKaiju from the Godzilla & Gamera films in place of the Angels. I already got the idea for the 1st battle worked out. EVA-01 vs Gomess(Ultra Galaxy Legends Ver.). It plays out pretty much the same as the 1st battle always goes for EVA-01. I've had this idea in my head for months now, but I'm having trouble figuring out where Godzilla enters the picture. Oh! And I'm making the Godzilla of my story the grown up version of Godzilla Jr. from Godzilla vs Destoroyah.
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I don't know if Netflix carries it or not. I got the DVD on eBay.
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Thanks. If I can find it, I'll totally watch it.
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I just downloaded the Ultra Galaxy Legend film, so I am tots watchin' that!
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I'll be watching Ultraman zero tomorrow!
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Btw, I just learned of the Machine G mecha from the Godzilla: King of the Monsters manga from the 90s. That thing looks like the Super Sentai Zord, Dragon Caesar on steroids! godzilla.wikia.com/wiki/Machin… WHY HASEN'T THIS BAD-ASS MADE AN APPEARANCE IN AN OFFICIAL GODZILLA FILM?! HE LOOKS SO FUCKMOTHERING EPIC!!!
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I haven't the brightest idea why it hasn't. Just a heads up, take things with a grain of salt when it comes to wiki. They have some facts with added bullshit to make it seem legit.
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I know not to trust everything Wiki says. But that's where I get most of my Kaiju pictures.
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Besides, not all wikis are inaccurate. Btw, dis you read my idea for an Evangelion/Kaiju crossover?
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Yeah, It is a very interesting idea. Hopefully that can happen one day. Since legendary is doing Godzilla and Pacific rim, I figured a good crossover would be the end of Pacific rim when gypsy danger explodes and the nuclear power it released mutated an ancient dinosaur into Godzilla like the heisei series. Too bad that wouldn't happen either.
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Dude! That would actually make a lot of sense the way you put it. I would actually like to see a crossover like that! Btw, thank you for your input on my idea.
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No problem. Who knows what legendary is planning.
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