Additionally, if you really like one of the movies enough to rewatch it, you could hunt down a Blu Ray or 4K version. If not, you've only paid $5 per movie.
The Kaiju Thread of Building-Smashing, Flame-Breathing, and Slam-Dunking
- Thread starter ZakuConvoy
- Start date
Well, I got a gift card for Christmas...which doesn't really do me any good with Amazon, but Walmart managed to come through. So I'm going to set down with a warm drink, and I guess Godzilla 2014 is the starting point. If I'm going by the back of the case:
1. Godzilla 2014
2. Kong: Skull Island
3. Godzilla: King of Monsters
4. Godzilla vs. Kong
5 Godzilla Kong: The New Empire.
Is that the correct order?
1. Godzilla 2014
2. Kong: Skull Island
3. Godzilla: King of Monsters
4. Godzilla vs. Kong
5 Godzilla Kong: The New Empire.
Is that the correct order?
Yes but chronologically Kong: Skull Island comes first.
Well, like I said, I vaguely remember watching at least part of a Godzilla movie with Bryan Cranston, but it must have only been part of it, because I remember none of any of that.
I'm not sure how I feel about a Godzilla movie where Godzilla is a good guy. But I have to admit, I was entertained. I don't know how much was CGI and how much of it was practical, but it looked pretty darn good.
The music...like I can kinda hear the Godzilla motif Trying to nudge through...but it never really went full Godzilla theme. That's kind of a Disappointment.
But as much as I don't like the idea of Godzilla as a good guy, I have to admit, I'm intrigued.
I do have a play date later, so I don't really have the time to watch the next movie today. But I think I'm on board for the rest of the series.
I'm not sure how I feel about a Godzilla movie where Godzilla is a good guy. But I have to admit, I was entertained. I don't know how much was CGI and how much of it was practical, but it looked pretty darn good.
The music...like I can kinda hear the Godzilla motif Trying to nudge through...but it never really went full Godzilla theme. That's kind of a Disappointment.
But as much as I don't like the idea of Godzilla as a good guy, I have to admit, I'm intrigued.
I do have a play date later, so I don't really have the time to watch the next movie today. But I think I'm on board for the rest of the series.
Godzilla King of the Monsters will course-correct on the music front, for sure. Unfortunately, the movies after don't have quite the same musical punch.
Also, this Godzilla is maybe not a "good guy" so much as not antagonistic to humans (yet). You'll see when you get to the Godzilla x Kong films.
Okay, next up is Kong: Skull Island. I actually have seen this one before, but only once. And I'm thinking I may confuse some scenes with scenes I've seen from other Kong movies. So this should still be interesting.
1944? Do all these movies start out around WWII? The original King Kong was released in 1933. WWII hadn't even started yet.
Wait...Samuel Jackson, I think I remember that, but forgot. That's awesome. John Goodman, between this and 10 Cloverfield Lane, he better be careful or he may start being cast in all the Kaiju films. Oh...Brie Larson. Well, I guess it can't all be top tier actors.
Hmm, maybe just the opening credits, but I'm already seeing the connections to Godzilla.
Okay, timestamp approx 17:00. And actual Kodak slide projector. That takes me back. I haven't seen one of those in decades...which makes me wonder, how many people knew what the hell they were looking at when they saw it in the theatre in 2017?
Okay, sometimes I have to wonder is Samual Jackson actually has a script or if he comes up with that jive by himself. Because i don't think I've ever seen him in a movie where he doesn't make some batjive crazy speech.
Okay, Samuel Jackson's character was 100% an asshole. So, got what he deserved. Don't really care for Brie Larson as an actress or a person...so whatevs. It took me about half the movie to realize that was Loki. Like, I knew I knew him from somewhere, but couldn't place it. Yup, it was Loki. So...this movie was a who's who of MCU.
It was good. But...like...okay...THIS IS MY MAIN THOUGHT ON THE MONSTERVERSE MOVIES AS A WHOLE SO FAR, SO READ THIS. The original King Kong is classic Arthouse. The original Godzilla. Is classic Arthouse. Godzilla Minus One may not be that old yet, but I consider it right up with the old ones for being arthouse, destined to be a classic.
These movies so far are pop-corn summer flicks. They're good and all. They're fun. I'm enjoying them. And to get 5 movies for $25, I only just finished the second movie, but I'm enjoying them.
BUT THESE ARE POPCORN FLICKS. THE ORIGINALS WERE CLASSIC ARTHOUSE. THESE NEW ONES JUST DO NOT MEASURE UP.
Still, I have to admit, they're fun.
1944? Do all these movies start out around WWII? The original King Kong was released in 1933. WWII hadn't even started yet.
Wait...Samuel Jackson, I think I remember that, but forgot. That's awesome. John Goodman, between this and 10 Cloverfield Lane, he better be careful or he may start being cast in all the Kaiju films. Oh...Brie Larson. Well, I guess it can't all be top tier actors.
Hmm, maybe just the opening credits, but I'm already seeing the connections to Godzilla.
Okay, timestamp approx 17:00. And actual Kodak slide projector. That takes me back. I haven't seen one of those in decades...which makes me wonder, how many people knew what the hell they were looking at when they saw it in the theatre in 2017?
Okay, sometimes I have to wonder is Samual Jackson actually has a script or if he comes up with that jive by himself. Because i don't think I've ever seen him in a movie where he doesn't make some batjive crazy speech.
Okay, Samuel Jackson's character was 100% an asshole. So, got what he deserved. Don't really care for Brie Larson as an actress or a person...so whatevs. It took me about half the movie to realize that was Loki. Like, I knew I knew him from somewhere, but couldn't place it. Yup, it was Loki. So...this movie was a who's who of MCU.
It was good. But...like...okay...THIS IS MY MAIN THOUGHT ON THE MONSTERVERSE MOVIES AS A WHOLE SO FAR, SO READ THIS. The original King Kong is classic Arthouse. The original Godzilla. Is classic Arthouse. Godzilla Minus One may not be that old yet, but I consider it right up with the old ones for being arthouse, destined to be a classic.
These movies so far are pop-corn summer flicks. They're good and all. They're fun. I'm enjoying them. And to get 5 movies for $25, I only just finished the second movie, but I'm enjoying them.
BUT THESE ARE POPCORN FLICKS. THE ORIGINALS WERE CLASSIC ARTHOUSE. THESE NEW ONES JUST DO NOT MEASURE UP.
Still, I have to admit, they're fun.
This is a fairly accurate assessment of the Monsterverse. (And to be honest, the Godzilla films of the 60s and 70s that i love were largely popcorn flicks as well...)
The popcorn flick side of Godzilla works when done right. 2014 is not done right.
...Is the original King Kong a "art house" movie? A classic, definitely. A technical achievement, sure. A genre-creating movie, yes agreed. But, "art house"? I'm not sure if I consider the story itself deep enough to call it that. I guess in my mind, a "art house" movie has to tackle more serious themes, or have a bigger focus on metaphor, for it to qualify for that.
But, yeah, 90% of the Godzilla franchise is "fun popcorn flicks". Depth and complexity is a exception, not a rule. There are a couple of other Godzilla movies that almost tackle more serious issues, kind of on the side, but mostly it's about the fun monster fights. Some have fun sci-fi concepts thrown in, but it's fairly rare to get a "deep" Godzilla movie.
If you want something a little deeper, you could always check out the original Mothra or Rodan movies. Before they started crossing over with Godzilla. Those both have a focus on a broader issue, similar to the original Godzilla. They're not on the same level, but they try.
But, yeah, 90% of the Godzilla franchise is "fun popcorn flicks". Depth and complexity is a exception, not a rule. There are a couple of other Godzilla movies that almost tackle more serious issues, kind of on the side, but mostly it's about the fun monster fights. Some have fun sci-fi concepts thrown in, but it's fairly rare to get a "deep" Godzilla movie.
If you want something a little deeper, you could always check out the original Mothra or Rodan movies. Before they started crossing over with Godzilla. Those both have a focus on a broader issue, similar to the original Godzilla. They're not on the same level, but they try.
Last time I tried watching the original King Kong, I fell asleep. It's a fair question, calling it arthouse. I may have overreached. But at the least, it still had more classic material than this. Like, honestly, give it 20-30 years, I doubt anyone will even remember the Monsterverse movies.
Yea, I wouldn't consider King Kong 1933 an art house film. You kind of have to compare it to other movies released in the era. It was more like 'Star Wars' in my opinion, VERY influential to what came later but rooted in the pulp fiction stories of the time. It WAS a popcorn flick and was never really intended to be some deep commentary on the world.
Most of the Godzilla or even Kaiju in general live or die off of "Monster Fight!"
The original and Minus One are really the only entries that have human elements that stand on their own without getting gratuitous monster fighting. In any of the others the best you hope for is passable human elements/characters and good monster scenes. That's why the first Monsterverse Godzilla is kind of rough. Cranton brings it early, but once he is off screen the human element is pretty yawn inducing, and you don't get much monster pay off until the very end. The rest of the Monsterverse knows what its doing and gives you multiple monster smack downs though out.
You know, I watched the 1998 Godzilla once. I hadn't watched any Godzilla movies before that one and even then I knew it was a "in name only" movie hated by everyone. So even as someone who wasn't a fan of the franchise and had no stake in the game, I still had nothing but disdain for it.
Now that I've seen a few movies and have grown to like some of them...well I'm sure I'd still hate it. But I'm morbidly curious to watch it again just to see how hatred evolves.
Now that I've seen a few movies and have grown to like some of them...well I'm sure I'd still hate it. But I'm morbidly curious to watch it again just to see how hatred evolves.
King Kong '33 may not be 'art house', but it is certainly genre-defining. It at least deserves a spot along with Godzilla '54 and Minus One as an iconic film.
Godzilla '98 (Ferris Zilla's Day Off, Jurassic Central Park, GINO/Godzilla In Name Only, ), I've said this before, but it seems like it would have been a worthy-ish update of The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms. Heck, there are some things it does really well. It just...isn't Godzilla. That said, I recently watched it with Haywire3, who is pretty well-versed in Godzilla for a 7-year-old, and he really enjoyed it. So I've maybe had to re-evaluate my opinion of it a bit. But only a bit.
Godzilla '98 (Ferris Zilla's Day Off, Jurassic Central Park, GINO/Godzilla In Name Only, ), I've said this before, but it seems like it would have been a worthy-ish update of The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms. Heck, there are some things it does really well. It just...isn't Godzilla. That said, I recently watched it with Haywire3, who is pretty well-versed in Godzilla for a 7-year-old, and he really enjoyed it. So I've maybe had to re-evaluate my opinion of it a bit. But only a bit.
Calling it "decent" is...generous. But, more or less. If it was called something else, it'd be a forgettable monster flick. But, because it has the Godzilla name attached to it, people feel like ragging on it. Does it deserve it? A little. But, I've always felt the hate was a little overblown.
Honestly, I've never quite had the disdain some people have for it. The marketing campaign blitz for the movie was just too much fun. It's a flawed movie, but I think it's a fine "shut off your brain" movie. But, it is more fun to join in on meme-ing on it, rather than defending it.
I will say this, though. It spawned a pretty fun cartoon. The cartoon is worth checking out, if you can track down the DVD collection. (Or it might be streaming...somewhere.) That might be more fun than watching the 1998 movie again.
Last edited: