Godzilla Then and Now

The 70th anniversary version of Godzilla Minus One is outstanding. The shots of Godzilla are spectacular. Minus One is a perfect film, in my opinion. Classic writing, strong cast, outstanding filmography.

Lately I’ve been posting double feature recommendations. For Godzilla it seems right to pair the original with the limited release of Godzilla Minus One in black and white. I think a double feature of these two movies really launches into the visual history of special effects.

The Godzilla franchise is co-produced by Toho Studios and Robot Communications and distributed by Toho. The franchise consists of 37 films and two animated television series. The franchise has received a generally positive critical reception and has grossed around $4 billion worldwide with box office and merchandising… Godzilla has become a powerful brand.

I’ve been attending the Telluride Film Festival since 1994 so I’ve seen more than my share of black and white films. Seeing Godzilla in black and white made it easy to see how far technology has come since the original’s release in1954. It is as if the technology of the new film pulls us further into the story of Godzilla. The black and white version not only takes you back in time but also captures a culture of great mythos.

What I find most intriguing is that Godzilla’s mythos is straight out of the ashes of WWII. He is a by-product of the toxicity of war and hate. Seems like many generations lived through their own versions of war. It seems appropriate that a monster made from the toxic mix of human anger and technology should arise and combust from the depths of the sea. It is as if power rages inside the monster, growing in power till it blasts out-of-control nuclear rays from its mouth. A demon that can peel your skin away just by standing near him, frozen in fear. Godzilla’s radiation goes way beyond Botox and gives a nod to what we are doing to our environments to create such a beast.

The Telluride Film Festival goer in me recognizes how timely this movie is to our current political situations. This film shows that we should all be willing to confront the beast no matter how toxic the environment is. It is the connected individuals who take on the burden of bringing down the beast that saves the world.

I always thought Godzilla was made to just sell toys. We are beginning to learn a lot from our toys these days. Recently there was Barbie and now Godzilla.