Godzilla Reviews (original) (raw)
Summary Never before released in the U.S., this is the original, uncut Japanese version of Godzilla directed by sci-fi master Ishiro Honda.
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Summary Never before released in the U.S., this is the original, uncut Japanese version of Godzilla directed by sci-fi master Ishiro Honda.
Not available in your country?
The original retains its dark tone and deadly serious anti-war message. For today's moviegoing audiences, this may not be your daddy's Godzilla movie, but chances are your granddaddy could teach you a thing or two about the context.
Godzilla is still the most awesome of tacky movie monsters.
Godzilla Attacks Tokyo In 1954 Of The Films Of Japan Around To Be So Long And Now Start Awaken By Hydrogen Bomb Testing. - Toho
This is a perfect example of how to make a kaiju movie. It's suspenseful, has brilliant acting, and has a plot that's surprisingly similar to "Jaws". In fact, Steven Spielberg even says that the 1954 Gojira was his inspiration for that film. One of Japan's best films, along with Seven Samurai,Spirited Away, and a modern day recreation of this classic "Shin Godzilla"
It's a fascinating cultural artifact and a stomping good time.
The images are crisp. The story is restored. And there's no sign of Raymond Burr.
The new black-and-white print is gorgeous, the film plays well in this broader key and it sets the historical record straight.
The monster's mashing of Tokyo looks as Ed Wood-like as ever, but the film's humanity gives it depth.
Regaled for 50 years by the stupendous idiocy of the American version of Godzilla, audiences can now see the original Japanese version, which is equally idiotic.
There is no denying the massive cultural impact that Godzilla has had. It was really the first Kaiju film and from there, It spawned dozens of films. Thanks to this movie, Godzilla has become an epic franchise that has lasted for decades and for good reason. Godzilla, both the character and this film, remains untouchable.
Godzilla might lack the special effects of todays standards, but the story and message of this film is a very great importance. Filled with suspenseful scenes as well as emotional ones where Godzilla would make his debut in a nice touch on the monster genre.
Directed by Ishirō Honda and featuring the special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, Gojira starred Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata and Takashi Shimura. It was an instant box office smash in Japan. Although many elements are similar to the American version the structure of the story is different. The film begins with the mysterious destruction of a couple of ships near Odo Island. When people come to investigate the occurrences they experience some type of attack at night during the height of a hurricane. Then the scientists arrive to study Odo island where they encounter a giant reptilian monster standing over the hill roaring at them before fleeing to the ocean. The story also revolves around the human characters, such as the lead scientist Archeologist Kyohei Yamane, his daughter Emiko, who is engaged to her father’s colleague, Daisuke Serizawa, but is in love with a salvage ship captain, Hideto Ogata. A core scene and plot point of the movie is the break up of Emiko and Serizawa. Before she can break off her engagement to Dr. Serizawa he shares with Emiko his secret weapon he invented, a device which can destroy oxygen in water. After witnessing the horror and the destruction that this device can do to living things Serizawa has Emiko swear to reveal his secret to no one. Amidst these interpersonal relationships Godzilla begins to attack Tokyo and with each attack being more destructive than the last. Emiko is overcome with grief as she views the destruction Godzilla has brought to her city and nation. She also nurses a her wounded boyfriend, Ogata, who survived Godzilla’s rampage. With the government unable to defeat Godzilla and fearing more death and carnage Emiko betrays Dr. Serizawa and reveals his secret of the Oxygen Destroyer. At first Serizawa refuses to use his weapon. After being convinced of the wisdom of using the weapon Serizawa burns the research papers. The Japanese Navy brings Ogata and Serizawa to Tokyo Bay to use the weapon to destroy Godzilla. Once the weapon is deployed and Godzilla writhes in agony and is dieing Serizawa cuts the chord to his oxygen tank to sacrifice himself so that the secret of his weapon dies with him. Emiko and Ogata witness the demise of both Serizawa and Godzilla yet there is no comfort in their victory due to the loss of Serizawa coupled with the awareness that the atomic age has released forces that may strike again. For myself both the original Japanese version and the adapted American version are equally good movies. There is a somberness to the tone of the film and an urgency along with despair and helplessness that would never be repeated in the franchise again. As Godzilla evolved into a more child friendly franchise Toho studios did not attempt to recreate the seriousness of this first film for many years. Once they did try to a more serious attempts at a Godzilla movie in the late 80s and beyond they could never achieve the the same mood and tone this one set. One of the reasons, in my opinion, that the later movies failed to recreate the same mood is that all Godzilla movies has Godzilla fighting another monster (except the 1984 reboot) and those rampages by the big guy seem more motivated toward defeating a threat by another monster than Godzilla being a threat himself. In the original movie Godzilla was something mankind had brought upon himself and was reaping what he sowed. That was not the message in these later films. I also think the black and white cinematography and the distinctive musical score by Akira **** also helped set the mood. When Toho begins to make Godzilla movies once again, or if the planned American movie gets made, I hope they take lessons from the one that started it all.
Para haber sido hecha en 1954 tiene efectos especiales bastante convincentes, y la historia mas o menos original en su momento, pero el tiempo si que le paso bastante factura, haciéndose bastante predecible. Algo que si le tengo que criticar, incluso para la época son dos cosas. Primero que esta película se hubiera apreciado mucho mas a color, no solo los efectos, sino el escenario y Godzilla en general. Hubieron películas a color mucho antes que Godzilla, quizá fue para ahorrar costes, pero no deja de ser un punto negativo. Y segundo, siento que el descubrimiento del doctor para acabar con Godzilla es muy conveniente y esta rotisimo. En resumen, una película decente para la epoca, aunque si que es muy aburrida y predecible de ver a día de hoy.
This is a very old film and made in a very different time. It has a very slow start, the human story isn’t even remotely interesting or compelling. The characters are so badly written and uninteresting that it did make some points of the film tedious to watch. But that is not why we are watching, it’s because of Godzilla and when Godzilla is doing his cheesy glorious thing you cannot help but smile at how fun it is. This is where this movie is compelling, someone in a rubber suit stomping on a model of Tokyo. I feel I need to offer a bit of context, this is not the first giant monster movie but it probably is the first kaiju movie. The Lost World (1925) and King Kong (1933) are probable sources of inspiration with Them! (1954) also coming the same year as Godzilla. It probably is the first movie that uses a person in a rubber suit rather than stop-motion or an animatronic. The music is catchy. Even though it’s dated pretty badly it is still iconic.
Production Company Toho Film (Eiga) Co. Ltd.
Release Date May 7, 2004
Duration 1 h 38 m
Rating Not Rated
Tagline Godzilla, a weapon of science, a great battle of wonder and terror! (original Japanese tagline)
Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Online Film & Television Association
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination