A thought regarding other incarnations of Godzilla on film, covering the span of everything you mention in both this video, and the previous one: I do think that the reincarnation of Godzilla as protector, as nature, as a slightly goofy hero is sort of a way to redigest something which was, let's face it, born from trauma. Embracing things that could or have destroyed us, or framing them within fantasy, reinventing them with a silver lining - all of these can also be really effective ways to deal with and process terror and trauma. See Guillermo del Toro's Chronos, Devil's Backbone and Chronos in particular for example. Additionally, Japan's own embracing of the character as a cultural icon also fits not only for all of the above, but for the economic and (film) industrial bridges it built with the rest of the world, namely the US itself (see direct domino effect of this leading to cyberpunk/ Blade Runner tropes of depicting Asian/ Japanese corporate, technological and economic growth/ power). I think, and this isn't an original thought, in many ways Godzilla can be seen as a hero in that way, too. Children cheering for Godzilla as a hero? Possibly yet another way to process and navigate the multi-generational trauma preceding that era as well. (also, marketability... sigh) Personally, I enjoy both. I enjoy Gojira/ Godzilla films for their horror, as well as giving us the opportunity to side with those (existential) horrors. It's easier to sit with that which fascinates us as well as terrifies us if we can also laugh at them at the same time, you know? Kind of how when we sit around with our friends and/or family telling horrible stories from our childhoods while having a laugh. Same for grief and other pain. Sometimes you just have to smile or laugh with it. The horror of inevitable destruction made incarnate as a vehicle for our processing of it. Other times morbid curiosity prevails, and we can't help but immerse ourselves in those existential fears - Alien, Annihilation and other films like them come to mind. Those which thrive on weaponizing our place in an incomprehensibly vast unknowable universe and what might be awaiting us simply for existing in it.
A thought regarding other incarnations of Godzilla on film, covering the span of everything you mention in both this video, and the previous one:
I do think that the reincarnation of Godzilla as protector, as nature, as a slightly goofy hero is sort of a way to redigest something which was, let's face it, born from trauma.
Embracing things that could or have destroyed us, or framing them within fantasy, reinventing them with a silver lining - all of these can also be really effective ways to deal with and process terror and trauma. See Guillermo del Toro's Chronos, Devil's Backbone and Chronos in particular for example.
Additionally, Japan's own embracing of the character as a cultural icon also fits not only for all of the above, but for the economic and (film) industrial bridges it built with the rest of the world, namely the US itself (see direct domino effect of this leading to cyberpunk/ Blade Runner tropes of depicting Asian/ Japanese corporate, technological and economic growth/ power). I think, and this isn't an original thought, in many ways Godzilla can be seen as a hero in that way, too.
Children cheering for Godzilla as a hero? Possibly yet another way to process and navigate the multi-generational trauma preceding that era as well. (also, marketability... sigh)
Personally, I enjoy both. I enjoy Gojira/ Godzilla films for their horror, as well as giving us the opportunity to side with those (existential) horrors. It's easier to sit with that which fascinates us as well as terrifies us if we can also laugh at them at the same time, you know? Kind of how when we sit around with our friends and/or family telling horrible stories from our childhoods while having a laugh. Same for grief and other pain. Sometimes you just have to smile or laugh with it. The horror of inevitable destruction made incarnate as a vehicle for our processing of it.
Other times morbid curiosity prevails, and we can't help but immerse ourselves in those existential fears - Alien, Annihilation and other films like them come to mind. Those which thrive on weaponizing our place in an incomprehensibly vast unknowable universe and what might be awaiting us simply for existing in it.
you do good work man! i hope you get more attention that you deserve!