Yeah, I'm tired of people getting into the series because of the Monsterverse, ignore everything else, and pretend they know everything about the Godzilla series. It's fine to like the Monsterverse but do your research people! lol.
"He fought for us, he died for us. Godzilla is not only the proof that coexistence is possible, he is the key to it" - Dr. Ishiro Serizawa (Godzilla: KoTM) Possibly the best dialogue from the Monsterverse series as of now. And it is so hopeful and earnest.
6:58 "So long as humanity exists, so will Godzilla" Exactly this. Godzilla can never be destroyed, in fiction or reality. He may retreat, he may hibernate, but he always returns to remind humanity of its place in the natural order. As long as humans remain in conflict with nature, Godzilla will always exist.
Yup. Don't know if you've listened to Godzilla by Blue Öyster Cult, but you pretty much nailed the outro to the song: "History shows again and again, How nature points up the folly of man, Godzilla!"
@@depressedbender502 Yes. First Godzilla don't have feelings for humanity as many people think while humans on the other hand do. Godzilla look at us just like we look at ant's in our backyard. Secondly Godzilla was created by neculaer radiation cause by humans who bomb and killed his kind and tried to destroy him but ended up created like he is now he was no more than a simple creature by Nature in Order till Humans came along. 3rd Godzilla saving the Earth is no more than a means to save his and or protect his home as any being, animal or creature would do Not because of Humans. Last Humans as we have seen by history, society, and any generation all have what we would call a multiple diversity of problem/ways and and offen get in trouble with their out of order ways or by singing out Logic in a replace for their Feelings. Godzilla don't have this he may show emotions or feelings it's only via his own like his son or pure natural senses not to do with any deep expression like humans Godzilla as we see is mostly Animalistic again as he should but the exception of understanding more or a lot more than most average creatures could. End credits Godzilla is not like humans just because something may act like us or show any kind of ways like us dose not mean they are.
Putting his allegorical war and nature roots aside, another reason I think Godzilla has lasted for so long is because of his versatility and his ability to be an actual character with soul and personality, not just an idea. Like James Bond and Batman, Godzilla isn't a one-note trick pony that solely exists as just the dark and dramatic idea that initially spawned him; he can also be fun, action-packed, goofy, colorful, a hero, a villain, or an anti-hero. Godzilla embraces both sides of the tonal spectrum and has endured because of it. Personality-wise, Godzilla can at times be a Captain Planet-type hero who saves the world and is a friend to all children, like in the Shōwa iteration. Or, in the MonsterVerse, an apathetic anti-herioic jerkass who is only the guardian of Earth exclusively, which does not include humans. Constantly fighting fiercely to protect his King of the Monsters status and his place atop the food chain. He even has a bit of a dark sense of humor laughing at Kong after grazing his shoulder with his atomic breath. I'm ending this comment with this quote. While it is about Batman, it applies to Godzilla all the same: *_"Batman's rich history allows him to be interpreted in a multitude of ways. To be sure, this is a lighter incarnation, but is certainly no less valid and true to the character's roots as the tortured avenger, crying out for mommy and daddy."_** ~ Bat Mite, Batman: The Brave and The Bold.*
That quote is excellent and certainly applicable, and you're spot on with your points. Godzilla's managed to remain fresh because he's so mutable. Sure, he started more allegorical (or, perhaps, that's just what we imprint), but to Toho's credit, they were willing to get weird with Godzilla. The worst thing that can happen to a character over 70 years is they get stale, but one can never say that Godzilla ever got stale. There's something for everyone (even for people that just care about music - Akira Ifukube's score for Godzilla is amazing, and the Godzilla theme is a top 10 theme of all time for any movie, ever.) 2023 was a great year for movies, but it says a lot that there's a strong case to be made that one of the best movies of the year was Godzilla Minus One. I saw the black & white version, too, and it was gorgeous. I don't think I'd watch a full black & white version of any other movie that year. I've not seen the Mike's Monster's video you mentioned, but I will check it out. In return, I highly recommend Kaptainkristian's video on Godzilla (ruclips.net/video/IGCTSSWT4lg/видео.html)
@@Syntopikon it’s his “spectrum of Godzilla” or “can Godzilla be silly” video. It’s really great and I’m super happy to see the attention he’s getting on his channel now!
Godzilla is a force of nature. A folk hero. Death’s Shadow. Author William Tsutsui, who wrote the book Godzilla On My Mind wrote that Godzilla is like that drunken uncle who comes to visit. He’ll scream and yell and say a lot of nonsensical things and young children have to stay away from him in this instance. Yes, Godzilla is very relatable. If you attack Godzilla, here comes the pain. In the Japanese version of Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster, the scene where Mothra convinces Godzilla and Rodan to stop fighting and talk to her, Godzilla says that humans are always bothering him. In the American English dubbed version, as translated by The Twin Fairies from Infant Island, Godzilla says he always has trouble with man and man hates him. Rodan agreed with Godzilla. It didn’t surprise me that in the English dubbed version, that the fairies say, “Oooh! Godzilla, what terrible language!” But nothing was said in that scene in the Japanese version. Godzilla was in more public service ads, print ads and commercials than any movie monster in history. Godzilla is a great and powerful monster that stands alone. I love Godzilla because he is all that this video describes. Long Live The King! Happy 70th Birthday!
godzilla is like comfort food for me and im so pleased that he still gets movies and is beloved by so many people. i grew up playing godzilla fighting games on the game cube and ps2, and have early memories of going to the video store with my dad and getting a new godzilla movie to watch. my favorite character from the franchise is mecha king ghidora, i hope she can make an appearance on the big screen again!
Was the game Destroy All Monsters Melee? That's the one that I played as well. I do hope we get some better Godzilla games - in fact, I don't think anyone has gotten a giant monster game right yet, and I think there's a way to do it for Godzilla. I've no doubt that the Legendary Monsterverse will eventually come to include all the favorites. The movies are just way to successful to NOT do it.
Michael Dougherty & Adam Wingard did the best Godzilla. I'm genuinely concerned for the general population's ability to think abstractly when I see people miss the meaning of their films.
This is why Godzilla is my favourite fictional character of all time. 1998 Godzilla was what got me into the Godzilla franchise and the 1954 one was the second Godzilla movie I saw. It resonanted with me like no other life experience I've had. It sparked a philosophical fire in me, one that hasn't dimmed down since. I remember thinking about all the suffering of the victims and Godzillas suffering as well. I remember bawling my eyes out that night as I lay on bed, my mind finding revelations after another. A scrawny sixth grader who's always been treated like some mangy stray dog and felt unwanted by the world around him. Till this point all I've had in me was hatred, anger and a thirst for vengeance against the world that constantly tried to destroy me. All it took was a movie for that hatred to be replaced with forgiveness, the desire for vengeance replaced by a desire to protect my anger reshaped into strength. It's safe to say had Ishiro Honda not made the 1954 Godzilla, I would have been a completely different person. Don't get me wrong, I am not saint. I'm not without my flaws, I still have destructive tendencies and anger issues but I've never stopped growing and evolving as a person. I can confidently say that I have become the hero I so desperately needed as a child. Godzilla saved me when I thought I couldn't be saved.
I’m glad to hear that you’re doing better. Movies can have a significant impact on one’s lives and all it sometimes takes is the right character at the right time. 1998s Godzilla was my first one as well, so it holds a special place for me. I think I saw the 1954 one for the first time after it came out on Blu Ray with Criterion. I watched 3x in a day with the different commentary tracks, which was also quite enlightening.
Little bit of a nitpick, Godzilla is not a "manmade disaster" in the Monsterverse continuity. Yes, he is ultimately am accidental creation of humanity in most stories, but definitely not all of them.
That's fair, though I think the most recent Godzilla x Kong movie lends credence to the nuclear testing amplifying his powers as he can absorb it. But you are right in that in the Monsterverse, he makes landfall to stop other monster threats like the MUTOs.
@@Syntopikon The powers are already there though, unlike the Godzillasaurus of Odo island that had no powers before being affected by radiation. He is also not explicitly manmade in other stuff, like Singular Point, although it could be argued it was human curiosity and experimentation with Archetype that allowed him to manifest again. In any case, we could talk about this for hours, Godzilla really can be a metaphor for many things, depending on the context of story he exists in. He does however usually have some core traits as you said. Nice video 👍
@@necrogenisis I have this theory that he might be getting unnatural boosts of food because of the man made nuclear sources because far as we know the kaiju were in decline because modern day radiation on the surface is much fainter. Less like the classic mutation, more like a species that has become rarer and less powerful suddenly feeding off human impacts, hence Monsterverse Godzilla being able to attain the apex state of his species of apex predators and beyond that even his natural predators are insignificant. We didnt create this entity but like humans of old we might have fed it.
The Wong Fei-hung series is considered by some to be the longest-running movie franchise, with 123 films over seven decades. Other long-running movie franchises include: Godzilla: A global franchise that began in 1954 with a Japanese film and has over 30 Japanese films and several American entries, including the Legendary MonsterVerse that began in 2014 Sherlock Holmes: Has 211 movies that have been released since 1913 James Bond: A beloved franchise that tells the story of a British spy
Something I liked about Godzilla's portrayal in Minus-One is that, since he is a reflection of humanity, when humanity changes, he does too. Minus-One Godzilla is a manifestation of war; the introduction of nuclear bombs makes him invincible. He can't be killed with guns, tanks, artillery, nothing. War cannot put an end to war. The thing that does take Godzilla down in the end are demilitarized vessels, scientific innovation, and the willingness to protect life at all costs.
Godzilla is a monster of many things Either a mutated lizard or dinosaur, a dimensional god, or just an ancient animal predator he could either be A hero, a villain, or an anti-hero with each one varying a different design.
@@joekool0078He's referring to Godzilla Earth who is entirely made out of metallic plant like material he literally has no organs because he is literally hollow inside, like a plant.
Godzilla is great at being both an allegorical creature on nuclear warfare and natural disaster, but also a creature that’s perfect for blockbuster action. These types of Godzilla can coexist with each other, and that’s why he’s timeless
That is extremely interesting & cool. Is it available for reading? I'm interested to see your idea of Godzilla's importance on video game design. The thing that comes to mind is Rampage.
A movie or whatever media where Godzilla is human sized but still has the power, destructiveness, and the horror as the previous incarnations would be very interesting.
Godzilla is the ultimate metaphor for humanity, whether it be the good or bad. He is the reflection of humanity's deeds and their impacts. He has lasted forever because he's so versatile, being able to represent the problems of today. But hey, that's just my opinion
I love ever single godzilla movie not because their amazing thats also one reason but amazing can't describe any godzilla movies but one of greatest or the greatest movies ever can describe every godzilla movie and ultimate reason i love ever godzilla movie because they always have a reason for godzillas actions also because a fan who doesn't know or a guy doesn't watch godzilla that much can't understand the whole movie Thank You Godzilla For all happy. Years 🎉you have given 🎉 ❤
Well it's because GODZILLA IS LIVING PROOF THAT GODS EXIST ! He's 16 months and 12 days older than me, and the movie first came to the Us in 1956, and I was only 9 months old, but I remember that ROAR !!!!!!!
Excellent points I totally agree, as much as I love Godzilla I now understand he's the very worst of us. Making him for sure a larger than life character. His portrayal of us as a species is definitely one of the most definitive by far in fiction. Thanks for the video one of the best I ever watched on the big guy.
After listening to this video essay of Godzilla’s character, I really enjoy this Godzilla essay video because you broke down the facts of Godzilla’s character, what he represents/symbolizes, and why he is cinema’s most iconic giant monster in movie history (unlike other RUclipsr Godzilla essay that misinformed, doesn’t care about the topic or the Godzilla franchise as a whole, shits on the Monsterverse, and only cares about getting views from the RUclips algorithm). Side note: When you were reading the quotes from a Hiroshima survivor retelling his experience on that day, it made me lose my appetite when thinking about it.
Very excellent video, I think it makes sense for Godzilla to be a reflection of humanity rather than just the atomic bomb because he also has emotions and has humanlike qualities, mainly qualities associated with masculinity which is why he is called the “King of the monsters.” Godzilla is very determined, tough and intimidating, but also has a soft and gentle side to him (Yin and Yang) Godzilla has been a force of destruction and also a tender father, he also expressed sadness while looking at Shindo from the window before sacrificing him. Another thing I would like to point out is that Godzilla’s attacks on Tokyo in the original movie take place during nighttime which is when the US firebombings of Tokyo took place in 1954, Godzilla is a living embodiment of the trauma of the Japanese collective during WW2 and also a reflection of human nature.
On the virgin reviewer side of the spectrum of Godzilla movies we have: Doktor Skipper that skipped his researching Movie Cynic Who said that the godzilla movie is stupid and and dumb when that is supposed to be how every godzilla movie is And then we have the Bastion of masculinity here that embraces the quirkiness of godzilla: Syntopikon
Not sure I'm convinced of Godzilla's motives in movies like '54 and Minus One. Godzilla serves a purpose of simulating the horror of war for Japan specifically. Godzilla, in his original and most recent interpretation by Toho, doesn't defend anything. Instead, he goes out of his territory to mindlessly kill people. Godzilla is only there to represent an experience, but with no purpose of his own. That's why I prefer Godzilla in the Showa style of narratives because he always has the purpose of defending nature, whether humans are the perpetrators or not. It gives Godzilla intelligence and makes you root for him and leave you in awe of majestic design. Without the Showa style of narratives, Godzilla would not captivate broader audiences like he has.
I think Godzilla contains multitudes, and I think you make a good point in that Godzilla represents an experience. But In both the 1954 Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One, it’s the atomic testing that sets him off. I think both imply that Godzilla, prior to attacking the Japanese mainland, mostly sticks around Odo Island. The villagers have legends about him, but the younger generation (in 1954) don’t believe in his existence, which implies that he’s not really active (and not to the point that he’d be a constant threat). Minus One is more on the nose about this in that they show the nuclear explosion that begins to mutate him. It’s only after that that he attacks the mainland. You make a good point re: the Showa style of narrative, and I think that’s an important part and shows Godzilla’s changing nature. He goes from the more threatening monster in 1954 to the champion of humanity. I think the recent Legendary movies also do a good job of portraying this in that, after taking care of business, Godzilla leaves of his own volition - he doesn’t need to be stopped after his victory or ushered away, he’ll just leave because the threat has been neutralized.
That's the beauty of Godzilla. He can be anything. He can be a biggest Hero in one film and then be a greatest threat in the next film. And then be an Anti Hero we didn't know we needed.
In the monsterverse he's essentially an anti hero. Like some of us he sees an imbalance and wants to fix it. In a way the Monsterverse particular is like, He's nature. We need to work with, not against him. So we do. The writers of the Monsterverse are actually being very positive when it comes to Godzilla's portrayal. Godzilla is more an anti hero, not a straight up villain. I laughed in GXK when Godzilla basically took the Colleseum as his bed after killing Scylla like, "You're welcome. This is mine now. I need a rest" 😂
I never thought of Godzilla as a metaphor for America, that the way we feel about Godzilla, is the way the Japanese felt about America, they woke the sleeping giant. That's pretty interesting. I guess Godzilla 2014 is the reverse. America bombs a creature that they fear and don't understand. And now they've created a monster that could doom them. Kind of like how America had to deal with the Cold War after it chose to bomb Japan. now Godzilla is a metaphor for what our fear can do to us, and knowledge that we deserve to be destroyed.
You're accurate with your second point, I think, and in that way, it serves as a metaphor for known unknowns and unknown unknowns. America believes that nukes will work on this giant beast, but they serve to empower him further instead. The Cold War aspect also plays into Minus One and the second-order consequences of using the nukes. America uses the nukes as a shower of power, which enables the Cold War. But the nukes also empower Godzilla from Minus One. Then, American refuses to help Japan with a mess that it caused because doing so might turn the Cold War into a hot war - even though America is occupying Japan at that very point in time, and Japan has renounced use of a military force.
I think some of them are, but not all of them. Godzilla is a bit more up front about it (especially in showing the nuke's interaction with Godzilla), and the original specifically speaks about how mankind can abuse great power (Serizawa's speech).
I think in the original Godzilla from 1954, the people are meant to be seen as victims, since the Japanese didn’t drop the bomb. Sure, a bomb woke Godzilla, but it was an American bomb. (I don’t think Japan was saying in that movie that they deserved to be nuked due to their actions in the war, either.) I don’t think Godzilla was awakened by a bomb or was getting revenge in the next film, either. He just showed up on an island attacking Anguirus. The continuity of the Showa films is very loose, but most consider this second Godzilla to be the one who continues to show up, yet he doesn’t have a legit beef-at least at first. He complains a lot about his treatment in Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster, though I don’t think he gets that he has killed probably thousands and thousands of people by that point. Godzilla 98 isn’t angry for most of the film either. He or she or it is looking to lay eggs, not get revenge for being mutated. Still, lovely video. I enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing your insights. I am very fond of Godzilla, too, and consider him one of the best monsters as well.
I suppose that's the other thing about human nature - we're the victims of our own successes (nuclear power is just one example). The issue with something like this is distinguishing humanity from people - that is, I think you're right that the individual people are the victims in the 1954 Godzilla (best exemplified by that scene where the mother is hugging her children, saying they'll all be with daddy soon), but also, in part, perpetrators or potential perpetrators. Recall when Dr. Serizawa is talking about the oxygen destroyer, he's emphatic about it remaining a secret because he knows it'll fall into the wrong hands and be used for evil purposes even though getting rid of Godzilla would be an ostensibly noble deed (to prevent further destruction).
Gareth Edwards film has a 66% score, but Adam Wingard's GvK has a 91% score. Look up interviews with him and watch the GvK special features. He's a lifetime Godzilla fan who's watched every Godzilla movie ever and his Godzilla films still have the same meaning as the original
@Syntopikon should have said this in the original post-huge godzilla fan since I was young and vhs and blockbuster still exist. This vid made me a subscriber! Great content!🔥🦖
Godzilla’s roar comes in many different variations. So either roar he uses is perfectly fine. For me the Miregoji roar is the iconic roar but to others they’ll refer to Showa or Heisei or even Legendary. So it’s okay that he did that.
Bow before they might ripped and power gigantic great 5 kaiju. Godzilla king ghidorah Rodan kongggggggggggg and mosuria mousiria en Honda indo mooe !some were thousand of RUclips viewers world wide Kringe. lol
@@Man_Aslume Godzilla is not just one thing. He is all, he is humanity. Some are good, some are bad, some want to bring peace and balance. Some want only war. You should learn about him more. Good luck
It's nice to see someone who actually knows something about godzilla make this kind of video
ONG
Doktor Skipper cough cough (or whatever his name was)
@@Sean-qg3gglol
Yeah, I'm tired of people getting into the series because of the Monsterverse, ignore everything else, and pretend they know everything about the Godzilla series. It's fine to like the Monsterverse but do your research people! lol.
The guy made a video 4 months ago with no follow up.
How deep is that scar on your brain? 😂
"He fought for us, he died for us. Godzilla is not only the proof that coexistence is possible, he is the key to it" - Dr. Ishiro Serizawa (Godzilla: KoTM)
Possibly the best dialogue from the Monsterverse series as of now. And it is so hopeful and earnest.
My favourite is when he says goodbye old friend in Japanese even though the script had it in English. Great improvisation.
That was a great scene.
“Serizawa, you were good son, real good, maybe even the best”
@@Josh-sz8ip yeah, I found out the significance of saying "Saraba". Ken Watanabe just casually improvising a scene to make it amazing!
Ken Watanabe was awesome. You could tell he gave his best what he had. Just like Brian Cranston.
6:58
"So long as humanity exists, so will Godzilla"
Exactly this. Godzilla can never be destroyed, in fiction or reality. He may retreat, he may hibernate, but he always returns to remind humanity of its place in the natural order. As long as humans remain in conflict with nature, Godzilla will always exist.
Yup. Don't know if you've listened to Godzilla by Blue Öyster Cult, but you pretty much nailed the outro to the song: "History shows again and again, How nature points up the folly of man, Godzilla!"
Scaly MF's our Sephiroth.
He can and has died before, but he does always come back.
@@RedSunUnderParadiseso I need to find a blonde spiked headed jerk with massive ptsd and a massive sword. Oh and the power of holy
Yeah this man who made this just made a master piece and he is just giving one of the hardest word ever that you for the wonderful video
As a lifelong Godzilla fan since 1995, this has been the best of times.
Godzilla is the perfect reflection of the human being.
No he's not
@@JakeRider-wc6kecare to elaborate?
@@depressedbender502 Yes. First Godzilla don't have feelings for humanity as many people think while humans on the other hand do. Godzilla look at us just like we look at ant's in our backyard.
Secondly Godzilla was created by neculaer radiation cause by humans who bomb and killed his kind and tried to destroy him but ended up created like he is now he was no more than a simple creature by Nature in Order till Humans came along.
3rd Godzilla saving the Earth is no more than a means to save his and or protect his home as any being, animal or creature would do Not because of Humans.
Last Humans as we have seen by history, society, and any generation all have what we would call a multiple diversity of problem/ways and and offen get in trouble with their out of order ways or by singing out Logic in a replace for their Feelings. Godzilla don't have this he may show emotions or feelings it's only via his own like his son or pure natural senses not to do with any deep expression like humans Godzilla as we see is mostly Animalistic again as he should but the exception of understanding more or a lot more than most average creatures could.
End credits Godzilla is not like humans just because something may act like us or show any kind of ways like us dose not mean they are.
He's a reflection of balance in nature, the furthest thing from a human
@@JSauer21 Yes
Good to see the big G be given the respect he deserves
Putting his allegorical war and nature roots aside, another reason I think Godzilla has lasted for so long is because of his versatility and his ability to be an actual character with soul and personality, not just an idea. Like James Bond and Batman, Godzilla isn't a one-note trick pony that solely exists as just the dark and dramatic idea that initially spawned him; he can also be fun, action-packed, goofy, colorful, a hero, a villain, or an anti-hero. Godzilla embraces both sides of the tonal spectrum and has endured because of it.
Personality-wise, Godzilla can at times be a Captain Planet-type hero who saves the world and is a friend to all children, like in the Shōwa iteration. Or, in the MonsterVerse, an apathetic anti-herioic jerkass who is only the guardian of Earth exclusively, which does not include humans. Constantly fighting fiercely to protect his King of the Monsters status and his place atop the food chain. He even has a bit of a dark sense of humor laughing at Kong after grazing his shoulder with his atomic breath.
I'm ending this comment with this quote. While it is about Batman, it applies to Godzilla all the same:
*_"Batman's rich history allows him to be interpreted in a multitude of ways. To be sure, this is a lighter incarnation, but is certainly no less valid and true to the character's roots as the tortured avenger, crying out for mommy and daddy."_** ~ Bat Mite, Batman: The Brave and The Bold.*
Hey, with the James Bond & Batman comparison, I’m wondering if you saw the Mike’s Monsters video about Godzilla. If so, that’s my brother!
That quote is excellent and certainly applicable, and you're spot on with your points. Godzilla's managed to remain fresh because he's so mutable. Sure, he started more allegorical (or, perhaps, that's just what we imprint), but to Toho's credit, they were willing to get weird with Godzilla. The worst thing that can happen to a character over 70 years is they get stale, but one can never say that Godzilla ever got stale. There's something for everyone (even for people that just care about music - Akira Ifukube's score for Godzilla is amazing, and the Godzilla theme is a top 10 theme of all time for any movie, ever.)
2023 was a great year for movies, but it says a lot that there's a strong case to be made that one of the best movies of the year was Godzilla Minus One. I saw the black & white version, too, and it was gorgeous. I don't think I'd watch a full black & white version of any other movie that year.
I've not seen the Mike's Monster's video you mentioned, but I will check it out. In return, I highly recommend Kaptainkristian's video on Godzilla (ruclips.net/video/IGCTSSWT4lg/видео.html)
@@Syntopikon it’s his “spectrum of Godzilla” or “can Godzilla be silly” video. It’s really great and I’m super happy to see the attention he’s getting on his channel now!
@@Syntopikon also, been a big fan of KK for about 8 years now. His videos are always an a instant watch for me 💖
Godzilla is a force of nature. A folk hero. Death’s Shadow.
Author William Tsutsui, who wrote the book Godzilla On My Mind wrote that Godzilla is like that drunken uncle who comes to visit. He’ll scream and yell and say a lot of nonsensical things and young children have to stay away from him in this instance. Yes, Godzilla is very relatable. If you attack Godzilla, here comes the pain.
In the Japanese version of Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster, the scene where Mothra convinces Godzilla and Rodan to stop fighting and talk to her, Godzilla says that humans are always bothering him. In the American English dubbed version, as translated by The Twin Fairies from Infant Island, Godzilla says he always has trouble with man and man hates him. Rodan agreed with Godzilla. It didn’t surprise me that in the English dubbed version, that the fairies say, “Oooh! Godzilla, what terrible language!” But nothing was said in that scene in the Japanese version.
Godzilla was in more public service ads, print ads and commercials than any movie monster in history.
Godzilla is a great and powerful monster that stands alone.
I love Godzilla because he is all that this video describes.
Long Live The King!
Happy 70th Birthday!
Happy 70 years of Godzilla
I ain't gonna lie, this is one of the greatest explanations of all time, this whole video is a 10/10
Glad you enjoyed it!
godzilla is like comfort food for me and im so pleased that he still gets movies and is beloved by so many people. i grew up playing godzilla fighting games on the game cube and ps2, and have early memories of going to the video store with my dad and getting a new godzilla movie to watch. my favorite character from the franchise is mecha king ghidora, i hope she can make an appearance on the big screen again!
Was the game Destroy All Monsters Melee? That's the one that I played as well. I do hope we get some better Godzilla games - in fact, I don't think anyone has gotten a giant monster game right yet, and I think there's a way to do it for Godzilla.
I've no doubt that the Legendary Monsterverse will eventually come to include all the favorites. The movies are just way to successful to NOT do it.
The Boat Chase Sequence in _Minus One_ is EPIC
Michael Dougherty & Adam Wingard did the best Godzilla. I'm genuinely concerned for the general population's ability to think abstractly when I see people miss the meaning of their films.
This is why Godzilla is my favourite fictional character of all time. 1998 Godzilla was what got me into the Godzilla franchise and the 1954 one was the second Godzilla movie I saw. It resonanted with me like no other life experience I've had. It sparked a philosophical fire in me, one that hasn't dimmed down since. I remember thinking about all the suffering of the victims and Godzillas suffering as well. I remember bawling my eyes out that night as I lay on bed, my mind finding revelations after another. A scrawny sixth grader who's always been treated like some mangy stray dog and felt unwanted by the world around him. Till this point all I've had in me was hatred, anger and a thirst for vengeance against the world that constantly tried to destroy me. All it took was a movie for that hatred to be replaced with forgiveness, the desire for vengeance replaced by a desire to protect my anger reshaped into strength. It's safe to say had Ishiro Honda not made the 1954 Godzilla, I would have been a completely different person. Don't get me wrong, I am not saint. I'm not without my flaws, I still have destructive tendencies and anger issues but I've never stopped growing and evolving as a person. I can confidently say that I have become the hero I so desperately needed as a child. Godzilla saved me when I thought I couldn't be saved.
I’m glad to hear that you’re doing better. Movies can have a significant impact on one’s lives and all it sometimes takes is the right character at the right time.
1998s Godzilla was my first one as well, so it holds a special place for me. I think I saw the 1954 one for the first time after it came out on Blu Ray with Criterion. I watched 3x in a day with the different commentary tracks, which was also quite enlightening.
Little bit of a nitpick, Godzilla is not a "manmade disaster" in the Monsterverse continuity. Yes, he is ultimately am accidental creation of humanity in most stories, but definitely not all of them.
That's fair, though I think the most recent Godzilla x Kong movie lends credence to the nuclear testing amplifying his powers as he can absorb it. But you are right in that in the Monsterverse, he makes landfall to stop other monster threats like the MUTOs.
@@Syntopikon The powers are already there though, unlike the Godzillasaurus of Odo island that had no powers before being affected by radiation.
He is also not explicitly manmade in other stuff, like Singular Point, although it could be argued it was human curiosity and experimentation with Archetype that allowed him to manifest again.
In any case, we could talk about this for hours, Godzilla really can be a metaphor for many things, depending on the context of story he exists in. He does however usually have some core traits as you said. Nice video 👍
@@necrogenisis I have this theory that he might be getting unnatural boosts of food because of the man made nuclear sources because far as we know the kaiju were in decline because modern day radiation on the surface is much fainter.
Less like the classic mutation, more like a species that has become rarer and less powerful suddenly feeding off human impacts, hence Monsterverse Godzilla being able to attain the apex state of his species of apex predators and beyond that even his natural predators are insignificant.
We didnt create this entity but like humans of old we might have fed it.
@@Syntopikon Well like you said he was a sleeping giant that we awakened with the first atomic bombs so technically he still is. We woke him up.
fun fact godzilla is the longest running franchise
Actually I think it's Superman 1938, but close.
@@gymnodinium9longest running movie franchise.
The Wong Fei-hung series is considered by some to be the longest-running movie franchise, with 123 films over seven decades. Other long-running movie franchises include:
Godzilla: A global franchise that began in 1954 with a Japanese film and has over 30 Japanese films and several American entries, including the Legendary MonsterVerse that began in 2014
Sherlock Holmes: Has 211 movies that have been released since 1913
James Bond: A beloved franchise that tells the story of a British spy
The only franchise with more movies than James Bond.
Some franchise in India supposedly is the longest running. With a mix of tv episodes and movies
Something I liked about Godzilla's portrayal in Minus-One is that, since he is a reflection of humanity, when humanity changes, he does too.
Minus-One Godzilla is a manifestation of war; the introduction of nuclear bombs makes him invincible. He can't be killed with guns, tanks, artillery, nothing. War cannot put an end to war.
The thing that does take Godzilla down in the end are demilitarized vessels, scientific innovation, and the willingness to protect life at all costs.
6.68k subs and only 342 views? Thats bloody ridiculous.
thats bonkers
I slammed the Like button as soon as the video started based on the title alone and no one could stop me
Godzilla is a monster of many things
Either a mutated lizard or dinosaur, a dimensional god, or just an ancient animal predator he could either be A hero, a villain, or an anti-hero with each one varying a different design.
Yup. It's one of the best aspects of Godzilla - he contains multitudes.
And a plant
@@editating_2614 not Biollante
@@joekool0078He's referring to Godzilla Earth who is entirely made out of metallic plant like material he literally has no organs because he is literally hollow inside, like a plant.
Truly *King of the Monsters*
Because he is timeless and iconic
He is GODZILLA
Godzilla is great at being both an allegorical creature on nuclear warfare and natural disaster, but also a creature that’s perfect for blockbuster action. These types of Godzilla can coexist with each other, and that’s why he’s timeless
I wrote my master thesis on Godzilla & his influence & importance on video game design & concept
How does he impact video games?
That is extremely interesting & cool. Is it available for reading? I'm interested to see your idea of Godzilla's importance on video game design. The thing that comes to mind is Rampage.
A movie or whatever media where Godzilla is human sized but still has the power, destructiveness, and the horror as the previous incarnations would be very interesting.
Godzilla is the unstoppable force and the immovable object rolled into one is possibly the best way I have heard anyone describe Godzilla
This video made me cry. You honoured Godzilla with the respect he deserves.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Aaaaaaand you get a subscription from me. Brilliant video. We Godzilla fans thank you for this.
Glad you enjoyed it! This one was a blast to do.
There is nothing more terrifying than a smiling Godzilla.
That’s why he’s King Of The Monsters
Because he’s the best Monster
Much like the end of Godzilla Millennium 1999. Humans created this monster, and he exists in all of us.
0:26 just started watching, but can someone please tell me WTF this thing is?! It looks like Godzilla’s cr-ckheaded cousin! 😂😂😂
Fun to dialogue this with my favorite, GMK, where he literally is human, the angry victims of WW2. The war that never really ends.
The last lines of the video went hard
Godzilla is my favorite movie monster
Great video about the king himself. Also you have a new subscriber.
He's the greatest monster bc I love him more then I love myself
Godzilla is the ultimate metaphor for humanity, whether it be the good or bad. He is the reflection of humanity's deeds and their impacts. He has lasted forever because he's so versatile, being able to represent the problems of today. But hey, that's just my opinion
I hope it never ends. I hope to keep watching Godzilla even when I am 80!
Good chance of that happening. I'm sure he's gonna outlive us all.
Truly Godzilla is the King of the Monsters
I love ever single godzilla movie not because their amazing thats also one reason but amazing can't describe any godzilla movies but one of greatest or the greatest movies ever can describe every godzilla movie and ultimate reason i love ever godzilla movie because they always have a reason for godzillas actions also because a fan who doesn't know or a guy doesn't watch godzilla that much can't understand the whole movie
Thank You Godzilla
For all happy. Years
🎉you have given 🎉
❤
Well it's because GODZILLA IS LIVING PROOF THAT GODS EXIST ! He's 16 months and 12 days older than me, and the movie first came to the Us in 1956, and I was only 9 months old, but I remember that ROAR !!!!!!!
Long live the King.
May Godzilla’s reign be eternal!
Excellent points I totally agree, as much as I love Godzilla I now understand he's the very worst of us. Making him for sure a larger than life character. His portrayal of us as a species is definitely one of the most definitive by far in fiction. Thanks for the video one of the best I ever watched on the big guy.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! As a reflection of humanity, I'm not sure there's anyone better than Godzilla.
After listening to this video essay of Godzilla’s character, I really enjoy this Godzilla essay video because you broke down the facts of Godzilla’s character, what he represents/symbolizes, and why he is cinema’s most iconic giant monster in movie history (unlike other RUclipsr Godzilla essay that misinformed, doesn’t care about the topic or the Godzilla franchise as a whole, shits on the Monsterverse, and only cares about getting views from the RUclips algorithm).
Side note: When you were reading the quotes from a Hiroshima survivor retelling his experience on that day, it made me lose my appetite when thinking about it.
honestly for the heisei incarnation i have found a interesting relationship between gojira and the concept of love.
Yoo this video was sooooooooo good
You got yourself a new subscriber brother
I'm Asian and fan of Godzilla, watched all Japanese's Godzilla films, and I respect your video. 🙏
I have never thought a literal monster can mog all of us
Very excellent video, I think it makes sense for Godzilla to be a reflection of humanity rather than just the atomic bomb because he also has emotions and has humanlike qualities, mainly qualities associated with masculinity which is why he is called the “King of the monsters.” Godzilla is very determined, tough and intimidating, but also has a soft and gentle side to him (Yin and Yang) Godzilla has been a force of destruction and also a tender father, he also expressed sadness while looking at Shindo from the window before sacrificing him. Another thing I would like to point out is that Godzilla’s attacks on Tokyo in the original movie take place during nighttime which is when the US firebombings of Tokyo took place in 1954, Godzilla is a living embodiment of the trauma of the Japanese collective during WW2 and also a reflection of human nature.
Godzilla is the realization that one day humanity will someday cause it's own destruction and we'll only have ourselves to blame.
On the virgin reviewer side of the spectrum of Godzilla movies we have:
Doktor Skipper
that skipped his researching
Movie Cynic
Who said that the godzilla movie is stupid and and dumb when that is supposed to be how every godzilla movie is
And then we have the Bastion of masculinity here that embraces the quirkiness of godzilla:
Syntopikon
Big lizard that shoots radioactive flame with cool spikes on its back while fighting giant monsters because the humans nuked it is good
This video should have a million views
W video bro thanks ❤❤
Not sure I'm convinced of Godzilla's motives in movies like '54 and Minus One.
Godzilla serves a purpose of simulating the horror of war for Japan specifically. Godzilla, in his original and most recent interpretation by Toho, doesn't defend anything. Instead, he goes out of his territory to mindlessly kill people. Godzilla is only there to represent an experience, but with no purpose of his own.
That's why I prefer Godzilla in the Showa style of narratives because he always has the purpose of defending nature, whether humans are the perpetrators or not. It gives Godzilla intelligence and makes you root for him and leave you in awe of majestic design.
Without the Showa style of narratives, Godzilla would not captivate broader audiences like he has.
I think Godzilla contains multitudes, and I think you make a good point in that Godzilla represents an experience. But In both the 1954 Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One, it’s the atomic testing that sets him off. I think both imply that Godzilla, prior to attacking the Japanese mainland, mostly sticks around Odo Island. The villagers have legends about him, but the younger generation (in 1954) don’t believe in his existence, which implies that he’s not really active (and not to the point that he’d be a constant threat). Minus One is more on the nose about this in that they show the nuclear explosion that begins to mutate him. It’s only after that that he attacks the mainland.
You make a good point re: the Showa style of narrative, and I think that’s an important part and shows Godzilla’s changing nature. He goes from the more threatening monster in 1954 to the champion of humanity. I think the recent Legendary movies also do a good job of portraying this in that, after taking care of business, Godzilla leaves of his own volition - he doesn’t need to be stopped after his victory or ushered away, he’ll just leave because the threat has been neutralized.
That's the beauty of Godzilla. He can be anything. He can be a biggest Hero in one film and then be a greatest threat in the next film. And then be an Anti Hero we didn't know we needed.
Excellent Points Stated About Japans Most Iconic Fictional Character!
Godzilla ofc is the best monster to ever exist in movie history
Yup. I think some, like the Xenomorph and Predator come close, and they have their charm, but Godzilla towers above pretty much everyone.
In the monsterverse he's essentially an anti hero. Like some of us he sees an imbalance and wants to fix it. In a way the Monsterverse particular is like, He's nature. We need to work with, not against him. So we do. The writers of the Monsterverse are actually being very positive when it comes to Godzilla's portrayal. Godzilla is more an anti hero, not a straight up villain. I laughed in GXK when Godzilla basically took the Colleseum as his bed after killing Scylla like, "You're welcome. This is mine now. I need a rest" 😂
This video is great good work btw i like your voice i am not trying to mean but you kinda sound like a squid talking and i like that😀
😭 That's the most hilarious comparison I've had. Usually, it's Joe Pera or George Lucas.
😂😂😂😂😂😘😘
Interesting interpretation
0:53 What's the song that's playing? Does anybody know?
Godzilla goat
I never thought of Godzilla as a metaphor for America, that the way we feel about Godzilla, is the way the Japanese felt about America, they woke the sleeping giant. That's pretty interesting.
I guess Godzilla 2014 is the reverse. America bombs a creature that they fear and don't understand. And now they've created a monster that could doom them. Kind of like how America had to deal with the Cold War after it chose to bomb Japan. now Godzilla is a metaphor for what our fear can do to us, and knowledge that we deserve to be destroyed.
You're accurate with your second point, I think, and in that way, it serves as a metaphor for known unknowns and unknown unknowns. America believes that nukes will work on this giant beast, but they serve to empower him further instead.
The Cold War aspect also plays into Minus One and the second-order consequences of using the nukes. America uses the nukes as a shower of power, which enables the Cold War. But the nukes also empower Godzilla from Minus One. Then, American refuses to help Japan with a mess that it caused because doing so might turn the Cold War into a hot war - even though America is occupying Japan at that very point in time, and Japan has renounced use of a military force.
THE longest franchise in history
Godzilla is Not Us he's Order itself
What's the background track?
Long live the King.
Godzilla was right!
Long Live The King
Well researched.
You like the history of godzilla
Well spoken cool 😎👍
Godzilla minus one is the best Godzilla movie ever made in the world!
Also probably the best movie of 2023.
I love 1998 Godzilla sucks they made him die Godzilla should never die I think a Zilla 2 movie would be interesting
Aren't lots of monster and disaster movies about the same thing though?
I think some of them are, but not all of them. Godzilla is a bit more up front about it (especially in showing the nuke's interaction with Godzilla), and the original specifically speaks about how mankind can abuse great power (Serizawa's speech).
I think in the original Godzilla from 1954, the people are meant to be seen as victims, since the Japanese didn’t drop the bomb. Sure, a bomb woke Godzilla, but it was an American bomb. (I don’t think Japan was saying in that movie that they deserved to be nuked due to their actions in the war, either.)
I don’t think Godzilla was awakened by a bomb or was getting revenge in the next film, either. He just showed up on an island attacking Anguirus. The continuity of the Showa films is very loose, but most consider this second Godzilla to be the one who continues to show up, yet he doesn’t have a legit beef-at least at first. He complains a lot about his treatment in Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster, though I don’t think he gets that he has killed probably thousands and thousands of people by that point.
Godzilla 98 isn’t angry for most of the film either. He or she or it is looking to lay eggs, not get revenge for being mutated.
Still, lovely video. I enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing your insights. I am very fond of Godzilla, too, and consider him one of the best monsters as well.
I suppose that's the other thing about human nature - we're the victims of our own successes (nuclear power is just one example). The issue with something like this is distinguishing humanity from people - that is, I think you're right that the individual people are the victims in the 1954 Godzilla (best exemplified by that scene where the mother is hugging her children, saying they'll all be with daddy soon), but also, in part, perpetrators or potential perpetrators.
Recall when Dr. Serizawa is talking about the oxygen destroyer, he's emphatic about it remaining a secret because he knows it'll fall into the wrong hands and be used for evil purposes even though getting rid of Godzilla would be an ostensibly noble deed (to prevent further destruction).
Adam wingard ruined him basically. Gareth edwards was on the right track.
Gareth Edwards film has a 66% score, but Adam Wingard's GvK has a 91% score. Look up interviews with him and watch the GvK special features. He's a lifetime Godzilla fan who's watched every Godzilla movie ever and his Godzilla films still have the same meaning as the original
Name some of the dialogues only monsterverse fans can understand.
I didnt kno george lucas was a godzilla fan
Big fan.
@Syntopikon should have said this in the original post-huge godzilla fan since I was young and vhs and blockbuster still exist. This vid made me a subscriber! Great content!🔥🦖
1:19 WAIT JOE BIDEN-
The funny thing is back in 2000s he was underrated barely anyone knew What Godzilla was
But now he is overrated
Visualise yourself in the mirror the man you want to be.
Godzilla
Dont forget gamera
Gorgo was made before Godzilla came out.
Gorgo was 1961, Godzilla was 1954.
That's a really weird way to spell Gamera
"Godzilla has the most iconic roar." *proceeds to use the wrong roar.*
More like a different version of the same roar.
Godzilla’s roar comes in many different variations. So either roar he uses is perfectly fine. For me the Miregoji roar is the iconic roar but to others they’ll refer to Showa or Heisei or even Legendary. So it’s okay that he did that.
but the iconic version of the roar is NOT what he used.
there a no similarities with the one he used. kotm? sure that one was designed to be more like the original. 2014? no.
Anyone that puts the king of monsters and the greatest band ever together gets a sub from me.
🤘 Every Godzilla movie should have an interpretation of BOC's song - or, at least, the opening riff.
best big guy ever !
The correct answer is Doug but ok
God of plot armor
That pesky ability to grow more powerful via nuclear intake is pretty difficult to get around.
Tasty!
bro just had to sprinkle a little bit of idf bootlicking into the godzilla video..
10:16 not slick
Bow before they might ripped and power gigantic great 5 kaiju. Godzilla king ghidorah Rodan kongggggggggggg and mosuria mousiria en Honda indo mooe !some were thousand of RUclips viewers world wide Kringe. lol
Very few people actual realize what Godzilla actually is.
Are you one of them?
Made from nuclear weapons and why they are dangerous
But toho.......MADE A HERO GODZILLA IN THE SHOWA ERA
@@Man_Aslume Think deeper. You just posted what most people already know. Good luck!
Here's hoping! Godzilla's not just the best monster ever created, but probably one of the best film creations of the last 100 years.
@@Man_Aslume Godzilla is not just one thing. He is all, he is humanity. Some are good, some are bad, some want to bring peace and balance. Some want only war. You should learn about him more. Good luck
this is cringe
I think a video like this should've featured a Japanese Godzilla on the thumbnail, but nice video anyway.
DC and Marvel: 🤢🤮
Godzilla: 😎
You should say monsterverse
Gojira name --->Japanese
Godzilla name--->international pronunciation
No godzilla was created by toho, as the international pronunciation of his name, not America.....
@@stupiduck2034 oh let me fex that real quick.......
What is a god to a none believer
Godzilla can't hold a candle to hp Lovecraft
Godzilla owns your fanfics buddy
No he doesn't
@@gokuvegeta1167 he owns that entire franchise and your tentacle monster
Cthulhu would own Godzilla
@@RealWorldGames Godzilla is way more popular than any other giant monster so please be quiet