U.S. audiences tend to accept Toho's earlier Godzilla movies as being high camp, usually thanks to Gen-x's half-remembered airings of late-'60s kaiju flicks broadcast on Uhf TV channels back in the 1980s. While there are some absurd and terrible Godzilla films from the Showa era (1954-1975), and many of them contained surreal, kitschy plot elements like invading aliens, one might also find several movies -- "Gojira," "Destroy All Monsters" -- that focus on Japanese national pride, the role of destructive weapons in the world, and a barely-simmering resentment lingering after a massive attack on the country. If modern superhero movies sprung from the U.S. subconscious as a fantastical revenge/preventative measure against 9/11, so too did Godzilla spring fully formed from the trauma left behind by the U.S.' atomic bomb attacks.
In the original "Gojira," that is literal. The titular creature, a stories-high amphibious animal,...
In the original "Gojira," that is literal. The titular creature, a stories-high amphibious animal,...
- 10/23/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Back in November, Fathom Events and Toho International teamed up to bring the 2002 Godzilla franchise entry Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla to U.S. theatres for the first time… and now they’re set to do the same thing for the 2003 Godzilla movie Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.! The film will be reaching 600 theatres across the United States on March 22nd.
Tickets are now available on FathomEvents.com, so check and see if Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. is going to be playing at a theatre near you. For this screening, the film will be presented with English subtitles. The one-day event will also include a special showing of Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex, a short that debuted at the 2022 Japan Godzilla Festival as a sequel to the short G vs. G (2019) – never before seen on the big screen!
Directed by Masaaki Tezuka, who wrote the screenplay with Masahiro Yokotani, Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. has the following synopsis:...
Tickets are now available on FathomEvents.com, so check and see if Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. is going to be playing at a theatre near you. For this screening, the film will be presented with English subtitles. The one-day event will also include a special showing of Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex, a short that debuted at the 2022 Japan Godzilla Festival as a sequel to the short G vs. G (2019) – never before seen on the big screen!
Directed by Masaaki Tezuka, who wrote the screenplay with Masahiro Yokotani, Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. has the following synopsis:...
- 3/8/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Don Kaye May 29, 2019
Giant winged monster Rodan was the second major inhabitant of Godzilla's shared universe.
After Godzilla (known as Gojira in his native Japan) had starred in two enormously successful movies -- 1954’s original Gojira and 1955’s Godzilla Raids Again -- Toho Studios was interested in producing more giant monster movies based around new creatures.
Writer Ken Kuronuma (real name Soda Michio) was tasked with coming up with a screenplay about a winged beast. He combined both the idea of a still-living prehistoric animal (in this case a member of the Pteranodon family), awakened like Godzilla by nuclear testing, with a story he had heard about a Kentucky Air National Guard pilot who was killed as he pursued a UFO in his plane.
The result was Rodan, released in 1956 in Japan and in 1957 in the U.S. as Rodan! The Flying Monster! It was the third major kaiju film of Toho’s initial run,...
Giant winged monster Rodan was the second major inhabitant of Godzilla's shared universe.
After Godzilla (known as Gojira in his native Japan) had starred in two enormously successful movies -- 1954’s original Gojira and 1955’s Godzilla Raids Again -- Toho Studios was interested in producing more giant monster movies based around new creatures.
Writer Ken Kuronuma (real name Soda Michio) was tasked with coming up with a screenplay about a winged beast. He combined both the idea of a still-living prehistoric animal (in this case a member of the Pteranodon family), awakened like Godzilla by nuclear testing, with a story he had heard about a Kentucky Air National Guard pilot who was killed as he pursued a UFO in his plane.
The result was Rodan, released in 1956 in Japan and in 1957 in the U.S. as Rodan! The Flying Monster! It was the third major kaiju film of Toho’s initial run,...
- 5/25/2019
- Den of Geek
**Massive spoilers for every Godzilla movie, with the exception of the 2014 reboot, and Mothra follow**
August 6th and 9th, 1945 forever changed the course of history. When the first nuclear bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, World War II ended, but a new fear was born that dominated the thoughts of all men, women, and children for decades to come. The Cold War, atomic bomb testing, a cartoon turtle telling children to “duck and cover”, and this new technology that had the actual potential to literally end the world changed the perception of what was scary. Art reflects life, so cinema began to capitalize on these fears. Gone were the days of creepy castles, cobwebs, bats, vampires, werewolves, and the other iconic images that ruled genre cinema in film’s earliest decades. Science fiction was larger than ever and giant ants, giant octopi, terror from beyond the stars, and...
August 6th and 9th, 1945 forever changed the course of history. When the first nuclear bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, World War II ended, but a new fear was born that dominated the thoughts of all men, women, and children for decades to come. The Cold War, atomic bomb testing, a cartoon turtle telling children to “duck and cover”, and this new technology that had the actual potential to literally end the world changed the perception of what was scary. Art reflects life, so cinema began to capitalize on these fears. Gone were the days of creepy castles, cobwebs, bats, vampires, werewolves, and the other iconic images that ruled genre cinema in film’s earliest decades. Science fiction was larger than ever and giant ants, giant octopi, terror from beyond the stars, and...
- 11/4/2014
- by Max Molinaro
- SoundOnSight
The new Godzilla remake has finally arrived in theaters. The rebooted king of monsters stars in his 30th film in 60 years but he continues to vacillate between good guy monster and bad guy monster. Which way does Godzilla work better? Should he be the sheriff or the outlaw?
(Spoilers ahead)
60 years ago, Gojira/Godzilla: King of the Monsters debuted on screen; with a towering reptilian protagonist who was basically a rampaging beast. He was really a metaphor for the destructive power of the A-bomb. In the following three sequels, Gojira’s Counter Attack (Aka Gigantus the Fire Monster/ Godzilla Raids Again); Gojira vs. King Kong (Aka King Kong vs. Godzilla), and Mothra vs. Gojira (Aka Godzilla vs. the Thing); the radioactive monster continued his destructive, city-flattening ways, earning the enmity of the citizens of Japan. He was the ultimate threat.
By his fifth and sixth films, however, The Three...
(Spoilers ahead)
60 years ago, Gojira/Godzilla: King of the Monsters debuted on screen; with a towering reptilian protagonist who was basically a rampaging beast. He was really a metaphor for the destructive power of the A-bomb. In the following three sequels, Gojira’s Counter Attack (Aka Gigantus the Fire Monster/ Godzilla Raids Again); Gojira vs. King Kong (Aka King Kong vs. Godzilla), and Mothra vs. Gojira (Aka Godzilla vs. the Thing); the radioactive monster continued his destructive, city-flattening ways, earning the enmity of the citizens of Japan. He was the ultimate threat.
By his fifth and sixth films, however, The Three...
- 5/19/2014
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
The new Godzilla remake has finally arrived in theaters. The rebooted king of monsters stars in his 30th film in 60 years but he continues to vacillate between good guy monster and bad guy monster. Which way does Godzilla work better? Should he be the sheriff or the outlaw?
(Spoilers ahead)
60 years ago, Gojira/Godzilla: King of the Monsters debuted on screen; with a towering reptilian protagonist who was basically a rampaging beast. He was really a metaphor for the destructive power of the A-bomb. In the following three sequels, Gojira’s Counter Attack (Aka Gigantus the Fire Monster/ Godzilla Raids Again); Gojira vs. King Kong (Aka King Kong vs. Godzilla), and Mothra vs. Gojira (Aka Godzilla vs. the Thing); the radioactive monster continued his destructive, city-flattening ways, earning the enmity of the citizens of Japan. He was the ultimate threat.
By his fifth and sixth films, however, The Three...
(Spoilers ahead)
60 years ago, Gojira/Godzilla: King of the Monsters debuted on screen; with a towering reptilian protagonist who was basically a rampaging beast. He was really a metaphor for the destructive power of the A-bomb. In the following three sequels, Gojira’s Counter Attack (Aka Gigantus the Fire Monster/ Godzilla Raids Again); Gojira vs. King Kong (Aka King Kong vs. Godzilla), and Mothra vs. Gojira (Aka Godzilla vs. the Thing); the radioactive monster continued his destructive, city-flattening ways, earning the enmity of the citizens of Japan. He was the ultimate threat.
By his fifth and sixth films, however, The Three...
- 5/19/2014
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
Godzilla is one destructive creature. Over the course of 28 Japanese films and four American films, the monster (and the other kaiju that have appeared in the franchise) has nearly destroyed 19 cities in addition to fighting in space and underwater. Whether it’s intentional or not—sometimes Godzilla is nearly protecting us from alien creatures bent on destroying Earth—cities fall under the brute strength, physical size and eternal frustration of the mutated amphibian.
In the new film, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and Ken Watanabe, the creature expands his destruction count by rampaging Honolulu, Las Vegas and San Francisco. All three cities are a far cry from Tokyo, a city that has been destroyed more times than an other location in the long-running franchise. In a handy little guide to destruction, VH1 has compiled a complete list of cities destroyed by the monsters.
Tokyo
The capital of Japan has served...
In the new film, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and Ken Watanabe, the creature expands his destruction count by rampaging Honolulu, Las Vegas and San Francisco. All three cities are a far cry from Tokyo, a city that has been destroyed more times than an other location in the long-running franchise. In a handy little guide to destruction, VH1 has compiled a complete list of cities destroyed by the monsters.
Tokyo
The capital of Japan has served...
- 5/13/2014
- by Stacy Lambe
- TheFabLife - Movies
Hey everyone! Starting this week, Daily Dead is going to be bringing you a weekly DVD & Blu-ray release recap so that you guys and gals can better keep up on all the great home horror entertainment coming at you each and every week. Considering the amount of titles being announced these days, we figured this would be a handy reminder of just some of the awesome movies you can to add to your own DVD and Blu-ray collections.
Here’s a rundown on what’s coming your way this week including a ton of amazing classic titles in hi-def from Universal Studios, a handful of Godzilla sequels being released on Blu-ray, and more.
Spotlight Titles:
Rear Window (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Blu-ray & Digital HD with UltraViolet)
None of Hitchcock’s films has ever given a clearer view of his genius for suspense than Rear Window. When professional photographer J.B.
Here’s a rundown on what’s coming your way this week including a ton of amazing classic titles in hi-def from Universal Studios, a handful of Godzilla sequels being released on Blu-ray, and more.
Spotlight Titles:
Rear Window (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Blu-ray & Digital HD with UltraViolet)
None of Hitchcock’s films has ever given a clearer view of his genius for suspense than Rear Window. When professional photographer J.B.
- 5/6/2014
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
With a new Godzilla movie hitting theaters in May, now is the perfect time for Blu-ray releases of the classic movies. Thankfully, many distributors have already announced plans and we can now add Sony to the list. They recently revealed that they will release eight Godzilla movies from the 90′s as double feature Blu-rays.
In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the iconic franchise, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will debut eight classic Godzilla movies on Blu-ray for the first time on May 6th. Titles include: Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) + Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992); Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993) + Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994); Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) + Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000); and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003) + Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Bonus features are said to include original theatrical trailers, along with a Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S making-of featurette, and a Godzilla: Final Wars behind-the-scenes featurette.
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)
When a mysterious U.
In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the iconic franchise, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will debut eight classic Godzilla movies on Blu-ray for the first time on May 6th. Titles include: Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) + Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992); Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993) + Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994); Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) + Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000); and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003) + Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Bonus features are said to include original theatrical trailers, along with a Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S making-of featurette, and a Godzilla: Final Wars behind-the-scenes featurette.
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)
When a mysterious U.
- 3/18/2014
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Sony is releasing several of the best Godzilla flicks from the 90s onto Blu-ray high definition, and we have the skinny on each of them right here for you. May is gonna kick all sorts of monster-sized ass!
From the Press Release
Beginning with the introduction of the original Godzilla film in 1954 and continuing through today, the King of the Monsters has entertained generations of movie fans through his big-screen adventures.
In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the iconic franchise, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will debut four classic Toho Godzilla Double Features for the first time on Blu-ray™ with Digital HD UltraViolet™ on May 6. The ultimate collector’s editions of the action-filled franchise include Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) + Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992); Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993) + Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994); Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) + Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000); and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003) + Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Each double...
From the Press Release
Beginning with the introduction of the original Godzilla film in 1954 and continuing through today, the King of the Monsters has entertained generations of movie fans through his big-screen adventures.
In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the iconic franchise, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will debut four classic Toho Godzilla Double Features for the first time on Blu-ray™ with Digital HD UltraViolet™ on May 6. The ultimate collector’s editions of the action-filled franchise include Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) + Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992); Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993) + Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994); Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) + Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000); and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003) + Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Each double...
- 3/17/2014
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
With the first trailer for the Godzilla reboot having been released earlier this week, we thought it was a good time to take a look back at all the Godzilla films that lost the pre-production battle and remained cursed to development hell. Here's a tribute to the King of All Monsters and the films that never were.
Frankenstein vs. Godzilla
In 1963, Toho was working with SFX pioneer Willis O’Brien, who created the effects for the 1933 King Kong film. O’Brien had the idea of making a stop-motion film where the King Kong scuffles with an enlarged Frankenstein monster. The idea was scrapped in favor of King Kong vs. Godzilla, although the concept of the giant Frankenstein Monster was later utilized for Frankenstein Conquers the World. For a while, however, Toho toyed with the idea of giant Frankenstein being Godzilla's opponent.
The plot: The heart of the original Frankenstein Monster...
Frankenstein vs. Godzilla
In 1963, Toho was working with SFX pioneer Willis O’Brien, who created the effects for the 1933 King Kong film. O’Brien had the idea of making a stop-motion film where the King Kong scuffles with an enlarged Frankenstein monster. The idea was scrapped in favor of King Kong vs. Godzilla, although the concept of the giant Frankenstein Monster was later utilized for Frankenstein Conquers the World. For a while, however, Toho toyed with the idea of giant Frankenstein being Godzilla's opponent.
The plot: The heart of the original Frankenstein Monster...
- 12/11/2013
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
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