Kaiju Fan Confessions

[Jetty_Jags]

I must say at the very least the new films are reminding me of what I enjoyed (and sometimes am missing in current films) about the genre.

[LSD Jellyfish]

For me a large part of my enjoyment in kaiju films is the destruction and watched the might of man's military fail miserably in the face of the kaiju's overwhelming power. Sadly most recent kaiju films have eschewed most of that to focus purely on monster fights. I love a good monster fight but there's way more to kaiju films that just that. Sadly that's all most recent films seem to care about.

For the most part, the best film have a good mix of destruction, but also other action (ie monster fights) to keep things interesting.

Good examples of this can be seen a lot in certain showa entries and pretty much all the heisei entries.

That's one thing that I didn't like about G14 and KOTM. Sure, we see Godzilla and other monsters briefly engage the monsters, but we never get something where the monster versus the military is the big set piece.

[Tyrant_Lizard_King]

Yeah Heisei loved to have those big naval battle setpieces. Practically every film of the era has one.

[BlankAccount]

Yeah Heisei loved to have those big naval battle setpieces. Practically every film of the era has one.

Heck someone at Toho was toying with the idea of having an entire Heisei movie be all about naval battles.

Yeah, I remember someone (was it you?) being let down that Godzilla didn't fight the U.S. Navy in G2014. And I agree, it was before the world realizes he was one of the good monsters, they could have had him defending himself much as King Kong was when he attacked the helicopters in K:SI. They need to have Johna or some other baddies get their hands on military weapons like fighter jets and ships maybe take over a base cause it's too late for that and it's the only way we're gonna see Monsterverse Godzilla destroy millitary grade weapons while still being the hero.

[G2000]

For me a large part of my enjoyment in kaiju films is the destruction and watched the might of man's military fail miserably in the face of the kaiju's overwhelming power. Sadly most recent kaiju films have eschewed most of that to focus purely on monster fights. I love a good monster fight but there's way more to kaiju films that just that. Sadly that's all most recent films seem to care about.

The most egregious part is that the Monsterverse repeatedly sets up big monster-military battles but never delivers, oftentimes having them happen offscreen. In G2014 we see the immediate aftermath of a battle with the FeMUTO, with destroyed Abrams tanks being washed down a river, and the script originally contained some more scenes of Godzilla sparring with the military at the Golden Gate Bridge (specifically a strike by F-35s targeting Godzilla's gills, drawing him onto Alcatraz Island).

In KoTM they set up a big set piece naval battle with Ghidorah and Rodan in the flooded-out ruins of DC - somewhat silly but still pretty cool looking - but we cut away and are treated only to the aftermath as remaining forces withdraw and burnt-out hulls sink beneath the waves. At least the novel shows King Ghidorah sinking a destroyer before it ends.

I wish they were still available, but there were some early storyboards for G2014 depicting Godzilla and the male MUTO battling amidst a carrier battle group, with Godzilla just about tipping over a carrier trying to get to the MUTO. Seems they might be reusing that to an extent in GvK, but it doesn't look nearly as impressive so far (though granted we've only seen about three blurry seconds)

[BlankAccount]

There's also a serious lack of onscreen destruction. At least Kong and Rodan gave us some.

Also as much as I like KOTM I am pissed most of Rodan and Mothra's fight is offscreen or both being entangled in a ball of destruction like Bayformers. After how well the fight between Rodan and the fighter jets was done, there is no excuse for why his fight with Mothra wasn't at least equal to or better than Gamera and Iris' air fight in Gamera 3. You're getting your ass beat by a 20 year old Japanese film made with less money and older tech, come on Hollywood!

[HedorahIsBestGirl]

There's also a serious lack of onscreen destruction. At least Kong and Rodan gave us some.

Also as much as I love KOTM I am pissed most of Rodan and Mothra's fight is offscreen or both being entangled in a ball of destruction like Bayformers. After how well the fight between Rodan and the fighter jets was done, there is no excuse for why his fight with Mothra wasn't at least equal to Gamera and Iris' air fight in Gamera 3. You're getting your ass beat by a 20 year old Japanese film made with less money and older tech, come on Hollywood!

I agree about the Rodan vs. Mothra fight, although the ending of the fight with Mothra bringing her stinger into play was pretty awesome. That somewhat redeemed it for me.

[Dv-218]

Yeah, agreed. Kinda bummed out on the beginning but the climax of the fight was worth it. Rodan's sheer menacing presence and the buildup to Mothra's "finisher" were top notch.
Also loved the eagle-like attacks and movements Rodan showed during the fight. His birdlike mannerisms were honestly a great way to establish he isn't just a random Pterosaur and are why he's my 2nd favorite incarnation (on par with Showa of course. Nothing will ever beat 1956's Draculadactyl )

[BlankAccount]

Like I don't wanna say it was all crap, the stinger bit was cool but it could have been so, so much better espiecally since technology has improved a lot over the past 20 years. Iris and Gamera's air fight has CGI that hasn't aged well (looks like PS2 graphics) but you can't say the action is bad.

I like the Monsterverse but I am frustrated it is filled with so many missed opportunities to make it a truly great film experience for both kaiju fans and general audiences.

[Terasawa]

^ I think the only really bad CGI in the Gamera trilogy is the shot of Gamera being covered by Soldier Legions in G2. They were a bit too ambitious with that shot.

[Tyrant_Lizard_King]

Even Pacific Rim, which I love, is all about the fights. Though it was a very concious decision by Del Toro to not focus on those things.

[Jetty_Jags]

Really I didn't know that. The one thing that I do love about Pacific rim, is the world building. While not groundbreaking, ideas like the kaiju black-market are pretty interesting (I'm pretty sure this has never been done before but I can't tell).

[BlankAccount]

Even Pacific Rim, which I love, is all about the fights. Though it was a very concious decision by Del Toro to not focus on those things.

I'm glad they had one fight in Hong Kong. We may not have gotten much in the military fight but damn the city being wrecked was fun, cool visuals too with the neon lights.

Really I didn't know that. The one thing that I do love about Pacific rim, is the world building. While not groundbreaking, ideas like the kaiju black-market are pretty interesting (I'm pretty sure this has never been done before but I can't tell).

Closest thing I can think of is Bio-Major hiring mercenaries to steel Godzilla cells and all the other corporate espionage in Godzilla vs Biollante. The idea a secret war breaks out between what is the equivalent of everyday companies like CVS and Walgreens is so ridiculous that is awesome.

[UltramanGoji]

Even Pacific Rim, which I love, is all about the fights.

It really isn't. Pacific Rim is about humanity more than anything. Most of the movie's runtime is dedicated to building the relationship between Mako, Stacker, and Raleigh and the trials and tribulations of a world coming together despite their geographical differences to save the planet.

[G2000]

Even Pacific Rim, which I love, is all about the fights.

It really isn't. Pacific Rim is about humanity more than anything. Most of the movie's runtime is dedicated to building the relationship between Mako, Stacker, and Raleigh and the trials and tribulations of a world coming together despite their geographical differences to save the planet.

I think he means in terms of the kaiju action it’s primarily focused on fights as opposed to city destruction or monster vs military scenes. And it’s true that Del Toro tried to avoid things like that - while Hong Kong gets thrashed pretty good del Toro intentionally makes it clear that the buildings are abandoned to make the destruction “guiltless,” and he’s ideologically fairly anti-military in general hence why the only monster vs military scenes are brief flashbacks at the very beginning and he intentionally portrayed the PPDC as a fairly non-militarized organization (Stacker is seen in a uniform exactly once and wears a civilian suit for the majority of the film, use of titles like “Ranger” as opposed to real military ranks, etc.)

[HedorahIsBestGirl]

Let's be serious, Pacific Rim is way, way better than all three MonsterVerse films. Better characters, better action, better world-building. It's a damn shame the sequel was such a letdown. That said, I really don't want a Pacific Rim/MonsterVerse crossover like some others do. I'm still not entirely onboard with Legendary's Godzilla and Kong sharing a universe, I don't think we need to mix in another franchise with its own separate mythology.

[G2000]

Let's be serious, Pacific Rim is way, way better than all three MonsterVerse films. Better characters, better action, better world-building. It's a damn shame the sequel was such a letdown.

I agree wholeheartedly, Pacific Rim is the best American film of the Kaiju Renaissance and the best US kaiju film in general

That said, I really don't want a Pacific Rim/MonsterVerse crossover like some others do. I'm still not entirely onboard with Legendary's Godzilla and Kong sharing a universe, I don't think we need to mix in another franchise with its own separate mythology.

Oh, I don’t know, I think it could work as a comic series like those old Dark Horse crossovers or an animated spinoff. Have a whole idea about how it might work. A full-on film or series might be a hard sell.

[UltramanGoji]

Even Pacific Rim, which I love, is all about the fights.

It really isn't. Pacific Rim is about humanity more than anything. Most of the movie's runtime is dedicated to building the relationship between Mako, Stacker, and Raleigh and the trials and tribulations of a world coming together despite their geographical differences to save the planet.

I think he means in terms of the kaiju action it’s primarily focused on fights as opposed to city destruction or monster vs military scenes. And it’s true that Del Toro tried to avoid things like that - while Hong Kong gets thrashed pretty good del Toro intentionally makes it clear that the buildings are abandoned to make the destruction “guiltless,” and he’s ideologically fairly anti-military in general hence why the only monster vs military scenes are brief flashbacks at the very beginning and he intentionally portrayed the PPDC as a fairly non-militarized organization (Stacker is seen in a uniform exactly once and wears a civilian suit for the majority of the film, use of titles like “Ranger” as opposed to real military ranks, etc.)

Ah, now I see. Yeah, that makes sense. I really think PR's fights are the best monster-vs-monster action we've gotten from the Kaiju Renaissance. Visually dynamic and easy to follow, even with visual noise like rain and neon lights.

Let's be serious, Pacific Rim is way, way better than all three MonsterVerse films. Better characters, better action, better world-building. It's a damn shame the sequel was such a letdown.

I agree wholeheartedly, Pacific Rim is the best American film of the Kaiju Renaissance and the best US kaiju film in general

Add me onto that list as well.

[SoggyNoodles2016]

I disagree.

Not about Pacfic Rim being better then the Monsterverse, that is true (though I love the monster characters, rare humans stand outs, and ambitions of the Monsterverse), but Pacific Rim being the best American kaiju film.

Call me a nostalgia blind idiot or what not, but I still think Cloverfield is a straight up masterpiece and the best of the American kaiju genre.

Do agree with everything said about Pacific Rim though.

[HedorahIsBestGirl]

I need to rewatch Cloverfield one of these days. I remember it being very disappointing, but I was only thirteen when I saw it and I think it got overhyped because of that crazy marketing campaign. Maybe I'd appreciate it more as an adult, without the hype. Found footage is a style of film that I've become more interested in during the past few years, so I'd probably like it better now on that ground alone.