Say something negative about the Showa series

[eabaker]

Most of the movies in the Showa series are not that good. They are remembered for being campy Godzilla classics, but if you look at the whole entire list of all the Showa films...a pretty good chunk of them are some of the worst Godzilla films out of all of them. Some of them are the best, yes, but more of them are some of the worst.

Huh. I'd describe the Showa as the only era (of the three completed eras, that is) to achieve better than about a 50% success rate. Out of the 15 movies in the era, I'd classify at least ten (probably more) as solidly good movies.

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

Huh. I'd describe the Showa as the only era (of the three completed eras, that is) to achieve better than about a 50% success rate. Out of the 15 movies in the era, I'd classify at least ten (probably more) as solidly good movies.

I agree. (I say that a lot don't I? Hehe)
I will say the Showa Era had this..... "spark" or drive that I haven't seen in this franchise since then, if that makes sense. Like even if I viewed them without a nostalgic lens, they still hold up - especially the storytelling part of them. The so called drive is probably what led it to being really good or just, satisfying all around. Megalon is really the only Showa Godzilla film that I would say is "bad". Sorry if I kinda babbled a bit.

[KillCrites]

Most of the movies in the Showa series are not that good. They are remembered for being campy Godzilla classics, but if you look at the whole entire list of all the Showa films...a pretty good chunk of them are some of the worst Godzilla films out of all of them. Some of them are the best, yes, but more of them are some of the worst.

I would actually say that the Showa era is the most consistent in quality of all the eras but fuck it bro it's your life

[szmigiel]

The Showa era spans 3 decades, and could be divided into 2 or 3 different eras easily enough, but grouping them together as the Showa era is what fandom has done. There is a significant drop in quality of the effects once Eiji Tsuburaya passed away. During the Champion Festival films the use of stock footage and some of the suits starting to fall apart, do hurt the legacy of the Showa era. While the 70's films are still enjoyable they are not on the same quality level that the golden age of the 60's films are.

[Maritonic]

I don't know if they're really the most "consistent", considering the Heisei films had more or less the same exact looking Godzilla for all the films (save 84 and 95) and returning characters. Then again, I *personally* feel most of the Heisei films are about on the same level of quality, whereas the Showa films there are DEFINITELY some that are significantly better and DEFINITELY some that are significantly worse.

However, as szmigiel said, it also spans THREE DECADES so there's a lot more wiggle room.

Actually, I have to agree with everything szmigiel said. He's completely right on all points. Not saying there aren't some excellent 70's films, in fact some of my all time favorites are from the 70's, but you can definitely see a dip in quality comparatively to what came before it.

[HillyHulk]

In the early days of the Showa era, the fights were pretty lacking compared to later years (even in the same era). Examples being Godzilla and Anguirus (it was more a bunch of shoving then anything else) and Godzilla and Mothra (either fight can barely be called such).

[Ivo-goji]

Godzilla and Mothra (either fight can barely be called such).

The adult Mothra's battle with Godzilla is one of the greatest in daikaiju history.

It's a sight better than what passed for fighting in the successive three or four films!

[HillyHulk]

Godzilla and Mothra (either fight can barely be called such).

The adult Mothra's battle with Godzilla is one of the greatest in daikaiju history.

It's a sight better than what passed for fighting in the successive three or four films!

It's a bunch of wing flapping and dragging Godzilla across the ground. The fight after, its Godzilla kicking rocks while being beaten by larva shooting web at it. Not exactly compelling combat. Godzilla vs Mothra: Battle For Earth was much better. The clashing styles, the violence, it's much more exciting (especially when the Imago team up).

[Mr_Goji_and_Watch]

The battle in the 92 flick is literally just a bunch of beams and sparks going off.

[HillyHulk]

The battle in the 92 flick is literally just a bunch of beams and sparks going off.

Well, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. I happen to like the 1992 version more.

[GigaBowserG]

In the early days of the Showa era, the fights were pretty lacking compared to later years (even in the same era). Examples being Godzilla and Anguirus (it was more a bunch of shoving then anything else) and Godzilla and Mothra (either fight can barely be called such).

The fight with Mothra and Godzilla in '64 was always rather disorienting to me as a kid. Mothra felt huge, but never really strong. I need to revisit that movie someday.

[PitchBlackProgress]

The battle in the 92 flick is literally just a bunch of beams and sparks going off.

Well, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. I happen to like the 1992 version more.

It’s not an opinion, it literally was a bunch of beams and sparks going off, all the Heisei fights were just that, minus Mechagodzilla, which was just awkward and clunky slapping.

[HillyHulk]

The battle in the 92 flick is literally just a bunch of beams and sparks going off.

Well, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. I happen to like the 1992 version more.

It’s not an opinion, it literally was a bunch of beams and sparks going off, all the Heisei fights were just that, minus Mechagodzilla, which was just awkward and clunky slapping.

No need to be rude. That's not entirely wrong, but I still feel that they were better fights.

[PitchBlackProgress]

Well, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. I happen to like the 1992 version more.

It’s not an opinion, it literally was a bunch of beams and sparks going off, all the Heisei fights were just that, minus Mechagodzilla, which was just awkward and clunky slapping.

No need to be rude. That's not entirely wrong, but I still feel that they were better fights.

Wasn’t being rude, just stating a fact.

[Zarm]

Not really accurate. Biollante was primarily grappling and tendril attacks. Heisei King Ghidorah was stomping and strangling, plenty of physical action there. Vs. mothra was more beam dependent, though there were a few aspects- such as the falling Ferris Wheel- thrown in beyond a simple shootout. Vs. MechaGodzilla itself was mostly a beam-war, but Rodan's battles with Godzilla and MechaGodzilla were far more physical. Spacegodzilla was pretty much a shootout. Vs. Destroyah had a mix of melee and beams.

I mean, sure- heavier on beams and lighter on melee than any other era, yes. But beams and explosions only? Really only 2 films are guilty of that and only that.

[Spuro]

Yeah the whole "beam wars" thing is kind of a Flanderization of the Heisei series as a whole, I think.

[BlacktimusPrime]

Godzilla's Revenge - it's so bad it makes Godzilla vs Megalon look like great cinema.

[eabaker]

Godzilla's Revenge - it's so bad it makes Godzilla vs Megalon look like great cinema.

Godzilla's Revenge is a much better written, produced and directed movie than Godzilla vs. Megalon.

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

Godzilla's Revenge is a much better written, produced and directed movie than Godzilla vs. Megalon.

Oh definitely, it's cool how even with rather limited resources Honda can still put together a pretty good film.

[Zarm]

Calling Godzilla's Revenge better-written is kind of like arguing that Bin laden is slightly less evil than Hitler. (Boom! Godwin's law invoked!) I mean, I would probably agree by the slimmest of margins- because Godzilla's Revenge actually identifies who its main characters are- but I would consider the writing to still be one of the lowest points of the showa era. There may be a winner in the competition, but both are still at the bottom of the barrel.