Showa Godzilla films with best and worst special effects

[Godz]

I'm still wondering years later what that boxy pyramid thing in Childrens Land is supposed to be.

Same here. At least Godzilla and Gigan both agreed it was stupid enough to warrant a momentary cease-fire so they could destroy it.

[Dr. Nishiyama]

The Kong puppet and suit in KKvs G both looked rancid (although the suit looks serviceable in the climatic fight)

Various matte shots in Terror of Mechagodzilla, like the "Star Trek door" in MGII's neck, plus some of the wireworks like Titanosaurus kicking Godzilla thru the air like a football or Godzilla hurling a headless MGII into a ditch

Hand puppet in the original Godzilla, but only when it looks directly at the camera

You can see the wires on King Ghidorah and Rodan on the Planet X fight in Monster Zero

During the climax of Godzilla vs Megalon, the big guy's atomic ray is poorly animated (like when it's blasting Megalon on the ground, with no explosions matching the blasts for the most part)

In Godzilla VS Mechagodzilla, in some instances, you can see the two monsters shadows on the skyline backdrop behind them during the oil refinery fight.

Also, none of these criticisms has ever hampered my viewing pleasure of these films. They just "stick out" to me.

[ZillaMaster91]

For me, the best SPFX in a Showa film was, Invasion of the Astro Monster.
The worst in my opinion was Godzilla Raids Again, even for its time. Mostly due to the fact that is was rushed into production and quick to release.

[wrongnote85]

you guys that are bitching about the GRA puppet are all looney.

i personally think that this :



looks skreeonk badass


look at those teeth! and no pupils 50 years before the one in my avatar!

[GotengoXGodzilla]

you guys that are bitching about the GRA puppet are all looney.

i personally think that this :



looks skreeonk badass


look at those teeth! and no pupils 50 years before the one in my avatar!

Um...that thing does have pupils. See the black to the right of the white in the eyes? Yeah, those are the pupils.

[wrongnote85]

nah holmes, i blew up the pic before i posted that. ain't not pupils. shit's in B&W anyway, yo.





seriously though, i think he's the most terrifying looking godzilla from the classic days.

[Cimmerian Dragon]

Yeah, GXG! Those are irises, not pupils, man! (jk)

But, since the GMK suit also lacks those, and the GRA suit definitely HAS IRISES, then no, it doesn't resemble your avatar in the least, wrongnote.

[GotengoXGodzilla]

nah holmes, i blew up the pic before i posted that. ain't not pupils. shit's in B&W anyway, yo.

Um...yeah, the film's in black and white...I've watched Godzilla Raids Again. I know that the film is in black and white. I've also watched the film, so I know that Godzilla has pupils in that film. The only film that Godzilla doesn't have pupils in is GMK.

Pupils, irises, whatever. You guys know what I'm talking about. My point still stands.

[Cimmerian Dragon]

^ I know, it was just a bit of sarcasm.

[GotengoXGodzilla]

^ I know, it was just a bit of sarcasm.

Yeah, sorry. Overreacted there for a second. My apologies.

[Cimmerian Dragon]

No worries. I was slapping my head at his post too.

[wrongnote85]

^ I know, it was just a bit of sarcasm.

my whole post was this. ^^

the suit in that film most definitely had pupils. that puppet shot, however, always looked like blank white eyes to me. and i love his crazy crooked teeth. also, his skin was really rad, like a burned up H bomb freddy kruger. accounting for all the limitations they had to work with, i think what they pulled together portrayed the monster perfectly in that film. IMO anyway.

[Goji]

The point is, the puppet does have pupils. It just doesn't look like it does in that particular shot.

[Cimmerian Dragon]

accounting for all the limitations they had to work with, i think what they pulled together portrayed the monster perfectly in that film. IMO anyway.

I definitely agree with you there. The SFX aren't as polished as in the original, but I think Godzilla Raids Again looks damn good regardless. Aside from those occasional sped-up monster shots, the battles between the the two look natural and ferocious, and both monsters enjoy natural-looking suits and acting.

[Goji]

^ I agree. For how rushed of a production it was, I think everything came out looking pretty good. The immobile "wind-up" Godzilla seen on the icy island during the climax is one of the more glaring SPX, IMO.

[wrongnote85]

it always looked like a toy or something, but is it really a wind up? if so, than royal lolz for that one.

[Goji]

it always looked like a toy or something, but is it really a wind up? if so, than royal lolz for that one.

Yup, it sure was.

[wrongnote85]

wow

[Lain Of The Wired]

I kinda have a question about Godzilla 1954's atomic breath… The scenes where his atomic breath is more like him blowing on things and they explode into flames, what would be an accurate definition of that?
He blows radioactive wind that explodes on contact?

[Varan Bon Ziller]

I kinda have a question about Godzilla 1954's atomic breath… The scenes where his atomic breath is more like him blowing on things and they explode into flames, what would be an accurate definition of that?
He blows radioactive wind that explodes on contact?

You could say that. (It was really water being sprayed XD)