Gmk Or Tokyo S.O.S as the send off movie

[Godzilla165]

Who here thinks that either Godzilla GMk, or Godzilla Tokyo S.O.S should have been the send off movie for Godzilla, instead of Final Wars? I think GMK, because of the ending itself... Godzilla's beating heart at the end, showing that Godzilla will return someday (hence, his 60th anniversary). Tokyo S.O.S, because of the ending as well with the DNA, and because Godzilla battled two of his most iconic rivals evenly, without raping them throughout the entire movie, and not just some shove in at the last moment like Keizer Ghidorah. But would you accept either of these as the final Godzilla movie from Toho for awhile?

[GodzillaRangerPrime]

I mentioned a couple months ago that all three of those films were pretty much 50th anniversary films for many reasons, but some on this board couldn't agree d:

[Gyaos]

Tokyo SOS should have been the grand finale imo. Yeah it doesnt have the assload of kaiju FW did, but atleast Tokyo SOS was more watchable than FW, to me atleast.

[Cimmerian Dragon]

Yeah, I've repeated my opinion that S.O.S. should have been the finale countless times on this board.

[Rody]

^ I've mentioned that once or twice myself as well. Granted, S.O.S. would need improvement, but with the extra year that would probably be solved.

[Cimmerian Dragon]

I doubt Toho would ever have devoted extra development time to the movie. I think, even as it stands now, Tokyo SOS is a far better finale than Final Wars.

[GodzillaSpawn]

I'm sorry, but I'd be just as disappointed if SOS was the sendoff. The movie barely felt like it was about Godzilla. It felt more about "soul of the dead", the engineer being torn on building Kiyru but also wanted to help his family with the Mothra twins. Not to mention it ended with him being cast in a web like a punk (again) and tossed in the pool. I do appreciate the fact that he sank with Kiyru, who is in essence the original Godzilla, but that's the only reason I would be inclined to agree.

Final Wars may not be pretty. But there are a couple of things I feel it got right for a send-off. Godzilla was the boss man in the movie. He kicked ass and took no prisoners. Was it sloppy? Yes. Could it have been more exciting? Yes. But Godzilla was the last monster standing and waded off into the sunset like how all those great Showa films ended (I liked that aspect). Also, it included other monsters who were a big part of the series rather than just Mothra and MechaGodzilla. It was cool to see Rodan, Angilas, Kamacuras and King Ceasar.

I think if Final Wars was actually made with any sort of care, it could have been a great send-off. It had the monsters, if you combine all the tiny fights into one massive brawl it certainly had some cool moments (Mothra vs Gigan, Godzilla annihilating Tokyo and standing in the crater, the humans against Ebirah, Godzilla vs. Gigan). And leave the mutants out of it..leave that to Marvel. Xilians I'm fine with (it would have been a nice throwback to Astro Monster) but they should be fighting humans not the X-Men.

I just have to disagree with Godzilla X MechaGodzilla. Respectfully of course. But it seems like other Godzilla fans like that and SOS way more than I do. Not that Final Wars is good by any means, but Godzilla gets the spotlight.

[Rody]

Godzilla does NOT have the spotlight in Final Wars. He almost isn't even relevant to the film.

While it's true that, technically, Kiryu had the spotlight in Tokyo S.O.S., Godzilla still played a major role in this film, directly and indirectly. I consider this film to do Godzilla & his franchise much more justice, and give better closer, than Final Wars.

I doubt Toho would ever have devoted extra development time to the movie.

I think they might have, if they had that extra year to do the film. Tokyo S.O.S. came out in 2003, remember.

[GodzillaSpawn]

Granted, Final Wars spent wayyyy too much time talking about mutants and trying so hard to be this random epic superhero action movie that, yes, Godzilla doesn't get nearly enough of the screen time he deserves. But if there are two films vying for the sake of being called the 50th anniversary film, I'd rather have the one that strongly suggests Godzilla's a badass and this is HIS franchise, even if the fights are quick and forgettable, rather than a film where he doesn't feel special...at all. Kiyru feels like the hero of the film, like you are supposed to root for him, which in essence I guess you are, but usually Godzilla shines alot more before being taken down (and retreating? Not Godzilla.) Then if you add Mothra, who naturally you are almost always supposed to root for goody-two-shoes lol, Godzilla feels like he's literally just there because he has to be. But hey, that's my view. According to this thread it seems I am in the minority. Not a fan of either film, I just think Godzilla (screen time aside) got treated as "the king" in Final Wars.

[Cimmerian Dragon]

While it's true that, technically, Kiryu had the spotlight in Tokyo S.O.S.

And Kiryu is the original Godzilla...so a Godzilla does have the spotlight.

[GodzillaSpawn]

I'm stupid. This entire time I thought the options of the thread were SOS or Final Wars. I need to get my eyes checked. I'm sitting here defending one of the worst Godzilla movies to date.

GMK easily for me. He's the boss, it's got a cool story, some great cinematography, and solid characters. His "death" is a bit lame, but that heartbeat with the Godzilla theme playing (all the music during the credits was amazing) was a cool way to pay tribute to Godzilla's character (kills his foes, gets stopped by a desperate last attempt by one man who shares history with the monster, but the heart suggests Godzilla will never die).

[Rody]

And Kiryu is the original Godzilla...so a Godzilla does have the spotlight.

That's why I mentioned Godzilla has the spotlight directly and indirectly.

As for GMK... I don't know. It doesn't really feel like a finishing movie to me; there's no sense of closure, and I don't think it was meant to.

[Cimmerian Dragon]

^ I was more-or-less emphasizing the point for the detractors.

[Tyler]

The Millennium series was meant to be three films to begin with so I'd say GMK.

[GodzillaSpawn]

And Kiryu is the original Godzilla...so a Godzilla does have the spotlight.

That's why I mentioned Godzilla has the spotlight directly and indirectly.

As for GMK... I don't know. It doesn't really feel like a finishing movie to me; there's no sense of closure, and I don't think it was meant to.

I don't either, and I kind of like it. It's ambiguous in a sense. Godzilla is just like one of those characters, like a James Bond. No matter what, he'll never truly be gone. The ending to GMK was figurative as much as literal in my opinion. GMK Godzilla will always live on to that storyline (though a sequel will never be done), but the icon will never die either.

[Gojira1963]

Although I do think FW is a fitting send off for Godzilla SOS and GMK are two of my absolute favorite Godzilla movies. So if Toho had never made FW I would be completely happy with either SOS or GMK being the send off.

[Giga Kaiju]

GMK or SOS are both good options.
Godzilla's Beating heart would've look awesome as an rest for the whole franchise.

[ゴジラさん]

I really like the beginning of SOS, but the rest of the movie is really boring to my tastes. GMK all the way.

[tymon]

While I love SOS's battles, special effects and monster designs, the story leaves much to be desired. GMK is a much more satisfying film IMO. Would it work as a sendoff? I dunno. I've always thought the beating heart ending was lame, so maybe something a bit more epic would have made it feel more like closure.

[Rody]

How many people watched the credits for TOKYO SOS? Michiru Oshima's beautiful music, combined with a shot of Kiryu & Godzilla further sinking into the depths, really sold the idea of closure for me.