The Millennium Legacy

[Arrow]

I agree that the Millennium series as a whole (save for GFW) suffered from Toho "playing it safe" and I consider Tezuka's films, the Kiryu Saga in particular (Godzilla x Megagurius is just plain bad), to be the biggest examples of that. What little originality is brought to the franchise (that Kiryu is made from the bones of the original Godzilla) is hardly expanded on save for the rampage of Kiryu in GxMG, the Godzilla that appears in the film serves to do little more than conveniently create conflict whenever the plot calls for it, and the films seem to move about in a very formulaic fashion with little risk taken - IMO, anyway. Tokyo S.O.S. at least brings in a fun final battle, a great Mothra redesign, and probably the best SPFX in the franchise, but GxMG is just so... bland in comparison. GMK is a great film that is hindered by Toho's meddling, and GFW is just plain awful, but at the very least we can say that we've never gotten a film like those two before.

In the end, though, I'd take Godzilla 2000, GMK, Tokyo S.O.S., and even GFW (!) over any of the Heisei films. So I do agree with you, to an extent.

[omgitsgodzilla]

I think it will go down as the forgotten series, because Godzilla's popularity was really low during the series, and the films weren't being released here in the U.S. theatrically, so not a lot of newer fans will know these movies, especially if they don't know how to use a computer.

Actually, neither were any of the Heisei films aside from G85. Biollante got the direct-to-video treatment in 1992, and the rest hit VHS and (mostly) DVD in 1998. Similarly, G2K got released theatrically, and the rest got direct-to-DVD releases in 2004 and 2005.

[HedorahLives]

I think the new series will be seen as Godzilla's second decline, much like the 70s were his first decline. By decline, I mean more in terms of popularity and box office.

G2K may get the nostalgia factor because it was a lot of people's first exposure to the Japanese Godzilla or their first exposure since the Showa films. I think it's popularity in the US is underrated, even though it didn't perform well at the box office.

GMK will continue to be the fanboy favorite. GFW will continue to be immensely polarizing, maybe assuming the mantle of Godzilla's Revenge as the most polarizing film in the franchise. The Kiryu movies will, I think, go down as the benchmark for Toho's Kaiju effects. GxM will be seen as the "bad" movie a la Gigan or Spacegodzilla.

[Mini-Godzilla]

Yes, the 2K series will probably be seen as the "Late Heisei" decline period in the same way that the Champion Festival films are regarded as the "Late Showa" decline period.

[Starfishman]

I love the Millennium Godzilla films way more than the Heisei Godzilla films, at least the Millennium films didn't bore me to sleep like most of the Heisei Godzilla films did. I enjoy the Millennium films despite how "bad" some of them are.

[Showa Gyaos]

I'm probably going to eat my own words in a few decades, but I don't think the Millennium films will hold much nostalgic value.

[Darth Calypso]

They're going to think GFW as another showa series movie

[Tohosaurus]

I think they'll be better looked upon than the Heisei series and they're cooler, more serious than the Showas were. I don't know if they have that "magic" that comes along every once in a while (1954, 1985, arguably GvD, etc). But that's a matter of opinion.

[JVM]

I'm probably going to eat my own words in a few decades, but I don't think the Millennium films will hold much nostalgic value.

It won't. The reason the Showa films hold so much nostalgic value is most of us grew up watching those on TV. The Heisei and Millennium films we generally only see if we search them out, and of course we only do that if we already know the series.

[MungusMung8694]

I started introducing my 11 year old little bro to them bout a week ago or so...on his end he will have the nostalgia
the KIRYU stuff well i like his design but their is so much they could have done with the story its ridiculous
but with the exception of g2k it was the same characters over and over again
a solder
vendetta against Godzilla
victory blah blah blah
visually the MILLENNIUM series will go down as a technical achievement for visually they are impressive compared to past installments

gfw if they would have DROPPED so much of the stupid human element and used that time to get more of the fight stuff i think it would have been significantly better...i just go to youtube and watch the fight scenes...could care less about the rest of the movie

millennium will not be forgotten mainly because of GODZILLA'S appearance was drastically different compared to all past incarnation
i think if they would have waited till they originally were supposed to bring him back as apposed to jumping the gun after 98 the series would have been much better

Heisei series i will show the little bro next (he wants to see SG...i know i know but he is 11) i mainly just watch the fights and ignore the rest of the movie

[fred25_ca]

I'm probably going to eat my own words in a few decades, but I don't think the Millennium films will hold much nostalgic value.

It doesn't help the movies aren't connected. I always though it was a good idea, to make "what ifs" movies, and let any directors approach godzilla how they wanted to.

It was such a good artistic move. Get people like Takashi Miike, Takashi Kitano, and the likes, directors who would usually totally destroy a running franchise, but in the case of "what ifs" movies, couldn't ruin them. It was a once in a lifetime chance to try so many new takes on Godzilla in such a short period.

But no, aside from Kitamura (which backfired of course), and maybe Kaneko (i'm saying maybe, not because he's not good, but rather because he works just as good with running series as seen with Gamera than stand alone "what ifs"), they didn't try anything bold.

The heisei and showa series will at least have people being nostalgic about their favorite versions of Godzilla. Even if movies in each series aren't consistent, at least people have a nostalgic image of each areas.

But in the millenium series, it's all over the place. You might be nostalgic for one or two movies in the series you enjoyed (GMK!), but you'll try to forget the rest because none of it is in continuity or affects the rest of the serie anyway.

I really think the millenium not having continuity between each movies will be just as important a factor in making people less nostalgic and fond of that area than the bad quality overall of the movies.

[King Caesar]

I consider the time period that the Heisei and Millennium films are in as the transition years before Godzilla REALLY gets all the fame and glory he deserves. Take the Heisei...it shows a transition in special effects that had a blend of Showa and Millennium moments (Good being Godzilla Vs. Biollante Bad being Godzilla Vs Spacegodzilla Asteroid Belt Sequence). IF and I really want to emphasize on those two pesky letters, IF they make another strand of Godzilla, I think the Millennium age is part two of the great transition of Godzilla.

Now does the Millennium Series have its own nostalgia factor, i say yes. Some moments already have been engraved into my brain from various Mill. movies. Take for instance the body slam in Godzilla Vs. Megaguiras. Totally a classic moment in the making.

[Mini-Godzilla]

The Millennium run has a major disadvantage compared to its predecessors. The Showa films were the innovators and will always be held high for being first. The Heisei films built up a reputation for themselves during the early 90's, so fans tend to overrate the series's overall importance in light of its relative obscurity. With the Millennium films, we have a collection of movies that were mostly dumped direct-to-video in the wake of a disappointing Hollywood movie. There was neither the prestige of the originals or the anticipation (and bootlegging) of the middle series. Lack of mystique = weaker reputation.

[Hellspawn28]

I'm probably going to eat my own words in a few decades, but I don't think the Millennium films will hold much nostalgic value.

Yeah maybe you did not grow up with the Millennium series. I don't think the Heisei movies hold that much nostalgic vaule neither. Maybe that's just me.

[Goji]

The Millennium run has a major disadvantage compared to its predecessors. The Showa films were the innovators and will always be held high for being first. The Heisei films built up a reputation for themselves during the early 90's, so fans tend to overrate the series's overall importance in light of its relative obscurity. With the Millennium films, we have a collection of movies that were mostly dumped direct-to-video in the wake of a disappointing Hollywood movie. There was neither the prestige of the originals or the anticipation (and bootlegging) of the middle series. Lack of mystique = weaker reputation.

This has to be the most intelligent thing I've seen posted in quite some time. Well said man.

[JVM]

The Millennium run has a major disadvantage compared to its predecessors. The Showa films were the innovators and will always be held high for being first. The Heisei films built up a reputation for themselves during the early 90's, so fans tend to overrate the series's overall importance in light of its relative obscurity. With the Millennium films, we have a collection of movies that were mostly dumped direct-to-video in the wake of a disappointing Hollywood movie. There was neither the prestige of the originals or the anticipation (and bootlegging) of the middle series. Lack of mystique = weaker reputation.

This has to be the most intelligent thing I've seen posted in quite some time. Well said man.

I agree, that's an excellent point. The only Millennium film that got a lot of fan anticipation was GFW.

[Legion1979]

Yeah, I honestly couldn't have said that better myself. That's also a great explanation of how the Heisei series is going to be remembered.

[Tomzilla]

It really depends on how many new fans the Millennium series attracted. There's also the matter of how many people were inspired by these films. Let's start with the former sentence first before getting into the latter.

Box Office wise, the Millennium films struck me as the weakest in the series. GMK was a huge success. But what about the other films? How well do they compare to the Heisei Box Office revenue? Did the Millennium films sell more merchandise? Were the majority of film-goers children or older fans? I'm not an expert. I can't say for certain how well these films did when compared to the previous installments. But what I do know is one of the biggest reasons why the Showa and Heisei films were successful is because of the number of fans they generated. Even to this day, they're celebrated by the same people those films inspired in the days of their prime.

Which brings me to the matter of inspiration itself. Were these films really that much different than what we've seen? Were they new, exciting stories? Or were they rehashed films, not unlike what we saw in the '60s-'90s only with improved SFX? In my opinion, it's the latter. They're not that groundbreaking, if at all. Main reason why fans like 'em is because of the kaiju designs. Only GMK has a strong following not only in the kaiju designs but in the film story itself. There are OK action scenes here and there. But ultimately, they're not innovative enough to maintain whatever fame they have for long. I'm not saying the Millennium series will be forgotten; it'll just slip into obscurity. Most of the Godzilla films already have.

Only the fans will ever really remember these films. If by chance a large number of young people saw the new films and loved 'em, then we'll see a community resurgence in due time. Until then we'll be seeing the same old faces, which sums up the Millennium films nicely. I like 'em for what they are. GMK is one of my favorite Godzilla films by far. I just can't say the same for the rest of 'em.

[Legion1979]

Box Office wise, the Millennium films struck me as the weakest in the series. GMK was a huge success.

I wouldn't say it was a huge success, but it did really well.

But what about the other films? How well do they compare to the Heisei Box Office revenue?

Nowhere near as good. Godzilla vs Mothra through Godzilla vs Destroyah did incredibly well at the box office. In fact, Mothra and Destroyah are the top moneymakers of the franchise. By contrast, Godzilla X Megagiras and GFW both bombed. Additionally half of the Millennium films were paired with Hamtaro so there's a good chance a chunk of their box office came from a little anime hamster and NOT Godzilla.

Did the Millennium films sell more merchandise?

No really sure, but I don't think the GFW merchandise sold very well, and there was almost nothing released for GxM.