Talkback: GMK - Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah (2001)

[GodzillaXGomoraFight]

I didn't understand the Mothra in this film. It looked extremely different from the rest. Purple eyes, big legs, small wings, just not like the rest.

[Gigan X3]

I didn't understand the Mothra in this film. It looked extremely different from the rest. Purple eyes, big legs, small wings, just not like the rest.

Hey! That redesign is pretty awesome!

[JVM]

GMK is the second... no, third best Godzilla movie of all time.

[Tyler]

So if enough people like something that's genuinely good it becomes overrated and bad? That's what I get from Godzilla fans now. We'll never be able to enjoy anything ever again.

[Legion1979]

GMK is the second... no, third best Godzilla movie of all time.

No it's not.

[JVM]

GMK is the second... no, third best Godzilla movie of all time.

No it's not.

Yeah it is. After Mothra vs. Godzilla and Gojira.

But point, I ain't seen G85, GvB or DAM, so I should amend the statement to "That I've seen"

[Gigan X3]

GMK is the second... no, third best Godzilla movie of all time.

No it's not.

Yeah it is. After Mothra vs. Godzilla and Gojira.

But point, I ain't seen G85, GvB or DAM, so I should amend the statement to "That I've seen"

Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster is better.

[Legion1979]

Yeah it is. After Mothra vs. Godzilla and Gojira.

But point, I ain't seen G85, GvB or DAM, so I should amend the statement to "That I've seen"

Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster is better.

And I'd rather watch Monster Zero as well.

[GodzillaDude]

I didn't understand the Mothra in this film. It looked extremely different from the rest. Purple eyes, big legs, small wings, just not like the rest.

Hey! That redesign is pretty awesome!

Yeah my favorite Mothra design besides the Tokyo S.O.S./Final Wars one.

[JVM]

Yeah it is. After Mothra vs. Godzilla and Gojira.

But point, I ain't seen G85, GvB or DAM, so I should amend the statement to "That I've seen"

Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster is better.

And I'd rather watch Monster Zero as well.

GTTHM and MZ are vying for 4 and 5 with me right now. I wanna rewatch GTTHM before I make a decision.

And frankly, this isn't about preferences lol I'd rather watch MZ or GTTHM than GMK, it doesn't make them better movies.

[Reptile]

The only thing I liked about this movie was the top half of the Godzilla suit. Oh and Godzilla's new beam charging sequence, where he inhales the blew energy particles. There were some pretty interesting concepts going on with the plot, but it all just kind of came off half baked.

There was still a lot of great craftsmanship with the effects. Even if the monster designs were a little derpy. All of the monsters had great facial articulation. Except for Mothra cause...well...bug.

[KaneLocke]

Yeah it is. After Mothra vs. Godzilla and Gojira.

But point, I ain't seen G85, GvB or DAM, so I should amend the statement to "That I've seen"

Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster is better.

And I'd rather watch Monster Zero as well.

Eh, I don't know that I'd go that far.

Honestly, I love GMK, but... it's been increasingly difficult for me to "rank" them. I've come to understand a bit better on how to judge the films within their periods and by their goals. I just don't think Kaneko quite reached whatever goal he was shooting for.

[Goji]

The Honda Ghidorah films are wayyyyy better than this movie could ever dream of being. GMK is the best G film we've gotten since BIOLLANTE..but it's not that good.

[KaneLocke]

The Honda Ghidorah films are wayyyyy better than this movie could ever dream of being. GMK is the best G film we've gotten since BIOLLANTE..but it's not that good.

Don't get me wrong; I thoroughly enjoy watching the Ghidorah films. Just finished GTTHM actually. But MZ? That one I just can't get behind.

Is it a "better" movie? I dunno. Maybe, but it certainly doesn't entertain me more.

[Goji]

Different strokes for different folks I suppose. The film is so well crafted, and by the best team that ever worked on the Godzilla series, that the lack of monster action doesn't really have a negative impact on the film, IMO. Whenever the monsters are on screen, we're treated to some great monster choreography, and well-made miniatures crumbling. The music is also fantastic, and probably one of Ifukube's most memorable.

Sorry, that was a little preachy! Kane, I'm just surprised I haven't noticed that you weren't fond of MONSTER ZERO, after all this time. Anyways, don't get me wrong, I like GMK, and I don't get caught up with "what it could have been", and try to just enjoy it on it's own terms...however, there are just some films GMK just can't touch.

[JVM]

I love Monster Zero. It's one of my favorite Godzilla films personally.

Doesn't make it better than GMK however.

[Gigan X3]

I love Monster Zero. It's one of my favorite Godzilla films personally.

Doesn't make it better than GMK however.

I think GMK is just Really good but not Great as many of the Showa Jewels.

[Thanos6]

My problems with this film:

While I wouldn't have a problem with King Ghidorah becoming a good guy, it shouldn't be so sudden. Godzilla didn't become a hero overnight, it took several films. If they wanted to make King Ghidorah someone who, like Godzilla, can be slotted into several roles, they should have taken the time to do it right.

Speaking of King Ghidorah, he just looks awful. The heads and necks flailing around were some of the worst special effects I've seen in any kaiju film.

Also, I have a problem with the message of the film. "Don't forget the sacrifices made by the soldiers of the past," or at least, that's the message I got from it. Fair enough, but these weren't noble heroes defending the homeland, they committed horrible atrocities like (as mentioned above) the Rape of Nanking. That's like saying "Don't forget the brave sacrifices of the brave boys who gave their lives for the German Fatherland," and I don't feel I'm invoking Godwin's Law here, since they were allied with the Nazis after all.

[TokyoVigilante]

As I understand the political climate that motivated the theme of GMK, the Japanese don't really see themselves as "the bad guys", they see themselves in a semi-victimised light. There's a bit of a move towards imperialism again and a push to rearm, something Kaneko is strongly against.

Godzilla being possessed by dead soldiers (I thought it was all victims of the Pacific War myself) is a fierce reminder of the suffering and destruction that an imperial Japan wrought and how their nationalist pride blinds them to the travesties they caused.

Which brings up another negative; the theme, while certainly current and worth having a conversation about, the film doesn't really translate that very well and it's kind of muddled.

[Thanos6]

Mm, really? If it's ALL victims of the PW and not just the Japanese soldiers, than they should have said that and made it explicitly clear.

And yeah, I'm aware of the tendency for Japan to whitewash it's WW2 history, I just thought Kaneko was on that side.