Final Wars: Why all the Hate?

[Legion1979]

Maybe I'm getting old (early 30s), but I am a little dismayed at the large number of people who are saying they think the likes of GFW Gigan and GMK Ghidorah are the "best" incarnations.

I think it's really a younger fan/TK sort of thing. You're definitely not going to hear the same thing from the older crowd over at Club Tokyo and I know very, very few Godzilla fans past the age of, say, 25 who would put ANY incarnation of Gigan and Ghidora above the Showa versions. I did a poll over at CT for best Ghidora (and I think I mentioned it at the FB groups I'm a member/admin of) and the votes for the original were almost unanimous.

So don't worry about it, ebs. The Showa versions of these guys will always be tops. There's just a vocal segment of American Godzilla fandom who, for whatever reasons, prefer later versions. You live in Japan. You can tell us which ones are the most popular over there, where it counts.

[Godzillaprime05]

Nothing can ever replace the originals, but a new look or twist sometimes can be refreshing.

[Godzilla 2000]

So don't worry about it, ebs. The Showa versions of these guys will always be tops. There's just a vocal segment of American Godzilla fandom who, for whatever reasons, prefer later versions.

Er...because they look cool? Because they're the new/current designs? Because they're a breath of fresh air?

I mean, I LOVE Final Wars Gigan. I think its a much need revamp of a classic character. He looks like an assassin; sleek, deadly, and with a very nice evil grin to top it all off. Its how he was used that I absolutely hate. He was a complete waste, and had NO personality to speak of.

At the end of the day, I do prefer the Showa Gigan, not just because he actually has a personality to speak of, but his simpler, more awkward design is just eye-catching. Its classic Gigan. But I dont see whats so wrong with people liking the newer incarnations more. They just appeal to those people more, like those who arent fans of the Showa movies that prefer Heisei/Millennium.

Different tastes.

You live in Japan. You can tell us which ones are the most popular over there, where it counts.

Who cares what they think? Honestly.

We dont live over there, and their preferences shouldnt be used to disregard or demean our opinions. Are the opinions of the American fanbase invalid simply because were are not from Japan?


Its like...

"I prefer Heisei Ghidorah over the Showa one."

"The japanese fans like the Showa Ghidorah more."

"Um, cool? I still like Heisei Ghidorah more."

"But the Showa one is more popular in Japan."

"Yeah well, I'm not Japan, now am I?"


When it should be...

"I prefer Heisei Ghidorah over the Showa one."

"Thats cool. I hear that the Showa Ghidorah is a fan favorite over in Japan."

"Really? Thats interesting."


...and they all lived happily ever after.

[Hellspawn28]

I personally love Final Wars Gigan but I always say the Showa Gigan would be my favorite. I never like GMK King Ghidorah that much since his design was alright but I never care for that version at all.

[Godzilla 2000]

But it's GMK Ghidorah really brings my piss to a boil I get so angry even thinking about this thing, which I refer to as KINO (KG in name only). Basically, they took what *was* Godzilla's arch enemy and most powerful foe and bascially turned him into a short, fat, p*ssified runt. And spare me the "oh, I thought his role as hero was neat and a nice change!" or "You just couldn't accept him in a different role other than as the villian" nonsense I have heard a million times before from people who laughably try to defend/praise this thing...my abhorrence of KINO goes far beyond the fact he was in the "hero's role" (Mecha-KG played the hero's role in GvsKG, and I love Mecha-KG). Hero or villian, I thought watering him down, shrinking him in size, and making him extremely weak and pathetic was deplorable and an outrage. It would be like a Spiderman comic and turning Venom into a midget and a vegan. Even more distressing is that TOHO seems intent on making this thing their preferred image of KG (hence look how they forced IDW's Zornow to change his Showa KG cover to the GMK version).

And in an ironic twist, its the GMK Ghidorah that returns to his classic villainous role in this arcade game.

http://youtu.be/Zcn3Mrzi2VE?t=5m8s

[Cimmerian Dragon]

Hero or villian, I thought watering him down, shrinking him in size, and making him extremely weak and pathetic was deplorable and an outrage. It would be like a Spiderman comic and turning Venom into a midget and a vegan.

Come on, I'd buy that issue in a heartbeat! It would be a daring reinvention of a character that has...


Just kidding. It would be exactly the travesty you're describing. I don't really despise, ahem, "KINO", to the same degree that you do, but I also have absolutely no affection for that incarnation of the character. It's just a totally pointless chapter in the history of a monster who deserved better.

[GreenAiden555]

The Showa versions of these guys will always be tops.

In your opinion.

I've been watching Godzilla movies since I was two. Yes, that's right, from 1994 until now. I grew up, unlike other people that would be in my shoes, with the Showa era movies and nothing else, save GODZILLA (1998) and G2K. Did I like everything when I first saw it? Sure! Grandiose. Amazing, full of wowness. Best they could look. I didn't watch a movie after G2K. I had the Trendmasters toys, and believe me, I WTF'd at some of the monsters because of it (Battra being the biggest one. I had NO idea what it was when I was a kid).

Then the Godzilla games came out, DAMM in particular..... Ghidorah looked better than I remembered. Then I stopped following Godzilla.

Then Unleashed came out, and I found Crackle. Holy Jesus did my world get flipped.

Showa Ghidorah is my least favorite, followed by GMK, followed by Heisei. I like the original Gigan along with the FW Gigan. Showa Hedorah is better than FW Hedorah. Millennium Mothra is better than both Showa, GMK and Heisei.

That is, of course, in my opinion. And there isn't anything wrong with that.

And I agree with what Godzilla2000 said. If ONE PORTION of the fanbase says something, it doesn't mean its fact. If the Japanese fanbase or the "older" or "hardcore" or "diehard" fanbase says something, great! It would be their opinion, not fact.


Its already been said and done to death a million times over, but another reason why I don't like Final Wars would be that too many monsters are just thrown aside and just pop up for a cameo. I wish the likes of Heorah would have been used more.

[Rody]

I decided to respond to ebirahsmeg1's post, but I thought the 'Best Gigan/Ghidorah Incarnations' thread was more appropriate for it. In case you want my opinion on what he said.

[thatsoundman]

wow, this thread has taken on a life of its own. checking for a pulse, oh, nevermind. i am curious about something,

I mean, I LOVE Final Wars Gigan. I think its a much need revamp of a classic character. He looks like an assassin; sleek, deadly, and with a very nice evil grin to top it all off. Its how he was used that I absolutely hate. He was a complete waste, and had NO personality to speak of.

not sure i agree here, and this is why, gigan is a robot, and should not need a personality.
gigan of the 70's

gigan of 2004


i see attitude without personality, which is one thing i liked about the character and the fact that mothra outsmarted him and used his own weapon against him is only a plus for me.

[Legion1979]

Since when is Gigan a robot?

[Goji]

Yeah, it's not that cut and dry. I have a Japanese book that clearly show he has organs and the such. He's a combination of flesh and inorganic materials.

[thatsoundman]

Yeah, it's not that cut and dry. I have a Japanese book that clearly show he has organs and the such. He's a combination of flesh and inorganic materials.

ok, so he is a cyborg which is what the movies call him, but could you really sit in a booth and listen to him tell really bad jokes, i dont think so......

[Tohosaurus]

Robot, cyborg, or otherwise, those kaiju can still have personality. Showa Gigan and even robot Mechagodzilla had personality. That's what makes them fun and makes Showa MG in particularly my favorite incarnation of MG (aside from looking awesome).

[Rody]

ok, so he is a cyborg which is what the movies call him, but could you really sit in a booth and listen to him tell really bad jokes, i dont think so......

The above comment makes absolutely no sense.

[Legion1979]

My head hurts.

And when do the movies specifically say Gigan is a cyborg?

[Goji]

Yeah, it's not that cut and dry. I have a Japanese book that clearly show he has organs and the such. He's a combination of flesh and inorganic materials.

ok, so he is a cyborg which is what the movies call him, but could you really sit in a booth and listen to him tell really bad jokes, i dont think so......

Come again?

[Godzilla 2000]

I mean, I LOVE Final Wars Gigan. I think its a much need revamp of a classic character. He looks like an assassin; sleek, deadly, and with a very nice evil grin to top it all off. Its how he was used that I absolutely hate. He was a complete waste, and had NO personality to speak of.

not sure i agree here, and this is why, gigan is a robot, and should not need a personality.

As has been said, Gigan's not a robot. He's a cyborg. And having a personality makes him, you know, interesting. Its what makes him a character, and not just a prop or costume.

Supposedly he was an organic being who was modified with cybernetics by the Nebula M Space Hunters. The Japanese wikipedia article on Gigan supports this. The translation of the description came out to "modified cyborg dinosaur." Sounds about right.

It also suggested that he may be related to King Ghidorah in some way, due to the golden scales. Seems plausible to me, as there could have been some sort of gene-splicing going during his creation, and would explain why the Space Hunters had Ghidorah in their possession in the first place.

[thatsoundman]

i can see that take a gene from here and there insert a few robotic features and what do you get ----- gigan
plausible very pausible

[ghidorasauras]

you guys are looking way to much into this

[Godzilla 2000]

you guys are looking way to much into this

Thats what you do when you're, ya know, a fan.

And whats wrong with being interested in the little known back stories of some of these characters?