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

[Mini-Godzilla]

I've given this film many chances, but it has yet to impress me. It reeks of compromise, especially in light of some of Kaneko's earlier monster movies. The characters had potential, but they do not receive enough attention. Godzilla is certainly "evil," but the monster is nowhere near as horrific as it should be (compare this to the original Godzilla, who was essentially Michael Myers). Ghidorah and Mothra look totally out of place, and Baragon poses less of a threat than it did in Frankenstein Conquers the World. The brawls, especially the last one, drag on endlesssly.

The movie flirts with greatness--even toying with some intellectually-stimulating themes--but never quite delivers on any of its fronts. The final product is just another routine monster movie, as half-baked as a Heisei film.

[JVM]

I've given this film many chances, but it has yet to impress me.

Get ready to be anally raped by the entire rest of the fandom.

It reeks of compromise, especially in light of some of Kaneko's earlier monster movies.

Blame Toho, as they did compromise him a lot.

Godzilla is certainly "evil," but the monster is nowhere near as horrific as it should be (compare this to the original Godzilla, who was essentially Michael Myers).

(Interesting comparison, but I wouldn't quite go for it.)

Ghidorah and Mothra look totally out of place, and Baragon poses less of a threat than it did in Frankenstein Conquers the World.

Well, that's Toho's fault for replacing Anguirus with Ghidorah, though I can't blame them for replacing shitty Varan with Mothra... the monsters were supposed to suck ass. Kaneko wanted Godzilla to be badass and kick the monsters' asses easily. Baragon was simply to show Godzilla is totally serious, bro.

The movie flirts with greatness--even toying with some intellectually-stimulating themes--but never quite delivers on any of its fronts. The final product is just another routine monster movie, as half-baked as a Heisei film.

Oh boy, you're in for it now.

[bananaoil]

Get ready to be anally raped by the entire rest of the fandom.

Such a homophobic warning only works if Mini-Godzilla is put off by anal-sex and rape.

Blame Toho, as they did compromise him a lot.

True, but where did Mini-Godzilla blame the director for the compromise. However, considering the mysticism parallels between Gamera 3 and GMK, I think it's safe to say that the beligerant director and writer are as much at fault for the end result of this film as the producers.

Oh boy, you're in for it now.

Yes, he's in for my support.

GMK? More like "GM-Gay." I never imagined the day I would crack a gay joke at my own expense, but there you go.

[Legionmaster]

The movie flirts with greatness--even toying with some intellectually-stimulating themes--but never quite delivers on any of its fronts. The final product is just another routine monster movie, as half-baked as a Heisei film.

That about covers it. Yuri is annoying too. It's just a way overrated movie that some people think is godly. I don't understand why.

[Mini-Godzilla]

Such a homophobic warning only works if Mini-Godzilla is put off by anal-sex and rape. Yes, he's in for my support. GMK? More like "GM-Gay." I never imagined the day I would crack a gay joke at my own expense, but there you go.

You sure do speak some purdy words, Mr. Ben...Bananaoil.

[JVM]

All I'm saying is people are not going to be happy to see someone express a negative outlook on GMK. I [i]used[/b] to be TK's resident GMK hater, I know what I'm talking about.

True, but where did Mini-Godzilla blame the director for the compromise. However, considering the mysticism parallels between Gamera 3 and GMK, I think it's safe to say that the beligerant director and writer are as much at fault for the end result of this film as the producers.

He compared it to the previous films in the same sentence, which DOES imply blame on the director, but I am probably incorrect in retrospect.

[Arrow]

Having finally gotten finished with work and in the midst of packing up for college again, I decided to sit down and watch some of the post-Showa Godzilla movies again in order to see if they'd hold up better (recently, the only Godzilla movies I'd seriously given any attention to were Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla, and Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster). Since so much controversy surrounds this one, I figured I'd just sit down and watch GMK as I would any other Godzilla movie - not worrying about its positives, its message, its flaws, how overrated people claim it is, how it pales in comparison to the Gamera movies, and what it could have been had Toho not interfered. And I was surprised at just how well it held up for me. No longer is GMK just "in my top five", it's moved up to my Top Three. It's a fun, action-packed Godzilla movie that's far better than anything coming out of its era, or the era preceding it for that matter. Barring some rushed effects work, a Ghidorah suit that could've been far better (I rank it behind his Showa, Heisei, and RoM III incarnations but light-years ahead of Kaiser Ghidorah) and underdeveloped side characters, the movie remains (for me, anyway) the best Godzilla film since the '70s (perhaps the '60s, depending on where you place Godzilla vs. Hedorah, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, or Terror of Mechagodzilla).

I loved almost everything about it. While I don't have an original Japanese subtitled print (I'll have to find out where to get that), I found Yuri pretty entertaining and liked the characters surrounding her - even if they don't receive a good amount of development. I liked the fantasy-oriented plot of the film. I liked the treatment of Godzilla's character and the story surrounding him. I also liked the guardian monsters. The acting is solid. The special effects - with the exception of the terrible CGI used for King Ghidorah and some of the flying effects for Mothra, as well as some shots of the CGI underwater Godzilla, most of which, save for the Ghidorah, only last a few seconds - were pretty good considering its competition from 1999, 2001, and 2002. Godzilla's atomic ray has never looked better effects-wise, Mothra was done well for the most part, the miniatures were great. The musical score - while paling in comparison to Oshima's work - is fun to listen to. The Godzilla, Baragon, and Mothra design rank among my favorites. The monster battles were done well, especially the Godzilla vs. Baragon battle and are among my favorite as far as Godzilla movies go.

To me, GMK is a flawed, but good Godzilla film. There's not a single film since the 1970s that I find better done than this one. It entertained me, it kept me watching the whole way through without having to fast-forward through anything, and it inspired me to dig out the old Gamera Trilogy and give them another watch again. I love GMK.

And believe me, I'm not a rabid fanboy. I recognize that GMK has flaws and will never say it's the best Godzilla film since the original - or even since the '60s. But I can't bring myself to hate it just because so many others love it. After all, for GMK to receive the popularity is has, it must've done something right.

And sorry if there's nothing constructive to this post. It's just me rambling, really.

[Gigan X3]

There's too many scenes in this film that are too funny for me to take this seriously, it's not that cool.

[GodzillaDude]

There's too many scenes in this film that are too funny for me to take this seriously, it's not that cool.

What scenes in particular? Do you have the english voice overs on?

[Gigan X3]

There's too many scenes in this film that are too funny for me to take this seriously, it's not that cool.

What scenes in particular? Do you have the english voice overs on?

That's the worst case, I am yet to watch it in english, it's most scenes with King Ghidorah, like when Godzilla throws him, it looks SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOW but not realistic at all, Godzilla even helps him fly by pushing him with his other hand because of how long it's taking Ghidorah to get off him when he was already sent 3 seconds ago.

And then when he's about to crash with a building, the building starts exploding before it even gets touched, afterwards the building starts crumbling one floor after the other as if Ghidorah barely weighted enough to crush it.

That's just ONE long example.

[Darkness]

I love this movie. Simple as that. It's my third favorite film in the franchise. There seems to be a trend now where people see a movie as "too hyped up" or "overrated" and then they like to bash the movie because of they wanna rebel agains the group that loves said movie. Some people probably have legitamate reasons for not liking this movie, but I bet many go against it simply because of the hype it got.

[Gigan X3]

I love this movie. Simple as that. It's my third favorite film in the franchise. There seems to be a trend now where people see a movie as "too hyped up" or "overrated" and then they like to bash the movie because of they wanna rebel agains the group that loves said movie. Some people probably have legitamate reasons for not liking this movie, but I bet many go against it simply because of the hype it got.

I understand this, but I don't think many people here criticize this movie that way...yet.

I never really liked it much though.

[Mini-Godzilla]

I like the movie, but it's not the deepest film ever made, it has its faults and I certainly see why others wouldn't care for it.

Just out of curiosity (considering the topic of this thread), what would you consider to be the negatives of the film? Even as a fan of GMK, I'm sure that you can find some nits to pick.

[DrunkenGamer]

I don't understand why people have a problem with Godzilla's belly. I think it makes him even more menacing, like a buff and strong creature.

Think about it. How many people do you see with pot belly's/beer guts that look like they could knock you out with one punch. That's what GMK Godzilla looks like to me.

Other than that, I had a slight problem with Ghidorah's flailing about, and the fact that he couldn't fly before absorbing power. Also, I feel like he should've grown taller after getting energy.

[Legionmaster]

Think about it. How many people do you see with pot belly's/beer guts that look like they could knock you out with one punch. That's what GMK Godzilla looks like to me.

None, because I can outrun all of them while calling them fat lards and going "tee hee!"

[Gigan X3]

Think about it. How many people do you see with pot belly's/beer guts that look like they could knock you out with one punch. That's what GMK Godzilla looks like to me.

None, because I can outrun all of them while calling them fat lards and going "tee hee!"

This, He looks like he's going to fall flat on his ass once he gets tired.

[Spirit Ghidorah 2010]

Well, Monster Master claims he can kick my ass. But then again, I have yet to see if he has any potential to do so aside from sitting on me

[JVM]

GMK has no negatives. It's the best Godzilla film since the original. Y'all just haters.

Tongue-in-cheek post of course GMK has too many fanboys, although it's definitely one of the top five best Godzilla films ever and the best since the Showa series I've seen (underline those last two words)

[Lamango]

Only negative I had about this movie, besides no Maguma
Is that Anguirus and Varan got shafted from it.

[DrunkenGamer]

Think about it. How many people do you see with pot belly's/beer guts that look like they could knock you out with one punch. That's what GMK Godzilla looks like to me.

None, because I can outrun all of them while calling them fat lards and going "tee hee!"

Well, assuming that all people with beer guts are slow would get you in some trouble.
I've seen my football coach, who's 40-something and has one HELL OF A gut, running down some recievers during practice. His forty time now is like 4.8. There are several guys ont he team like that, and many more in the entire school.

In other words, beer gut =/= slow.

The thing with Godzilla is, if he's too skinny, he looks frail and weak. The gut really reinforced the sense of power and drive behind Godzilla.