Your Three Emblematic Kaiju Films

[Bentley]

If you had to run a three-film mini marathon in a day that you wanted to represent what you like about kaiju films, which three films would you watch?

[Space Hunter M]

Godzilla, Rodan and The Mysterians. I consider them a trilogy of sorts. I always liked the iconic images they had to offer, especially the bright color photography in the last two. Godzilla's grotesque face looming over the hill, the two Rodan dying together in the lava, and the fantastic wideshots of the Mysterian dome.

[Cimmerian Dragon]

Godzilla, Mothra, Monster Zero

[Tamura]

Godzilla's grotesque face looming over the hill, the two Rodan dying together in the lava, and the fantastic wideshots of the Mysterian dome.

There are also some great shots inside of the dome which remind me of similar shots from FORBIDDEN PLANET:

[Tohosaurus]

Just three? lol

It's actually pretty difficult for me to choose three. Godzilla would unquestionably be number one, but the others could all be RoG, GvB, GMK, Iris, Attack of the Legion, Cloverfield, Troll Hunter, etc. It'd be pretty hard to choose as I said.

[Space Hunter M]

There are also some great shots inside of the dome which remind me of similar shots from FORBIDDEN PLANET:

Now that I think about it, some wideshots of the dome's exterior remind me of Quatermass 2:

[Kaiju-King42]

I would personally choose one from each series. From the Showa series I would choose Gojira, obviously. From the Heisei series, GvD would make a good candidate, having entertaining battles, emotional kaiju scenes, crazy super weapons. From the last series, GMK.

[Tyler]

Godzilla (1954)
Rodan (1956)
Mothra (1961)

[Dave McDave]

Gojira, Invasion of the Astro Monsters, and GMK...

[Moonewe73]

Ghidorah (1964) - Japanese version
Frankenstein Conquers The World (1965) - English version
King Kong Escapes (1967) - English version

[GodzillavsJason]

Gojira
Godzilla vs Gigan
Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla 2

My three favorite Godzilla movies

[o.supreme]

Godzilla (1954)
Godzilla vs Mothra (1964)
Destroy All Monsters

[Gojisan866]

-Godzilla
-Mothra
-Gamera 2: Advent of Legion

[HayesAJones]

Just three? Hm, that's a tough one. But, if it's to show what we like about kaiju films, then I'd wanna show the range they have. Let's see...

Hedorah (For the ridiculousness)
Tokyo SOS (For the sheer action and entertainment)
Gojira (For the seriousness)

That way the average person could be shown what they expect first, something that may surprise them a bit second, and something totally unexpected last.

[therealmccoy]

These may change, but as of right now they are:

1) King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962). The reason for this is because it basically put Godzilla on the map; plus, it has arguably the best monster fight in Godzilla history, which is another large and important part of Godzilla.

2) Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964). This film has another great monster battle, but it also has a very enjoyable story. The reason for stating that is to show that even a monster movie can have a good story behind it; in other words, it stamps out the stereotype that all giant monster flicks are nothing more than guys in rubber suits.

3) The Mysterians (1957). I chose this film because it is important in that it helped set the blueprint for what is one of the most popular themes in monster movies: alien invasion. While not being the best alien invasion movie, it is very important in establishing the concept for some great Toho monster flicks to come.

Each of these movies I chose because, to me, they were very important in molding Japanese monster movies into what they have become today. Gojira is an important film in Toho's history, but in my opinion, that particular film is more of a message to me. That is important, but not what made the series popular, in my opinion.

*Side note* I was going to put Godzilla vs. Megalon on this list for the camp factor, but decided against it because that isn't really an important aspect of these movies. That's not to say they aren't fun as can be though.

[tymon]

Godzilla (1954)
Mothra vs. Godzilla
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe

[TokyoVigilante]

King Kong Escapes - For the art direction, the ridiculous subject matter handled in such a dignified way.

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster - For its use of monsters as metaphors other then "science gone wrong".

Mothra vs. Godzilla - For its overall greatness in every category and the use of monsters as characters with non-anthropomorphic means of conveying their motivations and goals.

[Biollante]

Godzilla 1954.
Mothra.
Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster.

Fit for showing the range of Honda's directing talent while keeping a general "Monster" theme.

[Giga Kaiju]

Godzilla (1954)
Mothra Vs Godzilla (1964)
GMK (2001)

[edgaguirus]

Gojira
G vs Mechagodzilla
War of the Gargantuas