Why Does Every one like The showa series

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

These 15 Holy Godzilla Films are the real deal. Like, I could watch all of them any week if I had the strength, but I'm just a mere mortal. And that's just talking about the Showa G films!

[PitchBlackProgress]

These 15 Holy Godzilla Films are the real deal. Like, I could watch all of them any week if I had the strength, but I'm just a mere mortal. And that's just talking about the Showa G films!

I don’t have cable in my room so I literally have these films playing all day everyday as background sound and imagery so as you’d imagine I’ve almost reached ultra instinct mode

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

These 15 Holy Godzilla Films are the real deal. Like, I could watch all of them any week if I had the strength, but I'm just a mere mortal. And that's just talking about the Showa G films!

I don’t have cable in my room so I literally have these films playing all day everyday as background sound and imagery so as you’d imagine I’ve almost reached ultra instinct mode

Noble prize PitchBlackProgress, noble prize.

[Terasawa]

These 15 Holy Godzilla Films are the real deal.

I try to find something I like in each of the Godzilla films, although that's a lot harder for some than others. But the ones I keep revisiting over and over are the Showa entries. I'll work in one or two of the Heisei films on occasion but I don't watch my favorites from that series even half as often as I watch the Showa films. I won't get into an argument about whether they're better movies or not (they are, though) but I enjoy them so much more than anything that came after.

And it's not just nostalgia either. I grew up with the Heisei movies too. I've never been more excited for (or let down by) an upcoming movie in my life than G98. I was still a teenager when the Millennium series came to a close and I closely followed the production of each of those movies, so that nostalgia is about all I have for some of those (looking at you, Megaguirus). My appreciation for the Showa Godzilla movies simply trumps all of that.

So yeah, they are the real deal.

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

These 15 Holy Godzilla Films are the real deal.

I try to find something I like in each of the Godzilla films, although that's a lot harder for some than others. But the ones I keep revisiting over and over are the Showa entries. I'll work in one or two of the Heisei films on occasion but I don't watch my favorites from that series even half as often as I watch the Showa films. I won't get into an argument about whether they're better movies or not (they are, though) but I enjoy them so much more than anything that came after.

And it's not just nostalgia either. I grew up with the Heisei movies too. I've never been more excited for (or let down by) an upcoming movie in my life than G98. I was still a teenager when the Millennium series came to a close and I closely followed the production of each of those movies, so that nostalgia is about all I have for some of those (looking at you, Megaguirus). My appreciation for the Showa Godzilla movies simply trumps all of that.

So yeah, they are the real deal.

Pretty much my thoughts as well. There's also something new I find with each viewing of the Showa films, even if it's a very minor detail.

[Gojirawars 03]

These 15 Holy Godzilla Films are the real deal. Like, I could watch all of them any week if I had the strength, but I'm just a mere mortal. And that's just talking about the Showa G films!

Yes, because Godzilla Raids Again, Son of Godzilla, and Godzilla's revenge are masterpieces of cinema. Like, I enjoy plenty of Showa movies, but from an overall quality perspective, Heisei is the best series by far. I know this forum is mostly made up of older guys who probably hate me for not calling the Showa series a flawless masterpiece, but I enjoy the Showa series in a different way.

But seriously, Godzilla Raids Again and Godzilla's Revenge are both worse than Godzilla (1998).

[KillCrites]

These 15 Holy Godzilla Films are the real deal. Like, I could watch all of them any week if I had the strength, but I'm just a mere mortal. And that's just talking about the Showa G films!

Yes, because Godzilla Raids Again, Son of Godzilla, and Godzilla's revenge are masterpieces of cinema. Like, I enjoy plenty of Showa movies, but from an overall quality perspective, Heisei is the best series by far. I know this forum is mostly made up of older guys who probably hate me for not calling the Showa series a flawless masterpiece, but I enjoy the Showa series in a different way.

But seriously, Godzilla Raids Again and Godzilla's Revenge are both worse than Godzilla (1998).

Son of Godzilla is a masterpiece of cinema actually.

[Gojirawars 03]

These 15 Holy Godzilla Films are the real deal. Like, I could watch all of them any week if I had the strength, but I'm just a mere mortal. And that's just talking about the Showa G films!

Yes, because Godzilla Raids Again, Son of Godzilla, and Godzilla's revenge are masterpieces of cinema. Like, I enjoy plenty of Showa movies, but from an overall quality perspective, Heisei is the best series by far. I know this forum is mostly made up of older guys who probably hate me for not calling the Showa series a flawless masterpiece, but I enjoy the Showa series in a different way.

But seriously, Godzilla Raids Again and Godzilla's Revenge are both worse than Godzilla (1998).

Son of Godzilla is a masterpiece of cinema actually.

Is it, though? Sorry, but no matter what movie he's in, I can't stand Minilla. I don't care if it's Showa Minilla or Millenium Minilla (seriously, Minilla being in Final Wars was the worst part of that movie, easily).

So I hope you're being ironic in your statement. Also, nice profile pic. Me Grimlock like you.

[Godzillian]

Yes, because Godzilla Raids Again, Son of Godzilla, and Godzilla's revenge are masterpieces of cinema. Like, I enjoy plenty of Showa movies, but from an overall quality perspective, Heisei is the best series by far. I know this forum is mostly made up of older guys who probably hate me for not calling the Showa series a flawless masterpiece, but I enjoy the Showa series in a different way.

But seriously, Godzilla Raids Again and Godzilla's Revenge are both worse than Godzilla (1998).

Son of Godzilla is a masterpiece of cinema actually.

Is it, though? Sorry, but no matter what movie he's in, I can't stand Minilla. I don't care if it's Showa Minilla or Millenium Minilla (seriously, Minilla being in Final Wars was the worst part of that movie, easily).

So I hope you're being ironic in your statement. Also, nice profile pic. Me Grimlock like you.

Son of Godzilla is easily better than GVMGII, not even kidding

[Dr. Professor]

I feel like the Showa series was when Toho's creators were at their most creative. Those films had the most heart, in my opinion.

[Godzillian]

I feel like the Showa series was when Toho's creators were at their most creative. Those films had the most heart, in my opinion.

Gotta agree, there is just something about the 50s and 60s films that hasn't been captured since even by some of the best kaiju films that appeared after the era

[Mr_Goji_and_Watch]

Yeah Son of Godzilla is legit good. A lot of the "flaws" people hold against it aren't even issues that affect the storytelling lol

Can someone elaborate why exactly finding Minya to be ugly detracts from the characters, direction, music, effects, or any other element?

[Terasawa]

Son of Godzilla is not the joke that a lot of people think it is but it's not a "masterpiece of cinema." The only Godzilla film that might be is the original and even that's a stretch.

While I definitely prefer the Showa films and think they're generally the best of the Godzilla movies, I don't think there's a huge disparity in quality between those entries and those that came afterwards. But I do think Son of Godzilla is a stronger movie than Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II or the other Heisei and Millennium films. For one thing it has a much tighter narrative.

[Mr. Introspection]

I love the Showa series so much mainly for nostalgia, but there's something special about the original films that I just can't put my finger on. There's just so much charm and creativity with this era.

But seriously, Godzilla Raids Again and Godzilla's Revenge are both worse than Godzilla (1998).

Godzilla Raids Again is criminally underrated.

[KillCrites]

Son of Godzilla is a masterpiece of cinema actually.

Is it, though? Sorry, but no matter what movie he's in, I can't stand Minilla. I don't care if it's Showa Minilla or Millenium Minilla (seriously, Minilla being in Final Wars was the worst part of that movie, easily).

So I hope you're being ironic in your statement. Also, nice profile pic. Me Grimlock like you.

I'm not being ironic it's a legit great film with a colorful cast of memorable characters, a fun/cute story, pretty good special effects/puppetry, and a fun lively setting. I always liked Minilla and find him to be an accurate representation of how real babies/toddlers act and he allows the movie to show a new side of Godzilla's character that was previously unexplored at the time.

[Godzillian]

Son of Godzilla is a masterpiece of cinema actually.

Is it, though? Sorry, but no matter what movie he's in, I can't stand Minilla. I don't care if it's Showa Minilla or Millenium Minilla (seriously, Minilla being in Final Wars was the worst part of that movie, easily).

So I hope you're being ironic in your statement. Also, nice profile pic. Me Grimlock like you.

I'm not being ironic it's a legit great film with a colorful cast of memorable characters, a fun/cute story, pretty good special effects/puppetry, and a fun lively setting. I always liked Minilla and find him to be an accurate representation of how real babies/toddlers act and he allows the movie to show a new side of Godzilla's character that was previously unexplored at the time.

Don't forget that great score, matches the mood of the film perfectly

[PitchBlackProgress]

Besides all that, Toho’s greensman went all out for that film, the island set and all its miniature foliage is just so beautiful to look at…

I too fail to see how Minya dictates whether a movie’s good or not, I full heartedly agree with what’s been said so far, I’ll even go to the extreme and say All Monsters Attack/Godzilla’s Revenge had more heart and charm than GvMG2

It’s one thing to not enjoy the Showa series or to even prefer the Heisei series over it, but to act like it was definitively better is a joke.

[GojiDog]

To answer the broader topic at hand, the Showa series was many fans' first exposure to Godzilla. For better or worse, these were the films I and many others grew up with, so of course we like them.

That golden age period of the early to mid 60s also represents a very fun and colorful era for Japanese cinema as those movies represented a style and high mark of quality for Godzilla's key creators.

Now I'm not going to sit here and say I love every entry, but the showa series of Godzilla films also ran for over two decades and 15 films (and keep in mind that's only counting the Godzilla films and not all the other standalones or other works from other studios like Daiei), so expecting all of them to be good is asking too much.

But whenever I revisit the Showa Series, I tend to go for my old favorites: Gojira, Mothra Vs. Godzilla, Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster, Destroy All Monsters, Godzilla Vs. Hedorah (I will defend that movie to the death!), and the two Mechagodzilla movies, and all of them offer something that keeps me glued in or I find myself appreciating the film in a whole new way. Heck, even the bad ones will have at least one thing that I look forward to seeing. I hate Godzilla Vs. Megalon, but I'll even watch that for Godzilla's dropkick and the Jet Jaguar song.

As for the old special effects, we're talking about movies that were made decades ago. Of course the visuals aren't always going to hold up, BUT, there is something charming to me that they worked within their limitations and worked their butts off to make what they could. The Godzilla movies were some of the first movies I remember watching that got me interested in how films were made because all the different techniques and technologies used to bring Godzilla to live and have him trounce through a city was so fascinating to me. Other movies that had that impact on me were Star Wars, Jim Henson's work (Dark Crystal for example), and the work of Ray Harryhausen, all of which possess special effects that probably don't seem as convincing as they would have decades ago, but they still have a wonder and magic to them that keep me coming back. I will always watch a "Making Of" Behind the Scenes doc for any of these movies, as opposed to today, where I could not care any less to see modern blockbusters where everything is CGI'd and blue screened and, as a result, doesn't seem as cool to make.

I guess to sum it up, nostalgia is a powerful drug and you never forget your first love and for many of us, the Showa series was our first love when it comes to Godzilla and kaijus in general.

[Smuggers]

but from an overall quality perspective, Heisei is the best series by far.

What metric are we using to judge the quality? How serious they are? How much "zomg continuity" there is? The amount of cHaRaCtEr ArCs?

[eabaker]

Of course the visuals aren't always going to hold up,

Not from a purely technical standpoint, maybe (although the goal of these movies was never exactly verisimilitude). But in terms of design, color and composition many of these movies include dynamic and even beautiful images in their sfx sequences.