Talkback: Godzilla Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)

[Mechagigan]

The effects in Godzilla movies are not supposed to be invisible effects; we're meant to know that they are effects, and to consciously respond to them as such. Most important, to me, is that the effects are used to create dynamic and beautiful images that contribute meaningfully to the tone and style of the movie.

The 70's have some great examples of how this is true - Godzilla Vs Gigan isn't a perfect movie, but there are some great shots of Gigan during the destruction scene. GvMG has the shot where MG attacks monsters on both sides, ToMG has a bunch of great shots with Titanosaurus and MG - none of these have absolutely stunning effects, but they're used well.

[GalacticPetey]

Is the whole story about Anguirus being planned as the carcass that washes up true? It kinda sounds like one of those "Destoroyah was planned for FW" type rumors.

[Irys X]

Is the whole story about Anguirus being planned as the carcass that washes up true? It kinda sounds like one of those "Destoroyah was planned for FW" type rumors.

It's true. The director confirmed it. He didn't use Anguirus because if he had been able to make another movie after SOS, he wanted the possibility of including Ang.

[GalacticPetey]

Cool. Thanks for confirming that. It's something I had always seen thrown around but I had never seen a source.

[tymon]

They're still visually pleasing, though.

I honestly find it pretty ugly. Personal aesthetic preferences.

I think the effects look nice, but the lighting and the fake looking skies are really ugly to me, especially in S.O.S.

[eabaker]

They're still visually pleasing, though.

I honestly find it pretty ugly. Personal aesthetic preferences.

I think the effects look nice, but the lighting and the fake looking skies are really ugly to me, especially in S.O.S.

Yeah, the lighting is what really kills it for me.

[Lain Of The Wired]

My entire life is a lie
I JUST found out that Kiryu doesn't go bezerk because of Godzilla 1954, Kiryu just becomes self-aware in this film. I always thought it was weird seeing that final message to the piolet when I thought Ogi-Goji was in control.

[Tohosaurus]

My entire life is a lie
I JUST found out that Kiryu doesn't go bezerk because of Godzilla 1954, Kiryu just becomes self-aware in this film. I always thought it was weird seeing that final message to the piolet when I thought Ogi-Goji was in control.

And speaking of some kind of AI, that would've been awesome for them to really explore in the movies. It's more or less covered in the first Kiryu movie, but more as plot convenience than it is a real topic that could have added sophistication to the film. It was one of those premises that'd lend itself well to being a more intelligent sci-fi film rather than just an action one, and not too many Godzilla stories are quite like that.

[GODZILLA2877]

Did Godzilla die in Tokyo S.O.S.? I sure hope not because if you watch through the credits, he is still roaring while he is attached to Kiryu.

[Tohosaurus]

Did Godzilla die in Tokyo S.O.S.? I sure hope not because if you watch through the credits, he is still roaring while he is attached to Kiryu.

The film is intentionally ambiguous, although given the history of the character I am personally confident that Godzilla survived.

[Kaijugriffey]

Did Godzilla die in Tokyo S.O.S.? I sure hope not because if you watch through the credits, he is still roaring while he is attached to Kiryu.

I always assumed he was simply going into one of his regenerative sleeps and getting dumped at the bottom of the sea.

[cloverfan98]

What was the plan for that after credits stinger? I remember the rumors of a third film featuring a Godzilla Vs Godzilla plot with a organic clone of Godzilla.

[Kaiju no Kami]

What was the plan for that after credits stinger? I remember the rumors of a third film featuring a Godzilla Vs Godzilla plot with a organic clone of Godzilla.

I don't think there was any plan. It looks like the DNA samples are from different monsters, but the door closes to fast to let you read any of them. Or rather, the camera doesn't allow you to actually see the names, but you can catch the date to the one above Godzilla and it is a different date.

[Mechagigan]

I imagine it had to do with what became Final Wars, seeing as there was more than one DNA thing and the Kiryu universe already had multiple Kaiju in it that could've been used. Of course, the FW we got was unrelated, but I'm guessing there as originally ideas floating around that FW/50th Anniversary Monster Mash Movie could be apart of the Kiryu series.

[szmigiel]

There was the image from page 39 of the Godzilla X Mothra X Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.: Super Complete Works

http://www.tohokingdom.com/books/prev/g ... cw_p39.htm

There was much debate back in 2004, if that was what the DNA bank teaser was alluding too, and if that was part of a pitch for a third Kiryu movie for the 50th Anniversary.

[Kaijugriffey]

There was the image from page 39 of the Godzilla X Mothra X Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.: Super Complete Works

http://www.tohokingdom.com/books/prev/g ... cw_p39.htm

There was much debate back in 2004, if that was what the DNA bank teaser was alluding too, and if that was part of a pitch for a third Kiryu movie for the 50th Anniversary.

OMG we could have had MechaVaran and MechaEbira and instead we got mutant matrix X-Men in bad sunglasses? Bleah!

[Legion1979]

We couldn't have wound up with anything, because there was never a plan to take the Kiryu storyline further than two films.

[LSD Jellyfish]

Not to mention the Kiryu saga wrapped up all the loose ends at the ending of TSOS so it's not like they had anywhere to go with it. The image was probably just an idea of something cool and was never really planned to be a film or something.

Also, I never really heard any theories on the post credit scene in TSOS. Does the shot of the Baragon clone confirm anything? If this is all true it makes me respect the Kiryu saga a lot more because it connects many films to the franchise that weren't previously cannon.

Edit, here's something from Anthony Romero's review showing this was pretty much just conjectured fan fiction:
"The most well remembered feature from this black and white section, though, are some drawings and concepts for a "fan fiction" style swing at extending the "Kiryu saga". The idea is fairly elaborate, using the DNA sequence from this movie's finale and the overall concept of Kiryu to create an army of mechs that include mechanized versions of Varan, Kamoeabs, Baragon, Kumonga, and others. Again, as it seems quite common for someone to see these images out of context and get the wrong idea, these concepts were never intended for an actual movie but more of a "what if" scenario for more ideas from this storyline."

[edgaguirus]

It wouldn't be the first time Toho has left a door slightly open. Whenever they kill Godzilla, they always do something to ensure his return.

[tymon]

We couldn't have wound up with anything, because there was never a plan to take the Kiryu storyline further than two films.

Thank god...