5/14 'Godzilla' double feature

GOJIRA (1954)
The Original Japanese Masterpiece

"We'll be with your father soon"

IMDB.com Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Availability: Still in-print and moderately-priced.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKrj1ymJzmo

Watch Online: Sorry, kiddos; you're just gonna have to buy this one.
OH SHIT! Moment: The first glimpse of Godzilla, of it as it peaks over a ridge and gives its signature spine-tingling roar.

Beverage: A variation of A Godzilla

Ingredients:

• 1 pint Beer
• ¾ oz Sake
• ½ oz Midori Melon Liqueur
• ¼ oz Everclear Alcohol

Method:

A variation on the Green Lizard Martini, here comes the Godzilla Martini! Ideally chill the glass the drink is to be poured into. Mix the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, strain into glass. If mixed well, a thin layer of ice crystals should be on top of the drink.

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In anticipation for this weekend's release of 'Godzilla', we have a double-bill tonight; with the original Japanese monster movie, 'Gojira', and the inferior American creature feature, 'Godzilla: King of the Monsters'. Let me make it very clear, the former is a masterpiece; and the latter. . . well, let's just say 'King of the Monsters' is a film.

This is going to be hard to do; but before you watch this, imagine yourself with no previous knowledge of Godzilla. Wipe clean the iconic image of the beast and its roar from your memory. Prepare your mind for for whatever uncertainties may arise. For now, your cranium is no place for a giant, fire-breathing, mutated lizard (which I realize is kinda hard, especially since I'll be posting pictures of him all throughout this review). Okay? Good.

The reason I ask that of you is so you can appreciate the mounting suspense which makes 'Gojira' a truly classic and frightening film.

When 'Gojira' was made, Japan was a country nine years removed from the devastating A-Bomb which ended their participation in World War II. The film was a symbol for nuclear holocaust; a metaphor for atomic weapons. On another hand, it was also nature's revenge on mankind for creating the bomb.'Gojira' was a parallel for nuclear war, as well as its physical manifestation. 

The film begins with a fishing boat sailing the ocean. Everyone is at peace, living on their daily lives. With a flash, everything is gone; destroyed by some unknown monster. A few survivors make it to a neighboring island. Paralyzed with fear, the island community performs a night-time ceremony to appease the unknown beast. Obviously, this doesn't help, since there's still a whole mess of movie left.

Finally, at the twenty-one minute-mark, we get a quick glimpse of the creature. With a spine-numbing roar, the average movie-goer experienced something foreign -- true fright. The few shots we see add to the suspense. It's a clear representation of American nuclear weapons; so, like I said, "true fright".

From here, the movie shifts to Tokyo. All is well until Godzilla emerges from the bay and attacks the city. After a quick attack leaves the city partially destructed, the military bands together to build an electrical tower to kill Godzilla, should he appear again. That night, Godzilla attacks, destroying the tower and the rest of the city. The film gets extremely dark, leaving countless citizens dead or wounded. 

The devastation of the attack is an allegory for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The filmmaker spares no expense showcasing the complete force of the beast. The most shocking scene is of a mother huddled with her kids, telling them, "We'll be with your father soon. We'll see him in heaven". 

Back to the plot, Japanese scientists have been working on an oxygen-destroyer, which they use to kill Godzilla. As the creature sinks in the ocean, it disintegrates to nothing. The sobering moment of 'Gojira' is just before the closing credits, as one of the film's scientists turns this creature feature into a cautionary tale; if mankind continues to test nuclear weapons, another Godzilla may appear again one day.

On my scale:
Overall Enjoyment ----15
Redeeming Qualities---14
Rewatchability---------7
Special Effects/Fun----10
Directing/Quality------10
Plot/Storyline----------10
Pacing-----------------7
Dialogue/Acting-------9
TOTAL---------------82

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GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS (1956)

The (Lesser) American Version

"For some of the victims, there was hope. For others, there would be no tomorrow."

IMDB.com Rating: 6.7 out of 10

Availability: Still in-print and moderately-priced.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h1YmMbQxow

Watch Online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y50mMVa9Q70
OH SHIT! Moment: Coming to terms with the fact this entire film is to be commentated by Raymond Burr.

Beverage: Another variation of A Godzilla

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Liqueur, melon
• 2 oz. Rum, coconut
• 1 oz. Sake'
• 1 oz. Orange Juice
• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice

Method:

A variation on the Green Lizard Martini, here comes the Godzilla Martini! Ideally chill the glass the drink is to be poured into. Mix the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, strain into glass. If mixed well, a thin layer of ice crystals should be on top of the drink.

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I'm not saying you shouldn't watch 'King of the Monsters'; but I am saying it's not necessary.

We are dealing basically with the same movie as the Japanese version; except a bunch of stock footage and scenes with Raymond Burr are added in while he commentates the entirety of the film. The original was viewed in a California Chinatown theater by Edmund Goldman, who, later, purchased the international rights to the film. Quickly, an American adaptation was put into development. Canadian actor, Raymond Burr, was cast as the new lead, Steve Martin. With editing and stand-ins, the filmmakers were able to make it seem as though Raymond had been in the film's initial release. The picture's subtitles were taken out and an American-dub was placed over the film's original soundtrack. Burr narrates much of the movie to give 'King of the Monsters' a documentary feel. The film also went through some trimming, which would make the Western audience more comfortable. Such trimmed scenes and plot points included an arranged marriage between the film's heroine and a scientist, her affair with a naval officer, and most importantly, much of the nuclear holocaust theme. 

Now, if you're up for a real challenge, Luigi Cozzi re-released 'Godzilla' in 1977. After being unable to obtain the rights to the original, Luigi bought the American release and edited a new version. He colorized the whole film frame-by-frame and released it in Italy. His version was met with positive reviews; and one of the stills graced the cover of Fangoria no. 1. Theaters went as far as making the seats shake whenever Godzilla took a step, for added effect. This extremely hard to find version has since been referred to as 'Cozilla'. Now go forth and bring it to me.

Please..?

On my scale:
Overall Enjoyment ----13
Redeeming Qualities---15
Rewatchability---------8
Fun/Special Effects----10
Directing/Quality------4
Plot/Storyline----------6
Pacing-----------------8
Dialogue/Acting-------7
TOTAL---------------71

All that said, 'Godzilla; King of the Monsters' is still enjoyable. It's fun and campy; a more lighthearted effort than its cautionary predecessor. Movies like this and beer go hand-in-hand. There is nothing in this world more rewarding than watching a campy horror movie and downing a few Shiners -- if only it were in the back of a double-wide Airstream, I'd die a happy man. Both of these films were released by Toho; and are totally worth buying. I remember getting this as a birthday present for myself when I turned 19. I payed $8, which is completely fine for a quality release. 'Gojira' is a truly great film which focuses on real themes. "Frightening" is an understatement when you really look at the impact nuclear war had on the world; and Godzilla is a perfect manifestation of that.