#Godzilla vs Kong Sequel

[ulkaralakbarova]

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire | Official Trailer 2 Unleashed

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire | Official Trailer 2 Unleashed Prepare yourself for the most monumental battle this year with the release of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” Official Trailer 2. The legendary rivalry escalates as these iconic Titans face off once again, not just against each other but against an unseen threat that could alter the course of nature and humanity forever. Set to hit…

[adm-starblitzsteel-4305]

I'm...I'M NOT ENTIRELY FUCKING READY FOR THIS.

Link:

https://x.com/DiscussingFilm/status/1776008584930775491

[hollywoodhandle]

The Rise of Godzilla, King of Monsters.

In honor of the Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire trailer dropping, I thought it would be fun to venture into the origins of the number one kaiju himself, “Gojira” aka Godzilla. Godzilla was famously inspired in part, by the Daigo Fukuryū Maru boat incident. On March 1, 1954, the crew of the Daigo Fukuryū Maru (Lucky Dragon No. 5) fishing boat was contaminated by radioactive dust from the United…

[ask-red-and-solomon]

:0

New Godzilla Film Announcement!!!!

[gtinthepot]

MASTER LIST OF GIANT/TINY CONTENT

Disclaimer, I have not looked up everything on this list and most of it was suggested from others. I cannot promise the accuracy of the content. Suggestions for the list are more than welcome, leave a comment on the post for people to browse through after checking to see if its on the list already :)

I’ll be editing and adding to it here and there, so some reblogs of the post might be outdated. I suggest clicking on the source /main post to get the newest version. The old list can be found here.

7 deadly sins

A bug's life

Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (some episodes)

Adventure time

Alice in Wonderland

Alvin and the chipmunks

Amour de poshe (the girl in his pocket)

Animorphs: #24

Ant bully

Ant man (1 and 2)

Antz

Archies weird mysteries (one ep)

Army of darkness

Art Attack

Arthur and the Invisibles

Athena complex (webcomic)

Attack of the 50 foot cheerleader.

Attack of the 50 Foot Woman

Attack of the puppet people

Barbie and the nut cracker

barbie movies (look up specifics)

Barbie Thumbelina

Beastars

Beatle juice

Berserk

Big man japan

Bottle Fairy

Bramble the mountain king. (video game)

Brave little tailor (mickey mouse)

Bugs life?

Captain America: Civil War

Card captor sakura (one ep and some scenes)

Christmas Stories: The Tin Soldier is a good one.

Clifford the big red dog

Cuphead: Don’t deal with the Devil (mostly with certain bosses)

Darby o’gill and the little people

David the Gnome

Disenchantment

Dollman

Downsizing

Dr cyclops

Dr who (one ep: into the dalek)

Dragon ball

Dungeon meshi (a few chapters)

Ella Enchanted

Elusive people.(video game)

Epic

Ernest and Celestine (more of a mini-giant/doll-sized tiny size dynamic)

Fairytale: a true story (1997)

Fantastic Planet

Fantastic voyage

Ferngully

Final space episode 5

Frame arms girl.

Futurama (some episodes)

Gelias and the giant

Gen V

George shrinks

Gods of Egypt

Godzilla

Grandpa in my pocket

Gravity falls (one episode)

Grounded (video game)

Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2 more so than the first one)

Gulliver's Children (webtoon)

Gullivers travels (1939, 1977, 2010) as a well as a mini-tv series

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child: Aladdin

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child: Season 2, Episode 2 thumbelina

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child: The shoemaker and the elves

Helmecrons

Help I shrunk my friends

Help I shrunk my parents

Help I shrunk my teacher

Here come the littles

Hilda

Honey I blew up the kid

Honey I shrunk the audience ride at Disneyland

Honey I shrunk the kids

Hornby sets

How to Keep a Mummy ( Miira no Kaikata)

Inch high private eye

Innerspace

Invincible (Some episodes)

It takes two (game)

Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story

Jack the giant slayer

Jackie Chan Adventures (one episode)

Jaimes and the giant peach

Jitsu wa watashi wa (mostly the 4th episode)

Journey 2 The Mysterious Island

King kong

Kubo and the two strings

Land of the giants

Legoland

Lilo and Stitch the series (two episodes)

Little (Grrl) 

little nightmares 1 and 2 (game)

Littles

Lord of the rings

Macross sequel shows (-anime-)

Mars attacks!

Mickey and the bean stalk

Micro Machines

Micro Ventures

Militsioner (Video game)

Minami-Kun no Koibito (2015)

Minish cap (video game)

Moana

Modest Heroes Kanini and Kanino (Short film)

Monster (video game)

Monsters Vs Aliens

My hero Academia (some episodes)

My Little Lover

My Miniature Manual (webtoon)

My Monster Secret (specifically one character)

natsume yuujinchou

Nau-lmg

Night at the Museum

Nils holgersson

Ok Ko! lets be Heroes season 3 episode 9 Planet Vacation

One Punch Man (some episodes)

Onward (a few scenes)

Osmosis Jones

Ozzy and Drix

Pans labyrinth

Paper mario sticker star (Video game, two levels)

Peter pan

Pikmin 1, 2, and 3 (game)

Pinocchio

Pokemon sun/moon anime second season (one ep)

Ponyo

Rainbow Magic

Ratatouille

Rick n morty (one episode)

Robotech (-comic series; new ones-)

Robotech (season one/The Macross Saga) (-anime-)

Robotech Remix (-comic series-)

Super Danganronpa 2 (video game, final boss)

Shadow of the colossus (video game)

Small blessings (webcomic)

Small Lands Survive The Wilds (Video game)

Small soldiers (1998)

Smallfoot

Smurfs

Smurfs lost village

Snorks

Spirit of wonder: The shrinking of miss China

SpongeBob SquarePants (the wumbo episode)

Steven universe

Stormlight Archive (-book series; has tiny fae people-)

Strange days at blake holesy high (one episode)

Strange magic

Stuart Little

Sugar apple fairy tale.

Super giant robot brothers.

Tales to Astonish (comics)

Ted Hughes

Tentacular. (video game)

The 3 worlds of gulliver

The 7th voyage of sinbad

The amazing colossal man

The bee movie

The BFG

The bfg 1989

The borrowers (1973, 1993 1997, 2011)

The Borrowers (Arrietty)

The Borrowers exhibition at the Hancock Museum

The Boys (some episodes)

The dwarf and the giant 1901

The Fantastic Planet

The hobbit

The hulk

The incredible shrinking man

The incredible shrinking woman

The Indian in the cupboard

The iron giant

The iron man

The Journey.

The Last Guardian (video game)

The Last of the Huggermuggers by Christopher Pearse Cranch

The Little Bits

The littles

The magic school bus

The nut cracker

The owl house (one episode)

The phantom planet

The Rescuers

The return of the Borrowers 1992 and 1993 tv series

The Secret of Nimh

The secret world of Arrietty

The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde

The simsons (one episode)

The storyteller (one ep)

The Suspicion and #42

The Sword in the Stone

The tale of the princess kaguya

The ultimate avengers (1 & 2)

Thumbelina

Time loader. (video game)

Tinkerbell and The Great Fairy Rescue

Tinkerbell and The Pirate Fairy

Tinkerbell movies

Tinykin. (video game)

Tom and Jerry

Tomb thumb

Townsmen VR. (video game)

Toy story

Transformers

Transformers (old series)

Troll hunter

Troll in central park...??

Trolls

Trolls band together

Ultraman cosmos

Underdogs

Unravel. Porcelain tales. (video game)

Valkyrie Drive Mermaid (one episode.)

Village of the giants

Violet Goes to The Beach (webtoon)

VR Giants. (video game)

We’re Back! A dinosaur story

When the Dolls Woke (book)

Wild Kratts

Wild, wild planet

Wiplala

Wrath of the Titans (one scene)

Wreck it ralph

Yarn (video game)

Zootopia

[youraveragelizard269]

”Godzilla 2014 vs Godzilla 2019 vs Godzilla 2021 vs Godzilla 2024”||Godzilla Fanart Remake

This is a remake of old art I made back in 2021! It was this little film I had in my imagination about all the MonsterVerse Godzillas in film absolutely destroying each other in Hong Kong, and obviously, the 2021 version wins and there would be sequels to this. This is the same thing except I added in the 2024 Godzilla

Remake (2024)

Original (2021)

[wanderersrest]

An Abbreviated History of Mecha Part 1: The Mighty Atomic Prelude (The 50's and 60's)

Welcome to An Abbreviated History of Mecha anime. Today, we're starting at, as Fraulein Maria would say, at the very beginning. We're taking a quick peak at the beginning of the canon, which means that we're starting back in 1950 (specifically 1952). I should also confess right now: there are two series on here that are demonstrably NOT mecha shows. However, due to their sheer influence on Japanese media as a whole, I feel it is important to bring them up as being honorary mecha shows due to their sheer influence pop culture.

Tetsuwan Atom/Mighty Atom/Astro Boy (1952)

Starting us off is Osamu Tezuka's seminal manga series, Mighty Atom. Known over here in the west as Astro Boy, this series would be what kickstarts a lot of the modern anime and manga industry due to its sheer popularity. Astro Boy would also be one of two series that would be emblematic of how Japanese pop culture would portray the recent use of atomic energy. It should also be worth noting that realizing that Astro technically is a mecha is what got me to start using a broader definition of mecha instead of the classic giant robot definition.

Due to its fame, Mighty Atom has receive multiple adaptations throughout the years. Of note are:

The original 1963 anime.

New Mighty Atom (1980) which updates the series to 1980's animation standards.

The 2003 anime, which does the same, but to the standards of early 2000's anime.

The 2009 CGI movie.

Gojira/Godzilla (1954, honorary mecha series 1)

1954 would also give us Ishiro Honda's Godzilla, the movie that would make tokusatsu-styled live action stories in Japan. Godzilla, alongside RKO's King Kong, would play a large part in popularizing the concept of kaiju. And boy will kaiju play a big part in the history of the mecha canon. As we'll see soon enough, the history of tokusatsu heroes, kaiju, and robots are all intertwined with one another.

Godzilla has starred in numerous movies since the original, but for stories based off of the original there are:

Godzilla Raids Again (1955), a direct sequel.

Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: All Out Monsters Attack (2001), a Heisei-era production that uses the original '54 Godzilla as a manifestation of the horrors of World War II.

Shin Godzilla (2016), a re-imagining of the original movie set in contemporary times directed by Hideakki Anno.

Godzilla Minus One (2023), the most recent outing inspired in part by GMK.

Tetsujin 28-go/Gigantor (1956)

(Oh hey, this gif again!)

Tetsujin 28-go is the creation of one Mitsuteru Yokoyama and is generally regarded as the grandfather of the giant robot style of mecha. Tetsujin is unique amongst mecha in that it is controlled not by a pilot riding inside of it, but by a little kid with a controller. Tetsujin 28, alongside Mazinger Z, would help to codify a lot of the tropes common to the classic superhero mecha anime that would be prevalent in the 70's. Like Mighty Atom, Tetsujin would receive multiple adaptations throughout the decades.

Shin Tetsujin 28-Go/The New Adventures of Gigantor (1980), which updates Tetsujin's design to look more in line with something like Mazniger Z.

Tetsujin 28-go FX (1992), sporting a radically different look that's more akin to something out of the Brave Franchise.

Tetsujin 28 (2004), a faithful adaptation of the original manga (at least I think it is) directed by Yasuhiro Imagawa.

Cyborg 009 (1964)

Created by Shotaro Ishinomori in 1964, Cyborg 009 is another classic human-sized mecha series. Cyborg 009 would be the first of many hits for Ishinomori, and he will be mentioned again later in this series.

Oh boy... I am not a Cyborg 009 nut, but in terms of adaptations, Cyborg 009 has:

The 1966 Film

The 1980 Film

009 Re:Cyborg (2012)

The Call For Justice Trilogy (2016)

The 1968 Anime

The 1979-1980 Anime

The 2001-2002 Anime (I actually remember when Toonami aired this series!)

Cyborg 009 vs Devilman (2015 OVA)

If you want to follow someone who follows a lot of Shotaro Ishinomori's works, I'd recommend checking out YouTuber Mercury Falcon for more info about Ishinomori.

Ultra Q and Ultraman (1966, honorary mecha series 2)

(The urge to use a gif of Ingraman is strong)

Ultra Q and Ultraman are the first two entries of Tsuburaya's legendary Ultra franchise, with the latter in particular being one of the most famous pop culture icons of all time. Ultraman's influence on Japanese media is so large, that I'll be mentioning it at least once in relation to other series later on.

Ultraman, like Godzilla before him, would get the Hideaki Anno treatment with Shin Ultraman in 2022.

Giant Robo/Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot (1967)

Another one of Mitsuteru Yokoyama's classic manga series, Giant Robo deserves a mention due to its influence on tokusatsu. Giant Robo would usher in an era of tokusatsu that would rely on using giant robots as the main protagonist.

In terms of adaptations, there are two animated adaptations, but only one will be listed here:

GR: Giant Robo (2007)

If you want to learn a little bit more about the history behind Giant Robo, I'd recommend checking out blunova's video on Giant Robo for more info on this important series.

Conclusion

As the 60's would lead way into the 70's, we would see a lot more live action tokusatsu series involving giant robots. Of course, this would be untenable due to how expensive it was to do tokusatsu effects for television. However, one robot would appear in animation that would change everything.

(Read in the voice of Tessho Genda) AND ITS NAME IS...!!!!

[grandeoatmilklatte]

HL Characters and their Horror Movie Subgenres

+ some horror movies that fit said subgenre!

I'm back with some Horror movie head cannons for our favorite HL characters! A great way to kick of spooky season!

This is a sequel of sorts to my HL Characters and their Horror Movie Tropes post, so feel free to check that one out too if you haven't already! Please know that I love all of these characters, so please don't be offended by any of my assessments if they seem "mean". This is all in good fun and of course just my opinion.

Ominis Gaunt - Revenge Horror:

Who doesn’t love a good Horror movie where the main character gets revenge on anyone who hurt them? A good revenge movie feels cathartic for both the character and the audience, and makes you feel for the character, even when they’re doing unsavory things. While we never see Ominis enact any kind of revenge on anyone, and although this concept could apply to Seb as well, I’m giving this to Omi because he has enough issues in his life that he’s very capable of going crazy and enacting revenge on his family. Some movies that come to mind for Ominis are Carrie, Revenge, and Midsommar - all commonly considered “good for her” movies where the female lead gets revenge on those who harm her (but is Midsommar really a “good for her” movie in the end? That’s a topic for another day.) Bonus: Speaking of his family, although this is definitely not a subgenre, fucked up family horror movies fit Ominis well also - Hereditary, The Hills Have Eyes, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre come to mind. 

Sebastian Sallow - Psychological Horror:

There’s an argument to be made that Seb is manipulative throughout the game. Begging the MC to talk to the keepers to help with Anne’s illness, calling the MC ignorant for seeking help from a goblin only to immediately take it back, justifying murder, etc. This gives him the makings of psychological horror. Psychological Horror leaves you tense, confused, and wondering until the very end if you’re being played or not. Some movies that come to mind here are Black Swan, Watcher (Not THE Watcher like the movie about the house), and The Lodge. Bonus: definitely not a real subgenre, but sibling/twin related Horror fits Seb also - such as Goodnight Mommy and The Uninvited, which are also Psychological Horror movies that involve twins/siblings. 

Garreth Weasley - Horror Comedy:

As mentioned in my previous post, Garreth is the comic relief friend, so it seems only appropriate that his subgenre is Horror Comedy. He’s the type to crack a joke during a tense moment. Horror Comedies can sometimes be a little bit scary, but also funny and lighthearted. Movies like Shaun of the Dead, Ready or Not, and Cabin in the Woods fall into this subgenre, all varying in their ratio of horror vs comedy. Bonus entry: mad scientist Horror movies like Frankenstein and Reanimator, cause let’s face it, Garreth would totally bring something back from the dead in a lab (accidentally or not).

Leander Prewitt - Found Footage:

No Found Footage movie is complete without some incredibly brave dummy doing something or going somewhere they shouldn’t, and bringing a camera along for the ride. Leander, high off that Gryffindor pride and eager to prove himself would absolutely be all in for this. Coupled with the nervous shaky hands he would absolutely have and refusal to let go of the camera no matter how impractical it gets to keep running with it, and you have your perfect Found Footage film. Movies like Gonjiam Haunted Asylum and Grave Encounters fit Leander perfectly. 

Poppy Sweeting - Creature Feature:

This feels pretty obvious, but with her love of beasts, Poppy is of course a Creature Feature. To her, the creature can do no wrong, and the humans deserve whatever they get. Movies like Godzilla, Kong Kong, and Jaws (I said what I said. Jaws is a horror movie) all fit this subgenre. 

Imelda Reyes - Slasher Horror:

Imelda is brutal and cutthroat competitive, making her a perfect Slasher film. Whether she’s the Final Girl, or the Slasher herself, she’ll make for a killer good time! The older, campy-er Slashers are definitely more her style. Movies like Slumber Party Massacre and Black Christmas (1978) fit her. 

Amit Thakkar - Space Horror:

This might not technically be a subgenre, but let’s be real, what’s scarier than being completely alone in space? Amit would definitely say nothing is scarier. The obvious movie choice here is the Alien franchise. In my last post, I almost made Amit’s character trope be the Final Girl, with Ripley as his character choice but I changed it cause there were too many Final Girls, but Amit would absolutely vibe with Ripley. 

Natty Onai - Body Horror:

Natty’s animagus ability of course falls into the subgenre of body horror, specifically any body horror involving someone turning into an animal. Although we always see animagus transformations being seamless, imagine if they weren’t. Imagine having to watch a human transform into an animal slowly and grotesquely. Movies like The Fly and American Werewolf in London are what come to mind for Natty due to their horrific depictions of transforming into an animal. 

✨And now, please enjoy some silly bonus entries!✨

MC - Possession Horror:

Why is MC so overpowered? Surely the MC is possessed and this is the work of a demon. No normal person should be this powerful with virtually no explanation, magical or not. Is it ever explained why MC had ancient magic to begin with? No, no it’s not. MC probably messed with a ouija board and got themselves possessed. Movies like The Exorcist and The Exorcism of Emily Rose fit here well cause our MC is in desperate need of an exorcism.

Richard Jackdaw - Paranormal/Ghost Horror:

Duh. Movies include Paranormal Activity and The Others. 

Duncan Hobhouse - N/A:

The guy is afraid of a puffskein, for crying out loud. There's no way he's getting a subgenre. His movie would be Hotel Transylvania.

[rustybottlecap]

So back in 2021 The Asylum released Ape vs. Monster, their “response” to Godzilla vs. Kong. Say what you will about that movie, but I was AMAZED by the design of the titular monster, Gila, and was about to praise the hell out of them for it:

...but then it turned out they just bought the model from TurboSquid and so can you too (link in the source), it’s called “Dino Beast”:

So now they released a sequel to their movie, Ape vs. Mecha Ape, and the design of the titular Mecha Ape is also amazing. Suspiciously so.

I couldn’t find the model on TurboSquid, but I thought it looked familiar.

Searching for figures online where I live it’s very common to come across bootlegs, now more than ever with 3D printing technology, some people may get their hands on the file of a model someone else did and either sell the 3d printed figure or the file itself, most likely without the original artist’s knowledge. Add to that the popularity of Godzilla vs. Kong, wich featured a Mechagodzilla, and you come across stuff like this:

Meet “Mecha King Kong”, as online sellers call it. I assume they won’t call it “Mechanikong” because if you know who that is you probably will know this isn’t an official thing. I can’t find who the original artist is.

Now the bodies look completely different, but the head...

There are some differences, like the eyeballs, the forehead, the jaw, and the lenght of the “airvents”. But many of the details are so similar I simply can’t believe it’s just a coincidence:

Now, if the guys at The Asylum are one thing, it’s legaly savvy. There is a reason they’ve succesfully been in the mockbuster business for DECADES. I’m sure they didn’t steal an asset like these neobootleggers probably did, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the “Mecha Ape” and “Mecha King Kong” 3D models have a common origin somewhere down the line.

If there is something I take from all this unprompted cashing-in on robot gorillas, is that if the Godzilla vs. Kong sequel were to feature a robot Kong (Mechanikong or otherwise), audiences and bootlegers would welcome it with open arms.

(Also is this “Ape” fella going to be their new “Mega Shark”?)

[pirateprincessjess]

hi jess! as someone who has never seen a godzilla film, where would you suggest i start to get into the franchise? sorry if this question has been asked a lot, if so then feel free to use this as an excuse to gush about the franchise :3

I think there are some very good places to start with Godzilla. I’m gonna give met recommended starting points here, and then I’ll elaborate under the “view more”

So, my list of Godzilla starting points in no particular order.

Godzilla (2014) - this is a reboot and it’s the beginning of the monsterverse series

Godzilla (1984) - this is a reboot and it’s the beginning of the Hesei era Godzilla series that runs until 1995

Shin Godzilla - a stand alone movie. No sequels to prequels

Godzilla (1954) - it’s the original Godzilla story and it’s good, but I also understand that older movies can be intimidating for newer viewers

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla - Not to be confused with Godzilla vs Mecha Godzilla, this millennium era Godzilla movie is part of a self contained duology that I personally really enjoy

Now, I’ll explain why I recommend these as staring points bellow:

Godzilla 2014 and Monsterverse

Godzilla (2014) is probably my favorite place to start new fans of Godzilla, even if it’s not my favorite Godzilla movie.

G2014 is the first movie in the Monsterverse series, and there are still Monsterverse projects coming out today. Godzilla X Kong the New Empire is coming soon, and Monarch season 1 is releasing right now. It’s fun to watch something and be a part of something while it’s new and coming out.

I think you will probably enjoy all of the Monsterverse movies, but pay attention to which one you like the most, because it will act as a good indicator of which Godzilla movies to watch next because the Monsterverse movies do a really good job of capturing the tone and feel of different eras of Godzilla movies. It’s like watching through a sampler platter of the entire franchise. G2014 is a beautifully shot cinematic movie that holds its own when compared to the best Godzilla films, while Godzilla King of the Monsters is an action packed monster melee reminiscent of the Hesei era films. Godzilla vs Kong is a campy monster movie that feels like the Showa era films, and Monarch is shaping up to be an introspective look at society that feels in line with the more recent Godzilla projects (shin Godzilla, Singular point, Minus 1).

The monsterverse franchise feels like a love letter to the entire Godzilla franchise, and it makes it the perfect starting point.

Godzilla 1984, and the Heisei continuity

My favorite Godzilla movies are the ones from the Heisei era. Godzilla 1984 was made as a reboot of the franchise, and it’s the start of a solid continuity that lasts until 1995s Godzilla vs Destoroyah. These movies have incredible practical effects and have aged very very well. There are tons of cool monsters and they are just fun. To me this era of Godzilla movies will always be the best, but I also understand that it’s not for everyone.

Shin Godzilla and the Reiwa era

I like Shin Godzilla a lot. It feels like a new philosophical direction for Godzilla as a franchise, while still being respectful of the series roots, but it’s also a hard movie to talk about without spoiling the film. (Don’t worry no spoilers here). Shin Godzilla and its success opened the door for some very interesting projects (like Godzilla singular point, G vs G, Godzilla Minus One and Godzilla earth). I have mixed feelings about some of the Reiwa era Godzilla projects, but I appreciate that they are taking risks with the franchise.

Godzilla 1954 the original

Obviously the original movie was going to be on this list. I think it’s a movie that everyone should see, but I actually don’t think it needs to be the first movie you see. It’s an excellent starting point but I also understand not being in the mood to watch a 70 year old movie. That being said, when you are in the mood for an older movie, you should watch it.

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and the millennium era.

After the Heisei Godzilla movies ended they rebooted the franchise again, but instead of starting a new continuity they created a series of stand alone movies that were each in their own continuities. The only exception to this is the two part story of Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, and Godzilla Tokyo SOS.

You could watch any of the movies from this era without having seen any other Godzilla films, I just happen to like Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla the best. (Godzilla 2000 is a close second).

These are in my opinion the best places to start, but In actuality you can start anywhere. Even the movies with the most continuity around them are pretty stand alone and self contained, so if none of these movies appeal to you then just find one that looks fun and start there

[astoundingbeyondbelief]

Kaiju Week in Review (January 28-February 3, 2024)

Minecraft: Bedrock Edition's Godzilla DLC is now available. I joined Wikizilla's stream of it yesterday as a spectator and found it quite entertaining (especially when @squid-in-a-party-hat switched to Creative Mode and started summoning mini-kaiju). I'll post the highlight reel from that stream when it's finished. The main hub of this DLC is a combination movie theater/gallery; each of the four screens lets you access a different minigame. The first is based on the original film and has you rescuing civilians and just trying to survive as Godzilla trashes Tokyo. The second transforms you into Godzilla and pits you and your allies against various kaiju from the first three series. The third tasks you with defending Tokyo against Shin Godzilla, with each defensive phase featuring a different form. The fourth just has you taking photos of the battles in Godzilla vs. Kong (with the Tasmian Sea fight replaced by Godzilla barging into Kong's dome). I found the second and third to be the most interesting, but it's dismaying that only the third really takes advantage of these games being in Minecraft. You scrounge items, build barricades, lay down TNT, trade with NPCs, summon agents, fire blood coagulation potion into Godzilla's mouth from a crossbow... it's a lot more involved than the others.

In further Godzilla video game news, the Heisei MOGUERA and a crystal-hurling SpaceGodzilla variation have joined Godzilla Battle Line, the upcoming Godzilla x Kong: Titan Chasers mobile game is teasing its original monsters, and Dave the Diver of all things announced a free PlayStation-exclusive Godzilla DLC for May.

Here's a rare sequel to an IDW Godzilla miniseries. Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons II - Sons of Giants will boast the same writer (Frank Tieri) and artist (Inaki Miranda) as its predecessor. The logline:

The sequel to last summer’s smash miniseries! Frank Tieri and Inaki Miranda reunite to explore the conspiracy that led to Sir Francis Drake hiding his treasure on Monster Island! Who are the Sons of Giants, and what is their mission? More importantly, what is their connection to Godzilla and the other monsters? This series shows us how it all came to be, how Godzilla was discovered by the leaders of the world, and how it changed history forever!

Despite the Roman numerals, sounds like a prequel. I still think there's something off about any Godzilla story set before the Atomic Age, but the Sons of Giants were the most interesting part of the original Here There Be Dragons, and historical figures encountering the King of the Monsters is always amusing.

Naturally, Funko is making a line of Pops for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. The standout is the Amazon-exclusive figure of a sleeping Godzilla; I also love how Shimo looks like she's yakking. Monogram also revealed the lineup for its sixth wave of Toho Godzilla bag clips, as well as a GxK set. Highlights of the former are a curled-up Final Wars Anguirus, a Simeon, and Zilla; the latter is notable for including a previously-unrevealed monster called a Parrot Frog.

Tokyo's Hibiya neighborhood has long played host to Godzilla statues: first the Kawakita Godzilla, then Shin. Now they're getting a new three-meter statue of the original '54 Godzilla. It emits smoke at night, the mouth glows, and there seems to be some kind of AR app through which he fires atomic breath at you. Despite it being a 70th anniversary installation, however, it'll only be in Hibiya until March 10. I'm guessing that won't be the last we see of it.

[uchidachi]

SORRY who was going to tell me that the sequel to “Godzilla vs. Kong” is called “Godzilla x Kong”??? Like it’s a ship name?? They team up????? Enemies-to-lovers?

[chernobog13]

Finished watching Gamera Rebirth last night, and boy was that fun!

Was it perfect? No. There are some nits I could pick. But just like the ones I had with Godzilla Singular Point (2021), they did not affect my enjoyment of the series at all.

I loved that the series incorporated elements from all three eras of Gamera, including the criminally under-appreciated Gamera the Brave (2006). The kaiju redesigns were sick, the fights were even sicker, and Gamera took some heavy damage and still managed to defeat all the bad guys.

Okay, one detail I really didn't like: Gamera being suddenly so powerful that he can fire a beam to take out a target on the moon. It was just as ridiculous as when Godzilla used his breath to blast a hole to the center of the Earth in Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) (then again, that whole dang film was ridiculous; ridiculously bad, that is!).

The production team almost completely made up for that, however, by playing an instrumental version of the Gamera song over the end credits. That was an awesome touch!

I'm glad they kept things open for a sequel series, which I'm hoping we'll see someday. We (speaking for me, myself, and I) need more Gamera in our lives. And I'll take another Gamera animé series of this caliber any day.

Or at least until someone gets around to making some more live-action films.

[filmfanaticfables1990]

Titans Clash Again In Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire is a visual spectacle that takes us back to the late Showa era. Director Adam Wingard has crafted a vibrant, action-packed adventure that, while it may have its flaws, delivers on the promise of monstrous entertainment.

The film is a direct sequel to 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong and continues the tradition of the Monsterverse franchise. This time, we see the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla pitted against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world. The narrative is fragmented and knowingly silly, cross-cutting between lines of action in multiple locations that all lead to a huge showdown with a lot of creatures.

While the human characters may feel one-dimensional and the script weak, the film is all about the action. The special effects are inconsistent, and the editing can be shoddy at times. However, the film does not shy away from its identity as a fun popcorn film.

The film delves further into the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond. It uncovers the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire is a textbook visual thrill ride punctuated by brief moments of forced emotion and little else. It may be all over the place, but it gives fans the over-the-top monster action that they demand via an imposing new villain.

[dappercritter]

Why The Monsterverse Doesn't Feel Right to Me (not that I mind)

Honestly, as much as I tend to harp on about the Monsterverse for better or worse, I don't really hate the Godzilla and Kong movies anymore. They're made for fun, people had fun, and that's really all you can ask for at the end of a movie.

The only real complaint I have is how I would have liked to see what the sequels would have been like if WB stuck with Edwards and that moody, foreboding atmosphere or the Nolan Batman-esque direction they had before Kong came in. Or better yet if they just made them into their own thing.

The worldbuilding of the Monsterverse is more likely to drive you to madness than anything Lovecraft came up with and each movie just adds a new weird wrinkle to the "literal-mythology-meets-hollywood-ecology" angle they've taken.

But the most frustrating thing is how every time Godzilla movies get rebooted to try taking themselves more seriously, there's always a cause-effect relationship between fans demanding more monster fights and the studios doubling down on making crowd pleasers to boost the box office results.

Sure that's par for the course in Hollywood, but that goes for Toho's own stuff too. Just look at the mood swings before The Return of Godzilla (1984)!

To put it in the ever popular superhero movie terms, imagine if Superman Returns' success turned The Nolan Batman trilogy into something campier and... well, that already sorta happened back in the 90s after Batman Returns, didn't it?

So let's imagine if after The Nolan Batman movies, WB decided that next Superman movie should be more grittier, darker--oh no wait, that already happened too.

Alright, then let's say Legendary made a Pacific Rim sequel but instead of the grungy underdog story GDT did they made it into a totally cliched blockOH GODDAM IT--

(Hmm... It's starting to feel like radical shifts in the quality and production of genre films in an attempt to become more profitable via mass appeal is standard practice for Hollywood...)

Well, all I'm saying is as far as future Kong reboots and western adaptations of Godzilla go, maybe we should just give cinematic universes a break and either do what Alien vs. Predator did.

Or better yet, hope Toho lets whoever gets the license next to take after the new WB-DC movies and find the right balance with solo movies and team-ups.

[thezanyarthropleura]

YET ANOTHER KAIJU FILM REC LIST

(Selected and arranged to account for modern tastes, as well as to highlight specific wants for fans of Godzilla: Minus One and/or Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire)

Notes:

Titles can be confusing, when in doubt differentiate films by year of release

"Showa" generally refers to films made from 1954-1980, while "Heisei" generally refers to films made from 1984-2006, with "Millennium" being a specific series of Godzilla films made from 1999-2004, within the Heisei era (the actual notation refers to the Japanese Emperor, but this is slightly offset with how it's used for kaiju films)

I've tried to list where the films can be watched, for free if possible, but this can change at a moment's notice (for instance, the TokuSHOUTsu Youtube channel currently has a livestream of almost all the Showa Godzilla films and one for the MST3K episodes featuring 6 Showa Gamera films and Gorgo, but I have no idea how long those will stay up)

More context and history about the kaiju film genre can be found at the end of the post

GROUP 1: EVERYONE

These films are the peers and equals of Minus One and GxK, in only the best respects.

The Gamera Heisei Trilogy - Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995), Gamera 2: Attack/Advent of Legion (1996), and Gamera 3: Revenge/Awakening of Iris (1999)

I would recommend this trilogy to ANYONE - even those hesitant to watch anything that isn't CGI, or that still don't think kaiju films can be good cinema. No matter what you're looking for in a kaiju film - engaging monster action, compelling human drama, deep metaphorical significance, fun action-adventure, hard sci-fi, spiritual eastern fantasy - these three movies are bound to be among the best at it. They're nearly unanimously praised as some of the best kaiju films of all time, and are the ONLY classic films with that honor that can visually compete with modern tastes in special effects.

Among the three: Guardian of the Universe is probably the closest analog to GxK, a fun action-adventure film about a girl who communicates with a giant monster. Revenge of Iris is closer to Minus One, introducing a darker mirror of the first film's story that invokes trauma and loss to great emotional impact. Which all leaves Advent of Legion in the middle, as a fairly formulaic but well-executed sci-fi alien invasion story.

These films are available free and subtitled on Tubi, or free and dubbed on Pluto. In a rarity, the dubs are done with love and care by fans of the genre and while they may not be the best way to watch the films, they're fairly decent.

GROUP 2: MODERN/NICHE

These films either excellently or acceptably compete with modern visual effects, but in other areas, are ultimately more dependent upon viewer tolerances and niche interests.

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995)

If you want to cry about Godzilla, this is it, this is the movie. Possibly the classic film that delves the deepest into the idea of kaiju as sympathetic, tragic beings, this film leans heavily into hard sci-fi and features a kaiju opponent inspired by the titular creature from the Alien franchise. It's the seventh film in the Godzilla Heisei series, but as most of the previous films are currently stuck behind rights issues and difficult to find, I'd recommend jumping into this one as a standalone (or, if anything, watch the original 1954 Godzilla film first, but if that doesn't interest you it's not necessary). This movie is readily available for free, subtitled on Pluto or dubbed on Youtube.

The Kiryu Duology - Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002) and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)

These two films face a number of pacing and production issues, and due to scheduling conflicts, the main heroine, mech pilot Akane from the first film (arguably one of the most compelling human characters in the entire Godzilla series), was unable to return for the sequel beyond a brief cameo. But despite feeling unfinished, not all the emotional weight of this duology is lost. The ethics-focused, techno-spiritual story being told still packs a punch, and visually, out of the entire suitmation era this is the best Godzilla, Mothra, and Mechagodzilla have ever looked on-screen. If first checking out the original 1954 Godzilla and the 1961 Mothra interests you at all, it may enhance the viewing experience, but if not, dive right in! Both these films are free on Pluto TV, but do keep in mind Against Mechagodzilla is the dubbed version.

Gamera the Brave (2006)

I've said it before, but this is the movie that most closely reminds me of Minus One, with its modern filmmaking style, deep emotional themes, and in particular, having a bright and hopeful appeal to humanity in a genre where many of the more serious films are tragedies. Personally I rank this one right up there with the 90s Gamera trilogy, if not even higher, but to appreciate it, you really do have to be here for a children's fantasy film with more charm and heart than fast-paced kaiju action. This film is free on Tubi, subtitled.

GROUP 3: CLASSIC

These films require a tolerance for the special effects of the 1950s through 1970s, which I realize some modern audiences may find difficult to appreciate, but are otherwise highly recommended.

All four of these films are available free and subtitled on Pluto through Criterion, and are additionally part of SHOUT! Factory's catalogue and playing on the livestream.

Godzilla (1954)

If you've seem Minus One or Shin Godzilla, the obvious route is, of course, to go back to 1954 and experience the original cinematic masterpiece of Godzilla as a nuclear horror. The one caveat I'll mention is that a lot of Minus One's effectiveness is in subverting one theme present in the original, so this will, in a way, feel like a step backward thematically.

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)

The outright most comparable classic film to GxK - a fun island adventure film wherein various entertaining personalities are shipwrecked and must work together to thwart human baddies and even recruit the help of Godzilla! This is one of my personal favorites, and while Mothra only appears briefly in the film, it expands on her lore quite a bit.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)

This film is wacky, resembling an abstract art house film at times, but in many ways is a revisitation upon the dark, deep metaphors of the original, this time warning of the dangers of pollution through a truly terrifying monstrosity that gives Godzilla one of the most brutal fights of his career.

Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)

Along with the original and Hedorah, this completes a trio of more dark and serious Showa era Godzilla films. It's the only Godzilla movie of its era to be written entirely (not co-written) by a woman, tells a dark and tragic tale, and yet is the height of 1970s superhero Godzilla as he takes on two powerful opponents at once.

GROUP 4: GRAB BAG

I'll throw in four more: these are just some of my personal recommendations and favorites that don't fit neatly into the other categories.

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)

The original and archetypical "multiple monsters team up to fight a greater threat" movie. This one is consistently on the edge of being called an objectively good film, but can be considered too cheesy and campy to make the cut. Nonetheless, it's a fun time, and it's also pretty much the only classic film where Godzilla and Mothra interact positively, if that's appealing to you. Like the other Showa Godzilla films, it's free through Pluto and SHOUT! Factory.

Gamera vs. Zigra (1971)

I really just wanted to put a Showa Gamera here, and this is one of my favorites. Just the campy, wacky, good time that is Showa Gamera, with a side of ocean theming - this extremely cheap film was partly funded through Kamogawa Sea World, which is the primary location featured in the film. It's free on Tubi along with the other Gamera films, and also makes a great MST3K episode, even if the version of the film used there is very low-resolution and the underwater scenes in particular suffer a little.

Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999)

Somewhat unique among its contemporaries for being a 2000s era film that features Godzilla as more-or-less the protagonist, with human characters that advocate for understanding and respecting him. It's an incredibly cinematic film - I would describe its special effects as ambitious, not always effective, but regardless it would be a great intro for new fans if it were more accessible. Currently, it's tough to track down, but another rare case where the heavily-edited US dubbed version is perfectly acceptable, and even sometimes considered superior to the original.

Rebirth of Mothra 3 (1998) and to an extent, the whole trilogy.

I unashamedly love these oft-maligned films that are actually very comparable to the Heisei Gamera trilogy... in all respects but objective quality. Fun fantasy kaiju films featuring tiny women who fight each other with swords and flying mounts, while a superpowered giant moth beats up two space dragons and takes a break in the middle to beat up a genetically-engineered dragon. Lots of rainbows and lasers, and a vague, underlying exploration of the conflict between those with peaceful methods and those with violent methods without completely villainizing either side. If any of that sounds interesting, check these films out, they're currently readily available free on Pluto after a long history of the third and most serious/mature film being extremely rare and seldom-seen.

FURTHER NOTES AND CONTEXT:

Inspired by western giant monster films like King Kong and The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, and the summation of Japan's nuclear fear and trauma, the original Godzilla film in 1954 was a runaway success, beginning the kaiju genre as production company Toho ordered not only a direct sequel, but a broad scope of special effects films that ultimately gave us other classic kaiju like Mothra and Rodan.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the concept of a "Godzilla series" did not yet exist - Toho just made science fiction films, wherein some of them featured kaiju, and some of those, but not all, featured Godzilla. Many of these films were very loosely, and sometimes only retroactively, considered to be in the same universe or cinematic canon, creating situations where kaiju like Manda and Baragon would wander into Godzilla films after getting their start in non-Godzilla adventures like Atragon (1963) and Frankenstein vs. Baragon (1965). (An example of a non-kaiju Toho film I would highly recommend is 1958's H-Man)

The 1960s also saw a "Kaiju Boom," where the genre was expanded beyond Toho to other studios in Japan and even to other countries. This brought about a number of new kaiju projects like Gorgo (1961), Reptilicus (1961), and Yongary, Monster from the Deep (1967). The only of these films to be successful enough to spawn a series was Gamera (1965), from Daiei studios in Japan, and there were 7 Gamera films made from the mid-60s to early 70s. (Daiei has their own catalogue of Toku effects films, and also produced the kaiju-adjacent Daimajin trilogy (1966), period pieces set in ancient Japan about a giant warrior statue that comes to life)

Interest in kaiju films began to wane in the 1970s, and Toho largely narrowed its focus to a yearly Godzilla series with lower and lower budgeting. Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) was the most cheeply-made of these, but several factors made it the most widely-known film in the US and solidified the genre's "rubber suits and cardboard buildings" reputation among the general public for the next 50 years. Also in 1973, Toho produced the giant hero television series Zone Fighter, where Godzilla, King Ghidorah, and Gigan appear in several episodes. The series was made to compete with Ultraman and other television-based Tokusatsu, which was swaying audiences away from films at the time. (I personally know very little about Ultraman and other costumed hero Toku, but I know there are many experts on here who could answer questions about those)

Toho continued to make science fiction and effects films throughout the late 70s and 1980s, such as The War in Space (1977), but kaiju films were out of fashion. Gamera had a brief pseudo-revival in 1980, but otherwise it was a long drought from 1975 to 1984, when Toho began the Godzilla Heisei series: a series of seven films that continued in 1989 and picked up to a film per yer from 1991 to 1995. These films featured more strict continuity and the recurring character of Miki Saegusa, marking one of the first steps away from the previous practice of switching out the human cast entirely from film to film.

In the late 90s, Godzilla was absent yet again, as Toho made the rights handoff to Sony for the 1998 American film. In his place were the competing late 90s Gamera and Mothra trilogies, both relatively unique in featuring multiple recurring cast members and worlds that blended sci-fi and fantasy elements. In America, the poorly-received GODZILLA (1998) spawned a more warmly-recieved animated continuation in Godzilla: the Series (1998-2000).

In response to the critical failure of the 1998 film, Toho craved redemption and launched the Millennium Series: six Godzilla films that, with the exception of the Kiryu Duology, were all standalone in hopes of attaining theatrical releases in the US (only Godzilla 2000 succeeded at this). With a general failure of the 50th anniversary film Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), Toho put Godzilla to rest, seemingly for good. Gamera the Brave in 2006 was the last true suitmation kaiju film, critically acclaimed but also a financial failure.

In the intervening decade, CGI took over, and was the name of the game by the time Pacific Rim (2013), Godzilla (2014), and Shin Godzilla (2016) kicked off the new "Kaiju Renaissance," the present era that includes Reiwa Godzilla and the Monsterverse.