Amazing, super realistic special effects aside, this movie is very good.
Unlike many of the sequels, remakes, and parodies, this one takes itself pretty seriously. I know everyone points it out, but if you didn't know already, this movie is about nuclear repercussions. I think this makes for a really good reaction to the current state of it all back in 1954.
When you see something so obviously dangerous, you react more than just some Bill Nigh the Science Guy talking about the danger. The story makes for a great vessel of how to discuss safety as a society.
The general plot also involves pretty good character relationships, and how they all feel this Godzilla guy should be stopped. I like seeing the need to stop Godzilla, but also the uneasiness of killing Godzilla. When is it okay to kill an animal doing as it is bred to do?
I'd say whenever it is going on a deadly rampage.
There's not much to be said about Godzilla that others haven't said much more eloquently than I ever could, but I can tell you this. Godzilla is well worth a watch, even if you normally don't care for these kinds of movies. This film is not as much about the monster as it is about the topic of nuclear testing and war, how nature will fight back, and our part in it all. It's also, of course, the beginning of one of the biggest cultural icons ever to come out of Japan, but if you are reading this, I'm pretty sure you know that. It's a must-watch... Plain and simple!
Happy Godzilla Day! This is the greatest film of all time. The metaphors and background of this film alone deserves a 10/10!
"I can't believe that Godzilla, was the last of his species. If nuclear testing continues, then someday, somewhere in the world, another Godzilla may appear."
Ishiro Honda's Godzilla is still a cinematic masterpiece even if it wasn't the start to the longest movie franchise ever it would still be a masterpiece. I'm happy the sequels went the way they went but let us be honest, even though it is incredible fun to watch two giant monsters battle it out and destroy shit, the weight and story the original carries outweighs every other Godzilla film ever released and I don't think one will ever surpass it. The story told is simply amazing and especially if you consider the time it was made in.
It is awesome to see Godzilla wreck shit in this movie but if you have seen this one, the story stays with you the most. The way they use the fear of Nuclear Weapons still amazes me. The only other Godzilla film that kind of used real life for its story is Shin Godzilla were they link it to the incompetence of the Japanse Government during the 2011 Tsunamis.
Anyway Godzilla is like I said a cinematic masterpiece and a must-watch for every movie buff here at Letterboxd.
Some how Godzilla looks better in this than he does in many of the sequels.
This is the original Japanese version of the movie and it is surely not your kid's Godzilla. No dubbed in English, just subtitles. It's amazing how un-silly it is. The people that made this movie were scared to death of the atomic future. In this film, Gojira is the embodiment of death, a representation of past atomic horrors and future uncertainties.
This is the only entry in the Godzilla series that has a poignant enough story to make you forget about the man inside the rubber suit.
I've seen this movie top every Best Godzilla movie list and wow, it lives up to its reputation. It's a great movie, period. Not great for its time. The story is great, the acting is great, the visual effects are great.
I'm going to be honest. As a history guy, especially WW2, I can see the impact of this movie in Japan back in 1954. I watched it in 2019 and I also felt it. It parallels a lot with the two nuclear strikes and the Tokyo Bombings.
Special effects wise, it is very entertaining even when you can see the "cheapness" of some scenes. But very good for 1954.
The part I didn't like however (and I thought it was pretty bad) was the human side of the story. The supposed main cast. It was so badly written... Jesus. The best parts were easily the WW2 vibes with the general public but the main cast was, in both acting and writing, pretty damm bad and that did takes a lot from the experience of this movie imo.
Probably for its time, it was a great movie that resonated with those who were affected by the nuclear bombs. I still think it's a classic, but with Godzilla Minus One providing a more modern and more heartwrenching story, I can't give this movie as much praise.
The Jurassic era, 2 million years ago.
Had to check out the original after loving Minus One, and the latter is truly cut from this one’s cloth. This movie is similarly somber and even more tragic. It’s a potent allegory, and while the effects may be dated in some ways, the artistry with which they are are used things an oddly impressionistic feeling. Godzilla framed against the flames is a striking picture, and the crumpled buildings with fire all around and on the horizon oddly evokes a watercolor painting for me. There’s how Godzilla’s eyes glint in the night, or how when you face him head on they have an animal innocence to them. This is reflected in his movements too, an animal lost and panicked trying to navigate through a world that no longer fits him after being violently awoken. Or in his quiet rest under the sea. He’s not a malevolent force of evil. He’s as much a victim as anyone else, forced into this role by man’s invention.
The destruction of the film is similarly affecting, never blasé but instead weighted. The mother comforting her children of their impending death by holding them close and saying they’ll be with their father soon is devastating, as is the desolate aftermath of Godzilla’s final rampage. Hirata and Shimura are highlights of the human cast, both taking no pleasure in this and carrying a weight that is felt through the screen. And the score is immaculate, especially Godzilla’s theme and its sad reprise as he dies, writhing in agony, panic, and confusion. Godzilla sets a standard and looms large even today, and it’s heartening to see there’s a space today for some Godzilla films to follow in its footsteps.
Based on the titles of the later films in the Japanese Godzilla franchise, it is already clear to me where the journey is heading tonally. However, the original from 1954 is still on the serious side. The historical proximity to World War II is obvious here. It is clear that the film is dealing with the aftermath of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. And it's also quite effective, because the fears that must have been omnipresent in Japan at the time are palpable. I was also impressed by the restrained use of the eponymous monster. It takes quite a while before you really get to see Godzilla, and when you do, it packs quite a punch. The creature design is surprisingly effective, and the destruction is also strongly realized with the help of models. The whole thing is accompanied by a great score. My only major points of criticism concern the human characters, hardly any of whom are memorable, and the acting, which is far too overdone by some of the actors. Otherwise, "Godzilla" is an excellent introduction to this mega-franchise.
This movie is alright. This feels like a tale of two films; the first half is rushed and much of the acting is over the top and unbelievable, yet the second half is more deliberate with the plot and balances action with the plot and debate regarding what to do about Godzilla. Unfortunately far too much of the second half is also spent on a romantic subplot that ends up being more or less meaningless by the time the film ends.
However, the music is absolutely incredible, and is an absolute delight to listen to.
Catching the original classic '54 Godzilla on Shout! Factory TV just now hosted by John Carpenter as part of the Masters of Monsters marathon for Godzilla Day! (November 3, 2022).
I've seen the US cut with the typical inaccurate English dub back when it aired on TV in the early 90s which I believe was a marathon on the TNT channel. Really neat to see it again in its original uncut Japanese form, thanks to the recent remaster/edit from Criterion. As Carpenter mentioned, it's a great representation of the post-war "somber" portrayed on film. :popcorn::dragon_face:
We're continuing Masters of Monsters on ShoutFactoryTV's Twitch tomorrow with Rodan (1956) and Carpenter commentary!
Compared to the surprisingly underrated "Godzilla" (1998), "Gojira" is a great monster movie. The special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya look cheap now, but that doesn't stop the impact of the film, the script, or the pounding, exciting development. It is in black and white and is almost a horror film. It is scary, funny, and strong, and the performances of the cast, including Akira Takarada, add to the film, which is also a scathing criticism of the atomic and hydrogen bombs.
The original title of the film is Gojira.
THE ONE AND ONLY CLASSIC.
Please note: This review is for the original Japanese subbed version.
A classic in monster movie cinema. This movie is most likely the basis for all kaiju related stories in recent memory. It is a marvel to witness, even today. The message still stands strong, not faltered by time. The effects, although outdated; remain as intended. To amplify the fears of post-war Japan. A horror movie that is steller at anthropomorphizing real-world fears.
The acting here is also great. Every character aces the emotional beats when needed. As there is actually a lot going on beneath the surface of this movie. I admire what ambitions the writers and director had, and for what they achieved for their time and budget.
There is, of course, the iconic score. Brilliantly used to show what a serious and important story this is when terror is on screen or building to a reveal.
It is by no means a perfect movie to me though. This film suffers from awkward pacing issues and moments. (This, however, may be due to translation).
But, no matter how you look at this movie with an eye from today. You can't deny what an impact this movie had on pop culture. Be that a good or bad thing.
9/10
See my Godzilla ranked movie list: https://trakt.tv/users/corruptednoobie/lists/godzilla-films-ranked?sort=rank,asc
The surprise hit that spawned the fertile Japanese monster industry isn't nearly as silly and hokey as its offspring might make you think. Sure, the special effects are laughable by today's standards - a passionate love for obvious miniatures really does it in - but the plot is usually more concerned with deeper meaning than cheap action sets. The monster itself, wisely silhouetted or partially obscured after an unintentionally hilarious debut in broad daylight, works as both a sci-fi foil and a potent metaphor for the terrors nuclear war had played on Japan not ten years prior.
And the way he's ultimately dealt with leaves the door wide open to questions about mankind's interference in the natural order, the breakneck spread of WMDs and everything in between. It's always bugged me that later films in the series shifted Godzilla's role to friend of humanity and defender of the planet, because there's really nothing to befriend in a 160-foot, fire-breathing, nuclear-powered lizard with a penchant for destructive strolls through the industrial district. For my money, he's never been used more effectively than he is right here, in a cameo role as the nigh-unstoppable force of nature that muscles humanity into making a tough decision. The story moves a bit too slowly at times, with too many major players sharing too many coincidental relationships, but the moral stays true and frankly it's nice to see a movie in this genre that isn't afraid to take its time.
Surprising good effects that still hold up decently well today. I liked the focus on humans as opposed to Godzilla.
Review by filmtoasterVIP 3BlockedParent2020-03-03T03:26:27Z— updated 2021-05-02T07:23:53Z
This is not a monster movie. This is not a Godzilla movie. This is a post-war horror film. This is a drama masterpiece that displays the horrors of nuclear weapons and the results such weapons have on the planet. Godzilla is a direct symbol of an atomic explosion. Godzilla is our fault. We did this to ourselves, and now we suffer the devastating consequences.
It's such a damn shame, even though I'm loving where the new Godzilla films are going with Kong Vs. Godzilla, we will never get an American Godzilla film this insanely deep or politically important. The closest Godzilla film that's gotten close tone wise to this is Gareth Edwards' masterpiece in 2014 and Anno's 2016's 'Shin Godzilla.' That film was about the horrors of the 2011 tsunami and incompetence of the Japanese government during that event.
The acting is perfect. The script is perfect. The music is perfect. The themes of post-war fear are perfect. It's groundbreaking. It's heartbreaking. It's amazing. It's the original Godzilla.