Reviewing the Review-Proof Godzilla Showa Collection
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- In trying to make a video about the first 15 films of the Godzilla series that both die-hard fans and the completely uninitiated can both watch, I thought I'd try and pinpoint the creative motivation behind each entry-the unique ways in which each film distinguishes itself within the larger framework of the series. Because even if they're not all great (that's for each individual viewer to decide), they're all certainly very interesting!
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So the highlight of my Saturday was running into the owner of Cold Crash Pictures and seeing him adorably blush when I told him I really liked his videos. Lol Sir, I will be having this on while I'm at work tomorrow.
It was SO NICE to meet you last night! That was literally the first time anyone’s ever said something to me about my work out in the real world, and I couldn’t have asked for a kinder shout-out!
@@coldcrashpictures well, you just made my night two nights in a row. ^_^
“I love your work, and I’m gonna use it as background noise at work tomorrow. Thanks!” 🤣😂🤣
Have I ever seen a Godzilla movie? No. Did I just watch a 44 minute video on Godzilla movies made by Cold Crash Pictures? Most definitely.
I appreciate the faith you have in me 😄
You haven't even seen the truly American versions from 1998 or 2014?
@@jakethet3206 How dare you mention Zilla, the giant iguana from 1998 before Godzilla fans! LOL I actually don't have a problem w/ Godzilla 1998 as a monster movie. It had some memorable moments. Just don't call it Godzilla!
@@DonnaBrooks Even very bad Godzilla movies are still Godzilla movies. I get that you're trying to be funny... ha ha?
@@jakethet3206 no don't call 1998 Godzilla, it's Godzilla in name only.
Even if you don't like Godzilla, I feel like the fact that Criterion did a set of this magnitude says a lot. I like to look at Criterion releases like I'd look at art in a better museum. Some of it I'm going love right out the gate. Fantastic. Some of it isn't going to be my taste at all, but even still I like to remember that experts in the field who are more cultured and more educated in their discipline than I am made the conscious choice to exhibit a work. That means it's at least worth trying to determine why it's there.
This is a HUGE set for Criterion, and they could have done a release of just the first one, or maybe three favorite ones. They could have released a handful of them in a kaiju greatest hits collection. They chose to do a super lush release with tons of additional materials and bonus features because there's a TON of substance here. It's also worth mentioning that they've acknowledged that Godzilla fans aren't a monolith like some fandoms are. If you love the kitsch, you can watch some of them with the shitty English dub where the voices don't match the mouths moving at all. For people who love Japanese culture, and like the way Godzilla is almost like a barometer for where Japan was at culturally or socio-politically at any given point, there's lots of commentary. For people who love the practical effects, which are even more fun because they range from incredible to craptastic, there's a mini documentary on that.
Getting a Criterion release like this is the cinematic equivalent of a huge solo show at The Met. It's not something to dismiss. It's very much worth taking the time to appreciate as a whole. The range in quality and wildly differing tones is a huge part of the charm. It kind of drives me crazy that some people call some of the films garbage. They're far more interesting as a whole than any of them have on their own. (Other than maybe the first one.) It's like watching a fairy tale get created in real time. The premise stays roughly the same, but parts are adapted to serve the needs of the time. That's so incredibly interesting to see, and you don't really see other franchises use their characters that way. The scope of the interpretation is by far and away the best part. If you're missing that because you're hoping for one specific style of Godzilla, you're missing out.
Im sat on a packed tokyo train watching this. People are intrigued lol
Cap
People assume the Japanese are stuck up...its changing...(still hate us halfus)
@@-archer- halfus?
People sitting around you are intrigued at the video (this one) you’re watching?
I admire the passion you feel for this franchise, and I accept the invitation of taking your hand and finding my perfect Godzilla film.
Me at the start of this video: "This video is nearly an hour long and I don't care about godzilla, I'll just skim this one."
Me at the end of the video: "Damn, I guess I have to add 15 godzilla movies to my watch list."
There’s more than just these 15 though. XD The Heisei and Millenium films do ever crazier things with Godzilla
And of course the newer films by Legendary and new Toho productions both coming out yearly
I can’t believe the world is so fixated on Baby Yoda when we’ve had Baby Godzilla since 1967 🤷🏻♀️
The difference is that Baby Godzilla didn’t become cute until 1993
Yeah but baby godzilla ugly
@@FunnyBreadGaming he's just sorta gross.
That’s because Baby Yoda is Disney property. Everyone loves anything Disney xD
Maybe because minilla was just a fat fucking cunt that threw temper tantrums
But then again as a lofe long Godzilla fan i have to say that is quite an accurate representation of like 90% of the fandom
I grew up watching Showa Godzilla movies on VHS, specifically The Sea Monster, King Kong, and Megalon. They will always have a place in my heart.
It pains me how criminally underrated this channel is. The Godzilla series has been on my radar for years, but this was so well put together, it's finally pushed me over the line. Keep up the phenomenal work :))
Really awesome to understand the context in which the films were made which provides an understanding of the deeper message. Cool stuff! Thanks for yet another insightful video!
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
2:11 - Godzilla (1954)
4:36 - Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
6:51 - King Kong vs Godzilla (1962)
9:14 - Mothra vs Godzilla (1964)
11:43 - Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
13:36 - Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)
16:52 - Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)
19:48 - Son of Godzilla (1967)
21:51 - Destroy All Monsters (1968)
24:44 - All Monsters Attack (1969)
28:34 - Godzilla vs Hedorah (1971)
30:33 - Godzilla vs Gigan (1972)
33:27 - Godzilla vs Megalon (1973)
36:13 - Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla (1974)
38:28 - Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)
Comments section: "I've never seen any of these movies."
Me: "Oh um.....y-yeah me either lol....."
*Has seen literally every Godzilla movie*
Color me impressed
thats impressive bro, be proud
*Probably multiple times*
This is such a cool video. You recommended some “bad” or campy horror movies and I’d love to see you talk up some of these odd films. 👀
I started this video knowing nothing about Godzilla besides the fact that it is about a giant monster and I finished it as a fan of the franchise!
And I also have the problem of nothing really looking back with great eyes to things I produced a long time ago, so I get where you and the director of the first movies are comming from.
My first Godzilla was Godzilla vs The Sea Monster. My dad already knew of Godzilla and liked it as a kid, so when he saw GvSM on VHS, he got it for us.
You kinda make me wanna see ALL of this movies.
Do.
You won’t regret it.
Beyond happy to have found your channel so late in the game, fantastic stuff.
You don’t inflate your voice at all and the cuts between film footage and yourself aren’t at all jarring- inspiring stuff.
You seem like the kind of guy you could have a pleasant talk with on film with any day.
"How can you not love something so irredeemably punchable?" I think you may have just perfectly described my aesthetic.
My favorite film series of all time. Loved the Criterion set, loved your video.
I have to ask, are you planning on doing a video on the 17 other Godzilla movies, or at least the interesting ones?
I've seen all those other reviews, and I'm a fan of the franchise as a whole (though I usually only recommend about 3 total titles from the entire library). Your review is exactly what fans and newcomers alike needed! Fantastic job, earned my sub 10 minutes in!
Which three do you usually recommend?
I’ve seen a couple Godzilla films and I honestly think they may just not be my thing. It could also be because I’ve only seen American Godzilla films but I digress. Despite not being a huge fan of any of what I’ve seen personally, I can still acknowledge it’s quality and influence and I genuinely respect it for that, even if it isn’t really my thing
10/10 best video on your channel.
I've really like your content for a while, and I love Godzilla, so I was very hyped to see this in my subscriptions.
But the question is... Heisei review video when??
wow ok you sir just made my favorite Godzilla retrospective video, wow that was just really well done. thank you.
Yessssss, been waiting for another one of your uploads! I've been wanting to check out the classic Godzilla movies for so long, and now I'm definitely gonna go start -- I wanna watch that one with the lil Scrappy Doo Godzilla
There’s even more beyond these movies to check out afterward :)
Just watched all these, and have no doubt I will watch them all again. Such a unique and fascinating series. Great stories, great effects & creature design & so much going on thematically, consciously & unconsciously. Just excellent. Good video too! I appreciate this.
As someone largely unfamiliar with the Toho Godzilla pictures, your concise and knowledgeable overviews of each Showa film has been very helpful and informative. As a cinephile, albiet with a more auteur-driven vent, I have been debating whether to buy the lavish Criterion set, as I worried that the films might just be infantile and silly. Whilst there is certainly some of that, you’ve elaborated on the creative decision-making behind each film within their cultural contexts and explained what you think they all have to offer. Your passion for this subject is infectious and I’m now ready to jump into the world of Godzilla. Thank you.
I’m just glad a person like yourself decides to look deeper into why this franchise exists and why it’s not all as crappy as many others like to assume.
I'm a Godzilla fan and loved seeing your take on the series. Good content!
As a Godzilla fan of many decades, growing up watching some of the Showa films on Saturday afternoons, I fully applaud your approach to reviewing this set. It probably doesn't hurt we share the same favorite film, Mothra vs. Godzilla. I appreciate how you frame what these films are doing. Although I didn't pick up on it as a child, one of the reasons MvG remains my favorite is its anti-corporate critique, valuing science, journalism, and the public good over private, corporate interests. Also, as you said, despite the horrible treatment of the twins and the Infant Island natives, Mothra asserts the value of saving humanity, recognizing there is some good among the horribleness. I did not think I could see a take on Godzilla Returns that would convince me it was anything other than a rushed sequel--even David Kalut's excellent Critical History did not achieve this-- but you have successfully pushed me to reconsider it upon future rewatch. Partly because of nostalgia and partly because more money, time, and attention were paid for them, I'm a fan of what I consider the "trilogy": MvG, Ghidorah, and Astro-Monster. I generally do not like anything near the end of the Showa series except Son of Godzilla and Hedorah for its innovation. That said, I found your thoughts on the later films fair (FYI: your argument about All Monsters Attacks mirror those of tokusatsu expert August Ragone). TL;DR: Good job! An enjoyable and thoughtful video!
I know nothing about Godzilla outside of the original but your enthusiasm is infectious. 44 minutes of great content
This is an excellent summary of the showa movies, really made me feel nostalgic.
Subbed.
More please!
This is the exact video I needed right now. Thank so much comrade! Your channel is wayyyyyyy underrated.
I too love the later Showa series, especially Smog Monster... But the best of them as described here to well is Godzilla vs. Mothra. Superbly written with excellent characters.
Excellent interpretations and care went into making this video. Your love for Godzilla films is evident. Great stuff. Dziękuje z Polski.
Now we just need the heisei and millennium series collection and we're set
Ya know, I thought I might be sick of Godzilla by the end of this project, but (1) nope, still can’t get enough of him, and (2) the real appeal of doing a Heisei or Millennium video is that they’d each be only HALF AS LONG as this one!!!
@@coldcrashpictures lol true
@@coldcrashpictures there’s never enough of Godzilla once you’ve gotten invested into at least one movie.
Just received this as a birthday present, great stuff, superb retrospective 👍
I'm so glad I found your channel a few months back. I love your content man.
This was great. Would love to see you cover the other eras.
Just wanted to lie about already watching all of this.
Long time Kaiju fan, first time on your channel. Loved the video and I'll be sure to give some others a look. Well done.
I really like ur approach to the review. And I appreciate that you took on the challenge of something unreviewable. Good on ya
Much love for your nerdyness
While I was aware of Godzilla all my life and remember watching some of the Showa/Heisei-entries as a kid (and enjoying them then) and while I have liked the Monsterverse-flicks, I would never have considered myself a hardcore-fan. Yet, when I caught wind of this Criterion-Box, I fucking purchased the damn monstrosity, despite its 170€ price tag, easily the single most expensive item I ever ordered at amazon. Admittedly, it was only after I spent weeks pondering if I should do it or not, but the thing just didn't leave me alone. I felt like Homer Simpson when he couldn't stop thinking about the Clown College. So I eventually threw my hands into the air and said "Okay! Fine!"
Am halfway through and I have no regrets.
_Godzilla vs Hedorah_ continues one theme from the previous film: idol of children. It's incredibly on-the-nose in the movie's manga adaptation (which most--but not all--Godzilla and other Toho _kaiju_ films had through _Godzilla 2000: Millennium),_ when Ken's Godzilla toy (seen in the film only at the start) becomes a _summoning totem._ It's like one of the Gamera films, when the kid releases his pet turtle only to have it return as Gamera: Ken voices his appeal to the toy, and the scene smash-cuts to Godzilla rising up to confront Hedorah; later, Ken _hucks_ the toy at the approaching Smog Monster and the twirling plastic object is once again suddenly replaced by its real-life counterpart, soaring through the sky propelled by his atomic breath to body-slam his opponent.
It's one of my favorites as well, but the scene I love the most is after Hedorah has been dispatched and everyone still alive is celebrating...only for Big G to turn and freeze them in their tracks with a baleful one-eyed glare as if to say, "I took care of your mess...this time. CLEAN UP YOUR ACT." I also adore the artsy cartoon-animated bits, particularly the banner---held aloft by a Hedorah balloon---advertising the sale of "anti-Hedorah oxygen masks." I've never had so much delighted fun watching a movie in which many innocent people are dissolved to their skeletons by acid.
Three quarters of an hour to talk about the most adorable monster ever? Yes, yes please.
I wish your channel had more viewers. I really enjoy your thoughtful takes on cinema. You have one of the more enjoyable yt channels and I wish you were popular enough to set a standard for content on this platform. But alas, we live on Earth and not the fantasy planet I wished existed.
I had an older sibling who was OBSESSED with these movies when we were kids in the 90s. I considered them boring, since I didn't care about rubber-monster fights and my sibling talked over the already dubbed dialogue, rendering the plots impossible to follow. I didn't know there WERE other Godzilla movies (except the '98 American debacle) until 2016 or so. And by that point, I remembered only two things: Mothra deserved better, always, and Lil BB Godzilla (who was called Minya in the dubs I saw) was to be protected at all costs.
Thanks for catching me up on what I missed, and for making me feel less alone in my love of a weird little half-melted goblin lizard.
I need this collection, the illustrations are amaziiiinggggg
Hey he is wearing my Godzilla shirt that I illustrated in the video! Thanks for the support!
Working my way through this video as a casual Godzilla fan who was lucky enough to pick up this set on sale. Very interesting take of Raids Again, I may have to give it another shot.
I wanted to add some more context for your comparison of the heroes fighting each other in Ghidorah and The Avengers. One of the things that made Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and others’ work on the early Marvel Universe back in the 60s was that heroes weren’t always friendly to each other. Often when a hero would crossover into another book the two heroes would fight each other, whether because of mind control, a misunderstanding, or just dumb pride, before setting aside those differences to fight the bad guy. The Avengers film just took that template and ran with it.
Love this video, I'm new to your channel and really like your approach. Absent a box set, would you consider doing the other Godzilla series? I'd love to hear you on Biolante or Shin Godzilla
Woah! I did not expect after finishing this video to become a big fan of Godzilla. I was always a fan of the 1998 Matthew Broderick film, which I saw back then, and was only interested in over all the other past (including those succeeding '98) films.
I loved that versions mix of comedy and action, and the general sense of fluidity. Thanks for introducing me to the classic collection of Godzilla films I'm definitely going watch; might have to pick this Criterion Collection up. 👍
Beyond this series of films there’s also the Heisei and Millenium films to Check out. And for our current time there’s the Legendary films and the Reiwa era Toho films
@@yuyaricachimuel555 Thanks! I've since seen the original '54 Godzilla, and am working on watching the sequel and other films from the early period.
@@buickboy92 awesome! Good to see new fans coming into a very underappreciated genre of monster movie
Haven't watch all of them but now I truly want to... is not only the entertainment value, you just explained so much of them, poured so much emotions that I can't help feeling interested and kinda of excited about them... : D well.... maybe not the most recent ones... U_U
The recent ones depends which one. Legendary has some movies, which I like to imagine as basically modernized version of the older Toho films, which is not a bad thing. It’s a good intro for new audiences. Meanwhile Toho is still making content but their stuff is very different, more than ever, and that’s a good contrast from what Legendary is doing, so that way this franchise has many different flavors for whatever audience. But overall we get new Godzilla stuff from both hemispheres and for a Kaiju fan that’s a blessing.
Great video! I didn't love Terror of Mechagodzilla the first time I saw it either, but maybe I should give it another shot
watched the ones from the 80's as a kid before i even seen any of the older ones. mainly because it is what was on TV (i'm in my 30's). AMC/TNT use to have a Godzilla Marathon every year, they'd show only like a few of the older movies at the arse crack of the morning and then skip to the later 3 or 4 during prime time.
How does this only have 8k views? I'm not acquainted with Godzilla at all really and I find this quite enjoyable.
Commenting to appease the algorithm. I love your work!!
I can't understate how much I want a followup to this video
First few seconds into your video...and im def with the later group..id buy that so fast
I will literally watch a video you make about anything.
This was great. Hope you'll do the Heisei, Millenium, Monsterverse, and so on.
Universal monsters created the cinematic universe? Good review! Love godzilla reviews!
long live Mothra! love your videos!
The opposite of deus ex machina?
Reality.
30:35 Godzilla vs Gigan is my favorite Godzilla movie: for several reasons, but mainly 1) it features one of the longest battles in Godzilla films, 2) Godzilla, Angilas, King Ghidorah, and Gigan are my favorite kaiju, 3) the 1968 Godzilla is my favorite Showa Godzilla, albeit in this film the costume has seen better days, 4) as a big King Ghidorah fan, I like the change where he has an ally (Gigan) wherein in his first three movies he went solo, and at the end King Ghidorah retreats and is NOT killed, unlike in Destroy All Monsters, 5) granted, the soundtrack consists of stock music, but it fits the action seamlessly.
A very entertaining and successful pitch. Pity it overflows with spoilers. Had to stop watching after 10 mins. Anyway, thanks to you I am now convinced to start saving for this set. Regards from Poland!
Disc sleeves are a huge deal breaker for me, I like pegs better since it's harder for them to get dented that way.
Screw you! Invasion of Astro-Monster is a stone cold masterpiece!!!!
(Granted I did grow up with it, and did not watch Ghidarah, The Three-Headed Monster until much, much later; seriously, I could not find that movie ANYWHERE as a kid)
Great video!!
In that intro about other videos discussing these films, I wonder where James Rolfe's Monster Madness: Godzillathon would lie? I watched it having never seen any of the films, I still love it. I've seen the whole series he does several times, it makes for great in-the-background viewing.
Well one things for sure, Cinemassacre’s Godzillathon is good for starters but has some inaccuracies here and there.
The first Godzilla film always felt surreal to me, especially the underwater sequence at the end, which kind of scared me as a kid. But Godzilla v The Smog Monster (Hedorah) creeped me tf out the first time I saw it. I read somewhere that the flying sequence- as silly as it was- was put in because the producers told the director that the film was way too dark and needed a bit of humor to lighten it up some.
Anybody else think we should get a Heisei collection set in a similar vain? Especially with Godzilla vs. Biollante being out of print.
Absolutely, yes. Trying to track down and watch all those movies, especially as an American, is a gigantic pain in the ass. I had to import an ancient Japanese DVD release of Godzilla vs. Biollante that I found on eBay to see it.
Last time I checked, the Millennium era films are thankfully all on Blu-Ray and are generally pretty cheap though, so at least there's that.
@@EnvyOmicron And now Return of Godzilla, Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah and Godzilla vs. Mothra have also now all gone out of print as well 💀
I have never seen a Godzilla movie, but I know you will make anything interesting to watch :)
Hey, finally someone else who appreciates Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II.
Godzilla's revenge (all monsters attack) is on Blu Ray. That's just funny
I adore Mothra vs. Godzilla as well and GvsHedorah. Well done.
I want to buy this just because it looks badass and I love Godzilla
The only Japanese Godzilla movies I've seen are the original and Final Wars, so this was super helpful for figuring out which ones I should get around to. (The answer might just be all fifteen.)
I love every single showa Godzilla film every single one
I watched "Godzilla Raids Again" on TCM last Friday. It was the first (classic) Godzilla movie that I had *ever* seen! 🤓
awesome video
Yknow Godzilla had no reason to ever help ppl but still did. I’m gonna start crying a little, if Godzilla is real we should build them a giant city that they can do whatever they want in
That would be such a fun premise for a Kaiju movie. SOMEBODY GREENLIGHT IT!
I never knew Terror of MechaGodzilla had such good cinematography, it practically looks like a modern film.
I saw bits and pieces of most of these as a kid, but you wondered why people don't like Godzilla vs Hedorah. It's one of the few I decided to sit down and watch now that I have the Criterion collection because I heard all about how dark it is despite being the weirdest of the Showa era. I didn't really enjoy the film, not because it's silly, I knew Godzilla flies, but the action just does nothing for the film. Godzilla spends most of the time throwing gang signs while the audience is left to interpret what the hell is going on because it's not fighting. Godzilla's nuclear breath apparently works in place of electricity in this world, it's basically turned into a Sonic Screwdriver mechanic. He also can speak to children with psychic powers for no particular reason, just to let them know he's on the way.
I always considered Hedorah one of the few villains ripe for adaptation in the monsterverse, had they bothered sticking to the man vs nature theme.
i trust anyone who says mothra vs. godzilla is their favourite one in the franchise
I just started with godzilla vs hedora, a real crappy copy, but i'm so here for this.
I appreciate your words on the more maligned films as people seem to only know Godzilla from a distance or vague memories. Interestingly I’ve seen people take Godzilla’s Revenge differently as some see it as a message about the commonplace Latchkey kid culture at that time
Ok that Come With Me joke is clever
I treated myself to this for Christmas. Even though I don't own a bluray player.
Mechagodzilla'74 is about colonialism. Okinawa was violently annexed by Japan and retains its own cultural identity to this day, a lot like Hawaii. When aliens attempt to colonize the planet Earth by stealing the likeness of Earth's greatest defender, the only way to defeat the colonial aliens is to return a stolen indigenous Okinawan artefact to its original owners and allow them to perform a traditional cultural ceremony to resurrect the living representation of their oppressed culture. It also has a bangin' fuckin soundtrack, you can't deny that.
From what I recall with Invasion of Astro Monster, the reason the sonic device works is because the aliens control all their tech with their thought, so disrupting their concentration makes everything stop working. Saying it magically turns everything off feels a bit disingenuous.
HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS
I don’t think most people dislike Godzilla vs Hedorah because of the “flying” scene.
It’s probably more-so because it’s edited like an LSD trip.
Oh yeah, and the fact that it has some of the worst tone whiplash I have ever seen in a film.
thanks for make me better understand godzilla... hug from portugal
I never watched a Japanese Godzilla movie but I'm totally watching this
Time to start ;) So much awesomeness it’s no wonder Godzilla is strong to this day
The bolt of lightning reviving king kong was there because they replaced Frankenstein for king kong.
No shit, godzilla was to fight Frankenstein but later Frankenstein would fight Baragon
Godzilla vs Megalon should of been a Godzilla and Gamera Team Up movie, and have Jet jaguar appear in Terror of MechaGodzilla. Or have Godzilla and King Ceaser team up against MechaGodzilla and Titanasaurus.
I can't say I like any of the films from this era except the first one, but there's something oddly wholesome about men in monster suits pro-wrestling for the fate of the world.
Some of the films after the original are pretty good but in the end it’s all about ones taste and how they like their movies hence why the movies overall vary in many ways
Question. Is movies like Rodan or king Kong escapes part of the showa era???
There's a little Godzilla inside of each of us.
i've never seen a godzilla film in my life but suddenly i'm about to drop $100 to get the whole set
Once you go in, there’s no going out.
You won’t regret it. It’s some awesome stuff. And there’s even more besides this.
pls pls pls pls review the 80's Godzilla!!!!
Sadly, Godzilla vs Megalon is not in fact a public domain film. MST3K was able to riff the movie because they licensed the rights to do so from the folks who owned the North American distribution rights at the time. The contract was only good for the broadcast of the episode. Due to some legal confusion, MST3K released the episode on DVD very briefly, so finding that set is both difficult and expensive.