This was such a great reaction! By any chance have you seen the Shogun series on Hulu? I really enjoyed that series! I’ve subscribed to your channel and plan to check out your Midnight Mass reactions next! 💪🏽
Hey thanks for the comment and welcome to the channel! Yeah thanks so much, Godzilla was a fantastic film that was much more dramatic than I expected. I have happily not seen Shogun and it is up next this month so stay tuned!
Hey thanks for the comment and my pleasure Elizabeth! Living here for so long I just couldn't make a typical reaction video, mottai nai (it would be a waste). Stay tuned for more, Shogun is coming soon!
Great video man! Really glad you tackled this one :) The fx in this movie were great but the creature design in the newer US flicks is def better - the anatomy of Godzilla is just more believable and the creature looks like it actually has MASSIVE weight to it.
Hey brotha thanks! As you can see, the original video is back up for now while the Japanese movie company is reviewing my dispute (grateful to them for the chance). Yeah definitely the US one is better in terms of anatomy and movement. I actually like both: the US one for the obvious reasons, but this one looks like a mix of the old vintage models and the clearly modern cgi. I read that when asked why he made Godzilla move so stiff like the old ones, the minus one director said that to the Japanese Godzilla is not simply a big lizard, but a higher other-worldly being, like a kami (god). So it's interesting to me that some of this was a thoughtful creative choice.
@@KensCinemaSofa Yeah, that def came through (the old school design and movements), it def looked deliberate. My only complaint about some kaiju movies (this one included) is the creature moves way too fast - nothing THAT big could ever move like that.
@@Mancer1980 ah Yeah, that might be the kami divine being aspect that the director was talking about, not really a biological creature governed by the laws of physics, Pacific Rim (amazing movie) is the key perp on this front though lol. You see Shin Godzilla? That's next on the kaiju series here at the cinema sofa LOL
Hey Michael! It's been awhile, how are you? I will be watching the new version since its gotten so much acclaim and lauded for its meticulous details on Japan, which lends well to my type reaction. But I've seriously considered going to the old one after this is done. Any reason you prefer to original? (that won't spoil it)
Hey Ken! I hope you’re doing well. It’s mostly because when I was a kid I watched the original version, and it’s wonderfully done. It has Toshiro Mifune! It’s 12 hours long. And I heard the new one changes the book. And I’m just usually not a fan of remakes and prefer originals. Full disclosure: I haven’t seen the new one. But I understand why you’d react to the new one. No worries. You take care! 😃
Hey thank you! Yeah I read that it can be used for "young men" that are strangers, I wonder if there is some connection between the two meanings from centuries ago, since they're both for males essentially. Much appreciated!
I love this film and really enjoyed your Japan insider take on the themes. Have you been to Yushukan War Museum? Totemo omoshiroi tokoro for a westerner to see.
Hey thanks for the comment and encouraging words! Yeah I had a feeling id like it before hand but was blown away by how good it was. Kitta koto ga nai yo! Is it the one in Nagasaki? I'll have to check it out. Do you live in Japan too?
@@KensCinemaSofa it's in Tokyo. It's a controversial museum but has amazing artifacts including a fully restored Zero. I visited Japan last year and loved it, but glad I don't have to work there as you said.
yeah I looked it up, gonna try and get there this week thanks to you! Yeah this is a great country to visit, even for more than a couple months. Long term though can be rewarding, just as long as you face certain realities lol Still growing myself, as is the country
@@KensCinemaSofa let me know what you think of the museum. I'd also be curious about your experience making Japanese friends, if you think they can really accept gaijin in their inner circles.
I surely will let you know! I have thursdays and fridays off generally so I will be on that mission. As for "friends", yeah that's a complicated thing here. What is a friend? LOL I know that sounds weird, but here you have a variety of situations of relationships that all fall under the umbrella of that culture of indirectness in Japan. Some people have told me they have friends, but then a Japanese business man whom I was teaching told me "Japanese people don't have friends"....?! I think what he means is that compared to America, making friends is not as easy as bumping into someone that likes the same films you do in the action aisle at a video store (been gone a long time mind you!). At least that is what can happen where i'm from in Chicago, but here friends, or "associates" for starters, are connected to your life duties: job, high school, job, university lab group, job, PTA group......job. You get the picture. People here have told me that decades ago it was easier to make friends in your neighborhood when things were more community, village-minded, and that is still true to some degree the further you get away from Tokyo and the big cities. Or go west LOL Tokyoites say the people from kansai (Osaka, Hyogo, etc.) are so wild and outgoing that they are "not Japanese" haha. All of this is relative of course, just telling you what other Japanese have told me. So the foreigner has to enter into that cultural, social whirlpool that's stirring when you get here -- stirring quietly and unassumingly of course. It may be easier in ways for us because many Japanese expect us to be loud and outgoing, and some find it exciting. However, long-term, you'll need to connect with some group in step with your duties in the country to keep it going. For me that's been mostly church and school teaching, or resist the urge to move every year around the country, find a nice neighborhood or town, dig in roots, maybe work a job at the local elementary school and just organically let it happen.
According to Wikipedia, heavy cruiser Takao 高雄 was named after Mt Takao 高雄山 in Kyoto, not the Mt Takao 高尾山 in Tokyo or Takao 高雄 (present day still called 高雄 but romanized as Kaohsiung from the Chinese pronunciation) in Taiwan, which was a Japanese colony back then.
Hey thanks for the comment! Ah I see, I wasn't even aware that Kyoto had a Mt. Takao, just another reason to visit again lol I'll take anything to get to that beautiful city. I've yet to visit Taiwan but have heard great things about the country, appreciate the help there!
@@KensCinemaSofa I didn't know there's a Mt Takao in Kyoto either. I looked it up because when I saw that both the Japanese and Chinese subtitles say 高雄, I was like why would they name it after a Taiwanese city and got curious.
@@KensCinemaSofa Yes. I doubt people who are unaware of the Taiwanese city of Takao would be confused or curious. Or, to most non-Japanese moviegoers (who are not WWII/history buffs or into warships, I am neither btw), it's probably just a name, not a real ship in history.
Awesome! I have Japanese art students who love your country (they've threatened me if I don't visit Taiwan lol). It's on my list for spring 2025. As for the ship, im all about those historical details, digging time!
My cousin was in a town South of Tokyo for three years. He said in many places they were packed in like sardines and the only way you did not end up with people becoming nasty because of tripping over everyone was there cultural notion of Wa (和). And then he was there for a massive earthquake and the aftermath. He ran to the shops below his apartment because he was afraid for the old lady that ran the shop. He was used to how it is in the states where looting happens at the drop of a hat and that old women would have been hurt or worse trying to stop anyone. Instead, she was open, neighbors were helping her right the store and she was selling as normal. Everyone was acting calm despite the fear and hurt. So yah, I'd take there wa over the BS in places like LA Chicago or NY any day. When he moved home with his new wife, (The older daughter of the old Women he rented from). I found her so kind and demure that I became a better person just from being around her.
Hey thanks for the comment! Yeah exactly, Wa, harmony here, as an old man told me here at a culture day, it developed naturally over centuries of most everyone living on the coast. As you said, it definitely keeps the peace, however as always there is a flipside to everything in life. In America, it is much easier to make and maintain relationships because here people are too concerned many times with not possibly disrupting a harmonious day. There is a serious problem with suicide in Japan (my train was stopped a month ago twice in a week because someone jumped on the train tracks). Another issue is people dying in their homes and no one finding out sometimes for a year or so. Most times people in a neighborhood would check on their neighbor, even in the ghetto where I grew up in Chicago. I'm told Japan used to be like that too in the Showa era (post war). There are actually special clean up businesses here that specialize in taking care of the mess that's left, its big business. As a missionary im charged with keeping my ears and heart open to the pleasant and unpleasant, otherwise i cannot carry out my vocation and i would be just like those who would rather keep things running smoothly than hear the pain of another. I can tell you that many Japanese, young and old, have confessed how they feel about all this, even had a few wanting to go with me to America. Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, every country has issues it would rather not put on display of course. I tell people I love Japan, which is more mature and earned over time and seeing with clear eyes good and bad than simply "I like Japan".
"minus one" is referring to the state of Godzilla left Japan in. post war Japan had nothing and was reduced to "zero". but Godzilla came in and brought Japan's zero to minus, from nothing to less than nothing.
Hey thanks for the comment! Oh wow, thanks so much for informing me of that because that is exactly what I've been telling people about this film and its setting. In fact I'm in a cafe now in Chofu, Tokyo and just told somebody about that like 5 minutes ago before reading your comment. She didnt seem too interested (being a Godzilla movie in Japan, people are kind of over it) until I shared that tid-bit, after which her eyes lit up. It's a very interesting premise. Now it makes sense, thanks again!
考察力が鋭いし、日本人のことをよく知ってる様に感じました。
楽しかったです‼️
コメントありがとうございます！ 日本のことをあまり話すのは少し気が引けましたが、日本を愛する気持ちから慎重にコメントするように心がけました。 これからも私のチャンネルを見ていただければ幸いです。!!
This was such a great reaction! By any chance have you seen the Shogun series on Hulu? I really enjoyed that series! I’ve subscribed to your channel and plan to check out your Midnight Mass reactions next! 💪🏽
Hey thanks for the comment and welcome to the channel! Yeah thanks so much, Godzilla was a fantastic film that was much more dramatic than I expected. I have happily not seen Shogun and it is up next this month so stay tuned!
@@KensCinemaSofa looking forward to it! 👍🏽
love hearing about Japan - thank you - great review
Hey thanks for the comment and my pleasure Elizabeth! Living here for so long I just couldn't make a typical reaction video, mottai nai (it would be a waste). Stay tuned for more, Shogun is coming soon!
Thank you.Really.Thank you.
And thank you sir! I hope I can deliver better as time goes on
Great video man! Really glad you tackled this one :) The fx in this movie were great but the creature design in the newer US flicks is def better - the anatomy of Godzilla is just more believable and the creature looks like it actually has MASSIVE weight to it.
Hey brotha thanks! As you can see, the original video is back up for now while the Japanese movie company is reviewing my dispute (grateful to them for the chance). Yeah definitely the US one is better in terms of anatomy and movement. I actually like both: the US one for the obvious reasons, but this one looks like a mix of the old vintage models and the clearly modern cgi. I read that when asked why he made Godzilla move so stiff like the old ones, the minus one director said that to the Japanese Godzilla is not simply a big lizard, but a higher other-worldly being, like a kami (god). So it's interesting to me that some of this was a thoughtful creative choice.
@@KensCinemaSofa Yeah, that def came through (the old school design and movements), it def looked deliberate. My only complaint about some kaiju movies (this one included) is the creature moves way too fast - nothing THAT big could ever move like that.
@@Mancer1980 ah Yeah, that might be the kami divine being aspect that the director was talking about, not really a biological creature governed by the laws of physics, Pacific Rim (amazing movie) is the key perp on this front though lol. You see Shin Godzilla? That's next on the kaiju series here at the cinema sofa LOL
@@KensCinemaSofa I have not seen Shin but heard it's great! Def on my list.
I hope you react to the ORIGINAL Shogun series.
Hey Michael! It's been awhile, how are you? I will be watching the new version since its gotten so much acclaim and lauded for its meticulous details on Japan, which lends well to my type reaction. But I've seriously considered going to the old one after this is done. Any reason you prefer to original? (that won't spoil it)
Hey Ken! I hope you’re doing well.
It’s mostly because when I was a kid I watched the original version, and it’s wonderfully done. It has Toshiro Mifune! It’s 12 hours long. And I heard the new one changes the book.
And I’m just usually not a fan of remakes and prefer originals.
Full disclosure: I haven’t seen the new one.
But I understand why you’d react to the new one. No worries.
You take care! 😃
”Oniisan" is a pronoun used to address a male stranger who is older. It does not mean brother in this case.
Hey thank you! Yeah I read that it can be used for "young men" that are strangers, I wonder if there is some connection between the two meanings from centuries ago, since they're both for males essentially. Much appreciated!
I love this film and really enjoyed your Japan insider take on the themes. Have you been to Yushukan War Museum? Totemo omoshiroi tokoro for a westerner to see.
Hey thanks for the comment and encouraging words! Yeah I had a feeling id like it before hand but was blown away by how good it was. Kitta koto ga nai yo! Is it the one in Nagasaki? I'll have to check it out. Do you live in Japan too?
@@KensCinemaSofa it's in Tokyo. It's a controversial museum but has amazing artifacts including a fully restored Zero. I visited Japan last year and loved it, but glad I don't have to work there as you said.
yeah I looked it up, gonna try and get there this week thanks to you! Yeah this is a great country to visit, even for more than a couple months. Long term though can be rewarding, just as long as you face certain realities lol Still growing myself, as is the country
@@KensCinemaSofa let me know what you think of the museum. I'd also be curious about your experience making Japanese friends, if you think they can really accept gaijin in their inner circles.
I surely will let you know! I have thursdays and fridays off generally so I will be on that mission. As for "friends", yeah that's a complicated thing here. What is a friend? LOL I know that sounds weird, but here you have a variety of situations of relationships that all fall under the umbrella of that culture of indirectness in Japan. Some people have told me they have friends, but then a Japanese business man whom I was teaching told me "Japanese people don't have friends"....?! I think what he means is that compared to America, making friends is not as easy as bumping into someone that likes the same films you do in the action aisle at a video store (been gone a long time mind you!). At least that is what can happen where i'm from in Chicago, but here friends, or "associates" for starters, are connected to your life duties: job, high school, job, university lab group, job, PTA group......job. You get the picture. People here have told me that decades ago it was easier to make friends in your neighborhood when things were more community, village-minded, and that is still true to some degree the further you get away from Tokyo and the big cities. Or go west LOL Tokyoites say the people from kansai (Osaka, Hyogo, etc.) are so wild and outgoing that they are "not Japanese" haha. All of this is relative of course, just telling you what other Japanese have told me. So the foreigner has to enter into that cultural, social whirlpool that's stirring when you get here -- stirring quietly and unassumingly of course. It may be easier in ways for us because many Japanese expect us to be loud and outgoing, and some find it exciting. However, long-term, you'll need to connect with some group in step with your duties in the country to keep it going. For me that's been mostly church and school teaching, or resist the urge to move every year around the country, find a nice neighborhood or town, dig in roots, maybe work a job at the local elementary school and just organically let it happen.
According to Wikipedia, heavy cruiser Takao 高雄 was named after Mt Takao 高雄山 in Kyoto, not the Mt Takao 高尾山 in Tokyo or Takao 高雄 (present day still called 高雄 but romanized as Kaohsiung from the Chinese pronunciation) in Taiwan, which was a Japanese colony back then.
Hey thanks for the comment! Ah I see, I wasn't even aware that Kyoto had a Mt. Takao, just another reason to visit again lol I'll take anything to get to that beautiful city. I've yet to visit Taiwan but have heard great things about the country, appreciate the help there!
@@KensCinemaSofa I didn't know there's a Mt Takao in Kyoto either. I looked it up because when I saw that both the Japanese and Chinese subtitles say 高雄, I was like why would they name it after a Taiwanese city and got curious.
Ah gotcha, are you in Taiwan by chance? You seem to know a bit about the place
@@KensCinemaSofa Yes. I doubt people who are unaware of the Taiwanese city of Takao would be confused or curious. Or, to most non-Japanese moviegoers (who are not WWII/history buffs or into warships, I am neither btw), it's probably just a name, not a real ship in history.
Awesome! I have Japanese art students who love your country (they've threatened me if I don't visit Taiwan lol). It's on my list for spring 2025. As for the ship, im all about those historical details, digging time!
My cousin was in a town South of Tokyo for three years. He said in many places they were packed in like sardines and the only way you did not end up with people becoming nasty because of tripping over everyone was there cultural notion of Wa (和). And then he was there for a massive earthquake and the aftermath. He ran to the shops below his apartment because he was afraid for the old lady that ran the shop. He was used to how it is in the states where looting happens at the drop of a hat and that old women would have been hurt or worse trying to stop anyone. Instead, she was open, neighbors were helping her right the store and she was selling as normal. Everyone was acting calm despite the fear and hurt. So yah, I'd take there wa over the BS in places like LA Chicago or NY any day. When he moved home with his new wife, (The older daughter of the old Women he rented from). I found her so kind and demure that I became a better person just from being around her.
Hey thanks for the comment! Yeah exactly, Wa, harmony here, as an old man told me here at a culture day, it developed naturally over centuries of most everyone living on the coast. As you said, it definitely keeps the peace, however as always there is a flipside to everything in life. In America, it is much easier to make and maintain relationships because here people are too concerned many times with not possibly disrupting a harmonious day. There is a serious problem with suicide in Japan (my train was stopped a month ago twice in a week because someone jumped on the train tracks). Another issue is people dying in their homes and no one finding out sometimes for a year or so. Most times people in a neighborhood would check on their neighbor, even in the ghetto where I grew up in Chicago. I'm told Japan used to be like that too in the Showa era (post war). There are actually special clean up businesses here that specialize in taking care of the mess that's left, its big business. As a missionary im charged with keeping my ears and heart open to the pleasant and unpleasant, otherwise i cannot carry out my vocation and i would be just like those who would rather keep things running smoothly than hear the pain of another. I can tell you that many Japanese, young and old, have confessed how they feel about all this, even had a few wanting to go with me to America. Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, every country has issues it would rather not put on display of course. I tell people I love Japan, which is more mature and earned over time and seeing with clear eyes good and bad than simply "I like Japan".
"minus one" is referring to the state of Godzilla left Japan in. post war Japan had nothing and was reduced to "zero". but Godzilla came in and brought Japan's zero to minus, from nothing to less than nothing.
Hey thanks for the comment! Oh wow, thanks so much for informing me of that because that is exactly what I've been telling people about this film and its setting. In fact I'm in a cafe now in Chofu, Tokyo and just told somebody about that like 5 minutes ago before reading your comment. She didnt seem too interested (being a Godzilla movie in Japan, people are kind of over it) until I shared that tid-bit, after which her eyes lit up. It's a very interesting premise. Now it makes sense, thanks again!
@@KensCinemaSofa no problem