“In the film world, we can all be heroes. In the real world, where heroism can cost you your life or the life of the ones you love, people aren’t so willing to make those sacrifices. When they do, they are set apart from the rest of us.”~John Rhys-Davies
Time to let out my inner nerd!!!
This day in history, for giant monster film fans and for fans of the Godzilla film series.. The third of November in 1954 was the release of the “kaiju” film GODZILLA.
Now sixty years later, Godzilla fans rejoice with their top of the line Blu-Ray edition of the film or special edition DVD’s that have been sitting on shelves for the past several years are becoming unwrapped and played for the first time ever in order to watch this Japanese classic.
Like many others, I grew up watching these bad boys during my wee youth. I can recall getting excited every time “King Kong vs. Godzilla” was on television. And even before the age of ten, I kept cheering for Godzilla to emerge victorious from the ocean during that film. Even though it was King Kong that came through the waters and Godzilla was never on screen again during that epic battle ending. I remember every time I watched that movie, wanting… begging… wishing for a different ending. But it never came.
As I grew older I realized that the movie had actually called the match a stalemate and a tie as NEITHER creature won. I still contend to this day that King Kong was getting his ass kicked. But that’s for another day.
I can even remember being terrified of watching “Godzilla vs. Hedorah” or “Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster.” Having a foe that deadly was a huge risk, even for Godzilla, in my own opinion. To this day I believe that I have not watched that particular film all the way through from beginning to end.
And now there are 28 films in the franchise. On top of that, you have your two American made films. Godzilla (1998) and the Gareth Edwards film Godzilla that came out this year in 2014.
I remember as a fan being super pumped up for the American version of the film in 1998. It was every where according to merchandising. Taco Bell got on board as well as other brands. And then sitting in the front row at the movie theater practically breaking my neck looking straight up at the screen to what would ultimately be such a shock to my system as I became one of the millions of extremely disappointed fans and movie goers. And this year with Edwards version of the film, I was much more relaxed and content with what I saw than I was way back in 1998.
Although I did go back and watch the 1998 version again recently and it was not a bad film. In fact, it was a decent movie. The problem was that it just was not Godzilla.
But a BIG NOD to the G-man today. Happy 60th, big guy!!! May there be even more films to put into the franchise as we go along.
Dambreaker 