GOJIRA (JAPAN)
Japan. We've seen it demolished many times over in various movies. But, do you remember the FIRST time? You got it, it was Gojira (go-jee-rah). Named "Godzilla" by America in 1956, Gojira stomped his way across the screen. I can only imagine what the Japanese were thinking when they first saw this film. Little did they know that this movie would set the standard for monster movies to come.
The Japanese military receives a distress call that some of their ships have been sunk. Too many in succession to be "just a coincidence". Even some of the fishing ships were sunk. One thing all these sinkings have in common is, they're all near Odo Island. It was originally thought that it was volcanic activity, but when some houses were destroyed and big foorprints were found the next day, it began to slowly piece together.
Hideto Ogata – one of the Navy's frogmen, Paleontologist Dr. Yemani and his daughter Emiko (who is seeing Ogata) together with the military form an expedition and head to Odo Island. Once there the natives explain what's happening. Their fish supply is gone, and the people are terrified. As if someone had called him for dinner, Gojira makes an unexpected appearance. Dr. Yemani's interests in Gojira are purely scientific, and he wants to study him. The military, on the other hand wants to destroy him. One person who was spotted when the expedition ships were leaving was Dr. Serizawa. Being a reclusive scientist – as well as the one who was arranged to be Emiko's husband – what was Serizawa doing there?
Gojira – the original – was made in 1954, and "Americanized" in 1956. The one I saw first was the American one with Raymond Burr. It was cool, but I felt there was something missing. I was right. I was in Border's bookstore in the DVD section and and saw the double-disc edition, containing both the one that most Americans saw, and the original one that was only shown in Japan for a great many years. After seeing this, I began to see where the other monster movies were getting their ideas, storylines, and more. Examples of this are Gamera, and Ultraman. Being born here on the East Coast, there was Philadelphia Channel 48, and they aired Gojira, Gamera, Ultraman, Speed Racer, Battle Of The Planets ("Science Ninja Gatchaman" in Japan), Robotech ("Macross" in Japan), and anything else that was Japanese at the time. It was here that the interest in Anime and Japan actually started. People in Japan were actually frightened (from what I've read) when this movie came out! The Japanese were way ahead of the US when they started to use the whole rubber suite and miniatures to simulate Gojira's size. Notice that I say GOJIRA. I have no clue where the 'Godzilla' name originated from... More research for me!
— Brian K. James
overal movie rating:
9 out of 10
Regardless of what others may say, in MY book, Gojira is one of the best monster movies of it's time. An INSTANT CLASSIC, period.
