One Movie Series Down...
So, I've now finished the 80's/90's Heisei Godzilla series.
I'm sad to see it end. The movies aren't likely to crack my top ten list of most re-watchable movies and I think the 90's Gamera Trilogy still wins for my favorite kaiju movies, but I wholly enjoyed this series. Random comments:
--I loved the old-school suits, models, and other practical effects. While a lot of the green-screen work was shaky and the limits of the budget show in a few street scenes where it's obvious some people aren't part of the movie... and thus aren't reacting to Godzilla rampaging just two blocks behind them, the practical effects were usually incredibly detailed. This era's Mechagodzilla was a special favorite, and the models and suits used to bring it to life were great.
--I've gotten the impression that the human castmembers are usually considered nothing but plot devices in these movies while the monsters are the real draw. But, I actually liked the protagonists of most of the movies and was solidly rooting for them against Godzilla. Particular standouts were Kazuma from "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II" and Miki, who is the only regular across the movies to have a story arc.
--Despite the above point, I do confess to a sniffle when Godzilla died at the end of "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah". He was the antagonist, but given his last acts were just trying to see his son - the only other of his kind - one last time, well...
--Little Godzilla is adorable, and I rather wish he'd gotten a movie of his own after aging up to Godzilla Junior.
Well, I guess it's on to the 2000's era movies now. Though there are only six of them. But, I do mean to get to the older movies too. I've already randomly watched the non-Godzilla "Space Amoeba" from the same company just because this movie poster looked at a glance like Gamera photobombing his rival company's movie.
I'm sad to see it end. The movies aren't likely to crack my top ten list of most re-watchable movies and I think the 90's Gamera Trilogy still wins for my favorite kaiju movies, but I wholly enjoyed this series. Random comments:
--I loved the old-school suits, models, and other practical effects. While a lot of the green-screen work was shaky and the limits of the budget show in a few street scenes where it's obvious some people aren't part of the movie... and thus aren't reacting to Godzilla rampaging just two blocks behind them, the practical effects were usually incredibly detailed. This era's Mechagodzilla was a special favorite, and the models and suits used to bring it to life were great.
--I've gotten the impression that the human castmembers are usually considered nothing but plot devices in these movies while the monsters are the real draw. But, I actually liked the protagonists of most of the movies and was solidly rooting for them against Godzilla. Particular standouts were Kazuma from "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II" and Miki, who is the only regular across the movies to have a story arc.
--Despite the above point, I do confess to a sniffle when Godzilla died at the end of "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah". He was the antagonist, but given his last acts were just trying to see his son - the only other of his kind - one last time, well...
--Little Godzilla is adorable, and I rather wish he'd gotten a movie of his own after aging up to Godzilla Junior.
Well, I guess it's on to the 2000's era movies now. Though there are only six of them. But, I do mean to get to the older movies too. I've already randomly watched the non-Godzilla "Space Amoeba" from the same company just because this movie poster looked at a glance like Gamera photobombing his rival company's movie.
