I am unashamed to say that I have been a fan of Godzilla since the age of 5. My first Godzilla movie was “Godzilla 1985”...the american version. That movie alone solidified a devotion to the character in me. After I saw that movie the rest of my childhood was spent harassing teenage video store clerks over the phone about what Godzilla movies they had in stock...subsequently our number was blocked from several video stores.
During the 90’s when new Godzilla movies had stopped being released here in the States, I would save my allowance and payoff the Japanese exchange students that stayed at our neighbor’s house to send me back copies of the latest Godzilla movies. I think it’s safe to say that I’am both a Godzilla purist and fan.
So let’s get down to brass tax; what does the new Godzilla movie need from the perspective of a true fan? The issues that I will cover here in this editorial are tone, creature design, music, and story. Please be aware that some these topics overlap each other and to fully separate them out is beyond the scope of this editorial.
First topic to discuss is tone, and this where the majority of my personal meditations will be expounded. I was very excited when I saw the new Godzilla teaser and heard the overture of Robert Oppenheimer. A scrolling shot of a desolate, barren city landscape, a monotone voice devoid of levity saying “Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds”. If Legendary pictures wants to convey the same attitude that the first Godzilla movie had, Robert oppenheimer’s commentary on the first atomic bomb test is a good place to start. I must say though that I see a few problems with what both producers and the director (Gareth Edwards) have to say about the overall movie. The first Godzilla movie, contrary to what most people perceive it to be, was not an anti-nuclear statement. Sure, that was part of it but it was not the essence of the movie. The film at it’s heart was an expression of lament from the national soul of Japan. Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the atomic bombs dropped there seared something deep into the collective Japanese psyche; a profound fear, humility, and sincere concern for the rest of humanity. The first Godzilla movie was not cinematic activism, it was a sincere, natural, heartfelt plea and warning from a nation mourning on it’s knees, not to play God, or else a “GOD”zilla would arise.Gareth Edwards first movie, “Monsters”, was a tissue thin veiled metaphor for illegal immigration here in the United States...it was dead,pale, and lifeless cinematic activism. My concern here is that Gareth Edwards is on record as saying that he wants to make this movie “totally realistic”... there is and has never been, Mr. Edwards, anything even remotely realistic about a 50 meter atomic breathing reptile who has an organic nuclear reactor as a heart. So from where I’m standing, the only thing Mr. Edwards can possibly be talking about when he says “totally realistic” is how he plans to use Godzilla as a vehicle to argue his position on what ever REAL life social controversy he feels like commenting upon in this movie. Godzilla transcends petty social commentary, he is not political, he is elemental. He is a creature that has come for judgement and points the finger at ALL humanity thereby leveling the moral playing field to an even plane. So I hope Mr. Edwards understands the subtle nuance between social activism and archetypal warnings, and if he doesn’t, the only thing that will be epic about this movie is it’s failure and the synchronized wailing of true Godzilla fans. Now on to the second half of tone. Brian Rogers, the producer of this movie, is on record as saying that this Godzilla movie will stay true to it’s roots and also have another monster for Godzilla to fight. This makes me lose sleep. The way I see it is that the two are incompatible. If you’re going to have Godzilla stay true to his roots and fight another monster (which I’m all for by the way), you’re going to have two movies in one. As we all know, trying to cram two or three different ideas into a movie (think “Spiderman 3”) never works. Characters are always underdeveloped and plot lines always thin. My humble suggestion to Mr. Rogers and Mr. Edwards is to make this first movie about Godzilla, the horrifying menace he is, and nothing else, then from there, have Godzilla fight other monsters.
Alright then, on to creature design. Yes I know that there’s a promotional picture of Godzilla out there by Legendary Pictures representing what Godzilla will supposedly look like, but that picture came out over a year ago and chances are that won’t be the final design.And Yes I to have seen the smokey blurred picture of what might be the New Godzilla's face from a teaser shown at comic con 2012, but again the movie doesn't go in to production until a few months from now. So there's really no way of knowing if that's the final design. So here are my thoughts, not a lot to say other then that Godzilla must be a thick,stiff, upright dinosaur on steroids that does not care one ounce if he’s being deluged with hellfire missiles. Please no skinny T-rex legs with the inverted knees and a tail that doesn’t drag across the ground. For that matter, no skinny anything please...Godzilla must have wide shoulders and girth to emphasize his innate power. Legendary Pictures, I’m begging you from my knees to use the classic dorsal fin design and not the “Godzilla 2000” kind.
Finally we come to music. I have no doubt that music is the most powerful medium on earth, more so than cinema and literature combined. Music can, like nothing else, make us lower our defenses and wholeheartedly embrace an idea or narrative...even if it was something that we were logically opposed to. Raise your hand if you watch the last 11 minutes of “The Last Of The Mohicans” over and over again just to hear the music and watch Alice throw herself off the cliff...see, that’s proof of my point. What does this have to do with Godzilla...EVERYTHING! Godzilla would not be the enduring character he is without the brilliant and timeless scores of Akira Ifukube. Now if you’re a true Godzilla fan you already know the name and the contributions this man made to the franchise. If you’ve never heard the name, then you should know, that every Godzilla movie starting with the original, with the exception of a few modern ones, has been scored with this man’s classic compositions . Akira Ifukube was a classically trained composer. He was brought on board by Toho studios for the 1954 Godzilla movie and he produced some of the most enduring, rebel rousing, and haunting music you’ll ever hear. His music was so good that it became a staple trademark for almost every Godzilla movie that followed. Even the classic roar of the monster was produced by Akira Ifukube. His music gave the original 1954 movie a layer of emotional depth consistent with horror being conveyed that would’ve otherwise not been there. Just check out “A Prayer For Peace” that I put at the bottom of this article...and listen to until the very last note. It’s a vocal composition by Akira Ifukube, placed in the 1954 Godzilla movie, that occurs after Godzilla trashes Tokyo and the nation’s desperation is given believable voice by a chorus of children. The piece is so moving for me that every night, when I’ve had too much to drink, and I’ve just watched a documentary on drug addicts or the child sex slave trade taking place in some backwards nation, that I cue it up on YOUTUBE and let the music hit a resonant pitch with the lament of my heart ...that’s how real his music feels! Indeed the Godzilla franchise, in no small way owes it’s legacy to this man, and it is only honorable if Legendary Pictures includes Akira Ifukube’s scores in their new Godzilla movie.
Well, I think for now, that’s all I have to say. Of course this is all just my opinion and not dogma. If you don’t agree please feel free to unload your atomic breathe of hatred at me down in the trenches of the comment section below. CIAO suckers!
Akira Ifukube
31 May 1914 – 8 February 2006
In my opinion you didn't get the International recognition you deserve brother...hope this movie does it for you