Hail to the King Baby!!!: A Godzilla Retrospective Part 5

Previously: Following Tri Star Pictures’ costly failure with their own take on Godzilla, Toho resurrected the King four years after the end of the Hesei Era for a new series of epic battles that took Godzilla in several creative new directions.  The culminated in the Millenium Era’s conclusion just as Godzilla celebrated his 50^th Anniversary.  Once again, the world waited anxiously for his inevitable return.

T5W#485-Top 5 Human Characters in Godzilla Films (Written by JMT-117)

What’s usually the one most common weak link in any Godzilla film?  Nine times out of Ten, it’s the Humans.  No one goes to Godzilla films to watch a bunch of normal civilians get into mostly pointless shinanigans while Monsters are terrorizing a city.  However, there is that one time out of ten where a Godzilla film produces a Human character worth investing time in along with the Kaiju action, it’s rare but it’s doable.  And to help point out the exceptions to the rule, as promised, my friend JMT-117 is back with a new Godzilla themed list of his own to close out the T5W portions of Godzilla Month III.  So without further ado, let’s turn things over to JMT with his picks for the Top 5 Human Characters in Godzilla Films.

 

Godzilla: Final Wars

The world faces its greatest crisis as a race of evil Aliens unleash Monsters all across the globe.  With the valiant warriors of the Earth Defense Forces stretched to their limit and compromised from within, a desperate plan sees them turning to the one force capable of standing against this invasion.  The King of the Monsters is resurrected to face an army of his greatest enemies, some of whom have been reborn more deadly than ever before.  Whether the world lives or dies, the final march of Godzilla marks the beginning of Earth’s Final War.

When an icon as big as Godzilla (pun plenty intended) turns 50, no one more than he deserves an epic adventure worthy of such a milestone.  Godzilla: Final Wars, the final entry in the Millenium Series and, at one point, proposed as the final entry in the entire franchise, both takes advantage of the celebration but not nearly enough.  Oh yes Godzilla is here but more often than not, he’s competing for screentime in his own film against another film that could be good on its own but decides to slot itself into this anniversary project.  The end result is a bit of a cluster cuss mess but it’s still a lot of fun, for the most part.
 

Hail to the King Baby!!!: A Godzilla Retrospective Part 4

Previously: Godzilla roared back onto the silver screen 9 years after the end of the Showa Era with The Return of Godzilla in 1984.  What followed was a seven film saga connected across ten years of spectacular Monster throwdowns while also returning Godzilla to his more menacing atomic horror roots.  But film studios across the sea wanted to take a crack at their own Godzilla film and Toho decided to send the King of the Monsters out in a fashion so epic that it made headlines worldwide.  The King was dead, Long Live the King.

 

T5W#484-Top 5 Godzilla Movies (from me this time)

It’s been a few years since I’ve started looking at Godzilla titles here and there for the Anime Corner, either as stand alone or as part of Godzilla Month events.  During much of this time, I’ve been a Godzilla novice, watching and learning more about the franchise through the mentorship of my good friend and top Godzilla advisor, JMT-117.  And while he’s still debating a Top 5 Godzilla list of his own for the month, he has helped me with research and editing the Hail to the King Baby Godzilla Retrospective.  So while I wait for him to pontentially add a new list to the Anime Corner, it’s finally my time to rank my own favorites within the Godzilla franchise cause by now I’ve seen mostly all of them save for a couple.  So, without further ado, I present my Top 5 Godzilla Movies (from me this time) on todays Top 5 Wednesday.

Godzilla: Tokyo SOS

One year after Kiryu’s defeat of Godzilla, a pair of Shobijin appear before humanity and offer an ultimatum: the bones of the original Godzilla used to build Kiryu must be returned to the ocean or Mothra will be forced to destroy humanity.  When Godzilla returns to finish what he started, however, Kiryu must answer the call to action once again.  Kiryu’s last mission begins but can its power along with Mothra’s be enough to destroy Godzilla once and for all?

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla ended on a surprising cliffhanger as Godzilla retreated into the sunset and Akane and her giant Mechagodzilla, Kiryu, stood victorious.  I can see why you’d want to continue this storyline since the creation of Kiryu is unique in the history of Mechagodzilla and Akane being an excellent protagonist more than worthy of carrying her own mini arc in the Millenium Era.  So its surprising that everything that worked in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla’s favor is immedietley sidelined in favor of something more straightforward and less interesting.  The movie delivers the Kaiju goods and looks great.  But this is a matter of style trumping substance and it doesn’t hold a candle to the two prior Millenium installments that came before it.
 

Hail to the King Baby!!!: A Godzilla Retrospective Part 3

Previously: During the second half of the Showa Era, Toho sought to make Godzilla more of a kid friendly character, transitioning him from destructive force of nature to planetary protector against Monsters both man made and from beyond the stars.  However, the steady decline of the Kaiju genre in the 70s led to the premature conclusion of the First Age of Godzilla.

T5W#483-Top 5 Scariest Versions of Godzilla

Godzilla has been many things over the years: King of the Monsters; cautionary tale for nuclear powers; hero; villain; wild card; unstoppable force of nature.  But one thing I think most tend to overlook is that Godzilla can be scary as Hell.  Yeah he’s got a ton of abilities that’ll take you out before you can really take it in but that’s a face that puts fear into the hearts of all as much as excitement.  Continuing with our Godzilla Month III Exclusive Top 5 Wednesdays, todays list is looking at the Top 5 Scariest Versions of Godzilla.  And while I considered jokingly adding the Showa Era suits that were used far beyond their usage, I’ve decided to stick with the ones genuinely designed to be the stuff of nightmares.

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla

Four years after Godzilla reappeared in 1999, the Japanese Government is ready to face him with a new secret weapon.  Using the skeletal remains of the original Godzilla, a new Mechagodzilla, codenamed Kiryu, is born.  At the helm of this mechanized titan is Akane Yashiro, an officer looking for redemption after a previous encounter with Godzilla.  But Kiryu proves to be just as unpredictable as the King of the Monsters. With this Mechagodzilla emerge Japan’s savoir or join its flesh and blood brother as its destroyer?

Seeing as how bringing back multiple Godzilla favorites in GMK proved a box office success, Toho’s next Millenium Series entry returns to that well with another beloved Godzilla fan favorite.  Personally, I don’t know why they didn’t just call this Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 3 (ok GvMCG 2 in the Hesiei wasn’t a sequel to the 70’s film but still the title is cool).  But that hardly matters when Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla proves to be a more than worthy follow up to GMK with impressive visuals, a long awaited rematch for Godzilla and a very cute and capable actress at the helm of a decent human side story. 
 

Hail to the King Baby!!!: A Godzilla Retrospective Part 2

Previously: In 1954, almost ten years after the end of World War II, the world was introduced to the ultimate Atomic Nightmare, Godzilla.  After a groundbreaking feature debut, Toho Studios would continue to build his legacy through clashes with new Kaiju who have since joined Godzilla’s ranks as Legends.  Though it was belived that 1968’s Destroy All Monsters would bring Godzilla’s rampages to a close, Toho retracted that decision…for now.

 

T5W#482-Top 5 Theories About the Next Japanese Godzilla Movie

Suppose it was inevitable but it’s hella good news.  During the Godzilla 70^th Anniversary, Toho made an “Emergency Announcement” that a new Godzilla Film is officially in the works with Godzilla Minus One’s  Takashi Yamazaki returning to the Directors Chair.  That’s all the information we’ve been given but its more than enough to get G fans excited about what might be coming next.  And its not a bad topic to kick off a potential month full of Godzilla themed Top 5s since I’m gonna share my Top 5 Theories About the Next Japanese Godzilla Movie today on Top 5 Wednesday.

 

Godzilla, Mothra & King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All Out Attack

History and myth are on a collision course when Godzilla returns for the first time in 50 years. Fueled by the souls of those killed during World War II, Godzilla is stronger and more merciless than ever before.  As the JSDF desperately tries to hold him back, a beautiful young reporter discovers signs that could lead to the only true hope for Japan’s safety: the emergence of two guardian monsters: Mothra and King Ghidorah.  Can the combined might of these two titans defeat the King of the Monsters?

 
Welcome to the start of Godzilla Month III.  This year, much like our first one back in 2021, we’ll be looking at four films from one particular era of Godzilla, specifically the Millenium Era.  The mere mention of a new Godzilla movie coming out is sure to put butts in seats.  The only thing that guarantees extra butts in seats is having him face an iconic foe from his long resume of rivals.  Toho’s taken that latter lesson to heart after the disappointing Godzilla vs. Megagirus and instead brought back not one, but two of Godzilla’s more famous combatants for a clash for the ages, while also delivering one of the scariest versions of the King of the Monsters ever. 
 

Sailor Moon Cosmos (Part 1 & 2)

Usagi Tuskino has faced many threats to planet Earth.  But an unthinkable loss and the arrival of three mysterious strangers heralds the coming of a war that will cost Sailor Moon dearly.  The stars become a battlefield as Sailor Senshi from across time and space come together for the battle to end all battles.  Can Usagi overcome her greatest despairs, doubts and fears to defeat the ultimate enemy, one who will not stop until they’ve claimed every power in the cosmos? 

It hasn’t been the smoothest journey for Sailor Moon’s big reboot for the new millennium.  The first two seasons of Sailor Moon Crystal were utter failures while Season Three and the Sailor Moon Eternal duology made critical course corrections though not without faults of their own.  Of all the stories in the original saga to be adapted, none come with as much pressure as the final arc aka Sailor Moon Sailor Stars.  The final season of the 90s Anime was borderline perfect save for the actual Series Finale which was so depressing it felt like Sailor Moon hadn’t really won in the end at all.  If the reboot needed to get anything right and take advantage of a chance to do things better, that time is right here in Sailor Moon Cosmos.  So, after so many downs and ups, does this reboot live up to the potential many hoped it would?
 

Hail to the King Baby!!!: A Godzilla Retrospective Part 1

Welcome Dear Readers to another Anime Corner Special Event.  Given that we’re celebrating the official 70^th Birthday of the King of the Monsters this month, nows a good a time as any to do a little revisit to those 7 decades of history.  For the next five Fridays, we’ll be looking at Godzilla from the very beginning and working our way through his most current successes in 2024 (which are pretty huge btw, no pun intended).  We begin our little history lessons with, as I said, the beginning, a beginning so massive…that this is the only era we’ll be splitting into two parts just to cover it all.  Welcome to Hail to the King Baby!!!: A Godzilla Retrospective.