My Kaiju Movie List

A list of the Kaiju movies I have seen or reseen recently.

• Gojira (1954)
• Godzilla, King of Monsters (1956)
• Rodan (1956)
• Godzilla Raids Again or Gigantis, the Fire Monster (1955)
• Godzilla (2014)
• Pacific Rim (2013)

"Gojira 1954 Japanese poster" by Toho Company Ltd.	"Godzilla King of the Monsters poster" by Toho Company Ltd.
"Rodan poster" by Toho Company Ltd.	Godzilla Raids Again by Toho Company Ltd.
Godzilla (2014) by Legendary Pictures	"Pacific Rim (2013)" by Legendary Pictures

Topaz Hanna, Foster Greyhound.

I have a new foster Greyhound to work with and take care of.   Greyhound Pets of America - Central Texas chapter is doing great work in rehoming and finding forever homes for these ex-racers and breeder surrenders.  Hanna raced in 34 races and had seven pups before the owner surrendered her.  She is 8 1/2 and is one of the sweetest dogs I have seen.

Please consider helping them out either by volunteering, fostering or donating.

Gojira aka Godzilla (1954)

Finally saw the original Japanese Godzilla movie and not the the American King of Monsters version.

This classic movie was unlike most Monster movies. And it was a more darker, more message driven movie then the sequels that were to follow.

It was also commentary about Nuclear Weapons.  Instead of a bomb, Godzilla played the ultimate destructive force in it places.  The results were much the same. There was a strong anti-war message, not shirking the horrors of such tragedy.   Plus a examination on the ethics of scientists who make great discoveries that could be used as terrible weapons.

If you get a chance, you should watch the original in Japanese with sub-titles.  It is a great piece of cinema history that is still relevant today despite what we would consider to be bad special effects.

"Gojira 1954 poster 3" by Toho Company Ltd. (東宝株式会社, Tōhō Kabushiki-kaisha) © 1954 - movie poster made by Toho Company Ltd. (東宝株式会社, Tōhō Kabushiki-kaisha).. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956)

Saw this last week before going to watch the latest incarnation.  Godzilla, King of the Monsters was an Americanized version of the original 1954 Godzilla movie which was produced by Toho.  The original was a darker drama on the perils of the use of Nuclear Weapons.

The American dubbed version also pasted in the actor Raymond Burr as a reporter on assignment to Japan.  He was not in the original Japanese version at all.  With a little careful editing and shooting angles, this was pretty transparent most of the time.  Though I do remember once when one of the actresses' blouse didn't quite match the original character's.  This editing and recasting created a different feel to the movie, giving it a more campy American monster movie take that audiences in America were used to. It is the version most of us are used to and is still makes for a very enjoyable film.

What was funny is that this American version was reimported back into Japan later.

Images and information mostly from wikipedia and wikipedia commons.

The Kaiju and Godzilla

Been watching some Kaiju films lately.  Monster Movies! BIG Monster Movies! Mostly in the form of Americanized Godzilla spins.  Most of this was spurned on by the latest Godzilla movie which was a really fun movie.  Godzilla is a Japanese creation that American "Film Makers" keep seemingly to try and make their own.  The very first two Gozilla movies back in the 50's were really messed with to make Americanized versions.