#196: Gojira/Godzilla, King of Monsters! , Movies recommended or seen lately... les films a voir

Genre: Sci-fi/Science-Fiction Annee/Year: 1954/1956 Format: DVD Gojira. The first movie of this monstrous franchise was completed in 1954 by Japanese director Ishiro Honda working for Toho films. This was a black and white movie about a 400feet high lizard monster which was awaken from the deep seas by the nuclear tests done by the american fleet. The monster sinks a few enormous cargo boats before starting rampaging on the nearby shores. Eventually the monster starts raids into Tokyo as the defenses against the beast escalate. But nothing can defeat it! Except a dark scientist, called Serizawa with too much ethical sense to make public his discovery of a weapon which kills all life. The weapons becomes known to a young girl who makes it known and the dark doctor decides to let the Japanese authorities use his weapon to defeat Godzilla. A surprisingly well made movie for the time with quite believable special effects. But mostly a beautiful metaphor for the atomic bomb which had devasted Honda's country just years before. The movie was so successfull that it was americanized with a version which includes an american journalist in Tokyo which helps to set and narrate the scenes. The americanized version was called "Godzilla, King of monsters!" and came out two years later in 1956. The americanized version does not add annything so you might as well stick to the original Gojira even is only subtitled in English. Not withstanding, this was so succesfull that 29 movies involving Godzilla have been produced to date. Latest one being "Godzilla final wars" from 2004. Gojira sorti en 1954 et sa version américaine (Godzilla, King of monsters!) sorti en 1956 furent le point de départ d`une des franchise de cinéma les plus populaire de tous les temps. Réalisé par Ishiro Honda des Toho film du Japon ce film japonais avec sous-titre anglais, ce film noir et blanc transcende vraiment son époque et demeure quand même intéressant après plus de cinquante ans. La franchise qui comporte à date plus de 29 films est toujours active avec le dernier né sorti en 2004: Gozilla Final War. La version américaine ajoute la narration d`un journaliste américain a Tokyo pendant les événements; mais ceci n`est pas nécessaire. Je recommande la version originale Japonaise avec sous titres anglais. Gojira est l`histoire d`un lézard monstrueux de 400 pieds qui crache un faisceau de radiation et feu qui est émerge des profondeurs océaniques après des essais nucléaires de l`armée américaine. Au départ il s`attaque a des navires cargo puis il gagne les villes environnantes pour terminer a Tokyo ou il détruit tout sur son passage. Aucune arme ne peut l`arrêter mais un scientifique sombre mène des expériences qui lui ont permis de developper làrme ultime qui détruira toute vie dans ses environs. Le scientifiques se laisse convaincre d`utiliser son arme pour arrèter Godzilla mais pas avant dèn payer avec sa vie. Une très belle métaphore pour la bombe atomique qui fut utilisé seulement quelques années plus tot au Japon. Un excellent film qui vieilli bien malgré ses effets spéciaux primitifs. A voir. Great quotes: Steve Martin: [asking Officer Iwanaga] Steve Martin: What is the name of this monster? Old Man on Hill on Oto Island: Godzilla... Security Officer Tomo Iwanaga: You hear that? Godzilla. Steve Martin: So, they believe that this Godzilla is responsible for all the ship disasters? Security Officer Tomo Iwanaga: They're certain of it! ... Dr. Kyohei Yamane: They are so wrong. Godzilla should not be destroyed, he should be studied. ... Dr. Serizawa: The Oxygen destroyer must not be used! Ogata: If we do not defend ourselves from Godzilla now, what will become of us? Dr. Serizawa: And what will become of us if a weapon, such as I now have, falls into the wrong hands? Ogata: Then you have a responsibility no man has ever faced. You have your fear which might become reality. And you have Godzilla, which *is* reality. ... [last lines] Steve Martin: The menace was gone... so was a great man. But the whole world can wake up and live again. Link: http://www.classicmedia.tv/ Rating perso: 8.0/10