Just to clarify, when I say that a warning about nuclear power was one of the things that made Godzilla important in the first place, I wasn’t also saying that was a theme for Jurassic Park, Star Wars and Terminator specifically. That little part was unscripted and I was just rambling on about how Hollywood needed to remember what made these franchises great in the first place. Not necessarily that they all shared a specific anti-nuclear message like Godzilla. I can see how they may have been confusing haha
No, seriously...your analogy is spot on and I was born in 1969 so I get it as Godzilla was super kool for me as a kid. Definitely not all the other stuff between 1954 & 1984 but those two movies were just as you said. Also as a kid, I did like the cartoon version that had them summoning Godzilla as a protector. Just good, clean fun for my younger self. :) I find that I also must agree that most of the movies of today have "lost it". Sure their effects are superior, but they just don't have the same whatever it is that puts them in the same league as some of the old classics. For me, to much green screen is just a huge take away. Which is why the recent Hobbit sucked in comparison to the Lord of the Rings, even though both were directed by Peter Jackson. I very much appreciated this video and for you taking me back to some really early, good memories. Thank you for it, Dragoncurve...!!!
yeah, that threw me off too. Many scientist trying to make nuclear energy a normal thing because how it could reduce fossil fuel significantly and you just gonna say it's bad because movie tell you so.
This was my first Godzilla movie. My grandmother, bless her heart, knew I liked dinosaurs as a kid, so she said "Hey, this has a dinosaur in it. I'm sure he'll like it" Having NO idea what the film actually was.
My introduction was lemon demon's song "the ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny" I found out about a large portion of characters i know about in that music video.
Well.. she was absolutely correct :) I'm sure you liked it and this Godzilla specifically was later revealed to be a dinosaur, albeit mutated. (Godzillasaurus).
This is also why I love the 2016 Shin Gojira movie, it goes it's own direction with respects to it's roots, creating a cosmic-horror type Godzilla that is in perpetual pain and constantly evolving albeit excrutiatingly painfully.
It wasn't afraid to recontextualise Godzilla either, with him being more a symbol of an unforeseen or controllable natural disaster than being an object of human arrogance, made for quite the refreshing take
Godzilla 1985 was the first "real" Godzilla movie I ever saw as a kid (after the 1998 Roland Emmerich movie) & as goofy as that American cut was I loved it. I rented the tape from my local video store so many times that I actually almost wore it out and the store eventually just told me to keep it. I can pretty easily point to this movie being the catalyst for me becoming a life long Godzilla fan. I'm happy that the Japanese cut is now fairly easy to watch in the west because for a long time it was a nightmare to track down and watch. The Japanese cut is a million times better than the American 1985 version and proves to me that I wasn't completely a dumb kid and there actually was something there that kept me coming back. Great video Klayton.
Funny enough, I have a copy of this movie. Idk how I got it, but this was the first Heisei era of movies I watched. I don't mind it since I was kid. And later in life, I learned one member fought tooth and nail to not make it to Americanize. I do want a Heisei movie collection, and we were close Godzilla Toho Collection. If they switched out Rebirth of Mothra 1 and 2 for Godzilla 1984 and vs Biollante, then we would have gotten 2 eras for one deal. Heisei and Millennium I one package.
@@pancholopez8829 iirc the reason those two weren't included in the Heisei Collection was that 1984 and Biollante are owned by different people in the west. Biollante's distribution rights belong to Miramax last I checked and 1984 was a bit of mess because I think New World Pictures owned the distribution rights for a long time due to making 1985. Eventually the JP cut of Return of Godzilla was released on DVD and BluRay and you can still get that one quite easily, Biollante was available on DVD and BluRay for a while, but has since fallen out of print again and is now REALLY expensive to get a copy of.
@@andrewrex9041 I like 1998, I've never had an issue with it, I know that's still a fairly controversial take for Godzilla fans, but really, there's nothing wrong with a different interpretation of a character. It's not a great movie, but then neither are many of the Japanese movies.
@@pancholopez8829 also, yes Raymond Burr, the guy who played Steve Martin in the American version of the first Godzilla and reprises his role in 1985, took Godzilla as a character and nuclear metaphor VERY seriously, to the point the he refused to return in Godzilla 1985 if they made the movie into too much of a joke.
The soundtrack of this film was just glorious, and compensated for the Godzilla suit's lack of expressiveness. You really got a sense of his mind through the music: furious, yet consumed by an undefineable sadness.
Lack of expressiveness? Lol, it had a cybot counterpoint that’s whole purpose was emoting. The 84 suit is one of the most angry looking versions to date.
@@ericpedregon1840 Christopher Young’s contributions were only for select scenes in the Americanized New World Pictures release of Godzilla 1985, and they were just selections of a prior score he did for a film called Def-Con 4. Even at that, his pieces do elevate the scenes they are used in.
Gojira 1954 remains one of the most haunting films I've ever witnessed. Showa movies and even the heisei ones after G85 are fun and all, but man, there's some special about serious themed Godzilla films.
Japan had to promise it wouldnt talk about the nukes as conditions of surrendor. 1954 started as a documentary on heroshima and nagasaki. The government shut them down and so was birthed godzilla. Some of the original footage is still in it. Adding to its truly hau ting nature.
This shot of him shook me to my core as a kid. I thought it was terrifying and encapsulated the true nature of what Godzilla is-a menace to humanity. I recently bought the Japanese version on Blu-ray and it still gives me chills to this day. Definitely one of my top 3 favorite G movies!
I think The Return of Godzilla is one of the best Godzilla movies out there. I love how it's written, I love the score, I love how Godzilla is more animalistic in this incarnation, and the message is quite clear about the abuse of nuclear weapons, and the gray area of dealing with Godzilla. I can't get enough of this movie.
Godzilla '84 is absolutely my favorite of the entire series. The back-to-basics story, the seriousness, Godzilla being a bad guy, the dark tone, and the Cold War tensions make this an amazing movie to watch.
This was the first one I saw after the hero style ones I was like “mooooom what the hell?!?” And she told me “hey they can’t keep making the the same thing baby” it was the one that made me under stand that Godzilla want all about him saving the world. Ironically enough I’m currently stationed in Japan being in the military and then being a nerd and surrounded by water I can’t help but to imagine seeing the big G’man swimming up to shore in my way to work 😅
“Nature has a way sometimes of reminding Man of just how small he is. She occasionally throws up terrible offspring's of our pride and carelessness to remind us of how puny we really are in the face of a tornado, an earthquake, or a Godzilla. The reckless ambitions of Man are often dwarfed by their dangerous consequences. For now, Godzilla - that strangely innocent and tragic monster - has gone to earth. Whether he returns or not, or is never again seen by human eyes, the things he has taught us remain.” - Raymond Burr
Godzilla’s death scene in this gives me shivers every time. The cry of Godzilla is so heartbreaking, and the music in that scene is so great. EDIT: I am aware Godzilla continued to live on after this scene, but I feel like this moment was intended as the end of this specific Godzilla originally until they ended up continuing it with the Heisei era. I might be completely wrong on that, it’s just what I always assumed.
This is Hesei era Godzilla, his arc continued until the end of the 90s, when he finally died in Godzilla vs Destoroyah, a death scene which still makes me tear up.
Not only this movie makes Godzilla scary again, it's also reignite my personal interest in Godzilla and Kaiju movies once again. And anti-nuclear war message it is on point. Such a good stuff and such an important movie.
It's interesting that the english version of this film was possibly going to be a spoof, but after Raymond Burr was brought back to the role of Steve Martin he told them he'd have no part of it if they went that route. Burr had a lot of respect for Godzilla and even tried to get the rights to the series. The emotional speech at the end of the film was even written by Burr himself. Makes it feel so much more impactful knowing he treated Godzilla with such respect and meant every word of it
@@bobjohnson1633 yup the Japanese version is most definitely superior it has a lot more extra scenes that explain the Godzilla films of more context that are sooooo missing in the original shorter American version cut of the films it’s like at times the Japanese versions feels like a complete different film at times
I think for everyone in my generation this is likely the first Godzilla movie you saw, and we still love it. Great design, great destruction and the horror elements are there. 09/10
Fun fact about the eyes, the reason they're derpy is because they were supposed to be radio controlled, but they didn't work right, so a lot of the time they would point in opposite directions, and the effort to fix em wouldn't be worth it in the long run, so we got derp eyes. This movie's suit is my favorite because of what they tried to do, it's all so cool
I think they also originally wanted the cyber-Godzilla to be used entirely in the movie but because it lacked movements, they rushed to make a suit that doesn't quite resemble the animatronic. But it's still very well made. I would even excuse the derp eyes like how most lizards or fish have their eyes at the sides and looking off at the side. Idk.
@@brandonspain12345 no it's definitely still awesome, and I never thought about that but it makes sense, aquatic lifeform and all that. Honestly watching the scenes where the eyes do derp, it's kinda hard to notice it when there's other action going on too, still one of my favorite movies for the tone and work behind it
In all honesty, the “derpy eyes” don’t really detract from the overall creepiness of this Godzilla suit. If anything, the eyes make it all the more unsettling,
I remember the 6 or 7 year old version of me in the early 1990s crying hysterically as Godzilla fell to his death in the volcano at the end of this movie. Godzilla's scream and the music really hit me. I still enjoy the dark tone and seriousness of this film now as an adult.
I'm a child of the 80s, and this was my first Godzilla movie. Its also the first movie I remember renting from our local video rental store. My Dad told me to pick a film, instead of the usual kids cartoons i picked this movie. I was drawn ti the cover art on the tape box. Always has a special place in my heart.
I grew up watching Godzilla movies with my dad and he was the hero of the movie to me. Seeing this as a kid I was rooting for him the whole time and was absolutely devastated when he “died” at the end. Ok he didn’t really die but the movie sets it up as such and boy when I hear that scream it STILL hits me right in the feels.
I always liked how this movie has a very unique feeling, being the transition from showa to heisei with the general feel and camera work and style of the special effects as those got more standardized for a rather specific "Heisei" look. The design on Godzilla pretty much nails down my point as it looks like nothing from the Showa era yet it's not what the general heisei design would become. Guess I just got a thing for any pieces that were done during an obvious short middle phase between two eras.
Although I agree that this movie basically made Godzilla a “monster “ again, I have to say that watching Godzilla on the big screen in 2014 was the ultimate feeling of awe I experienced with the first movie in the 60s, the awe of experiencing a “force of nature “ so to speak. That movie was a truly epic presentation of monsters among us.
I like that the Monsterverse Godzilla inspires an awe that's majestic and something to be admired and respected, but feared. The Japanese Godzillas, especially in his solo films like 1984, Shin Godzilla, and Minus One, inspire an awe that's more horror and terror of something to be feared.
I agree with you! This movie was my introduction to Godzilla. I was 5 when it came out. My mom bought me the foot tall Godzilla toy made in Hong Kong. I still have it. The movie wasn’t the best but it got the right notes. It made Godzilla what he was supposed to be. A force of nature. It was so cool to have Raymond Burr back doing his thing. And one thing you didn’t mention was the AMAZING score to the movie! It brought Godzilla to another level of respect. One of my favorite movies of all time! Btw, the movie soundtrack is on YT!
I totally agree here. Gojira '85 is a rare gem that did indeed bring that scariness back to the big guy. Very much in the same way the modern Minus One is doing today. This is one of my favorite films because it's all about him and not silly monster battles. That were the main focus of the 70's and 90's films. Not saying the 90's films were bad some of them were awesome battles. But i like it when the big guy is alone destroying everything by himself. And it leaves the people to figure out how to stop him.
This was my favorite Godzilla movie as a kid, and one of the first ones I saw. Of course I like the campy Godzilla films as a kid, and the ones more serious where he battled other monsters. But 1985 is still in my top 5 Godzilla films to this day. Godzilla vs Man is always a good story.
Hopefully you'll do a video on the Godzilla film that has arguably the best political story, even surpassing '54 and '84, and one of the best "we hurt this creature and turned it into a monster" concepts: _Shin Gojira._
What of GMK? Godzilla was an ebodiment of souls lost in WWII seeking vengence of those who forgot them. Those white eyes give him a scary ghostly vibe.
Shin Godzilla is just two hours of it going “DO YOU GET IT? IT’S ABOUT JAPAN’S FAILINGS AS AN INFLEXIBLE SYSTEM?? ARE YOU WATCHING?? YELLOW TAPE!! DO YOU GET IT?” Outside the actual monster and the way it works, the movie utterly fails as anything resembling something groundbreaking or entertaining. I hate how overly precious we treat that film as a fanbase.
J.basham thank you sir for bringing this move up its one of my favorite. I was just a kid when I watched this movie. Me and my family grew up watching Godzilla . I have 3 older brothers and we love godzilla . Thank you for taking me back in time . ❤
Holy smokes Godzilla 1985 was my all time favorite movie growing up! You mean to say the thing I saw was a cheesy re-cut? OMG. Gotta get ahold of the original Japanese version. Thanks for the insights! This channel rocks.
The Return of Godzilla is really a masterpiece. Dare I say it gets its message across better than the original. This has always been the Godzilla movie that gave me the creeps. Godzilla's design, the soundtrack, cinematography, set design, all of that helped to bring about a wonderful horror movie.
I remember getting the VHS copy of Godzilla 1985, which I accidentally destroyed. However, the original version turned out to be the first Blu-ray I ever got and to this day, remains as one of the darkest films in the franchise. I’m glad it returned Godzilla to his roots and showed why he was terrifying when he was first revealed to the world, and I admire how he was made into more of an animal. Guess Legendary took that into account when creating their version of the G-Man. While I definitely prefer the original film, the American version has a good yet haunting ending dialogue, courtesy of Raymond Burr, “Nature has a way sometimes of reminding Man of just how small he is. She occasionally throws up terrible offspring's of our pride and carelessness to remind us of how puny we really are in the face of a tornado, an earthquake, or a Godzilla. The reckless ambitions of Man are often dwarfed by their dangerous consequences. For now, Godzilla - that strangely innocent and tragic monster - has gone to earth. Whether he returns or not, or is never again seen by human eyes, the things he has taught us remain.”
I'm glad you stated that the original was a warning on nuclear weapons and war in general. I've actually had people try to argue it wasn't even after given context. An overwhelming majority were diehard fans of the movies after 1954 and had never actually seen it.
Oh yes here in America Godzilla 1985. Although me personally I like Shin Godzilla. Especially when he unleashes that purple beam. I even like the background music.
this was my first Godzilla movie. I remember watching Godzilla 1985 with my dad over and over again after going to Blockbuster. While I enjoy The Return of Godzilla thoroughly, Godzilla 1985 will always have a special place in my heart, and remind me of the times where my dad would cook me a bag of popcorn, sit down next to me, and i would hug him at the scary scenes
Dude your video was spot on. I loved Godzilla since I was a kid, but even back then I preferred this and the Heisei series Godzilla because he was more menacing and had a more ferocious roar. A Godzilla who is a brutal force is far better than a giant dancing goofball. And also I want to thank you for acknowledging Godzilla as a giant mutated dinosaur, it's annoying when people keep calling him a giant lizard smh. We are referring to the original Godzilla folks, not the Roland Emmerich film lol
I saw the American cut as a kid and it made me cry for the Big Guy in the end! Then, as an adult, I was able to watch both the American and original Japanese versions uploaded online as bootlegs before the official Blu-ray reissue of the original Japanese version FINALLY came out and I loved it even more! Definitely in my Top Five G favorites as well! I hope Criterion puts out reissues of the entire Heisei Era like they did the Showa Era as Spine #1000, that would be AWESOME!!!
... I'm American, 71, and many are the hallowed hours that I got to get out of the house on Saturday afternoon (to everyone's relief) and meet up with my fellow adolescent primates for what we would come to know was The Golden Age Of Shlock Cinema. Giant ants, bats, crabs, leeches, dogs dressed as giant killer shrews on the hilarious attack, you name it. And then there was Godzilla, who was *ALWAYS HILARIOUS.* Goofy comic book fun, some really cool shots, enthusiastic special effects. Mothra was beyond ridiculous, until the other super foe monsters showed up. You could see wires, the background cyclorama edges, and the headpiece seam always coming loose. Good clean fun.
I just watched this on internet archive. It was great! Brought back memories of seeing the first one when I was a kid. I want to point out that back in 1984, the Cold War was still ongoing, so the threat of all out nuclear war when Godzilla breaks the sub in half, was on point. I'm glad you recommended this movie.
I grew up with the American cut Return of Godzilla and yes the Japanese version is superior but you can't deny that ending message from Raymond Burr is great. Burr also respected the message about Godzilla and took it serious while everyone else was goofy
I remember growing up in the 80s, and one of the local stations (in upstate New York) always had Monster Movie Theater on Monday afternoons, where they showed the Showa Era kaiju movies. I was so excited when I saw the advertisement for Godzilla 1985, because it was FINALLY a new movie. Unfortunately, I had to wait nearly 20 years before I was able to see it. Definitely worth the wait!
Lmao. Not being that well versed in Godzilla lore, I found this sentence very funny. No disrespect... it's just a funny movie title to equate with emotion.
@@zacfromArkansas Yeah, I don't blame you. Haha Actually, I was mistaken on the title. I meant Godzilla vs. Destroyah. That's the one that actually made me cry.
You may just be my new favorite channel. Reviewing all these movies and especially Godzilla. I like a lot of the Godzilla movies even with a lot of the cheesiness. Would love to see you make a video of all the different Godzillas and which you like the most.
I like how you said small Godzilla animatronic when in actuality it was a 20ft tall animatronic. They wanted the whole movie to be just the animatronic but they were dissatisfied with it so they used both Suitmation and the animatronic in certain shots.
One point I want to touch on, is in the American version, they may have indeed cut back on the seriousness of the original version, but what I really liked was they brought Raymond Burr back to the franchise. For me, the US Military going to him for advice on how to defeat Godzilla, and him saying that Godzilla is more akin to a natural disaster, that was what really cemented the seriousness of that film, especially compared to the films before it. Sure, the American Version loss some of the message, but I honestly think it still delivers.
Well plus Raymond Burr's speach at the end: "Nature has a way sometimes of reminding man just how small he is. She occasionally throws up the terrible offsprings of our pride and carelessness to remind us of how puny we are in the face of a tornado, an earthquake, or a Godzilla."
@@Sea-Salt I mean, I don't blame him. Going from a production that respected the original to 30 years later to a production who did not respect the 1984 film....I'd be a diva too. Thank Gods for Raymond Burr.
This 1984 film was actually one of my favorite of all the Godzilla films i've watched it probably 20 times, I remember saving change as a kid to buy it on VHS decades ago ....
This was the first Gojira film i saw and owned on VHS when i was really young and it scared the hell out of me the water louses or whatever and the dead bodies did it for me, eventually after awhile i grew to love it, even if it was the american edited one but that raymond burr speech at the end was awesome, not to mention the music, the super x theme and when godzilla goes swiming in lava
1984's _Godzilla_ is awesome, I watched it for the first time a couple of years after watching _Shin Godzilla_ and I was surpriced of how much of the gritty back-to-the-basics stuff in that film was already made 30 years earlier in the first Godzilla reboot... but is true, Godzilla's eyes are really derpy
One of the few first few Godzilla movies I saw as a kid, and one of my Top 5 favorites. I still remember going to a local video store with my Old Man and this was the movie I would always get(1985 version to be exact). So glad to own the uncut Japanese version on Blu-ray.
I’ve seen every Godzilla movie made and tbh, I love every single one of them including the return of Godzilla. They’re all just so much fun and have lessons to be learned in each film. Even the goofy ones.
The return Of Godzilla...the most menacing Godzilla ever. Even more than the original 1954 suite. The 1984 Godzilla roar still gives me chills to this day and I've been a Godzilla fan since I was 5. Easily the scariest Godzilla movie out there but I also really think Godzilla vs Destroyah is a freaky scary movie too! Only "The Return of Godzilla" and "Godzilla vs Destroyah" ever gave me chills, made me scream of terror or jump out of my seat, and made my cry the way both of them die in the end of both movies. 2 of the best Godzilla movies in the history of the Franchise! 1984...in my opinion is honestly less scary the 1995 "Godzilla vs Destroyah" only because of the way I was screaming in absolute terror during the scene where destroyah is attacking the scientist/news reporter girl. But both made me cry and I still cry when burning godzilla dies in the end. So for me, "The return of Godzilla" is a top 5 movie in the Franchise!
00:48 - As silly as this sounds, it really hurts me that _Terror of Mechagodzilla_ is the lowest grossing Godzilla film in the whole franchise. That's one of my favorites. It brought back a dark element that had been missing from the series since the original 1954 film. **sighs**
I recently started watching all the Godzilla films after seeing Minus One and this one is definitely one of my favorites. That ending with Steve Martins speech really got to me. Also, am i the only one who sees similarities between this film and Shin?
I am a lover of all things Godzilla. The first Godzilla flick I remember watching is Godzilla 1985(Godzilla Returns). While I shamelessly enjoy goofy puppy dog face Godzilla, my favorite is when he is an unstoppable force of nature, come to punish mankind for it's hubris. Regardless excellent video, gonna rewatch this one.
I may have only seen the American version of 1985, but seeing it as a kid, I was so convinced that Godzilla onscreen seemed almost real. The way they did the camera angles, the effects, the sound of every roar and foot-stomp... no matter how "goofy" it seemed to anyone else, it still had that dark tone to it. Simply the way it was produced, there hasn't been a Godzilla movie like it since.
This, 2000, original Godzilla vs Kong, and 1997 films were the first one's I'd ever seen and gave me a good glimpse into the different versions and eras of Godzilla
I watched "Godzilla:1985" around 10 times theatrically. During this same time I was in Tower Records & they were playing the Japanese version & I heard the line..."this is no time for principles" as spoken by the ambassador for the U.S. I knew right away that wasn't in the U.S. cut & told them "Rewind the tape I'll rent it!". While it's nice we now have the Japanese version on DVD/Blu-ray, let's face it, we all want an official DVD/Blu-ray release for "Godzilla: 1985" too.
I grew up watching the Showa Godzilla on Saturday mornings on the Sci-fi Channel. I knew it was Godzilla time because just before the movie played they always did an intro with cut scenes from all the movies, with Go-Go-Godzilla playing in the background. God it felt good to be kid!
I remember the trailer in which I stood up and exclaimed, "Yeah!" It was interesting they chose to bring back Steve Martin aka Raymond Burr (in the American version). LOVE this video!!!!
I pretty much loved this move, and for the same reason as you: It actually makes Godzilla menacing. One reason is one that you missed, which is that the main theme of the movie (in terms of the musical score) is actually frightening to listen to, sounding less like a Godzilla theme and almost like a Final Boss theme in a Resident Evil title. There are some other aspects that make it work, such as the fact that toward the end, the city is almost entirely lit by the fires that Godzilla caused, and the explosions (caused by Godzilla, or by the artillery fired at him) are much, much louder than anything else in the movie, giving them an emphasis on how powerful they are. And lastly, the civilians getting killed are shown numerous times during his rampage. On a side note, the US release actually did a few things that enhanced the movie, such as adding some transitionary audio (if that's the right word) to stitch together shots that were somewhat abrupt in the original cut, as well as adding sounds of people screaming in many of the wide-shots of Godzilla's earlier destruction. They also did something I really liked which was had the Godzilla vs Super X fight look like it was the Super X desperately trying to escape Godzilla's wrath; in the Japanese version, it almost looks like the Super X is just opting to engage Godzilla in a futile battle. (I've actually been tempted to make a comparison of the two, giving frequently unacknowledged praise for the things the US version did right.. among the sea of things it also did wrong.)
Godzilla 1985 or The Return of Godzilla is one of my favorite Godzilla movies ever. I only watched the US cut as a king when I rented it from Blockbuster. However I saw the Japanese cut of the film and it’s definitely better than the US cut. This movie did indeed made Godzilla scary again. Even though I like Superhero Godzilla, I prefer when he’s a destructive Force of Nature. And this movie is pretty dark at times. Man the 80s was a great era even though I didn’t grow up in that era. Great video!
Look, I am a DIE HARD OG Godzilla fan, have been since I was younger than I can remember, loved the goofy series to death. The Showa era was my childhood...until 1985. When they released that in the states I remember seeing SOOO many Godzilla fans in the theaters...I had no idea how many of us there were!! And being a fan of the American version of the first movie loved them bringing back Raymond Burr to do commentary. Now that I am older, I have watched and own literally every movie, I even had a friend bring me back subtitled copies from Japan, the original 1954 and 1984 movies were in fact better, but I still have a soft spot for the states version! This movie literally brought him back, especially in the U.S. where he was all but forgotten. I was 9 when this came out and to see so many adults so happy about this movie cemented my Fandom....and now I have a grandson who is 4 who I am continuing to show the campy Godzilla movies until he is a bit older for the more serious movies...gotta keep it going!
Have always loved this movie Return of Godzilla. It scared me as a kid and as an adult with the talk of nuclear weapons and how easy governments seem to look at using them. Thanks for the break down.
Early 80's: in Southern California, channel 5, KTLA, would have Japanese Godzilla flicks marathon from 7am-7pm, on some holidays. Literally, I would tell my guardian, " please tell me what chores I need to do, beforehand, because I'm camping in front of the TV for my beloved Godzilla marathon."
I saw the film in theaters when it debuted. I was 19 years old. I'm ashamed to say that I heckled it. Now that I'm older, and my love of Godzilla is reinvigorated, I'd love the chance to see it again!
I remember watching Godzilla 1985 in the theater. I remember before the main feature, the animated short Bambi Meets Godzilla played. It was the first time I ever saw it. When it was over, the New World Pictures logo appeared and faded to black. The next moment, I heard a thunderous roar. The titles appeared and then the scene with the fishing vessel in the storm begins the film. The return of Raymond Burr as Steve Martin was the only character who seemed to hold the film together. And his monologue at the end was noteworthy(Burr had once said in an interview on Entertainment Tonight that he really likes Godzilla). The scene in Tokyo Bay when the defense forces fire at Godzilla was memorable. The extreme close up on Godzilla’s left eye . At that moment, you know what is coming next; the radioactive fire ray from his mouth. When the smoke cleared, everyone watching the movie realized that if you fire at Godzilla, here comes the pain. G-Fan magazine interviewed the actor who portrayed the Russian submarine captain. The actor was an American. He told of his time on the set and he was told that he and the other actors were going to be doused with a heavy amount of water and they were going to be tossed around. Godzilla versus the Super X attack plane was cool. The Japanese version had additional scenes and the film was in a different order compared with Godzilla 1985. The scene with the homeless man looting and then coming face to face with Godzilla was humorous. There is a song at the end called Goodbye, Godzilla and it was sung in English. I love Godzilla. I have been a lifelong fan since childhood and I will not stop. Through good and bad, I love Godzilla. Godzilla 1985 or The Return Of Godzilla drove home the memories of Godzilla and a lot who survived in 1954, were still haunted by his first attack on Tokyo. The robot Godzilla was interesting to look at. But a man in a suit would probably have been better. But it worked for this film. Godzilla is many things. He is a symbol of protest against the use of nuclear weapons, a force of nature. He is Death’s shadow. He is both hero and antihero.
I remember seeing this as a very young kid, I was like 4 or 5 and home alone (my grandparents lived in the apartment behind ours), and I was scared shitless of Godzilla. I love this movie to this day. Godzilla should be terrifying as a concept.
This is honestly still my favorite Godzilla film ever. I think this was the 3rd film in the franchise I ever saw, and I can still remember the fight between Godzilla and the Super X in detail. Loved every second of it.
Seen it. Love it, and own it. Godzilla's roar in this movie is the best of all of them. In the movie, the first time you hear him roar on the island in front of the guard as the camera rolls up to show his head, made his sound huge, ferocious, and animalistic. Not like a bunch of war sirens, a race car engine and a creaking door closing. Or, the cheesy roars in the other movies.
Really been loving the Godzilla content on this channel! The Return of Godzilla was one of the ones I never got to watch when I was young, and during the credits of Godzilla vs. Destoroyah when they show footage from the original 1954 movie and the recent films (at the time), it also showed a scene or two from that one and it looked completely terrifying to me. In a way I really wish I got to be scared by it as a kid in the same way that movies like Jurassic Park and The Gate scared me. I still get creeped out by some horror movies as an adult, but man, nothing beats being scared by a movie when you're little.
Return of Godzilla is an excellent film! One of my favorites. While I’m the kind of person that likes to embrace the goofiness of the mid-Showa era Godzilla films, I also appreciate the dark tone of this one (as well as the original 1954 film of course). Great video!
Commenting here so I remember to watch this tomorrow and not stay up. lol This is my favorite G film and likely always will be. I honestly love both versions, too. I grew up with 1985 and didn't even see Return until like, almost a decade ago. I can't wait to watch it!
Just to clarify, when I say that a warning about nuclear power was one of the things that made Godzilla important in the first place, I wasn’t also saying that was a theme for Jurassic Park, Star Wars and Terminator specifically. That little part was unscripted and I was just rambling on about how Hollywood needed to remember what made these franchises great in the first place. Not necessarily that they all shared a specific anti-nuclear message like Godzilla. I can see how they may have been confusing haha
No, seriously...your analogy is spot on and I was born in 1969 so I get it as Godzilla was super kool for me as a kid. Definitely not all the other stuff between 1954 & 1984 but those two movies were just as you said.
Also as a kid, I did like the cartoon version that had them summoning Godzilla as a protector. Just good, clean fun for my younger self. :)
I find that I also must agree that most of the movies of today have "lost it".
Sure their effects are superior, but they just don't have the same whatever it is that puts them in the same league as some of the old classics.
For me, to much green screen is just a huge take away. Which is why the recent Hobbit sucked in comparison to the Lord of the Rings, even though both were directed by Peter Jackson.
I very much appreciated this video and for you taking me back to some really early, good memories. Thank you for it, Dragoncurve...!!!
I didn't even think about that now was pointed out i see that same theme
Ur like a ripoff swrve (not to be rude)
yeah, that threw me off too. Many scientist trying to make nuclear energy a normal thing because how it could reduce fossil fuel significantly and you just gonna say it's bad because movie tell you so.
It's okay - I knew what you were saying, mate.
This was my first Godzilla movie. My grandmother, bless her heart, knew I liked dinosaurs as a kid, so she said "Hey, this has a dinosaur in it. I'm sure he'll like it" Having NO idea what the film actually was.
Mine was Godzilla vs destroyah and my gpa introduced me to it
My introduction was lemon demon's song "the ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny"
I found out about a large portion of characters i know about in that music video.
Well.. she was absolutely correct :) I'm sure you liked it and this Godzilla specifically was later revealed to be a dinosaur, albeit mutated. (Godzillasaurus).
Me is Godzilla 1954 and I was surprised to be older and find out when I was watching as a kid to not be scared of the movie
This is exactly how I got into the series at 7 years old. Grandma with the 1985 VHS. Been hooked ever since 😂
Easily one of my favourite Godzilla films, love when he’s represented as a true force of nature.
- Alastair
😮
aren't you two the same person?
@@ranko8642 Huh?
Dang you guys should collab
I like godzilla 85
This is also why I love the 2016 Shin Gojira movie, it goes it's own direction with respects to it's roots, creating a cosmic-horror type Godzilla that is in perpetual pain and constantly evolving albeit excrutiatingly painfully.
It wasn't afraid to recontextualise Godzilla either, with him being more a symbol of an unforeseen or controllable natural disaster than being an object of human arrogance, made for quite the refreshing take
@@kurosakikun96 Despite looking derpy, cheap and overracted?
@@Clay3613 yes
@@Clay3613 There’s always one
@@Clay3613 you don't get it, you just want the latest disney hollywood super high tech cgi you don't want to play around with interesting ideas.
The ending when he screams as he’s falling always got me as a kid.
Like we shouldn't have been sad, but we were.
I cried more at that as a kid than when Bambi's mother died
Only Kong’s death in “King King Lives” can rival it. 😁
I cried... I was 4... I STILL cry now
@@Godzillafan1980 Yeah, me too; I'm a goddamn crybaby.
Godzilla 1985 was the first "real" Godzilla movie I ever saw as a kid (after the 1998 Roland Emmerich movie) & as goofy as that American cut was I loved it. I rented the tape from my local video store so many times that I actually almost wore it out and the store eventually just told me to keep it. I can pretty easily point to this movie being the catalyst for me becoming a life long Godzilla fan. I'm happy that the Japanese cut is now fairly easy to watch in the west because for a long time it was a nightmare to track down and watch. The Japanese cut is a million times better than the American 1985 version and proves to me that I wasn't completely a dumb kid and there actually was something there that kept me coming back. Great video Klayton.
Funny enough, I have a copy of this movie. Idk how I got it, but this was the first Heisei era of movies I watched. I don't mind it since I was kid. And later in life, I learned one member fought tooth and nail to not make it to Americanize.
I do want a Heisei movie collection, and we were close Godzilla Toho Collection. If they switched out Rebirth of Mothra 1 and 2 for Godzilla 1984 and vs Biollante, then we would have gotten 2 eras for one deal. Heisei and Millennium I one package.
1998 Is an underrated godzilla movie
@@pancholopez8829 iirc the reason those two weren't included in the Heisei Collection was that 1984 and Biollante are owned by different people in the west. Biollante's distribution rights belong to Miramax last I checked and 1984 was a bit of mess because I think New World Pictures owned the distribution rights for a long time due to making 1985. Eventually the JP cut of Return of Godzilla was released on DVD and BluRay and you can still get that one quite easily, Biollante was available on DVD and BluRay for a while, but has since fallen out of print again and is now REALLY expensive to get a copy of.
@@andrewrex9041 I like 1998, I've never had an issue with it, I know that's still a fairly controversial take for Godzilla fans, but really, there's nothing wrong with a different interpretation of a character. It's not a great movie, but then neither are many of the Japanese movies.
@@pancholopez8829 also, yes Raymond Burr, the guy who played Steve Martin in the American version of the first Godzilla and reprises his role in 1985, took Godzilla as a character and nuclear metaphor VERY seriously, to the point the he refused to return in Godzilla 1985 if they made the movie into too much of a joke.
The soundtrack of this film was just glorious, and compensated for the Godzilla suit's lack of expressiveness. You really got a sense of his mind through the music: furious, yet consumed by an undefineable sadness.
Lack of expressiveness? Lol, it had a cybot counterpoint that’s whole purpose was emoting. The 84 suit is one of the most angry looking versions to date.
If I remember the score is done by Christopher Young who was responsible for the 1st 2 Hellraiser movies.
@@ericpedregon1840 Christopher Young’s contributions were only for select scenes in the Americanized New World Pictures release of Godzilla 1985, and they were just selections of a prior score he did for a film called Def-Con 4.
Even at that, his pieces do elevate the scenes they are used in.
Shouldn't you be drugging B.A. so we can get him on a plane?
Yes, the soundtrack is INCREDIBLE. Some of the best music for a film ever made, let alone for a Godzilla movie.
Gojira 1954 remains one of the most haunting films I've ever witnessed. Showa movies and even the heisei ones after G85 are fun and all, but man, there's some special about serious themed Godzilla films.
@puteqx GMK is my personal favorite Goji film.
Japan had to promise it wouldnt talk about the nukes as conditions of surrendor. 1954 started as a documentary on heroshima and nagasaki. The government shut them down and so was birthed godzilla. Some of the original footage is still in it. Adding to its truly hau ting nature.
That shot of Godzilla in the red light after he collapsed the building on top of the Super X is still one of the best shots of Godzilla in any movie.
This shot of him shook me to my core as a kid. I thought it was terrifying and encapsulated the true nature of what Godzilla is-a menace to humanity. I recently bought the Japanese version on Blu-ray and it still gives me chills to this day. Definitely one of my top 3 favorite G movies!
and the somewhat of a fourth wall break. that horrific roar, too
That has always been one of my favorite scenes!
Favorite Godzilla movie ever since I was a kid. Still remember the animated deer getting stepped on at the beginning of the movie till this day.
@AT Productions Really? that's pretty awesome
@AT Productions That's impressive, well I learn something today. Now I want to see what number one was lol
@AT Productions Nice! remember that one too
I think The Return of Godzilla is one of the best Godzilla movies out there. I love how it's written, I love the score, I love how Godzilla is more animalistic in this incarnation, and the message is quite clear about the abuse of nuclear weapons, and the gray area of dealing with Godzilla. I can't get enough of this movie.
Godzilla '84 is absolutely my favorite of the entire series. The back-to-basics story, the seriousness, Godzilla being a bad guy, the dark tone, and the Cold War tensions make this an amazing movie to watch.
This was done, because of the nonsense the American movie Theater tried to pull it off themselves
This was the first one I saw after the hero style ones I was like “mooooom what the hell?!?” And she told me “hey they can’t keep making the the same thing baby” it was the one that made me under stand that Godzilla want all about him saving the world. Ironically enough I’m currently stationed in Japan being in the military and then being a nerd and surrounded by water I can’t help but to imagine seeing the big G’man swimming up to shore in my way to work 😅
Thanks for the like klayton it actually means a lot man
Your mother was a wise woman.
"It's still JUST a Godzilla movie"... Thankful that one year later, a Godzilla movie was finally released to change that sentiment.
One of my favorite films, the Heisei era is still my favorite.
OMG. Godzilla 1985 was one of my favorite movies as a kid.
I cannot tell you how happy I am to know there is a more serious edit out there.
“Nature has a way sometimes of reminding Man of just how small he is. She occasionally throws up terrible offspring's of our pride and carelessness to remind us of how puny we really are in the face of a tornado, an earthquake, or a Godzilla. The reckless ambitions of Man are often dwarfed by their dangerous consequences. For now, Godzilla - that strangely innocent and tragic monster - has gone to earth. Whether he returns or not, or is never again seen by human eyes, the things he has taught us remain.” - Raymond Burr
Well of course. These are AMERICANS we're talking about. If it's not spelled out in a goofy monologue they'll never get the subtext.
Godzilla’s death scene in this gives me shivers every time. The cry of Godzilla is so heartbreaking, and the music in that scene is so great.
EDIT:
I am aware Godzilla continued to live on after this scene, but I feel like this moment was intended as the end of this specific Godzilla originally until they ended up continuing it with the Heisei era. I might be completely wrong on that, it’s just what I always assumed.
He doesn't die lol
On Godzilla vs biolante Godzilla walks out that valcano like a bad ass he is
@@johnnymartinez733 right, he was just trapped for a while.
@@treystephens6166 exactly fam
No he only actually dies in his FINAL STORY ARC Godzilla vs DESTROYEHHHH
this 1984-85 movie was only this Godzilla timeline’s beginning
This is Hesei era Godzilla, his arc continued until the end of the 90s, when he finally died in Godzilla vs Destoroyah, a death scene which still makes me tear up.
Not only this movie makes Godzilla scary again, it's also reignite my personal interest in Godzilla and Kaiju movies once again. And anti-nuclear war message it is on point. Such a good stuff and such an important movie.
It's interesting that the english version of this film was possibly going to be a spoof, but after Raymond Burr was brought back to the role of Steve Martin he told them he'd have no part of it if they went that route. Burr had a lot of respect for Godzilla and even tried to get the rights to the series. The emotional speech at the end of the film was even written by Burr himself. Makes it feel so much more impactful knowing he treated Godzilla with such respect and meant every word of it
Godzilla's back, who can we get on the case?
American versions of everything are terrible. I only watch with subtitles
Sound effects in the American one are better.
@@bobjohnson1633 yup the Japanese version is most definitely superior it has a lot more extra scenes that explain the Godzilla films of more context that are sooooo missing in the original shorter American version cut of the films it’s like at times the Japanese versions feels like a complete different film at times
I always knew that Raymond Burr did love the Godzilla movies but I never heard of the story that he tried to buy the rights.
I think for everyone in my generation this is likely the first Godzilla movie you saw, and we still love it. Great design, great destruction and the horror elements are there. 09/10
Fun fact about the eyes, the reason they're derpy is because they were supposed to be radio controlled, but they didn't work right, so a lot of the time they would point in opposite directions, and the effort to fix em wouldn't be worth it in the long run, so we got derp eyes. This movie's suit is my favorite because of what they tried to do, it's all so cool
I think they also originally wanted the cyber-Godzilla to be used entirely in the movie but because it lacked movements, they rushed to make a suit that doesn't quite resemble the animatronic. But it's still very well made. I would even excuse the derp eyes like how most lizards or fish have their eyes at the sides and looking off at the side. Idk.
@@brandonspain12345 no it's definitely still awesome, and I never thought about that but it makes sense, aquatic lifeform and all that. Honestly watching the scenes where the eyes do derp, it's kinda hard to notice it when there's other action going on too, still one of my favorite movies for the tone and work behind it
In all honesty, the “derpy eyes” don’t really detract from the overall creepiness of this Godzilla suit. If anything, the eyes make it all the more unsettling,
I remember the 6 or 7 year old version of me in the early 1990s crying hysterically as Godzilla fell to his death in the volcano at the end of this movie. Godzilla's scream and the music really hit me. I still enjoy the dark tone and seriousness of this film now as an adult.
I'm a child of the 80s, and this was my first Godzilla movie. Its also the first movie I remember renting from our local video rental store. My Dad told me to pick a film, instead of the usual kids cartoons i picked this movie. I was drawn ti the cover art on the tape box. Always has a special place in my heart.
I grew up watching Godzilla movies with my dad and he was the hero of the movie to me. Seeing this as a kid I was rooting for him the whole time and was absolutely devastated when he “died” at the end. Ok he didn’t really die but the movie sets it up as such and boy when I hear that scream it STILL hits me right in the feels.
I always liked how this movie has a very unique feeling, being the transition from showa to heisei with the general feel and camera work and style of the special effects as those got more standardized for a rather specific "Heisei" look. The design on Godzilla pretty much nails down my point as it looks like nothing from the Showa era yet it's not what the general heisei design would become. Guess I just got a thing for any pieces that were done during an obvious short middle phase between two eras.
This movie is such a gem
Although I agree that this movie basically made Godzilla a “monster “ again, I have to say that watching Godzilla on the big screen in 2014 was the ultimate feeling of awe I experienced with the first movie in the 60s, the awe of experiencing a “force of nature “ so to speak. That movie was a truly epic presentation of monsters among us.
I like that the Monsterverse Godzilla inspires an awe that's majestic and something to be admired and respected, but feared.
The Japanese Godzillas, especially in his solo films like 1984, Shin Godzilla, and Minus One, inspire an awe that's more horror and terror of something to be feared.
I agree with you! This movie was my introduction to Godzilla. I was 5 when it came out. My mom bought me the foot tall Godzilla toy made in Hong Kong. I still have it. The movie wasn’t the best but it got the right notes. It made Godzilla what he was supposed to be. A force of nature. It was so cool to have Raymond Burr back doing his thing. And one thing you didn’t mention was the AMAZING score to the movie! It brought Godzilla to another level of respect. One of my favorite movies of all time! Btw, the movie soundtrack is on YT!
I totally agree here. Gojira '85 is a rare gem that did indeed bring that scariness back to the big guy. Very much in the same way the modern Minus One is doing today. This is one of my favorite films because it's all about him and not silly monster battles. That were the main focus of the 70's and 90's films. Not saying the 90's films were bad some of them were awesome battles. But i like it when the big guy is alone destroying everything by himself. And it leaves the people to figure out how to stop him.
This was my favorite Godzilla movie as a kid, and one of the first ones I saw. Of course I like the campy Godzilla films as a kid, and the ones more serious where he battled other monsters. But 1985 is still in my top 5 Godzilla films to this day. Godzilla vs Man is always a good story.
Agree
Despite its flaws I think it still holds up much more respectably than it has any right to. It's still my favorite godzilla movie into adulthood
you are spot on most of your point about this movie definately a hidden gem and one of my favorites especially with raymond burrs ending monolog
Hopefully you'll do a video on the Godzilla film that has arguably the best political story, even surpassing '54 and '84, and one of the best "we hurt this creature and turned it into a monster" concepts: _Shin Gojira._
What of GMK? Godzilla was an ebodiment of souls lost in WWII seeking vengence of those who forgot them. Those white eyes give him a scary ghostly vibe.
Shin Godzilla is overrated.
@@hewhoshallnotbenamed5168 "Well, that's, like, your opinion man."
@@scaper8 Of course it is. Deal with it!
Shin Godzilla is just two hours of it going “DO YOU GET IT? IT’S ABOUT JAPAN’S FAILINGS AS AN INFLEXIBLE SYSTEM?? ARE YOU WATCHING?? YELLOW TAPE!! DO YOU GET IT?”
Outside the actual monster and the way it works, the movie utterly fails as anything resembling something groundbreaking or entertaining.
I hate how overly precious we treat that film as a fanbase.
J.basham thank you sir for bringing this move up its one of my favorite. I was just a kid when I watched this movie. Me and my family grew up watching Godzilla . I have 3 older brothers and we love godzilla . Thank you for taking me back in time . ❤
…and there’s Godzilla minus one.
Holy smokes Godzilla 1985 was my all time favorite movie growing up! You mean to say the thing I saw was a cheesy re-cut? OMG. Gotta get ahold of the original Japanese version. Thanks for the insights! This channel rocks.
The Return of Godzilla is really a masterpiece. Dare I say it gets its message across better than the original. This has always been the Godzilla movie that gave me the creeps. Godzilla's design, the soundtrack, cinematography, set design, all of that helped to bring about a wonderful horror movie.
I remember getting the VHS copy of Godzilla 1985, which I accidentally destroyed. However, the original version turned out to be the first Blu-ray I ever got and to this day, remains as one of the darkest films in the franchise. I’m glad it returned Godzilla to his roots and showed why he was terrifying when he was first revealed to the world, and I admire how he was made into more of an animal. Guess Legendary took that into account when creating their version of the G-Man.
While I definitely prefer the original film, the American version has a good yet haunting ending dialogue, courtesy of Raymond Burr, “Nature has a way sometimes of reminding Man of just how small he is. She occasionally throws up terrible offspring's of our pride and carelessness to remind us of how puny we really are in the face of a tornado, an earthquake, or a Godzilla. The reckless ambitions of Man are often dwarfed by their dangerous consequences. For now, Godzilla - that strangely innocent and tragic monster - has gone to earth. Whether he returns or not, or is never again seen by human eyes, the things he has taught us remain.”
I still want to know how you destroyed that VHS
It was an accident. The VCR I had stalled and it crumpled the film, rendering it useless. Basically, it ate the tape.
"Returned Godzilla to his toots" LOL
I know you ment to say "roots" but I got a kick out of that.
@@jw_gojifan19 old VCRs are the Best.
@@chongsfury4358 Whoops. I hate typing comments on my phone. Either autocorrect works or it doesn't
I'm glad you stated that the original was a warning on nuclear weapons and war in general. I've actually had people try to argue it wasn't even after given context. An overwhelming majority were diehard fans of the movies after 1954 and had never actually seen it.
Easily one my of my Top 10 favorite Godzilla films, which led into my favorite era of that franchise.
This was my first and favorite Godzilla. Lots of respect to you for highlighting everything I love about this movie.
One the best and underappreciated Godzilla movies and one of my personal favorites in the franchise (yes I love both the 84 and 85 versions of it).
My first godzilla movie. Rented it numerous times in the 80s on VHS.
Oh yes here in America Godzilla 1985. Although me personally I like Shin Godzilla. Especially when he unleashes that purple beam. I even like the background music.
this was my first Godzilla movie. I remember watching Godzilla 1985 with my dad over and over again after going to Blockbuster. While I enjoy The Return of Godzilla thoroughly, Godzilla 1985 will always have a special place in my heart, and remind me of the times where my dad would cook me a bag of popcorn, sit down next to me, and i would hug him at the scary scenes
It's a fantastic entry to the Heisei era! I loved this and the following films as I thought " THIS, IS THE GODZILLA I'VE ALWAYS WANTED!"
This was the first Godzilla movie I can remember ever watching and I fell in love with it
I consider Godzilla 1985 to be one of the greatest cinema masterpieces ever. I still have dreams of being in a scyscraper as Godzilla walks past
Dude your video was spot on. I loved Godzilla since I was a kid, but even back then I preferred this and the Heisei series Godzilla because he was more menacing and had a more ferocious roar. A Godzilla who is a brutal force is far better than a giant dancing goofball. And also I want to thank you for acknowledging Godzilla as a giant mutated dinosaur, it's annoying when people keep calling him a giant lizard smh. We are referring to the original Godzilla folks, not the Roland Emmerich film lol
I saw the American cut as a kid and it made me cry for the Big Guy in the end! Then, as an adult, I was able to watch both the American and original Japanese versions uploaded online as bootlegs before the official Blu-ray reissue of the original Japanese version FINALLY came out and I loved it even more! Definitely in my Top Five G favorites as well! I hope Criterion puts out reissues of the entire Heisei Era like they did the Showa Era as Spine #1000, that would be AWESOME!!!
... I'm American, 71, and many are the hallowed hours that I got to get out of the house on Saturday afternoon (to everyone's relief) and meet up with my fellow adolescent primates for what we would come to know was The Golden Age Of Shlock Cinema. Giant ants, bats, crabs, leeches, dogs dressed as giant killer shrews on the hilarious attack, you name it.
And then there was Godzilla, who was *ALWAYS HILARIOUS.* Goofy comic book fun, some really cool shots, enthusiastic special effects. Mothra was beyond ridiculous, until the other super foe monsters showed up. You could see wires, the background cyclorama edges, and the headpiece seam always coming loose. Good clean fun.
This has always been my favorite old Godzilla movie. Loved it as a kid and still love it now. Just wish Godzilla didn't look so derpy sometimes haha
I just watched this on internet archive. It was great! Brought back memories of seeing the first one when I was a kid. I want to point out that back in 1984, the Cold War was still ongoing, so the threat of all out nuclear war when Godzilla breaks the sub in half, was on point.
I'm glad you recommended this movie.
I grew up with the American cut Return of Godzilla and yes the Japanese version is superior but you can't deny that ending message from Raymond Burr is great. Burr also respected the message about Godzilla and took it serious while everyone else was goofy
I remember growing up in the 80s, and one of the local stations (in upstate New York) always had Monster Movie Theater on Monday afternoons, where they showed the Showa Era kaiju movies. I was so excited when I saw the advertisement for Godzilla 1985, because it was FINALLY a new movie.
Unfortunately, I had to wait nearly 20 years before I was able to see it. Definitely worth the wait!
The ending was really well done, even making me tear up a bit. Not to the extent of Godzilla vs. Spacegodzilla, but the feels were real.
Lmao. Not being that well versed in Godzilla lore, I found this sentence very funny. No disrespect... it's just a funny movie title to equate with emotion.
@@zacfromArkansas Yeah, I don't blame you. Haha Actually, I was mistaken on the title. I meant Godzilla vs. Destroyah. That's the one that actually made me cry.
You may just be my new favorite channel. Reviewing all these movies and especially Godzilla. I like a lot of the Godzilla movies even with a lot of the cheesiness. Would love to see you make a video of all the different Godzillas and which you like the most.
I like how you said small Godzilla animatronic when in actuality it was a 20ft tall animatronic. They wanted the whole movie to be just the animatronic but they were dissatisfied with it so they used both Suitmation and the animatronic in certain shots.
Seen it in Theater when I was a kid. My dad took me for my Birthday.
IT WAS EPICALLY AWESOME!!!
One point I want to touch on, is in the American version, they may have indeed cut back on the seriousness of the original version, but what I really liked was they brought Raymond Burr back to the franchise. For me, the US Military going to him for advice on how to defeat Godzilla, and him saying that Godzilla is more akin to a natural disaster, that was what really cemented the seriousness of that film, especially compared to the films before it. Sure, the American Version loss some of the message, but I honestly think it still delivers.
Well plus Raymond Burr's speach at the end: "Nature has a way sometimes of reminding man just how small he is. She occasionally throws up the terrible offsprings of our pride and carelessness to remind us of how puny we are in the face of a tornado, an earthquake, or a Godzilla."
@@zaneblack3094 That speech has stuck with me ever since I rented that movie from a store back in 1993
@@Sea-Salt I mean, I don't blame him. Going from a production that respected the original to 30 years later to a production who did not respect the 1984 film....I'd be a diva too.
Thank Gods for Raymond Burr.
This 1984 film was actually one of my favorite of all the Godzilla films i've watched it probably 20 times, I remember saving change as a kid to buy it on VHS decades ago ....
This one is great, but.....Shin Godzilla was ACTUALLY horrifying.
This was the first Gojira film i saw and owned on VHS when i was really young and it scared the hell out of me the water louses or whatever and the dead bodies did it for me, eventually after awhile i grew to love it, even if it was the american edited one but that raymond burr speech at the end was awesome, not to mention the music, the super x theme and when godzilla goes swiming in lava
1984's _Godzilla_ is awesome, I watched it for the first time a couple of years after watching _Shin Godzilla_ and I was surpriced of how much of the gritty back-to-the-basics stuff in that film was already made 30 years earlier in the first Godzilla reboot... but is true, Godzilla's eyes are really derpy
One of the few first few Godzilla movies I saw as a kid, and one of my Top 5 favorites. I still remember going to a local video store with my Old Man and this was the movie I would always get(1985 version to be exact). So glad to own the uncut Japanese version on Blu-ray.
I saw Godzilla 1985, - yes I really liked it, but had NO IDEA it was not the original cut. - So THANK YOU very much !
Is this Cory from Alternate History Hub??? Sounds just like him! Great video either way! 😊❤️
Course correction: This actually sounds more like Klayton from his Jurassic universe series. I KNEW this voice sounded familiar!!! 😊❤
I’ve seen every Godzilla movie made and tbh, I love every single one of them including the return of Godzilla. They’re all just so much fun and have lessons to be learned in each film. Even the goofy ones.
The return Of Godzilla...the most menacing Godzilla ever. Even more than the original 1954 suite. The 1984 Godzilla roar still gives me chills to this day and I've been a Godzilla fan since I was 5. Easily the scariest Godzilla movie out there but I also really think Godzilla vs Destroyah is a freaky scary movie too! Only "The Return of Godzilla" and "Godzilla vs Destroyah" ever gave me chills, made me scream of terror or jump out of my seat, and made my cry the way both of them die in the end of both movies. 2 of the best Godzilla movies in the history of the Franchise! 1984...in my opinion is honestly less scary the 1995 "Godzilla vs Destroyah" only because of the way I was screaming in absolute terror during the scene where destroyah is attacking the scientist/news reporter girl. But both made me cry and I still cry when burning godzilla dies in the end. So for me, "The return of Godzilla" is a top 5 movie in the Franchise!
00:48 - As silly as this sounds, it really hurts me that _Terror of Mechagodzilla_ is the lowest grossing Godzilla film in the whole franchise. That's one of my favorites. It brought back a dark element that had been missing from the series since the original 1954 film. **sighs**
I recently started watching all the Godzilla films after seeing Minus One and this one is definitely one of my favorites. That ending with Steve Martins speech really got to me.
Also, am i the only one who sees similarities between this film and Shin?
I am a lover of all things Godzilla. The first Godzilla flick I remember watching is Godzilla 1985(Godzilla Returns). While I shamelessly enjoy goofy puppy dog face Godzilla, my favorite is when he is an unstoppable force of nature, come to punish mankind for it's hubris. Regardless excellent video, gonna rewatch this one.
Yes! This was my absolute favorite Godzilla movie as a kid. Thanks for the memories!
I may have only seen the American version of 1985, but seeing it as a kid, I was so convinced that Godzilla onscreen seemed almost real.
The way they did the camera angles, the effects, the sound of every roar and foot-stomp... no matter how "goofy" it seemed to anyone else,
it still had that dark tone to it. Simply the way it was produced, there hasn't been a Godzilla movie like it since.
I was fortunate to watch Godzilla 1985 in the Theater. I loved it. Thanks for your review
This, 2000, original Godzilla vs Kong, and 1997 films were the first one's I'd ever seen and gave me a good glimpse into the different versions and eras of Godzilla
I watched "Godzilla:1985" around 10 times theatrically. During this same time I was in Tower Records & they were playing the Japanese version & I heard the line..."this is no time for principles" as spoken by the ambassador for the U.S. I knew right away that wasn't in the U.S. cut & told them "Rewind the tape I'll rent it!". While it's nice we now have the Japanese version on DVD/Blu-ray, let's face it, we all want an official DVD/Blu-ray release for "Godzilla: 1985" too.
I grew up watching the Showa Godzilla on Saturday mornings on the Sci-fi Channel. I knew it was Godzilla time because just before the movie played they always did an intro with cut scenes from all the movies, with Go-Go-Godzilla playing in the background. God it felt good to be kid!
Loved the vhs as a kid, it opens with the Bambi vs Godzilla short too which always stuck with me
I remember the trailer in which I stood up and exclaimed, "Yeah!" It was interesting they chose to bring back Steve Martin aka Raymond Burr (in the American version). LOVE this video!!!!
This was the Godzilla movie I watched on repeat when I was around 5-6 years old. I'd say it was probably my favorite film back then.
Rented this out on VHS so many times as a kid! One of my favorites growing up. Really pleased you made this!!
I pretty much loved this move, and for the same reason as you: It actually makes Godzilla menacing. One reason is one that you missed, which is that the main theme of the movie (in terms of the musical score) is actually frightening to listen to, sounding less like a Godzilla theme and almost like a Final Boss theme in a Resident Evil title.
There are some other aspects that make it work, such as the fact that toward the end, the city is almost entirely lit by the fires that Godzilla caused, and the explosions (caused by Godzilla, or by the artillery fired at him) are much, much louder than anything else in the movie, giving them an emphasis on how powerful they are. And lastly, the civilians getting killed are shown numerous times during his rampage.
On a side note, the US release actually did a few things that enhanced the movie, such as adding some transitionary audio (if that's the right word) to stitch together shots that were somewhat abrupt in the original cut, as well as adding sounds of people screaming in many of the wide-shots of Godzilla's earlier destruction. They also did something I really liked which was had the Godzilla vs Super X fight look like it was the Super X desperately trying to escape Godzilla's wrath; in the Japanese version, it almost looks like the Super X is just opting to engage Godzilla in a futile battle. (I've actually been tempted to make a comparison of the two, giving frequently unacknowledged praise for the things the US version did right.. among the sea of things it also did wrong.)
Godzilla 1985 or The Return of Godzilla is one of my favorite Godzilla movies ever. I only watched the US cut as a king when I rented it from Blockbuster. However I saw the Japanese cut of the film and it’s definitely better than the US cut. This movie did indeed made Godzilla scary again. Even though I like Superhero Godzilla, I prefer when he’s a destructive Force of Nature. And this movie is pretty dark at times. Man the 80s was a great era even though I didn’t grow up in that era. Great video!
My all time favorite Godzilla movie. None of that CG crap. I’ll take that guy in the suit destroying a model city any day!!!!
Thank for sharing!!!!
“ I know I talked a bit about that new dominion movie, but I’m a fan and I’m upset.” Fucking felt that 😂
Look, I am a DIE HARD OG Godzilla fan, have been since I was younger than I can remember, loved the goofy series to death. The Showa era was my childhood...until 1985. When they released that in the states I remember seeing SOOO many Godzilla fans in the theaters...I had no idea how many of us there were!! And being a fan of the American version of the first movie loved them bringing back Raymond Burr to do commentary. Now that I am older, I have watched and own literally every movie, I even had a friend bring me back subtitled copies from Japan, the original 1954 and 1984 movies were in fact better, but I still have a soft spot for the states version! This movie literally brought him back, especially in the U.S. where he was all but forgotten. I was 9 when this came out and to see so many adults so happy about this movie cemented my Fandom....and now I have a grandson who is 4 who I am continuing to show the campy Godzilla movies until he is a bit older for the more serious movies...gotta keep it going!
Awesome soundtrack and music score as well.
Have always loved this movie Return of Godzilla. It scared me as a kid and as an adult with the talk of nuclear weapons and how easy governments seem to look at using them. Thanks for the break down.
I’am glad that I have found this helpful video
Early 80's: in Southern California, channel 5, KTLA, would have Japanese Godzilla flicks marathon from 7am-7pm, on some holidays. Literally, I would tell my guardian, " please tell me what chores I need to do, beforehand, because I'm camping in front of the TV for my beloved Godzilla marathon."
I saw the film in theaters when it debuted. I was 19 years old. I'm ashamed to say that I heckled it. Now that I'm older, and my love of Godzilla is reinvigorated, I'd love the chance to see it again!
Thank you for this post... Watching it now....outstanding!
I remember watching Godzilla 1985 in the theater. I remember before the main feature, the animated short Bambi Meets Godzilla played. It was the first time I ever saw it. When it was over, the New World Pictures logo appeared and faded to black. The next moment, I heard a thunderous roar. The titles appeared and then the scene with the fishing vessel in the storm begins the film.
The return of Raymond Burr as Steve Martin was the only character who seemed to hold the film together. And his monologue at the end was noteworthy(Burr had once said in an interview on Entertainment Tonight that he really likes Godzilla).
The scene in Tokyo Bay when the defense forces fire at Godzilla was memorable. The extreme close up on Godzilla’s left eye . At that moment, you know what is coming next; the radioactive fire ray from his mouth. When the smoke cleared, everyone watching the movie realized that if you fire at Godzilla, here comes the pain.
G-Fan magazine interviewed the actor who portrayed the Russian submarine captain. The actor was an American. He told of his time on the set and he was told that he and the other actors were going to be doused with a heavy amount of water and they were going to be tossed around.
Godzilla versus the Super X attack plane was cool.
The Japanese version had additional scenes and the film was in a different order compared with Godzilla 1985.
The scene with the homeless man looting and then coming face to face with Godzilla was humorous.
There is a song at the end called Goodbye, Godzilla and it was sung in English.
I love Godzilla. I have been a lifelong fan since childhood and I will not stop. Through good and bad, I love Godzilla. Godzilla 1985 or The Return Of Godzilla drove home the memories of Godzilla and a lot who survived in 1954, were still haunted by his first attack on Tokyo.
The robot Godzilla was interesting to look at. But a man in a suit would probably have been better. But it worked for this film.
Godzilla is many things. He is a symbol of protest against the use of nuclear weapons, a force of nature. He is Death’s shadow. He is both hero and antihero.
I remember seeing this as a very young kid, I was like 4 or 5 and home alone (my grandparents lived in the apartment behind ours), and I was scared shitless of Godzilla. I love this movie to this day. Godzilla should be terrifying as a concept.
This is honestly still my favorite Godzilla film ever. I think this was the 3rd film in the franchise I ever saw, and I can still remember the fight between Godzilla and the Super X in detail. Loved every second of it.
Seen it. Love it, and own it. Godzilla's roar in this movie is the best of all of them. In the movie, the first time you hear him roar on the island in front of the guard as the camera rolls up to show his head, made his sound huge, ferocious, and animalistic. Not like a bunch of war sirens, a race car engine and a creaking door closing. Or, the cheesy roars in the other movies.
Really been loving the Godzilla content on this channel! The Return of Godzilla was one of the ones I never got to watch when I was young, and during the credits of Godzilla vs. Destoroyah when they show footage from the original 1954 movie and the recent films (at the time), it also showed a scene or two from that one and it looked completely terrifying to me. In a way I really wish I got to be scared by it as a kid in the same way that movies like Jurassic Park and The Gate scared me. I still get creeped out by some horror movies as an adult, but man, nothing beats being scared by a movie when you're little.
Return of Godzilla is an excellent film! One of my favorites. While I’m the kind of person that likes to embrace the goofiness of the mid-Showa era Godzilla films, I also appreciate the dark tone of this one (as well as the original 1954 film of course). Great video!
Commenting here so I remember to watch this tomorrow and not stay up. lol
This is my favorite G film and likely always will be. I honestly love both versions, too. I grew up with 1985 and didn't even see Return until like, almost a decade ago.
I can't wait to watch it!