MONSTER SIGHTING #19: Godzilla 1985

While I own both the original Japanese version released in 1984 as Godzilla Returns, Godzilla 1985 was the film I grew up with and this will be the version that I watch.

The series went dormant for nearly a decade after Terror of Mecha-Godzilla, finally returning nine years later in 1984 with Godzilla Returns, the final film of the Showa period and the soft beginning of the Heisei period of Japan and the series of Godzilla films.

The budget was upped and the movie, like Terror of Mecha-Godzilla that proceeded and the film that follows it, has a legit theatrical vibe to it that went missing after Godzilla vs. Biollante. 

I definitely appreciate this movie more now as an adult than I did when watching it as a kid. The Russian conflict story at the films core being sparked by Godzilla's destruction of a soviet sub is actually pretty interesting, but rewatching the American 1985 cut of the film now after more than twenty years, I can definitely see how little me found it less than fun. 

For starters, Godzilla versus any sort of military was never all that interesting to me. I wanted brawling between two monsters. The heavier focus on story also had me constantly fast-forwarding through the "boring talking parts" just to get to the monster action. 

Godzilla's design in this highly reminiscent of how he was when we last saw him in 1975; with big, round eyes, a rounder head and bulbous dorsal fins. Things that would be sharpened to elongated as we move into the Heisei era of films. 

Another reason I will always prefer the 1985 version of the movie is the ending; Raymond Burr's speech following Godzilla's drop into the volcano (and that horrifying shriek of terror) has so much weight to it that I am not surprised that the current ongoing Reiwa era Monsterverse haven't used it in some way considering Godzilla is literally a force of nature in the continuity. 

Now if you will excuse me, I have a strange craving for a Dr. Pepper. 

MONSTER SIGHTING #18: Terror of Mecha-Godzilla

And thus here we are: The finale of the Showa era and hands down my favorite kaiju film of all time for reasons I will go into right... now!

First you have the GOAT Godzilla design that first appeared in Godzilla Vs. Megalon, now fine tuned to perfection. The rounded, soft features of the face had been tweaked just enough that he now has a good balance between fierceness thanks to the slanted bowline and a sense of friendly heroicness that the character took on throughout the 60s and 70s. 

The body was perfectly proportioned as well, with prominent puffy dorsal fins, a lengthy meat tail, a slender frame that simultaneously cut a great figure as well as making him quite agile. His atomic breath looks great as well. 

I love this design so, so much. For me, it's the image that appears in my head whenever I hear the word 'Godzilla'. It's who I imagine is doing the fighting whenever I think of What-If battles. 

In this movie, we also got treated to the last of the Showa creations: Titanosaurus. A peaceful, aquatic dinosaur that came under control of the alien invaders. It stood even taller than Godzilla himself and had a ferocious fighting spirit that when combined with the firepower of Mecha-Godzilla, nearly defeated Godzilla. 

MONSTER SIGHTING #17: Godzilla Vs. Mecha-Godzilla

I am only just now realizing that it's the 1972 Godzilla design featured here on the New World Cinema VHS release. Huh. 

Godzilla Vs. Mecha-Godzilla was a bit to an anomaly to me as a kid. I had owned Terror of Mecha-Godzilla for years and, besides Godzilla vs. Gigan it was my most watched Godzilla movie. When I happened across this particular movie one day in '96 or' 97 while browsing the movie selection at Blowout Video, situated within the local Super K-Mart. 

I looked at the VHS a few times, but never thought it to be anything other than yet another copy of Terror of Mecha-Godzilla with a different title and box; That was extremely common back in the day, and with my already owning two copies of Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero and Godzilla Vs. Mothra, my hesitancy was warranted. 

It finally took me physically picking up the box and looking at the back to finally convince me that this wasn't the same movie that I watched a dozen times a year. It was the appearance of King Caesar on the back of the box that finally sold me that it was a different movie. 

And once again, we were graced by the GOAT Godzilla suit, now with a slightly modified head to appear less friendly. A trend that would continue for one more film, taking the suit to absolute perfection. 

But we can't talk about Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla and not talk about the titular adversary and easily by far and large, Godzilla's deadliest foe. 

His Showa incarnation waa the only truly evil incarnation of the character before Godzilla vs. Kong in 2021 and still remains the only one with alien Origins. 

Video Night

Immediately after finishing Sins of the Father, I picked up Video Night by Adam Cesare from the Kindle store and instantly, and I mean instantly, fell for the book. It's well written, fast-paced and has my favorite type of alien invaders!

I've already burned through the first 30% of the book just today alone. 

Why Emulation is Important

 

MONSTER SIGHTING #16: Godzilla Vs. Megalon

I still remember the day I was first introduced to this wonderful movie. It was a weekday, and my father - who was a mechanic - had come home for lunch and brought with him his toolbox. He set it down and then during lunch, asked me to go get something out of it for him. To my surprise, there was a copy of Godzilla vs. Megalon sitting there right on top for me. 

The cover art was and still is to this day quite an interesting one, but at least it accurately portrayed the monsters within. We got: Godzilla, returning favorite Gigan the giant space chicken and the newcomers Jet Jaguar and the titular Megalon, who would go in to be somewhat common when giant monsters were referenced in other media. Beetle Mania from King of the Monsters for example. 

I eventually want to start talking about specific monsters individually in later blog posts, so I will cease it there and move on to the main reason this and the two subsequent films remain my favorites throughout the entire franchise. 

The Godzilla design as MegaroGoji! 

When I hear the name "Godzilla", it isn't the 1991 BioGoji suit or the modern day Monsterverse or ShinGoji designs that come to mind, nor are they what I imagine when I picture fights in my head. It's this! THIS is MY Godzilla; The modified used in the next two films in particular, but this is where the suit got its start and is an absolute not to watch fight. 

MONSTER SIGHTING #15:Godzilla Vs Gigan

The memories I have involving this movie, man. Friday evenings, stopping by Little Ceasars to order a cheese and a supreme pizza, then visiting Movie Max, a mom-and-pop rental store along the same strip, and getting to rent a movie or game.

Getting back home one of those particular Friday evenings, I remember taking a few slices of pizza into the living room, plopping down in front of the old Zenith television and popping the Godzilla vs Gigan VHS in and just enjoying myself.

I love Gigan to death. Just an exquisite design all around that the Millennium version (and to a lesser extent, Gigan Rex) dumped all over. 

I remember having a stuffed dinosaur as a kid. Stood maybe around three feet tall. I would always pretend that it was Gigan and I'd just throw that thing all over the place, recreating the fight scene this movie. 

MONSTER SIGHTING #14:Godzilla Vs Hedorah

My earliest exposure to Hedorah was, once again, the NES game 'Godzilla Monster of Monsters' in which he appeared as a boss monster for Godzilla to fight.

Interestingly enough, his flying form also has a sprite that went unsued outside of the cast of characters roll during the credits. 

It was 1998 when I finally got see the movie. Tuesday, May 26th at 9pm to be totally precise. Godzilla fever was gripping the world with the advent of GODZILLA hitting theaters that month and so every channel that could play Godzilla movies, was. And I just happen to catch an ad for Hedorah while channel surfing one afternoon.

I got a blank VHS ready, wanting to record this event as it was a Godzilla movie I hadn't seen yet. I remember the day perfectly too; It was cloudy and humid out and rain was in the forecast for that evening. My parents wanted to go out and get something for dinner instead of cooking, and my anxious self thought, "I hope we get back in time" even though we left at 5pm and the movie didn't start until 9pm.

As we got ready to leave, a friend of my parents that looked alarmingly similar to George Clooney stopped us, holding us up even longer, and that was agitating. 

When we finally did get out, things moved quickly enough. We stopped at Super K-Mart and got some deli meat for sandwiches. Then Hollywood Video where I rented not one but two games! Reel Fishing and Ehrgeiz. Neither of which were any good.

It started to rain before we got home, adding further to the atmosphere of the day. The movie started and me and my sister watched. Sitting on the water bed that my parents had, the storm gently rumbling outside. I remember laughing at(in a good way) to the point that I had tears when Godzilla took to the air in chase of Hedorah. 

Just an absolute delightful movie that I wish could have gotten the followup that it deserves. 

GAME POWER!: Sonic the Hedgehog 2

It's high time I kicked this series back into gear, this time with the insanely good Sonic the Hedgehog 2! Released in 1992, Sonic 2 took the series to blazing new speeds, added the first of what would become dozens upon dozens of new friends for Sonic as well as really cement the momentum based gameplay that the series would eventually ditch in favor of mobile-game like endless runner antics.

But enough moping about the current state of Sonic, let's focus on the good times.

Kindle Update

I LOVE IT! 

I have become so attached to this thing. My Kindle has miraculously stolen time away from my Steam Deck as my most used electronic (besides my phone). Having all of my books in epub form has been, dare I say it? Life changing. I am seeing shelf space return thanks either books being sold off on ebay or being taken off my hands.

I'm not giving up printed media entirely as I will continue buying the Stormlight Archive books whenever a new one releases, but beyond that, it's all digital. I even bought a anti-glarwe/blue light reducing screen protector for when I want to read outside or before bed.

I am reading a cosmic "horror" novel called 'Sins of the Father' currently and it's pretty good. More of an action packed take with a Lovecraft theme, but it is intriguing enough to keep me going. Currently at 60%.

And the comic books! I always was interested in reading them, but never could get myself to actually buy them; $5 for 25 pages every month just wasn't appealing to me. When I did buy them, it was only in the form of an Omnibus, which meant I would always be 10+ issues behind if it was a current ongoing series.

I am currently making my way through the last three issues of Godzilla Rulers of Earth, then after that I want to start reading the current ongoing Sonic the Hedgehog series at IDW, of which I have every issue on my Kindle. Definitely not illegally, definitely... not..

I am also going to try and nab the five part 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers vs. Godzilla series that IDW put out.

Oh and blueberries & cream iced coffee