In
the original movie, the story followed these basic lines: A ship is sunk
at sea, then another, then another. It is found that Godzilla, a 50 meter
tall prehistoric reptile awakened by atomic tests, mutated by radioactivity,and
worshipped by fearful Oto Island residents, is responsible.
Godzilla comes to Japan and lays Tokyo to waste. This movie showcases the complete devastation of Tokyo, nature's retaliation on mankind for his arrogant rape of nature using the atomic bomb. Godzilla retreats into the sea. The hero and heroine approaches the good (tragic) scientist, begging him to use his secret weapon against Godzilla. Eventually he relents. He goes with them to destroy Godzilla, and cuts his lifeline, killing himself and burying the secret of the Oxygen Destroyer forever. This movie was a powerful (political) statement: Atomic weapons threaten the very existence of man and must NEVER AGAIN be used in time of war. It also emphasized that Japan still reels from the horrible blow dealt by Little Boy and Fat Man, the names of the atomic bombs that President Truman ordered dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was a very powerful film, all in all. The
American release of this film was a totally different story. I didn't say
opposite, I said different. ;)
However,
the 1984 remake, Godzilla 1984, was a completely different story. Boy,
I must say, New World REALLY cut the dickens out of this one!
GONE
are the scenes where Maki throws random objects at the sea-louse...or where
Okumura (Ken, in the US Version) identifies Godzilla from a hospital bed
with the help of Dr. Hayashida. They cut out so much of the subplot involving
reporter Maki, Okumura and his sister Naoko for the U.S. release that the
three become more or less, passive bystanders.
I grew up during the Cold War too, so at the time I was ignorant enough to believe it too. Now that I'm older and considerably more cynical, I'm not afraid to look at my country the way others see it. Of course, we have the incredible nerve to take offense when another country labels us as a bunch of inhuman, unfeeling pigs. And we wonder why everyone else hates us? But oh well. This is a Godzilla Page, not a political history/theory page. Whew, nearly got off track there. =) Anyhow.
Mr. Martin is in Washington D.C. for this one (Burr's ticker was probably
in too weak shape for his character to get buried underneath tons of rubble
again.) watching the whole thing from a Pentagon strategics room, surrounded
by three military ding dongs. But mind you, these aren't just any military
ding dongs. They're Dr. PEPPER DRINKING DING DONGS! =D
U.S. version vs Japanese versionWhen he picks up the train in the Japanese version, the camera pans up to the eyes.......and I mean the people were screaming before, but when they see the monstrous face peering into the train window, they REALLY let loose! There is added comic relief as some freak (male or female? Still can't decide.)flashes the Big G a Big Godzilla sized bakayaroo grin. He carries the train for some distance (the camera showing impressive scenes of G's reflection on a mirrored building....which was CHOPPED from the US version to make room for Burr and the three military Dr. Pepper swilling ding dongs!!!) THEN drops it. I preferred
the original. =)
At the movies end, when Godzilla gets "sent home", the Japanese version just has him uttering frantic roars. In the US version, before he hits the boiling lava, he emits an agonizing scream that sent a certain 11 year old home from the movies in tears. =) I preferred the US version,here. I also
preferred the parting eulogy by Raymond Burr: "Nature has a way sometimes
of reminding man of just how small he is. She occasionally throws up the
terrible offspring 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.
In all, BOTH the US. and Japanese versions of these movies are well worth owning. If my VCR hadn't shot craps, I would be watching the Japanese version of Godzilla 1984 right now. =) Enough of this psychobabble! Take me back to the MUSEUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |