Godzilla (1954)

 Ishiro Honda's "Godzilla"

Starting with the 1954 Japanese film, "Godzilla," the iconic monster and its franchise of films are considered by Guinness World Records to be the longest-running film franchise in history. Although the franchise has been hijacked by Hollywood, the real roots of the radiation monster lie in post-war Japan. After the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear threat remained a very real anxiety for the survivors of the first-ever atomic weapon. "Godzilla" was simply one of many films that illustrated this anxiety.

The plot of "Godzilla" is a relatively recognizable format, thanks to the writer and director Ishiro Honda, who is now considered the father of the disaster movie. When a powerful and dangerous creature from the age of dinosaurs emerges from the deep sea, the Japanese government and its scientists must try and devise a plan to deal with the monster. In doing so, ethical questions arise, along with fears of triggering a nuclear fallout.

Although the film leans more into the realms of popcorn entertainment, its themes and ideas stem from complex sentiments about a modern Japanese age and people. Its clear that the monster is a personification of nuclear fallout and the most interesting elements of the film are not necessarily the ongoing destruction by the titular beast. Rather, its the delegation about how to address the catastrophic issue. The various characters engage in philosophical, ethical, scientific, and political discussions that are warranted for such an event. It forces the viewer to question how those conversations would go should a new, devastating force arrive. 

That being said, the visual elements of the film provide a sense of sensational excitement that adds context to these ongoing discussions. Combing miniatures with practical effects, the destruction caused by Godzilla is what got people into seats. It is the reason a whole franchise was created. The scenes are exciting, spectacular, and innovative. Perhaps today's technology renders such effects inert and modern eyes would find it a bit lacking, but there is somewhat of a timelessness to these effects that somehow become preferential to CGI slop.

While I did enjoy the film, I feel as though I was wanting something more. The climax is a bit anti-climatic, the boundaries could have been more thoroughly tested, and the complexity of its themes could have been more integral. However, I do not want to take away from an achievement such as this.