GODZILLA: The Showa Era Retrospective - A Nation's Fears, A Nation's Hero
Фильм және анимация
An analysis of the 15-film Showa Era of Godzilla, stretching from the original Gojira (1954) through Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975), and an explanation of the origins of The King of the Monsters.
PATREON - / mattdraper
TWITTER - / mattdraperyt
#Godzilla
#ShowaGodzilla
#Kaiju
#KongvsGodzilla
Music:
"Gojira" Theme
"Persecution of the Masses"
"The Rising Sun"
Sources:
www.criterion.com/current/pos...
screenrant.com/godzilla-kong-...
www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/...
www.newsweek.com/godzilla-fil...
www.criterion.com/current/pos...
www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-go...
www.kaijubattle.net/monster-s...
Пікірлер: 374
What’s your favorite Godzilla film from the Showa Era? Let me know!
@AlexMartinez-gv7hy
3 жыл бұрын
Godzilla vs Gigan, it has Anguirus as one of the main monsters. Also introduced Gigan the cybernetic dinosaur from beyond.
@Dhsiwisijeejjkwwoowoepwpwl
3 жыл бұрын
Godzilla vs mechagodzilla was the first film I watched so it’s probably my favorite but all of the films are so crazy it’s hard to decide
@sebastienvondoom8615
3 жыл бұрын
The original... Followed by Godzilla vs Megalon, that drop kick... Also Jet Jaguar.
@KamenSentaiMetalHero
3 жыл бұрын
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
@Nickos_Klb
3 жыл бұрын
Ok although i personally don't have a favourite godzilla movie i do love every single one of them and I do have a closer spot in my heart for the showa era , the millenium era and the american films
I’m sorry but I will not accept any Megalon slander
@Avocado11
3 жыл бұрын
Amount of other monsters with drills for hands: 0...Moguera was a robot not a monster Amount of other monsters Godzilla had to dropkick: 0
@jacobjohnston3983
2 жыл бұрын
Ah, a man of good taste. I unironically think an adaptation of “vs Megalon” would be the best move for the Monsterverse, Jet Jaguar and all.
@Devonlui
2 жыл бұрын
Utterly unacceptable
@bustedkeaton
2 жыл бұрын
@@jacobjohnston3983 agreed
@Baro_Fjellheim
2 жыл бұрын
Megalon may of been dropkicked but he took it like a champ.
This just proves that you can be an adult man in a costume fighting another adult man in a costume and no one will judge you as long as you record it.
@jeaninneoliver14
3 жыл бұрын
like a furry?
@larrytoons6220
3 жыл бұрын
@@jeaninneoliver14 furries dont shoot fire out of their mouths and destroy cities. When they fight its just some growls and barks and then they walk away.
@sadgirlhours4088
2 жыл бұрын
Theres a branch of wrestling in florida that has its wrestlers make up kaiju personas and they wrestle eachother. Its completely inspired by the showa era, and it's the only desire I have to go to florida to see
@bigbubba7753
2 жыл бұрын
@@sadgirlhours4088 that actually sounds like a good time, especially when buzzed. What's its exact name? I wanna look it up.
So fun fact, Ebirah: Horror of the Deep was originally going to star Kong, but the studio ran into rights issues, and so instead they inserted Godzilla into the role. You can tell it was supposed to be Kong in the role thanks to a lot of key scenes, especially the part where Godzilla takes a liking to a human girl for some reason.
@Albino_Basilisk
3 жыл бұрын
@@Psyclonus7 no
@Tg2Lc
3 жыл бұрын
@@Psyclonus7 No, they didn't even started recording the movie so they just put godzilla in there and made him shoot his atomic breath. Kong would probably like throw a rock at the giant condor
@deaconfrost8848
2 жыл бұрын
It wasn't a rights issue,RKO who owned the rights of Kong at the time didn't like the concept of the movie,so toho made king Kong escapes with ranking and bass ,but didn't want to lose the money on the sets and costumes made for ebriha
@mistertwisty1693
2 ай бұрын
@@Tg2Lc In Godzilla’s first battle with Ebirah, he actually primarily throws rocks at him. Very Kong-like.
Actually, in Godzilla Raids Again, it was revealed that the Godzilla in that film was a second Godzilla.
Ah yeah. It's gonna can't wait for the Heisei and millennium era to the Rewa era.
@GibbySoapBox
3 жыл бұрын
I’m hoping the criterion collection will do the same sets as they did for the showa era
@doom7ish
3 жыл бұрын
@@GibbySoapBox Just hope they don't let Toho doesn't keep saying you can update the quality and no english dubs. Some strange nonesense.
@rigobertorosenbaum9838
3 жыл бұрын
Heisei era is so awesome. My favorite era tbh
@Samuel-jn2oc
2 жыл бұрын
@@rigobertorosenbaum9838 yes,having a true continuity beween a the movies is the true selling point
You can feel the genuine love and care for Godzilla through this well crafted video. Always a pleasure to watch you discuss movies, Matt!
@MattDraper
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Little sad you didn't mention the man responsible for bringing Godzilla and many of the other monsters to life, Eiji Tsuburaya, but then again the man is a legend worthy of a standalone video. Still an absolutely outstanding video Matt! You deserve way more subs because your videos are always top quality!
@belzyk3dg122
2 жыл бұрын
Nor did he mention the man himself Haruo Nakajima
Nice Shinsuke Nakamura "The Rising Sun" entrance music there, Matt.
@thefvguy5648
3 жыл бұрын
I almost freaked out when I heard it
@efrainvilla3523
3 жыл бұрын
It all came full circle with the wrestling references
@seantaylor424
3 жыл бұрын
I THOUGHT I heard that towards the end. Had to do a double-take because it caught me by surprise.
@comixproviderftw_02
3 жыл бұрын
Godzilla is the not only the King of the monsters, he's the OG King of Strong St
My shriveled heart has grown so much since Godzilla has become so popular
This video has single-handedly re-ignited my love for the Godzilla franchise. Absolutely incredible work, Matt! Just like Godzilla, you're an unstoppable force.
@MattDraper
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you, my dude! I love hearing that.
"Godzilla was a heel"' - Best line ever!
I grew up on the Heisei series, they had the best Godzilla suit design IMO.
@sebastienvondoom8615
3 жыл бұрын
This is objectively correct.
@kasjachrum
2 жыл бұрын
Fax
I certainly agree with you about 'Destroy All Monsters'. I saw it at a drive-in in 1970 (along with Ghidrah and The Green Slime) when I was 5 years old and it is still my absolute favorite Godzilla movie til this day!! Thanks much for posting this video.
Godzilla vs Hedorah is up there for me as one of my favorites, despite how weird it is I think it has some of the stronger societal commentary even outside the blatant anti-pollution message. Surprised to see Godzilla vs Gigan and Ebirah so high on your list, I always enjoyed Ebirah but I think I’ll have to give Gigan a rewatch.
@greyhawk4898
Жыл бұрын
I love Godzilla vs Hedorah. Though I think it was called Godzilla vs the smog monster first time I saw it. I hate the re dubbed English. It like ALL the other ones should have been left original. Or at least make them available for old people like me. Awesome movies til the 80s when it really started dying.
@Al_NERi
Жыл бұрын
Hedorah remains my favorite Godzilla film after the original Gojira and I think it's bizarre, hallucinatory nature serves the ecological messaging in a uniquely memorable way.
Love that you use Shinsuke Nakamuras Theme for every outro
This was my favorite era of Godzilla films. The rubber suits, the cheesy stories & over the top fights.
They explain that the Godzilla from _Raids Again_ and onward is another member of the same species as the original, and that it and Anguirus were resurrected by the same atomic tests that awoke the original Godzilla. It isn't "inexplicable", although it is easy to understand how it could be overlooked.
Showa Godzilla will always be my favorite because it had a deep meaning behind. It was more like a force of nature, that if you mess with Mama Earth, she will F🤬 you up.
Matt, it always blows me away to see how well produced your content is; I genuinely don't have many other channels on KZread I'm as happy to see an upload from. Thanks for the vids and keep it up man.
@MattDraper
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you!!
Shifting the subject a bit, the artist behind the Godzilla art used in the thumbnail is Yuko Shimizu for a series of collector's edition DVDs. There's a video on her thought process behind the art by Trojan Horse was a Unicorn.
I’m curious what kind of Godzilla people prefer: tragic metaphor for the horrors of nuclear disaster, anti-hero who fights other monsters but still has it out for humanity, or outright hero and friend to all children?
@KidFlash22898
3 ай бұрын
I personally prefer the tragic metaphor godzillas and the anti hero ones. Mostly the tragic metaphor though. I hope one day we get a rated R godzilla and make it truly terrifying
I am incredibly fascinated by the cinematic history of Godzilla and the different eras of his movies. I would be very happy if you were to continue your Godzilla series retrospective.
This was another fantastic video Matt I can’t wait for the oth... 26:07 You’re dead to me
That was dope. I love me some Godzilla. As soon as Covid blows over and we're allowed to travel im taking a bullet train to Tokyo to see the statue they got of my boy.
But they *did* explain why Godzilla returned in Raids Again... it was another Godzilla.
I'm really curious to see what your thoughts on Shin Godzilla are. It's personally one of my favorite Godzilla movies ever. Such a great video!
Those illustrations at the end are glorious.
This is an amazing video! And I love that legendary really went for the showa route for the movies as opposed to mainly Heisei interpretation. It’s awesome and it makes my inner child scream
Fun video, man. 70s Godzilla will be forever dumped on, heh, but I believe it's definitely one of those "you had to BE there" sort of things. I'm fortunate enough to have been able to see several in the theater as a kid, and it was a glorious experience. In fact, the 70s crew - MEGALON, JJ, King Seesar, Hedorah, Titanosaurus, etc. - are among my favorites. Gorgeous and creatively designed suits that ooze personality. (Or in Hedoorah's case, 'liquid waste', haw!)
This is still my favorite era. The first movie is still the best of them all but best of all, these movies were fun .
Showa and Heisei were the eras I grew up watching in the 90's. I think the VHS tapes I rewatched all the time were: Invasion of the Astro Monster (VHS title: Godzilla vs Monster Zero), Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla (VHS title: Godzilla vs the Cosmic Monster), Godzilla vs Biollante, Godzille vs Mothra (Heisei), and All Monsters Attack (VHS title: Godzilla's Revenge). Out of all of those films I hold a special place in my heart for... except All Monsters Attack...
Great video! Godzilla Vs Megalon was my first every Godzilla film I saw and I was so happy that it was featured in a classic episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. I hope to see the later eras soon!
MATT DRAPER, King of creators
As a long time Godzilla fan since childhood, this was super enjoyable and informative. Would love to see you cover the other eras as well. I enjoy your videos very much. #TeamGodzilla
Your sheer amount of interests and the way you articulate your opinions is the perfect combination for video essays, from one gigan fan to another, thankyou!!
This is the first video I’ve watched of yours, Matt, and I really enjoyed it! Great job!
Excellent video! A really wonderful era of the Showa era, I really liked this a lot :)
Another reason why you are becoming one of my favorite you tubers thanks for doing this video
Great job revisiting the first era of Godzilla. We differ on the top 15. I’m sure others have their favorites for their reasons. Over all great job making this.
Awesome video, Matt! It was really interesting seeing how the Godzilla has reshaped itself throughout different eras.
Matt, you’ve been rising in the ranks of my favorite KZreadrs and that Gigan comment just put you in the top 3.
Incredible set of retrospectives, I've really enjoyed watching them! Great work!
Mr Draper, it's a pleasure to be your subscriber. Especially when you talk about my favorite monster movie series.
@MattDraper
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
In my opinion, growing up with these films I feel they should’ve stopped after Monster Zero, then returned in ‘68 for Destroy All Monsters, then went away again until ‘74’s Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla. I know the box office was way different back then, but the 70s really struggled to compete with kaiju tv shows so I think it would’ve been more impactful to holdoff until the 20th anniversary as a cinema event (and I would’ve replaced King Sheesa with King Kong to make it more epic).
Matt Draper talking about one of my absolute favorite things? Today is my lucky day!!
Just found these vids, your channel, and love them. The Shinske Nakamura theme at the end really gets me going haha
No matter how much I learn about "movie magic", a grown adult standing at eye level with Godzilla will still confuse the fuck out of me for a split-second
Those posters are dope as hell
An absolutely lovely video, CANNOT wait for big G coverage!
Hearing "The Rising Sun" in the background while watching a Goji vid made my night. Thanks for the great video!
I have been anxiously watching your letterboxd reviews of this era hoping that we would get a full video about it and it definitely didn't disappoint
My favorite monster. You did a fantastic job with this video summarizing the films.
The Showa Era was the perfect way for me to get hooked on Godzilla back in the early 90's, I guess it was to celebrate the 40th anniversary. Anyway, if a kid likes Godzilla and doesn't know where to start, point them at the Showa Era.
20:03 an ingenious summary of the series! Your channel is glorious
Oh boy can't wait for the Shin Godzilla one when we reach the end/near the end! I know its been talked about to death, but really, it was such a joy seeing a classic Godzilla coming out of Japan that just... Worked as well as it did and proved Toho still could knock it out of the park!
This was...amazing. King Kong vs. Godzilla was actually the first Godzilla I've ever seen as a kid and will always have a place in my heart. As far as my personal favorite, Destroy All Monsters. I can't wait for you to cover the Heisei series, that's my all-time favorite series!
Excellent as always, Matt! After seeing the care and knowledge you imbued this video with, I would love to see you make a video on Mothra! “We stan an unproblematic queen!” 👸🏻🧚🏼♀️🧚🏼♀️🐛🦋
Thanks for the video Matt. Big godzilla fan. Much ❤ as always
Awesome video, can’t wait for the follow up!
Fun fact: That scrapped Frankenstein concept explains why Kong has lightning powers.
this was a great capper to my recent binge of all of these movies, loved the extra insight! i'd rank them fairly similar to you at the top and bottom ends, but we differ in the middle stretch
Fantastic video!
Bless you for putting Shinsuke Nakamura's theme in this video ❤️
Absolutely love this video since i been on the Godzilla hype train this entire month!
Really solid video! Definitely looking forward to more Godzilla content as this was quite thorough! I'm also happy that you didn't do what most people do when discussing the Showa era and bash Raids Again -- it's hardly a highlight, but the Japanese version does legitimately have some genuinely great moments within it. On an odd, slightly somber side-note, one interesting facet about the Showa era is that all but 2 entries were directed by one of two people (being either Honda or Fukuda), and both of them, even after the entire era was done, genuinely believed Godzilla should never have had any sequels. Instead, they just made all of their Godzilla films because the Studio wanted them made, and both men were too professional to say "No".
Great video, HBO has a lot of these movies. The illustrations for the movies look amazing a Godzilla anime would be awesome.
20:00 Ah, I see that Matt is a man of culture as well, with the choice of song.
Funfact: "King Kong" and "Frankenstein" were actually marketable in Germany, so german distributors titled a lot of japanese movies SOMEHOW with any of those words. Also some Godzilla movies: "Son of Godzilla" was released as "Frankensteins monsters hunting Godzillas son" or "King Kong vs Godzilla" was "Return of King Kong" . The Ebira one (1966) was "Frankenstein and the monsters from the sea" and "Godzilla vs Megaro" was "King Kong - Demons from space" . And: "Destroy all monsters" was "Frankenstein and the monsters from space", "Godzilla vs Gigan" was "Frankensteins Hellspawn" . Some movies had Godzilla in the title (like the first one being basically Godzilla) but most of the Showa era had those weird namings.
Nice use of Nakamura's theme around the end.
To be honest, I really like the “Champion” era of the Showa films and their namesake. Not the Japanese film festival, but the idea that those films are when Goji began outwardly defending Japan and the Earth from threats. He was one of Japan’s champions, choosing to fight for his home. Yeah the films are cheesy, but to me, they show how much Godzilla had changed and how he truly did have a capacity for good. 😊
I just bought the Godzilla Criterion Collection blu ray! It looks amazing highly reccomend
Great video can’t wait for the next era
Godzilla 1954 and shin Godzilla are the only Godzilla movies I’d call genuine films. Maybe Godzilla 1984 as well. The rest are are just dumb fun, and I love them.
声がハンサムで良いですね! ゴジラもカッコイイ!😄
This is my personal favorite era of the films, it got me into the series and made me the die hard fan that I still am at 36. I prefer Godzilla as an unabashed hero, no murky anti-hero status or straight villain, which is one reason why i've been such a fan of the Legendary series of films ( and why GvK has me nervous with his heel turn). I was REALLY not into Shin Godzilla, so i'm at a weird place where I find the spirit of a series of American Godzilla films preferable to most of what Japan has been giving us lately ( if we're lumping the Anime trilogy with Shin as the "Reiwa" era of films) My personal top 5 fave from this era 1. Destroy All Monsters 2. Godzilla vs Gigan ( also my first film I ever saw in the franchise) 3. Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla 4. Terror of Mechagodzilla 5.Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster as always, even if I don't rank it on my top 5, the original 54 film needs to be recognized for the absolute masterpiece it is in almost every way, it's a truly serious (Grimdark in fact) monster film in a way that you didn't see before or contemporary at the time, amazingly well told story and impactful human characters and depictions. PS Godzilla vs Megalon is great and I will hear no slander against. Megalon is a really fun design and a great counterpart to Gigan and the battle at the end is fun as effing hell
@Kaiju-bm4ts
3 жыл бұрын
Legendary godzilla isn't even a unabashed hero he's a anti heroic force of nature no different from heisei godzilla godzilla 2000 and final wars godzilla. As a whole then monsterverse is basically a modernized showa era but godzilla's portrayal is that of a anti hero not the traditional kid friendly hero status like showa era godzilla. To put it shortly showa era godzilla was no different from a traditional hero like Spiderman while legendary godzilla is closer to anti heros like wolverine or the punisher
I find it kinda funny that you use wrestler Shinsuke Nakamura theme music at the end of this. Wonderful!!
When i was a kid, i gleefully went to every saturday afternoon Godzilla feature there was!! It was always a good time, especially with friends. Even if the same movie was going to be on TV a week later, i still went. But then i grew up and i re-visited the Showa era Godzilla's and well...i still really like 'Godzilla vs. Megalon', and 'Godzilla vs. Hedora [although when i was a kid, it was called 'Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster'] and those are the only two i own. I look at these films now, and sometimes, i think about childhood innocence when a monster movie was just a monster movie and i had a passion for giant creatures-and adulthood when i realize it's an actor in a rubber suit which takes away the magic i felt when i was younger. I like some of the Heisei era, so my rekindling of passion for Godzilla movies comes and goes.
looking forward to seeing you do the next set :)
GREAT VIDEO!
I would like to state that Haruo Nakajima truly is a legend. Rip the legend behind the suit.
I love the original Godzilla, as well as the new King of the Monsters. Very excited for the new movie and looking forward to more Godzilla videos!
I do like most Godzilla movies that came after but Showa is where my heart is.
I used to not like the Showa Era since I thought all its films besides the original Gojira were just campy and silly. But now that I have actually watched the films I have grown to really enjoy its films and learned how wrong I was.
@Algeriawindows69
2 жыл бұрын
people always generalize the showa as campy and bad, and the heisei as good and serious, millennium as bad, monsterverse as eather best or worst. that's the fandom basically.
Would love to see u talk about other Tokuatsu besides Godzilla! Keep up the good work
(Around 9:13) "-And The Majestic Mothra" *Hardcut To Mothra BBLBLBLAAAAAGGGG!!!*
A Godzilla video by Matt Draper convincing me to check out the rest of Godzilla movies? Hell yes
Listen, I love Gojira and have always loved Gojira since darn near birth 52 yrs ago....your video was excellent. ...long live the heel Godzilla king of the monsters
Another great video Matt. I have been meaning to watch more G films, but they are hard to come by in the UK.
Can't wait for Shin Godzilla! Actually, I can't wait for ALL the other Eras! Great video, Matt.
The Showa era was my introduction to Godzilla and is my favorite era. The Terror of Mechagodzilla produced the greatest monster intro in the history of monster movies and is my personal favorite. To each his own, I just love all things Godzilla and yes that includes ‘Zilla.
Thank you Matt
im not gonna lie, i like most of the showa era, mostly because it was so silly (specifically VS Gigan, Vs Megalon, and even Vs Hedorah) i like it the same way people like The Room or other REALLY bad movies, its so over the top silly as hell, but i likes it
As a heavy Godzilla fan you have my full undivided attention on this videos
Fantastic video. I am a life long Godzilla fan and I rate a lot of the Showa era films. I am surprised you didn't mention the questionable brownface in Godzilla vs King Kong, or the fact that Godzilla did actually fight a giant Frankenstein!
@evenhartwick4422
6 ай бұрын
pretty sure he never fought Frankenstien. Toho did make a movie about a giant Frankenstien but he fought Baragon in the movie not Godzilla
Dude I just recently made a Godzilla video. This is awesome and you have a better outtake on Godzilla.it’s one of my favorite monsters of all time. Can’t wait for the new one to come out.
Well done with this video I hope you do more eras of Godzilla films in the future leading to Godzilla vs Kong in the end of March also my favorite Godzilla movie and first Godzilla movie has to be Godzilla vs. The sea monster
Banger
Take all the time you need. It's been draining to say the least how things have been.
Thanks! I love it!!!