Godzilla (1954) User Reviews (301)

Crushes its sequels like Godzilla crushes Tokyo!

[dr_foreman · 9/10 · 8 March 2004]

The original, Japanese version of "Gojira" is the best giant monster film I've ever seen. Some fans get carried away and call it one of the best movies ever made; I wouldn't go quite that far, but it's damn good.

This film is quite different from the 20+ sequels that followed. Here, Godzilla is not so much a creature as he is a walking incarnation of the atomic bomb. His death ray, which became a rather amusing cartoon laser blast in later films, is here depicted as a sort of radioactive mist that sets its victims on fire. These "radioactive horror" images still resonate today - and imagine the impact they must've had on Japanese audiences fifty years ago.

From a production standpoint, the film holds up well. Godzilla's costume is much more convincing than the silly monkey suits that featured in the 60s and 70s Toho films, and due to the grayscale photography, the model cityscapes look convincing in most shots - or at least respectable. Ifkube's music score is stirring (you know it has to be good, as they kept recycling it in later movies), and director Honda makes great use of camera angles and imaginative special effects to give Godzilla a genuine aura of menace.

For once, the human characters don't let the side down. There's a compelling love triangle, and a dramatic sacrifice made at the end of the film that adds enormously to its emotional impact. The American version ("Godzilla: King of the Monsters") cut out much of the character development, and is thus clearly inferior; but never fear, Rialto is apparently releasing "Gojira," in all its original glory, sometime this year (2004).

In the later Godzilla films, the destruction he causes is almost incidental. Here, it's the whole point - he's a force of nature. Impressive.

The Greatest Movie Monster Of All

[caseyt-48511 · 9/10 · 6 August 2019]

The original Japanese version of Godzilla is a breathtaking classic. A giant monster is awaken by the over abundance of nuclear radiation and goes on a rampage across Japan. What follows is an unforgettable experience that stands as the greatest giant monster film of all time, if one does not count King Kong that is.

Japan was best fit to make a film about the effects of nuclear radiation since they had experience the atomic bomb first hand nearly a decade earlier. It was a powerful statement for the time. I really wish more people would give this movie a chance and realize how smart it is.

Besides the powerful message, the film is best known for its pioneering special effects. Yes, by today's standards, the suits and miniatures are pretty archaic. But they still look great over sixty years later. The destruction that Godzilla causes is both exciting and horrifying. Few monster movies have the emotion and smarts that this one has. Of course, their is the monster himself. What a sight. The design has changed greatly over the years but this one is the most iconic of course. The menacing eyes, roar and towering size make him a sight to behold. I highly recommend checking out the behind the scenes features that talk about the making of the famous suit, it's really interesting.

Then there's the most underrated part of the movie, the cast. Most Godzilla fans will recognize Akira Takarada as the lead. He's very good here and would continue to Star in the series for many years. The biggest name here is Takashi Shimura. He's of course best known for appearing in several Akira Kurosawa classics such as Seven Samurai and Ikiru.

Godzilla gets a bad rep because of some mediocre to atrocious sequels with some gems here and there. But the original stands above them like a atomic breath breathing monster. Godzilla is essential cinema that can be enjoyed for many different reasons.

Powerful, and not your average monster film

[gbill-74877 · 9/10 · 19 October 2019]

A film that works because of its campy monster and its budget-limited special effects (they couldn't afford stop motion so it's all a dude wearing a rubber suit tromping on miniatures), but is made special because of its deep meaning and the warnings and questions it has for the nuclear age.

It's telling that it was the most advanced scientific breakthrough made by the most brilliant minds on the planet, the harnessing of the atom, that led to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and in turn, in this movie, to the unleashing of a two million year old monster. It warns humanity that in stepping forward in its understanding of the universe, it was also taking a step backwards, and unleashing irrational, destructive violence upon the world. That's all pretty obvious I guess, but the scenes of fleeing people being incinerated by Godzilla, women and children huddling together in fear, and the destruction of Tokyo looking like an atomic bomb had gone off must have reverberated especially with the original audiences of the time. It certainly did for me. There is something deeply painful about this film.

In a fascinating development, it's a Japanese scientist who has to wrestle with the morality of having developed a weapon of mass destruction called the 'Oxygen Destroyer', knowing that its use to stop Godzilla in the short term may lead to its use to further horrific destruction in the long term. It seems to put the Japanese in the same position as the Americans in 1945, one where there are no easy answers. How does one put the lid back on the box of an arms race, where one technology or act of violence leads to another in a crazy, unending spiral? The solution offered may or may not be all that realistic, but I thought just raising the question in the way the film did - and so soon after the war - was incredibly thought-provoking and brave. The film thus works on emotional and philosophical levels that one normally wouldn't get in a monster film, or at least, with this level of meaning and intensity. Definitely recommended.

The first and original Godzilla.

[OllieSuave-007 · 10/10 · 10 July 2004]

This one started it all: the first and original Godzilla (Gojira) movie, and also serves as the beginning to a long line of sci-fi and monster (kaiju in Japan) movies from Toho Studios. We have a story where Japan is thrown into a panic after several ships explode and sink. An expedition of law enforcement officials and lead scientist Dr. Yamane (Takeshi Shimura) head to nearby Odo Island to investigate. There, a legendary mythical creature called Gojira, alleged to be responsible for the ship disasters, make his first appearance and begins a rampage on hapless Tokyo, threatening all of mankind.

This dramatic film with its thrills and horror has all the monster movie elements: a fire-breathing creature, toppling buildings, wall of flames, fleeing and screaming citizens, storms and seas, tanks and the army and frantic scientists and government officials - trying to figure out how to defeat the horror they see before them.

The love triangle between the character leads blends in very well with the monster plot. Godzilla, making his first attack on Tokyo, created haunting scenes of death and destruction and poignant moments of dismalness in the aftermath of his wake. Director Ishiro Honda did his finest and composer Akira Ifukube scored one of his best film music masterpieces. A compelling story by Shigeru Kayama, marvelous screenplay by Takeo Murata and superb special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Actors Takeshi Shimura, Akira Takarada, Momoko Kochi and Akihiko Hirata gave outstanding performances. And, Haruo Nakajima, Katsumi Tezuka and Ryosaku Takasugi did a terrific and realistic job on portraying Godzilla.

It is clever that the grave consequences of atomic bomb testings are depicted in this film, which sends a vital message to the real world. This is a creative way to explain Godzilla's origins.

Every element in this movie are throughly connected, leaving no room for loose ends and plot holes. While the plot's pace is steady, all the on-scream drama and action will grab the audience's attention.

Above all, this film is not just a "monster-on-the-loose" movie. It's a true classic, one that stands out above many sci-fi movies in cinema history. A great movie to begin a long and successful (in most cases) line of Godzilla and other monster/sci-fi films from Toho Studios.

Grade A

The first and best of the films.

[Ryuusei · 10/10 · 3 November 2004]

So this is where it all started!

Of course, as Godzilla is my all-time favorite character, I admit to being raised on the heavily edited US version starring Raymond Burr. But when viewing this film in its original form, it not only looks more like a Golden Age Toho fantasy as we all know it, but it's a very powerful masterpiece, as it stands in the history of world cinema. Here in 2004, 50 years ago today after its release, American audiences finally get to see the film in its entirety, thanks to its long-awaited subtitled theatrical release by Rialto Pictures.

Technically, Japanese monster movies began with the now-lost 1934 period fantasy, KING KONG HAS ARRIVED IN EDO (EDO NI ARAWARETA KINGU KONGU), which was obviously produced upon the success of the 1933 American classic, KING KONG. But it was GODZILLA (or GOJIRA as the Japanese call him) that truly made it over. Clearly inspired by the success of the 1953 hit, THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS (released to Japan by Daiei early the same year), with a bit of KONG thrown in, Toho set out to make their own monster movie, not knowing that they would create a phenomenon that would last to this day!

What more can I say? This movie pretty much set the standard for Japanese monster movies as we all know! Watching the Japanese version is an amazing experience, and a hauntingly epic one!

The special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, as low-tech as they were, had minor flaws (notably visible wires and missiles shooting against a background), but even for a first try in the monster genre, they still looked spectacular, as is the photography! Even though the effects work improved in future films, this is still the landmark of things to come.

The music by Akira Ifukube is memorable. From his stirring main title music, to Godzilla's destructive, ponderous theme music, to the poignant ending. Again, Ifukube's work for this film sets the standard for his work in the fantasy film genre.

The main cast is top-notch, as you'd expect. Akira Takarada (20 at the time) stars as salvage officer Hideto Ogata, the main character. Veteran actor Takashi Shimura plays Dr. Kyouhei Yamane, the eccentric paleontologist, who serves as the Godzilla-expert. Momoko Kouchi plays Yamane's daughter Emiko, who's in love with Ogata. But the best character by far (and my all-time favorite human character in a Godzilla film) is the tormented, eyepatch-clad scientist Dr. Daisuke Serizawa, played by Akihiko Hirata. When watching the Japanese version, other supporting characters share the spotlight, especially the newspaper reporter Hagiwara (Sachio Sakai), radiologist Tanabe (Fuyuki Murakami), the Ooto Island fisherman Masaji (Ren Yamamoto) and his younger brother Shinkichi (Toyoaki Suzuki). They just come off as mere background characters in the US version, but if you watch the Japanese original, you'll be totally surprised. Their performances were really dazzling, just like you'd expect from actors in a Toho fantasy film. Some of these actors would appear in future Godzilla films, as well as other SPFX fantasies from Toho.

Compared to other incarnations, this film (as well as GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN) had the creepiest Godzilla ever, and that was just the way he was supposed to be! Almost like a black silhouette with bright, white staring eyes. Godzilla was not just a mere animal, he was basically a modern god! A raging, destructive demon with the power of the hydrogen bomb that affected him. Although Godzilla is inspired by the Rhedosaurus from BEAST, he was a completely different entity. He was virtually indestructible, and had an awesome power - a white-hot atomic breath! Godzilla became the archetype for many Japanese giant monsters to follow.

But exactly what is Godzilla? As explained in this film (it's explained better in the Japanese version), he's a huge amphibious bipedal dinosaur that lives in caverns under the sea, feeding off of smaller sea animals. He was feared as a "god" on Ooto Island, and many young virgin women were sacrificed to him to appease his hunger. Hydrogen bomb tests affected his habitat, giving him unbelievable radioactive power & strength (and a towering size of 50 meters, 164 feet). And a sleeping giant was awakened . . .

Makes you think more about those nuclear tests, doesn't it?

Lastly, while the Japanese original played out more smoothly, the American version starring Raymond Burr (of PERRY MASON fame) as the visiting American reporter Steve Martin (not to be confused with the famous comedian!) is still very effective. The epic scale of the original still manages to shine through what the US producers could allow, and Burr (who was hired for a whole day for filming the added scenes) still did a serviceable job. American fans of the original version can at least be thankful for this US version, without which America could not accept Godzilla.

As for the movie's story, I'd rather not go into it in detail. If you haven't seen it, please do so! Be it the original Japanese version (which I recommend the most, especially subtitled), or the edited US version!

Here's to 50 years of a classic movie, and a classic character I will love forever!

Why in God's Green Earth Isn't This Version Shown More?

[Sargebri · 28 October 2003]

Finally, I had the pleasure of finally seeing the original Japanese version of this classic and I have to say that it is much better than the "Raymond Burr" version. This film pretty much makes one think about what we are doing to mother Earth with all the pollution and war going on. Perhaps the thing that made this film great was that not only did it have great effects, but it also had a great story that made a great social commentary on what could have happened if the arms race continued to go unchecked. Besides the story about Gojira, you also had a pretty decent love story. Akihiko Hirata, does a good job of playing Serizawa, who is really the tragic figure in this film who must decide whether or not to use his weapon, which potentially was more dangerous than the monster itself. This film is definitely one of the all time classics and fortunately the original version will be released on DVD in September 2006.

Gojira: The birth of a legend

[Platypuschow · 6/10 · 7 July 2018]

Godzilla or otherwise known a Gojira was the debut of the legendary titular character and arguably one of the most high profile pieces of Japanese cinema to date.

It tells the story of this gigantic creature coming out of the ocean and going on the warpath after being woken by nuclear explosions. The humans argue as to what to do with the situation, kill or study. But how do you kill something that big and that has already withstood massive radioactive blasts?

Godzilla is very ahead of its time and though the sfx are badly dated they look great for something made in the 1950's. For the most part it looks and is acted really quite well, though our leading lady was seven shades of awful.

One of the movies biggest flaws is its pacing. The movie doesn't have a traditional beginning, middle and end in fact the finale really creeps on you and isn't all that great itself.

Regardless of its flaws Godzilla has to be considered a classic that launched a franchise that is still ongoing over 6 decades later.

The Good:

Visually ahead of its time

The Bad:

Godzilla logistics make no sense

Odd moments of literally no audio

Some ropey editing

Weak finale

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

If nukes don't work on something, try bullets, if that doesn't get a pitchfork?

Japan makes strong bridges!

Japanese women are renound for overacting to fish suffering

Prayer accomplishes nothing, oh wait I already knew that

Finally!

[stmichaeldet · 10/10 · 4 February 2006]

America had to wait fifty years to see the original version of Gojira in all its terrifying glory. This is not a user-friendly, action romp giant-monster film. This is the story of an unstoppable, destructive force unleashed on a city, its aftermath, and the impossibly hard choices people must make in response.

Of course, nearly every U.S. giant-monster fan has seen the recut-for-Americans version of this classic, with Raymond Burr sharing scenes with the backs of various anonymous heads standing in for members of the Japanese cast. And while we all feel affection for that version, the truth is, compared to the original, "our" version loses much of its impact, and stands revealed as an act of vandalism which sadly underestimates the tolerance of the American audience.

Truly a cut above every other kaiju ever made, this is the one to see. Trust me, you won't miss Raymond Burr a bit.

Humans are weak animals....

[FlashCallahan · 7/10 · 22 May 2014]

Japan is thrown into a panic after several ships are sunk. The authorities think its either underwater mines or volcanic activity, so they head to Odo Island, close to where several of the ships were sunk.

Something comes onshore and destroys several houses and kills several people. A later expedition to the island soon discovers something more devastating than imagined in the form of a colossus monster whom the natives call Gojira.

Now, the monster begins a rampage that threatens to destroy not only Japan but the rest of the world as well.......

Having grown up with seeing the Godzilla Vs. ............., movies, the silly cartoon featuring Godzooky, the Raymond Burr one from 1985, and Ultimately Godzilla 98', the connotations about Nuclear weapons and chemical warfare being bad were getting across to me.

So after seeing the 2014 version, I wanted to seek the film that started it all, the film that garnered such a cult following, and again, being spoiled with the effects laden, character driven movie Edwards has just given us, the movie was a little disappointing for me.

It's still a wonderful feat, back in 1954, this must have been groundbreaking stuff, the effects and the titular creature are wonderful, but the acting is a little chucklesome.

I know I shouldn't have let the new movie influence my thoughts on this, but hey, I'm only human.

Its a dark film, much more serious in tone than other movies in the genre, and the fact that Godzilla is a metaphor for the aftermath of a Nuclear war is rife, so all in all, its a very good film, just don't watch the new one before this.

Dark, terrifying, excellent

[AwesomeWolf · 10/10 · 30 December 2004]

Essentially a Japanese remake of Hollywood's 1953 classic 'The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms', 'Gojira' took the same formula and became so much more than simple giant-monster entertainment.

Both films told stories about a pre-historic creature released/mutated by atomic testing. 'The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms' followed the appearance of a dinosaur released by an atomic blast. This dinosaur proceeded to destroy some stuff, turned up in New York, and destroyed New York too. Fun, but that was it, and not much more (I'm not saying its a bad film).

On the other hand, 'Gojira' used the same idea, and had a great impact in Japan. Gojira represented a real threat, a danger that Japanese of the time knew all too well. The message behind 'Gojira' was warning of the dangers of nuclear testing and nuclear weapons. Conversely, the message of 'The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms' is one for aspiring comic-book writers: exposure to radiation is a cheap but easy way to explain your character's freaky superpowers.

'Gojira' starts off with several boats going missing. One old man claims that Godzilla has returned, and in surprisingly un-Godzilla movie like fashion, no one believes him. I can understand this, Japan wasn't accustomed to giant-monster attacks yet. Anyway, Japan asks an imminent paleontologist, Dr. Yamane, to investigate the disappearances around Ohto Island. He discovers a two-million year old shellfish and lots of radiation. Oh, and a dinosaur the locals have dubbed Gojira. Back in Japan, Dr. Yamane is convinced that Gojira has been released by atomic testing, and that it should be isolated and studied. Obviously, no one else shares his view, and they all look for a way to destroy Gojira.

The key to Gojira's destruction lies in the hands of Dr. Serizawa. You can tell he is mad scientist because of his eye-patch. He is arranged to be married to Emiko Yamane, but she is in love with Hideto Ogata, a naval officer. Meanwhile, Gojira is turning Tokyo into a fiery crater.

Story-wise, its pretty similar to any irradiated monster movie of the 1950s. However, what all the other movies lack is the gripping images of destruction. Gojira is depicted as an evil force of nature - instead of wanting to see cities get crushed, we see Tokyo in Gojira's wake: it resembles a nuclear wasteland, and then we are treated to hospital scenes where medical staff try their best to deal with the scores of Gojira's victims. I can only imagine how terrifying scenes like those would have been so soon after World War Two. These are scenes we don't to see, in contrast to the sheer joy of watching two giant monsters have at each other in a big metropolis with no apparent consequences (see: nearly every other Godzilla movie ever made, for starters) Interestingly enough, Godzilla was only 50 metres tall in this, and he left radioactive fallout wherever he went. Somewhere along the along the line in the following movies, he got significantly taller, and lost the radioactive fallout. I guess it was a good career move seeing as he wanted to become a super-hero later on.

Great film, worthy of a 10/10

Moral Lesson.

[rmax304823 · 7/10 · 15 June 2012]

Gojira -- a jumbo fire-breathing monster -- is set loose by an atomic bomb and does a terrifying number on Tokyo before being driven off by Mitsubishi Zeros, I mean American-built F-86 Sabres. A scientist has the device that will destroy the monster but is reluctant to use it because the device could be weaponized. He uses it anyway, at the willing cost of his own life.

I kept trying to compare this original Japanese version with the export version made for the American market, the one with a somber Raymond Burr describing the destruction. It wasn't easy because I hadn't seen the Burr version for years.

The isomorph we've been exposed to is almost funny. Burr is wide-eyed and awed. The monster is a man in a ridiculous rubber suit. The visual effects are based on models and give away their true size because of their texture. A rocket hitting Tokyo Bay sends up splashes with drops as big as basketballs.

Yet, though the skeleton of the story and its associated effects are the same, this is a far more serious story. There's nothing much laughable about it. There are extended scenes of the suffering of Tokyo's residents after the raid by Gojira. The hospitals are jammed. Babies wail. It doesn't take much imagination to figure out what memories, only nine years old, were being redintegrated in the collective consciousness of the Japanese viewers. (Kids, we dropped two atomic bombs on Japanese cities, three days apart, at the end of World War II. PS: That would be 1945.) The movie is deliberately invested with moral weight. The scientist who destroys Gojira kills himself so that the secret of his device will never be revealed and used in war. He's already destroyed his notes, but the knowledge is inside his head.

That spirit of self sacrifice is built into Japanese culture and I have no idea whether it's easy or not for most Westerners to grasp that and other subtleties. It's a matter of national character. And not just something as simple as young ladies hiding their giggles behind their hands. When the scientist tells his assistant never to reveal the existence of the secret oxygen destroyer, she promises. Later, when she breaks her promise, she and the man to whom she revealed the secret hang their heads in shame before the scientist and beg his forgiveness. The device may save the world, but they're still ashamed because they've broken a moral code. When I was in the service, a colleague told me wonderingly about his leaving a Japanese cat house and being chased down the street by one of the staff who wanted to return the wallet he'd left behind.

Well -- so much for cultural relativity. In case we might overlook the fact that this story is really about something other than a destructive monster who is a man in a rubber suit, one of the scientists launches into an obiter dictum about how much he hopes no more nuclear bombs will be exploded so they can avoid more Gojiras.

It's a sobering movie.

the best kaiju film ever

[griffindouglas · 10/10 · 8 June 2006]

I thought that I was a Godzilla (Gojira) fan until I saw this film in the original Japanese. The U.S. re-edit, which was good, left out a whole section of the story and an entire anti-nuclear testing subtext. In the American version, Raymond Burr is obviously the main character, with a Japanese policeman as a kind of side kick which actually detracts much from the original story line without adding much except a (then) somewhat familiar American face to the cast.

The original storyline is much richer, with better interaction amongst the main characters, namely Professor Yamane, his daughter, Emiko, and her arranged fiancé Dr. Serizawa, as well as her true love interest, Salvage Officer Ogata. the above named characters have a much more fully developed relationship than in the heavily edited American version. One reason for the loss of story and subtext was the running time, 74 minutes in the U.S. and about 97 in the original Japanese.

Another element missing from the American version was the whole radiation angle, it was barely mentioned, almost as an afterthought, while in the original Japanese, it was a central and recurring theme. Even two films later in the Japanese version of KING KONG vs. GODZILLA, it is pointed out that Gojira is a true monster born of radiation.

This film is a very rewarding find if you watch it in the original Japanese, with subtitles of course. It is also the best of a long line of kaiju films that I've seen. All in all a very good film. If you must see it and cannot find the Japanese version, the American one does keep much of the epic scope of the original and is quite good in its own right, but the original, in my opinion, is far superior.

Its OK, but nothing to rave endlessly about...

[konky2000 · 6/10 · 17 May 2004]

The original version of Godzilla has finally been released in the USA. I just saw it last weekend at a movie theater in San Francisco. I was quite excited by the prospect of finally seeing the film in its uncut glory, but was just a tad bit underwhelmed by the experience.

Basically I would rank Godzilla with the short list of 1950s monster movies that are surprisingly watchable -- Them, Invasion of Body Snatchers, The Day the Earth Stood Still -- because they do a good job commenting on a current social malady.

Like many of the films of the era, though, Godzilla, even in its original language, is still filled with too many corny conversations and phony plot points to remain something that could be called a masterpiece of filmmaking as some here are suggesting it is. It will probably be better than what you are expecting from a Godzilla film, but remember, it still basically boils down to a guy in a monster suit stepping on miniature houses and knocking over toy trains. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but 'one of the greatest films ever made' this is not.

A Piece of Cinema History (and it Bored Me)

[brando647 · 5/10 · 16 August 2014]

After introducing myself to the Godzilla series with a couple of the crazy 90's films where he battled the likes of Mechagodzilla and Space Godzilla, I figured it was time I see where it all began: the 1954 Japanese film GOJIRA. I sat down to watch this movie expecting more of what I'd seen so far from other Godzilla films, including massive battles and melodramatic performances, except on a smaller budget. I couldn't have been more wrong. The original 1954 film not only carried itself with the utmost dignity but it also came with a message that resonated socially with the Japanese population following the end of World War II. It begins with the mysterious destruction of some Japanese fishing boats at sea. The Japanese are terrified and an investigation is started, led by lead scientist Dr. Yamane (Takashi Shimura). The case brings them to Odo Island where they first come face to face with the menace that is Gojira/Godzilla, a 160-ft. tall dinosaur beast infused with atomic radiation and an enormous thirst for destruction. When he begins to lumber his way to the capitol of Tokyo, the Japanese buckle down and muster what forces they can to defend themselves but nothing appears to faze him. Japan's only hope lies with Dr. Serizawa (Akihiko Hirata) and his research, if he can bring himself to share his terrifying new discovery with the world. And personally, I found myself let down by the whole thing so, Godzilla fans, please don't hate me.

It's not that I demand mindless monster battle action from a Godzilla film. I can see the franchise took a major detour at some point and veered into some weird territory by the time it got around to psychic space moths and giant transforming robots. I love that the original GOJIRA is a more deliberately paced story with a message to share with its audience. My problem is that the movie was just too boring. At 100 minutes, it's just too slow to keep my interest. Maybe it's because I grew up with modern Hollywood and it's screwed with my attention span, but I doubt it because there are plenty of other movies from that era that I can still enjoy. The limited budget is quaint and I've got no problem with the production value. We can see the strings on the planes and there are obvious differences between the man in the suit and the puppet used for close up shots of the monster. It's cool. I just wish the movie had moved along at a better pace. Everything is very tense and over dramatic, and everyone seems to speak with a glassy-eyed stare and a lowered voice to emphasize the weight of the situation. GOJIRA is not your average monster movie. It doesn't revel in the mindless destruction of the monster stomping through town. It mourns it and gives pause to consider what brought them to this point and how it should have been avoided. Don't misconstrue it to seem that I have a problem with the movie's message. I actually really respect it for that and, as a result, it's got more going for it than any of the previous Godzilla movie's I've seen.

But let's face it, if this wasn't the first movie of its kind (a Japanese giant monster movie), GOJIRA probably wouldn't be as fondly remembered as it is. I might respect it for what it is, but that doesn't make it an awesome movie. It plods along at a snail's pace and the film's pseudoscience is laughable (setting the precedent for all it's future sequels, I guess). Suspension of disbelief is an absolute must when you're talking about a giant mutant dinosaur with atomic breath but, come on, I'm pretty sure the film's "secret weapon" developed by Dr. Serizawa isn't fooling anyone. You don't have to be a chemist to see it and think to yourself, "You know, I don't think that's right." I don't know. It just reeks of laziness to take advantage of your audience's (at that time) assumed ignorance and come up with a "science-y" sounding name for a weapon to explain your deus ex machina plot device to wrap up your monster movie. You can't have it both ways. You can't be a super-serious metaphor for your nation's fear of atomic weapons while at the same time feeding us corny science schlock. Your vibes conflict and it helps to kill my interest. GOJIRA is mildly enjoyable to this modern viewer and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves the giant monster genre. It's got a massive fan base so obviously there's something I'm missing here. It's got some real strong performances from its cast, the themes are intriguing, and the retro effects are fun but it's just a real drag with a third act that fizzles.

A giant, radioactive behemoth rises from the ocean to wreak havoc on humanity!

[monster_1965 · 10/10 · 8 November 2005]

Well, this is the one that started it all. This is by far the most serious(and one of the best) of the Godzilla movies. Spoiler Alert: There will be spoilers ahead. A fishing ship mysteriously disappears, and then another one. Eventually, after several sightings, a giant, radioactive monster rises from Tokyo Bay and levels Tokyo. The monster is eventually killed by the Oxygen Destroyer, a weapon created by Dr. Serizawa. This movie succeeds in being entertaining and delivering a very serious message.The scenes where Godzilla is destroying Tokyo are very entertaining ( i couldn't take my eyes off of the screen) and very sad(at one point, there is a family in the wreckage of Tokyo, and the mother says something like"Hold on, children. We'll be with father soon."). Plus, we've also got the whole 'love triangle' thing going on, but it ends very sadly, with Dr. Serizawa ( he loved Emiko, but she loved Ogata) killing himself when he kills Godzilla with the 'oxygen destroyer'. Overall, Uber thumbs-up. Sure, some of the dialog is cheesy, and some of the special effects are... interesting, but it was made in 1954. A true classic.

More than just a man in a rubber suit

[sme_no_densetsu · 8/10 · 1 September 2009]

This is it; the original Japanese version of "Gojira" (aka "Godzilla"), the film that introduced the now-legendary movie monster. But does the movie have anything to offer besides a man in a rubber suit stomping all over a miniature version of Tokyo? I think so.

It isn't too surprising that the film is actually a thinly-veiled allegory for the threat of the escalating weapons race circa 1954. After all, other sci-fi films of the era covered similar ground. However, what I find interesting about this film is how it gives equal consideration to both sides of the argument.

The script does a good job of building suspense around the creature until we get to his inevitable rampage. From that point on I find that the action flags a little but that may be due in part to the sometimes unconvincing special effects. Then again, what do you expect from a 54 year old monster movie from Japan? The miniatures often look like miniatures and Godzilla is, after all, a guy in a rubber suit. Nevertheless, while the effects aren't even as convincing as 1933's "King Kong" I think that they still hold a certain charm.

The cast isn't bad and it does include Takashi Shimura of "Seven Samurai" fame. The acting didn't grab my attention much but, then again, I couldn't exactly catch every nuance while paying attention to the subtitles at the same time. Ishirô Honda's direction is solid and the Akira Ifukube score provides pretty good support to the action. I thought that the sound was a bit sub-par at times, though.

Ultimately, "Gojira" is worth watching despite its rudimentary special effects. In my mind, it's the underlying symbolism that makes the film special. By the way, forget about the American-ized version, "Godzilla, King of the Monsters"; it's a sometimes clumsy reworking that ignores most of the original film's complexity.

A Cult Classic Rises Up From Tokyo Bay

[gftbiloxi · 7/10 · 24 April 2005]

GODZILLA's chances for American distribution were nil until a savvy Hollywood company snapped up the rights, chopped out a chunk, and replaced the edited footage with new scenes starring Raymond Burr. The resulting film was a mix of bad acting, static cinematography, and expensive but essentially "B" level special effects--but when Godzilla stomped up from Tokyo Bay with the worst breath this side of Osaka, the American public took him to heart, and he's been a cult icon ever since.

In theory, the film is a serious and subtle commentary on the dangers of nuclear warfare--and it might actually read that way in the original Japanese version, which is not (unfortunately) widely available. In practice, at least where the American version is concerned, it doesn't quite work out that way. The Japanese and American scenes blend very badly; the Japanese cast either overplays or underplays to a ridiculous degree; and Raymond Burr is about as expressive as Mount Rushmore. What with fainting lab assistants, boiling fish, hysterical sailors, and Burr's clenched lips, "serious and subtle" don't stand a chance.

Then there's the monster. This was actually one of the most expensive films made in Japan up to that time--but even so, Japan was light years away from Hollywood when it came to special effects. Godzilla is very clearly a man in a rubber suit. Tokyo is very clearly a miniature set. But the surprising thing about this is that it's a darned good rubber suit and a darned good miniature set. And it proves extremely entertaining.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Wow, watching the Japanese version makes quite a bit of difference.

[Aaron1375 · 9/10 · 23 September 2006]

Yes, I have seen the rather cheesy Americanized version of this film with the obviously inserted Raymond Burr scenes and while you do get to see Godzilla crush Tokyo you miss most the the plot from the original Japanese version. The Japanese version is very well done and has a very good story, which for some reason we felt like changing. I don't know why, there really isn't any overtly anti-American messages to be found, rather a message against Japan's own nuclear testing and the dangers of said weapon to all people. So suffice to say this movie has a giant monster who comes out of the ocean, apparently a dinosaur that was entrapped in some underwater area where it remained undetected for millions of years...a nuclear test has not only released the beast it has horribly mutated it as well to a much bigger radioactive super beast. So scientist and military and politicians must now find a way to destroy the beast before it destroys all of Japan. The movie is very good and rather sad at the same time. The sweeping march on Tokyo is very well done as there is a rather good scene of a mother with her children surrounded by flames trying to comfort her kids by saying they will be with their father soon. Also a very good ending and very sad ending. It is also an ending in the Japanese version that warns that other Godzilla's may emerge and indeed they do as the next Godzilla to emerge would actually never be killed and end up being somewhat of a hero, kind of funny they did turn one of the most effective destructive monsters scarred by radiation into a hero, however I liked those Godzilla movies as well.

The First Appearance Of Godzilla

[AaronCapenBanner · 7/10 · 1 May 2014]

Ishiro Honda directed this groundbreaking, heavily influential and immensely popular film that sees Japan attacked for the first time by Godzilla, a gigantic prehistoric lizard who has reawakened mutated and angry after radiation exposure from the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan at the end of WWII. The Japanese military seems helpless to stop him, since all their weapons prove useless, until troubled Dr. Serizawa discovers the perfect weapon to destroy the monster...if he can bring himself to use it. Though the F/X are primitive by today's standards, the script is unusually adult and sober-minded, with effective direction and music.

First in a long-running(and disjointed) series that is still going today...

More than just another monster movie

[JermaineWarfare · 10/10 · 6 January 2005]

It's been fifty years since Ishiro Honda and the gang at Toho made the first Godzilla movie, and looking back on it, it's plain to see why this film has become more than just a cult sensation. It's mix of raw human emotion, fantastical story, and menacing precautionary messages help to deliver one of the silver screens greatest films. Akira Ifkube's foreboding score adds just the right amount of dark edge to Honda's masterpiece,as does Akihiko Hirata's performance as jaded scientist, Dr. Daisuke Serizawa. The suitmation and set designs used in this classic are superb as well, giving a certain level of realism missing from many later monster films. And, of course, veteran actor Takashi Shimura exceeds all expectations as Dr. Yamane.

Looking back on this film, taken in it's entirety and without the added American scenes, Godzilla (Gojira) truly is a film that will last the ages.

Not your typical monster movie.

[kbunck · 7/10 · 9 May 2011]

To me it seems quite obvious that "Gojira" is not just another monster movie; created in Japan, not a decade after the dropping of Nuclear Bombs on the cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, "Gojira" serves as an allegory for the suffering of the Japanese people. The scene opens onto a fishing boat that strays to close to a nuclear testing site, reminiscent of the "Lucky Dragon No. 5", the blast which sinks the ship also awakens the feared "Gojira". "Gojira" a feared beast with rock-like skin, likened to the texture of radiation burns, with the ability to shoot radioactive fire from his mouth and whose footsteps leave radioactive fallout in his wake, seems the perfect living depiction of a Nuclear Bomb. The first shot, of that unfortunate ship is believed to be a reminder of the Lucky Dragon No. 5, a ship that when fishing for Tuna, and instead was delivered a heavy dose of radiation from testing done by the U.S Military on Marshall Islands. The ship, well outside the radius was hit with radioactive fallout when the tested atomic bomb was more powerful than the U.S military realized. As with those in the film, who died as the ship sank, the crew of Lucky Dragon No. 5, obtained radiation poisoning and died quickly. This same atomic testing that killed the crew of the ship, is also attributed with awakening "Gojira", a menacing beast that attacks Japan in the same manner as that of an atomic bomb. Unlike an atomic bomb, the Japanese in "Gojira", find a way to stop the monster, with a fictional "Oxygen-destroyer", thought this may seem the typical happy Hollywood ending the fact that "Gojira", the allegorical Atomic bomb (and in some sense the U.S military), was destroyed, shows the true feelings of the Japanese people. The Japanese mindset is one that believes, what's done is done, and instead of dwelling in the past, the Japanese should work toward the future, the very fact that "Gojira" was so popular, helps the outside world realize that even though the Japanese may not mention it, the atomic bombings are always on their minds.

Proudly stands beside other great Japanese cinema of this period.

[Snufkin · 10/10 · 27 January 2002]

I can't add much beyond what other people have said, other than to mention that while Gojira certainly is the best of the godzilla films, and probably the best Kaiju film, it is also worthwhile (and just) to consider it outside of those confines. If you watch a lot of Japanese cinema from this period, you will find Gojira compares very favorably even with the incredible works of Kurosawa at this time. While other monster films (including all the rest of the Godzilla films) are at best B films and at worst nothing but camp, Gojira can be watched at a classic, a wonderful allegorical tale with enough emotion, philosophy and stark terror for two movies. The raw, grainy black and white images of the destruction of Tokyo are as effective as they must have been when they first aired in Japanese theatres. Why this film has not been treated as a classic and never brought over in its original, unedited form remains a mystery to me. This film is no less poignant than Fire on the Plain in dealing with the war related horrors that Japan was to undergo, and its as visually stunning as your going to get from this period.

interesting background to film

[xtina09 · 6/10 · 7 May 2011]

Gojiro, the original Godzilla film of the 1950's, is a creative film for its time and has an interesting background that contributed to the storyline and appeal of the film. Being someone who was unfamiliar with the original version, the only knowledge I had before seeing this film was of the later remakes of the film (made in America). Gojira is definitely not what I expected and that is a good thing. It is more serious than the American version and after learning a little bit about the films historical context, I found that I was able to appreciate it more. The film was released in 1954 which was less than a decade after World War II. The United States ended the war after dropping the atomic bomb over Hiroshima. Throughout that time the United States also spent a lot of time and energy on hydrogen bomb testing. Japan was greatly affected by both of these events and the film really captures a lot about it. Gojira is a monster that lived in the ocean and is awakened because of radiation due to hydrogen bomb testing and brings horror to the cities of Japan. The monster first terrorizes people who are on boats in the ocean but then it finally reveals itself emerging from the ocean. Gojira attacks the cities with radioactive/fire breathing powers and basically destroys everything it comes in contact with. However, Gojira is not just about a monster that destroys cities, but also focuses on the characters of the film and the relationships they hold with one another. This original film gives the audience a real message and analogies that tie to the historical context which is something that the film analysis Gojira vs. Godzilla – Catastrophic Allegories by Aaron Kerner goes into more detail with. Gojira really gives the audience something that cannot be matched with any later versions that attempt to remake this film.

Gojira!!!

[parkermenn · 5/10 · 3 March 2011]

We watched the original Japanese Godzilla film made in 1954. I thought it was pretty entertaining. Compared to present day special effects the scenes with Godzilla wreaking havoc seem pretty cheesy. Although at the time of its release I'm sure they were impressive. I wish they could have figured out a way to make his fire breathing more realistic looking. It looked like he blew steam on things and then they would suddenly combust into raging fires. One of those scenes I did like and I think the filmmakers knew had made a good looking shot because it was extended for quite a while. It was during the attack on Tokyo after Godzilla has made his initial breakthrough at the coast and inflicted tons of damage in his path. It is a very long shot. Intact buildings are in the foreground. Seemingly small from a distance Godzilla looms over the buildings in front of him while behind him there is a "sea of flames" as they reporters say in the movie. The other thing I liked about the movie was the plot and explanation of how Godzilla came to be and why is it now that this million year old specie emerges. Previously the only Godzilla movie I had seen was the American made 1998 version with Matthew Broderick. If I remember correctly that movie did not offer any scientific explanation for why or how Godzilla came to be. In the original much of the content early in the movie was devoted to scientific research and explanation which to me seemed to make the whole scenario at least somewhat plausible. Anytime you can add believability to a story, it creates a more realistic and involved experience for the audience. In the case of the original Godzilla I would consider the movie to be less of a monster movie and more of a sci-fi movie. In sci-fi movies a plot that is credible has a more profound impact on the audience.