No, I just don't subscribe to the crowd of people who refer to him as "GINO" (even if it is an accurate description). I was only 7 or 8 years old when that movie came out, and I was seemingly the only person in the world who wasn't absolutely pissed about it. To be honest I never liked anything Godzilla related until that movie came out (the old Hanna Barbara cartoon was just too boring for me). Most older Godzilla films I've seen that come out of Japan are, well, not to insult die hard fans but to simply put it I never enjoyed them. The production of some of those films was more crude than an old episode of Doctor Who, and I never understood the deal with Mothra and those two tiny ladies (or any of that other weird Japanese shit that happened, and would continue to happen in freaking anime. I kind of hate Japan's modern weird ass culture for some reason. Either I'm racist, or Japan is fucked up).
More important was the sequel cartoon of the '98 film, about the surviving "Zilla" seen at the end of the film (just before Puff Daddy and Jimmy Page ruined Led Zeppelin forever). The cartoon show was way better than the movie, and kicked the shit out of that old boring ass Hanna Barbara cartoon and it's corny ass Godzuki bullshit. It's funny I say that because it was like the old cartoon, but I think the newer cartoon was far more exciting and interesting (and it didn't have Godzuki, and a stupid idiot child). It remains one of my most cherished childhood memories, next to the '97 reruns of Robotech.
But yea, the '98 movie doesn't live up to the original at all, and has a lot of problems. I guess they were trying to be campy instead of being a dark brooding anti-war infested thriller (it would have been nice to see Matthew Broderick finally kill himself). Between the giant gaps of logic, bad dialogue, and ripping off the eggs from Aliens and the Velociraptors from Jurassic Park (Oh god forbid!) it comes off as a mediocre movie, trying to hide CGI mistakes with constant rain.
If you've never watched the 1954 film Them! then I highly suggest that you do. It's an American film that came out the same year as Godzilla did. It's about giant ants caused by nuclear radiation. A team of scientists that are familiar with ant behavior are assembled, and they have to track down the nests of the killer ants before they could take over the world. If that sounds familiar than it should, because it sounds exactly like the last half of the '98 Godzilla movie. Instead of properly paying homage to the original Godzilla, I think the people making that movie decided to try pay some subtle tribute (or rip off) a similar classic from back in the day.
I always liked the sleek '98 Godzilla design better than the old fat ass rubber suit design. It's a shame that it will never be put to better use. I still got some of my action figures made by Trendmasters from back in the day.
P.S. Jean Reno's acting career was unjustly destroyed by that film. I've only seen him do one shitty film since then, and that was DA DAVINCHI CODE OF CHRIST OOOOOOooOOOoooOOooooooo
Some movies just don't hold up well with time and the old Godzilla (and even more recent ones) are just plain terrible all together. Want a good laugh? Watch the DVD "Godzilla vs Megaguirus" that came out in 2000. They failed to edit the strings in several scenes with Megaguirus... oh it just looks BAD! A few things don't hold up due to translation but a bad script, terrible sets and bad directing certainly can't be hidden on the big screen regardless of where a movie comes from to be sure. A lot of people (myself included) I think become attached to the "idea of something" and it blurs the lines of what's actually there, a fanboy to be sure. I've walked out of movies conflicted because I wanted to like the movie even though I knew it was just terrible. That cartoon of the 70's is a great example. I grew up with it and I didn't like it then. I was always waiting for the moment Godzilla would turn on them and smash the boat.
With Godzilla 98 I went in with the wrong mindset. I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have if they had released what he looked like before the release of the movie and I went in thinking of the classic design only cgi. His running from the military irked me, his getting wounded by gunfire disappointed me and it getting stuck on the damn bridge... well I wanted to see the unstoppable force that was the Godzilla I knew as a kid. I wanted to see the ego that is our modern military shatter against the side of his hide like a glass bottle christening a boat. I so desperately wanted to see the force of nature that mankind is helpless against, a tornado, tsunami, hurricane, avalanche, earthquake take form as if mother nature herself said "ENOUGH" and had it walk through the best the military had to throw at it. I suppose that's the mindset I have with Godzilla, that force of nature that makes you feel small and powerless.
I did go a second time and went in the theater with an open mind and I enjoyed the movie a whole lot more. I was surprised how much I had actually missed because the first time my mind was so caught up in that moment of "What the hell?" it had just ruined the movie to me. I had to watch it again last night just because of all the sdcc stuff that came pouring in the last few days inspired me to want to watch a modern take of Godzilla. The CGI was IMO very well done and I can't wait to see what 2014 does for the franchise both to the old fans and new.
I think the new film will have something for everyone. Modern effects with a nod to the original, a story in modern times again with a nod to the original... something I've wanted for a very long time. A true remake this is what really has me excited.
I'm not a fan of the Godzilla VS Anything really. Pretty much everything from 1960 to 1980 didn't happen and many later as well. I liked the original movie for what it was Godzilla vs humanity, so the hardest part for me of the 2014 is the inclusion of other monsters. I'm hoping its done in the manner that of course with G wouldn't be the only creation by nuclear energy but he is by far the biggest threat. I really like the idea of him contaminating everything as he passes... so not just the physical destruction but with the radiation fall out as well.
So my favorite Godzilla films are pretty much these
1954- Godzilla
1984- Godzilla 1985
2002- Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla
1999- Godzilla 2000 (mostly because of Rob Zombies "Superbeast" made a good trailer)
And I agree "THEM" has inspired many shows and movie's. It was one of the first movies I'd seen as a kid too!
My favorite Jean Reno film to date is the terrible (yet hilarious) "Just Visiting/Les Visiteurs" the urinal puck scene has to be my favorite, I still can't take a piss in public without that scene coming to mind.
They did spin the 98 movie into a pretty decent late 90s cartoon which had a whole bunch of monsters, aliens cause shit etc. Well I liked that cartoon anyway.
THEM! is a fun monster film, that and the re-release of King Kong along with 1953's The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms pretty much influenced Godzilla. Or at least that's my understanding of it.
Your sig is hilarious, when I did that part of the game it was one of those put down the controller and say what? moments