Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 09:01:03 -0700 From: John Gravener <[log in to unmask]> X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.05 [en] (WinNT; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Godzilla (bring back the rubber suit) Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="------------61EB385E2B9A4529A2955274" --------------61EB385E2B9A4529A2955274 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit This post will not give away the entire plot (as if there was much to give), however, if you don't want to chance it, please avert your eyes. Anyway, I would like to bring up several issues with the new Godzilla film in hopes that some of you will chime in with your opinions. 1. The film uses French atomic testing as its scapegoat. What are the implications of steering atomic mutations away from Americans and other countries who tested in the South Pacific? Like the extremely jingoistic film INDEPENDENCE DAY, this film turns into a patriotic diatribe. 2. The original godzilla was a tool to protest atomic weapons on a universal plane,, and in a sense this film does as well. But this film clearly does not turn into the voice against American Imperialism that the later Japanese films did (not all of them, mind you). In fact, this film goes so far as to suggest (in a subliminal way) that only Americans can destroy the beast. Do a camparison with the original films and this one, the tone would seem to suggest that in the prior films the Japanese were inept while the Americans are the ones you're gonna call when you want the job done right. 3. This film is full of pop-cultural references: several members from The Simpsons cast have parts, the mayor of NYC looks like Roger Ebert and his assistant's name is Gene (they do several thumbs-up signs through the film), just name a couple. Although this does not approach the sheer campiness that the later Godzilla films exhibited, it is clear that this film tries to be something for some people. 4. What are the pros and cons of the design of the new Godzilla? I ring in with a "Hated it!" This film ends up looking nothing more than a rehash of Jurrasic Park and The Lost World. I lament the overuse of computer generation. The older films had that certain je ne sais quois to them, an element that this one does not have. 5. Is Matthew Broderick forever to be playing Ferris Bueller? Just some thoughts. I do not even suppose that I have definitive answers. I hope that others will present other questions. We are at the dawning of the Summer blockbusters, and it looks like there are to be a few more effect laden films in the coming (Don't even get me started about Deep Impact). john --------------61EB385E2B9A4529A2955274 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit <HTML> This post will not give away the entire plot (as if there was much to give), however, if you don't want to chance it, please avert your eyes. Anyway, I would like to bring up several issues with the new Godzilla film in hopes that some of you will chime in with your opinions. <P>1. The film uses French atomic testing as its scapegoat. What are the implications of steering atomic mutations away from Americans and other countries who tested in the South Pacific? Like the extremely jingoistic film INDEPENDENCE DAY, this film turns into a patriotic diatribe. <P>2. The original godzilla was a tool to protest atomic weapons on a universal plane,, and in a sense this film does as well. But this film clearly does not turn into the voice against American Imperialism that the later Japanese films did (not all of them, mind you). In fact, this film goes so far as to suggest (in a subliminal way) that only Americans can destroy the beast. Do a camparison with the original films and this one, the tone would seem to suggest that in the prior films the Japanese were inept while the Americans are the ones you're gonna call when you want the job done right. <P>3. This film is full of pop-cultural references: several members from <I>The Simpsons</I> cast have parts, the mayor of NYC looks like Roger Ebert and his assistant's name is Gene (they do several thumbs-up signs through the film), just name a couple. Although this does not approach the sheer campiness that the later Godzilla films exhibited, it is clear that this film tries to be something for some people. <P>4. What are the pros and cons of the design of the new Godzilla? I ring in with a "Hated it!" This film ends up looking nothing more than a rehash of <I>Jurrasic Park</I> and<I> The Lost World</I>. I lament the overuse of computer generation. The older films had that certain je ne sais quois to them, an element that this one does not have. <P>5. Is Matthew Broderick forever to be playing Ferris Bueller? <P>Just some thoughts. I do not even suppose that I have definitive answers. I hope that others will present other questions. We are at the dawning of the Summer blockbusters, and it looks like there are to be a few more effect laden films in the coming (Don't even get me started about <I>Deep Impact</I>). <P>john</HTML> --------------61EB385E2B9A4529A2955274--