So, um, did you ever think a Godzilla movie would make you tear up? Because there is something surprisingly powerful about the first trailer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters, screened at San Diego Comic-Con. Which is to say, they are going old school, tapping into the deep roots of Godzilla’s character as the hand of nature when humans take things too far.
But not just Godzilla—there’s Mothra, too, and Rodan, and King Ghidorah. This trailer is the real deal.
The official synopsis, from Warner Bros:
Following the global success of Godzilla and Kong: Skull Island comes the next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ cinematic MonsterVerse, an epic action adventure that pits Godzilla against some of the most popular monsters in pop culture history. The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters will be unearthed May 31, 2019.
“So, um, did you ever think a Godzilla movie would make you tear up?”
The 1954 original is one of the most powerful, dramatic, and moving monster films ever made, an often-wrenching allegory on the impact of weapons of mass destruction. There’s also some pretty emotional stuff in Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (aka GMK) from 2001.
I thought all the kaiju looked impressive here, but that shot of Mothra’s wings unfurling was stunningly beautiful. That’s very encouraging. Mothra has always been portrayed as a goddess, a figure of worship whose power is essentially benevolent but not necessarily safe for those in her path. That shot suggested this film may succeed in portraying Mothra as something truly sublime and transcendent in a way we’ve never seen before (though GMK came close).
I just hope the character work this time is closer to the richness of Kong: Skull Island than the blandness of the 2014 Godzilla.
Damn. I guess that means no Ebirah or Gezora appearances in this movie then? I really wanted to see a giant lobster-giant cuttlefish showdown too.
Okay, despite appearances of soldiers I’m mildly optimistic. Could do with some more technicolor though.
We must put our faith in Lord Caesar.
I’m hopeful for this. If we can have Godzilla in our Godzilla movie (or really any actual monsters instead of random noodling cutaways to the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and their child), I’ll be happy. The one thing I do find curious is the recurring image of Godzilla spearheading military assaults. It’s still weird to see that. It misses the point of Godzilla.
@3 Maybe it is the Mechagodzilla in disguise, before having its technorganic coating ripped off by the real Big G.
@3/usakar: Godzilla has been portrayed in various different ways over the decades. In the original film, he was an allegorical force of nuclear destruction, while in the second, he was portrayed more as a natural disaster. In his third and fourth appearances, he was the special guest villain battling the hero monster. (King Kong vs. Godzilla and Mothra vs. Godzilla are essentially the same story, though MvG does it so very much better.) After that, they started to turn Godzilla around into more of a protagonist by having him join Mothra and Rodan in defending his territory (Earth) from alien invaders. And from there, he evolved into a straight-up superhero and protector of humanity (influenced by the Gamera series running at the same time, even though Gamera was a blatant Godzilla knockoff from the start). Then they rebooted in 1984 and Godzilla became a threat to humanity again, but later films went back and forth with some painting him more sympathetically than others. Sometimes he was the primary threat that other, more heroic kaiju (or mecha) battled against, and sometimes he was the lesser of two evils, the defender of the Earth against a greater threat.
The Legendary continuity seems to be borrowing from the ’90s Gamera reboot trilogy in portraying Godzilla as the protector of the Earth’s balance against kaiju that threaten it — or potentially humanity if we become too great a threat to the Earth.
@5
That was the best Godzilla era, I want to see more of that.
“Clair de Lune” in a Godzilla trailer?
I’ll never be able to listen to Debussy again without thinking of kaiju.
Why doesn’t Godzilla dance anymore? Remember the Godtusi?
Godzilla victory dance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgR15lbADhw
Those were the days.
Haha, I’m glad somebody got that reference. Thanks.
The synopsis actually contradicts of what is said in the trailer.
Kong: Skull Island was a pleasant surprise, and if the trailer can be believed, this one has a lot of promise. I look forward to seeing this!
I met Jason Liles a few years ago and he is genuinely the nicest guy ever. I am happy that he is achieving such success.
Please forgive me for rooting for Team Ghidorah this time.
The use of Clair de Lune and someone saying “Ya outta ya goddamn mind” is an unintended and hilarious callback to Ocean’s 11.
Also, what a trailer.
I cannot wait to see this one. I enjoyed 2014’s film, but this one appears to have improved the cast and achieved greater atmosphere and higher stakes.
I have to admit it looks stunning! The Mothra shot easily justifies seeing it in theatres.
I was wondering if that was mandra in the ice,
@17/T: The one frozen in ice is King Ghidorah, as you can tell from the multiple heads. I take it you’re referring to Manda, the sea dragon from Atragon and Destroy All Monsters.