Happy Wednesday everybody! I’m going to hit two birds with one stone today in combining two post *series* in one. I’m just afraid I’ll miss doing a community-building post this month, but I want to pick your brain on the topic of the week: Big Monster 😀
Ok, so let’s start with some of my favorite posts from the past couple of weeks:
- Apparently Chris never cries at movies, but these nine films almost made him tear up.
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What is Jack Bauer doing in Pompeii?? Mark reviewed Pompeii which I had a feeling is NOT worth your while.
… - One of my favorite Blog Series ever is Michael’s TMT (a Theatre… a Movie… and a Time). Check out his latest story on Escape from New York
… - On the TV front, Sidekick Reviews posted some thoughts on the latest Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season Finale: Beginning of the End
… - Speaking of TV, Nostra discovered this TV Miniseries A Young Doctor’s Notebook I’ve never heard before, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Jon Hamm
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I always like learning something new and from this week, Cindy posted about book/poster illustrators the great Hildebrandt Brothers
…- Natalie posted about The Derby Film Festival in Derbyshire, UK coming up later this month. It’s always great to participate in a local film event!
… - Last but not least, Brittani just spearheaded yet another blogathon on Favorite Movie Titles A-Z. I LOVE this idea! I can’t participate next week because of my Europe trip, so mine would be posted later in June when I return.
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Now for Question of the Week!
Well, it’s inspired by my first ever viewing of a Godzilla movie last night. Yep, I’ve NEVER seen any previous Godzilla movie before, not the Japanese nor the US versions. I don’t know, I guess I’m just generally not a fan of monster movies, though of course I made an exception once in a while and in the case of Pacific Rim, I actually LOVED every minute of it! This latest Godzilla movie is not bad, it’s entertaining though it started too slow in the beginning and the human drama is pretty run of the mill, I’d even say corny with cookie-cutter characters that wasted the talents of the great ensemble cast! I don’t know when I’ll get around to do a proper review but I’d say it’s more of a 3/5 movie for me, maybe 3.5 if I’m feeling generous. Certainly the special effects are fantastic though, I saw clips of even the 1998 version and it seems light years behind compared to this! I think the earlier versions are more fun to watch for pure nostalgia value as the effects are hilarious!
So my question to you is two-fold:
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
Thanks for mentioning my post. Had not heard of the show either, but got sent a review copy. It is also available on the Dutch Netflix, so might be on the American one as well. I forgot to mention it, but there apparently also is a second season (which I will probably check out eventually as well).
Am going to see Godzilla tomorrow and although I have seen the previous Godzilla movie I am not very invested in the franchise, still interested in finding out what this one is like. As for favorite big monster movie I have to mention Pacific Rim, but also thought of Cloverfield even though you don’t see the monster that much.
I hope it’s available on streaming as that’s the only Netflix I have. Sounds interesting enough.
Curious to hear what you think about Godzilla but to me it’s not as entertaining overall as Pacific Rim which has a lot of humor. They made this way too serious!
Good question, Ruth. Thinking back, I’m not sure I’ve seen too many BIG monster movies. I also loved Pacific Rim… I might say Tremors, although it’s not particularly scary and really more corny than anything. Hmmmm… I’m gonna go way way back with a possible dark horse pick and say 1954’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”.
Hello Gene! Glad you loved Pac Rim too. Tremors is not scary at all, it’s campy fun which was enjoyable. Oooh I haven’t seen 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea yet, sounds like a good one!
Have you seen the Korean film ‘The Host’? It’s an amazing big monster movie. I’m seeing Godzilla tomorrow, it sounds ok
Yo Mikey! No I haven’t but monster movies aren’t really my thing, ahah.
I second MikeB’s recommendation of The Host. Not to be confused with the Stephanie Meyer movie from 2013 (Twilight Saga). It is South Korea’s all-time highest grossing film. Oddly Scott Wilson (aka Hershel Greene from The Walking Dead, series) has a cameo in it. How good is it? My best recommendation I can give is that I own it on DVD.The trailer below doesn’t convey the humor woven into a movie that is genuinely thrilling . Not only the best monster movie in 2006 but one of the best movies of 2006. 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 85% on Metacritic.
Thanks for mentioning me Ruth. My favourite monster movie is Tremors! I also love The Fly but that’s not really the same type of monster movie. If we’re talking huge, colossal lizards then I’d have to go with Cloverfield, I still love that movie.
Hi Natalie! Tremors is good campy fun wasn’t I? Oh right, The Fly! I was terrified by that but it’s also very sad story. I haven’t seen Cloverfield yet but I don’t do well w/ shaky cam style.
Hi, Ruth:
There is only one answer, from my point of view.
GODZILLA! The original with some creative editing, appropriately bad dubbing and ,Raymond Burr. Tailor made for “guys in rubber suits”, huge balsa wood sets depicting downtown Tokyo. And some exceptional use of F-86 and F-104 model fighters. Matchbox and Corgi tanks, trucks and armored personnel carriers
Second would be the amazingly cheezy, ridiculously puppet propped and modeled, The Giant Claw!”. That’s “as big as a battleship!”. Unintentionally sequeled with Larry Cohen’s 1970s smalled budgeted, Chicago based Q .
Not a big fan of contemporary CGI big bad monsters. Which have proven to be neither big. or bad.
Ahah, well I think the original probably have more charm that no amount of CGI can substitute.
Not sure if I’ll go see Godzilla, it looks way too serious for its own good. And I still can’t get the memory of the awful awful awful 1998 version out of my head. Generally I’m not into movie monster movies, I enjoyed the early Godzilla movies but there were mostly cheesy and fun. So I don’t have a favorite but like Mike mentioned above The Host was pretty good and also a little seen film from the late 90s called The Relic, wasn’t anything special but pretty enjoyable. Also, do any of the Alien movies count? They do contain a giant monster(s). If so, then I’ll go with Alien and Aliens as the best ones in that genre.
Y’know what Ted, it IS too serious for its own good! For the life of me I don’t know why they do it this way, I mean, the best disaster movie is the humorous kind like Independence Day. Oh I remember seeing The Relic! It’s at a museum right, w/ Penelope Ann Miller? I quite enjoyed that one! Yeah I suppose Alien counts 🙂
That’s what I’m afraid of, certain character works well as a serious story, like Nolan’s Batman films but if it’s a monster character, I just can’t/won’t take it seriously. Even though I wasn’t a fan of Pacific Rim, it didn’t try to be super serious. I just watched the behind the scenes of the new Godzilla and everyone involved in the making the movie said they want a “realistic” take on the monster, I just rolled my eyes. It’s a rental for me.
Yep that’s The Relic, I thought it’s a creepy monster movie. Also, another monster film from the 90s that I liked, it’s call Split Second. It’s set in futuristic London and starred Rutger Hauer.
I wouldn’t call myself a big fan of the genre or anything, but I do find them entertaining at times. One of my favorites would actually probably be Cloverfield, honestly. Looking forward to the new Godzilla!!
Hi Chris! I’ve mentioned that I’m not interested in Cloverfield as I don’t like shaky cam style, it gives me a headache!
Thank you again for linking me. As far as monster movies go, I’ve never been a huge fan of them, but I’m so excited to see Godzilla. Cloverfield was a good one too.
You’re welcome! I’m looking forward to doing your blogathon as soon as i get the chance! I hope you enjoy Godzilla 🙂
I’m honored you mentioned my post, Ruth. You’re so generous :-). I’d have to say the original Japanese version of Godzilla (1954) remains my favorite. Although, I first experienced it as those my age did as a kid, with Godzilla, King of the Monsters! The 1956 re-edited, Raymond Burr version. Caught it on TV during the 60s when it played on the Saturday afternoon monster flick programs of the day.
It’d take decades before I’d get to watch Ishirō Honda’s stellar film. In fact, the TCM Film Festival last month screened its 60th remastered print to a packed house at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The film remains quite powerful, even decades later. For some reason, I’ve always connected more with this than King Kong (in whatever version). I’m quite fond of Them! (also from ’54), and I’d have to say Tremors (1990) is near and dear to my heart.
Great post, Ruth, many thanks 🙂
My pleasure! I might rent the original when I get the chance, just to see how it’s become such an iconic monster movie.
Oh yeah, I saw on Twitter that TCM Film Fest was showing the original Godzilla, that’s very cool. Wow, Tremors is quite a popular answer here, glad I’ve seen that one last year 😀
Thanks for the sound-bite, Ruth! Let’s see…favorite monster…Medusa and the KRAKEN from Clash of the Titans. 🙂
Ahah yeah, Release the Kraken!!! That always makes me laugh, esp in the later version w/ Liam Neeson as Zeus 🙂
LOL me, too. 🙂
Fantastic double-header Ruth@! Man do I have much to catch up on. . . 😮
I am SO looking forward to Godzilla, I think I might be more partial to it cuz I like epic films. The monster aspect hasn’t sold me on it so much as the way they are packaging the new Godzilla. I do appreciate monster movies, though. i just don’t really watch them frequently. Pacific Rim was pretty fun, I agree. 🙂
And you’re right, I really need to get into the old ones just on the basis that the special FX are hilarious! lol!
Hello there Tom! Well, the scope of Godzilla is quite epic, I mean the special effects is absolutely fantastic, if only the human drama is up to par. I think they should’ve made it more cheeky, I mean it took itself way too serious.
I haven’t seen a lot of monster movies but one that I will say that I’ve seen and enjoyed is the original King Kong. I also like Pacific Rim which I think deserves to be mentioned. The less said about the 1998 Godzilla movie, the better. I still want to put a fatwa on P. Diddy for ruining Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir”.
Hi Steven! Oh right, King Kong. I think as a monster, it’s certainly the most emotional one in terms of its human connection with Ann Darrow. Ahah, well glad I didn’t see the 1998 Godzilla then.
Gotta be a tie between Gojira and King Kong (1933) for me. Great post, Ruth! 🙂
Very cool Victor, thanks for stopping by!
Thanks so much the link!! I actually never seen a Godzilla movie, except for some bits and pieces on TV, so the new one will be my first. The trailers have me pretty excited for it and I’m big fan of Bryan Cranston from Breaking Bad. I wish I saw Pacific Rim in the theatres, I think I would have liked it more, still a fun movie though.
My pleasure! Hey, so we both never saw Godzilla either, eh? Well I’m curious what you think of this one. I do love Pac Rim a lot, saw it on the big screen twice! 🙂
I enjoyed the old Japanese Godzilla movies, especially when I was young. But they are super-cheesy!
I was very hyped to see this new one, especially on how much I enjoyed Pacific Rim last year. But I have to say I was very disappointed with this one. Give me the old cheesy Godzillas anyday!
Hi Asrap, I think the cheesy-ness is part of the charm of the original Godzilla, ha..ha.. I definitely loved Pac Rim a whole lot more than this Godzilla movie, I mean it’s just so serious it saps all the fun out of it.
I’m not a fan of big monster movies but I’m fan of small movies with super awesome monster – like Alien 🙂 All the effects and big epic scenes usually make the monster less scary – yeah she can destroy cities, but I never found Godzilla as frightening as Alien
Hi Sati! Oh yeah absolutely Alien is far scarier than Godzilla. Heck I think even the smaller t-rex in Jurassic Park is scarier, ahah. I wish they made this 2014 more fun but they took it way too seriously.
Pacific Rim was good fun, but I think my favorite big monster movie is Cloverfield. Been quite a few years since I saw that though.
I’d rewatch Pac Rim any day, but this Godzilla one, not so much. Haven’t seen Cloverfield but I’m not a fan of shaky cam style.
Not a fan of big monster movies, but I want to see Godzilla because of the buzz. Plus I think it could be a fun experience. I think the two post series fit together well, by the way! 😀
Hi Elina! Well the buzz surely is monstrous, but to me it’s not as fun as Pacific Rim as it’s so darn serious.
Hey thanks! 🙂
Monster movies are not my thing as well. I mean I will watch them but they don’t get me super excited. 🙂
Hi Melissa! Yeah me neither. I actually thought the trailer for Pac Rim was laughable but I ended up loving the movie though.
Nope, not the biggest fan of monster movies, and trying to think of a favorite, I’m drawing a blank. I can only think of Godzilla (loved the 1998 version as a kid but I don’t think I’d like it now; the new version was so boring) and Pacific Rim, which I didn’t like either.
Hi Fernando. I didn’t see the 98 version of Godzilla but looking at the trailer, I’m glad I didn’t, ahah. Too bad you didn’t like Pac Rim, I was surprised how much I enjoyed that one.
I am going to go with something a bit different and pick Graboids from the Tremors films 😀
Ahah yeah I enjoyed Tremors too, more than this Godzilla in fact as it was hilarious.
So funny, even the sequels were pretty good 😀
I haven’t seen the sequels yet, were the original cast back? That’d be the only reason for me to see ’em.
Most of them, well who didn’t die 😀
Nice short review on Godzilla 🙂
I am planning to see it just for the fun of it, hope I can find the time. People are saying this one is better than the previous version.
I don’t have favorite monster movies…yet, unless Pacific Rim considered as Monster movies.
Os. you inspired my new Indonesia Banget post 😉
Though I haven’t seen the 98 version I believe this one is better but I still think it could’ve been more fun. I don’t know why they took movies like this way too seriously. And yeah Pac Rim counts, that’s MY fave monster movie so far 🙂
You haven’t seen the 98 one? wow!! It’s a common rerun blockbuster movies here 😉
I like all three versions of King Kong but the first was the best. Do you know “Them!”, the giant ant movie from the 50s featuring Santa Claus as scientist? Ed Gwen from Miracle on 34th Street. I liked Cloverfield but the shaky cam gave me nausea and a headache so I never went back. My Godzilla post will be up in the morning, I generally liked it, popcorn tastes great with a giant monster movie.
“popcorn tastes great with a giant monster movie” Ahah well that could very well be true. I’ll check out your review when I get the chance, Richard.
Thanks so much for sharing my post Ruth! 🙂
As for my favourite big monster film, I’ve not seen loads but I absolutely loved Pacific Rim, that was huge amounts of fun. Quite looking forward to checking out Godzilla though!
Hi Chris! Yay, glad we’re both Pac Rim fans. I think the new Godzilla is just ok, it’d be more enjoyable if they didn’t take itself too seriously. Curious to hear what you think.
I love me some monsters! I loved Them (1954) (giant ants) while The Host and the original Godzilla are fantastic. I also remember loving Cloverfield.
I am pretty much in agreement with you on the new Godzilla Ruth except that I enjoyed the slower pace. A shame the characters were so standard, really. I grew up watching monster films on TV, have always enjoyed them. I think it’s another vote from me for Tremors (and also the similar Eight Legged Freaks), but I also like the original Godzilla and King Kong movies and pretty much anything Ray Harryhausen was involved with! Not sure if Alien and Jaws qualify but they’re pretty hard to top, too.
I’m kind of indifferent to monster movies, but I’m really looking forward to the new Godzilla. It’s Binoche in a blockbuster, after all! 😀
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