I finally watched Gojira and all I can say is, WOW - what a revelation!

The American Godzilla was always one of my favorite giant monster movies but the original version really brings it to another level. It's one of the few movies of this type that even attempts to confront the human misery brought on by this horrifying attack. And it does so in a way that really hits home. Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but I think this film is in an entirely different class from any other Godzilla / Kaiju film that I've seen.

You get a sense of how the people of Japan might have felt in the wake of the atomic bombs. That their experience is far deeper than merely being victim of an overpowering wartime attack - that the Gods themselves are raining their anger down on Japan and the power of creation itself is being unleashed against them. And if they have any hope of defending themselves, they must create a weapon even more powerful, destructive and horrifying - a device that destroys the very element that the human race depends on most for survival.

As for the print quality on the new DVD, I don't mind it at all. For me, this film is enhanced by all the specks, scratches, grain and overly dark scenes. It feels more real - more like a historical artifact than a science fiction movie. It's like a news reel beamed to us from another world - and it's incredibly chilling because of that.



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