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Sep 30 05 5:28 PM
Burgomaster
Sep 30 05 6:04 PM
Oct 2 05 11:22 AM
Oct 2 05 4:41 PM
Oct 2 05 5:22 PM
Quote:I've not seen the Japanese version but the american cut is just fine with me.
Jun 18 09 9:49 PM
Jun 18 09 10:47 PM
As a result, what the film least needed was an American striding around doing his rugged individualism routine and mouthing such lines as, "I'm afraid my Japanese is a little rusty." Indeed. Maybe, Raymond Burr was the real monster in Godzilla: King of the Monsters! His only virtue, as far as I can tell, is that he helped to build up enough good will for the Godzilla films that there would inevitably be a market for this wonderful and long overdue re-release. So the Guardian is up to playing politics again, huh? Using the excuse of the presence of an American actor to label Americans in general. Apparently we all stride around with "rugged individualism" and "mouth all our lines". If this guy looked deeper, he would see that Burr's character was a very tired, depressed and world weary individual whose emotions are those of a man who has seen too much horror. His monotone voice and his stiffness of motion (and occasional lack of eye contact) give him the appearance of a man just going thru the motions of life as opposed to one who enjoys it. He's seen too much. I do believe that part of the character's history is his firsthand witness of the WW2 horrors in Japan. And here he is again seeing it for the second time with Godzilla. Reporters in war zones and disaster areas have a tendency to become depressed over what they see, and rightfully so. And to that end, I think that this was part of Mr. Burr's method when he portrayed the character.
As a result, what the film least needed was an American striding around doing his rugged individualism routine and mouthing such lines as, "I'm afraid my Japanese is a little rusty." Indeed. Maybe, Raymond Burr was the real monster in Godzilla: King of the Monsters! His only virtue, as far as I can tell, is that he helped to build up enough good will for the Godzilla films that there would inevitably be a market for this wonderful and long overdue re-release.
So the Guardian is up to playing politics again, huh? Using the excuse of the presence of an American actor to label Americans in general. Apparently we all stride around with "rugged individualism" and "mouth all our lines". If this guy looked deeper, he would see that Burr's character was a very tired, depressed and world weary individual whose emotions are those of a man who has seen too much horror. His monotone voice and his stiffness of motion (and occasional lack of eye contact) give him the appearance of a man just going thru the motions of life as opposed to one who enjoys it. He's seen too much. I do believe that part of the character's history is his firsthand witness of the WW2 horrors in Japan. And here he is again seeing it for the second time with Godzilla. Reporters in war zones and disaster areas have a tendency to become depressed over what they see, and rightfully so. And to that end, I think that this was part of Mr. Burr's method when he portrayed the character.
Jun 18 09 11:20 PM
Jun 18 09 11:36 PM
Dr Acula wrote: I like both versions - but I'm a fan of Burr in anything,
Jun 19 09 12:07 AM
Armand's Rancho del Cielo
Jun 19 09 12:19 AM
Jun 19 09 12:28 AM
Jun 19 09 12:36 AM
Good points all of you. Godzilla is the symbol of Japan's fear of domination by a technologically superior foe and their defeat by the same. Godzilla, born of American technology, is that foe. And he is also the symbol of the "sleeping giant" that Admiral Yamamoto spoke of minutes after the attack upon Pearl Harbor (aka America) And to that end, Godzilla is a reminder that the Japanese have never quite forgiven us for toppling their empire, and our lasting legacy of the price we pay for advancement. That said, I think this mirrors Japan in real life..they are still occupied by a technologically superior force (the American occupational forces) but they have embraced their fear of foreigners and technology by their mastery of technology (and the world's reliance upon it.) And they have shown the world that economic domination speaks volumes more than military might. So in summation, Godzilla was a representation of Japan's real life struggle and eventual victory over their foes by sheer determination and cultural unity and idealism.
Jun 19 09 5:47 AM
Jun 19 09 9:56 AM
Uchujin65 wrote: It was a very smart business move, however. Only 10 years prior to 1954 Americans were sitting in their theaters watching Know Your Enemy: Japan and the military recruiting offices had posters hanging on the wall like "stay on the job until every stinkin' Jap is DEAD!".
Jun 19 09 5:34 PM
Jun 19 09 8:30 PM
Jun 20 09 12:26 AM
Jun 20 09 1:24 AM
Jun 20 09 3:04 AM
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