Welcome to a new series of articles I had the idea for whilst trying to get a friend to give Godzilla Minus One a go. Basically, each of these is a short list of reasons that getting into a franchise, even a sprawling one, might be worth the commitment of time. Personally, the big one for me is One Piece, a series so long (and still getting longer at the time of writing) that I honestly feel like starting is a massive commitment that may never be worth the investment of time. To start this series off, we're going to the top of the heap, the king of the monsters himself, Godzilla.
It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Godzilla. From my first few glimpses on the SBS Wednesday Cult Movie through to the Monsterverse and Minus One, the King of the Monsters is one of my favourite pop culture fixtures and rarely fails to be entertaining. More than that, there's almost a piece of Godzilla media for every occasion, from the body-horror and intrigue of Shin Godzilla to the child-focused films of the 1970s that play for laughs. However, Godzilla can also be seen as a bit twee, silly and just a couple of stuntmen in rubber suits slapping each other. To that end, here are five quick reasons that it's worthwhile diving into the world of Godzilla.
1. The new stuff is really fucking good
I feel like this is something that warrants pointing out, but in the past decade or so, Godzilla has become a quality brand. From the award-winning Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One, through to the just-for-fun and well-realised Monsterverse entries like Godzilla II King of the Monsters and Kong Skull Island, Godzilla has never been better. Godzilla is quality viewing now, with big ideas, big action and plenty to engage your brain with as well as the little kid inside that likes explosions. Jump on Godzilla Singular Point next time you want a "smart" Sci-Fi series, or Shin Godzilla if you want a political thriller, you might be pleasantly surprised.
2. Slappin' Theme Song
The King of the Monsters has a king of a theme song and it's time we acknowledged that. This theme is so iconic, it's barely changed in over 60 years and it just keep coming back. Seriously, the 'Godzilla Theme' hits so hard I'd put it up against Star Wars, Superman, Lord of the Rings or anything Hollywood has put out. Once you're hooked into the big G, that opening string will raise the hair on your neck like nothing else. Godzilla doesn't need an updated theme because they got it so right the first time, it's scary.
3. It's a big cultural thing
Godzilla is a big deal in Japan, and not just as an entertainment property. The King is an official cultural ambassador, has been granted citizenship and even appears on currency from time to time. If you are at all interested in Japan as a culture, beyond the media and cliches, then it's probably worth having some Godzilla rattling around your brain. From the historical elements of some films, to the time-capsules that the Showra era has become, Godzilla has changed as his country has changed and it can be fascinating to see. There are versions of Godzilla for small children, model kits, toys, novels and so much more that help inform the Western viewer of just how the King of the Monsters is so important to the Japanese.
4. Ease into subtitles
For many, subtitled media can be a real challenge to enjoy. Trying to follow the action while reading the translated text is something of a skill, and if one doesn't acquire it, they can miss out on quite a great deal of quality entertainment. Many of the Godzilla films from the 1970s and 80s are pretty light-on for plot, so there's not a lot to miss during the exciting parts. The big Kaiju fights also provide a nice visual break from the subtitles so the entire viewing experience doesn't need to be reading if that's something you have struggled with. Also, who doesn't love a good monster fight? Isn't that worth a little reading?
5. It never ends...
It's fairly obvious that, at this point, Godzilla isn't meaningfully going away in the near future. I know long series can be daunting (I'm still yet to start One Piece), but as not every part of Godzilla is homogeneous, you can jump in just about anywhere and pick it up. You can watch a little of the King, leave it for years, and there's more to come back to. I'm not the biggest Godzilla fan in the world, but I can keep up and always enjoy when there's something new to check out, but it never feels like a chore. I have plenty of Godzilla left to see, if I ever do see it all, but I know there's something new, or at least new to me, if I go looking. I like franchises like that, where I can dip back in whenever I like, and I'm hoping you will too.
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