Being one of the first ever fictional super sized radioactive monster, 'daikaiju' or better known as Godzilla has fascinated and enjoyed attention from people all over the world for around 61 years. The heavyweight reptile has been around since the 1950's when there used to black and white movies with doll like looking Godzilla as opposed to the larger than life multi million dollar franchise that it has become.
Origins.
Godzilla has originally been written as being awakened by constant test bombing routines by military forces in the oceans. Those radioactive bombings caused the giant kaiju to mutate and turn into a living and breathing mega nuclear bomb.
The original Godzilla was first brought to life in Tokyo, Japan. The basic idea was was a giant tyrannosaurus Rex body along with a lizard face with spikes on the back. Able to shoot radioactive beams out of its mouth who mainly lived in the deepest parts of the ocean and mostly dormant until awakened by a loud event such as a nuclear explosion or the awakening of another kaiju monster who poses a threat to Godzilla's domain.
The first ever Godzilla concept was based on the U.S military test bombings that was detonated in the Pacific Ocean. A nearby fishing vessel became a victim of this explosion wherein the crew members got an acute Radioactive syndrome and one crew member passed away as a result of this. A movie producer kept this incident in mind and made a film based off of a nuclear holocaust which included giant monsters.
The movie was released in the fall of 1954. Due to limitations in special effects and technology, a man wearing a Godzilla rubber suit had to do the action.
It turned out to be a great success and later it was excited and dubbed into English and released in the United States. The first ever Godzilla measured around 50 meters and later the movie makers made it to as high as 100 meters.
The infamous first movie decided to kill off the beast by using an oxygen destroyer which was detonated by the scientist who created it.
Although it was certain that the giant radioactive beast was gonna return, nobody was sure how. But the people just assumed that it was another Godzilla instead of the previous one being revived. After the first movie, there was no going back.
Godzilla started building itself as a brand as more and more movies were being produced on the same base concept design given by the original. Each movie had a new villainous monster determined to destroy the world where Godzilla has to fight it and protect its world. Although Godzilla was killed in the first movie using an oxygen destroyer, it was somehow revived or people assumed that it was another Godzilla.
For over 60 years there have been one safety another productions of the movie and each one of them being moderate to highly
Successful.
Over the years, there have been over 30 Godzilla movies with 28 of them being Japanese and 2 of them (2014), (2018) being American made.
Eras of the monster movies.
Toho Showa Era(1954-1975)
This era was where it all started. The concept of Godzilla was first brought to life in this era. There are a total of 15 successful movies made in this time span.
Each movie having its own distinct antagonist with Godzilla being the protagonist most of the time. This era also gave us the most iconic villians if Godzilla, King Gidorah, the alien monster that claims to be the king of godzilla's domain.
Toho Heisei Era(1984-1995)
After the 15th movie, the franchise decided to lay down for a while. After that long break, the company decided to revive the storyline on its 30th anniversary and contributed 7 movies.
U.S Tristar Godzilla.
Japan decided to end it's streak of Godzilla movies and wanted to make an American reboot of the franchise just as an experiment. This worked out extremely well and the movie makers as well as movie goers were happy.
Toho Millennium Era(1999-2004)
This era had a series of stand alone story lines which concentrated on Godzilla and also connected universes like the king kong. This era has a total of 6 stand alone movies each one building up to connect another movie. This has been a successful era.
Legendary Pictures Era(2014-)
Perhaps the most visually pleasing of all movies is from this era.
There have been only two movies so far but extremely successful ones. This time the studio did a wonderful job of managing to interconnect and make the monster verse a reality. The lights of which include Kong Skull Island, Godzilla, Godzilla King of the Monsters. Where in Kong and Godzilla are set to go toe to toe with one another.
It is worth all the hype as the upcoming movie would be a true spectacle.
The original Godzilla concept was made in accordance with the nuclear holocaust as a result of which Godzilla was born. Even though the movie has a dark origin, it has never failed to fascinate it's fans in one way or another.
Author: Shashank
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