MovieChat Forums > Godzilla 1985 (1985) Discussion > Top 5 reasons why Godzilla 1985 is the b...

Top 5 reasons why Godzilla 1985 is the best Godzilla movie


1) the tone: without a doubt having the entire movie seem pretty dark, even by today's standards, still makes a chilling effect on Godzilla. Look at the way everyone talks about Godzilla, as if even uttering his name is bringing a curse onto them. I love love love how they took Godzilla dead seriously in this movie, and was never just a running joke like in some of the other ones.

2) no other monsters: as much as it's strange to say it, whenever Godzilla is by himself it makes him that much more incredible to watch. No stupid monsters to take up valuable screen time, it's the big G-man himself and himself only. There's almost an unwritten rule now that anytime Toho starts a new series of Godzilla movies the first one has to involve only him, and I like this trend.

3) some of the most chilling Godzilla scenes ever: I still get goosebumps during some of the scenes where Godzilla is just staring at people.
a) that scene where the bum looks outside the restaurant only to find Godzilla staring right at him;
b) that scene where Godzilla first makes his appearance by rising up from the swamplands, with his growl announcing his appearance.
c) that scene where Godzilla springs out of the water right in front of that helicopter
d) that scene where the group of scientists are testing out that bird-signal device on Godzilla as he passes by their building, only for him to notice it and then turn around and start to go after them
e) and the MOTHER of all scary scenes, that scene right after Godzilla topples that building on the Super X and then stares at the main characters down below, a low growl stating that he's coming after them next.

4) the suit: so far the BEST suit out of all the Godzilla movies. People criticize the eyes, but I still say it's their human like stalkish quality that still brings such an intimidation factor from Godzilla. Again it plays a huge part of the aforementioned chilling scenes. I'll take those human like eyes any day of the lizard/bloodshot eyes that he has now.

5) Innovation: in hindsight this movie brought a lot of interesting ideas to the Godzilla mythos. The fact that he needs nuclear power to regenerate, the fact that he apparently has some birdlike DNA in his body, the fact that bird-like transmissions can call to him like a homing signal, the fact that Cadmium missiles can essentially put him in a coma, the fact that lightning can revitalize him, the fact that he purposefully singles out individuals to squash them as if he has a malicious attitude like never before.

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also:

6) that music by Reijiro Koroku really helps set the tone. His Japanese military march music is perhaps better than Akira Ifukube's. Ifukube is the undisputed official composer of Godzilla, but am I alone in thinking his themes get awfully old after a while? I'm sick to death of every time Godzilla makes an appearance in a film, having to hear the theme from "GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA" yet again. Each time Ifukube's work is pillaged, it loses its power. Koroku's stuff is excellent all-round.

7) the sound design: the explosion, laser, stomping sounds were all top-notch. Even Godzilla's roar is dry-gutteral and more epic-sounding than in any other movie.

8) pyro! I'll be damned if this didn't have pound-for-pound the most and best explosions of any Godzilla movie. Not only does that destruction look real, but it looks cool! No lousy opticals or CGI... this is 100% practical models and almost entirely convincing. Most of the combined matte shots are well-done too.

9) Godzilla actually kills people, and it's shown! He's actually stomping on crowds, etc.

10) The suit, as mentioned, is the best Godzilla suit ever, complete with a large Tyrannosaurus-like head. His look after this film was too buffed-out and cat-like.

I could go on and on and I'm sure there's many more, but it's been over a year since I've seen the film. That's just the material most fresh in my memory.

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I agree this is an underrated film.

It's the first one that ignored everything but the original film, and went back to basics. I enjoy the "realistic" Godzilla the most.

I also agree this is the best looking Godzilla suit of the series. Surprised you said that "people criticize the eyes"? For me they are the best part.

One thing though---Godzilla using electricity/lightning to regenerate was used in past films, it didn't originate from this one.

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I saw GODZILLA 1985 for the first time in years today, and it is great. I always considered it one of my favorites from the big lizard, but really I hadn't seen this since I was a kid. Finally found a VHS.


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While it is an enjoyable movie, just want to address some of your items:

2) I honestly like the vs. movies. It's fun to watch Godzilla crash around by himself, but I like to see him fight. Also, that rule about movie series isn't true as Godzilla fights Orga in Godzilla 2000.

4) I've seen better suits, though I will agree it's one of the better of the Heisei era and a big improvement over the Showa era, but I really liked the Millenium era suits, in particular, the 2000 suit and the GMK suit.


9) Yes! This is one thing that this movie starts that I absolutely love. In some Godzilla movies, you see him blow up people in a building, a time ship, his tail crashes into a hospital, he stops on tanks, and so on. Yes, this is a very welcome tradition that 84 Godzilla seems to have started.

________
I was Frozen TODAY!

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Those parts with Godzilla looking in on people made me scared to look out the window at night!
I was so scared by it
and the intesity of the evacuation shots with Godzilas foot
some really epic shots
Brilliant film
and the fight with the giant louse is terrifying!!

Guinea Pigs

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I really enjoyed the outrageous product placement in the American prints of this. The bunker Steve Martin and military are in had a over-sized Dr. Pepper machine against the back wall and completely fills up the background of those scenes.
And it has probably my favorite line in any movie.
When the big-wigs are having a meeting and they're told that Godzilla has been seen heading towards Tokyo, the leader says
'But, how do we know he will attack the city?..'

Have you EVER seen Godzilla NOT ATTACK THE CITY?!? It's a given!

This episode had a nice mechanical Godzilla head for closeups, with lots of movement..like head turns, unlike the suits where he's gotta turn his entire upper body to look sideways.

I remember seeing this in an American theater when it first was released here.

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