MovieChat Forums > Godzilla 1985 (1985) Discussion > Why was this film altered?

Why was this film altered?

posted 18 years ago by Chrisbc-1
6 replies | jump to latest

Why did New World Pictures alter this film for th US release? I just saw the original version on youtube and it is way better than the version New World Pictures released. The story actually, uh...makes sense in the original version.

One of the subtle plot changes is in the translation. In the New World Pictures the professor says that Godzilla is indestructable. In the original version the professor believes that nukes are the only thing that may stop Godzilla but he doesn't want to resort to them.

Anyway, I can really see why Raymond Burr was used in the 1954 film, but he isn't needed for this one.

He was needed in the 1954 film because:
World War II was still fresh in the minds of many Americans. They needed an American in the film to sympathize with the Japanese people. If Raymond Burr was not in the film, most Americans of the time may have just rooted for Godzilla's destruction of Japan.

[–] Skye_Reynolds 18 years ago

I liked that Raymond Burr was added into the film. He's completely deadpan, but has a natural charisma to him. He really sold the character of a man who had once been face to face with the monster and survived to tell about it.

The problem I have is that the American military scenes were pretty much useless. They kept contemplating what they had to do to destroy Godzilla and didn't do a thing until it was time to stop the Soviet nuclear missile. They might as well have acted as commentators for a sporting event. That, and they cut out scenes for the Japanese version to make room for this and instill some propaganda into it as well. In the original version, the Russian commander gave his life trying to prevent the launch of the nuclear missile. In the American version, he died launching it.

Japanese version: "Can't we all just get along?"
American version: "NO, because the Commie Scum want to nuke the world!"

[–] Chrisbc-1 18 years ago

Another reason why the US military scenes don't make sense is that the US military does too little. Don't you think if this was more realistic the US Navy would assist the Japanese military forces? I'm sure if China (Godzilla) decided to invade Japan, the US military would be all over it.

[–] Skye_Reynolds 18 years ago

That's what I said. They did nothing but speculate.

Anyway, if a monster were to represent China, I'm fairly certain it would be Ghidorah.

[–] Chrisbc-1 18 years ago

"Anyway, if a monster were to represent China, I'm fairly certain it would be Ghidorah. "

True, but it was easier to use China to make a point.

[–] Skye_Reynolds 18 years ago

Not to dwell on the issue, but I think that's the reason why they never let Ghidorah get a victory over Godzilla or Mothra.

[–] OllieSuave-007 18 years ago

Yes, in the Japanese version, the Russian missile was launched my mistake, while in the U.S. version, it was lauched purposely. This was done in the U.S. version probably to portrait the Russians as the antagonists and the Americans the protagonists. The Americans were depicted more as heroes in the U.S. version because they successfully shot down the Russian missile. This movie was filmed in the mid '80s, where Cold War tensions were still high.