Official Godzilla 2016 discussion thread!

What I was trying to post included that although the nuclear 'testing' in the Pacific in the 1950's were actually attempts to kill him, it moves responsibility for the victimization of Godzilla and the cause of his mutation away from the only country to have dropped nuclear weapons on populated areas. Toho, speaking on behalf of Japan, past and present generations, needs to bring this home and never let anyone forget it. I would like to see Godzilla portrayed after the blast as somewhat sorrowful, confused and then angry. This would be followed by the attacks on the shipping lines. Godzilla's disposition after the blast would mirror that of the Japanese nation after Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Very happy this thread is getting alot of attention.

NerdyBandGeeks,
I agree that much of the new film focused on a man vs. nature theme, but the nuclear element was largely still there. Nuclear proliferation is the entire reason Godzilla surfaced. It's what prompted nuclear testing. It's the whole reason the MUTO were attracted to a power plant and the waste is what resurrected the dormant spore in Nevada. And it being shamelessly used to both lure and destroy Godzilla and the MUTOs was a moment of nuclear weapons/power being thoughtlessly thrown around. It's hard to get by with Godzilla without the words "nuclear" and "radioactive" being brought up at some point.

It might be interesting if Toho considerd the idea of situating Godzilla's appearance, or return, within some regional political/military conflict. It might be controversial, but it could have the effect of being cathartic, given the numerous threats Japan has on its periphery: Russia, China, and North Korea. While being within the comfort zone of traditional tokusatsu in some ways, I feel the story should be ambitious without, however, being 'all over the place.' It will take heroism on a national scale to see the nation through this most ultimate of crises. I really hope they cast someone really convincing for the leads, and that the direction is passionate and daring. Real people, not stereotypes or rip-offs of other films and genres. I feel that a story with a catharsis at its heart would appeal to fans and non-fans alike. There's nothing like purging oneself of fears by experiencing them. A lot in the way of political statements could be made, without being heavy-handed, if written with heart and directed with purpose. 

This is a great oppurtunity. I hope it isn't entirely driven by a desire to cash in on the success of the Legendary film.

While I'm wishing here: a sequence revealing the affects of the Operation Bravo blast and the subsequent attacks on the shipping lines, with updated digital and practical effects, would give us something that would be in an origin film, but in a story that is current. This would also serve the purpose of helping to distinguish Toho's Godzilla from the Legendary one. I would like to see the fireball, the mushroom cloud, the exposure of the Daigo Fukuryu Maro (Lucky Dragon Five) to the radiation and...a newly irradiated and mutated Godzilla. It wouldn't have to take a lot of time. In fact, it could be accomplished with little or even no dialogue. It's visuals that would be important. The less talk, the better. This is where and why it all started. A stunning and visceral visual presentation of this event, Operation Bravo and its results, could set the tone for the whole film. It would also be, IMHO, a rather nice homage to the 1954 original. I want the whoever sees this film to be gripped by it and made unable to look away.

I guess it all really comes down to the tone of the film; whether it will be an artistic, serious film that attempts to deliver an important mesage, or a more pop cultural savy, commercial spectacle meant to appeal to the masses.  Think of it as the difference between Godzilla 54 and Godzilla vs the Sea Monster... one was a serious, artistic endevour, and the other was pure colorful entertainment.  At this point, its anyone's guess what tone Toho will go for with this new film.  Something more colorful and fun will diferentiate it the film from Legendary's series, but could hurt Godzilla's new serious image.  My money is on something akin to Godzilla 2000: a serious take on a Godzilla story with fun elements that do not distract from the seriousness of the plot.  This film has the potential to be an EVEN DARKER film than Legendary's, if that's the direction they choose to go in.  Its all about waiting now... lets hope we hear something soon. :)

So i happened to talk to Godzilla. He told me that when he heard that he was being put back into his homeland of Japan he told me this.

I would really like Goji to look similar GyakushuGoji:

I just like the foward eyes, giant fangs, and overall shape of his body (not too bulky and not too skinny). 

@Daikaiju_Danielle

I would love to see an updated, well-crafted version of the Gyakushu-Goji as well. And for the reasons you mentioned. IMO, it would work very well in a story with dark elements.

I've always loved this design and would like to see enhanced with CGI.

@Jamaal

I'm glad I'm not the only one who really likes GyakushiGoji! ^^ The design could really work.

@ Daikaiju_Danielle:

I think this design gets somewhat ovelooked because the film it's in, Godzilla Raids Again, does.

Personally, I think it's beautiful in a scary kind of way. The face lends itself to an expressiveness that could be both moving and horrifying, especially with current state-of-the-art SPFX. It is capable of conveying both sorrow and menace. The build is powerful, but, as you said, not too bulky. It's made for fighting. One of my favorite scenes from the series is Godzilla wading into Osaka, illuminated by the flares, in near silence, silhouetted against the nighttime sky. To me, moments evocative of this, would be very welcome in the new film.

So yes, I would love to see Godzilla look very much like this for his Toho return in 2016.

^This.  All of it.

So glad I'm not the only Gyakusugoji fan out there... sucks being lonely within your own fandom.

I know the feel, Danny. :P 

I wonder if we will see the design next year.

^I wouldn't hold my breath... if Toho's pattern with the series is anything to go by, the new film will be released in December of 2016.  Even if its fully shot by, lets say, September of next year, it will probably be kept under wraps until closer to the film's release.

However, if Toho really wants to get some publicity, they will give us some teases next year.  Especially if a suit is being used... think about it: the CGI Legendary Godzilla was tweeked in the animation department up until the release of the film, roughly a year after the principal photography completed.  If Toho uses a suit, dramatic (meaning with actors) and SPFX photography will lilely occur at about the same time.  So by the time the actors are being filmed, a suit will have been constructed, which mean that Godzilla's final design (if a suit is used) will exist by summer of next year.

Will Toho show it to us a possible year and a half before the film's release?  Probably not, but it is possible that we could get SOMETHING!  We can only hope... :)

One of the more interesting aspects of this film is that the story is apparently already in development. If that's ture, I can wait for whatever Toho decides to release as the film is being produced. I went through this before with Godzilla 2000 Millennium in 1999. If memory serves me, one of the first things revealed was the dorsal fins. Prior to that there was that concept poster with that look that gave us a preview of where the film was going design wise: http://godzilla.wikia.com/wiki/File:Concept_Art_-_Godzilla_2000_Millennium_-_Yuji_Sakai's_Godzilla_2.png

Maybe we'll see a gradual increase of disclosures has 2015 progresses, enough to keep the movie going public, as well as fans, interested. If the film is released in December 2016, I would suspect that from that summer onward, we'll see a great promotional push geared, of course, toward making the film a success in Japan. That means, we'll all benefit from it on this side of the Pacific.

I don't know, maybe there will be a serialization of the story, ala 1954, during the run up to its release. I think it would be intriguing for Toho to give us some ideas, however vague and mysterious, if they have them, as to what we could expect with this film.

I what like to know, at this time, who they have in mind for the leads, director of SPFX and Director.

One of the things to keep in mind is that whenever Toho had early publicity for a Godzilla movie in the Millennium series they would actually label it with the following year: Godzilla x Megaguirus (2000) was dubbed Godzilla 2001 in early promotional material. GMK (2001) was dubbed, Godzilla 2002. Godzilla x MechaGodzilla (2002) was labeled Godzilla 2003...

It's possible that this "Godzilla 2016" business is simply code for a December 2015 release. However, that goes against everything we've been hearing. Toho gained nothing releasing these films in December every year and the projected shooting dates don't exactly line up with Toho's typical post-production schedule. Surely this "Goji-con" has figured that out...

My guess/hope is we're looking at a mid-year 2016 release. There's no way they'll spend two whole years on the movie because that's out-of-the-norm for a Japanese production. Yet it would still be a longer production schedule than we've ever seen before.

Time will tell.

@Gman2887:

I hope your hope is realized and we see a release sometime between mid to late 2016. This will show that Toho has learned some things regarding the roles of production time and story development in making great films. They can make something memorable here, entertaining and worthy of inclusion in this great series.

My gut feeling is that we will see the film released sometime in 2016, fall or winter. Well, at least, this is what I hope. If Godzilla 2016 is successful, not just commercially but critically, it will resonate not just with fans (let's face it, we're fairly easy to please and we're favorably biased), but with the wider Japanese public. I hope this new Godzilla film speaks to the Japanese nation and makes them want to embrace it and have pride in this uniquely Japanese artform. Godzilla is like bunraku or kabuki.  

Wouldn't it be pleasantly ironic that it took a big-budget, American-made reboot (of sorts) to a catalyst for a homegrown, tokusatsu version of Godzilla and all that it entails?

Legendary's Godzilla was certainly not the 1998 film made by Roland Emmerich. But, I sense that there is a desire on the part of Toho to 'reclaim' Godzilla, or at least make a great Japanese version of him.

Another question pops up in my head: Will this be a solo film or a versus film?

In my opinion, the solo godzilla films turn out to be some of the best movies in the franchise. However, it will be more entertaining and interesting to see this new Godzilla battle another monster.  

If a versus film, I wonder if they'll use a previous Toho kaiju, or maybe rival the Mutos with their own new monster. :O

I don't think that's a great mystery. Toho sees Godzilla '14 as revitalizing Godzilla's popularity and they no doubt believe the "Godzilla versus" approach was a part of that. The age of solo Godzilla flicks is long gone.

Agreed.

Plus, if the enemy kaiju could symbolize some existing threat or world/regional power, it could add depth to the story and meaningfulness to the film. Monsters as symbols/metaphors is a well-established Toho staple. Besides, monsters battling each other is great spectacle.

At the end of the day, we want, for one reason or another, to cheer for Godzilla. And I think that's obviously the case in Japan because Godzilla is Japanese.

^Excelent point.

Now here is another question I have been pondering for a while... if, hypothetically, there are new monsters in this movie, and they are designed to be allegorical characters like so many Toho monsters over the last 60 years... what would the represent?

Think about it... Godzilla is a metaphor for the horrors of the H-bomb and its misuse by man; Biollante represents science (namely genetic expirimentation) gone awry; Mothra can represent ecology and the Earth spirit; King Ghidorah represents mindless agression from a foreign locale/people; Hedorah represents pollution.  Each of these monsters was created in an era when these topics and fears were relevant to the world, and even more so to Japan.

What would new monsters stand in for?  We just had the fear of EMP realized in the MUTO's, so what is left?  Terrorism?  The Singularity?  Bio-war?  Maybe a new monster will be created to transfer and old fear into a new form.  Who knows!

I would look at the greatest, most menacing threats facing Japan today: where do they come from? Who are they? Japan, a non-nuclear state is surrounded by China, Russia and North Korea. In fact, Japan and Russia have a territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands. China is becoming increasingly assertive in the Western Pacific. North Korea is...well, north Korea: a Stalinist state presided over by someone who's missing some dots from his dominoes. That's a lot of instability mixed with a high level of megatonnage. Nuclear power is at the heart of these fears. So, how do you exercise them in the form of monsters on a collision course with Godzilla, who is at once Japan and, ironically, The Bomb. 

Maybe new kaiju. Although, when I think of China, I think of a dragon. Russia, I don't know. It probably wouldn't be advisable to have these kaiju have origins in those countries.

How does Japan come out of this? Shusuke Kaneko said in an interview that as a filmmaker, he wanted to give people a feeling of hope. That's why Godzilla 2016 has to end triumphantly. Even if the end is in doubt up until the last minute. Which, IMO, would be best. A rollercoaster ride would ensure that people cannot become bored or complacent. But, they need to be saved at the end. Salvation, redemption and hope.

Godzilla, so Japanese, would be the symbol of that hopeful future.

Or, cyberterrorism. This is a threat that's on everyone's mind. And it does speak to a country's national security.

A kaiju representing a cyberterrorist threat could be hideous, and, very interesting. Especially if it has powers representing the threat and destruction that it symbolizes. 

A cyberkaiju would be, by necessity, a CGI monster.

Think of the havoc it could wreak to a country's economy, communications-it's very existence. This would be where the rubber meets the road in regards to just how far Toho/other Japanese filmmakers have come in the area of digital-based VFX.

But then, this raises the question of its motivation: is it acting on its own? Is it controlled by a malevolent foreign power or regional adversary?

I would like to see a cyberkaiju 'communicate' somehow to the Japanese nation. Beyond making it's goals known, it would personalize this monster, give him (it) an aura, a window into its intelligence. Now, that would be creepy. Hopefully this wouldn't seen as a ripoff of the Man of Steel's General Zod's address to the people of the earth, or the 'Millennium Messages' scene from Godzilla 2000 Millennium (one of the best scenes from the Millennium Godzilla films, IMHO). But if it is, who cares? As long as its frightening and convincingly executed.

BTW, the above referenced 'Millennium Messages' scene-and it is chilling-is in the Japanese version of Godzilla 2000 Millennium. 

For me, this is like 1999, all over again.

We were getting regular updates on ther old Monster Zero site, managed by the late Aaron Smith. Aaron had a source in Japan called Hico, who had site called "Don't Be Defeated Japanese Godzilla!" I would check Aaron's site several times a day. I practically lived there. All of it was for any information about Godzilla 2000 Millennium. Toho was reclaiming Godzilla after GINO, and, in the process, coming to our rescue. For this and other reasons, Godzilla 2000 Millennium will always have a special place in my heart.

I have a feeling Godzilla 2016 will too.

I love that title, "Don't Be Defeated Japanese Godzilla!"

I vaguely remember Don't Be Defeated Japanese Godzilla!.

I joined Monster Zero a little over a year before it joined Fandom.com I think. It was THE place to be for all Godzilla fans at the time. Following Godzilla 2000 news was fantastic back in the day. I can't wait to follow another Japanese Godzilla film. The feeling is admittedly different from following Legendary's movie.

I joined Aaron Smith's site when it was the old monsterzero.org. It was a real friendly, cozy place without a lot of antagonism. Just friends talking about their favorite genre and monster.

It's different now.

Then, in late 1998, around December 14th, Toho announced that it was making a new Godzilla film. This was totally unexpected. No one saw it coming. The first working title I remember was "Godzilla Millennium." Toho even made statements about how the TriStar version just didn't seem like Godzilla. They would later backtrack (at least publicly) from that. But we knew what they meant.

This feels like that time all over again for me. I'm looking forward to the gradual release of information, rumors, concept art, posters, maquettes, plotlines, etc. As production proceded in 1999, Toho even broadcast the filming of a SPFX scene on the internet. They also posted the translation of a transcript of a live talk show that was held a place called Shinjuku Loft Plue One. August Ragone helped with cleaning up the language. That event offered a lot info and insight as to what they were going for in terms of not only the film, but the series itself. I hope they do this again.