The last word on the '98 movie

Godzillatheking123

Ok, from time to time we get the "why-does-everyone-hate-the-98-Zilla-movie" thread.

I'm not going to hate on you if you liked Zilla, but I'm tired of explaining why myself and others don't fondly remember the 98 movie. So I'm just going to cut it short and sweet. Whatever you think of the 98 movie and Zilla as a "kaiju", the one thing we can all agree is that because of the "response" to it, we have to wait another 16 years until now for another big budget Godzilla movie in cinema. If nothing else, I blame the 98 movie for making us wait this long.

Yes, you can say Godzilla 2000 made it to our shores. But there might have been a whole string of G movies in cinemas here were it not for the 98 movie.

So there, Zilla lovers, please don't ask again why some people hate the 98 movie, alright? 

Durp004

Key word is "might". We may have had a series, or it may have played out the same way as it did with 1998, then a sequel(G2000 took the sequels place in this). To hate a movie because of what "might" have happened is, to be frank, stupid. If the only problem you can bring out is that we had to wait, that's sheer speculation.

Godzillatheking123

There is nothing speculative over the fact that the 98 movie wasn't a rip-roaring success its producers thought it would be. Had it been a success, there would have been a couple of sequels by now. Just look at Transformers.

Not being able to understand that, to be frank, reflects a naivety about how Hollywood works.

NuclearZilla

I don't hate it, If I never seen a Godzilla movie prior to seeing that, I would have liked it more. I hate how they took something great, and made it a weak, defenseless monster. Godzilla should never be protrayed like that, ever.

GodzillaFrance

I like Zilla, but i call  the 1998 movie a parody because some scenes look a little funny, especially when Zilla falls while chasing Nick Tatopoulos but i was sad when the monster died. This beast looks more like an iguana or a modern T-rex than the true King of Monsters.

Devianteist

I like this guy. Makes a solid point.

However, I do not think it was because of Zilla's movie that we had to wait so long. I believe it is more because of Toho's high price to use Godzilla in movies and the overall negative-ish meaning behind the character itself.

That's just my opinion. _{Taking your stuff into account, the overall negative reaction to Zilla may very well have been the reason. Nothing can be really proven.}

SpiderGodzy83

I feel the only good thing that came from the movie was the great animated series! The series actually gave the fans what they wanted; atomic breath, monster vs. monster (Godzy is no cowardly lion in this show), some decent laughs with a annoying robot getting destroyed in hilarious ways and pretty decent eco-stories/cast etc...

Durp004

A couple sequels? No, take a look at hollywood from that timeframe. Sure now anything that's popular gets sequels shot out as fast as possible, but name 2 movies from the late 90s that had more than 1 sequel, not counting the star wars prequels, and give the sequels 7 years that tristar held the name. Wasn't as common back then, so yes saying, Oh we've waited so long because of the 1998 movie is speculation. There was a follow up godzilla within a year so that's 2 movies. Unless the 1998 movie was a groundbreaking hit. Not just successful, but record breaking would we have seen a series out of it, there's also more to it than if it's successful. There's more than just box office that decides if sequels are made, and even more to say a series.

G. H. (Gman)

"The last word on the '98 movie"

Yeah... Right...

Godzillatheking123

Durpoo4-Matrix and the Star War prequels were made in the late 90's and both had  two sequels. As did Star Trek. Your point about 90's movies not having sequels does not stand.

Sure, there are movies that don't translate into sequels. You don't see for example "English Patient III or IV" or "Shawshank Redemption 8". That is a question of movie genre. 

But Godzilla by contrast should not have any problems with sequels.

GMAN2887-Sure it is, rather than roll your eyes, maybe you can offer a better reason (if there is one)?

G. H. (Gman)

My fingers grow numb typing the same stuff over and over about this film from other threads. If you wish to know a reason for why I don't like GINO you're welcome to do a forum search on the many other topics that revolve around it. If you want to know why I think it's hilarious you used the phrase, "last word on.." regarding this topic, you'll just have to wait for the next 67 topics on the subject.

Durp004

Allow me to explain something. The star Wars prequels were planned from the conception of the original trilogy. So the fact is there was always going to be 3 prequel movies, the decade they were released doesn't really matter. Hence why I said "not including the star Wars prequels" Then there's star trek. Yes it did get 4 movies, BUT that was largely due to the television show that it was based off. The movies didn't follow a plot based off eachother, as much as the show. It's basically like saying 'Oh well pokemon had 3 movies" when none of the movies really had any connection to eachother, and were more based on the show then as a seperate media. Then there's Matrix. Bravo 1 movie that spawned a trilogy that you named, there are a few more like scream jurassic park, ect, but point is it wasn't as common of a thing.

Even if you wanted to discount all the reasons I gave for why star Wars and star trek aren't comparable to godzilla that's still only 5 or so films that got past sequels. I'm going to go with what I said, that your argument that we didn't get a series is speculation banking on that fact Godzilla could have broken into this small niche for films that managed to get more than a sequel before finishing. 

Allow me to turn this half baked argument back. Thank god for the 1998 movie as without it we would never have what seems to be a great movie that's coming out soon. See what I did there? Even though this movie may or may not still have been produced I'm jumping the gun and saying it wouldn't due to my own speculation. 

Godzillatheking123

DUPR004-You didn't specify what movie sequel must fall into your "criteria". The fact remains unchanged. Had one of those movie sequel fell at the box office, they would not have made another. Yes Star Trek and Star Wars, by your logic, Godzilla would have fitted there too, it was a pre-existing franchise with many sequels. 

It is speculation to argue that Godzilla would not become a sequel anyway even if it was successful, which is what you seem to be arguing. So I don't really see how your point is stronger.

GMAN2887-Someone has to end it, or at least give a more definitive end to the endless "why GINO sucks" questions. 

trickkelly

I'm hoping that this Edwards film will finally put the GINO controversy to rest. 

as a monster movie, i don't mind G98. It's big and dumb and entertaining and there are certainly worse kaiju  films out there. As a Godzilla movie, I couldn't enjoy it for the same reason most fans couldn't: It didn't resemble Godzilla in appearance, behavior, or symbolism. Also, judging from interviews with Emerich and Devlin, they didn't appear to have much respect for the source material and i think it shows intheir final product.

These are valid reasons to dislike G98, but I wouldn't say anyone is a lesser fan by enjoying it or even considering it to be their favorite Godzilla movie. No one here has a monopoly on what Godzilla is or shouldbe. There are certainly enough interpetations of the character (like Batman) that I am free to pick out the ones I like and ignore those I don't. I'm just glad to share a fandom with people who are passionate about it, even if it means disagreements and the occasional hurt feelings.