Godzilla Movie

The Godzilla Expanded Universe: How We Should Take It

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TheGMan123

MemberTitanosaurusMay-20-2015 5:38 AM

After quite a bit of discussion that many of the regulars on this site know about as of recently, courtesy of a certain GorillaGodzilla, I think it's about time I made a full discussion on this matter, rather than taking up anymore precious commenting space on the thread.

The Godzilla expanded universe. What exactly does this mean? Well, to put it in simple terms, whatever the films don't cover, other things do. Things like books, comics, etc.

So why is this important now? I'll tell you why. In this community in particular, many of its inhabitants see the expanded material of the films to be secondary in nature, or even completely irrelevant when discussing the facts. But I challenge that notion. I challenge their train of thought. I dare to say that I think that's a load of baloney. You guys wanna know why? I'll tell you all why.

Coming from various fandom backgrounds, we'd do debates all the time, just like here. But unlike here, we make sure to consider everything. I mean everything. Recently, the issue of the validity of the usage of supplementary materials in the debates around here has sprung up. Now, as the guys over at these debates know fully well, I like to use supplementary material when possible.

But their train of thought is that if you can't get it from the movies, don't get it anywhere else. Again, baloney. If it's officially endorsed by the creators, hasn't been stated to not be relevant to the main media outlet, and/or outright confirmed as relevant, why shouldn't we use it? No good reason not to. The ridiculousness of the content of these supplementary outlets doesn't matter, their canonicity when it comes to the content doesn't matter, and their status as merchandise doesn't matter.

If the creators say they matter to the facts revolving around their movie and/or other main media outlet, we take it, because they decree what does and doesn't matter, despite what some might claim. For example, it has been brought up by GMan2887 that Toho has officially recgonized supplementary material, ranging from books to mangas, for a few of their old Godzilla films. He doesn't use them for the purposes of debating, even though, according to word of God, they are an official part of the facts of the films. I know, I know, he says that they're just too strange and out there to use, but that shouldn't matter. If the creators themselves say they matter, we shoudn't be arguing, because, well, they're the creators, and have control over what is and isn't valid in their creations. 

Now, the situation gets a bit trickier when the creators don't say anything on the matter of the expanded material. They don't confirm anything, but also don't disprove anything. However, that doesn't mean one person using/not using it  has any less validity behind their claims than someone not using/using it. It just means that until we get confirmation down the line, we personally take it or not.

"But what about debates using facts then?", you might ask. Well, I guess that in and of itself is up for debate. The facts from this supplementary material aren't any less valid than those from the main film itself unless stated so later. As a general rule of thumb, film facts take priority over expanded material facts. But anything not outright contradicting the main material is ripe for usage in debates, because it's still officially endorsed by the creators, even if they have nothing to say on the matter.

So, what do you guys think? Just remember that this is a very tricky subject to discuss, and if you have something to say, don't be afraid to say it. Just don't anyone to understand or even like what you say, as I have done here.

38 Replies

TheGMan123

MemberTitanosaurusMay-23-2015 12:37 PM

Also, in case you guys try to tell me that Awakening doesn't matter, I hereby direct you all to this:

An article with multiple sources, links, and a video, detailing the comic as an official tie-in prequel to the film.

According to Gareth's own words, the comic will "pave the way to the movie". Now, I don't know about you guys, but I'm pretty sure his intents are clear. The graphic novel is officially relevant to the film.

Durp004

MemberBaragonMay-25-2015 8:15 AM

I actually love that video. Let's take a look at it shall we? Gareth never refers to the book as a prequel to his movie in that video he says, "the official godzilla graphic novel from legendary comics that will pave the way for the film is may."

 

At no point does he say prequel, and the phrase "paving the way" can be looked at a few ways. 1. It sets up the character and story. 2 advertises and gets people excited for the upcoming film. 

Since once the film was released it made no mention of anything in the comic, rectonned the crap out of it's story I think the phrase was clear. He advertised the comic to advertise his movie, not advertise the story. That was a very careful choice of wording from him, the point was the this was a prequel book but he just says its a godzilla book from legendary comics.

 

Your logic with debates seems somewhat strange. You admit that if the parent company acknowledges something it matters regardless of the cannonicity of the work however say that films supercede these facts that other media puts out. Problem is that if it doesn't matter if they're cannon then it wouldn't make sense that movies supercede them. The books are their own things if not cannon so everything in them would also have to be looked at even if going against what the movie showed, since you seem to think that the company with rights has final say that means anything they give the go ahead to comes to equal play at that point. The movies, books, and comics are all equal and none of the facts cancel out or take priority over the others since the companies say they all matter that would mean they all matter equally unless the company specifies which one is more important(once again using your logic of if they don't specifically point something out then we can't know forsure). So now we have to look at a 400 ft tall G14 since he's that way in the book and even if the movie says otherwise since the book is official and advertised by legendary we have to look at it's specifications to the character as much as the movie.

 

Just pointing out the flaws your rules and laws to debates bring. At least when we only look at movies it's a set thing that everyone can follow rather than this strange equation where, everything company makes relevant+ noncannon things matter= movies above all in terms of rules but other things count if not specifically going against movies however only if the movie specifically points it out otherwise we have no way of knowing and must assume it's true.

TheGMan123

MemberTitanosaurusMay-25-2015 8:44 AM

Notice, however, that Gareth says that, AND pretty much every source states Awakening as an official prequel tie-in. Plus, the problem I'm having with you guys is that, when I want to quantify my observations with more than just those observations which can easily be discredited by ruling of majority despite said majority not having any more justification on their own observations, I get shut down.

I GET IT. You guys can't accept supplementary material being brought into the fold unless the creators explicitly tell you and/or infer that they've been brought into the fold.  

But you know what? I actually want to make a strong argument with multiple sources to further quantify my observations so that they don't appear to be just that. I swear, it's like you guys are telling me that referencing material that doesn't fall in line with the currently accepted source is wrong, even though I'm only doing what everyone is supposed to do when researching anything.

Look, I'm getting really frustrated at all this, and you guys are too. But look at it this way: When you make something like an essay, or a report, or whatever, do you only look at one source of info on a subject, or do you look at several to get a more in-depth look at the bigger picture?

I have done just that. I used other sources, quantified my observations, got a more in-depth look at the bigger picture. By all accounts, my argument should be counted as solid and well-done. But not here. Here, I have to confer to a narrow-minded outlook that refuses to even acknowledge th idea of putting extra context behind your arguments from sources outside the main media, even though that's what you're supposed to do in every other circumstance.

G. H. (Gman)

AdminGodzillaMay-25-2015 12:28 PM

"However, at the end of the day, I still expect you guys to respect and NOT discredit such additional sources in the future so viciously."

I'll be blunt. No. I still see no reason to consider it or respect in relation to the main source material, therefore I shall not take it into consideration.

Your Guardians of the Galaxy example doesn't apply because that was not something he announced, simply implied/guessed not knowing the long term plan and it has nothing to do with stats or outside material.

Now in GorillaGodzilla's final debate week thread I said you may go on parading that material. I never told you to stop or even never bring it up. I simply said I and others just won't take it into consideration and will likely ignore it for future debates. Hopefully others will agree with your view and take it in consideration, but to me it's meaningless and I see no reason to consider it.

"'Nostalgic' does not equal 'good,' and 'standards' does not equal 'elitism.'" "Being offended is inevitable. Living offended is your choice."

TheGMan123

MemberTitanosaurusMay-25-2015 1:10 PM

It is at this point that I just stop caring, anymore. It's clear that we will never reach an agreement. This part of the thread is done. I want you guys to know, however, that I won't be taking any of your sh*t when it comes to the validity of my claims in future debates. I'm done.

I flat-out refuse to let my observations be squandered by you guys not taking into consideration the context I put behind my interpretations of the source material via external media. If you guys can find a better way to quantify your side of the argument aside from your own personal interpretations from the main media, you better tell me, because my points are and will remain valid until then because I choose to use additional material to work with that better justifies what I say, and not just my own eyes and ears.

And if you continue saying you won't bother with any of it, and ignore my arguments in future debates where I choose a similar method of analysis, then I will make things difficult. Because it is an insult to my integrity as a fan for you guys to do that to me. It is extremely personal to me, and I am not having any of it. Understand? You can ban me for being difficult, suspend my account, but if that's the price to pay for making sure you all understand you do not insult me like that, so be it.

You've angered me, frustrated me to no end, and I am absolutely done. This is personal, and I will see to it that this doesn't happen again. I didn't want this to become personal, but you guys have forced my hand. I wanted to like being a part of this community, I wanted to just be able to give my points in debates, but continue to shut me down like this, and I might end up as bad as Alx was once upon a time ago.

Nobody wants that, especially me, but you all have to understand that I take criticism to my method of analysis very seriously. It's a very personal matter to me. You can see that I've gone on a huge tangent, got all accuse-y, and might even be making threats. You see what this gets you? You guys might as well lock this thread. It has devolved into this, and you might say I brought this upon myself, but you know what? I regret none of it.

I'm glad to have vented out here. I'm glad that I made it clear this isn't something that just goes away. I'm glad that I got a chance to see the rigidity of the manner in which the moderators dictate the interpretation of content.. I'm glad that I met some people who understand why it isn't as clear-cut as "not in the films? doesn't count". I'm glad that I continued to argue against those who don't get it.

TheGMan123

MemberTitanosaurusMay-25-2015 1:44 PM

You know what? Just forget about all of that up above. I'm just flat-out done, here. I don't wanna stay here now, and it;s about time I leave. Some people might miss me, many won't after my ranting recently. But you know what? None of that matters to me anymore. I just need to get away from the folks here for a long while.

Who knows? I might come back at a later point, and we'll all forget any of this ever happened. Until then, I bid all of you farewell.

G. H. (Gman)

AdminGodzillaMay-25-2015 2:21 PM

I'm sorry you've taken this so personally, but the fact is we've given viable counterpoints and no one here, including myself, has ever said you can not use that material. If people agree with you that want to debate with it then carry on. I, Durp and some others will not be among those people.

I don't really understand how or why such can be taken so personally. There has never once been an attack on you or said integrity. We have, however, attacked the material and brought up valid points that counter your arguments; we're going to stick with those arguments as reason to not consider the material in question. If you feel offended by that I apologize, but you really shouldn't and I hope you understand why when/if you return.

"'Nostalgic' does not equal 'good,' and 'standards' does not equal 'elitism.'" "Being offended is inevitable. Living offended is your choice."

Durp004

MemberBaragonMay-26-2015 4:23 AM

Wow big developments after i logged off. Sad to see you go but maybe after you cool off you can look back on this thread and see it's just as "insulting" that you who made no more valid points than us expected us to cater the debates and sources around your own rules and laws to how content is looked at which as i pointed out has flaws of its own. Well if you choose not to come back i wish you the best in whatever you pursue.

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