Sommore Godzilla Talk
May. 4th, 2024 01:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kristenskI recently got my hands on the fantastic "Art of Godzilla: King of the Monsters" book. I had wanted it primarily for all the concept art. It does not disappoint in terms of gorgeous full page spreads of surreally beautiful kaiju art as well as close-up shots of a few gorgeously detailed clay models. I was a little disappointed to see very few rough sketches, and at least one two page spread is laid out rather poorly with Godzilla himself almost lost in the gutter/fold of the book. Still, the art is wonderful and the interviews and discussions were fascinating. I don't think I've read anything on the movie-making process in years, and the amount of digital storyboarding that goes into a modern special effects extravaganza is impressive.
And, while I'm talking Godzilla, let's throw in my (nonspoiler) commentary on "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire". (Does anyone know how you're supposed to say "Godzilla x Kong"? Do you pronounce the X? Is it a stand-in for "plus"? "With"? "Multiplied by"? "Cross" like so many anime use it?)
Anyway, it was a very fun movie. The plot was much more coherent than "Godzilla vs. Kong", the returning human characters were used well, and the monster fights were good fun. The last movie felt like I'd missed an installment where technology suddenly took a leap forward, and I had the sense the villains' background was left on the cutting room floor. (Though I have some hope the Monarch series might fill the latter in. Yes, it's on my watchlist.) This one felt like a much more natural continuation of previous movies, and I enjoyed the new character, Trapper. "Kaiju vet" is a cool job title. There should be a slice of life manga or something about adventures in kaiju veterinary practice. Like the world discovered that most of them are only rampaging because of a sore tooth or something.
Also, Godzilla curling up in the Colosseum in Rome like a cat was oddly adorable, and I love that it's inspired a flood of even more adorable art. Like this and this.
And, while I'm talking Godzilla, let's throw in my (nonspoiler) commentary on "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire". (Does anyone know how you're supposed to say "Godzilla x Kong"? Do you pronounce the X? Is it a stand-in for "plus"? "With"? "Multiplied by"? "Cross" like so many anime use it?)
Anyway, it was a very fun movie. The plot was much more coherent than "Godzilla vs. Kong", the returning human characters were used well, and the monster fights were good fun. The last movie felt like I'd missed an installment where technology suddenly took a leap forward, and I had the sense the villains' background was left on the cutting room floor. (Though I have some hope the Monarch series might fill the latter in. Yes, it's on my watchlist.) This one felt like a much more natural continuation of previous movies, and I enjoyed the new character, Trapper. "Kaiju vet" is a cool job title. There should be a slice of life manga or something about adventures in kaiju veterinary practice. Like the world discovered that most of them are only rampaging because of a sore tooth or something.
Also, Godzilla curling up in the Colosseum in Rome like a cat was oddly adorable, and I love that it's inspired a flood of even more adorable art. Like this and this.
