Following on my review of King Kong (1933), why not take a look at the equally popular and iconic Godzilla? Rather than a review of any singular film in the Godzilla series, I'll be looking at both the 1998 and 2014 remakes of the original Godzilla film from 1954. Through this comparison, we'll see that Hollywood's obsession with remakes may be starting to pay off, with the 2014 film remaining loyal to the original whilst also having fresh ideas. That is, however, after they got it terribly wrong in 1998.
In the 1954 original film, directed by Ishiro
Honda, Godzila is awoken by nuclear fallout, and causes mass hysteria and destruction throughout
Japan. Being that the film was made less than a decade after the bombings of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II, the origins of the monster serve as
symbolism for Japan’s fear of nuclear weapons. The first Hollywood remake, directed by Roland Emmerich, has Godzilla's origins come from similar circumstances, but completely ignores the symbolism of nuclear threat. Instead, the film seldom makes reference to what Godzilla represents, instead favouring an abundance of set pieces where Godzilla is continuously chased by a less-than-competent military team. The only time Godzilla's origins bear any meaning to the plot is when a team of French Secret Service agents reveal there intentions to cover up France's role in the creation of Godzilla via the nuclear tests. This plot-point is only used as an excuse for further action sequences, and any meaning that it has dies as soon as the events of the film are resolved.
After the critical backlash of Roland Emmerich’s version, there wasn't an American produced film featuring Godzilla until Legendary Pictures’ adaptation in 2014, directed by Gareth Edwards. In this version, the character Dr. Ishiro Serizawa (Ken Watanabe) explains that in 1954, Godzilla was awoken by nuclear tests, but no mention is made of the attacks Japan suffered as depicted in the original film. Instead, Serizawa explains that more nuclear “tests” took place, which were in fact efforts to kill the monster. Although the fear of nuclear threat theme remains the same with Godzilla’s origin, the omission of Godzilla causing destruction to Japan in this contemporary version means that Godzilla’s symbolism to Japan, representing their specific fears after the Hiroshima bombings, again bears no meaning. Instead, Godzilla is given a more heroic status, as seen in the film’s final moments. After Godzilla defeats two monsters, a television news report reads: “King of the Monsters- Saviour of our city?”. The only other time the 2014 film references the original’s themes of nuclear threat is when Serizawa explains to a military officer that his father died in the Hiroshima bombings. However, this mention of Hiroshima serves as Serizawa’s argument against the military using a nuclear bomb to kill the monsters, in an effort to convince that Godzilla is the solution to bring balance. Serizawa’s want for Godzilla to defeat the monsters is an example of the themes explored through this contemporary production of the Godzilla story: man versus nature. As director Edwards explains: “We've taken it very seriously and the theme is man versus nature and Godzilla is certainly the nature side of it. You can’t win that fight. Nature’s always going to win and that’s what the subtext of our movie is about. He’s an anti-hero. I wouldn't describe him as a good guy, but he’s not evil personified. He’s the punishment we deserve, you know?”. With this in mind, though differing slightly from the original, the 2014 version of Godzilla is a more faithful adaptation of Honda's 1954 film. It presents thought-provoking themes that are relevant to audiences at the time, whereas Emmercih's 1998 remake merely used the important origin story of Godzilla to add more action sequences on top of the many set-pieces already presented.
Aside from the themes of the film, Edwards' Godzilla design is more faithful to the iconic monster's look. Being that the design had been established for 44 years when Roland Emmerich's film was released, and with it being a recognisable piece of pop-culture, fans were unsatisfied by the new look of Godzilla. For a start, the appearance is so drastically different from how Godzilla looks, that the design looks more akin to that of the T-Rex in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park, released 5 years prior. Godzilla is also permanently hunched over has a grey-looking skin tone. Whereas the original Godzilla appears to also be based on a T-Rex, he stood tall, which gave him a more intimidating presence. The 1998 Godzilla is based more on an Iguana, and doesn't bear any of the trademark Godziila characteristics, such as the nuclear breath and ability to withstand military weapons. Both abilities were re-established in the 2014 version. As well as this, there was an opponent (or opponents in this case) for Godzilla to fight, something that had become a staple of the Japanese Godzilla series.
In conclusion, the 2014 re-imagining can serve as an example that Hollywood remakes can have a better, consistent future. By drawing on the themes and designs established in the 1954 original, whilst also adding its own ideas to the story, audience's will be more satisfied, as shown clearly by the critical reception and box-office takings. With the 1998 version, the filmmakers seemed to ignore the important factors of the Godzilla character and story, and their attempt at originality fell flat. I hope the next time Hollywood plans to remake another classic, they keep both these attempts in mind, so that not only will they produce more faithful adaptations, but better films.
After the critical backlash of Roland Emmerich’s version, there wasn't an American produced film featuring Godzilla until Legendary Pictures’ adaptation in 2014, directed by Gareth Edwards. In this version, the character Dr. Ishiro Serizawa (Ken Watanabe) explains that in 1954, Godzilla was awoken by nuclear tests, but no mention is made of the attacks Japan suffered as depicted in the original film. Instead, Serizawa explains that more nuclear “tests” took place, which were in fact efforts to kill the monster. Although the fear of nuclear threat theme remains the same with Godzilla’s origin, the omission of Godzilla causing destruction to Japan in this contemporary version means that Godzilla’s symbolism to Japan, representing their specific fears after the Hiroshima bombings, again bears no meaning. Instead, Godzilla is given a more heroic status, as seen in the film’s final moments. After Godzilla defeats two monsters, a television news report reads: “King of the Monsters- Saviour of our city?”. The only other time the 2014 film references the original’s themes of nuclear threat is when Serizawa explains to a military officer that his father died in the Hiroshima bombings. However, this mention of Hiroshima serves as Serizawa’s argument against the military using a nuclear bomb to kill the monsters, in an effort to convince that Godzilla is the solution to bring balance. Serizawa’s want for Godzilla to defeat the monsters is an example of the themes explored through this contemporary production of the Godzilla story: man versus nature. As director Edwards explains: “We've taken it very seriously and the theme is man versus nature and Godzilla is certainly the nature side of it. You can’t win that fight. Nature’s always going to win and that’s what the subtext of our movie is about. He’s an anti-hero. I wouldn't describe him as a good guy, but he’s not evil personified. He’s the punishment we deserve, you know?”. With this in mind, though differing slightly from the original, the 2014 version of Godzilla is a more faithful adaptation of Honda's 1954 film. It presents thought-provoking themes that are relevant to audiences at the time, whereas Emmercih's 1998 remake merely used the important origin story of Godzilla to add more action sequences on top of the many set-pieces already presented.
Aside from the themes of the film, Edwards' Godzilla design is more faithful to the iconic monster's look. Being that the design had been established for 44 years when Roland Emmerich's film was released, and with it being a recognisable piece of pop-culture, fans were unsatisfied by the new look of Godzilla. For a start, the appearance is so drastically different from how Godzilla looks, that the design looks more akin to that of the T-Rex in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park, released 5 years prior. Godzilla is also permanently hunched over has a grey-looking skin tone. Whereas the original Godzilla appears to also be based on a T-Rex, he stood tall, which gave him a more intimidating presence. The 1998 Godzilla is based more on an Iguana, and doesn't bear any of the trademark Godziila characteristics, such as the nuclear breath and ability to withstand military weapons. Both abilities were re-established in the 2014 version. As well as this, there was an opponent (or opponents in this case) for Godzilla to fight, something that had become a staple of the Japanese Godzilla series. In conclusion, the 2014 re-imagining can serve as an example that Hollywood remakes can have a better, consistent future. By drawing on the themes and designs established in the 1954 original, whilst also adding its own ideas to the story, audience's will be more satisfied, as shown clearly by the critical reception and box-office takings. With the 1998 version, the filmmakers seemed to ignore the important factors of the Godzilla character and story, and their attempt at originality fell flat. I hope the next time Hollywood plans to remake another classic, they keep both these attempts in mind, so that not only will they produce more faithful adaptations, but better films.
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