For me I rank the Monsterverse movies as their order of release being their rank order. I really enjoyed the first movies tone and the cinematography was excellently executed. The second one dialed up the action but the human characters felt more cartoony which loses it points. The third and fourth continue in that progression. I haven't seen Minus One yet it is on my list for this weekend but I have a feeling it will be exactly what I want from my Godzilla movies.
I agree, there's no better time to be a Godzilla fan. I hate that so many people try to divide the fanbase by comparing -1 to the MV. If MV Godzilla was like -1 people would just get bored of more of the same
I think a lot of the hate for the Monsterverse is a bit undeserved. It’s the only current ongoing film series for Godzilla, people don’t understand that Godzilla can be adapted to different genres.
@@Kentro-p8yPeople who hate the monsterverse are just pretentious snobs who feel triggered because we dare to enjoy something that doesn't fit their specific criteria of what a Godzilla film should be. These aren't real fans.
Had a blast with this movie! Really loved how much they were able to achieve with visual storytelling here. Also while I was hesitant about Skar King I ended up enjoying him because while not the biggest and strongest, he made up for it with intelligence and malice. Little detail I also learned and not sure if this was intentional is that the way Skar is spelled actually can be translated from Scottish dialect meaning "Wild" so he could also be referred to as the Wild King
I don't know if they're really just down to earth types who want to avoid the limelight, or if they are getting ridiculously screwed over, but the people who do the computer rendering portrayal rolls in this are very underappreciated ( amongst others, I'm sure )
Essentially the Monster Verse is a combination of the Showa and Heisei era of Godzilla movies. At this point they may as well bring in Gigan and Space Godzilla.
I'd love to see Megalon. They could make it so the Iwi tribe split in half, some of them lived underground in the Hollow Earth for safety from the titans, instead of being protected by the Kongs, instead their tribe worshipped and was protected by Megalon. Jia and Dr.Andrews rediscover this branch of the Iwi and a civil war begins, thus pitting Kong against Megalon. Or this branch of the Iwi try to invade the surface world, with Megalon at the front of their efforts, leading to a show down with Godzilla
I saw this movie in theaters and I can say with full confidence that this movie is a big-budgeted Showa-era Godzilla movie and I think it's endemic on one of the core parts of Godzilla's appeal. Godzilla's kinda like Batman in that he's both Serious and Silly. In a way, Godzilla is a hero/villain, a savior/destroyer, a god/monster. Really, there's no such thing as a definitive Godzilla and that's the reason he's an iconic character even after 70 years.
Right?! This film is the purest Showa entry of the MonsterVerse (Arguable with KotM) and that's why I love it. The action was fun as hell. And yes, the human character development was non-existent but honestly I am ok with it. This was a fun Kaiju fight and that's all I asked. PS: Skar King is an ahole
I think one thing i learned about Kaiju movies and even some horror movies is that ypu always have the "serious" first entry, and then things get more "wacky" as things progress. My theory being that in the first entry the monster is the Extraordinary threat to "normal people". But if you do a sequel that very same monster needs to be changed so you create an even wierder monster. Continue until cycle untill people get sick of it or reboot it.
That's true to an extent, but we've seen it happen where the series later on in can return to seriousness without a reboot. Invasion of Astro Monster (interplanetary intrigue and tragic romance) literally follows up Ghidorah The Three Headed Monster. I guess I can see how one would think of Astro Monster as being campy solely due to the Godzilla dance. Godzilla only has like 5 minutes of screentime, and his anthropomorphism was built up over the previous films, so it would be a character regression to remove it. The analogue here is Son of Frankenstein taking things more serious than Bride of Frankenstein and regressing The Monster's speech. The only difference here is that Honda did not regress Godzilla. But if that example doesn't satisfy, Destroy All Monsters is coming off of the campy Son of Godzilla, and while the characters are brightly dressed and combatting an alien invasion, it is serious with far more personal and mundane stakes initially (the hero wants to rescue his brainwashed girlfriend). The monster action is emphasized as almost world ending stakes again, and the final fight is more logical than spectacle since we see Godzilla and Gorosaurus, two monsters already shown to be rather intelligent, strategizing. If that doesn't work for you, then Terror of Mechagodzilla. Basically the playbook of Astro Monster but the Godzilla screentime is leveraged slightly better by having a weaker protagonist who actually can't stand up against the villains. Godzilla still shows up saving children, but that's the whole Gamera thing as well. The Showa Gamera movies are campy, but if you think a monster showing up saving a child can't also exist in a movie that is serious with scale and horror elements, all four Heisei Gamera movies would prove you wrong. But again if that doesn't convince you, Godzilla vs Destoroyah returns the Heisei Godzilla series to its Godzilla 1984 serious stakes and nuclear annihilation fears, in fact raising the existential threat of Burning Godzilla to worldwide but also having the Destoroyah Aggregates be as menacing to normal people as Shockirus in the start of that series but far more plentiful. I agree with you in terms of trend, but in the case of Showa and Monsterverse, the main reason they both have in common that things continued to get campier was Fukuda and Wingard being hired and then brought back. Honda made some campy films (didn't like to as much but did what he was told) but was also the guy who bounced back to serious all three of those Showa times (once even against himself)
@josephgibson5902 Personally I think the first entries to the Showa era (1954) And the Heisai era (1984) were the most grounded and serious of their respected era. I suspect largely because we as the audience are expected to believe it's the first time humanity has encountered a Kaiju. Even in more recent entries like Minus 1 and Shin the gravitas is kept because it's humanities first time coming across Godzilla. I garentee if they do sequels to Shin and Minus 1 inevitably another kaiju or mech would need to get involved because you only get to keep the novelty of Godzilla showing up in your cannon once. After that the novelty wears off and you need to escalate to keep the conversation going. Hence why these movies become more "campy". Now I'm not saying the camp is bad, I don't mind it Personally. But it seems like alot of people don't recognize this pattern. And sure while other Godzilla entries may dip their toes into more serous matters the first movies tend to have a big ask for the audience; Believe that Godilla is real in the current time and place your watching it. I don't really have an answer for why this happens or how to keep the seriousness of the first entry, just as a consequence the moment a kaiju or alien invasion or other sci-fi weirdness happens in your story it becomes so divorced from reality most people will not associate "that" world with our own, it then becomes a "fictional" world. You see what I'm saying?
@@KrazyStargazer I see what you're saying. I just don't entirely agree. Godzilla 1984 overall handles the existential dread and serious grounded terror better than Godzilla vs Destoroyah imo, but that isn't because it is impossible for Destoroyah to have been darker. It's only because Destoroyah is technically speaking a worse film, written less smoothly and with jarring special effects errors in some parts. Like I said, all the ingredients were there for it to be darker, more serious and more grounded by having not only nuclear annihilation stakes but smaller scale Destoroyah Aggregates to personally go after humans. I think the Monsterverse is fully capable of giving us 2014 again provided it shifts the focus temporarily away from Hollow Earth back onto human reactions to the Kaiju. As for if Kaiju fight sequels to Shin or Minus One would inherently be wacky, I don't think that's necessarily a relevant thing here. 54 has an oxygen destroyer. 84 has a mech fighting Godzilla. 2000 has another monster. Minus One has tugboats pulling Godzilla out of the water. It's more about the presentation than the premise if it winds up goofy or not. Godzilla vs Hedorah is the perfect example of that. Incredibly serious subject matter given that one of the scenes of Hedorah poisoning people actually happened in real life from the pollution at the time, but we regard it as wacky for what it did with that message and for having a child in short pants as the main character. Minus One could have a fight against Anguirus and not be silly. The Heisei series kept a mostly consistent tone, and again ends up off almost as serious as it started(but if the film had been done better would have seemed more serious)
KoM is still the best Legendary film, but GxK was great too. Really channeling that sillier and more fun parts of the Showa era! It was just so much fun. And it had lots of heart too with the mom-daughter dynamic, I enjoyed that too.
@@MattDraper I say there are many kings who share the throne together: the dark and silly prince, the king who is a god and the KING of the monsters. (GAMERA,KING KONG AND GODZILLA)
Finally got around to checking this one out from ya Matt, and I feek you, as always, perfecly captures what makes this movie so much fun. This may be the most "dumb fun" kaiju movie since Godzilla Final Wars, or possibly even as far back as Godzilla vs Megalon. I hope you have a video planned on analysing Godzilla Minus One at some point as well. I loved that one so much abd would to see it get the ol Matt Draper review treatment. As well as some of the other non Godzilla Toho movies that are akso great like Rodan, The Mysterians, Matongo, etc.
I love the writing of your videos, Matt. Always an earnest look at the topic, an honest exploration ideas, and super dry, silly humor. You're legit one of my favorite channels.
I had a conversation with my dad the other day. We had just watched minus 1 together and we were talking about how good it was. We don’t really like the last couple of films in the Godzilla monster verse series. But I told him that you can’t have all serious movies all around, it’ll get old and it’ll be forgotten. But if you have a palate cleanser based on your taste you can continue to enjoy parts you enjoy. You have to let the cycle continue
I just want to say that Brazilian movie theaters went wild on that ending. After many disaster, alien invasion, transformers and Kaiju movies, finally, we got to see one of our major cities destroyed in great detail ❤
@MattDraper Ahh dude, you are my hero for suggesting Biollante. This is a popular, respected channel. Every other channel always screams for Destroyah or Space Godzilla, but only you have said Biollante. I've commented that on so many videos that I'd be horribly embarrassed to know the number. I would love to see a movie where Biollante emerges to take the Earth back, being completely against Godzilla's coexistence style of maintaining order. I love Kong more than 99% of Godzilla fans, but this would definitely be a 60%Godzilla/40%Kong movie. It would have Biollante emerging from the Hollow Earth in starting to slowly cover the Earth in green, like a giant angry Swamp Thing. Other cannon fodder Titans of all sizes would then escape from the opening that Biollante created. However, I'd love for another title monster or two to escape. Anguirus would be great, but I'd also take the Monsterverse's scrapped version, Rokmutul. Titanosaurus, Megalon, or a more animalistic, less goofy version of King Caesar would be great choices as well. It would just be nice to have another mammal kaiju. Anyways, the kid in me just wants to see Kong swinging off of giant vines and trees that Biollante created, and landing huge punches/kicks/weapon attacks on her. Biollante could be such a huge threat that all the evil Titans could be new creations that ultimately have no chance against Godzilla and Kong. Yet, it takes something like Godzilla, Kong, Anguirus, and a final act Rodan return, to finally put her down. I have ideas for the human story as well, but holy f*** this comment is long. Probably no one will ever read this, but I just wanted to get the idea out and thank you for casting your vote for Biollante. And for your unparalleled videos, of course.
I’ve said this before, but I love how it seems like Godzilla actively doesn't want to be here. He spends the whole movie getting stronger so he can end the fight as soon as possible and go back to bed. He HATES Kong and all the wacky adventures he goes on, and is guilt-tripped by Mothra into helping him. He's an unwilling participant in his own movie and its kinda hilarious That look he gives Kong at the end after Kong smirks at him is, “If it wasn’t for Mothra, I’d have left you for dead with a smile on my face. I had to beat on 3 women today (Scylla, Tiamat, Shimu), and being associated with you has been my lowest moment today”
I'm going to be honest I thought the last movie was okay. But the one thing this movie did wife was visual but the one thing this movie did showing how the kaijus talk to each other without actually saying any words.
This was the first movie I've been to in 5 years where people actually clapped the whole time and it was a ball to watch. Really, my only complaints on the Godzilla/Kong were the scores being okay to ehh, so I hope Bear mccreary comes back for the next MV.
Imagine if in a rated R blu ray exclusive they included a whole giant ape Attack on Titan scene where you get to see the fate of the doomed science outpost
As a fan of both Godzilla and Breaking Benjamin, I gotta say this video was like a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup in the best possible way. I also appreciate your perspective, even though you prefer a more serious tone when it comes to these Godzilla films you can at least acknowledge his goofier side and still enjoy it for what it is. I've always been a fan of Godzilla films where he's more of an anti hero/hero but I loved Minus One because of how well it was executed. This was a very nice vid, hope you're doing well and best of luck in the future - A fellow Godzilla fan
I said the same thing as I left the cinema, that this movie was a 70s Godzilla movie with modern day special effects. As for Scar King he was like Ric Flair, the weasel type of Villain. It's funny you mention outer space, because that's also what I thought they would do next, I still want to see Space Godzilla in the monsterverse, I thought GxK was entertaining but can understand fans that want a more serious Godzilla, I think thats why King of monsters is the best so far, because it kind of sits on that borderline, where as now we have fully crossed over to goofy madness.
I remember I saw this movie with my Dad, my youngest brother and cousin. Admittedly it was hard to pay attention to the movie at points because the younger ones asked me questions, but I can tell they were having fun with it so I let it slide. This might be their introduction to Godzilla and Kong, so who am I to take that away from them?
I had a lot of fun watching this movie! Loving the silent scenes between Kong and the other giant apes, like it's a bonus Planet of the Apes movie. I don't find it nearly as goofy as the older Japanese movies, though (I personally still find Final Wars far more unhinged). Also does anyone else think Tiamat looks like Mizutsune from Monster Hunter??
The things they did in this movie didn't just sell it for me, it was the fact that Adam Wingard even admitted that he took inspiration from the showa era, and growing up on those movies i can definitely see it in this movie. If they decide to make another action-packed monsterverse movie, Adam Wingard should definitely direct it or at least write the fight scenes
I just wanted to point out that you said Godzilla x Kong in reference to Godzilla vs Kong at the beginning. Also this was my first reviewed movie on Letterboxd and I just spent the whole review praising it for being incredibly absurd and silly but playing it completely straight. It felt more like a comic book movie than most comic book movies with how unapologetically weird and bizarre it was. I completely loved it. 9/10 idk where I'd rank it within all the movies but it's towards the top for sure.
Skar king is such a good and terrifying villain. I didn’t think they would have the guts to show what they did. Like severed heads, torture, and even mass rape.
I’m hoping there’s a Megalon movie. Underground world? Check. Underground people that worship giant monsters? Check. It’s the perfect setting for a Megalon movie Also, Hedorah was also an alien and so a space movie featuring Hedorah trying to get to Earth to eat all our pollution and propagate would be a great idea imo. Especially when you see how important the topic of climate change, pollution, and global warming is to people today.
I wish I liked it as much as most of this comment section. No, I am not comparing it to Minus One, and I generally like the goofier, Showa style, but it just fell flat for me. I think the main reason was the pacing: Kong and the humans' storyline actually moved, but every Godzilla interlude felt like a sports reporter cutting to something out of the game. The antagonist took way too long to be introduced in the narrative, and he's a pretty underwhelming, small potatoes foe after Ghidorah and Mechagodzilla. If it's true this was originally a Kong solo film, that would have solved a lot of problems, giving the narrative more room to breathe without cutting to "Meanwhile Godzilla is still spinning his wheels" and the smaller scale villain would work better without a nuclear juggernaut like Godzilla being there.
I think they can do serious solo movies, like 2014, and KOTM and Skull Island but just by nature a team up of giant monsters is going to get a little cheesy and ridiculous. Which is why I don't mind the team up films leaning more into the silly Showa era stuff, as long as the solo movies can continue to do what they've already done so far
GxK was the first Godzilla movie I saw in theaters since I didn't have time or resources to watch previous ones and Minus One skipped my home country altogether. So better late than never. Had a total blast with it and it was the start of a deeper dive into the series overall with videos from various Kaiju RU-vidrs, including this one. Anyway, I once heard that GxK could be described as having the vibe of a late Showa film in essence, but without directly copying from it. Also, I could've wanted a few more Toho kaijus to be in it though, but the original titans were decent enough. Wonder how things will wind up next for the MV, considering the eventual change of director and desire to focus more on Godzilla next. The MV has performed really well in an age filled with flops so Legendary needs to pick the right people moving forward. Hoping for the best.
I saw this in theaters and loved every goofy minute of it. The Godzilla/Kong films are something akin to pro-wrestling. It's not high art, and it's not trying to be. It's just a ton of fun. Funny enough, I just watched Godzilla Minus One last night at home. I didn't get a chance to see it in theaters, and I regret it because it was awesome. I honestly love we have two completely different Godzilla franchises running these days. You have the more introspective, serious kind in Shin Godzilla and Minus One. And the goofier, pro-wrestling kind harkening back to the Showa Era. And it's totally okay to love both for their own reasons.
This movie gave me *exactly* what I wanted out of it. Same with Godzilla Minus One. I got exactly what I wanted out of it. This has been a fantastic year for being a Godzilla fan.
You took the words right out of my mouth with this review! Although personally I really love this movie more in comparison to GvK which is the the only MV film I didn't like mainly because it felt like the most straight forward and shallow of the films with an almost lacking identity and coming of KOTM it was disappointing, which is something I was happy to say that film wasn't. It was fun, goofy, emotionally engaging and a big refresher in the Hollywood landscape. I'd say this film is a 7 or 8 out of 10. I really did love this one over the other.
My ideal Godzilla Monsterverse Film would be something in the vein of Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal, close to no dialogue yet heartfelt, harrowing stories and bonkers, gonzo action, cherry on top if Gamera finally shares the screen with Kong and Godzilla!
Great video as always! I adored 2021's Godzilla vs Kong, as I thought it was a lot of fun, but unfortunately didn't like GxK from this year in the same way. I'm glad lots of people did enjoy it though! It just wasn't for me.
Gonna' save this for *after* I watch GxK, as I don't want to be spoiled. Great first five minutes, though! I'm echoing everyone else here by saying that there is room for both the campy and the serious with Godzilla. He's a freaking cool giant lizard, iconic in all of his incarnations (even in his goofball 60's/70's era😆)!
1. minus one (which I literally saw 3 hours ago. Predictable character but well acted, beautifully shot and amazing music) 2. KOTM 3.2014 4. GvK (for the fun factor) 5. Kong (a better technical film than most but I’m a sucker for Godzilla 6. This (silly as shit but still fun to watch)
I’m waitin for like a Godzilla B.C. type of movie. Ancient Godzilla and his relatives, Ghidorah’s initial invasion, young Skar and Shimo, the great ape war, an ancient “Biollante” that encompasses the entire Hollow Earth, GOROSAURUS. There’s so much they could do in a prequel.
I find it funny that alot of people complained this was nothing but slop because it wasn't minus one when in reality, most godzilla movies are like this , minus one is the expection not the rule, most godzilla movies are silly fun not serious dramas
"Most godzilla movies are like this" not true, most godzilla films aren't campy or focus more on the action than the story. Godzilla vs destoroyah wasn't a drama and tell me that film was campy and silly. GXMG wasn't a drama and tell me that film was silly fun. Gmk wasn't a drama either I can go on. Point is, the only serious godzilla films aren't just inherently gojira, shin gojira and minus 1. It's not entirely good to say most godzilla films are campy when many godzilla films with monster fights have been serious in terms of tone. Better to disprove people by showing them that godzilla films with fights can be both campy and serious.
I love how wholesome Matt is in this review. However, I don't know why he called GvK “Godzilla x Kong” at 1:51 and misinterpreted Mothra powering up “Kong” in KoTM at 14:45.
Never liked Adam Wingard since his Deathnote Movie interviews with cast/crew and seeing that film - and with no return numbers to prove the DN film was lackluster, Wingard can go on to do two kong-godzilla films where the human stories arent as grand as the monsters' stories, and characters get dead relatives instead of characterizations: 11? dead brother, her mom and dad? dead son, alexander skaarsgard? dead brother. Paperoby from atlanta? dead wife. New Zealand girl? dead village. Kong? dead parents, dead race - jk/retcon.
Now that they’ve confirmed they want the next Monsterverse movie to focus mainly on Godzilla, I’m praying they bring Biolante or Space Godzilla and make it serious again.
Mothra always had a connection with the Iwi people. In Kong Skull Island one of the natives has the Mothra Symbol on her forehead. Plus them communicating just by looking is Telepathy.
This movie was fun as hell. Some Sourpuss critics were pretty hard on this one when it’s the second time in 3 years that the monster-verse has helped keep the movie theater industry from flatlining.
@AgentGodzillaRP1 oh wow I didn’t think of that! Thanks for pointing that out, genius! Of course my entire point is that even if they hate those movies they should at least acknowledge that these movies helped an industry which is in one of its most challenging periods ever, but its ok-words are hard! Thanks, you truly are a RP! Lol
@AgentGodzillaRP1Not liking a movie is one thing, crying over it and attempting to insult, belittle and assert yourself over people who do enjoy it like a petulant child because it doesn't fit your specific criteria on what movies should be is another.
While there is fun to be had in this film for me personally its my least favorite of the series, while I thought it did things better than GvK but it also did things a bit worse imo, I will say that this film is on that same level as showa films like Godzilla vs Gigan and Godzilla vs Megalon, not great but still has enjoyment in there. I do respect those who did like it though, for me the last two films isn't as good as the first 3 entries personally. My viewing experience of it is still pretty positive and happy it did succeed for the series to continue.Great review and really like your ranking of the MV films thus far, KOTM is still my top.
I say there are many kings who share the throne together: the silly guardian of the universe (gamera), the king of an island (King Kong) and the KING of the monsters (Godzilla)
I really enjoyed this movie overall tbh, this just like Mr. RU-vidr over here said Outland-ish Goofy movie 🎥 it still stands on its own , I really liked the fight scenes and enjoy their meet you in Egypt before going in to the Hollow Earth. Aside from all the criticism and scrutiny I still enjoyed it and I really have to watch the older Toho movies
Holy crap, if they hadn't been able to have Mothra and used that Phosphera I would have been so disapointed and beyond confused. I totally understand why they might have tried a different character if they weren't able to get the rights. Would have still been sad to see her missing but I'd get it
Godzilla x Kong is my favorite monsterverse movie besides KOTM.Tgis is a Kong movie not Godzilla movie but still great. I love the non dialogue Titan screen time and the humans characters were actually enjoyable. I just want the monsters to feel heavy again, I love the suplex and Godzilla dive but let’s calm it down a bit. We had 2 movies of them defying gravity on the surface. Hollow earth is different though, it’s made for them so they’re not suppose to feel huge. Also GxK made 567,584.067 according to box office mojo and it’s still behind Skull island, they put the movie in streaming too early with $1mil left to go
Yeah, I’ll admit, I haven’t seen GxK yet having only seen GvK recently (but I will). But the goofiness of the latest release was a bit disappointing to see via the trailers (i.e. seeing Godzilla run like Usain Bolt is just ridiculous). Nevertheless, it’s streaming now so I’ll probably see it this week. 🤷🏻♂️
