Official Godzilla 2016 discussion thread!

Thanks alot BBB :).

Perhaps we could change the subject to more on the lines of how the plot will go, what do you guys think currently?

It really all depends. Without knowing what they plan to do, its hard to say. I'm hoping for something unique though.

GorillaGodzilla:

One of the beauties of this fandom and this genre is its wideness: there's plenty of room for all tastes and preferences. So, there's no offense taken.

We all agree that we want to see a great film from Toho in 2016; that they have learned some things regarding production time, script and story preparation and giving filmmakers the room to practice their art.

So, we can disagree about films. There's no need to go away. We have a lot to look forward to, God willing. Hopefully this year things wil start to crank up. I am hoping to hear about the live action and special effects directors in a couple of months. I'm not holding my breath, but I'm hoping just the same. That's part of the joy of reading about and following film production: anticipating, and then enjoying whatever is sent our way. This is what it was like in 1999 while Godzilla 2000 Millenium wad being filmed. It would be nice, rather, it would be great, if we had someone like Hico of "Don't Be Defeated, Japanese Godzilla!" to send us what is released in Japan as the film moves toward completion. Hico, if you're out there and happen to read this, we would be happy for whatever you can send our way.

Jamaal is speaking my language here. 

GG, 

Jamaal is absolutely right. Godzilla is a worldwide icon, a pop culture of entertainment, he is made for everyone to enjoy. Our fan base is what connects us to each other. We all have our favorite films, suits, directors, etc. So what if we don't agree on some things? It's that passion that keeps us going.

Now, my question is this. Will Toho make this new film suitable for children as well? We also need to think about the children. :)

Hey i was around and still a big G-Fan during Godzilla 1999's production, it was indeed a fun experience. BBB i think all G movie's can be seen by children. I dont see why this would be any different.

I think it should have the same aspect all of the good Godzilla movies have. Have a story and characters children can watch and enjoy, but have a story compelling and characers deep enough that I can watch as an adult and see things I never knew were there.

I have a really good feeling about this film. I don't know why, other than the projected schedule Toho referred to generally, in the production announcement. It's been over ten years since Final Wars. I hope alot has been learned and the intent is to make a great film, something truly remarkable. I would like to be stunned-in a good way- when I see it. A jaw-dropping spectacle is what I really want Toho to deliver.

I think they can do this. I really do. 

^I do as well, but I'm too cynical to think it will really be that remarkable. It might be better than Godzilla '14, but the likelyhood of that is also dependant on a number of factors that we don't know the details to: Director, writer, cast...etc.

IF they're aiming as high as August Rogone predicts, then your feelings may be fairly justified Jamaal.

Another key factor is godzillas screen time. Throughout the years it has varied. I wouldn't mind seeing !have at least 15 minutes or more if they can make it count.

So, hopefully Godzilla can get the dame amount as he did in Godzilla 2000 or even Mothra vs. Godzilla 1964.

How do you all feel about Godzilla getting a good amount of screen time?

So many typos there, anyway, we also need and want this film to either.

A.) Equal that of Gamera 3.

Or B.) Somehow, someway be more along the lines of Ishiro Honda's work.

I hope to God that this film is very successful. I'd hate to think that we could see the end of an era.

^I couldn't have said it better, BigBadBen.

A film with the elements mentioned in your last post would be, IMO, an excellent entry in the series.

As for screen time, I hope we see a good amount of Godzilla. He should be the star and dominate the film and story after the mandatory suspenseful build up.

Or, they could shock us and show him right out of the box. And I mean shocking, something overwhelming, and then...have him go away for a while. That kind of tease, I would like. 

@Gman2887: I hope what August is seeing and hearing is accurate in terms of the film's production values. Hopefully with new people involved, there will be a realization on the part of all involved just how important this film is: to the series, the genre, to tokusatsu in general.

If Toho Godzilla 2016 is a critical and box office success, we could be looking at the beginning of an age of great tokusatsu, kaiju film and television. Wouldn't it be great? When digital is the presumed last word in special effects filmmaking, we could see a great reemergence of, and greater appreciation for, this beautiful, finely-crafted and handed-down-with care artform in the land that gave birth to it.

Eiji Tsuburaya said, “Our technique was born from our poverty.” 

And what an amazing, beautiful child! 

Here's an interview with Ed Godziszewski:

http://www.cosmoetica.com/DSI32.htm

It's a great read.

Thanks for that link Jamaal. Since G14 didn't give us the man of the hour, hopefully we can see Akira Takarada reprise his role as Ogata to provide a link to the past for this new film.

^This is a brilliant idea, BigBadBen.

We were deprived of having Takarada-san in the Legendary film. What would be better than having him in Toho Godzilla 2016, and as Ogata! This would be beautiful and most fitting, as it would tie the film to the iconic, classic, genre-starting Gojira.

Dear Toho:

Please consider this heartfelt request as you move forward on this most important project.

I would actually prefer if this film didn't connect to the original. With a few the exception of possibly a few movies in millennium every movie has had at least one connection and that is to the original Godzilla. I would prefer if this had no connection and was truly a reboot. It would allow for an introduction to people dealing with a mysterious monster that people truly have no idea what it is or how to stop it. Something we haven't seen from toho since 1954.

^Perhaps, you mean an origin film?

I guess you could call it that

Because with the exception of the early footage in Godzilla X Megaguirus, the Millenium films have been connected to the Gojira only vaguely. There's some dialouge about the original Godzilla in GMK, and that reenactment of his death in Godzilla X Mechagodzilla. But the inclusion of Ogata, even if he's only retelling the events of Godzilla's first appearance, could be poignant. Because, he was actually there. With the exception of Admiral Tachibana recalling of his childhood encounter with Godzilla in GMK, the other scenes from the Millennium films were not the accounts of eye witnesses. Ogata, the officer with Southern Sea Shipping Company, is our window into the psyche of someone in Tokyo during the first attacks. And his perspective of those invents is unique, as he was with Serizawa when the Oxygen Destroyer was deployed to kill the terror that had destroyed Tokyo.

This way we could have something new, that's also connected to the past. As I've said in other posts, I feel a stunning, graphic presentation of the original ship disasters along with the ensuing panic and confusion, with updated SPFX, could help to set a tone of horror and suspense for the film's narrative. It should be moving and visually fantastic at the same time. Perhaps, one of the POV's could be that of a ship's crew as Godzilla rises out of the sea and then obliterates the vessal in a white flash. And to be honest, I love period pieces. I would love to see a glimpse of Tokyo, however brief, circa 1954.  

So my motives for a connection to the original story go beyond a cameo for a series and genre favorite.

But, I see your point.

@Durpoo4:

On the other hand, an origin film would be, IMO, a great idea.

Do you see it taking place in 1954, or in the present or near future?