Classical literature filtered complex theories of human identification and our vast yearning for control beyond our current bounds into unique exposés of brash and curious characters. In simpler words, the original monsters of cinema were far more than just frightening means of entertainment meant to excite and tickle our curiosity for things that go 'bump' in the night. Frankenstein is metaphor for the human’s tendency to play God, attempt to cheat death and face the terrible consequences that come with it. Dracula tickles our innate prejudices towards individuals with strange accents and odd apparel. Playing on the fears of what strangers may be behind closed doors and their charms, Dracula taught us that behind a sexy accent may lay a great deal of bloodlust. And the Wolf-man (my personal favorite) is a wonderful analogy for the beast within us. Seeking to throw down the shackles of society and embrace our gestating turmoil that has us lusting for taboo. The Wolf-man embodies a character that loses our beloved, but often neglected, self control and becomes the beast most of us refuse to believe could exist. Each of these monsters were originally written and developed by authors to be complex and thought provoking themes. Later they'd lose much of their culture.

 

After obtaining mass appreciation on the silver screen, Hollywood would begin to appreciate the potential for sales behind the audience’s screams and simplify these monsters with hollow sequels and spinoffs to generate greater ticket sales. It is this evolution of fear and it's themes that reflect the inner struggle of man which offers me my much matured adoration for Godzilla. After Frankenstein, Dracula, the Wolf-man and their counterparts were watered down to nothing more than cheap thrills, the Japanese were struggling with the true terrors of reality. After being devastated by a war of immense destruction, two nuclear bombs would force the emperor of Japan into surrender and allow the world it's much needed peace. 

 

Reeling from this world’s single greatest tragedy of death and utter chaos, Japanese filmmakers saw an opportunity to share a message about the costs of war, the dangers of trifling with new technologies, and the comprehension that we create our own enemies. After the end of World War 2 and still to this day, the Japanese remain self declared pacifists. These people understand the sincere costs of war, greed and conquest because of their past leaders error in judgment. No single piece of media can better reflect this than the monster that was derived from the purest of Japanese fears. Godzilla is metaphor for the weapon that created him, the atomic bomb. 

After his debut in 1954 with Gojira, Godzilla would later go on to also be featured in countless spin offs and sequels. Some retained the originals messages, some featured new ones that related to the environmental hazards developed by mans quest for industry, and some were just trivial flicks for guys to take their girl friends too and cop a feel in between the action. Regardless, Godzilla to me embodies nearly everything the world has begun to ignore or contort due to complacency, ignorance or neglect. Thus why I couldn't be more excited to see him return with a refreshed image and theme. Godzilla is an anti-hero. Created by an Atomic Bomb, he acts as a reminder of our own destructive tendencies in times of great frustration and irrational thought. With the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, North Korea testing nuclear warheads frivolously, Iran calling for the annihilation of Israel, Pakistan under the control of a terrorist regime, Syria consumed in civil war and so much more global conflict still ongoing, it's nice to see this monster return as a reminder of why he was imagined to begin with. We create our own worst enemies, we must act with valor but also poise. Diplomacy should always be the end goal of any conflict, as war rarely offers significant periods of peace. Godzilla may have torn Tokyo apart hundreds of times on screen, but he's also saved it too. He's saved it by acting as a efficacy for fear, anger, and the loss of hope by the Japanese people. Now with his return, I'm curious to see if he can save all of us again. Godzilla can remind us to be weary of what we try to control, create and kill to further advance ourselves in life. Godzilla can show us the extreme interpretation of unstoppable brutality from a creature that wants only to be left alone. He's a sleeping giant angered by our exploration into untapped nature. An explanation for what can occur when we continue to ignore the natural balance of structure in front of us; Godzilla shows us that when we attempt to act like Gods we'll only sick them on ourselves.