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Posted by John Scalzi

No, the 2014 version of Godzilla, the US-produced one directed by Gareth Edwards, is not the best Godzilla movie in the several-decade, several-dozen-installment history of the franchise. If I had to rank it, I would probably put it at three or four, depending on how I was feeling about Shin Godzilla that day (for clarity, number one is the original 1954 production, the Japanese version, not the cut-up US release, and number two is Godzilla Minus One, proof that $15 million goes a long way if you know how to spend it). So don’t be jumping down my throat about that. Remember that the thing about these “comfort watches” is not that they are the best movies, or, sometimes (but not in this case) even actually good movies. They are the movies I find myself watching over and over.

And why do I rewatch this Godzilla, more than the others? Well, for one reason, I think this movie is one of Godzilla movies that actually gets the kaiju right.

I wrote about this a year or so ago in my film column in Uncanny magazine. You can follow this link to see the whole essay (and I recommend you do!), but the brief version is this: The recurring problem with Godzilla, the monster, is that the longer he sticks around, in sequel after sequel, the less he is an unstoppable force of nature and the more he becomes, if not an outright friend to humanity, then at least an entity whose interests appear to align with ours. That makes him progressively less interesting and, ultimately, boring. When a kaiju gets cuddly, it’s all over. Then the only thing left to do is reboot him and start over.

The 2014 Godzilla was not the first US-based reboot; there was the 1998 version, directed by Roland Emmerich, which was financially successful and a critical and cultural flop, the latter being especially interesting to me, even at the time. The movie did what it was supposed to do: make money (it was the #8 top-grossing movie of its year domestically), but at the cost of Godzilla’s cultural cachet; the humans in the movie were kinda soft and goofy and Godzilla, while not at all on the side of the humans, didn’t feel like Godzilla. Godzilla is (to varying degrees of effectiveness over the years), a vessel for humanity’s fears and a representation of the world smacking us back for our hubris. 1998’s Godzilla was… just a monster, and not one that actually looked like Godzilla was meant to look (also, the laying of eggs in Madison Square Garden didn’t help much). It’s not a surprise that Toho Studios, the owners of Godzilla, later retconned the ’98 Godzilla into “Zilla,” a kaiju, yes, but not the kaiju. Not Godzilla.

For the 2014 movie, Gareth Edwards and the other filmmakers didn’t screw with what makes Godzilla Godzilla, they leaned into it instead. There were some criticisms of the monster design, because of course there would be, nerds are gonna nerd, but this film’s Godzilla looks like it’s sharing DNA with its Japanese predecessors. I remember some complaints about this monster looking too chonky and thicc, but speaking personally I didn’t consider this a problem at all because (and here I get super nerdy myself), look, a 300-fucking-foot-tall monster ain’t gonna be svelte in any of its dimensions. It’s going to have meat on its bones, okay?

(Also, before you get in on me about the square-cube law, remember I wrote a whole novel about kaiju and I get into the square-cube law in it. Whatever you’re going to throw at me, I already thought about it. Anyway, we’re ignoring some elemental physics at the moment for this movie. Accept it, my dudes).

More importantly, Edwards, et al understood Godzilla for what is meant to be, a force of nature — indeed, the force of nature, a huge variable designed to zero out the equation when something threatens to unbalance it. In this movie that would be the MUTOs, a pair of Kaiju who eat radiation, which is why one of them was attracted to a nuclear facility in Japan at the turn of the century, wrecking it and then cocooning there to feed until the time was right to pop out, a weird, sleek kaiju that looks Art Deco, or maybe like the vector tanks from the Battlezone videogame. The monster heads east, looking for a mate…

… and then here’s Godzilla to stop it, at, of all places, the airport at Honolulu.

And what a very fine entrance it is, too. Edwards has learned from Spielberg, Scott and others that your monster is more effective the less you show of it, until, that is, it’s time to show it all. Our first introduction to Godzilla are his back fins and body parts illuminated by spotlights and flares and exploding planes. And then, finally, there he is… and he is pissed.

This is the other thing this film does right. Godzilla is huge and Godzilla should feel huge, but for much of his existence, he hasn’t. For the first several decades of his existence, as much as you might want to, you couldn’t escape the fact that Godzilla, king of the monsters, was a dude in a rubber suit, stomping around a scale model of Tokyo. It didn’t make the early movies bad (note my position of the original Godzilla in the rankings), but special effects tech was what it was. As time went on, more advanced compositing and CGI could have fixed that, but in the 1998 Godzilla, at least, didn’t. That monster moved too fast and had no mass onscreen.

The 2014 edition doesn’t make that mistake. Godzilla’s big, and he’s massive, and he acts and moves like it. Every move Godzilla makes in this movie is a spectacle of heft. There’s no doubt he’s going to do damage with every step he takes. Godzilla and the MUTOs eventually settle their scores in San Francisco, and while there is never any doubt that the city is going to get wrecked, here it’s getting wrecked at a level of special effects mastery that gives it all an extra dollop of, well, not realism, exactly, but certainly consequence. Buildings don’t fall over like cardboard when a kaiju smashes into them. They crumble, and they eventually fall, like they are actually made of concrete and rebar, and the Kaiju get smashed to match.

This wasn’t Edwards’ first time at the monster rodeo. He made his directorial debut with Monsters, a 2010 science fiction film about, you guessed it, monsters, which did some amazing things on a reported budget of half a million dollars. His budget for Godzilla was 32 times as much, for the monster fights alone, he got some good value out of the money.

I’m mostly into this movie for the monsters and the havoc the wreak, but the human stories here, unlike most Godzilla movies I’ve seen, don’t make me want to just fast forward to the good stuff. One, it has a level of gravity to it that I appreciate; all the humans in it take what’s happening seriously, and so does the screenwriter. There’s generational drama, a husband and wife separated by monsters, a mysterious NGO dedicated to the tracking of kaiju, and a race to deal with a nuclear bomb that it was humanity’s fault was there in the first place (there’s that hubris!), and so on. It’s fine! It moves along and no one acts stupidly, which is never a guarantee in a monster movie no matter how high-toned it is. Godzilla, I’m happy to say, gives almost no shits about anything the humans are doing, any more than any of us would worry about ants if we got into a brawl with our cousin at a cookout.

That wouldn’t last. There have been several sequels to Godzilla in the last decade, all as part of a “Monsterverse,” some involving King Kong. The further we go along, the more Godzilla is becoming an ally of sorts to humanity, and the more the stories feel drained of consequence. In the latest movie in the series, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Rio De Janeiro is laid to waste with the same gravity as a bunch of kids knocking over a LEGO set. It’s pretty, and silly, and since New Empire made more money than any other film in the series, the series will almost certainly continue to be pretty silly.

Thus is the nature of Godzilla. At a certain point, the returns will diminish and they will reboot him, yet again, to be a force of nature and not our pal (actually they already did with Godzilla Minus Zero, but that’s not in the same timeline or extended universe, so (jedi wave) forget about that for now). Until they do, I have the 2014 Godzilla to keep me company. It lets Godzilla be Godzilla, and I like that about it.

— JS

The Mighty Nein 1x06

Dec. 11th, 2025 10:08 pm
settiai: (Mighty Nein -- settiai)
[personal profile] settiai
Continuing on my previously posted thoughts about episode 1x05, I just finished watching episode 1x06.

Spoilers under the cut. )

Thursday Recs

Dec. 11th, 2025 07:53 pm
soc_puppet: Dreamwidth Dreamsheep with wool and logo in genderflux pride colors (Girlflux)
[personal profile] soc_puppet posting in [community profile] queerly_beloved
Getting this in before what is hopefully my final! Piece! Of homework! Ever!!!


Do you have a rec for this week? Just reply to this post with something queer or queer-adjacent (such as, soap made by a queer person that isn't necessarily queer themed) that you'd, well, recommend. Self-recs are welcome, as are recs for fandom-related content!

Or have you tried something that's been recced here? Do you have your own report to share about it? I'd love to hear about it!
sunnymodffa: 2 beans drawn as ancient greek warriors on an amphora (smol achillean beans)
[personal profile] sunnymodffa posting in [community profile] fail_fandomanon
 
"Netflix made Alexander the Great gay."

AtG, typing furiously from a tent thousands of plethra away from Macedonia: This is bi erasure!

Hephaestion, trying to wrestle the tablet from him: There, there. (aside, to himself) Why is the Wi-Fi so good in Gandhara, gods, send a power outage.

The real reason Alexander stopped his conquests at that point? The wi-fi was so good it was impossible to keep from wanking on the internet, and he became distracted.


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Merry Everything!

Dec. 11th, 2025 05:08 pm
yohjideranged: (cat wiggle)
[personal profile] yohjideranged posting in [community profile] holiday_wishes
I hope everyone is doing well. I am going through a mental health breakdown. The last few years battling cancer took its toll. But, I am almost 2 years into remission and I have some wonderful caregivers helping me through this rough patch. So grateful for this community because it gives me a chance to look at everyone's lists to see if there are any wishes that I can grant (which is pretty uplifting right now.) Here's mine: 

Gifts for everyone:

Battling Cancer has taught me two things that I really want to pass on.

1. Your time is more valuable than money
. Not everyone will be worth your time. For those that are, please tell them how much you care about them and how much they mean to you. Tell them often. Go on that outing, take that picture, call that friend. Anything can and does happen. You never want to regret time lost and you never want them to suffer with your loss.

2. Work on your baggage. Unpack that stuff. A lot of it was hand-me-downs anyway. You down need to carry all that stuff that just weighs you down and makes life harder. Find a therapist, a shadow work book, a faith leader - someone to help you dissect your mental junk drawer and put things in a perspective that heals you. Don’t wait…deal with your baggage so that you can live better now instead of later. 

My wishes:

3. Movie, series, or documentary recommendations - I'm way behind the curve, so if you have seen something good that you recommend, let me know. I have full access to a library and I am not afraid to use it. Any genre - I also have access to Netflix, Disney, Hulu, HBO/Max, and many free services like YouTube.

4. Enamel pins - I collect and wear enamel pins - they can be any kind/theme.

5. Whimsical care package - My aesthetic is a combination of goblin/gremlincore, dark fairy/cottagecore, and witchcore. I don’t have any major food allergies or sensitivities. I love nature and nature colors. I believe in fairies, elementals, and forest spirits. But overall, I am a big child so I’m pretty easy to please. I am autistic, so no clothing, lotions, cosmetics, or overpowering smells.

6. Tarot/oracle decks - I collect and read these for myself. I will absolutely take a used, well kept deck.

7. Resources - I am deconstructing from internalized racism, patriarchy, ableism, etc. - I welcome books, sites, Ted talks, or any other resources you may have that would help me on my journey. I am here to listen, learn, and appreciate.

8. Recommendations for books by or about marginalized voices: POC, Native, LGBTQIA, Disabled, etc. Genre doesn't matter, I read everything. This is a princely gift!

9. Music recommendations - Hit me with your latest earworm, favorite band or artist, or song that hits you in the feels. Bonus for a themed playlist (I am on Spotify).

10. Cat food - My boy’s favorite flavors are Fancy Feast Pate tender chicken and liver,; Fancy Feast cod, sol, and shrimp feast; and the delectables chicken and vegetable push up. My boys are Bodhi (16), Wilbur (14), Henry (10), and Jasper (6) and they are all such great cats.

NOTE: I am absolutely ok with hand-me-downs, thrifted, and used items.


My Address )
pedanther: (Default)
[personal profile] pedanther posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: Tangled
Pairings/Characters: Flynn Rider/Rapunzel
Rating: General Audiencees
Length: 714
Creator Links: [archiveofourown.org profile] lalaietha
Theme: Amnesty, Old Fandoms, Comfortfic

Summary:
"You know," Eugene's voice comes from the side of the tower, "I am really out of practice in climbing up sheer rock-faced walls and across rickety shingles. D'you think I should start a workout regimen again? I mean, I'd kind of let it slide because these are skills commonly associated with thievery and I'm all reformed, but - "

Reccer's Notes:
In which Rapunzel is feeling overwhelmed by her first birthday celebration that involves more than one person and a chameleon, and Flynn offers sympathy and helpful(?) advice.

Short and sweet, and seemed appropriate for Fancake's birthday.

Fanwork Links: The Next Birthday on AO3

Getting the bird

Dec. 11th, 2025 11:19 pm
loganberrybunny: Drawing of my lapine character's face by Eliki (Default)
[personal profile] loganberrybunny
Public


314/365: Stubborn swan, Stourport
Click for a larger, sharper image

I walked into Stourport (3-4 miles) this morning and decided to treat myself to a cooked breakfast when I got there. The Port House did the trick. It was a Wetherspoon long ago but is now run by Davenports. A little on the shabby side inside, but clean and the breakfast menu although limited was what I wanted. A pretty large full English and a cuppa for £7.99 is not at all bad these days! Then, as the weather was pleasant for the time of year, I wandered around by the river for a while. I spotted this swan who absolutely refused to go to the river (not far behind me – yes, that's my shadow!) and instead insisted on standing in this large puddle. No accounting for taste, I suppose!

[ SECRET POST #6915 ]

Dec. 11th, 2025 06:09 pm
case: (Default)
[personal profile] case posting in [community profile] fandomsecrets

⌈ Secret Post #6915 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.


01.


More! )


Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 10 secrets from Secret Submission Post #987.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Thursday 11th December 2025

Dec. 11th, 2025 10:35 pm
usuallyhats: The Second Doctor at the TARDIS console, Jamie biting his knuckles as he looks over the Doctor's shoulder (two jamie ohnoes)
[personal profile] usuallyhats posting in [community profile] doctor_who_sonic
Do you have a Doctor Who community or a journal that we are not currently linking to? Leave a note in the comments and we'll add you to the watchlist ([personal profile] doctor_watch).

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we could share a flashlight

Dec. 11th, 2025 05:30 pm
musesfool: Superboy, arms crossed over his chest (no retreat baby no surrender)
[personal profile] musesfool
My brain, as the meme says, was soup yesterday - I was so wiped out by Tuesday's everything. I logged off and took a nap and even so I slept hard last night. So I think I made the right choice not to go back into the city for the farewell to the CEO event tonight. I already have to go into the office on Tuesday for our holiday party, which part of me would like to avoid as it is now a big huge thing that I, thankfully, did not have to manage. It sounds like the party committee is as crazy as ever, and Assistant J keeps asking me things and I'm like, you're going to have to talk to $SomeoneElse about that. Like, it's nice that he wants to inform me, but also I would like him to take some initiative and fix things or at least suggest solutions. Anyway, we'll see how it goes. I did coordinate the Sesa, so hopefully that goes off without a hitch - only 20 people this time, but some of them haven't done it before, so that should be good.

I also kept thinking today was Friday and then being sad because it's not. I mentioned it to my boss who was like, "it can be Friday! take tomorrow off!" but I still have too much stuff to finish because as of next Friday I am off until January 5th.

Maybe someday I'll have something interesting to say here again, but for now, I don't. I am not very happy about what is happening with the Mets this hot stove season, but ugh. At least the Knicks are kinda good?

I did watch the Supergirl teaser trailer, and I'm excited to see what they do with it, but also it makes me feel like they aren't going to ever give us Kon, now. Or they'll use his animated!YJ personality instead of his much more fun comics personality. Sigh.

*

Intermittently Here

Dec. 11th, 2025 02:23 pm
delphi: An illustrated crow kicks a little ball of snow with a contemplative expression. (Default)
[personal profile] delphi
Just a heads-up that my laptop's motherboard is on its very last legs, and so I might not be online reliably over the next couple of weeks until my new machine gets here. I'm still hoping to keep up with folks, but if there's a bigger lag than usual, this (and my unwillingness/inability to do internet things on my phone) is why.

Write every day: Day 11

Dec. 11th, 2025 02:54 pm
luzula: a Luzula pilosa, or hairy wood-rush (Default)
[personal profile] luzula
No writing. How about you?

Tally:
Read more... )
Day 10: [personal profile] badly_knitted, [personal profile] sylvanwitch, [personal profile] trobadora, [personal profile] goddess47, [personal profile] sanguinity, [personal profile] cornerofmadness, [personal profile] china_shop, [personal profile] carenejeans

Day 11: [personal profile] china_shop

Bonus farm news: Well, no farm news, but I got a needle in each arm (flu and covid).
juushika: Photograph of a black cat named October, peering out of a white fleece cave (October)
[personal profile] juushika
Title: Hangsaman
Author: Shirley Jackson
Narrator: Julia Whelan
Published: Books on Tape, 2021 (1951)
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 210
Total Page Count: 552,500
Text Number: 2071
Read Because: fan of the author; audiobook borrowed from Multnomah County Library
Review: The indicative slimness of a blurb: a 17-year-old girl in the 1950s leaves the claustrophobic domesticity of her family for her first year at an all-girls' college. But much of the novel happens in the protagonist's involved imagination or in the space between scenes. If this were anyone but Jackson, I wouldn't've had the patience for the excruciating minutiae of the first third; but it is Jackson, so the humiliating social anxieties are as beautifully figured as they are tedious. But the glimpses between, marginal and implied, disjointed and imagined and super gay, overshadow the text as it progresses, culminating in a remarkable final third. This isn't my new favorite Jackson, but that's hardly a fair critique; it really landed for me, and I can imagine a successful reread in a few years.
juushika: Photograph of a black cat named August, laying down, looking to the side, framed by sunlight (August)
[personal profile] juushika
Title: We Were Witches
Author: Ariel Gore
Published: Amethyst Editions, 2017; Blackstone Audio, 2018
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 290
Total Page Count: 552,290
Text Number: 2070
Read Because: apparently this has been on my TBR since this 2018 Lesbrary review; audiobook and ebook borrowed from Multnomah County Library
Review: The author's story of her college years as a young single mother. This is fragmented autofiction, cut through with magical realism and retellings; I enjoy the willingness to manipulate the structure to create connections and juxtapositions. But the "just the good bits" approach renders simplified and repetitive the feminist themes, to their detriment; it feels exaggerated for dramatic effect even though it's probably not, and I never quite found my foothold in it.

I started this on audio and finished it on ebook, and recommend the latter over the former; the short sections and atypical formatting come across better in text.