It wasnt exactly one of those big, flashy, instant franchise summer blockbusters after all.
Besides, he killed off Godzilla pretty thoroughly there at the end.
At this point in history, theGodzillafranchise actually consists of three distinct series which happened to occur in succession.
Okay, with me so far?
Series I, also logically enough, begins in 1954 with Hondas brooding and brilliant original.
It was the last time wed be seeing anything like that in aGodzillafilm.
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The picture was such a hit producer Tomoyuki Tanaka rushed a sequel into production.
The following yearsGodzilla Raids Againdidnt have Honda at the helm, and you’re able to tell.
Then Godzilla is buried in a man-made avalanche.
While not a bad film, its not exactly an allegory, and lacks the poetry of the original.
Its just another giant monster picture.
Afterward Godzilla would either go away on his own accord or be dispatched in some decidedly temporary fashion.
He also began to establish the mythology surrounding the giant monsters.
Everyones so damned surprised when Mothra or King Ghidorah show up for the fifth time.
After every attack it seemed, the flattened city was rebuilt good as new and everyone forgot about it.
As the other monsters developed their own franchises, the universe and mythology Honda created would follow them.
The same actors may appear in several films, but always in different roles unconnected with any other film.
Each picture is an independent entity.
Franchise-wise, two important things happened under Hondas watch.
fail miserably, and would for the most part remain a bunch of faceless drones.
As a result, Godzilla started to evolve.
Finding their primary audience was the pre-teen crowd, Toho began aiming the films directly at them.
This is always a mistake, and usually a dead giveaway a franchise is in deep trouble.
Godzilla himself changed physically, his eyes growing larger, his arms and legs and face becoming more human.
Even if Ifukube didnt do all the music, his themes were revived and placed front and center.
in both the dialogue and the storylines.
Still, hes become a more complex figure.
That hadnt happened since 1955sGodzilla Raids Again.
There was no need to psychoanalyze him.
That changed in the 80s when everyone was psychoanalyzing any damn thing they could get their hands on.
On the human end of things, there was another major change inSeries II.
Although still concentrated on the everyman, the focus was starting to shift to more powerful collective organizations.
Godzillas latest son (he has one per series) likewise crops up in four of the films.
Also inSeries II,films begin to make references to earlier entries.
Likewise, pieces of high-tech military machinery wrecked in one film are referenced or rebuilt in another.
But the stories themselves remained independent and unconnected.
Hes convinced a better understanding of Godzilla could be used for the overall benefit of mankind.
His arch-enemy is the brash young CEO of a multinational corporation obsessed with killing Godzilla.
So once again we return to the standard franchise trope of heroic intelligent outsiders and evil businessmen.
The special effects have advanced as well.
By this point Ifukube was long gone, and only the tiniest snatches of his music remain.
Thats a good thing.
Apart from the brief prologue, Godzilla isnt even mentioned inFinal Warsuntil the last 25 minutes of the film.
On the bright side, he usually does.
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