Posted on Aug 9, 2020
'Godzilla' was a metaphor for Hiroshima, and Hollywood whitewashed it — NBC News
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I never saw the original Japanese version of Godzilla. Just the original US version and every remake since. Add me to the list of those ignorant on the backstory of the original story and it’s subtle political messaging.
'Godzilla' was a metaphor for Hiroshima, and Hollywood whitewashed it — NBC News
Posted from apple.news
Military History
Japan
Movies
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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The whole world knew what Godzilla was about, Hollywood did not whitewash it, this article is stupid. This is yet another attempt at assigning guilt to the United States, this time against an enemy that literally attacked the United States first, had absolutely lost the war when they began it (did not catch the Pacific Fleet Carriers in harbor), and the final nail when they got hammered at Midway. They had 3 years to surrender, and they did not. I feel bad for the loss of life, but I do not feel guilty about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan fucked up, and paid the price, when America actually stood for something. And if you believe for a minute that those two bombs were not originally destined for Germany, then I have some ocean front property to sell you in Arizona.
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MAJ James Woods
So you knew Apocalypse Now has been debated for years as to whether it was an anti-war movie or just another glorified war movie?
Unless you’ve seen the original Japanese version can you really say that? I haven’t seen it. But I’ve seen other Asian and European originals remade by Hollywood and you can clearly see “whitewashing” of the storyline to fit the targeted audience. I’m sure you understood that about the American entertainment industry.
Unless you’ve seen the original Japanese version can you really say that? I haven’t seen it. But I’ve seen other Asian and European originals remade by Hollywood and you can clearly see “whitewashing” of the storyline to fit the targeted audience. I’m sure you understood that about the American entertainment industry.
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SSG Robert Perrotto
MAJ James Woods - I have seen the Japanese original, and yes Burr was added to the US release, but that does not mean it was white washed. The American version clearly portrays the effects of an Atomic weapon when people come into contact with Godzilla, Both with the Fishing boat, and the refugees. The analogy is plain to see, and it was absolutely understood in 1956 that Godzilla was the two bombs dropped on Japan - No one else has used atomic weapons, and that the film was Japanese was more then just a subtle jab at the US.
Further, the film also criticizes the scientists who contributed to the making of the Atomic weapons, in the character Dr. Serizawa. He invents the oxygen destroyer, a catastrophic weapon on the scale of a atomic weapon, and goes to great lengths to not have his invention weaponized, failing that, he destroys his research, and deliberately commits suicide so his work cannot be utilized after.
It is also a very very subtle admittance that the weapon had to be used (again, it's an analogy to the atomic bomb) in order to save more lives. A one time use to destroy Godzilla, or , Godzilla continues to rampage.
If you really want to see a Godzilla film with a powerful and scathing criticism of most governments, See Shin Godzilla.
Further, the film also criticizes the scientists who contributed to the making of the Atomic weapons, in the character Dr. Serizawa. He invents the oxygen destroyer, a catastrophic weapon on the scale of a atomic weapon, and goes to great lengths to not have his invention weaponized, failing that, he destroys his research, and deliberately commits suicide so his work cannot be utilized after.
It is also a very very subtle admittance that the weapon had to be used (again, it's an analogy to the atomic bomb) in order to save more lives. A one time use to destroy Godzilla, or , Godzilla continues to rampage.
If you really want to see a Godzilla film with a powerful and scathing criticism of most governments, See Shin Godzilla.
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Why is this news? I probably saw a rerun of the original American version of Godzilla, with Raymond Burr, in the early 70's. I, and everyone else I knew, fully understood movie to be anti-war and anti-nuke.
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LTC (Join to see)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (4/5) Movie CLIP - Klaatu's Speech (1951) HD
The Day the Earth Stood Still movie clips: http://j.mp/1JXrGye BUY THE MOVIE: iTunes - http://apple.co/1SR4EvG Google Play - http://bit.ly/1GgUuB7 Amazon - h...
I have seen the American Raymond Burr original. I was more fascinated with the Japanese defense forces having superior fire power when they were just a minimal military unit (in real life)by their constitution. The anti war theme And anti nuclear message was not fad because movies like The Day the Earth Stood Still discussed that as well.
https://youtu.be/ASsNtti1XZs
https://youtu.be/ASsNtti1XZs
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MAJ James Woods
When I watched the original movie from the 70s I was a kid so yeah my generation that saw it didn’t see it as an anti-war movie. Maybe my dad did. The young generations watching the remakes from the 90s and 00s definitely not going to envision the origins to a WW2 political statement. Just thought this story brings context to original movies before many of our times.
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There were several of these monsters (Mothra, etc) all based on the same premise. All were mutants caused by radiation. Also, in every case, the Japanese never used atomic weapons to defeat them (which seemed the obvious solution)
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MAJ James Woods
Well if you saw the latest Godzilla movie, nuking him wouldn’t kill him it feeds him. So from a Sci-Fi perspective, nuking yourself to save yourself is very American movie fiction. Hahaha!
Again my point was I’m surprised to read that the movie was political in the same way Apocalypse Now was politically motivated.
Again my point was I’m surprised to read that the movie was political in the same way Apocalypse Now was politically motivated.
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