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Godless Godzilla and Godzilla at 50 225

Posted by michael from the zilla-wafers-with-peanut-butter dept.
pjones writes " Monster Zero reports that Toho has taken the God out of Godzilla leaving us with the affectionate if diminished name of 'Zilla.' But only the American Godzilla will become godless. 'Godzilla' is reserved for our suitmation favorite, while his rival, now called 'Zilla,' is the name for the computer generated star (?) of Godzilla 98. And yes we will see the two in mortal combat with 10 other monsters in Godzilla: Final Wars. In the meantime, Godzilla at 50 events are beginning world-wide. Leave it to Kansas to hold an academic conference, 'In the Footsteps of Godzilla'. In San Francisco, the plans are more gala where more films and more Godzilla involved personalities are part of the plans for GodzillaFest which will feature 20 films (not all feature Godzilla). Any other Gojira/Godzilla/Zilla events?"
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Godless Godzilla and Godzilla at 50 More

Godless Godzilla and Godzilla at 50

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  • Hmmmm... (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Black Parrot ( 19622 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @12:47PM (#10589685)


    Wasn't there a story last year saying they were putting G into semi-retirement, due to long term overexposure?

  • Hmm, something's screwy here, (Score:5, Funny)

    by Tibor the Hun ( 143056 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @12:47PM (#10589693)
    I tried to run the OP through Babelfish, but it still made no sense...
    Wtf is the writer trying to say?

    • Don't worry! (Score:3, Funny)

      by BayBlade ( 749886 )

      I'm an expert on what they say about Gozilla in Japan--they usually say something to the effect of:

      Eeeek! Go-jirra!! Ack!

      If you're in doubt, or unclear just assume they are lamenting their untimly death.

    • Re:Hmm, something's screwy here, (Score:4, Funny)

      by pjones ( 10800 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @04:05PM (#10592234) Homepage
      How to write a successful /. article
      http://ibiblio.org/pjones/wordpress/index.php?p=84
      1. Start with a provocative title.
      2. Better if it's really two topics or more mashed together.
      3. Begin with incendiary and possibly inaccuate sentence.
      4. Use slightly complex syntax.
      5. Then mangle the sentences further.
      6. Link to sites with low bandwidth so they will complain of /. effect.
      7. Link to sites that are non-English or are poor translations from non-English.
      8. Attack some company, country, state or university with an indirect slap.
      9. Perform the slap in a way that posters must explain to each other.
      10. Perform the slap in such a way that the university's defenders and rivals feel that they must explain it at length.
      11. Include typos. If you leave them out, /. editors will introduce them for you.
      12. End by asking for posters input.
      13. Including puns will do no good with posters or editors as /.ers rarely notice them. You should try a few any way for your own amusement.

    • TRUE! (Score:2, Funny)

      by rhesuspieces00 ( 804354 )
      I recognize all those words, but have no idea what they mean collectively.

  • go Zilla (Score:3, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 21, 2004 @12:48PM (#10589697)
    As an athiest, I support Zilla !
    • As an agnostic, I can state without doubt that Zilla may or may not exist.
    • Why should you support it. I dont beleave in 1000 Foot Tall monsters that curently wonder the earth and smash stuff. But I think it should be called Godzilla. You can also use the term God in a more general sience if you like as indrustrutable

    • He's a jealous Godzilla (Score:4, Funny)

      by Ohreally_factor ( 593551 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @01:11PM (#10590096) Journal
      "You will have no Godzillas before me!"

    • Re:go Zilla (Score:3, Funny)

      by Tree131 ( 643930 )
      I tried being an atheist, but I gave up.... They don't have any holidays....
  • I heard he's really neat and full of Turtle Meat.

  • I wonder... (Score:4, Funny)

    by germaniumdiode ( 823214 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @12:49PM (#10589728)
    Is mozilla the illigitimate child of godzilla and opera?!???!!!???
    • Is mozilla the illigitimate child of godzilla and opera?!???!!!???

      No, you're thinking of Godzera. Mozilla is the illegitimate child of Godzilla and Moby Dick (hence the size of the bastard. Genes, you know...)
    • Close.

      Mozilla was the original mascot of Netscape. His name was a combination of Mosaic (the proto-browser) and Godzilla.

  • Arrrrggg! (Score:1, Offtopic)

    by Lord_Pain ( 165272 )
    May God(zilla) have mercy on that 1998 mockery that dared to claim the same name.

    Oh by the by, I hope he eat Brodderick as well for the crime of being in that movie.

    Atomic Flame Breath on!

  • What about Godzuki? How on earth could they leave him out?

    http://web.cetlink.net/~farrier/Gfaq.htm

    Yes, yes, I know, only Hanna Barbera had Godzuki, but, still, I loved him....

  • Walk of Fame star (Score:4, Informative)

    by momokatte ( 749828 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @12:52PM (#10589793) Homepage
    I'm surprised the OP didn't mention that Godzilla is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at the U.S. premiere of Godzilla: Final Wars on November 29.
  • Godzilla vs. Bootzilla, baby...

    He with the most funk shall win...(that and some really cool shades.)

  • several reads (Score:5, Informative)

    by fembots ( 753724 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @12:53PM (#10589812) Homepage
    After reading the article a couple of times, I believe they are trying to separate Suit-Up Godzilla from the Computer-Generated Godzilla.

    If you think of it as the opposite of USB 2.0, it all makes sense.
    • After reading the article a couple of times, I believe they are trying to separate Suit-Up Godzilla from the Computer-Generated Godzilla.

      I think more to the point is that Godzilla (suit)is going to do battle with Zilla (CG). That is probably the reason for the name change, otherwise it would be a Godzilla vs Godzilla battle.

      • As has been clarified in the past few years, there could easily be a Godzilla vs. Godzilla fight. The first Godzilla did die at the end of the first movie - these are not all the same monster (and the premise of "more Godzillas" in the future is presented at the end of the first movie). Also, numerous versions have had the "son" of Godzilla (Minilla, Godzilla Jr., Godzookie from the 70s cartoon), but the "son" usually takes the mantle of Godzilla when the "father" dies. Technically, though, if the "fathe
    • ...t rying to separate Suit-Up Godzilla from the Computer-Generated Godzilla.
      A simple paternity test would have proven that Chipzilla* is the father of the CGI Godzilla.

      (Intel Corp.)

    • After reading the article a couple of times, I believe they are trying to separate Suit-Up Godzilla from the Computer-Generated Godzilla.

      Oh that makes sense. I thought it was something about firefox.

  • Am I the only one... (Score:5, Funny)

    by belgar ( 254293 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @12:54PM (#10589828) Homepage
    ....who didn't understand one IOTA of what this post is about? Apologies to Gary Larson:

    What we hear is: blah blah blah GODZILLA blah blah blah GODZILLA blah blah GODZILLA blah blah....
    • Not only is it nonsensical, there's not much to comment on. It's the kind of news bit that you listen to and move on.
      • Not only is it nonsensical, there's not much to comment on. It's the kind of news bit that you listen to and move on.

        You're right, of course, but you're not thinking SlashDotingly enough. The story is designed to start a pro-secularism/anti-secularism debate, meant to inflame the metro-area teens who still believe in "Moral Majority" boogeymen and fear that some Evil Christian Ultra-Right Shadow Empire has diabolical plans to mix holy water into their Kool-Aid.

        Don't bite. Let them get their amusement
        • Shit, I missed the boat. I am of the 'religion is a buncha hooey' camp, but I just figured it was a story about a guy in a rubber suit.

          You might reconsider the concept of the persecuted majority here, friend.

    • You seem to have missed the point.

      Now we hear: blah blah blah GODZILLA blah blah 'ZILLA blah blah blah GODZILLA blah blah ...

      ;)

    • Re:Am I the only one... (Score:4, Interesting)

      by ajs ( 35943 ) <[ajs] [at] [ajs.com]> on Thursday October 21, 2004 @01:13PM (#10590113) Homepage Journal
      The Japanese name, "go-ji-ra [imdb.com]", is being re-translated into english for future films as "Zilla" instead of "Godzilla" since, for some reason the target audience has been pegged as being the sort to be offended by this type of thing. Personally I can't see how those two groups would ever cross paths, but whatever.

      I'm also at a bit of a loss for why we can't simply call it "Gojila"
      • Nope, you misread. Don't blame you.

        The Japanese Godzilla is turning 50. For the occasion, Toho has decided to go out with a bang, and will retire the franchise. The last movie is 'Godzilla: Final Wars'. In it, the Japanese Godzilla will fight 10 other monsters from the past. One of them will be the American Godzilla, renamed simply 'Zilla' for the occasion.

        Ah, the wonders of proper punctuation!
    • No longer can we, "One Nation Under Godzilla" ignore our creator and allow the death of so many children in this country. Our nation has become the strongest county in the world, why? Because of the Godzilla we are founded under. Our Godzilla is the Real Godzilla, not King King, Nor Mothra. Our Godzilla has blessed this nation with wealth and you show me a country that worships any other Godzilla and I will show you a third world mindset, confused, mislead, and motivated with hate.

      PUT GOD BACK [petitiononline.com]

    • Here's the basics:

      2004 is the 50th anniversary of Godzilla's first film. Toho says Tokyo:SOS is the last planned film in the series for the foreseeable future.

      Connected with the silver anniversary is a series of events in the US, similar to the roadshow the uncut sub-titled print of the first film had earlier this year.

      Tokyo:SOS, as the last G-film, is something of a gala, similar in nature to Destroy All Monsters. In this one, G is traveling the world and fights somewhere around 10 monsters, one of whom
    • ....who looked at "iota" capitalized for a second and thought it was an acronym, then spent a few seconds trying to figure out what it was? Iota doesn't really look like a real word written out, especially capitalized.
  • maybe they should consider a Bridezilla [google.ca] event?

  • According to... (Score:4, Informative)

    by BJH ( 11355 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @12:57PM (#10589866)
    ...the "Godzilla: Final Wars" page, the (possibly incomplete) list of other monsters appearing is:

    - Gigan
    - Rodan
    - Minilla
    - Mothra
    - Kamacuras
    - Kumonga
    - Manda
    - Ebirah
    - Anguirus
    - King Caesar
    - Hedorah
    - Monster X
    • - Minilla

      Oh, like Godzilla is going to have any sort of difficulty fighting an envelope.

      - Monster X

      Ooh. Okay. If the name is any indication, this one is a mutated Xbox, which means it certainly has the size advantage. Godzilla is screwed.

    • Minilla and GINO (Score:3, Interesting)

      by GuyMannDude ( 574364 )

      Yes, that's the list. Funny thing about it, though...

      There are advertisements available on the Internet which show clips of each of the monsters. Minilla, the much-hated "Son of Godzilla" in the awful G-films of the 60s, is not shown. A monster that is shown, however, is GINO -- the nickname given to the Hollywood Godzilla (Godzilla In Name Only). So this leads to an interesting idea: is Toho going to refer to the Hollywood Godzilla as Minilla in "Godzilla Final Wars?" That would be an incredible "f

      • Am I the only one who liked GINO? Not the movie - that sucked - but the monster itself? I thought it looked cool, moved cool, and was generally a very awesome CG critter. Too bad it was surrounded in a seriously crapful movie.
        • Nah, it was a cool monster... just not Godzilla.

          The only thing that would have saved that movie was if Big G had stepped on the ditzy chick in the first 10 minutes. I was rooting for her death the whole time...
      • Rundown on various offspring of Godzilla in different realities & continuities:

        The cute, annoying, pudgy son-o-G in the earlier movies was called Minya [gojistomp.org]. I'm not sure where the name Minilla popped up -- I've heard it before, but never seen it in any of the subs or heard it in the dubs. Then again, more recent dubs have done strange stuff like change the names of Mothra's little twin hotties (The Cosmos), so I just may be out of the loop.

        The little fat guy was in Godzilla's Revenge AKA All Monsters Atta

    • The last time there was an all-star monster cast like this in a film was the 1969 Destroy All Monsters. But don't expect a repeat of that finale with all the monsters ganging up on Ghidora. Based on what I've read, the director is in favor of a very powerful Godzilla. One so powerful that a single blast from his breath weapon will be enough to dispatch a foe (similiar to his fight with Baragon in the 2001 film "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidora: Giant Monsters All Out Attack"). Also, the plot seems to ind

    • The most horrendous monsters of all...

      DiNuCi and RoNuCi.

      Run for your lives!

      [ob-hint: the letters in caps stand for the two major parties in the USA's political system]

  • What about Rent-a-Zilla? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by j1m+5n0w ( 749199 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @12:59PM (#10589905) Homepage Journal

    I summon... Rent-a-Zilla [megatokyo.com]

    -jim

  • ...that read the story and went: WTF?!

    Probbly..
  • I want to overwhelm the American Godzilla (which is a symbol of CG) with the Japanese technique of suitmation

    I for one am much more impressed by all of the movies now that I know that it isn't just a guy in a suit but is in fact a whole process called suitmation.

  • Its Gojira (Score:2, Interesting)

    by (SM) Spacemonkey ( 812689 )
    No one, can retire Gojira. No one!
    Anyway: Godzilla is believed to have originally been intended by Toho (productions company) to represent the United States of America (being superior in its destructive capability)The name "Gojira" is a combination of "gorilla" and kujira, which means "whale" in Japanese." -wikipedia

    The article is slashdotted already, but perhaps Toho has gotten over its fear of destruction of America? Or conversly, perhaps they are more scared of America and removed the "Gorilla" as not
  • leave it to Kansas to hold an academic conference, 'In the Footsteps of Godzilla'.

    I don't get it. Why is it especially appropriate for Kansas to do this?

    • leave it to Kansas to hold an academic conference, 'In the Footsteps of Godzilla'.

      I don't get it. Why is it especially appropriate for Kansas to do this?

      Maybe because Kansas is so damn flat it looks like Godzilla stomped everything that was once there into the ground. Get it? "Footsteps of Godzilla?" You see, his footsteps from his stomping...ah, forget it.

      That entire submission was a little hard to understand. I'm not sure it was meant to claim there was any particular reason why it should be he

  • a better link (Score:3, Informative)

    by RealAlaskan ( 576404 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @01:03PM (#10589970) Homepage Journal
    Monsterzero seems to be refusing to display the page if you come to it by cliking a slashdot link. So, clik this google search [google.com], then take the top link.

    A couple of interesting links showed up while I was lloking for this, too. It seems that the holders of the *zilla copyright are about as uncouth as Godzilla itself: square-zilla [dsl-only.net] and davezilla [aboyandhiscomputer.com].

  • Leave it to Kansas to hold an academic conference, 'In the Footsteps of Godzilla'.

    Now, don't slander all Kansans with that remark. Those KU Jailbirds have always had a weird sense of what's considered academic. you certainly wouldn't see K-State hosting such fluff!

  • Perhaps it is just political correctness gone out of control (again)?
  • Finally! Evidence of a 'Weapon of Mass Destruction'! I knew if we just waited long enough it would be found.
  • Godzilla Sushi. My favorite at Lotus Blossom.

    If I remember it has eel, and each of the Sushi is topped with a different color of roe.
  • From reading the article, what I think is happening is that Toho is making a new Godzilla movie in which the Japanese Godzilla (named "Godzilla) fights the American Godzilla (named "Zilla"). Hopefully, Godzilla will not only kill Zilla in a violent and bloody manner, but somehow manage to defeat Matthew Broderick at the same time.

    Of course, I might be wrong. That was one of the least understandable article summaries I've ever read in my life.

  • Mozilla reference? (Score:2, Informative)

    by minus_273 ( 174041 )
    We all know about the tension between the owners of the godzilla name and mozilla. Given the latter is a knockoff of the formers name and also uses a giant (at one time green) lizard as its symbol, it is unsurprising that the following comment is in the article:
    "In America there are imitation products on the market that have the name"Zilla."
  • Any other Gojira/Godzilla/Zilla events?
    Well, it's only vaguely related, but don't forget about MozParty 2.0! [openforce.at]. After all, we're pretty big fans of that other -zilla here on /. too :)

  • Why they've taken "God" out.... (Score:3, Funny)

    by DesScorp ( 410532 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @01:16PM (#10590168) Journal
    As noted, only the American version is being called Zilla....because the Japanese regard him as being a weak-dick knockoff of the real thing. What they don't realize is that we pretty much think the same thing. Japanese fans call the American version GINO, an acronym for Godzilla In Name Only.

    Anyway, they put this fight in here to stick it to the American filmakers that created the overgrown iguana; I'd personally like to see Godzilla tear him to pieces, then turn around and take a big nuclear shit on his carcass, while the other monsters stand around and laugh at him.
  • We won't be able to worship him anymore.

    Man, first they take God out of the schools, now they're taking him out of the monsters. What next?

  • Godzilla Does Cameo Work in Semi-Retirement (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Spencerian ( 465343 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @01:24PM (#10590278) Homepage Journal
    Next time you see the great popcorn adventure "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" (I highly recommend it), watch the newspapers that flow on-screen early in the movie after the first attack in New York.

    One Japanese paper shows a very familar outline of our favorite destroyer, ostensibly taking on the robots. [imdb.com]

    Next to Sir Laurence Olivier finding work in the movie (despite being dead), it was one of the many funny in-jokes of the movie. The link above details more.
  • I remember watching old black & white Godzilla movies as a kid on Saturday mornings. Watching Godzilla stomping on all those toy buses, trains, and buildings was great fun. The best though was when all the Japanese actors would be talking (or yelling and screaming) and the English words never matched their mouths. Great "B" movies never die, just like Godzilla.
  • in the words of the immortal(?) Harry Knowles:
    "MAN IN SUIT! MAN IN SUIT!!!"

    thank you
  • Imagine Goldmember this way:

    Japanese Man 1 : RUN! IT'S ZILLA!
    Japanese Man 2 : It looks like Zilla, but due to international copyright laws - it's not.
    Japanese Man 1 : STILL! WE SHOULD RUN LIKE IT IS ZILLA!
    Japanese Man 2 : Though it isn't.

    No.. it just isn't as funny..
  • In case any of you are having problems reading the story, I went ove to Google's Language tools [google.com] then stranslated the text to spanish, then took that spanish text and translated it to English. I think it's a little more clear as to what this article meant.

    pjones writes? Information zero of the monster that Toho has taken God from Godzilla that left us with the affectionate one if it names diminished de?Zilla.? But only the Godzilla American will make atheist. he is reserved for our favorite of suit

  • You heard it here first.
  • Wow, normally I'd say I'd buy a box set of em all but jeebus, that'd be expensive.
  • All these posts and no one mentioned Bambi vs Godzilla?
    http://www.lowcomdom.com/film/b/bambi_godzilla.htm l [lowcomdom.com]
  • In Japan it is "Gojira"(katakana). I've got this amazing vinyl LP I picked up in Japan in the 80's with some really cheezy tracks, but the one gem is guitars doing all the sound effects, screaming just like Gojira then the jets fly in and the missiles explode.

  • There never was "god" in Godzilla (Score:3, Informative)

    by Daimaou ( 97573 ) on Thursday October 21, 2004 @04:00PM (#10592163)
    In Japanese, the name is gojira, which is half gorira (Gorilla) and half kujira (Whale), so if anything, they have taken the Gorilla out of Godzilla, which leaves us with a quirky movie about a whale that fights other mutants over Tokyo and millions of screaming Japanese people.

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