Monroy 1

Jonathan Stephen Monroy

ENGL 115

10/25/17

Professor Beadle

The Big Picture

When people go to the movie theatre, they feel a certain way towards the movie. Of

course, people will feel satisfied but they will sometimes feel sad, happy, scared, nervous,

confused, or disappointed. Directors have a goal to convey a message to the audience because it

will help them have a connection towards any movie. When directors have a goal to convey

something, it will affect peoples sentiment; for example, a director wanted to show an event in

World War two--the audience will feel sad due to the death of the solders. Yet, not all movies

have a straight forward message; they will sometimes question the audience, and cause them to

think about their life or past events. Or directors will reference a historic event: making the

directors message aim to a selective audience. The Japanese version Godzilla 1954, directed by

Ishiro Honda, reference historic events about World War two as a way of portraying Godzilla.

Also, it will make Hondas message, to prevent making more Godzillas. Yet American audiences

will not understand Hondas reference and it will mislead Honda message. Honda wants his

audience to enjoy his movie and not feel traumatized. A few years later, Shin Godzilla directed

by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi completely change Godzilla. Making these changes to

Godzilla will change Hondas message of the 1954 Godzilla. By changing the time setting,

World War two references are not the focus. This change has brought a larger audience, instead

of having a selective audience understanding their message, which is learned to live with Shin

Godzilla. The evolution of Shin Godzilla plays an important role in Anno and Higuchis
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message; whereas in the 1954 version, there was no evolution that plays a role in Hondas

message. It is important to understand these movies message because their message, Shin

Godzilla directors and Honda, can be connected to the real world. Thus, both movies convey

Godzilla differently by their time setting and Godzilla evolution: which cause to change the

meaning of their movie.

The Directors from Shin Godzilla change the time setting so they can focus on Godzilla

itself; instead of, using World War two references to make Godzilla meaning more powerful.

Honda used these references to make Godzilla and his message to have an impact on the

audience. There is an article that reveal Honda references in the film; for example, the white

flash in the beginning reference a phenomenon. The phenomenon known to the survivors of

Hiroshima and Nagasaki as the `pikadon or `flash-boom caused by the explosion of the atomic

bomb (Brothers). Honda wanted to connect the phenomenon to Godzilla, so it can be a

metaphor of Godzilla being the atomic bomb. It reminds Japanese audience of the horror of the

atomic bomb. Another example is when Godzilla burns down Tokyo city and a news caster from

the film describe it a sea of fire. Honda reference the nuclear contamination, black rain, bomb

shelters, and incineration of Nagasaki. (Hoberman). Just like the atomic bomb, Godzilla

destruction had killed Japanese people and left them homeless. During the fight against Godzilla,

Japan was all alone. It is another reference of Japan alone fights America. Yet, Honda message

was selective towards Japanese audience and American audience see Godzilla as the king of

monsters.

The purpose for Anno and Higuchi to change the time setting is for the audience to

connect with the movie. If the movie set in world war two, the audience will less connection to

the movie: unless they know about the history like Godzilla 1954. And by changing the time line
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it shows the difference meaning of Shin Godzilla; for example, the audience will see Japan

modern Government. Also, the audience, who are not familiar with Japanese government, will

learn about how the Japanese government approach problems. A movie reviewer describes it as a

step-by-step simulation of how Japan would realistically respond to the initial threat of a giant

monster (Zevallos). The directors use this method to cleverly tell the audience about how the

world deals with Godzilla. During the fight of Shin Godzilla, Japan was not alone in this fight.

Other nation has help Japan to stop Godzilla but mainly America has help Japan the most. If it

was set in World War two, Japan would be alone to fight Godzilla. The directors in Shin

Godzilla do not focus on references; however, there are some references in Shin Godzilla.

The use of reference makes it similar to Honda message. One of the reference was subtle.

It was when the prime minister hesitates on accepting America action, using the B-29 on

Godzilla. And the other was more straight forward. It was when America representative talks

about her grandmother, I do not want to see a third bomb fall on the county of my grandmother,

who had to suffer the other two (Anno). She talks about the bombs but she did not describe that

Godzilla was the of it. In Godzilla 1954, Godzilla was represented as the atomic bomb and

America representative is not talking about Godzilla. Thus, her referencing World War two did

not change Shin Godzilla meaning .

The evolution of Shin Godzilla plays a role of what is define and the directors message;

for example, a movie reviewer sees, It starts as a brown lump, but when confronted by the Self-

Defense Force, it rapidly mutates (Zevallos). Soon, the audience will see an improve version of

the 1954 Godzilla or the remake of Godzilla. The evolution of Shin Godzilla is representing how

mankind wanted to produce massive energy. And Shin Godzilla a lot of stored engery within his

body. He is basically a walking power plant that is leaking radiation. Even the movie will tell the
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audience that he is nuclear energy. Unlike the 1954 Godzilla, Honda represent Godzilla as the

atomic bomb.

It is important to understand both movies message because it relates to real world events.

Honda connected America greatest technology, the atomic bomb, and Godzilla to teach the

audience. Honda sees new inventions can cause disturbance in the world; for example, the

creation of the oxygen bomb was supposed to help society. But it oxygen bomb became

dangerous. Soon they used the oxygen bomb and the creator killed himself due to the danger of

creating the oxygen bomb. Honda wanted to prevent dangerous technologies or prevent creating

another Godzilla. Whereas, the directors of Shin Godzilla represent it as nuclear energy. They

openly tell the audience it is energy and they try use modern military attacks. The directors did

not use a new destruction technology to kill Godzilla; instead, they freeze Godzilla. Like all

nuclear energy it is dangerous to leave it uncheck because it can lead radiation poisoning. The

directors wanted to tell that we need to learn to control nuclear energy. Or how they say in the

movie living with Godzilla.

Most movies have meanings or message to their audience. Some of the movies message

or meaning could not effect a person. The movie could have a moral message. Recently, IT the

movie has message about conquering ones fear or the monster will get you. People will try to

understand the director message, if they understand references. Or how a character is represented

in a movie. Both 1954 Godzilla and Shin Godzilla portray Godzilla differently by changing the

time setting and using evolution: which it caused the meaning to change.
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Citation

Anno, Hideaki and Shinji Higuchi, directors. Shin Godzilla. Toho Pictures, 2016.

Brothers, Peter. Japan's Nuclear Nightmare: How the Bomb Became a Beast Called

Godzilla. Cineaste - America's Leading Magazine on the Art and Politics of the Cinema, vol.

36, no. 3, 2011, pp. 3640.

Hoberman, J. Voice Choices: Film: It's the Bomb: We're Off to See the Lizard: World's Biggest

Reptile - and Atomic-Age Metaphor - Turns 50. The Village Voice, vol. 49, no. 18, 2004, p. 59.

Zevallos, Keith. Shin Godzilla Review. University Wire, 18 Oct. 2016, pp. University Wire,

Oct 18, 2016.