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Movies | Japanese Cinema | Kaiju | Godzilla
‘Godzilla (1954)’ — A Timeless Monster Movie Classic That Turned National Tragedy Into National Icon
Director Ishirō Honda Delivers a Metaphor, Message & Carnage Through Cinema
With the Godzilla Franchise celebrating seven decades of dominance in world cinema, one may wonder about going back to the roots and exploring the origins of the Kaiju King who delivered a thoughtful message through carnage, taking the expression of art to new heights. The nation of Japan had to recover and rebuild after the horrors and damages of World War II. But filmmaker Ishirō Honda found his way of serving his nation through his visual storytelling, turning his nation’s tragedy and trauma into a national symbol. Hence, the game-changing Godzilla (1954) arrived on the silver screen.
Godzilla, a colossal prehistoric creature, was conceived as a metaphor for nuclear weapons as director Ishirō Honda wanted to entertain audiences with incredible visual effects but also provide social commentary on Japan’s neglect and ignorance of its imperial past, natural disasters, government corruption, and the human condition. Written by Shigeru Kayama with Ishirō Honda’s direction, the film narrates a classic monster tale where in post-war…
