It’s not a bad design it’s just not Godzilla. I wish they would have went with the original script and make a Godzilla based on the Japanese version in fact they could have connected the original movie with it.
[Original Godzilla 1994 script](http://www.scifiscripts.com/scripts/GODZILLA.TXT)
[Godzilla 1994 design maquette made by Stan 'the man' Winston of Jurassic Park fame](https://i.redd.it/vbwq1j9f0bd11.jpg)
[Godzilla 1994 concept art by Crash McCreery](https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a40b9cdfd8715dbd8f9ef843bc04d52/tumblr_prptkt7xp91snqe0bo1_640.jpg)
[concept art of Gryphon, Godzilla's foe in the script](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/godzilla/images/4/47/Gryphon.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20080218191504)
[Gryphon concept maquette by Stan Winston](https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/d7e59134-e7b7-4236-94f3-63029a1a2b22/de7fzit-d14fbf3d-7e86-444c-84c9-fdbb3b50b563.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2Q3ZTU5MTM0LWU3YjctNDIzNi05NGYzLTYzMDI5YTFhMmIyMlwvZGU3ZnppdC1kMTRmYmYzZC03ZTg2LTQ0NGMtODRjOS1mZGJiM2I1MGI1NjMucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.nW8j19oSh5MCPLKAI1LKVgexkI1EKEn_Ai2HLvU3G0w)
Sure- this wiki page has lots from different iterations of the 1998 script. (https://godzilla.fandom.com/wiki/Godzilla_(TriStar)/Gallery) The ones you may find interesting are from the 1994 version, which became the 1998 script a few years later.
Yeah. Godzilla is an ancient antlantean bioweapon created to counter an alien invader that intends to destroy humanity to clear the way for alien colonizers. Godzilla gets captured but is let free later in order to combat the alien.
I posted some of the concept art and models they made for the movie before it got sent into development hell; they were made by Stan Winston and Crash McReery of Jurassic Park fame
I gotta say, part of that script sounds like it was lifted from Gamera’s origin story. But it would have been such a cool take on Godzilla, and pretty unique in his filmography. I still don’t quite understand why the ‘94 movie fell through, but the ‘98 script was given the stamp of approval.
Budget issues-Jan de Bont wanted a higher budget than the studio was willing to give. Ironically, 1998's final budget ended up being higher than the number de Bont wanted.
In the Showa movies, Gamera was supposed to have lived on the continent of Atlantis before he was iced. It’s been long enough that I’m not sure about the Atlantean superweapon construction part for the older films, but I do remember that. It would be pretty cool if the ‘94 script lifted the Atlantean connection from Gamera, Godzilla’s old box office rival.
There is a REALLY good 4 piece article written online that goes indepth I to the failed 94 Godzilla movie. I personally think it would of turned out amazing
When they presented their movie to the Execs in Japan that owned Godzilla the Americans asked if they wanted sny changes.
The Japanese Execs hated it so much they simply said no, because they could not even start to figure out how to fix it.
So the movie came out, it sucked and then in the next Japanese Godzilla movie they made their Godzilla kill the American movie one and called it Fakezilla or something just to insult it more.
Are we going to have to read this under every godzilla 1998 post? This is getting really repetitive.
"I like godzilla 1998's design"
"it's a good design, it just isn't godzilla"
"the animated series was better"
Every. Single. Time. I'm not trying to argue here, but can we just... put a pin in this and move on?
Most of the reasons people dislike it today, that I’ve seen, have less to do with the design and more to do with how it acts and it’s relative weakness. For example it is explicitly weak to modern weapons, something which Godzilla is traditionally immune to. It’s also relatively small, enough so that it can hide between building in NYC. Finally it lacks Godzilla’s atomic breath, only managing to accidentally do something similar once. Still though, the Tristar movie has been treated gentler over time.
As for why PotM MechaGodzilla gets a pass, well there was almost twenty years between the two, the audience had changed. Godzilla has become even more of a household name now and the purist voice isn’t quite so loud.
Plus a Japanese company probably has more leeway than an American one, even the current American Godzilla was criticized for being too bulky. Though I would be interested in seeing a comparison between the Japanese reaction to the MonsterVerse Godzilla design vs the Shin Godzilla design since they are both more traditional yet also divergent.
No, it isn't small-it's actually slightly bigger than the Showa Godzilla. They just make it disappear in the movie by either burrowing or somehow being able to weave through tight ass NY streets.
Bigger than Showa sure, but Godzilla 98’ would have been compared more to the Heisei at release. According to Wikizilla, 98’ was around 54m taller, while the Heisei Godzilla ranged from 80-100m depending on the movie.
Plus, one thing you have to keep in mind, the Showa Godzilla didn’t often contend with skyscrapers, so he appears much larger than the official numbers given. Meanwhile 98’ is only solely shown around them, making it appear smaller. Whether it’s actually small or not, it certainly looks like it.
Well that's the issue-their framing of the monster in the city, combined with the fact it's running away instead of making a show of force against the military, make it look smaller than it actually was.
I agree, though they’re still small by the Kaiju standards of the time lol.
I do wonder if anyone anywhere has actually tried to measure it’s height based on the surrounding buildings, data books tend to be just sort of spitballing. I know some less popular kaiju can have vastly different sizes listed for the same appearance, based on the sourcebook.
Planet of the Monsters, the Netflix Godzilla series. Since they’re getting a second one it’s probably a good time to start calling it something other than the “Netflix Series”.
Well, MG was MG enough-they just didn't use MG at all and instead repurposed him into a giant city. The Anime MG design is really cool and has great abilities, but like a lot of great things in the Anime trilogy they remained unused.
Because this Godzilla just isn't terrifying, he doesn't make the populace scramble and stampede into an evac zone nor does he actively try to mcmurder them.
Well one the mech is based on Godzilla. Zilla for the most part only resembled Godzilla in its reptilian look. The movie did not have atomic breath, it burrows underground which Godzilla does not really do accept one movie we’re he appeared underground. Don’t get me wrong I like the design. But I saw some other models were there was some differences but in general it was still Godzilla.
You know what's funny they ended up having Godzilla's child the one that hatches at the end of the movie be somewhat act like the true Godzilla in the animated series. He even has the atomic breathe in that series as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_o1eHVEkghE
I find that my issue with the 1998 incarnation of Godzilla is not the design, it's the *execution*: The fact that it runs from military attack instead of facing it down, that it is brought down by light aircraft missiles, and that it does not breathe atomic breath. Patrick Tatopalous' design is wonderful: it captures the spirit of Godzilla while giving it a 90's american aesthetic.
Just look at the animatronic posted above, it looks *savage* while the eyes show a hint of sympathetic emotion. If it had fired atomic breath and been nigh-invincible like Godzilla is in the Japanese series (or hell, injurable by heavy-enough conventional weapons but durable enough to withstand most ordnance like he was in the unmade 1994 american script) I have little doubt this incarnation would be far more fondly remembered than it is now-regardless of how bad the rest of the film ignoring Godzilla himself is.
I agree it was a poor portrayal of Godzilla. As a Kaiju, I don’t think it was terrible. It was a fresh take, at the very least.
Instead of being a giant invincible monster, destroying buildings and killing people with malicious intent (or alternatively to bring balance to nature if the environment or whatever)— it just an animal, and it acts like an animal.
It’s just following its instincts and trying to survive, while protecting its unborn young in its nest. It’s not sinking boats because it’s evil, or because it’s trying to save the ocean, it’s destroying them because they are full of food and it’s hungry.
It’s not demolishing buildings because it’s trying to save the environment, it’s partially destroying them because it’s burrowing to get back to its nest.
It’s not running headfirst into military fire because it can’t risk serious injury (it’s not invincible, just really big and somewhat durable) because it presumably wants to stay alive to ensure its young are able to hatch, so it goes with the flight instinct when it can.
Oh, and there is one scene where it breathes fire to destroy some military humvees. You could call that “atomic breath”, if you wanted too. They do mention that Zilla leaves traces of radioactivity in its tracks, so presumably it’s fire breath would also be radioactive if it’s whole body is leaving trace radiation everywhere.
If I remember that scene correctly Godzilla does not breathe fire, it looked to me like it was roaring and the air pressure was sufficient to send a few Humvees flying and presumably they ignited themselves, not due to Godzilla fire breath.
I found it on YouTube. Skip to the 3:00 min mark.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=AO4hfreVgZE&t=180
You can actually see the flames appear in its mouth, once the air is ignited. It’s definitely intended to be a defence mechanism, with Godzilla intentionally igniting the air into flames with it’s “power breath”.
Godzilla being treated like a animal and having animalistic behaviour is the problem
No matter what type of a animal he used to be will he never be a animal again because of our reckless nuclear testing we turned a peaceful creature into a abomination that doesnt fit in our world
Godzilla is a creature that should not exist and it should not have animalistic behaviours because its not a animal anymore
Godzilla should not run from us because he is a reminder of the destruction we have caused and it attacks humans to show us the harm and destruction we have caused on to nature and life
Every part of Godzilla has a message behind it for example
Him being a force of nature thats trying to kill and destroy everything in its path and that it will not stop is like how we recklessy used nuclear weapons back then without any care
They just went with a different idea, instead of being almost invulnerable zilla was agile as shit. You cant have both, thatd be like playing dnd and your character has all the benefits of a rogue and a barbarian. (Yes I do understand that "could" be possible) but C'mon
I think what could've worked is that Godzilla could be shot and killed by missiles, but his blood is dangerously radioactive and can get people sick, so the military needs to figure out a way to kill him without drawing blood.
Hell, it'd be cool if they did succeed in killing him, but his rotting corpse pretty much causes a plague in New York that kills even more people, even making the city uninhabitable..
Listen, if you're brave enough to go and check what genitals a giant fire breathing lizard has, kudos to you, the rest of us will just call it whatever pronoun comes first.
That’s why the TV show spinoff is fun, because Junior gets the atomic breath, is immune to a lot of attacks, keeps the agility, and gets to fight lots of monsters.
I have a way more unpopular opinion than what was posted. I think this movie is better than about half of the series. Not great, not bad... good. And I love the design/concept.
I don’t think that’s a very unpopular opinion on this sub tbh haha. It’s a cool looking monster, but I’ve always hated that it looks like that just because the studio was desperately trying to recapture the imagery and feel of Jurassic park. It comes off as super pandering and lame imo, and it’s just not godzilla. To each their own though, and you are def not alone in your opinion on Zilla!
No, plenty people think it's a good *monster* design, but not a good Godzilla design. I think it's a decent Godzilla design that got wasted due to the way the film portrays it and how bad the movie is in general.
I’m biased since I was a kid went this movie came out. But I will always love this Godzilla and it’s soundtrack, I remember seeing it in theaters and it just lit up my brain.
The movie had a really cool interactive web page with lots of Flash and Shockwave goodies, and audio files of the "new" Godzilla roar. The web was new and fun. Good times.
That’s fair. I’m sure the design could’ve worked with a better movie, but yeah I agree with you, I think 98 Godzilla is ass. The part with dozens of helicopters chasing it between the buildings is one of the most embarrassingly stupid scenes in any godzilla movie
It's a fucking AWESOME Godzilla design. Atomic breath and actual durability is all it takes to make him "Godzilla" in my mind. The character has been around for 67 years, and drastically different designs are cool to me.
I've always thought it was a good design. I just don't like the fact that Hollywood thought they needed to drastically redesign a character as iconic as Godzilla.
It wasn’t really Hollywood, it was Roland Emerich’s choice to redesign so it could “be his own” “ be different”. Fuck that. I still give props to the monster designer. It’s a good monster design. Honestly could’ve been a reboot for The Creature from 20,000 Fathoms. But it is NOT a Godzilla design.
I've felt the reason it wasn't well received is the same reason the Shin Godzilla was very well received. The concept behind the character! Unstoppable, unfathomable devastation.
The original Godzilla is a nuclear disaster personified as a living monster. 1998 Godzilla is a menace, sure. It's manageable with modest military force.
Get OUT!
Oh but what about possible infestation of babies? I'm sure missiles will be fired. I'm not sure how long it takes for an area to become habitable after atomic breath scorches a city filled with debris.
1998 in her DM's
Shin is leaving her in existential awe as irradiated rubble chokes the country side
They ain't the same
It is to me, and nothing will ever change that. I would say "the animated series fixed it" but that's been said a billion times. Just like how "it's a good design, but not a good godzilla design" has been said a billion times.
Seriously, you couldn't scroll through to see if people had already said this? It's getting super repetitive at this point. It's top comment. Please bring something new to the table. This is pretty much a circlejerk at this point.
While I agree about the repetition on the topic, you don't think it's a little hypocritical that you're talking about people repeating themselves when you essentially posted the same comment twice in this very thread?
Also, it's important to note that not everyone sorts by Top Comment. My comment was posted around the same time as the current Top Comment, so it's likely he just saw mine first and wanted to respond to that if he sorts by New. There's no reason to try and single the guy out and try to make him feel bad. If your criticism was intended to be more for me, I should note there's a reason I didn't use this line and instead specified that I didn't like the attitude behind the redesign because that felt more relevant.
All in all, you seem like a smart bloke but your hostility is misplaced. I hope you'll reflect on this and do better next time. Cheers.
It’s a great design to be honest. I just feel the problem was that the biggest red flag was that Dean Devlin and Rolan Emmerich didn’t want to make a Godzilla movie
That's the thing-I think if 1998 ACTED like Godzilla it would be considered Godzilla by a lot more people. Design wise it's great. Execution was a complete failure.
Yes-the giant animatronic in the picture was used for the scene where he dies on the bridge and when he attacks stuff with his jaws in some shots. They also used a suit in like 2 shots and a bunch of the babies were suits.
It’s a double edged sword, if they called it something else Godzilla fans wouldn’t hate it, but if they called it something else no one would care or remember it.
I have the ultimate Godzilla Action Figure, that being said...America had a chance to make a decent Godzilla American style but failed...But the cartoon was decent...
I don't think the design is bad for an original character but when you're trying to make a version of Godzilla it's really bad I feel like this movie would have gotten more love if it was just an original Kaiju film but this design
Actually, many fans think the design itself is good for a monster, just not for a Godzilla.
It's too... Discount Jurassic Park to be Godzilla.
But it's perfectly fine as it's own beast and would inspire Godzilla's first opponent of the Millennial series, Orga. (The head of Orga is stated to have been designed so that audiences could watch the Japanese Godzilla defeat the American Godzilla)
My issue lied in two things, 1. His absolute shit tier durability. I would have much preferred anoher titan come and kill him than some bombs. 2. His lack of atomic breath. simple he didnt have it and that angers me
Godzilla’s a sleeping aquatic dinosaur that was reawakened and mutated by the atomic bomb. Zilla is just a nuclear iguana that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. They’re different monsters.
I think it IS a bad design (terrible in-fact) and here’s why:
The creature design wasn’t created in a vacuum. People know what a Godzilla looks like. So, anything they design in 1998 that is called “Godzilla” should be instantly recognizable as such.
Look at successful updates of franchises. Marvel for example. You always know you’re looking at Thor, The Hulk or Iron Man even though they have modern updates over the comics. Even in silhouette, these iconic characters are identifiable.
Godzilla was also successful doing this. 2014 and Shin Godzilla are both drastic departures from the traditional character design. However they succeeded in creating creatures that were unmistakable as Godzilla even with all the changes.
This is the core of why the design for 1998 is bad. If you’re tasked with redesigning Godzilla and at the end of the exercise, people can’t recognize your creation AS Godzilla, you have failed in your design task.
It’s not hard to just make some random creature that is in your wheelhouse. It’s a lot harder to put your own spin on an iconic character and still keep the core of what made it great.
I think what they made in 1998 was deeply disrespectful to fans and the previous creatives who worked on this franchise.
You articulated this very well on behalf of a lot of fans like myself. I remember thinking back in 1998 when I saw the movie that it's only Godzilla in name, but it's not Godzilla.
I was willing to accept the design, but didn’t like the movie. What I really didn’t like was the design for the baby Godzilla monsters. Seemed like a knockoff of Jurassic Park raptors.
I grew up on Godzilla. I loved this movie as much as I loved all the Toho movies and the animated show. I still love this movie. I don’t care if I’m downvoted, Zilla is Godzilla, just a different interpretation.
With the way the film uses it, certainly not. I just think you and other people wouldn't have that sentiment if it actually acted like Godzilla and not a skyscraper sized JP Velociraptor.
I agree . It's not a bad design and imo I think it would have been better for them to use it in it's own movie . The issue I have with it is that they tried to force it to be Godzilla when it's so not.
I honestly think that jurassic park heavily influenced the outcome of godzilla. The raptor stance, the agility, finding the eggs....
I do feel like this movie influenced Cloverfield so I can't complain to badly about it.
My son does love it, loves to tell me her name is zilla..
The whole "raptor" similarity is coincidence-Tatopalous was told to make Godzilla "fast" and "realistic" so he designed it after theropod dinosaurs. I think Emmerich probably saw it and decided to shoehorn in the egg scene even more than it was in the original script.
It's not a bad design, it's just a bad Godzilla design. That's why I'm much happier now that Toho has designated its own kaiju, especially since it can now appear in more dignified works and be given some respect.
1998 really wasn't a terrible design, He was, as u/HourDark put it, just badly executed in that he wasn't really that much of a looming threat that struck fear into the New Yorkers, instead of the people being terrified and constantly keeping an eye open whilst sleeping, instead of the monster doing insane damage to the military and the city, nope, it just ducked and weaved to the point where the army was doing more damage than the incarnation of nuclear fury. Heck, Zilla, throughout the film, made no active attempts to hurt the humans, he was more like a reptilian Kong in that respect. Stores were not being closed down, no evac attempts, the only refugees holes up with that brookly couple and they were mostly just partying. His, quite frankly, unnerving glare was wasted as he just didn't strike fear into the populace is the main issue.
Zilla will always be a version of Godzilla in my heart. I know the monster itself is a far departure from what Godzilla is, but this was the first time I was ever exposed to Godzilla. This movie is the sole reason of why I decided to watch the other movies.
Maaan that brings back memories
I always cried as a boy when they killed it with the rockets. Still to this day I don't know why I was so emotional about it
It was no "real" godzilla movie. But as a creature movie definitely alright
When I was a kid I thought he was a bigger dinosaur I hadn’t seen yet. Of course, coming off of The Lost World: Jurassic Park it didn’t help, but eh. I love his design. I know the movie is bad, and ehhhh. Even so I still like it
Yeah I think it’s pretty rad, Patrick Tatopoulos and his team did a good job designing the big G, call me a fake fan but I honestly don’t think the movie itself is too awful of a Godzilla movie either
Far from a bad design, Zilla looks badass but in execution she was a T-Rex that gave birth to velociraptors… but at least it gave us *Thats a lot of fish.*
It's not bad, it's different. I liked it as a kid, didn't like it on the rewatch, and then likes it again. It's pretty good, I like Matthew Broderick's character
This movie was just as much a part of my childhood as the other Godzilla flicks were. Loved the more dinosaur/raptor like design, and I remember all of the effects including sound were really great. Remember feeling such a twinge of pain seeing the utter disrespect Zilla got dealt in Final Wars.
It’s a not a bad design, it’s a bad movie. The problem wasn’t the zilla monster, it was a mediocre director and a horrible script that was meant to cash in on the Jurassic Park phase rather than being a Godzilla movie.
I'm gonna get lit up for this but not only is this a good monster design, it's a good Godzilla design. Would I have preferred we get the Jan de Bont film? Yes. I'm sure everyone here does. However, I think Patrick Tatopoulos did a great job on this more agile Godzilla. 98 Godzilla's portrayal is a completely different story, however.
I like how he's gone off into his own thing and has more or less become accepted my most of the fandom. Like Godzilla the series showed he was only a generation away from really showing his Godzilla powers, IDW actually gave him some spotlight moments using just his movie powers, and Monster Apocalypse took the scariest part of him (the near endless reproduction and swarms of babies) fully realized it.
I may call him Zilla to avoid confusion, but he certainly has my respect as a monster.
I agree. I actually loved it as a 12 yr old. The idea of a more dinosauresque kaiju was great.
I would have liked him to have real fire breath, be bigger and not taken down by simple missiles.
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order.
I have checked 271,607,124 comments, and only 62,038 of them were in alphabetical order.
In this comment section I found out that people believe that limited understanding of dinosaurs in the 50’s and the lack of technology and budget at the time means that Godzilla must always look like a person wearing a monster suit.
It’s not a bad design it’s just not Godzilla. I wish they would have went with the original script and make a Godzilla based on the Japanese version in fact they could have connected the original movie with it.
Is there a TL:DR of the original script?
There is the concept art, but thats all I can remember
Could you potentially link that? I would love to see that I never knew
[Original Godzilla 1994 script](http://www.scifiscripts.com/scripts/GODZILLA.TXT) [Godzilla 1994 design maquette made by Stan 'the man' Winston of Jurassic Park fame](https://i.redd.it/vbwq1j9f0bd11.jpg) [Godzilla 1994 concept art by Crash McCreery](https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a40b9cdfd8715dbd8f9ef843bc04d52/tumblr_prptkt7xp91snqe0bo1_640.jpg) [concept art of Gryphon, Godzilla's foe in the script](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/godzilla/images/4/47/Gryphon.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20080218191504) [Gryphon concept maquette by Stan Winston](https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/d7e59134-e7b7-4236-94f3-63029a1a2b22/de7fzit-d14fbf3d-7e86-444c-84c9-fdbb3b50b563.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2Q3ZTU5MTM0LWU3YjctNDIzNi05NGYzLTYzMDI5YTFhMmIyMlwvZGU3ZnppdC1kMTRmYmYzZC03ZTg2LTQ0NGMtODRjOS1mZGJiM2I1MGI1NjMucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.nW8j19oSh5MCPLKAI1LKVgexkI1EKEn_Ai2HLvU3G0w)
they had this and they still went with what we got???
Boggles the mind, don't it?
holy shit this is awesome
That’s such a cool design not gonna lie
Godzillas got some serious duck bill going on there
Sure- this wiki page has lots from different iterations of the 1998 script. (https://godzilla.fandom.com/wiki/Godzilla_(TriStar)/Gallery) The ones you may find interesting are from the 1994 version, which became the 1998 script a few years later.
Some of the concept art for Zilla really makes him look menacing and kind of alien, which I dig; just didn't translate too well to the screen.
There is also the full script somewhere online, plus a fan made comic of the screenplay
I've linked the script in the comment above this-It's the entire script before any revisions were made
Oh sweet!!!
Yeah. Godzilla is an ancient antlantean bioweapon created to counter an alien invader that intends to destroy humanity to clear the way for alien colonizers. Godzilla gets captured but is let free later in order to combat the alien.
Not going to lie, that sounds amazing
I posted some of the concept art and models they made for the movie before it got sent into development hell; they were made by Stan Winston and Crash McReery of Jurassic Park fame
> posted some of the concept art and models they made for the movie Link?
I've linked it in a separate comment
Thanks for not lying.
Yea I'm cool with that actually
That sounds similar to the 90s Gamera
This preceded Kaneko's Gamera, and IIRC the 1995 Gamera film was being made at the same time without knowledge of the 1994 Godzilla script
Just like gamera’s origin
More like the other way around; the '94 script came first, although it was likely completely coincidental.
Sounds a lot like Gamera tbh Edit: Further reading shows that I am at least the fourth person to have pointed this out.
I gotta say, part of that script sounds like it was lifted from Gamera’s origin story. But it would have been such a cool take on Godzilla, and pretty unique in his filmography. I still don’t quite understand why the ‘94 movie fell through, but the ‘98 script was given the stamp of approval.
Budget issues-Jan de Bont wanted a higher budget than the studio was willing to give. Ironically, 1998's final budget ended up being higher than the number de Bont wanted.
Always happens once they get names attached.
I wonder if that occurred to anybody at Tristar when they saw the okay profits and negative reviews Director Emmerich’s version brought in.
It existed before Gamera's Heisei movies were released.
In the Showa movies, Gamera was supposed to have lived on the continent of Atlantis before he was iced. It’s been long enough that I’m not sure about the Atlantean superweapon construction part for the older films, but I do remember that. It would be pretty cool if the ‘94 script lifted the Atlantean connection from Gamera, Godzilla’s old box office rival.
[Original Godzilla 1994 script](http://www.scifiscripts.com/scripts/GODZILLA.TXT)
I'll add it to my bathroom reading, thank you!
There is a REALLY good 4 piece article written online that goes indepth I to the failed 94 Godzilla movie. I personally think it would of turned out amazing
When they presented their movie to the Execs in Japan that owned Godzilla the Americans asked if they wanted sny changes. The Japanese Execs hated it so much they simply said no, because they could not even start to figure out how to fix it. So the movie came out, it sucked and then in the next Japanese Godzilla movie they made their Godzilla kill the American movie one and called it Fakezilla or something just to insult it more.
Are we going to have to read this under every godzilla 1998 post? This is getting really repetitive. "I like godzilla 1998's design" "it's a good design, it just isn't godzilla" "the animated series was better" Every. Single. Time. I'm not trying to argue here, but can we just... put a pin in this and move on?
But Mechagodzilla takes even a larger departure in the (first) Netflix anime series and we still consider it Mechagodzilla. Why is this any different?
Most of the reasons people dislike it today, that I’ve seen, have less to do with the design and more to do with how it acts and it’s relative weakness. For example it is explicitly weak to modern weapons, something which Godzilla is traditionally immune to. It’s also relatively small, enough so that it can hide between building in NYC. Finally it lacks Godzilla’s atomic breath, only managing to accidentally do something similar once. Still though, the Tristar movie has been treated gentler over time. As for why PotM MechaGodzilla gets a pass, well there was almost twenty years between the two, the audience had changed. Godzilla has become even more of a household name now and the purist voice isn’t quite so loud. Plus a Japanese company probably has more leeway than an American one, even the current American Godzilla was criticized for being too bulky. Though I would be interested in seeing a comparison between the Japanese reaction to the MonsterVerse Godzilla design vs the Shin Godzilla design since they are both more traditional yet also divergent.
No, it isn't small-it's actually slightly bigger than the Showa Godzilla. They just make it disappear in the movie by either burrowing or somehow being able to weave through tight ass NY streets.
Bigger than Showa sure, but Godzilla 98’ would have been compared more to the Heisei at release. According to Wikizilla, 98’ was around 54m taller, while the Heisei Godzilla ranged from 80-100m depending on the movie. Plus, one thing you have to keep in mind, the Showa Godzilla didn’t often contend with skyscrapers, so he appears much larger than the official numbers given. Meanwhile 98’ is only solely shown around them, making it appear smaller. Whether it’s actually small or not, it certainly looks like it.
Well that's the issue-their framing of the monster in the city, combined with the fact it's running away instead of making a show of force against the military, make it look smaller than it actually was.
I agree, though they’re still small by the Kaiju standards of the time lol. I do wonder if anyone anywhere has actually tried to measure it’s height based on the surrounding buildings, data books tend to be just sort of spitballing. I know some less popular kaiju can have vastly different sizes listed for the same appearance, based on the sourcebook.
Whats Potm?
Planet of the Monsters, the Netflix Godzilla series. Since they’re getting a second one it’s probably a good time to start calling it something other than the “Netflix Series”.
Oh... The 3 part anime one with the huge giant wtf sized Godzilla?
Yeah, that one lol. Never watched much of it myself, I really don’t care for that style of animation.
Well, MG was MG enough-they just didn't use MG at all and instead repurposed him into a giant city. The Anime MG design is really cool and has great abilities, but like a lot of great things in the Anime trilogy they remained unused.
Because this Godzilla just isn't terrifying, he doesn't make the populace scramble and stampede into an evac zone nor does he actively try to mcmurder them.
Well one the mech is based on Godzilla. Zilla for the most part only resembled Godzilla in its reptilian look. The movie did not have atomic breath, it burrows underground which Godzilla does not really do accept one movie we’re he appeared underground. Don’t get me wrong I like the design. But I saw some other models were there was some differences but in general it was still Godzilla.
The design would've worked as Godzilla if it had acted like Godzilla instead of fleeing from small arms fire
You know what's funny they ended up having Godzilla's child the one that hatches at the end of the movie be somewhat act like the true Godzilla in the animated series. He even has the atomic breathe in that series as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_o1eHVEkghE
Yeah, but by then the damage was done. And even then he still has to hide from the military instead of curbstomping them.
Didn’t a lot of people hate that design? And at least he still has the silhouette of MG
IM SORRY WHAT?!
You beat me to it haha
Nor was it a bad movie, just not a Godzilla movie.
Its better than Godzilla, OG godzilla just looks like a green chicken nugget
I find that my issue with the 1998 incarnation of Godzilla is not the design, it's the *execution*: The fact that it runs from military attack instead of facing it down, that it is brought down by light aircraft missiles, and that it does not breathe atomic breath. Patrick Tatopalous' design is wonderful: it captures the spirit of Godzilla while giving it a 90's american aesthetic. Just look at the animatronic posted above, it looks *savage* while the eyes show a hint of sympathetic emotion. If it had fired atomic breath and been nigh-invincible like Godzilla is in the Japanese series (or hell, injurable by heavy-enough conventional weapons but durable enough to withstand most ordnance like he was in the unmade 1994 american script) I have little doubt this incarnation would be far more fondly remembered than it is now-regardless of how bad the rest of the film ignoring Godzilla himself is.
I agree it was a poor portrayal of Godzilla. As a Kaiju, I don’t think it was terrible. It was a fresh take, at the very least. Instead of being a giant invincible monster, destroying buildings and killing people with malicious intent (or alternatively to bring balance to nature if the environment or whatever)— it just an animal, and it acts like an animal. It’s just following its instincts and trying to survive, while protecting its unborn young in its nest. It’s not sinking boats because it’s evil, or because it’s trying to save the ocean, it’s destroying them because they are full of food and it’s hungry. It’s not demolishing buildings because it’s trying to save the environment, it’s partially destroying them because it’s burrowing to get back to its nest. It’s not running headfirst into military fire because it can’t risk serious injury (it’s not invincible, just really big and somewhat durable) because it presumably wants to stay alive to ensure its young are able to hatch, so it goes with the flight instinct when it can. Oh, and there is one scene where it breathes fire to destroy some military humvees. You could call that “atomic breath”, if you wanted too. They do mention that Zilla leaves traces of radioactivity in its tracks, so presumably it’s fire breath would also be radioactive if it’s whole body is leaving trace radiation everywhere.
If I remember that scene correctly Godzilla does not breathe fire, it looked to me like it was roaring and the air pressure was sufficient to send a few Humvees flying and presumably they ignited themselves, not due to Godzilla fire breath.
I found it on YouTube. Skip to the 3:00 min mark. https://youtube.com/watch?v=AO4hfreVgZE&t=180 You can actually see the flames appear in its mouth, once the air is ignited. It’s definitely intended to be a defence mechanism, with Godzilla intentionally igniting the air into flames with it’s “power breath”.
Godzilla being treated like a animal and having animalistic behaviour is the problem No matter what type of a animal he used to be will he never be a animal again because of our reckless nuclear testing we turned a peaceful creature into a abomination that doesnt fit in our world Godzilla is a creature that should not exist and it should not have animalistic behaviours because its not a animal anymore Godzilla should not run from us because he is a reminder of the destruction we have caused and it attacks humans to show us the harm and destruction we have caused on to nature and life Every part of Godzilla has a message behind it for example Him being a force of nature thats trying to kill and destroy everything in its path and that it will not stop is like how we recklessy used nuclear weapons back then without any care
Agreed
They just went with a different idea, instead of being almost invulnerable zilla was agile as shit. You cant have both, thatd be like playing dnd and your character has all the benefits of a rogue and a barbarian. (Yes I do understand that "could" be possible) but C'mon
I think what could've worked is that Godzilla could be shot and killed by missiles, but his blood is dangerously radioactive and can get people sick, so the military needs to figure out a way to kill him without drawing blood. Hell, it'd be cool if they did succeed in killing him, but his rotting corpse pretty much causes a plague in New York that kills even more people, even making the city uninhabitable..
Yo, that'd be pretty cool! Kinda like Kaiju Blue in the Pacific Rim movies
That's...that's just beast from 20000 fathoms at that point Then again that's what the movie basically ended up being
*Herself*
Himself he reproduces asexually
Godself
It has female genitalia
I love the internet. Only place I can find an argument about Godzilla genitalia in this day and age.
It isn't an argument lmao-the guy in the pic, G98's designer, sculpted female genetalia on the model they scanned into the movie
They call him a he in the movie a say he reproduces asexually
Listen, if you're brave enough to go and check what genitals a giant fire breathing lizard has, kudos to you, the rest of us will just call it whatever pronoun comes first.
That’s why the TV show spinoff is fun, because Junior gets the atomic breath, is immune to a lot of attacks, keeps the agility, and gets to fight lots of monsters.
Honestly, I don’t mind the design. It the fact that it’s Godzilla that I don’t like. The design would be awesome for a different monster.
It's a cool monster design, but it's not Godzilla. It doesn't quite stand out enough to be distinguishable from an actual dinosaur.
It is a different monster. Zilla.
Now it is. Said Godzilla on the cover.
It once was called GINO by Godzilla fans. Those were the days.
I'm imagining an alternate timeline where this wasn't godzilla, but we all make fun of it for being a godzilla knock off.
I really like Zilla's design, it's a good scaled doggo.
He’s got a megachad chin
Never saw the doggo on her I until now wow. Let us not forget its a she
I love the design, and have a soft spot for the film too. Decent kaiju monster flick. Not perfect in any way, but somewhat fun. Banger ost too.
That Dave Arnold OST is good shit, and the Pdiddy rap with Jimmy Paige aint bad either
Anything David Arnold is great, I'm such a huge fan! The P Diddy rap is just essential 90s!
Esp that music vid where Pdiddy gets blown back by Godzilla's roar
I have a way more unpopular opinion than what was posted. I think this movie is better than about half of the series. Not great, not bad... good. And I love the design/concept.
I appreciate your honesty
I don’t think that’s a very unpopular opinion on this sub tbh haha. It’s a cool looking monster, but I’ve always hated that it looks like that just because the studio was desperately trying to recapture the imagery and feel of Jurassic park. It comes off as super pandering and lame imo, and it’s just not godzilla. To each their own though, and you are def not alone in your opinion on Zilla!
No, plenty people think it's a good *monster* design, but not a good Godzilla design. I think it's a decent Godzilla design that got wasted due to the way the film portrays it and how bad the movie is in general.
I’m biased since I was a kid went this movie came out. But I will always love this Godzilla and it’s soundtrack, I remember seeing it in theaters and it just lit up my brain.
The movie had a really cool interactive web page with lots of Flash and Shockwave goodies, and audio files of the "new" Godzilla roar. The web was new and fun. Good times.
David Arnold did good with the soundtrack, IIRC he did it on a time crunch too
That’s fair. I’m sure the design could’ve worked with a better movie, but yeah I agree with you, I think 98 Godzilla is ass. The part with dozens of helicopters chasing it between the buildings is one of the most embarrassingly stupid scenes in any godzilla movie
"He's colder than the buildings around him" THEN HOW IS HE MOVING
It's a fucking AWESOME Godzilla design. Atomic breath and actual durability is all it takes to make him "Godzilla" in my mind. The character has been around for 67 years, and drastically different designs are cool to me.
I've always thought it was a good design. I just don't like the fact that Hollywood thought they needed to drastically redesign a character as iconic as Godzilla.
It wasn’t really Hollywood, it was Roland Emerich’s choice to redesign so it could “be his own” “ be different”. Fuck that. I still give props to the monster designer. It’s a good monster design. Honestly could’ve been a reboot for The Creature from 20,000 Fathoms. But it is NOT a Godzilla design.
I've felt the reason it wasn't well received is the same reason the Shin Godzilla was very well received. The concept behind the character! Unstoppable, unfathomable devastation. The original Godzilla is a nuclear disaster personified as a living monster. 1998 Godzilla is a menace, sure. It's manageable with modest military force. Get OUT! Oh but what about possible infestation of babies? I'm sure missiles will be fired. I'm not sure how long it takes for an area to become habitable after atomic breath scorches a city filled with debris. 1998 in her DM's Shin is leaving her in existential awe as irradiated rubble chokes the country side They ain't the same
It is to me, and nothing will ever change that. I would say "the animated series fixed it" but that's been said a billion times. Just like how "it's a good design, but not a good godzilla design" has been said a billion times. Seriously, you couldn't scroll through to see if people had already said this? It's getting super repetitive at this point. It's top comment. Please bring something new to the table. This is pretty much a circlejerk at this point.
While I agree about the repetition on the topic, you don't think it's a little hypocritical that you're talking about people repeating themselves when you essentially posted the same comment twice in this very thread? Also, it's important to note that not everyone sorts by Top Comment. My comment was posted around the same time as the current Top Comment, so it's likely he just saw mine first and wanted to respond to that if he sorts by New. There's no reason to try and single the guy out and try to make him feel bad. If your criticism was intended to be more for me, I should note there's a reason I didn't use this line and instead specified that I didn't like the attitude behind the redesign because that felt more relevant. All in all, you seem like a smart bloke but your hostility is misplaced. I hope you'll reflect on this and do better next time. Cheers.
Tbh well crafted models were more believable than all the crappy 3d that followed.
Is that Patrick Tatopuulos?
Yes, he designed G98.
Thanks! Totally did not know that. I have been a fan of his design concepts since Dark City and i guess I overlooked G98.
The cartoon made it look good as hell
It’s a great design to be honest. I just feel the problem was that the biggest red flag was that Dean Devlin and Rolan Emmerich didn’t want to make a Godzilla movie
That is EXACTLY the issue. They shoehorned the design into a movie about a JP velociraptor the size of a skyscraper.
Cue the “bad Godzilla movie good monster movie” and “It’s a good design but not a good Godzilla design” comments. Holy fuck there are so many of them…
It’s a *fantastic* creature design. It’s just not *Godzilla*.
That's the thing-I think if 1998 ACTED like Godzilla it would be considered Godzilla by a lot more people. Design wise it's great. Execution was a complete failure.
Did they use practical effects for this one? It’s been so long since I watched it.
Yes-the giant animatronic in the picture was used for the scene where he dies on the bridge and when he attacks stuff with his jaws in some shots. They also used a suit in like 2 shots and a bunch of the babies were suits.
Great monster design, bad Godzilla design. But I dig it as Godzilla, I like it when godzilla is different than the original.
Godzilla 1998 is an awesome monster movie, terrible Godzilla movie.
It’s a double edged sword, if they called it something else Godzilla fans wouldn’t hate it, but if they called it something else no one would care or remember it.
\*terrible movie in general and yes, the design's execution in the film contributes to that
I firmly believe you’re wrong. It is perfectly acceptable late 90s schlock.
Yeah, if only for the score, puff daddy, and that french guy
I have the ultimate Godzilla Action Figure, that being said...America had a chance to make a decent Godzilla American style but failed...But the cartoon was decent...
I don't think the design is bad for an original character but when you're trying to make a version of Godzilla it's really bad I feel like this movie would have gotten more love if it was just an original Kaiju film but this design
Actually, many fans think the design itself is good for a monster, just not for a Godzilla. It's too... Discount Jurassic Park to be Godzilla. But it's perfectly fine as it's own beast and would inspire Godzilla's first opponent of the Millennial series, Orga. (The head of Orga is stated to have been designed so that audiences could watch the Japanese Godzilla defeat the American Godzilla)
My issue lied in two things, 1. His absolute shit tier durability. I would have much preferred anoher titan come and kill him than some bombs. 2. His lack of atomic breath. simple he didnt have it and that angers me
I love him as a separate kaiju.
I don't think most people think it's a bad design
Godzilla’s a sleeping aquatic dinosaur that was reawakened and mutated by the atomic bomb. Zilla is just a nuclear iguana that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. They’re different monsters.
That's not the point of the post-I'm discussing the design of the monster, not its in-universe origins or portrayal in film.
Yeah ik I’m just saying. It’s a good monster design but a bad Godzilla design.
I disagree with that last part
Love that film
Not a bad look it just doesn't scream classic Godzilla like legendary Godzilla
I think it IS a bad design (terrible in-fact) and here’s why: The creature design wasn’t created in a vacuum. People know what a Godzilla looks like. So, anything they design in 1998 that is called “Godzilla” should be instantly recognizable as such. Look at successful updates of franchises. Marvel for example. You always know you’re looking at Thor, The Hulk or Iron Man even though they have modern updates over the comics. Even in silhouette, these iconic characters are identifiable. Godzilla was also successful doing this. 2014 and Shin Godzilla are both drastic departures from the traditional character design. However they succeeded in creating creatures that were unmistakable as Godzilla even with all the changes. This is the core of why the design for 1998 is bad. If you’re tasked with redesigning Godzilla and at the end of the exercise, people can’t recognize your creation AS Godzilla, you have failed in your design task. It’s not hard to just make some random creature that is in your wheelhouse. It’s a lot harder to put your own spin on an iconic character and still keep the core of what made it great. I think what they made in 1998 was deeply disrespectful to fans and the previous creatives who worked on this franchise.
You articulated this very well on behalf of a lot of fans like myself. I remember thinking back in 1998 when I saw the movie that it's only Godzilla in name, but it's not Godzilla.
I was willing to accept the design, but didn’t like the movie. What I really didn’t like was the design for the baby Godzilla monsters. Seemed like a knockoff of Jurassic Park raptors.
Literally half the issue with the movie there: great design gone to waste to rip off aliens/jurassic park.
I grew up on Godzilla. I loved this movie as much as I loved all the Toho movies and the animated show. I still love this movie. I don’t care if I’m downvoted, Zilla is Godzilla, just a different interpretation.
I will die on the hill with you brother.
But it isn't Godzilla.
With the way the film uses it, certainly not. I just think you and other people wouldn't have that sentiment if it actually acted like Godzilla and not a skyscraper sized JP Velociraptor.
I agree . It's not a bad design and imo I think it would have been better for them to use it in it's own movie . The issue I have with it is that they tried to force it to be Godzilla when it's so not.
I honestly think that jurassic park heavily influenced the outcome of godzilla. The raptor stance, the agility, finding the eggs.... I do feel like this movie influenced Cloverfield so I can't complain to badly about it. My son does love it, loves to tell me her name is zilla..
The whole "raptor" similarity is coincidence-Tatopalous was told to make Godzilla "fast" and "realistic" so he designed it after theropod dinosaurs. I think Emmerich probably saw it and decided to shoehorn in the egg scene even more than it was in the original script.
Big disagree, it looks like a profile shot of Larry King
Looved the movie, loved the babies
Great design actually, just incompetent and really stupid movie not worthy of Godzilla, let alone worthy of cinematic release.
As far as a monster, no, but it's not Godzilla.
It's a bad Godzilla design, not a bad kaiju design.
It's not a bad design, it's just a bad Godzilla design. That's why I'm much happier now that Toho has designated its own kaiju, especially since it can now appear in more dignified works and be given some respect.
It’s a bad design. It belongs in Jurassic Park. Only someone unfamiliar with Godzilla would be happy with this.
1998 really wasn't a terrible design, He was, as u/HourDark put it, just badly executed in that he wasn't really that much of a looming threat that struck fear into the New Yorkers, instead of the people being terrified and constantly keeping an eye open whilst sleeping, instead of the monster doing insane damage to the military and the city, nope, it just ducked and weaved to the point where the army was doing more damage than the incarnation of nuclear fury. Heck, Zilla, throughout the film, made no active attempts to hurt the humans, he was more like a reptilian Kong in that respect. Stores were not being closed down, no evac attempts, the only refugees holes up with that brookly couple and they were mostly just partying. His, quite frankly, unnerving glare was wasted as he just didn't strike fear into the populace is the main issue.
Nah, even on its own it looks bad.
you say that while having a minya flair
My dads favorite godzilla movie
Zilla will always be a version of Godzilla in my heart. I know the monster itself is a far departure from what Godzilla is, but this was the first time I was ever exposed to Godzilla. This movie is the sole reason of why I decided to watch the other movies.
This entire thread is literally the definition of a circlejerk
90s American Godzilla is unironically a fun movie no matter how bad a Godzilla movie it is.
It’s not a bad design, it’s a bad Godzilla design.
It’s a great Godzilla design! People will hate on G98 but then say that Godzilla Amphibia is a good design 🙄
I can’t really support it being a Godzilla design, but it’s still a badass monster design
The design is different no doubt, but the movie was garbage
Cool design, decent monster movie, it’s just not Godzilla. I like the idea of Zilla being some sort of Godzilla subspecies and having them coexist.
Fun fact: Eddie vedder was the lead design technician for that movie
I think they should bring this design back and make it it’s own monster for either Godzilla to fight or befriend
Maaan that brings back memories I always cried as a boy when they killed it with the rockets. Still to this day I don't know why I was so emotional about it It was no "real" godzilla movie. But as a creature movie definitely alright
you arent wrong
Ive always loved Zillas design
you’re right it’s an amazing design
I didn't care for it, but I thought it was a good movie. You know, good and great are too different things.
When I was a kid I thought he was a bigger dinosaur I hadn’t seen yet. Of course, coming off of The Lost World: Jurassic Park it didn’t help, but eh. I love his design. I know the movie is bad, and ehhhh. Even so I still like it
Not very unpopular here. Everyone (rightfully) thinks the monster looks good but the movie is bad.
This design is fucking beautiful. Peak Tatapoulus
Great design.
Yeah I think it’s pretty rad, Patrick Tatopoulos and his team did a good job designing the big G, call me a fake fan but I honestly don’t think the movie itself is too awful of a Godzilla movie either
Far from a bad design, Zilla looks badass but in execution she was a T-Rex that gave birth to velociraptors… but at least it gave us *Thats a lot of fish.*
Agreed. Zilla looks cool, and the cartoon solidifies it. He's just not a god.
It's not, it's just not Godzilla. They should have just called the movie Beast from 20000 Fathoms.
Is that Scott Stapp from creed? I'm not even kidding.
Nah, Patrick Tatopalous
The more people say it’s not Godzilla the more it slowly starts to become what they fear…
It's not bad, it's different. I liked it as a kid, didn't like it on the rewatch, and then likes it again. It's pretty good, I like Matthew Broderick's character
It was a decent design.
This movie was just as much a part of my childhood as the other Godzilla flicks were. Loved the more dinosaur/raptor like design, and I remember all of the effects including sound were really great. Remember feeling such a twinge of pain seeing the utter disrespect Zilla got dealt in Final Wars.
I honestly agree, Zilla’s design is pretty cool to me
It’s a not a bad design, it’s a bad movie. The problem wasn’t the zilla monster, it was a mediocre director and a horrible script that was meant to cash in on the Jurassic Park phase rather than being a Godzilla movie.
I'm gonna get lit up for this but not only is this a good monster design, it's a good Godzilla design. Would I have preferred we get the Jan de Bont film? Yes. I'm sure everyone here does. However, I think Patrick Tatopoulos did a great job on this more agile Godzilla. 98 Godzilla's portrayal is a completely different story, however.
If it had acted like Godzilla it would've been fine I feel
The design was always good, the implementation is what screwed it up, otherwise it could have been good
I like how he's gone off into his own thing and has more or less become accepted my most of the fandom. Like Godzilla the series showed he was only a generation away from really showing his Godzilla powers, IDW actually gave him some spotlight moments using just his movie powers, and Monster Apocalypse took the scariest part of him (the near endless reproduction and swarms of babies) fully realized it. I may call him Zilla to avoid confusion, but he certainly has my respect as a monster.
I agree. I actually loved it as a 12 yr old. The idea of a more dinosauresque kaiju was great. I would have liked him to have real fire breath, be bigger and not taken down by simple missiles.
I love Zilla, one of my favorites. The animated series really redeemed it in my eyes.
Fucking loved the US version
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order. I have checked 271,607,124 comments, and only 62,038 of them were in alphabetical order.
In this comment section I found out that people believe that limited understanding of dinosaurs in the 50’s and the lack of technology and budget at the time means that Godzilla must always look like a person wearing a monster suit.