Since Godzilla’s cinematic debut in the 1954 Japanese film Gojira, this colossal reptilian creature, often referred to as the “King of the Monsters,” has firmly held his place in the realm of giant movie monsters. While King Kong, with his appearances in King Kong vs. Godzilla and the more recent Godzilla vs. Kong, has come close to challenging Godzilla’s reign, it’s safe to say that Godzilla remains the undisputed heavyweight champion. Other contenders in the giant monster category, like the alien from Cloverfield, the kaiju from Pacific Rim, or even the mighty Kraken from Clash of the Titans, can’t quite measure up to Godzilla’s enduring popularity.
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Godzilla has maintained his iconic appearance over the years, except for the regrettable 1998 Americanized version. The classic attributes of this colossal creature include his green skin, large dorsal scales, ability to unleash atomic breath, and of course, his distinctive and spine-tingling roar. However, when it comes to determining Godzilla’s height, the answer is a bit more complex than one might expect.
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Godzilla’s Height Remained Constant — For a While
Noger Chen, a talented graphic designer and creative director hailing from Taiwan, has dedicated extensive research and creativity to produce a captivating piece of art that meticulously compares the sizes of all the live-action Godzilla iterations. This work of art was originally featured in a 2019 article by Newsweek. Chen’s piece delves into the first eight Godzilla designs, spanning from the original Godzilla to Terror of Mechagodzilla in 1975.
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Throughout the 23 years of the Shōwa period, which was named after Emperor Hirohito’s reign, Godzilla’s appearance evolves slightly from one film to the next. However, one interesting constant remains: his height. At 50 meters (approximately 164 feet), this iconic monster retains a consistent stature. It’s rumored that this height was chosen to ensure that Godzilla would be just tall enough to peer over the tallest building in Japan at that time, adding an extra layer of tension for the audience. It’s worth noting that the Americanized version of the 1954 original, titled “Godzilla: King of the Monsters!”. In this version, Godzilla was reported to be a towering 400 feet tall.
In the nine-year span following “Terror of Mechagodzilla” up to 1984’s “The Return of Godzilla,” our beloved Tokyo terror underwent substantial growth, reaching 80 meters (about 262.5 feet) from the original 50. “The Return of Godzilla” marked the commencement of the Heisei period, which reimagined the series by discarding the sequels to the original film and instead creating a direct sequel to “Gojira.” During the first two films of the Heisei period, “The Return of Godzilla” and “Godzilla vs. Biollante,” Godzilla’s height remained at 80 meters. However, he went through another growth spurt, reaching 100 meters (around 328 feet) for “Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah,” effectively doubling his size from the Shōwa period. This towering stature persisted for the remaining four Heisei titles, concluding with “Godzilla vs. Destoroyah” in 1995.
The Long and Short of Godzilla in the 2000s
In the world of Godzilla films, 1998’s “Godzilla,” directed by Roland Emmerich, stands as a unique and largely independent entry into the franchise. This Americanized take on Godzilla, often referred to as “Fake Godzilla,” differs significantly from the original Toho creations and has no ties to the future MonsterVerse. Notably, “Fake Godzilla” is seen on screen at a height of 70 meters (approximately 230 feet), a singular instance in Godzilla’s cinematic history.
Just one year later, “Godzilla 2000: Millennium” marked the inception of the Millennium period. This film pays homage to the earlier versions of Godzilla, with a height of 55 meters (around 180 feet). In 2001, Godzilla added another 5 meters in “Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack” before reverting to the 55-meter stature for three subsequent films. However, for the grand finale of the Millennium Era, “Godzilla: Final Wars” in 2004, Godzilla roared back to a towering 100 meters. In a memorable moment from this film, he humorously confronts the 1998 American Zilla, slamming him into the Sydney Opera House.
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The MonsterVerse’s rebooted Godzilla arrived in 2014, providing a more faithful and well-received interpretation of Toho’s iconic franchise. This version of Godzilla reaches a height of 108 meters (about 354 feet). Toho also revitalized its original franchise with 2016’s “Shin Godzilla,” marking the start of the Reiwa era. Here, Godzilla’s height undergoes a unique transformation throughout the film. He begins at 28 meters (approximately 92 feet), then progresses to 57 meters (about 187 feet), and ultimately culminates in his final form, towering at 118.5 meters (approximately 389 feet). As for the upcoming “Godzilla Minus One,” the precise height of Godzilla is yet to be confirmed, but there is speculation that it may align with the 55-meter stature reminiscent of the Millennium era.
The MonsterVerse Godzilla’s Height Impacts His ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Castmate
After “Shin Godzilla,” the faithful yet separate MonsterVerse incarnation of Godzilla has appeared in two additional films: “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” and “Godzilla vs. Kong.” In both of these pictures, Godzilla stands at his all-time peak in terms of height, an astounding 119.8 meters (approximately 393 feet). This stature would certainly make him an undeniable choice for a monstrous basketball team. However, what makes these films intriguing isn’t just Godzilla’s towering height but also his co-star in the latter film, “Godzilla vs. Kong”: King Kong.
The first encounter between these iconic creatures took place in 1962’s “King Kong vs. Godzilla,” where Kong stood at 148 feet tall. In Peter Jackson’s epic 2005 remake of the film, Kong’s height shrank to 25 feet. Fast forward to 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island,” and Kong had grown to an impressive 104 feet. To ensure a more balanced and exciting battle against the towering Godzilla, Kong entered “Godzilla vs. Kong” at 335 feet, still smaller than his formidable foe but presenting a much more engaging contest. This significant increase in Kong’s height between 2017 and 2021 is attributed to the film’s explanation by Hank Marlow (played by John C. Reilly) in “Kong: Skull Island,” where he notes that “Kong’s the last of his kind, but he’s still growing.”
The next anticipated appearance of the King of the Monsters is scheduled for later this year in Toho’s “Godzilla Minus One,” set to open on November 1. Additionally, the MonsterVerse’s Apple TV+ series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” is slated for release in the fall. While we eagerly anticipate Godzilla’s cinematic adventures, it’s worth noting that we won’t encounter the colossal creature in real life. Paleontologist Mike Habib provides an amusing yet scientifically sound explanation for this, highlighting the sheer impracticality of Godzilla’s physiology, such as the necessity for a heart weighing thousands of tons to pump blood to his brain. In a way, this fascinating fact adds a touch of comfort and intrigue to the enduring legacy of Godzilla in pop culture.
Source: https://dominioncinemas.net
Category: MOVIE FEATURES