Godzilla-The Original

Godzilla, a movie about a giant lizard like monster which was mutated by the radiation from the atomic bomb which destroyed parts of Japan. The movie brought back many horrifying memories of the nuclear disastor which the Japanese people experienced first hand in 1945.

The original version of Godzilla was directed by Ishiro Honda, starring Akira Takarda, Momoko Kochi, Takahi Shimura, and Akihiko Hirata in November of 1954. The movie was made in original black and white, with quite amazing special effects considering that it was produced in the 1950's, before film had developed to what it is today.
The entire movie is spoken in Japanese with the convenience of English subtitles for the understanding of non-japanese speaking people. The sub-titles posed an issue for many viewers as it becomes quite difficult to have to read a movie when this generation is so used to having a movie bluntly explain everything going on.

Since the original premiere of Godzilla in 1954, there have been many re-makes to suit the North American audience, but not one could compare to the original version.
The movie definitely relayed the intended message, while still adding in a few annoying characters, such as Momoko Kōchi who played Emiko the lover of the main charecter. Already by the begining of the film audience members, such as myself wanted Godzilla to take a nice little bite out of her. Overall the acting was done relatively well for the time period and the basis of the story.

The film enhanced the viewers experience and really introduced them to the feelings that the people in Japan were experiencing after their horrific encounter with the bombs and the fears that they had regarding radiation poisoning.

Personally I did not enjoy this movie to the extent that many people would. I did not necessarily enjoy the foreign aspects but I definitely had appreciation toward the art, skills and techniques which were used, and how the language the actors were speaking added to the intensity of the overall film.