OK! Now that we've got some history and context for who and what Godzilla is, let's talk about THE MOTHRA RULE. He is big, he is awesome, and he is simultaneously a powerful metaphor and goofy special effect that makes for a unique brand of entertainment. He was created using special effects referred to as 'suitmation', wherein an actor in a monster suit destroys miniature sets, usually cities, by stomping on them or fighting other 'giant monsters', AKA stunt performers in rubber suits. Godzilla himself is a giant, dinosaur-like monster used to represent the destruction and aftermath of the nuclear weapons used against Japan during World War II. The Godzilla franchise is considered to be the longest ongoing franchise in cinema history, beginning in 1954 with Honda's original film Gojira. Their work with Ishirō Honda, director of the original Godzilla, would cement them as one of the leading producers of kaijū movies, collaborating to create some of the most iconic kaijū including Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah. They also produced a number of Akira Kurosawa's movies, including S even Samurai and Ran.

is the largest film studio in Japan and the production company and distributor behind Godzilla and many other kaijū movies. In America we tend to refer to them as 'kaijū movies.'

Eiga translates to 'movie', so kaijū eiga literally refers to 'movies that feature kaijū' with the generally accepted definition ultimately being 'giant-monster movies'. Kaijū literally translates to 'strange beast', with daikaijū referring to 'large' or 'great' kaijū. And in doing so, I discovered a handy little shortcut to getting the most out your giant-monster movies which I have dubbed THE MOTHRA RULE.īut first, a quick primer on Toho, Godzilla, and what is known in Japan as 'kaijū eiga.' But this time, I've a twist! My journey through all 36 Godzilla movies made me a fan not just of the King of Monsters himself, but of the friends he made along the way. It's me, your #1 monster-boy, here to make yet another case for watching more movies that star MY BEST BIG BOY, Godzilla.

When was the mostrecent godzilla movie