Alright, I had fun watching both version of Godzilla last night, so here goes my take...
Unfortunate events of the 20th century gave rise to worries that advances in technology had pushed humanity into an abyss from which there was no return. In terms of nuclear technology, we learned the hard way that this particular genie is never going back into the bottle, and, even after decades of living under the threat of the nuclear arms race, we are still plagued with valid fears about black market nuclear technology, dirty bombs, and disposal of existing radioactive material. The original 1954 version of Godzilla, directed by Ishiro Honda, a former assistant to Akira Kurosawa, is a surprisingly cerebral film that presents a massive radioactive monster as a metaphor for the destructive technology that had been unleashed into our world and uses the invention of an imaginary weapon to explore the moral implications of scientific research. Godzilla addresses America's use of the atom bomb and its continued testing of nuclear arms, but not in a scathingly vindictive way. Instead, the film introduces the character of Dr. Serizawa and his Oxygen Destroyer invention as a sad acknowledgement that Japan or any other country is just as capable of destructive innovation. The 1956 English-language version, Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, while lighter in tone, is an effective achievement in editing and dubbing that alters the story to focus on the reality of the arms race.
Both films are presented on this Criterion Blu-ray package with superb transfers that outshine any other existing editions. Having owned the Classic Media DVD version of these two movies, I can safely say that the high definition presentation of the Criterion release is a notable improvement, and that the darker sequences of the film finally look decent. The limitations of the source material are apparent, but these limitations are also an unexpected benefit, since the grain and scratches of Godzilla's long rampage through Tokyo actually resemble authentic WWII-era film footage.
Allegory and moral reflections aside, Godzilla is a wondrously fun monster movie that makes resourceful use of the limited man-in-a-rubber suit effects to capture the imagination by way of competent editing and camera angles. This movie is a shining example of how the reactions of the actors to a particular special effect can make that special effect seem real to the audience. Sequences of Godzilla's destruction of cityscapes are interspersed with genuine grief and shock from the characters. The cinematography, in turn, gives us a feel for the enormity of the monster as a powerful force of nature. A simple image of Godzilla's tail crushing a roof, for example, goes a long way. The unmistakable roar of the iconic creature and the power of the music come through perfectly in the audio presentation to complete the illusion.
David Kalat's engaging commentary tracks for both versions of Godzilla sincerely acknowledge the films as a cinematic milestones and provide thorough examinations of their historical relevance.
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