MINDLESS MUSINGS

GODZILLA (1954)

***SPOILER ALERT***

(If the title didn’t already give it away. Sorry)

Without a doubt the most recognizable Kaiju (strange beast) in history. Godzilla was the embodiment of man’s destructive tendencies. A monstrous creature born out of hydrogen bomb testing, it is a devastating representation of the apocalyptic potential of nuclear weapons.

I may write about this awe-inspiring film at a later date, but in the interests of brevity I will stick to my point. The noble sacrifice has been a cinema (or should I say story?) staple since way back when. The heroic self-sacrifice as a final act of altruism from a courageous hero, a brave act of redemption for a coward or villain, or just an out-and-out ‘fuck you’ final act of defiance. It has many faces and is a very useful tool in a writer’s bag. Maybe another essay here too; but I digress.

In Godzilla the authorities eventually discover that they have no way of stopping this mammoth monstrosity’s ruinous rampage. Kind of how it must have felt to have atomic bombs dropped on you (that’s the other essay). Their entire arsenal is powerless against this far superior threat. They are on the losing side of the current arms race.

Herein lies the awful paradox of man’s relentless quest for the next best weapon. Once it is created, the only option for the ‘enemy’, is to match the threat ASAP; and then the urgent pursuit of a greater weapon kicks off – repeat the cycle until Armageddon is achieved.

In the era of this film the biggest and baddest weapon around is the nuclear bomb and even that can’t stop Godzilla. The Japanese literally throw everything at the beast, but it just keeps on coming.

Miraculously, there is one scientist who has created a weapon that just might take the monster out. He has kept this creation a secret because it was never his intention to create a weapon. Like a lot of scientists who contributed to the making of the big bomb, he was wrapped up in pure research, trying to answer a mystery. The devastating power of the end result was not his goal. Up to now Dr Serizawa has staunchly guarded his research hoping to eventually find a ‘good’, or maybe ‘creative’ use for his findings.

The mayhem and slaughter being unleashed by Godzilla forces Dr Serizawa to use his invention in the name of saving the country. This is an excruciatingly painful decision for him to make because he knows what the consequences will be. After the threat is neutralized a new and more terrible threat will exist – the weapon!

Dr Serizawa knows that as soon as the potential of the weapon is recognized the governments of the world will be clamouring for it – all in the name of ‘protecting themselves’. No sooner will the celebration of being saved from Godzilla be winding down, will the warmongers (sorry protectors) of the world be banging on his door.

He destroys all his notes but is well aware that the information still exists in his mind – and the next top weapon will not be given up lightly. National security demands it! He cannot be certain that he won’t somehow be forced to surrender the ruinous information.

So, Dr Serizawa insists on being the one to deliver the package and send Godzilla to the great beyond. After doing the deed and saving Japan the Dr cuts his own air supply and joins the beast, thus saving the human race from a new way of massacring each other – in the name of safety of course.

WOW!!!