Godzilla x Kong Director Reveals the Iconic Toho Film He Wants to Match in the Monsterverse

Godzilla X Kong: The New Kingdom Director Adam Wingard says there’s a Toho Godzilla film he’d like to emulate in the MonsterVerse. Godzilla X Kong is Wingard’s second entry in the MonsterVerse franchise, the first being 2021’s. Godzilla vs. Kong. Godzilla X Kong features an A-list cast including Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall and Brian Tyree Henry, and is currently available in theaters.

Talk with Discuss cinema, Wingard explains which Toho film he would most like to match in the Hollywood MonsterVerse. According to Wingard, this film is Godzilla vs. Destroyah. Wingard praised the film for its “emotional highs“, saying that the end”brought tears to [his] eyes.” He particularly liked the moment when Godzilla Jr. and Godzilla die in the film. THE Godzilla X Kong The director went on to say that he “I want to achieve that kind of emotional resonance with Godzilla as a character» if he made another MonsterVerse movie. Check out Wingard’s full quote below:

I will say this, one of my best Godzilla films is Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. The reason this is one of my favorite films is because I don’t think any other Godzilla film, perhaps outside of Minus One and the 1954 original, has ever achieved such emotional highs. The end of this film, when Godzilla Jr. dies and subsequently Godzilla melts to death, is so poignant and beautiful in the way they do it. The first time I saw it, I had tears in my eyes. And part of that is due to the great score by Akira Ifukube that plays in this scene. It’s crazy because you’re watching [Godzilla vs. Destoroyah], and it’s a very high-end version of having a guy in a Godzilla suit. I would say that’s probably the highlight because I don’t think it’s been matched in terms of this version – the quality and scale of realizing Godzilla through an actor in a suit. But that’s the thing for me, if I were to make another one of these films, I would want to hit that kind of emotional resonance with Godzilla as a character this time. This is what I will say for now.

Is the MonsterVerse capable of such emotional highs for Godzilla?

Godzilla vs. Destroyah is a 1995 Japanese Godzilla film directed by Takao Okawara. Okawara was a 90s author Godzilla film, goes to production Godzilla 2000: Millennium in 1999. Although it only has six reviews, Godzilla vs. Destroyah holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an equally impressive 93% approval rating on the site. This locates Godzilla vs. Destroyah as one of the best received films in the Godzilla franchise.

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The MonsterVerse has had a much more lackluster reception in comparison. No Hollywood MonsterVerse movie has come as close as this one. Godzilla vs. Destroyah nor many of the other top-rated Toho films. Last years Godzilla minus onewhich Wingard refers to with praise in his statement on Godzilla vs. Destroyah, holds a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and audiences. In comparison, the top-rated MonsterVerse movies have scores of 76%.

Although often not showered with critical praise, the MonsterVerse films have been box office successes. Godzilla X Kong, for example, became a major box office success despite only having a 54% share on Rotten Tomatoes. In less than a week, the film has already surpassed the $200 million mark worldwide. Godzilla X KongPoor reviews from critics were also disparate from those of audiences, who gave the film a 92% approval rating. Given the lower ratings of the MonsterVerse films, it’s unlikely they’ll match Toho’s emotional resonance, but that might not slow them down financially.

Source: Discuss cinema

Godzilla x Kong: The New Kingdom

After nearly destroying themselves in 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, the giant Titans are back to face a dangerous new threat, but this time, they’re on the same side. Godzilla x Kong: The New Kingdom is the fifth film from Warner Bros. growing Monsterverse franchise and will be led by Adam Wingard.

Director

Adam Wingard

Release date

March 29, 2024

Studio(s)

Legendary images

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros.

Writers

Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, Jeremy Slater