“Oh no, they say, he’s got to go
Go go Godzilla, yeah
Oh no, there goes Tokyo
Go go Godzilla, yeah”
-Blue Oyster Cult song Godzilla
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a fan of Godzilla. As a kid, I searched for every VHS tape at the local video store (remember those days?) that I could find. If a Godzilla-thon was going to be on the TNT channel, it was an event to schedule my weekend around. I had all the toys. I had the books. If it was related to Godzilla, I wanted it.
Godzilla has been a pop culture icon around the world for longer than I’ve been alive, but for most of my life, he’s been viewed in America as somewhat of a joke, or a niche character at best. Despite his movie origins as a very serious representation of the atomic bomb, most folks think of the more campy 70s Godzilla flicks that would come later with miniature tanks and flying saucers sharing screen time with a more muppet-like Godzilla.
In the last decade, however, things have shifted here in the USA. A Hollywood-produced Godzilla film in 2014 made big bucks at the box office and launched a new franchise in the States that has spawned several films, teaming Godzilla up with fellow screen titan, King Kong. And earlier this year, I watched with joy as a Japanese-produced movie, Godzilla Minus One, took home an Oscar, topping Mission: Impossible and others. (My kids were sitting on the couch next to me with Godzilla toys in tow)
That moment was special for me for many reasons. One, my 30+ year love of this radioactive dinosaur is shared by my kids, and gives us something we can enjoy together. But also, watching this 70-year-old franchise finally be recognized by the “Hollywood elite” was gratifying. I’ve always had an affinity to root for the underdog. And as strange as it sounds, this fire breathing giant has often been looked down on, and even mocked by some. But he keeps marching forward. He keeps doing his thing and stays true to himself. Maybe there’s a lesson in that for all of us.