Godzilla is having a busy year between the success of Toho’s Minus One and the continuation of the MonsterVerse through Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
The latter movie is ready for release in a few weeks, but its director Adam Wingard was able to devote a little attention to Toho’s latest. It’s safe to say he liked it – a lot. “It was fantastic. It’s one of the best Godzilla movies I’ve ever seen,” Wingard said in Empire Magazine’s delve into the kaiju.
He also addressed how strikingly different his take on the monster is from what Takashi Yamazaki graced screens with back in December. “Their take on Godzilla is so different than mine. I’m following the later ’60s, 70s Showa pattern, where Godzilla is the hero character,” Wingard explained.
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“In Minus One, Godzilla reacts in a way that’s metaphorical to what the characters are going through. It’s such a different movie than ours tonally,” Wingard added.
Yamazaki was equally laudatory of Hollywood’s interpretation of his country’s timeless IP: “The Hollywood interpretation of Godzilla is a very interesting use of the IP. It can endure and survive many different interpretations.”
He added, ”To me, it’s a more fun version of what Godzilla can be – the classic Toho version did explore something like that at one point in its history. Within that genre, I think they do a good job of balancing what the humans do, versus what the kaiju are doing.”
On X, kaiju news specialist Gormaru was impressed with this unity between G-Fans, filmmakers, and nations alike. “Directors – Adam Wingard and Takashi Yamazaki/two halves of the #Godzilla franchise, supporting each other and assessing their film. LOVE TO SEE IT!” the account posted.
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If that wasn’t enough, the Internet gave those anticipating GxK’s arrival at the end of the month more reason to be excited. A more complete clip of Godzilla and Kong running into battle was released in a new TV spot showing Kong with his BEAST Gauntlet jumping on his new ally’s back.
It is a bit of a spoiler that is too much for some who justifiably wish Legendary Pictures and social media would quit with that already. But sometimes, it’s good to be spoiled – as Adam Wingard attests.
“You’re getting more Godzilla now than ever, but you’re seeing all sides of him. It’s really super-cool,” said the sequel’s director.