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Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters
This year, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of his first appearance on the screen, the original, uncut version of Godzilla was released in American theaters to the delight of Sci-Fi and B-Movie fans everywhere. Ever since Godzilla (or, Gojira, as he is known in Japan) crawled out of his radioactive birthplace to cut a swath of destruction through Tokyo, he has claimed a place alongside King Kong and others in the movie monster pantheon. He is the third most recognizable Japanese celebrity in the United States, and his fan base continues to grow as children today prove his enduring appeal. Now, Bill Tsutsui, a life-long fan and historian, takes a light-hearted look at the big, green, radioactive lizard, revealing how he was born and how he became a megastar. With humorous anecdotes, Godzilla on My Mind explores his lasting cultural impact on the world. This book is sure to be welcomed by pop culture enthusiasts, fans, and historians alike.
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 7, 2013
I was a bit wary going into this book. It's advertised as a book focusing on the pop culture phenomenon side of Godzilla, and I was afraid that that's all the book would discuss. Luckily that proved to be untrue. William Tsutsui talks in length about not only how Godzilla has affected pop culture, but also about the actual Godzilla films, the influences on Godzilla, the psychology of Godzilla, the infinite rip-offs of Godzilla, the nostalgia and sentimentality of Godzilla, etc. It's indeed a very broad book and at least briefly touches on nearly all the facets of Godzilla one could ask for. It's more than a book on pop culture, that's for certain.
One thing I must compliment is the book's bibliography. It's fairly massive for a book of this length and tone (the book is just over 200 pages, the bibliography is 13 pages). It's well put together and the author clearly did a multitude of research (he is an historian after all). I'll definitely be using this bibliography for reference, further reading, etc. I might add that the Index is well put together as well.
And so we come to yet another case where Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ' lack of half-stars forces me to rate a book lower than I'd like in order to prevent rating it higher than I'd like, and in turn forcing me to specify my rating in the review itself rather than the actual rating. A very respectable 3.5 out of 5 stars; definitely a worthwhile read for everyone from die-hard Godzilla fans to newbies who'd like to learn more.
One thing I must compliment is the book's bibliography. It's fairly massive for a book of this length and tone (the book is just over 200 pages, the bibliography is 13 pages). It's well put together and the author clearly did a multitude of research (he is an historian after all). I'll definitely be using this bibliography for reference, further reading, etc. I might add that the Index is well put together as well.
And so we come to yet another case where Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ' lack of half-stars forces me to rate a book lower than I'd like in order to prevent rating it higher than I'd like, and in turn forcing me to specify my rating in the review itself rather than the actual rating. A very respectable 3.5 out of 5 stars; definitely a worthwhile read for everyone from die-hard Godzilla fans to newbies who'd like to learn more.
January 18, 2022
Godzilla On My Mind is a great introduction to anyone interested in the King of Monsters or kaiju eiga films. Tsuitsui discusses the film's origins and addresses the myths that have emerged from the series in a way that's engaging and easy to read.
The book does, however, date itself quite badly. This was published for the original Gojira's 50th anniversary—and it shows. While I don't fault it for not having included analysis of more recent movies, the author discusses how he's "outing" himself as a geek and the strange world of fandom. Nearly 20 years later, fandom and feel culture has entered the mainstream, and many of us cannot relate to his experiences. Furthermore, the author uses the R-slur and sprinkles some comments throughout that are just misogynistic enough to make you cringe.
Overall, I'd recommend this as a great primer for the Godzilla franchise, and the works cited are great resources if you want to do your own digging. But I would take the opinions with a grain of salt (as the author urges you to) and feel free to skip to the parts you're most interested in.
The book does, however, date itself quite badly. This was published for the original Gojira's 50th anniversary—and it shows. While I don't fault it for not having included analysis of more recent movies, the author discusses how he's "outing" himself as a geek and the strange world of fandom. Nearly 20 years later, fandom and feel culture has entered the mainstream, and many of us cannot relate to his experiences. Furthermore, the author uses the R-slur and sprinkles some comments throughout that are just misogynistic enough to make you cringe.
Overall, I'd recommend this as a great primer for the Godzilla franchise, and the works cited are great resources if you want to do your own digging. But I would take the opinions with a grain of salt (as the author urges you to) and feel free to skip to the parts you're most interested in.
December 3, 2023
My buddy Tyrel and I attended an online keynote a couple of years ago with this author/professor. William Tsutsui was amazing: passionate, hilarious, engaging, insightful, knowledgeable, approachable, and charmingly nerdy. We were enrapt for the whole discussion about the Kind of Monsters and both wanted to get ahold of his books once the discussion was over.
Then life happened for a little bit and we got busy. But Tyrel finally got ahold of this gem, promptly read it, and lent it to me. Let me tell you: Tsutsui covers everything you'd want from an analytical survey of Godzilla for the (then) last fifty years (almost seventy at this point). And he does it with the exact same passion and charisma that he exudes in his in-person lectures. There is no high-browing here. He never puts himself higher than his audience (even though he is far and above more expert than us). He never devolves (evolves?—ugh...) into indecipherable academic prose. Everything is grounded, relatable, accessible... and just plain fun.
I recommend this to literally anyone the most remotely interested in Godzilla, film history, and/or pop culture. What I'd love to see now from Tsutsui is an expanded version with his thoughts from the last twenty years, now that the Legendary films have several entries and a few more incredible Toho offerings have been released (I've heard Shin was amazing, but the two-day-old Minus One just might be the best Godzilla film ever released—it's jaw-droppingly amazing, folks!). Please, Tsutsui? (Your title could be Godzilla on My Mind... Raids Again:Fifty Seventy Years of the King of Monsters. You're welcome? ;)
Then life happened for a little bit and we got busy. But Tyrel finally got ahold of this gem, promptly read it, and lent it to me. Let me tell you: Tsutsui covers everything you'd want from an analytical survey of Godzilla for the (then) last fifty years (almost seventy at this point). And he does it with the exact same passion and charisma that he exudes in his in-person lectures. There is no high-browing here. He never puts himself higher than his audience (even though he is far and above more expert than us). He never devolves (evolves?—ugh...) into indecipherable academic prose. Everything is grounded, relatable, accessible... and just plain fun.
I recommend this to literally anyone the most remotely interested in Godzilla, film history, and/or pop culture. What I'd love to see now from Tsutsui is an expanded version with his thoughts from the last twenty years, now that the Legendary films have several entries and a few more incredible Toho offerings have been released (I've heard Shin was amazing, but the two-day-old Minus One just might be the best Godzilla film ever released—it's jaw-droppingly amazing, folks!). Please, Tsutsui? (Your title could be Godzilla on My Mind... Raids Again:
February 27, 2025
An informative and entertaining look at Godzilla and his imitators. Looks at all the films with a history of the timeline and who made them. Well worth the read and I haven’t watched most of the movies - seem just a few and snippets of one or two others. My husband got tired of me reading bits and pieces to him that I found interesting.
July 16, 2021
A delightful read. I've read this book at least ten times! Mr. Tsutsui weaves together personal life events and opinions with facts, and every morsel of information is intriguing. From the introduction throughout the rest of the pages, I found myself enchanted by the humorous, yet intelligent and respectful handling of Godzilla. For a kaiju fan, this kind of content is ideal if you are searching for personal and witty dives into the king of the monsters. When I first read it, it even broadened my vocabulary a fair amount - that's professors for you! The descriptions of Godzilla and his destructive moments were written elegantly and to an engaging effect, as was the rest of this book. Mr. Tsutsui's style inspired my own Godzilla writings. The rich, more indulgent style may not be to everyone's liking, but if you prefer some weight in your sentences, you're sure to enjoy this writing. Godzilla On My Mind will forever be in my mind as my first and favorite Godzilla book!
July 13, 2017
Durante los últimos dos meses me ha dado la manÃa de ver las pelÃculas de Godzilla. Son 31 en total, incluyendo dos adaptaciones de Hollywood, y tres distintas eras, cada una siendo su propio universo cinematográfico. Como Marvel va a estar en 40 que alcance a Godzilla, ya que haya rebooteado su historia dos veces.
No las he visto todas, pero llevo 22. No mala cifra. Entonces lo que yo buscaba era un libro con curiosidades de la producción de las pelÃculas. Godzilla On My Mind tiene tres capÃtulos sobre eso (de cinco en total). Ahà van mis tres estrellitas. Una por el capÃtulo del making of de Godzilla (1954), una por el capÃtulo del making of de la saga durante los siguientes 50 años, y una por el capÃtulo sobre el legado de Godzilla (un buen capÃtulo sobre el cine de kaijus).
Los otros dos capÃtulos son sobre la metáfora del monstruo. Para mi, fueron dos capÃtulos de pura paja. El autor habla de tantas interpretaciones que perdió mi interés. Godzilla es una metáfora muy simple y directa, y es en parte, por lo que es tan buena. Overthinking can be a partypooper.
No las he visto todas, pero llevo 22. No mala cifra. Entonces lo que yo buscaba era un libro con curiosidades de la producción de las pelÃculas. Godzilla On My Mind tiene tres capÃtulos sobre eso (de cinco en total). Ahà van mis tres estrellitas. Una por el capÃtulo del making of de Godzilla (1954), una por el capÃtulo del making of de la saga durante los siguientes 50 años, y una por el capÃtulo sobre el legado de Godzilla (un buen capÃtulo sobre el cine de kaijus).
Los otros dos capÃtulos son sobre la metáfora del monstruo. Para mi, fueron dos capÃtulos de pura paja. El autor habla de tantas interpretaciones que perdió mi interés. Godzilla es una metáfora muy simple y directa, y es en parte, por lo que es tan buena. Overthinking can be a partypooper.
March 21, 2020
This 2004 book coincided with 50 years since Godzilla’s first appearance in 1954’s “Gojira.� William Tsutsui, University of Kansas Professor and huge Godzilla fan has put together a breezy trip through those 50 years. In that time, 27 movies were made, and the character has made an indelible impression on popular culture throughout the world.
What started as a semi-serious metaphor for post-World War Japan soon settled into camp, featuring cheesy monsters and improbably conceived monster children. This was in part due to the need of the Japanese film industry to turn a profit by making movies that appealed to children, a process that Tsutsui discusses.
What Godzilla means to many people may differ from culture to culture, but for millions of fans throughout the world Godzilla is a beloved symbol of strength, individuality, and wanton destruction. Godzilla is remembered for breathing fire and smashing buildings without a second thought.
The chapters cover the “birth� of the monster, the franchise, and how his (or maybe “her�) influence has spread into language and television and literature. It is a survey, not an in-depth look, but nonetheless I feel that I have learned more than I knew before.
The mildly innocent lament for an earlier, simpler time in American culture may seem a little dated in this hyper partisan world we live in now (one reference to Donald Trump seems odd, in retrospect) but overall, this was an enjoyable trip into the King of the Monsters.
What started as a semi-serious metaphor for post-World War Japan soon settled into camp, featuring cheesy monsters and improbably conceived monster children. This was in part due to the need of the Japanese film industry to turn a profit by making movies that appealed to children, a process that Tsutsui discusses.
What Godzilla means to many people may differ from culture to culture, but for millions of fans throughout the world Godzilla is a beloved symbol of strength, individuality, and wanton destruction. Godzilla is remembered for breathing fire and smashing buildings without a second thought.
The chapters cover the “birth� of the monster, the franchise, and how his (or maybe “her�) influence has spread into language and television and literature. It is a survey, not an in-depth look, but nonetheless I feel that I have learned more than I knew before.
The mildly innocent lament for an earlier, simpler time in American culture may seem a little dated in this hyper partisan world we live in now (one reference to Donald Trump seems odd, in retrospect) but overall, this was an enjoyable trip into the King of the Monsters.
June 10, 2018
As someone that has been a big fan of the big guy since my youth I can say that the author us definitely a big fan himself, though he said as much. I take pride in owning the entire collection of Godzilla movies and I never really thought to look at them quite this way before. This gave me a different perspective on them and really I just wish this book also included sections on the most recent US made Godzilla movie and also Shin Godzilla. I would love to know the author's impressions on those as well.
August 14, 2018
Excellent resource to explain why Godzilla is a beloved icon. I feel a deep sense of awe towards the genius that created Godzilla. This book helped me to understand my love for Godzilla but also gave validity for my feelings. I feel that this book is a reference book that I will refer back to over and over. I do wish the author had included a timeline of Godzilla movies. That would have made the eras of Godzilla easier to follow.
December 21, 2023
Very introductory but nice book. It’s a fairly quick read so I enjoyed that and I simply enjoyed reading about someone’s enthusiasm for Godzilla.
Certainly something I wish had a revised edition considering what has happened with the franchise since this was published.
Certainly something I wish had a revised edition considering what has happened with the franchise since this was published.
December 10, 2017
my honest review of this book xx
September 21, 2021
had to read this for film class so while i’m not the biggest godzilla fan, it was still a pretty good/cool read
September 23, 2023
2.5 This is a cute little book with some fun facts but gets quite repetitive quite fast and does read like an over-extended essay.
November 28, 2023
Nothing new for me, but good for people who would like to know more about the Big G. The fan portion of the book was truly skippable. I can see peoples amateur opinions on Godzilla on leterboxd.
March 15, 2025
Really not bad. The author talks about the 1998 film like it gunned his parents down in an alley and some of the phrasing is hopelessly outdated already but all in all, a good read.
March 25, 2010
"Godzilla is the ultimate free spirit, born to be wild and not shy about showing his true feelings, even if that might involve some urban redevelopment and industrial demolition."
I have an affinity for professors who write books on pop culture, science fiction films in particular. The books are usually over-written, a little too conscious of themselves in an effort to not end up being dry and dusty, but I feel more of a connection with these slightly weird, aging professors writing books about giant robots and radioactive lizards than I do with serious writers.
I borrowed this book from my brother, having never seen a Godzilla in my life. As of typing this, I still haven't. It only makes a little more sense when you take into account that I'm working on a series of poems featuring movie monsters in sucky, real-life situations, and Godzilla will be one of them--but this isn't what I was thinking when I picked up the book. I was thinking, "Gojiiiirrrrraaaaa! Cool!"
The criticism expounded in this book is presented hilariously, and one of the reasons I find my little heart pounding whenever I read a book about a science-fiction film written by a professor--their criticism is very, very harsh, and yet chock full of humor. For instance, Tsutsui's take on the 1998 Godzilla film:
"The monster is not a message or a symbol, but simply a pest, an unwanted, annoying intruder that needs to be exterminated like a termite in the foundation or a cockroach in the cupboard. This is not an epic battle, this is the Orkin man, here wearing the drab fatigues of the U.S. Army, struggling to dislodge a particularly large and nasty nest of vermin from some prime real estate in the heart of Manhattan."
Long story short, this was a really funny book, once I got through the bits about the specific films which I've never seen. The second half of the book went really quickly, as it was more about the cultural place of Godzilla and not how ridiculous the movies became. I'd recommend it for Godzilla fans, as well as people familiar with the movies and who enjoy pop culture books.
from a 1998 interview in Cineaste magazine:
"Does having 'God' as part of your name mean you're religious?"
"I'm from the animal kingdom. You basically wake up, find something to kill, eat it, then take a nap. It's you humans that insist on finding religion through that."
I have an affinity for professors who write books on pop culture, science fiction films in particular. The books are usually over-written, a little too conscious of themselves in an effort to not end up being dry and dusty, but I feel more of a connection with these slightly weird, aging professors writing books about giant robots and radioactive lizards than I do with serious writers.
I borrowed this book from my brother, having never seen a Godzilla in my life. As of typing this, I still haven't. It only makes a little more sense when you take into account that I'm working on a series of poems featuring movie monsters in sucky, real-life situations, and Godzilla will be one of them--but this isn't what I was thinking when I picked up the book. I was thinking, "Gojiiiirrrrraaaaa! Cool!"
The criticism expounded in this book is presented hilariously, and one of the reasons I find my little heart pounding whenever I read a book about a science-fiction film written by a professor--their criticism is very, very harsh, and yet chock full of humor. For instance, Tsutsui's take on the 1998 Godzilla film:
"The monster is not a message or a symbol, but simply a pest, an unwanted, annoying intruder that needs to be exterminated like a termite in the foundation or a cockroach in the cupboard. This is not an epic battle, this is the Orkin man, here wearing the drab fatigues of the U.S. Army, struggling to dislodge a particularly large and nasty nest of vermin from some prime real estate in the heart of Manhattan."
Long story short, this was a really funny book, once I got through the bits about the specific films which I've never seen. The second half of the book went really quickly, as it was more about the cultural place of Godzilla and not how ridiculous the movies became. I'd recommend it for Godzilla fans, as well as people familiar with the movies and who enjoy pop culture books.
from a 1998 interview in Cineaste magazine:
"Does having 'God' as part of your name mean you're religious?"
"I'm from the animal kingdom. You basically wake up, find something to kill, eat it, then take a nap. It's you humans that insist on finding religion through that."
August 18, 2014
This book was a lot of fun to read. It was funny, informative and totally lacking in pretension. The writer, an associate professor of history at the University of Kansas, is a self-confessed Godzilla nerd; a genuine fan of monster movies. He doesn't look down on or sneer at the material. His approach is both self-effacing an engaging. He starts with an embarrassing anecdote when he once dressed as Godzilla for Halloween, stretching the sewing skills of his mother significantly. It doesn't end well for him or the costume, but it helps us like him immediately. Fellow nerds such as myself know exactly what it's like to have an expression of our fandom backfire unexpectedly. It sets the tone for the rest of the book nicely.
Tsutsui does a good job discussing the history of Big G, from his origins as a metaphor for the atomic bomb in a somewhat somber and downbeat movie, to the campy and colorful monster brawls of the 60s, to the US's embrace of Godzilla as an icon and beyond.
It's chock full of a surprising amount of trivia for a relatively short book. Lots of interesting information about the cultural history of Godzilla in Japan and in the US as well as internationally. This includes any number of knock offs and imitations, mostly cheap and uninspired, but a few quality such as Britain's Gorgo, with the most bizarre going to the North Korean Pulgasari, conceived of by dictator Kim Jong-Il and made by a South Korean director whom Kim had kidnapped to help revive his country's moribund film industry.
Having rediscovered my fondness for Godzilla this summer through watching several of the old movies found in my local library system, I had to try and find something that would help explain these movies' appeal. Yes, they're more than a little goofy, and often downright bizarre, but there is something about them that keeps drawing you in. Tsutsui dispenses with pretentious, overreaching cultural criticism and film theory often seen in books like this. He even makes fun of the clumsy attempts to psychoanalyze fans and the imagery contained in these movies. He knows that we like them not because they are good or deep, but because they are fun and that in spite of our better instincts, sometimes we can't help ourselves.
Tsutsui does a good job discussing the history of Big G, from his origins as a metaphor for the atomic bomb in a somewhat somber and downbeat movie, to the campy and colorful monster brawls of the 60s, to the US's embrace of Godzilla as an icon and beyond.
It's chock full of a surprising amount of trivia for a relatively short book. Lots of interesting information about the cultural history of Godzilla in Japan and in the US as well as internationally. This includes any number of knock offs and imitations, mostly cheap and uninspired, but a few quality such as Britain's Gorgo, with the most bizarre going to the North Korean Pulgasari, conceived of by dictator Kim Jong-Il and made by a South Korean director whom Kim had kidnapped to help revive his country's moribund film industry.
Having rediscovered my fondness for Godzilla this summer through watching several of the old movies found in my local library system, I had to try and find something that would help explain these movies' appeal. Yes, they're more than a little goofy, and often downright bizarre, but there is something about them that keeps drawing you in. Tsutsui dispenses with pretentious, overreaching cultural criticism and film theory often seen in books like this. He even makes fun of the clumsy attempts to psychoanalyze fans and the imagery contained in these movies. He knows that we like them not because they are good or deep, but because they are fun and that in spite of our better instincts, sometimes we can't help ourselves.
March 1, 2014
As a longtime fan of both Godzilla and Kaiju in general, I was very excited to quickly snatch this book away from my fifth grade daughter to read first when she brought it home from the school library.
For the most part, I enjoyed the book as it described the history of the franchise and the development of a global icon. The ridiculous nature of the plots, campy acting and famous rubber suited special effects are all described in detail and bring back great childhood memories, When I first saw the advertisements/posters for MechaGodzilla at the age of 8 I thought it was the coolest thing ever created by man!
The book loses me a little when the author insists on spending too much effort trying to describe the deeper meaning of Godzilla. Beyond the original Gojira and it's warnings of nuclear terror, I have a hard time connecting with the deeper lessons of Godzilla. It's B movie fun at it's very best and that is good enough for me.
The book also, at times, seems so focused on building up to the last bit of substance before the conclusion...the trashing and outright hatred of the 1998 Tri Star Godzilla movie. Ok, I get it. It wasn't your Godzilla...it was some rip off of Jurassic Park raptors, laid eggs and should never been killed by just a few missiles. And the movie decided to blame the French for nuclear testing instead of the US. Let it go...the movie was still fun. Besides, the Heisei series Godzilla often looked bloated and walked as if he were suffering from gout. A lighter speedier Godzilla was refreshing.
Overall, well worth it if you are a fan of stuntmen in rubber suits smashing model tanks or the modern CGI version.
For the most part, I enjoyed the book as it described the history of the franchise and the development of a global icon. The ridiculous nature of the plots, campy acting and famous rubber suited special effects are all described in detail and bring back great childhood memories, When I first saw the advertisements/posters for MechaGodzilla at the age of 8 I thought it was the coolest thing ever created by man!
The book loses me a little when the author insists on spending too much effort trying to describe the deeper meaning of Godzilla. Beyond the original Gojira and it's warnings of nuclear terror, I have a hard time connecting with the deeper lessons of Godzilla. It's B movie fun at it's very best and that is good enough for me.
The book also, at times, seems so focused on building up to the last bit of substance before the conclusion...the trashing and outright hatred of the 1998 Tri Star Godzilla movie. Ok, I get it. It wasn't your Godzilla...it was some rip off of Jurassic Park raptors, laid eggs and should never been killed by just a few missiles. And the movie decided to blame the French for nuclear testing instead of the US. Let it go...the movie was still fun. Besides, the Heisei series Godzilla often looked bloated and walked as if he were suffering from gout. A lighter speedier Godzilla was refreshing.
Overall, well worth it if you are a fan of stuntmen in rubber suits smashing model tanks or the modern CGI version.
March 29, 2016
Godzilla, one of the most enduring characters in cinema, but what makes him so enduring? That's the question history professor and live-long Godzilla fan William Tsutsui tries to answer in this book.
As it's written from the perspective of a history professor, we get a good look at the history of the big G, from his conception on through the first two film series, to the disastrous American attempt in 1998, and up to his modern revival and follow-ups as far as 2004, marking the 50th anniversary of the King of the Monsters. Along with Godzilla's history, Tsutsui also looks at the other giant monsters that have stomped through cinematic history, some prior to G, like King Kong, and some in direct response to his reign, like the unfortunate Reptilicus.
Tsutsui also looks at the fan reaction to Godzilla and why they seem so smitten with the big town-wrecker. He explores the marketing reach and toy manufacture, as well as the numerous spin-off properties heavily influenced by Godzilla through the years, some on television that would ironically seal the big G's fate on the silver screen for a while.
With the keen eye of a scholar, Tsutsui turns his life-long obsession with the king of the kaiju into a thought-provoking look at a film tradition that has lasted 50 years and 27 (at the time of his writing) film properties. If you're a fan of Gojira, man-in-suit city stomping action, nostalgia, or in-depth analysis of film and fandom, then you should give this one a read. I definitely enjoyed it.
As it's written from the perspective of a history professor, we get a good look at the history of the big G, from his conception on through the first two film series, to the disastrous American attempt in 1998, and up to his modern revival and follow-ups as far as 2004, marking the 50th anniversary of the King of the Monsters. Along with Godzilla's history, Tsutsui also looks at the other giant monsters that have stomped through cinematic history, some prior to G, like King Kong, and some in direct response to his reign, like the unfortunate Reptilicus.
Tsutsui also looks at the fan reaction to Godzilla and why they seem so smitten with the big town-wrecker. He explores the marketing reach and toy manufacture, as well as the numerous spin-off properties heavily influenced by Godzilla through the years, some on television that would ironically seal the big G's fate on the silver screen for a while.
With the keen eye of a scholar, Tsutsui turns his life-long obsession with the king of the kaiju into a thought-provoking look at a film tradition that has lasted 50 years and 27 (at the time of his writing) film properties. If you're a fan of Gojira, man-in-suit city stomping action, nostalgia, or in-depth analysis of film and fandom, then you should give this one a read. I definitely enjoyed it.
August 26, 2014
Tsutsui has a breezy conversational tone that makes even a screwy history like this come alive. There is exact historical mode and dramatic fanboy mode as well, and there is much to learn and ponder here. I am particularly moved by this idea of the original unadulterated GKoM being a ghost story, a haunting by Japan's war dead. Further in the odd elegiac atmosphere creeps in as the franchise reinvents itself again & again to further strain the notion of A Godzilla that Tsutsui defends and devours.
April 9, 2014
A fantastic examination of all things Godzilla. Steers clear of academic jargon, yet presents a critical analysis of the character's history, appeal to the fan-base, and legacy. Interesting, light-hearted, in-depth, and easy to understand (with a bit of background knowledge of the films). Published before "Final Wars" and, obviously, the 2014 "Godzilla", so those are not included. Trigger warning: If you loved the 1998 TriStar Godzilla (Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, etc.), the author most certainly did not (and neither did this reviewer).
October 17, 2016
The author writes this wonderful nostalgic look at the Godzilla phenomena and the genre it spawned. There are a lot of memories and background information on the movie monster, the movies, the men who made them, the impact of the film and the dozens of imitators it spawned. It was a joy to read and to relive the many films and excitement connected with the Godzilla movies. This was quite entertaining.
December 7, 2012
Interesting topic, irritating writing style. An academic sets out to write a book on a topic he's loved since childhood and tries to avoid academic writing, but goes too far. His slang and exclamations just felt forced and silly. If you are going to read this, I would just stick with the chapter that was about the history of Godzilla movies and the second-to-last chapter about foreign versions of the movies.
August 17, 2014
With this book we Godzilla fans can declare proudly: yes! we love Godzilla, and there's nothing you can do about it!
Written by a fellow lover of Kaiju films, as well as a professional historian, the author explores the history of Godzilla, the people who brought him to life, and the elusive reasons as to why some of us love him so much to the point that he is a cultural icon.
A fun read by an engaging writer, with only a few minor quips.
Written by a fellow lover of Kaiju films, as well as a professional historian, the author explores the history of Godzilla, the people who brought him to life, and the elusive reasons as to why some of us love him so much to the point that he is a cultural icon.
A fun read by an engaging writer, with only a few minor quips.
February 4, 2016
Delicious. The author goes into the history, lore, and legacy of the King of the Monsters with great affection, deep knowledge and a healthy sense of humor. He correctly rates the 1998 TriStar Fraudzilla, I mean GODZILLA, lower even than REPTILICUS, and deals as fairly as anyone can with Godzilla's weighty intellectual analysts, and even his (eeeeew!) Freudian analysts. Not to be missed by anyone who likes it big, green and radioactive.
February 28, 2013
The authors musings on the how and why he grew up a Godzilla fan. He discusses interesting points about the cultural phenomenon (as far as recognition) of Godzilla, especially given that most people don't have much patience for the movies.
I own the book and enjoy perusing it occasionally. It reminds me why it's ok to be a Godzilla fan!
I own the book and enjoy perusing it occasionally. It reminds me why it's ok to be a Godzilla fan!
June 23, 2015
Good book for Godzilla fans like myself to read about a bigger devoted fan and what joy the King of the Monsters brings to us all. I would have liked for the author to do a review on all the movies (but we have James Rolfe for that). And I'm happy that it does reveal by the Godzilla creators who would really win a fight between Godzilla & King Kong
May 6, 2008
A pretty good read for those not overly familiar with Godzilla. He's a history professor, and you can tell at times from his writing. I felt like I was reading a thesis sometimes, but still a fun read.
December 15, 2010
had the chance to meet Dr. Tsutsui and he is as affable as his writing style suggests. This book gets fairly philosophical in trying to explain why people enjoy Godzilla films so much, but is also willing to live with the answer, "Because they're fun"
February 2, 2013
4.5 stars. I loved the original Japanese version of Gojira that was released last year! I'll never watch the American version again! This is a WONDERFUL book, written by someone who truly has a special place in his heart for Gojira, much like I do!
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