Heisenberg vs Godzilla
I confess that as a reward for my academic hardships this year, I am planning to take myself and Mdm. Padre to the new Godzilla movie. We both have a fondness for vintage movies about giant beasties snacking on cities, and we are both fans of Bryan Cranston (who appears in Godzilla shouting a lot and with a full head of hair), so this should be a win win.
My eagerness to see this film was stoked today by learning, via the US Navy Times, that the movie was made with the cooperation and support of the US Navy. Other science fiction films of late seem to have been US Mil sponsored, like the truly awful Battle Los Angeles (2011) was an extended recruiting commercial for the US Marine Corps, so I suppose the Navy felt that it needed equal time. According to the Navy Times article, the US D0D took pains to make sure that their portrayal in this movie about a 600 foot monster is as accurate and possible, reflecting both Navy technology and Navy values. Parts of the movie were shot on several USN ships, including the carriers Nimitz, Vinson and Reagan. Perhaps this time the Navy will pick up the ball they evidently dropped with Battleship, a film one reviewer described as “breathtaking in its stupidity”.
The advantage of a flattering portrayal, a Navy spokesman said, is that Godzilla might encourage a new generation of recruits. “Our hope is - the demographics for this audience are roughly 14-18 year old teenagers … they’re going to … say “You know, I never knew the Navy was such a sophisticated, professional organization; I really want to go explore it; they have some amazing UAV’s (unmanned aircraft) and technology and professionalism and honour and courage and valour; I never knew that, and maybe it’s something I want to do with my life."
Based on what I’ve already seen at a gaming convention this year, I predict that 2014 will be a big year for games and Kickstarters featuring giant monsters vs cities and humans. I won’t get on that bandwagon, but I do regret that I no longer have my copy of that old SPI classic board game, The Creature that Ate Sheboygan. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore … but they might start again.
MP+
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