I’m admittedly not the most dedicated of Godzilla fans or even of monster movies. This July, however, I spent some time seeing some of the classic Godzilla films on the silver screen. In all of my movie going experiences it was definitely one of the most memorable and unique.
During the “Godzilla vs the Coolidge” event, I was treated to seeing Godzilla (1954), Mothra vs. Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Hedorah, and Terror of Mechagodzilla. My praises for the movies on their own merits, would be that they’re extremely charming and even silly and heartwarming in a strange way. All while still being about a large destructive nuclear lizard. The experience goes beyond the movies themselves, though. While the films were enjoyable, it was experiencing them in combination with the fans, the atmosphere, and the theatre itself.
The event, held at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, Mass, nearly sold out, so the place was packed shoulder to shoulder. Despite this, the building was spotless and the staff were very friendly on each visit. The building predates the movies shown, being made in the 30s, and they showed their wealth of experience of this by even presenting the films in a proper aspect ratio. Many modern cinemas seem content to just put the movie on a screen and let it play with little care or respect for the original material. I was also pleasantly surprised by the fans as I expected the fandom to be much less inviting or even obstructive to the experience. However, everyone I met was very happy to see a new fan and welcome them into their community. I’ve often had negative experiences with large fandoms, such as the Marvel moviegoers, but the monster loving Godzilla community was great to be around.
As for the movies, Godzilla vs. Hedorah was my favorite of the bunch. It seemed to take itself a little less seriously than the others, but I liked that aspect of it. I found Hedorah walking toward the electrical barrier for an extended period to be a really funny and memorable scene, especially. Terror of Mechagodzilla is deserving of your attention as it was a notably fun watch, and I’ll never forget the goofy method by which the monsters float through the air to drop kick one another. Mothra vs. Godzilla had many unique aspects to it that many other Godzilla movies I’ve seen lack. The involvement of the small tribe that worshipped Mothra was interesting and I laughed with excitement when I saw Mothra’s larvae spitting webs to subdue Godzilla around the end. The original Godzilla, while my least favorite of the films presented, still holds a ton of merit. The 1954 movie still has some special effects that are impressive by today’s standards, and it has a somber tone and message that many other films in the series are missing. All in all, my experience at the Coolidge Theatre and interacting with the Kaiju fandom was a special one. Being surrounded by people who love the same art you do makes it much more enjoyable and memorable.
