Putting the God in Godzilla

I am sure I am not the only one freaking out about the new Godzilla: King of Monsters trailers. I have probably watched it 15 times in the last few days. And I think just figured out why I love this trailer so much.

Everything in the trailer, from the monologue being delivered by Vera Formiga to the music in the background, creates a sense of near holiness in the monsters. We are told that the world is infected (probably by humans), and that the titans are the only way to clear the infection so that the world may live on. But of course, this means that the titans would destroy humanity.

In a typical monster movie plot, that would be the, "Thing we have to stop from happening" piece of the plot. But this trailer does something different. It paints the destruction of mankind by the hand of these creatures as something to be yearned for, to be appreciated, to be welcomed. And that is such an alluring concept for a monster movie.

The titans aren't represented as being grotesque or hideous or even evil, like how most monster movies handle things. In fact, they are depicted as the exact opposite. They are part of the natural order itself, coming from lakes, icebergs, volcanoes and the seas.

But at the same time, they are above nature. A chorus of angels ushers in Godzilla and Mothra as they are bathed in radiant blue light, Rodan rends the sky and ground by his very wingbeats, wreathed in flames and ash, and King Ghidora descends from on high cloaked in clouds, ridding thunder and lightning. This trailer, above all else, paints the monsters in a light reminiscent of deities. Their complete destruction of our society is paired with a joyful noise, and the monologue at their backsides is that of appreciation for their judgement. It sounds like cultist propaganda, but one I want to see play out until its end.

I don't doubt that the movie will take a different direction with the plot and theme, but I just wanted to appreciate how unique the feel of this trailer is. I cannot wait for this movie.

Submitted July 23, 2018 at 07:20AM by akimble1 https://ift.tt/2LclIBg