Japanese Fans Wary of U.S. Godzilla Remake

The new American Godzilla seems to have Japanese fans concerned as stories of their criticism continue to surface.

The latest comes from the Associated Press via ABC News:

The big-screen Godzilla that scared and thrilled viewers in 1954 was an actor in a rubber suit with a zipper up its back. And many Japanese fans still prefer that monster over a Hollywood version made in terrifying, full 3-D computer-graphics glory. 

"American Godzilla is just a giant iguana freaking out," says Mudai Nozaki, 30, who believes Godzilla is Japan's greatest contribution to cinematic history next to "Seven Samurai" and "Kagemusha" director Akira Kurosawa. 

His reaction is surprisingly typical among Japanese who have seen the trailer of the film, titled simply "Godzilla," which premieres May 16 in the U.S. and in July in Japan. They wonder if the Warner Bros. remake will be a tribute or an embarrassment for Japan's monstrous legacy. 

Japanese Godzilla-lovers say their iconic hero falls into a special phantasmal category called "kaiju," which have more imaginary, far-fetched traits than what they see as more mundane monsters like King Kong or Frankenstein. 

And the Hollywood version is no kaiju, said Kazuya Haraguchi, who collects Godzilla goods, including a 100,000 yen ($1,000) complete DVD collection from Toho Studios, which came with a huge fangs-baring Godzilla head. 

The 45-year-old technician for reel films says Hollywood already botched it once with a 1998 remake, directed by Roland Emmerich. 

And almost everything about the new Godzilla is wrong again, from head to toe — how its arms are limp at its sides, how the scales on its back are too regular, even the shape of its head.

The article is two pages long and it also includes some comments from the original Godzilla, Haruo Nakajima.

Above, Haruo Nakajima autographing a fan's poster in Charlotte, North Carolina last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After reading the article, I came away from it thinking that if Japanese fans were so loyal to their Godzilla, they should have better supported him at the box office. Their tepid support forced Toho Co., Ltd. to put Godzilla on a ten-year hiatus.

To read the full article, go here.