How "Godzilla vs. Kong" Battled The Pandemic (And Won)

Above, the Godzilla vs. Kong one-sheet in Durango, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last spring, the governor of New Mexico mandated that movie theaters in the state be closed so not to spread coronavirus. At that time, Godzilla vs. Kong was released and the only way for me to see it was to go north to the neighboring state of Colorado to see it. Theaters in Colorado were still open.

After a three hour drive, I went to Durango, Colorado and camped in my RV. I made the trip a little "mini-vacation". Before heading home, I screened Godzilla vs. Kong. It was an enjoyable trip.

As it turned out, theaters in New Mexico were allowed to re-open a week later. A friend from my community joined me to see the movie at the Red Rock 10 Theaters in Gallup. Godzilla vs. Kong ended up being a big hit at the box office for 2021.

Slash Film has posted an article on how Godzilla vs. Kong battled the pandemic and won.

They start it with:

(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)

2020 feels both like an eternity ago and just yesterday all at the same time. Yet here we are in 2022, facing down another uncertain year in pandemic land, particularly as it relates to big movies and how they're going to fare at the box office. Are more films going to be delayed? Are we going to see more hybrid releases? Are movies going to be doomed to flop due to circumstances beyond the studio's control? For now we have more questions than answers, but in this week's edition of the column, we're going to look at one movie from 2021, "Godzilla vs. Kong" — how it managed to successfully weather the pandemic, and what lessons it may be able to provide as Hollywood navigates the still-choppy waters of the future.

To read the full article, go here.

The 15 Best Kaiju Films Ranked

Above, Godzilla peers over a building in the Shinjuku section of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is hard to imagine in this day (with all the video technology we have) and age that some people have never seen a giant monster movie, but there are still some out there who haven't.

If anyone who has never seen a daikaiju eiga (giant monster movie) and wants to get started with a list of "essential" kaiju films to watch and begin their "study", the following could be just what the doctor ordered.

Slash Film has a list of 15 "best" kaiju films ranked. They aren't the "best" as far as film quality goes, but these are films that run the gamut from the deadly serious to wacky silliness. 

They begin their list with:

With their memorable roars and towering heights, kaiju (aka giant monsters) continue to have an endearing impact on cinema. Whether it be their silly theatrical presentations or their terrifying on-screen personas, kaiju are among the most unique pop culture creatures to ever exist. From "King Kong" to the immortal "Godzilla," every one of these massive movie stars has not only inspired kids' imaginations, but also spurred great filmmakers to tell their stories in the most fascinating of ways.

However, the question remains: Which among the plethora of kaiju movies is the best of the best? That's harder to define than Godzilla's actual height. But, while it would take forever to examine every one of the great giant monster movies, the picks on this list continue to excite fans both young and young at heart. No matter where you are in your kaiju journey, these movies deserve some giant-sized respect.

Above, yours truly with Godzilla himself, Haruo Nakajima, in 2013. Photo by Jeff Blanken.

To see the list, go here.