The one that started it all. In the wake of the atomic aftermath in Japan, a large prehistoric creature has been awakened. Nearly impervious to harm and able to breathe radioactive breath, Godzilla is a force of nature that is determined to destroy Japan and all that gets in his way. A group of Japanese scientists may have the only thing that can stop the towering monster.

This movie and the multitudes of sequels is what helped me drift away for many hours on Saturday mornings and afternoons, as I would delightfully tune in to the Double Creature Feature every weekend. Although Godzilla was made as a protest and warning on the effects of atomic war and in many ways a very anti-American film, it has always amazed me as to how much our culture has embraced the large reptile and made him one of our film icons as well.

Shot in black and white with a man in a rubber suit, Godzilla looks very primitive, this is the way that GODZILLA SHOULD BE. Although some of the sequels were quite hokey and there was that god awful remake a few years ago, this film is the masterpiece.

Godzilla inspires true fear and dread when he appears and he only has one purpose, destruction. This film is about to be re-released for it's 50th anniversary and if you have never seen the original, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Forget all of the Godzilla Versus movies from the 60's, which in their own right are good (in a different way), but go and see the original and very dark film that was made way back in 1954, you will be doing yourself quite a favor.

10/10 Masterpiece