Godzilla, a weapon of science, a great battle of wonder and terror!

Starring: Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura, Fuyuki Marakami, Sachio Sakai, Toranosuke Ogawa

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"It's impossible! Godzilla absorbed massive amounts of atomic radiation and yet it still survived! What do you think could kill it?" – Dr. Kyohei Yamane, Raymond Burr (American version)

Why watch this? ... this is the OG Godzilla - a superb and symbolic film about the cost of destructive science.  

Plot Summary: An investigation into a series of mysterious ship disappearances leads to the discovery of a giant, irradiated monster named Godzilla, awakened by atomic bomb testing. This monstrous creature emerges from the sea, causing widespread devastation and panic as it lays waste to Japan. Faced with an unstoppable force, a scientist wrestles with the moral dilemma of deploying a potentially even more dangerous weapon to stop Godzilla's reign of terror.

Dad's Preview: More than any country, Japan felt the full brunt of American war-power when two atomic bombs destroyed the cities of Hiroshima and Najasaski. Ten years later, this film displays the traumatic mental effect those events had on Japan as a nation. The menacing monster, Gojira, is a symbol of mankind's horrible decision to embrace a weapon so devastating. This film classic still has a powerful impact today.

(Note: for those over the age of 40, OG stands for Original Gansta, and, per my kids, it's a compliment.)

Toho Co. Ltd.