This week I've had the chance to watch two camp classics on DVD. The first was Gojira – the original Japanese Godzilla before Hollywood got ahold of it and shoved Raymond Burr into it. The second was the original Planet of The Apes.
Both movies told the story of how man is either destroying or has already destroyed their own planet. Of course, PoTA was set a jillion years in the future after human-kind had screwed up. Gojira on the other hand was a warning as the scary bits are just beginning.
One movie was super campy, the other was way more than even I have ever give credit for. Of course, the camp included the lines "It's a madhouse…. a m-a-d… h-o-u-s-e…..!" and "get your hands off me you damn dirty apes!"
Surprisingly, the giant monster movie included a worthy plot, worthy acting and a great theme. You see, Gojira wasn't a metaphor for nuclear destruction. It was nuclear destruction. It was a warning about what happens during cold war and when the army gets out of hand. It was reverent, devastating and very moving.
Planet of the Apes was, well, it was 1968.
If you've never seen the original Japanese version of Gojira, you should definitely check it out. It may be the best anti-war movie, ever.
