#ANGRY GIANT STOMPING MOVIE#

Paying homage to classic and modern anime, as well as the Toho films, Guillermo del Toro ’s Pacific Rim (2013) pit giant robots known as Jaegers up against menacing Kaiju, which proved to be an easy formula for epic fun.

#ANGRY GIANT STOMPING MOVIE#

Films like Sharktopus (2010), Big Ass Spider! (2013) and Poseidon Rex (2013) don’t stand anywhere near the exhilarating blockbusters that came before them, but offer their own B-rate charm.īefore speaking to the new MonsterVerse of the 2010s, I have to shout out a very important film in the big monster movie genre. Blending the monster flick with the found footage film, Cloverfield won over viewers and spawned several follow-ups.īesides these more popular films, big monster movies would continue to appear via straight to VOD/DVD releases. A more unconventional take on big monsters would come in the form of Cloverfield (2008). Getting audiences to be on the edge of their seat while intellectually engaging with them can be one hell of a task, but The Host pulled it off. The Host (2006) is a Korean horror movie that balanced an exhilarating creature flick with socio-political intrigue. There’s also a cute aspect to the film, given the friendship developed between Kong and Naomi Watts’ character. Peter Jackson’s King Kong (2005) included several moments of kick ass intensity, with Kong throwing down with prehistoric creatures. While big monster movies had scaled back some, the 2000s saw a few select titles that not only brought back the charm of past monster movies, but also offered some fresh spins. By this time, the most noticeable monsters of immensity left were just Godzilla and Kong. Though the ‘80s and ‘90s would include The Blob (1988), Tremors (1990), and Jurassic Park (1993), the sort of monsters we began to see more of were slasher types and those who evoked the spirit of the Universal creatures. Jaws (1975) makes for an interesting argument, given that the titular shark is no where near the scale of Kaiju based creatures – but still stands as a creature of fear, power, and large scale (at least compared to other sharks). Whereas the Godzilla franchise would continue to expand, there wasn’t a strong presence of gigantic monsters taking over the silver screen. The Toho films featuring Godzilla and pals varied when it came to reception as well, but both Godzilla and King Kong had already claimed prominent respectability in both cinema and science-fiction fandom alike.Ĭome the ‘70s however, things would take a turn. The Son of Kong (1933) and King Kong Escapes (1967) were among these releases, though neither did all that well compared to the original film. Vague mentioning of cosmic threats would serve to propel events forward and get creatures to do battle.Īlongside all the Godzilla spin-offs, Kong would receive his own. With the primary exception of the original Godzilla, many of these monster movies contained thin plot lines and thematic depth. Godzilla – a campy, yet exciting clash between the west’s and east’s most iconic monsters, respectively. Such popularity would eventually lead to 1962’s King Kong vs. From King Ghidorah to Mecha-Godzilla to best girl Mothra, each of Toho’s creations were fascinating. Leveraging his popularity, Toho – the company behind Godzilla – began creating new creatures to ally with and combat the iconic radioactive titan. Godzilla roared through the pop culture landscape. With the film pulling inspiration from real world events – specifically, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Godzilla was a being born out of radioactivity, representing a new fear in humankind’s history – that of nuclear weaponry. Brimming with suspense and terror, Godzilla was also a work of profound thematic significance. The next major step forward for the genre would come with 1954’s Godzilla. Other examples of lighthearted monster cheese are that of The Creeping Terror (1964) and The Valley of Gwangi (1969). These titles were more b-movie fare, perhaps not drawing in large audiences, but providing a niche for those looking for some sci-fi horror. With the film’s success, more movies starring big monsters would follow, including such gems as Them! (1954) and Tarantula (1955). King Kong proved to be a remarkable experience of adventure and horror, cementing Kong as the first iconic giant monster in movie history. While dinosaurs certainly made for scary creatures, Kong was a gigantic ape trampling through New York. King Kong – please excuse the pun – saw immense critical acclaim, stunning and terrifying moviegoers.

Angry giant stomping