Godzilla has conquered the world. After ¡°stomping¡± and ¡°flattening¡± Japan for 70 years, the prehistoric reptilian monster won an Oscar last week for best visual effects. This was not only Japan¡¯s first win in this category but the first Asian film to take home this trophy.
The win is much more than a recognition of Japanese filmmaking skills. It is a victory for a filmmaking culture that puts humanity in both creation and scale at the forefront. It is a victory, too, for creativity that celebrates passion and detail.
The original Godzilla emerged from the briny depths of the Pacific Ocean in 1954, awakened from his sleep by nuclear tests. A force of nature, he rampaged across Japan (and other parts of the world in American versions) for 37 movies, first as a threat to humanity and later as its protector. The films were rich in symbolism, with Godzilla serving as a reminder of the destructive power of the defining feature of the modern era: the splitting of the atom.
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