Once dismissed as a fading genre with little to say to contemporary audiences, the giant monster movie genre roared back to life in the new millennium. In one of modern cinema's most surprising turnarounds, a wave of 21st-century kaiju films has delivered exciting and thought-provoking viewing to global audiences. In a variety of works that range from action-packed CGI spectacles to more personal, introspective productions that comment on real-world issues of the day, the new millennium has witnessed some of the most intriguing films in any genre, including movies from acclaimed directors such as Guillermo del Toro, Bong Joon-ho, Peter Jackson, and more.
This book takes a sober, multidimensional look at the new class of giant monster movies. It examines the making of these films and their sometimes-obscure meanings. It also covers efforts to reinvent storied kaiju characters from the past, including Godzilla and King Kong, and to transform the genre with movies such as Cloverfield, The Mist, Colossal, and Pacific Rim that feature all-new creatures.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
1.Kaiju Rising: Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Monsters All-Out
Attack (2001)
2.Last Gasp: Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
3.Return of the King: King Kong (2005)
4.A Coming-of-Age Story: Gamera the Brave (2006)
5.A Korean Vision: The Host (2006)
6.A Return to Horror: The Mist (2007)
7.Reflecting an Era: Cloverfield (2008)
8.Improvising with Monsters: Monsters (2010)
9.For the Love of Kaiju: Pacific Rim (2013)
10.Hollywood Tries Again: Godzilla (2014)
11.Reclaiming a Monsters Legacy: Shin Godzilla (2016)
12.A Monster Within: Colossal (2016)
13.Reimagining the Beginning: Kong: Skull Island (2017)
14.To a Battle Royale: Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) and Godzilla
vs. Kong (2021)
Conclusion
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
Gordon Arnold has taught at several colleges, including Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts. He lives in the Boston area.
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