Another Top 10 Best Monsterverse Moments
#10: Godzilla vs. Ghidorah (Round 2)
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“Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019) Ghidorah is not a titan to be trifled with; he made this perfectly clear by giving Godzilla a serious beating shortly after waking up in Antarctica. When round 2 kicks off in Mexico however, Godzilla quickly seems to get the upper hand, doing serious damage when he savagely rips off Ghidorah’s left head. It’s a shocking moment, but not as shocking as what comes next. The Navy drops an oxygen destroyer with the intention of killing both titans, only for Ghidorah to rise again and promptly grow back his head. It wasn’t until this moment that we fully appreciated just what a colossal threat King Ghidorah poses. Long live Ghidorah’s not-so bright left-head, Kevin! No really, that’s his name according to director Michael Dougherty.
#9: Kong Battles the Giant Squid
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“Kong: Skull Island” (2017) The ruler of Skull Island might not have anything as fearsome as Ghidorah to contend with, but his domain is nonetheless home to some truly terrifying creatures. So sadly, Kong rarely has a quiet moment to himself. Pausing to tend to his wounds in the lake, Kong becomes aware that a deadly mire squid is lurking beneath the surface. For those who don’t know, this is how the mire squid hunts; it’s an ambush predator. The squid begins wrapping Kong in its tentacles, but ultimately proves no match for the king of Skull Island, who kills it with a well-placed head-stomp. Things get a little gross when Kong proceeds to slurp up the severed tentacles of the squid. It’s stomach-churning, sure, but undeniably memorable!
#8: Calling All Titans
“Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019) After the apparent death of his alpha rival Godzilla, and having just regained his status a three-headed beast, Ghidorah stands atop Rodan’s volcanic home and proclaims his dominance for all to hear. The moment only lasts a few short seconds, but it is beautiful as it is terrifying, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. This roar, however, is more than a declaration of victory; it’s an alpha call commanding titans around the globe to rise and wreak havoc. We sadly don’t get to spend much time with these secondary titans, but they make the most of their brief time in the spotlight - oil fields are obliterated, mountains come to life. As the news cameras start rolling, it quickly becomes clear that these various kaiju are ushering in the end of days.
#7: Godzilla Awakens
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“Godzilla” (2014) Though people are initially (and understandably) afraid of Godzilla when he first makes himself known to the modern world, by the time the end credits begin to roll, he’s become a hero. What with all the collateral damage, he might not be the hero that people want, but after he saves the city of San Francisco from the MUTOs, it’s relatively safe to say that many have warmed up to the big guy. As he lies there, apparently lifeless, having given his all in battle, you really feel the weight of his sacrifice. Thankfully, there’s no keeping the King of Monsters down, and sure enough, he soon begins to stir, rising up to return to the ocean. It’s a beautiful moment and a well-deserved happy ending.
#6: Preston Packard vs. Kong
“Kong: Skull Island” (2017) There are some men who are happy to coexist with the many creatures who walk our planet. And then there are those who firmly believe that mankind is meant to rule over all other life on earth. It’s safe to say that Samuel L Jackson’s character, Preston Packard, fits squarely into the latter category (“show kong man is king”). He’s seemingly never met an enemy he can’t beat, and so despite the seemingly insurmountable challenge that Kong presents, he crafts an elaborate scheme to take down the king of Skull Island. It involves a lake of fire, and it seems to work; Kong eventually keels over. But a skull crawler crashes the party, Packard’s fate is sealed, and it’s Kong who gets the last laugh (fist of doom). That’s gotta hurt!
#5: The Birth of Mothra
Top 10 Best Monsterverse Moments
“Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019) Most of the Monsterverse titans appear to be in some sort of state of hibernation before receiving Ghidorah’s wake-up call. In the case of Mothra however, she’s actually encased in an egg, which is closely monitored at Monarch Outpost 61 (which is a nod the 1961 Mothra movie); it’s here that she undergoes her first transformation, breaking out of her egg and revealing her larval form. Now… “breathtaking” isn’t the word we’d usually choose to describe larva, but the way in which the creature emanates blue light is stunning. Sadly, the newborn is quickly taught to be distrustful of humans; but hey, it was nice while it lasted, and the subsequent conflict does make for an edge of your seat viewing experience.
#4: Rodan vs. Ghidorah
“Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019) As we mentioned in our first list; When Rodan rises from his volcanic home in Mexico, the immediate effect is devastating. Not only is there a volcanic eruption, but his wingbeat creates hurricane winds. To make matters worse, like Ghidorah, Rodan seems to be inherently violent. Running out of options, Monarch tries to use this natural aggression to their favor, leading Rodan on a collision course with Ghidorah. The two clash in a tangle of beating wings, snapping jaws and sharp talons. But despite Rodan’s enthusiasm, it quickly becomes apparent who the alpha is. The fight doesn’t last long, but it was a pleasure to watch while it did. And that finishing move… talk about an effective way to establish dominance.
#3: The Airport Fight
Top 20 Best MonsterVerse Moments
“Godzilla” (2014) An airport is the sort of place where a lot of things can go wrong. Lost luggage, cancelled flights, getting flagged for extra security screenings - we could go on all day. Thankfully, however, most us of us have never had to deal with a Kaiju showdown breaking out on the tarmac. When a MUTO beings tearing through the airport, the military proves ineffective; that’s when the Big Guy arrives. Would-be passengers look out the massive airport windows at a fiery explosion as Godzilla’s colossal foot steps into frame; it’s an epic moment. We don’t get to see a whole lot of the conflict between Godzilla and the MUTO, but it’s the first time in the Monsterverse that we really get a sense of Godzilla’s size and power.
#2: Godzilla Arrives to His Classic Theme
Godzilla's Monsterverse Completely Explained
“Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019) In the movie’s third act, a rejuvenated Godzilla makes his way to Boston to reclaim his rightful title from Ghidorah. The film is full of beautiful cinematic moments, but this might be the single most evocative shot of the entire film. Unable to outrun Ghidorah anymore, Madison’s demise seems imminent, but then Godzilla’s trademark blue atomic breath sends the usurper sprawling; the king has arrived. Godzilla lets out a roar and then slowly approaches as a reinterpretation of his classic theme, written by Akira Ifukube and released in 1954, begins to play. For diehard fans, the visuals, paired with this iconic theme, is enough to bring a tear to your eye. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a couple of honorable mentions “This Time We Join the Fight” “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019) Discovering a Lost Civilization “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019) The Burning Train “Godzilla” (2014)
#1: Fire Godzilla
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“Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019) After being repeatedly beaten by Ghidorah, Godzilla got a much-needed boost, first from the nuclear detonation, and then again (most crucially) from Mothra. Absorbing mothra’s energy essentially causes Godzilla to go thermonuclear, his skin radiating red and the ground melting around him. As long-time Godzilla fans will tell you however, this isn’t the first time that the character has been set aflame - so to speak. Fire Godzilla is a clear nod to “burning godzilla”, a form that the King of Monsters took on after absorbing radiation from uranium on Birth Island in the 1995 movie “Godzilla vs. Destoroyah”. As such, Fire Godzilla is not only awesome in its own right, but also a nice homage to the franchise history, making this moment a cut above the rest.
