Godzilla gets his star! [View All]

[Forkboy]

In honor of his 50 years of cinema history, Godzilla received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 11:30 a.m. today, in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

No doubt, many American movie fans will scratch their heads over the propriety of awarding a Hollywood star to Godzilla, a character often associated with bad dubbing and cheap special effects, at least in the minds of Western viewers. However, one of the things Hollywood rewards is success, and success can be measured not only in ticket sales but also in longevity. 50 years of movies (not to mention toys, games, and collectibles) have made the character an instantly recognizable icon of not only of Japanese cinema in particular but also of science fiction cinema in general.

Godzilla is a triumph of pop entertainment: his films are sometimes good, sometimes bad, but almost always fun. On occasion they have served as serious metaphors, reflecting the concerns of Japanese society; more often, they have simply served as colorful entertainments, filled with action and special effects that delight the eye even if they are not totally convincing. In a sense, he is the Japanese equivalent of comic book superhero characters like Batman and Superman, whose films require a willing suspension of disbelief if they are to be enjoyed.

http://hollywoodgothique.bravejournal.com/entry/7705