ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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Being a big fan of both movies, an analysis and comparison of the two is very interesting.
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Beast from 20,000 Fathoms - A dinosaur is resurrected in the arctic by an atomic test.


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Godzilla (1998) - The iguanas in the South Pacific are mutated by several atomic tests.





Beast from 20,000 Fathoms - The revived dinosaur is drawn to the New York area because it was once a major breeding ground for its species.

Godzilla (1998) - The mutated monster is drawn to New York because it's an island covered in tall structures which make it easy to hide in while it lays its eggs.

Beast from 20,000 Fathoms - The rhedosaurus comes ashore at the New York City frieght docks.





Godzilla (1998) - Godzilla comes ashore at a small wooden boat dock.

Beast from 20,000 Fathoms - The rhedosaurus wanders into the streets of the city, terrorizing the citizens and flattening cars.





Godzilla (1998) - Godzilla strides into the New York streets, crushing vehicles and causing panic.





Beast from 20,000 Fathoms - The rhedosaurus is attacked by a squad of shotgun-armed policemen who cause it to flee by crashing into the side of a building and emerging on the next street over.





Godzilla (1998) - Godzilla is attacked by military helicopters which pursue it until the monster crashes into a building and then ambushes the choppers by bursting from the building behind them.

Beast from 20,000 Fathoms - The rhedosaurs is fired on by heavy artillary, but the shells only inflict minor damage.

Godzilla (1998) - Godzilla is fired on by heavy artillery and missiles, but he is so agile it evades the larger weapons fire.

Beast from 20,000 Fathoms - The rhedosaurus is reported to have gone into the Hudson river and escaped for a period of time.





Godzilla (1998) - Godzilla dives into the Hudson River (a GREAT scene) and outmaneuvers several submarines.





Beast from 20,000 Fathoms - The rhedosaurus unexpectedly comes ashore at Coney Island, surprising the military.

Godzilla (1998) - Godzilla surprises the audience (including me when I first saw it at a theater, because I thought the movie was over) by tunneling from the river bottom of the Hudson to the ruins of Madison Square Gardens after the building has been destroyed by missiles

Beast from 20,000 Fathoms - The rhedosaurus makes its last stand amidst the complex structure of the Coney Island roller coaster.





Godzilla (1998) - Godzilla makes his last stand atop the complex structure of the Brooklyn Bridge.





Beast from 20,000 Fathoms - The rhedosaurus is slain by firing a radioactive bullet into his open wound while a large crowd watches from outside the park.

Godzilla (1998) - Godzilla is slain by several volleys of missiles fired into its flanks while a large crowd watches from the end of the bridge.

Beast from 20,000 Fathoms - The rhedosaurus has a long and dramatic death scene, skillfully animated by Harryhausen to give the monster a tragic demise.

Godzilla (1998) - Godzilla has a long and dramatic death scene, in which he finally collapses within a few yards of the main character while they actually look into each other's eyes in the final moments of its demise!
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My love for Godzilla (1998) has always been heavily influenced by the obvious fact that it was the modern equivalent of Beast from 20,000 Fathoms! It is the noble descendant of that great movie.

Special thanks to All Sci-Fi member MetroPolly for making us aware that there are indeed similarities between these two great movies.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)