Godzilla receives Star on
Hollywood Boulevard
Black Moon Staff - Nov.29th, 2004

Godzilla, the radioactive fire-breathing monster from Japan received a Star on Hollywood's world famous Walk of Fame in celebration of his 50th Anniversary. The extraordinary event coincided with the world premiere of Godzilla Final Wars, the first time a Godzilla movie has ever been premiered outside of Japan. The occasion was also significant because Final Wars, the monster's 28th film, is reported to be his last movie appearance.

The special ceremony that honored the gargantuan reptile took place directly in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Blvd. where his Star is now located. Godzilla was officially inducted into the pantheon of cinema's greatest on Monday, November 29th at 11:30 am. Godzilla, in the form of a monster suit actor, was on hand to receive his honor. The celebration also included appearances by actors from Final Wars, as well as representatives of Toho Pictures.

Gojira, as he's affectionately known in Japan, first rose from the ocean floor in Director Ishiro Honda's somber 1954 black and white classic. The monster (whose name is a blending of the words gorilla and "kujira" - whale in Japanese), was an allegorical figure representing the horrors of atomic warfare. When watching Honda's original film with its scenes of utter devastation wrought by an atomic monster, one must remember that the movie was made only nine years after nuclear weapons were dropped upon the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In Godzilla Final Wars, the world is threatened with the sudden appearance of a dozen daikaiju (giant monsters). The cities of Shanghai, Paris, Sydney, and New York are overwhelmed and crushed by the horrifying creatures, which include some old familiars like Rodan, Mothra, and Hedorah. The United Nations' Earth Defense Force attempts to defeat the colossal beasts, but to no avail. Things change when space aliens named Xiliens come to Earth and vanquish the marauding behemoths on behalf of humanity. The invaders then offer humankind a suspicious peace treaty, and all the while Godzilla sleeps calmly in Antarctic ice. What happens next? You'll have to wait and see the movie for yourself.

During the ceremonies in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater, Gozilla had the red carpet rolled out in front of him by adoring fans and fawning members of the press. Despite the public displays of devotion, the irate lizard threatened to eat several dozen tourists alive and then set Hollywood aflame, but the unveiling of his star calmed him down...
at least temporarily. All we can say is that producer Shogo Tomiyama's promise of putting all the beauties and terrors of Gojira into this film have been fulfilled. Final Wars is a big budget, visually stunning, fast paced, action packed final tribute to the world's most beloved monster.