With the various and sundry retcons of Godzilla, how is he currently characterized? Is he seen as a force for good on the side of mankind, a force for evil or simply a force of nature with no moral alignment?
Well, I’m seen as…
Wait. What?
Oh, sorry. I’m a little dyslexic sometimes! 
My impression is that it varies by movie. I don’t think there’s a consistent over-view.
Well, he’s a bit of a pain if you’re Japanese and are not threatened by another monster, but any defense he provides seems purely territorial. Once he stops the giant intergalactic moth from eating the subway, Godzilla will return to picking up busses and throwing them back down.
He seems to be an animal manifestation of nature’s wrath, like volcanoes earthquakes and typhoons–he’s just another thing that happens to Japan from time to time. From what I can figure, Godzilla is no more of a malevolent force than Moby Dick. Very dangerous, yes, but he’s just a powerful force of nature that doesn’t particularly care if you get in his way.
I disagree with your characterization of Moby. IMHO, The White Whale is God. More, He is a God who is indifferent to the suffering of his creatures. Melville makes the same point in Billy Budd.
Isn’t that what I said, except for the diefication? Not malevolent, powerful, dangerous and doesn’t care if you get in his way…same as indifferent to the lesser beings.
I have nothing to add, except that History shows again and again how Nature points out the folly of Man.
I could be wrong, but I read somewhere that Toho’s current policy is that none of the Godzilla sequels ever happened. Whenever they come out with a new one they push the reset button and the most current movie is the only official sequel to the original.
I’m going to have to go find a cite.
I wish LucasFilms would adopt this policy.
“With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound…”- Greatest Rock n’ Roll lyrics in the history of recorded language!
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And Godzilla is a symbol of the destructive power of nuclear weapons.
Or, in Gojira, he is a symbol for the inevitavble approach of US military force in WW2.
I read this as statues of Godzilla.
Anyone know of any?
Yeah, if we keep denotating nuclear weapons on (supposedly) uninhabited south Pacific islands, we shouldn’t be surprised when something nasty wakes up and wants its morning coffee.
Just don’t do any testing over Rl’yeh, or I will be pissed.