Godzillafest 2025: Godzilla (1954)
Godzilla, a weapon of science, a great battle of wonder and terror!
Ishirō Honda
In-Person
Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema
Aug 09
Aug 10
Aug 14
Japan is thrown into a panic after several ships are sunk near Odo Island. An expedition to the island led by Dr. Kyohei Yamane soon discover something far more devastating than imagined in the form of a 50 meter tall monster whom the natives call Gojira. Now the monster begins a rampage that threatens to destroy not only Japan, but the rest of the world as well.
Registration Deadline to have books mailed: Friday, May 2nd. Books will be mailed within 72 hours of this date.
Registration Deadline to have books picked up: Monday, May 19th. Books can be picked up from our Box Office during our regular operating hours Thursday & Friday from 2pm til Close and on Saturday & Sunday from 10:30am until close. You will receive an email when your book is ready to be picked up.
Book: The Kaiju Film: A Critical Study of Cinema’s Biggest Monsters by Jason Barr
The Kaiju (strange monster or strange beast) film genre has a number of themes that go well beyond the “big monsters stomping on cities” motif. Since the seminal King Kong 1933) and the archetypal Godzilla (1954), kaiju has mined the subject matter of science run amok, militarism, capitalism, colonialism, consumerism and pollution.
This critical examination of kaiju considers the entirety of the genre–the major franchises, along with less well known films like Kronos (1957), Monsters (2010) and Pacific Rim (2013). The author examines how kaiju has crossed cultures from its original folkloric inspirations in both the U.S. and Japan and how the genre continues to reflect national values to audiences.
Film: Godzilla (1954) Dir. Ishirô Honda
After a dinosaur-like beast – awoken from undersea hibernation by atom bomb testing – ravages Tokyo, a scientist must decide if his similarly dangerous weapon should be used to destroy it.
Private screening and discussion will take place at Sidewalk Cinema May 28th at 7:00pm.