Actually, a study of the difference between Lovecraft's approach to giant monsters and Japan's approach to giant monsters and the popular culture's approach to giant monsters might be interesting.
That said, comparing Lovecraft to kaiju movies is hilarious.
It's less of his not knowing and more of his confusing an evil deity written by HP Lovecraft with a Japanese rubber-suit monster from the 60's. That said, if HP Lovecraft had made a Godzilla movie, it woulda been wicked.
Cthulhu and the Great Old ones where more about the horror of the unknown. That man is just cosmic dust to great amoral forces of the universe. You can be driven insane just from seeing some of them.
Godzilla is about the horror of the atomic bomb. Science used to create destruction. Man's cruelty to both himself and nature. And what that cruelty could unlease.
I think it's too easy for people to write off giant monsters as stupid but Lovecraft and the earlier Godzilla movies (as well as the original King Kong and recent Gamera trilogy) can be used to prove them wrong.
@ 6:17 Anon: As a Godzilla fan, I appreciate the fact that other people here think of Godzilla as something more than "That cheesy sumo-wrestling dinosaur from the 60's and 70's."
And to anyone who DOES think of Godzilla as that, I humbly ask you to watch the original Japanese version of his first movie, Gojira, available on Amazon.com as "Gojira: The Original Japanese Masterpiece". The American version with Raymond Burr kinda cut out some of the symbolism to avoid offending American audiences.
That said, the Cheesy Sumo-Wrestling Dinosaur from the 60's and 70's is still hella fun to watch just for the cheese-factor!
This reminds me of a story my friend told on his facebook page a few days ago:
I decided I wanted to read a book by H. P. Lovecraft since I have not done so before. However upon getting to the bookstore, I blanked on his name. I asked the nice lady if they had 'Call of Cthulu'. Blank stare followed by What? It's spelled c-t-h-u-l-u. Clackity-clack. Blank screen much like blank face. Clacklity-clack. Maybe try Azeroth? Blank stare followed by an incredulous look. It's early American Horror I offer. Clackity-clack. The 1st nice lady asks the second nice lady if she knows about it. Oh yeah, the 2nd nice lady says, "It's spelled with a K. My son has it with all of his dungeon and dragons stuff on the bookshelf" I, uh, its. . . the 1st nice lady says oh she's a real good speller, Im sure its a K. Clackity - blank screen - clack. It's spelled with a C I say. . . apparently to no one. The 1st nice lady asks the 2nd nice lady - What is it anyway. The 2nd nice lady says - "Oh he's just one of the bad guys in dungeon and dragons." Egads! I left. Feel free to substitute nice lady with your own descriptors.
Not everyone knows what it is.
ReplyDelete@bonoes, I don't think his lack of knowledge of Cthulhu is the punchline here...
ReplyDeleteAaargh!!!!!!
ReplyDeletewhy is it so hard to say "i don't know"?
Or even, let's look it up together.
ReplyDeleteHastur, Hastur, Hastur, Hastur, Has......
ReplyDeleteI can hear Lovecraft crying from beyond the viel of time and space ... ...
ReplyDeletealso his time will come when the old ones arrive in 2012 amirght? :P
I would seriously have bitten that guy's face off had I been there.
ReplyDeleteMe?!
ReplyDeleteA Japanese monster?
FHTAGN!!
Jet Jaguar! Jet Jaguar! Defeat Cthulhu now!
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, seeing Godzilla and Cthulhu duke it out WOULD be awesome...
ReplyDeleteActually, a study of the difference between Lovecraft's approach to giant monsters and Japan's approach to giant monsters and the popular culture's approach to giant monsters might be interesting.
ReplyDeleteThat said, comparing Lovecraft to kaiju movies is hilarious.
I had to look it up myself. I knew Cthulhu only from South Park. :)
ReplyDeleteAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGH!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's less of his not knowing and more of his confusing an evil deity written by HP Lovecraft with a Japanese rubber-suit monster from the 60's. That said, if HP Lovecraft had made a Godzilla movie, it woulda been wicked.
ReplyDeleteFhtagn that guy right where the darkness of space don't shine.
ReplyDeleteCthulhu and the Great Old ones where more about the horror of the unknown. That man is just cosmic dust to great amoral forces of the universe. You can be driven insane just from seeing some of them.
ReplyDeleteGodzilla is about the horror of the atomic bomb. Science used to create destruction. Man's cruelty to both himself and nature. And what that cruelty could unlease.
I think it's too easy for people to write off giant monsters as stupid but Lovecraft and the earlier Godzilla movies (as well as the original King Kong and recent Gamera trilogy) can be used to prove them wrong.
@ 6:17 Anon: As a Godzilla fan, I appreciate the fact that other people here think of Godzilla as something more than "That cheesy sumo-wrestling dinosaur from the 60's and 70's."
ReplyDeleteAnd to anyone who DOES think of Godzilla as that, I humbly ask you to watch the original Japanese version of his first movie, Gojira, available on Amazon.com as "Gojira: The Original Japanese Masterpiece". The American version with Raymond Burr kinda cut out some of the symbolism to avoid offending American audiences.
That said, the Cheesy Sumo-Wrestling Dinosaur from the 60's and 70's is still hella fun to watch just for the cheese-factor!
What the anon at 8:21 said, I repeat.
ReplyDeleteI should read some Lovecraft some time.....
ReplyDeleteJust for that, Cthulhu will eat him last.
ReplyDeleteThe horror!
Maybe the guy was thinking of Pikathulhu. :D
ReplyDeleteCthulhu? Japanese? How would that even be written out? "クトfゥffggjdkeルBLARGHフ22222222222"?
ReplyDeleteBLASPHEMER!
ReplyDeleteThe cult will take his revenge against this poor fool.
wow, this guy is an idiot. also cthulhu is awesome and needs a movie
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a story my friend told on his facebook page a few days ago:
ReplyDeleteI decided I wanted to read a book by H. P. Lovecraft since I have not done so before. However upon getting to the bookstore, I blanked on his name. I asked the nice lady if they had 'Call of Cthulu'. Blank stare followed by What? It's spelled c-t-h-u-l-u. Clackity-clack. Blank screen much like blank face. Clacklity-clack. Maybe try Azeroth? Blank stare followed by an incredulous look. It's early American Horror I offer. Clackity-clack. The 1st nice lady asks the second nice lady if she knows about it. Oh yeah, the 2nd nice lady says, "It's spelled with a K. My son has it with all of his dungeon and dragons stuff on the bookshelf" I, uh, its. . . the 1st nice lady says oh she's a real good speller, Im sure its a K. Clackity - blank screen - clack. It's spelled with a C I say. . . apparently to no one. The 1st nice lady asks the 2nd nice lady - What is it anyway. The 2nd nice lady says - "Oh he's just one of the bad guys in dungeon and dragons." Egads! I left. Feel free to substitute nice lady with your own descriptors.