Just to be frank first, I don't consider Screen Rant a reliable source when it comes to news on upcoming movies. I always look for sources such as The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline, Entertainment Weekly, or straight from the horse's mouth on social media. However, an article from Screen Rant randomly appeared on my Twitter feed last night that I had to give a read and this will be one of the few exceptions where I use Screen Rant as a source because they sat down with John Carpenter to talk to them about the upcoming Godzilla movie marathon: "Masters of Monsters."
I won't go through the whole interview. I will just break it down to make the long story short because the interview does go off talking about other stuff unrelated to Godzilla and the Masters of Monsters marathon.
The interview begins with Screen Rant asking Carpenter his favorite Godzilla movie and he responds that his favorite is Godzilla (1954). Ever since he was a kid he had been in love with the film and the film was what made him a Godzilla fan in the first place. Then, he passed it on to his kids, which also made them Godzilla fans and how it was very important to him that his kids love Godzilla movies.
Next question asked about the marathon came about and how it was put together with Shout! Factory. Carpenter replied that it was Shout! Factory contacting him asking if he would like to do this marathon knowing he is a Godzilla fan and gave an immediate "Yes" on the offer.
He was asked if it was difficult to choose the movies for the marathon and he said choosing the movies was actually easy. He goes on to mention the hardest part was pronouncing the Japanese names of people like Eiji Tsubaraya and Akira Ifukube, but found Ishirō Honda easy to say.
When asked if the original Godzilla film influenced his filmmaking style. Carpenter mentions it is more of the mood of Godzilla (1954) because of how dark the movie was and found that to be unbelievable, which was what got Carpenter going in the first place. Otherwise, Godzilla had not played any inspiration or influence for any of his movies. He does say that he finds it pretty cool to take monster movies, which (in his opinion) are not known for thematic material, and make something that could speak about what is going on in the world.
Now, we get to the point in the interview where every one of us has had questions on. Questions such as, "Would John Carpenter be interested in making a giant monster movie or a Godzilla movie?" and "What are his thoughts on the Monsterverse?"
When asked if he ever considered making a film like Godzilla, John Carpenter states, "I don't think so. It just seems to me that it would be difficult to integrate the special effects of the creatures and monsters with the people. They were very separate. I think I'll watch rather than try."
He was, then, asked about his thoughts on the Monsterverse movies. The article quotes, "Yeah, but not as in depth. I've seen a couple of them, and now he's computerized. It's good, but that just doesn't feel like the original Japanese movie. But that's okay, it's not the original Japanese, that's why it doesn't feel like it."
When asked if Carpenter has a favorite Monsterverse movie, he replies, "I don't have favorites. They all seem the same to me." This is where the interview moves on talking about Halloween Ends and that series, as a whole.
When it comes down to it, there is not going to be a whole lot going on for the Masters of Monsters marathon. It sounds like it will just be the four movies he picked and then commentary alongside it talking about the making of the movies.
If anyone was hoping he could do a monster movie, you got your answer. He is not that interested in doing a kaiju movie. He would rather watch them than make one himself as he finds all of the technical stuff difficult.
As for his opinions on the Monsterverse…OUCH! For him to say the Monsterverse movies are all the same to him is hypocritical. If that's the case, then all of the Godzilla movies may as well be the same thing to him. Sure, we have seen Godzilla fight King Ghidorah, King Kong, and MechaGodzilla before, but each fight is always different. I will be fair and say he has his preferences on what kind of monster movies he likes and dislikes. If he prefers the original movies, then that's fair. I won't knock him for liking the original.
Maybe that is why John Carpenter chose those four specific movies for the marathon. Perhaps to him they stand out as being original and different compared to other movies where it is just Godzilla fighting another monster. We can find out more when Masters of Monsters begins airing on Shout! TV tomorrow at 6pm PST/8pm CST/9pm EST.
What are your thoughts on Screen Rant's interview with John Carpenter? Will you be watching the Masters of Monsters marathon? Leave a comment in the comments section of your thoughts on Screen Rant's interview with John Carpenter. Make sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Minds, MeWe, Gab, and TRUTH Social to stay up to date for more news, reviews, discussions.