The Giant Monster Doctor is in... All giant monster film questions answered

[Russell Nash]

jeff,  this is an amazing dispay of geekery.

[jrderego]

jeff,  this is an amazing dispay of geekery.

I am the giant monster go-to guy for Horrorview. This line of questioning is only scratching the surface of my geekdom.

[Russell Nash]

jeff,  this is an amazing dispay of geekery.

I am the giant monster go-to guy for Horrorview. This line of questioning is only scratching the surface of my geekdom.

Folks, that is a challenge.  Go get him!

[Thaurismunths]

Who birthed the brothers Sandra and Gaira?

[jrderego]

Who birthed the brothers Sandra and Gaira?

They were created from the flesh of the Frankenstein child from Frankenstein Conquers the World. Though no one "birthed" them per say, they developed from miscellaneous cells after the Frankenstein Child and Baragon fought to their deaths.

[wintermute]

What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen Mothra?

[Alasdair5000]

Further to my earlier question, has there ever been a specific theory put forward as to why there are at least two areas (Skull Island and the Bonin islands) where evolution appears to have taken a dramatically different path to the rest of the planet?

[jrderego]

Further to my earlier question, has there ever been a specific theory put forward as to why there are at least two areas (Skull Island and the Bonin islands) where evolution appears to have taken a dramatically different path to the rest of the planet?

Skull Island is unknown, but one theory is that Dr. Makino's Berries, which offer non-narcotic anesthetic effects, may be responsible for Kong's gigantism. These berries are only found on this island.

Within the Bonin islands the rapid evolution is attributed to the lingering residue of nuclear testing.

[jrderego]

What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen Mothra?

Mach 1 as suggested in Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, All Out Attack.

[Russell Nash]

What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen Mothra?

Mach 1 as suggested in Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, All Out Attack.

At what altitude?  The speed of sound changes with altitude.

[jrderego]

What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen Mothra?

Mach 1 as suggested in Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, All Out Attack.

At what altitude?  The speed of sound changes with altitude.

I don't think altitude was mentioned sadly. Mothra was spotted within clouds, not that it helps establish altitude.

[Russell Nash]

What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen Mothra?

Mach 1 as suggested in Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, All Out Attack.

At what altitude?  The speed of sound changes with altitude.

I don't think altitude was mentioned sadly. Mothra was spotted within clouds, not that it helps establish altitude.

Going to have to ask the judges if I get a point on that one.

[deflective]

points are awarded for stumping an expert on known information. if the expert claims that the information is not available then the point is awarded once you show that it has been defined.

point of order: what qualifies as a giant monster? does the host qualify? anaconda? how abstract can you get and still qualify as a monster? unicron, the doomsday machine?

[Windup]

Exactly how many times has Tokyo been destroyed and rebuilt?

...So a total of - 33 times

At what point will Japanese insurance companies wise up and stop writing coverage for monster-inflicted damage, thus rendering Tokyo un-rebuildable for financial reasons?

When that time comes, will monsters begin attacking a different Japanese city, or will they limit their depridations to the area formerly occupied by Tokyo, which will presumably revert to wilderness or become an encampment of the homeless?

[jrderego]

points are awarded for stumping an expert on known information. if the expert claims that the information is not available then the point is awarded once you show that it has been defined.

point of order: what qualifies as a giant monster? does the host qualify? anaconda? how abstract can you get and still qualify as a monster? unicron, the doomsday machine?

For the sake of clarity, a giant monster, at least by my definition, is rather straightforward: Huge animal, or robot, that attacks a town or city. The Host would qualify, as would even, Mighty Joe Young (though that's probably the smallest end of the giant monster spectrum), while Anaconda wouldn't as it didn't attack a city. The Doomsday Machine would be classified as a super-giant monster, as it destroys whole worlds.

[jrderego]

Exactly how many times has Tokyo been destroyed and rebuilt?

...So a total of - 33 times

At what point will Japanese insurance companies wise up and stop writing coverage for monster-inflicted damage, thus rendering Tokyo un-rebuildable for financial reasons?

When that time comes, will monsters begin attacking a different Japanese city, or will they limit their depridations to the area formerly occupied by Tokyo, which will presumably revert to wilderness or become an encampment of the homeless?

Only a few films have touched on this aspect of giant monsterdom, Godzilla vs. Biollante had characters discussing the rebuilding efforts after Godzilla's rampage in 1984(1985 for American audiences) and even featured characters sitting in the "Godzilla Memorial Cafe" where a giant footprint rammed through concrete was used as a decorative skylight.

Tokyo wasn't always attacked either.

Rodan's rampage took place in Sasebo/Nagasaki. Godzilla destroyed Osaka and Hokkaido in Godzilla Raids Again, and the final showdown with Kong took place in Osaka in King Kong vs. Godzilla. In some cases the city is barely damaged during the monster fight, such as the final battle between Kong and Mechanikong in King Kong escapes - One building + Tokyo tower, the rest of the city remained intact.

[wintermute]

points are awarded for stumping an expert on known information. if the expert claims that the information is not available then the point is awarded once you show that it has been defined.

point of order: what qualifies as a giant monster? does the host qualify? anaconda? how abstract can you get and still qualify as a monster? unicron, the doomsday machine?

For the sake of clarity, a giant monster, at least by my definition, is rather straightforward: Huge animal, or robot, that attacks a town or city. The Host would qualify, as would even, Mighty Joe Young (though that's probably the smallest end of the giant monster spectrum), while Anaconda wouldn't as it didn't attack a city. The Doomsday Machine would be classified as a super-giant monster, as it destroys whole worlds.

So, the Cystalline Entity from ST:TNG would count?

[jrderego]

points are awarded for stumping an expert on known information. if the expert claims that the information is not available then the point is awarded once you show that it has been defined.

point of order: what qualifies as a giant monster? does the host qualify? anaconda? how abstract can you get and still qualify as a monster? unicron, the doomsday machine?

For the sake of clarity, a giant monster, at least by my definition, is rather straightforward: Huge animal, or robot, that attacks a town or city. The Host would qualify, as would even, Mighty Joe Young (though that's probably the smallest end of the giant monster spectrum), while Anaconda wouldn't as it didn't attack a city. The Doomsday Machine would be classified as a super-giant monster, as it destroys whole worlds.

So, the Cystalline Entity from ST:TNG would count?

I guess. It's a different genre than giant monster films though and not my forte.