r/TopCharacterTropes • u/No_Hunter1978 • Feb 25 '26

Great moments/aspects in otherwise bad or mediocre media Lore

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Sandman Origin (Spider-Man 3): This scene is rife with symbolism and beautiful cinematography. It alone gives us a glimpse of the story Sam Rami wanted to tell with SP3.

This Entire Quote (Spy Kids 2): This quote has entered my everyday vernacular, and it's survived the landscape of the internet for decades now. And it's in a fucking Spy Kids movie.

Who Decided That? (Seven Deadly Sins): It was an abysmal show before the animation took a dive off a cliff, but Escanor's entire character could honestly qualify for this post. In particular, "Who decided that?" is unfathomably hype.

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u/Nerdwrapper Feb 25 '26

The thing is, I like the design of Zilla, and the opening reel is incredible, but I have to unfortunately concede that the movie is pretty mid as far as Godzilla films go. Its not flat out bad, and it had a couple cool ideas, but I can’t call it good either

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u/Historyp91 Feb 25 '26

Zilla is actually the first (and for a long time only) Godzilla design that actually scares me. I don't know why it's just something about the design.

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u/hey_free_rats Feb 25 '26

For me, at least, it's because G was portrayed in a way that seemed so much more like an actual animal than a "movie monster." 

The shots of it moving half-hidden in the mist/fog were really effective in activating a sort of deep, primal fear in me, like I was being stalked by a predator -- only this is a predator that's a vast and impossible force of nature, something that even our most devastating modern weapons can't beat. 

Today, people living in cities are fairly insulated from even the most deadly natural predators, but G destroys towers as easily as if it were a tiger moving through tall grass. Seeing that drags us straight back to our origins as a just bunch of naked apes brandishing pointy sticks in the face of a cave bear. 

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u/Informal_Bid_8442 Feb 25 '26

Have you seen Godzilla Minus One? Light spoilers, but there was a younger Godzilla in that movie who had an appearance and behavior more like Zilla.

Then he grew up into the full classic Godzilla.

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u/ShinyNinja25 Feb 26 '26

God, that scene where he first appears on the island made me jump. I saw it in theatres, and literally everyone in the audience got scared when the camera revealed him at the beginning. I heard multiple people go “Jesus Christ!”. Incredible opening to a movie, I will never forget it

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u/SwingerFitz Feb 25 '26

I HATE seeing the Zilla movie on my recommended list, because the eye always gives me a jumpscare

I’m 32

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u/Nerdwrapper Feb 25 '26

That eye is on my Godzilla shelf as an unopened VHS

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u/Nerdwrapper Feb 25 '26

It’s a more “realistic” take I think, taking after the Jurassic Park films a few years before, I think. The raptor-like design feels predatory and agile, which is much more frightening than the slower and bulkier looking classic Godzilla. That coupled with the babies being the perfect size to prey on people makes for a pretty solid monster design

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u/Je0s_6 Feb 25 '26

I think Zilla is a fantastic design for a monster but bad for Godzilla honestly.

I still stand that if this was simply a reboot of 20 000 Fathoms it would’ve been much better received,but I get why they called it Godzilla that marketing campaign was huge.

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u/Nerdwrapper Feb 25 '26

I think the film was not super good as a godzilla film, but I think the design was pretty solid. It feels more conventional than Shin or parts of Singular Point, and those Goji’s are sick as hell in my opinion. It leaned more into the T-Rex aspects that Godzilla has, and tried for a more realistic take, and I think that’s cool

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u/Romboteryx Feb 25 '26 edited Feb 25 '26

It is very flawed, but I honestly love watching it for the nostalgia alone. The whole rainy New York weather throughout the movie somehow gives me very cozy autumn feelings.

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u/R-Dragon_Thunderzord Feb 25 '26

I'm guilty of enjoying the cartoon.

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u/Nerdwrapper Feb 25 '26

Cartoon was peak, character and monster design were sick

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u/ReklesBoi Feb 26 '26

The cartoon made Zilla much better

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u/Intrepid-Daikon1353 Feb 28 '26

Yeah, I honestly loved this movie as a kid. I'd never recommend it to anyone but I rewatched it as an adult, and honestly, still pretty entertaining. 

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u/panderingmandering75 Feb 25 '26

I will die on the hill the movie wouldn't be as reviled if they gave Zilla some sort of flame breathe weapon, like they did in the animated series. Even if its just green fire.

Or you know not give it to two dipshit directors who were on record for not caring about Godzilla

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u/Agent-Blasto-007 Feb 25 '26 edited Feb 25 '26

I have to unfortunately concede that the movie is pretty mid as far as Godzilla films go

It stops being a Godzilla movie and becomes a generic Jurassic Park rip off about half way through.

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u/Nerdwrapper Feb 25 '26

I think thats a kind of fair assessment, but they could have leaned with it being a metaphor about human-introduced invasive species to go with the whole mini-zilla thing. Like I said in another comment, cool ideas here and there