Do the Tremors movies count as daikaiju movies?

[WingedSerpent]

 I guess I never really thought of them as such, but do they count? They do contain large monsters.  Nothing Godzilla sized...yet.  But maybe large enough for say King Kong.

And if they are, I think that makes them the longest running American daikaiju movie franchise.  Five movies thus far (4 regular ones and a prequel) but no real remakes, reboots of the series or such.

[claws]

wiki doesn't list the Tremors movies though they list other examples like The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms or The Deadly Mantis.

The first Tremors is a throwback to classic 1950s monster movies and the creatures happen to be "strange beasts" (Kaiju) but maybe not large enough for daikaiju ("giant").

[akiratubo]

No, they aren't big enough.  JMHO.

[VenomX73]

3rd that - not big enough for daikaiju.

Kaiju - Yes, sure... why not.

Imo they seem to be marketed as "horror monsters"


Just sayin

[WingedSerpent]

So it seems we think they don't count as daikaiju because of their size.  But now this opens the question of when a monster goes from simply being "large" and into what is considered a "giant" monster.

+50 ft? +100 ft?

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According to this, a normal full grown grabiod is abot 30 ft long.  That's about how big King Kong was in his original movie.

[VenomX73]

50ft+ Imo.

King Kong (1933) I don't see him in this film as a large daikaiju...


King Kong (1976) Imo yes. He's a very large Kaiju in this movie.
This Kong could have battled a 60's Godzilla. 90% Kong would have probably lost though lol.

Even with Mighty Joe Young, I see him just as a huge gorilla...

edit*
So I looked up 1976 Kong's size - listed as 40 ft+ but I always seen him as 'Godzilla sized' though lol

[akiratubo]

I think '76 Kong must be larger than 40 feet.  His hand is roughly as long as Jessica Lange is tall.  She's 5'8".  I'd say Kong is well over 7 of his own hands tall.

For me, true daikaiju are around 50 meters and up.  I'd put 35 meters as a low limit.

[VenomX73]

See, that's what I mean. He must be Godzilla sized then lol... you're right.

1976 King Kong will always be my favorite Kong...



Side note - Jessica Lange was so hot.

[Flangepart]

So it seems we think they don't count as daikaiju because of their size.  But now this opens the question of when a monster goes from simply being "large" and into what is considered a "giant" monster.

+50 ft? +100 ft?

! No longer available

Nice! Kind of a 'Hitchhiker Guide' vibe to this puppy. Any more of them?

[WingedSerpent]

Nice! Kind of a 'Hitchhiker Guide' vibe to this puppy. Any more of them?

Sadly, no.  Or at least I haven't found anymore.   I would love a series like this.

[Dr. Whom]

To count as daikaiju, doesn't it have to be a guy in a rubber suit?

[Flangepart]

To count as daikaiju, doesn't it have to be a guy in a rubber suit?

Nah. I think it's regards the concept. Giant Critters defined.
I think an ability to absorb massed gunfire should be included in the criteria. 10 rounds of 20mm Godzilla would barely notice. A T-rex? He's dead meat, fit for Carpys.

[diamondwaspvenom]

Nope. Creatures ain't big enough and not enough miniature sets being demolished. And no obvious dubbing. xD

[Gene Worm]

Daikaiju is a giant kaiju. Like... the size of an average Ultraman monster giant. Taller than skyscrapers giant. A normal kaiju would refer to any "strange beast", but unless if they are specifically said to be kaiju (Pacific Rim, for example), kaiju are mostly only Japanese. I believe the creatures in Tremors are to be considered as just a basic movie monster, but you technically could call them a kaiju. But certainly not a daikaiju.

[WingedSerpent]

A normal kaiju would refer to any "strange beast", but unless if they are specifically said to be kaiju (Pacific Rim, for example), kaiju are mostly only Japanese.

I don't know if I buy that.  I'm not a real big believer in the Certain art forms can only come from certain places mentality.   Like how some people say the only true anime or manga can only come from Japan.   Yes, certain ones can be liken to specific places or hold more cultural meaning for a certain society- but nothing I see really stops someone from outside making that type of art.

There are other giant monsters that I would count as daikaiju, even though they aren't from Japan.  Like Gorgo, The Giant Claw, Pilosaurus fromThe Giant Behemoth.

The word itself just seems to be becoming more of a generic term for giant monster.  Like saying "vampire"  "werewof" or "zombie"  might have some wiggle room in definition but still talks about a certain creature.