'Godzilla': Let me hear that roar (Newsok)

NEW YORK — As the most notable Japanese presence in the new Hollywood blockbuster version of “Godzilla,” actor Ken Watanabe said he was determined to stay true to his cultural roots and to the deep-seeded themes of the 1954 original film of director Ishiro Honda.

Watanabe, who first came to the attention of American audiences with his Oscar-nominated role in 2003’s “The Last Samurai,” now takes the role of scientist Dr. Ishiro Serizawa (a name inspired by a character from the 1954 film) in the new big-budget retooling of the classic monster movie by British director and visual effects wizard Gareth Edwards, who made his name with the clever 2010 DIY fantasy “Monsters.”

“When I met Gareth the first time, I’m just wondering, why make ‘Godzilla’ again — why now?” Watanabe said during a one-on-one interview with The Oklahoman during a recent press day hosted by Warner Bros. Settled into a suite at the Essex House Hotel, the tall, graceful actor spoke in English that was careful and precise, but he was accompanied by a Japanese translator to help him navigate the rapid barrage of questions he would field that day.

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“Gareth knew the Japanese philosophy of Godzilla as a metaphor,” the actor said. “Then he knew why did Japanese film industry want to make it after World War II and the atomic bombs.”

Watanabe, 54, said he first saw the original film when he was about 20. “First seeing ‘Godzilla,’ I didn’t recognize about the deep themes,” he said. “Then going back to the original again, I was so surprised. Wow, it had so many messages. Then I heard about this project. Gareth wants to go back to the original. Oh, I thought, I got it. I will do it.”

Even after all these years, the first film — despite an onslaught of spin-offs and sequels of insanely varying quality and seriousness — still resonates with potent ideas about the power of nature and mankind’s arrogance in trying to manipulate it.

“This year marks the 60th anniversary of ‘Godzilla,’” Watanabe said.

“After World War II, Godzilla was born out of fear by people’s fascination with nuclear weapons during the Cold War. Then, three years ago in Japan, we had the terrible experience of a major earthquake and tsunami and the collapse of a nuclear plant. So even after 60 years, people are still fascinated by Godzilla because after all these years, the things that terrify us have not changed. Technology and science advance rapidly, but it still hasn’t changed. There is still the fear of what humans can do.”