by Giganfan » Sat Mar 02, 2019 8:32 am
By default, really, Godzilla Raids Again is one of the most important movies in the entire genre. As only the second movie of it's kind in Japan, and being the first in which you have two monsters fighting each other, you can't deny it's ultimate influence on the rest of the series. It deserves credit as being one of the pioneering movies of the "tokusatsu" style, even though in reality, the film is horribly directed by Motoyoshi Oda, and Masaru Sato's score is practically non-existent, which pains me to say, because Sato, along with Akira Ifukube wound up being a certifiable genius later on.
The fight between Godzilla and Angilas in Osaka, i think, is one of the best fights in the Godzilla series. Angilas unfortunately, doesn't make it to the end of the movie, but nonetheless, Tsuburaya does a great job of bringing him to life, and he remains one of Toho's greatest kaiju creations.
The Godzilla suit in this movie is a prime example of something I've always wanted to discuss with fellow fans about the Godzilla designs over the years. Some of them, like for example, Shoshingeki-Goji (68-72), or most of the Heisei designs are perfectly executed all the way around. However, in the case of say Kingu-Goji (62) Mire-Goji, the GMK design and the one from the Kiryu movies, they look great from one angle, but then, when you get a look at them from another angle, it's like "Ugh! What the hell were they thinking?" I've often wondered if it was the intent of the suit-makers, or was it just something that wasn't even considered. I have a very hard time with all of the suit designs from the Millennium series for that very reason, save for the Final Wars Godzilla, which I think is awesome. The Godzilla that appears in Raids Again is one of those suits where he looks perfect in profile, but very odd and awkward from the front. Anyway, I just wanted to throw that out there, and see if it inspires any debate.
In the past, I've routinely criticized Godzilla Raids Again for being one of the worst movies in the series. And it's true, director Oda really did a bang-up job with it. But these days, my opinions have been more sympathetic. I appreciate it more for being a trail-blazer, along with the other movies of that particular time-period. Toho was essentially creating the fantasy genre that didn't even exist in Japan at the time, and I'm sure there was much trial-and-error. This movie isn't perfect, even by Godzilla movie standards, but i still believe it deserves our appreciation. Before Godzilla could go on to face Kong, Mothra, Ghidorah, etc. he had to bite, scratch, claw and ultimately fry his best bud, "The Killer of the Living" in what is one intense monster fight. It's interesting to note that in the second Godzilla movie, and the second-to-last Godzilla movie of the Showa era, we are treated to a Godzilla vs. Angilas in both films (though technically, it wasn't Godzilla himself in the 74 film).
I'm a fan of every Godzilla movie, in one way or another. With the exception of GINO 98, every movie in the series offers something that I enjoy. My earliest memories of existence in this world involve Godzilla. He and I have been pals for my entire life, so it's virtually impossible for me to be too mean when considering any of the movies. Godzilla Raids Again may not be the best by any stretch of the imagination, but that scene (in the Japanese version) where Godzilla swats that biplane out of the sky, which I think was an homage to King Kong, is so special to me, even though there is a jump-cut between the plane flying, and Goji swatting.
This stuff is just so cool to me.
"EVERYONE FORGET YOUR TROUBLES! ENJOY YOURSELVES!THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT!" - Gigantis The Fire Monster
"It was HUGE...It was...IT WAS LIKE A MONSTER!!! Suddenly the rocks rose...ALIVE!" - Godzilla 1985