TALKBACK #14: Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla

[lhb412]

Here we are, the 20th Anniversary film: a bigger budget than the previous few films which accomidates spiffier FX and nicer location footage, the return of veteran series actors Akihiko Hirata Hiroshi Koizumi, and Jun Fukuda displaying the flare that hasn't shown through since Sea Monster and Son of Godzilla.

...and we have a special villian, that sci-fi standard: the evil extrapolation of the hero! Superman has Bizarro, Doctor Who has The Master, Darkwing Duck has Negaduck (yeah, I went there) and Godzilla has Mechagodzilla.

Watching Sony's DVD, great picture quality. We really felt like we were getting great treatment when these were first released, having made do with dubs only for so long. The subs on this DVD are dubtitles, merely the script from the dub used, which usually isn't that bad because the international dubs of these films are straightforward translations of the original dialog, but occasionally they make a mistake and thus the subs make a mistake (the GMK DVD). There is one horrible little mistake that the subtitler made on this DVD: when Hirata mentions the substance that his tech-y pipe is made out of the subtitle reads (of this word begining with "a"): "A???" Obviously he meant to go back and figure out what this word was, but it passed through.

I love this movie. I think Son may be Fukuda's best G film overall, but this one is the most entertaining. It's a fast paced collection of monster scenes, human fights, monster fights, human chases, more monster fights. The plot is outlandish but fairly tight and it zips along wonderfully.

Despite the standard alien invasion plot and Godzilla status as Earth's defender the more straightforward and serious (if outlandish) nature of this one really harkens back to the earlier films. A great one for the anniversary IMO.

[Henry88]

rainbow death beams and the fact that godzilla bleeds a lot near the end of the movie

[G2KMaster]

This is tied with me with Gigan '72 which is the ultimate Showa film under the original. Good explosions, secret agents, Japanese dieties being interpreted as kaiju, and a mechanized kaiju who's movements are based on a form of Japanese dancing, this movie is so friggin cool. It even has blood shots!

[Tyler E. Martin]

One of my all-time favorites. This is definitely a great rebound for the series.

My only real complaints about this one are the visible wires showing up ALL OVER THE PLACE (though I otherwise love the presentation on Sony's DVD) and the unfortunate cutting short of Anguirus' role. I would liked to have seen a little more of him than a brief scene at the beginning and then getting trashed by Mechagodzilla. Poor guy. He's such a scrapper, but he still gets the p!ss knocked out of him. Answer me this: is the implication that he dies or that he retreats to see another day? Oh yeah, and Godzilla's entrance--WTF? :goofy:

Aside from those quibbles, I absolutely love this movie. You'd think the alien invasion plot would have completely run out of steam, but it works just fine here. With all the mythology and INTERPOL stuff going on, not to mention giant monsters, everything stays fresh and exciting. It's great to see Hirata and Koizumi back, and I think Goro Mutsu shines as the alien leader. But my favorite character here is definitely Nanbara. I mean, who can deny that he's just...well, awesome?

Godzilla comes across very well here, looking a little more "serious" both in appearance and body language. Mechagodzilla is an impressive creation and truly menacing. King Seesar's is also very memorable, and even though he spends an awful lot of his time hiding from Mechagodzilla (can't really blame him), I think he works well in the picture.

As I mentioned earlier, the visible wires really bug me, but aside from that the effects are a nice step up in quality. The monsters, miniatures, and especially the explosions are quite nice to behold. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Masaru Sato's fantastic score, which works beautifully in the film and showcases the composer at the top of his game.

One of the very best films in the series, if you ask me.

[Rodanex]

This is one of my favorite G-films. In fact, I think it's the best one since Godzilla vs. Monster Zero, and it's definitely the best of the '70s Godzilla movies.

[Xenorama]

this has become probably my favorite 70s Godzilla movie, wish I had seen it in the theater. with the cool soundtrack and the great action, it would have quickly supplanted Megalon.

reading Famous Monsters article, it gives the impression Ghidrah shows up to defend the city. even then, with the pictures present, we all knew someone messed up writing that.

the visible wires are more apparent on the DVD than they were on TV or even video.

David

[Jim Ballard]

[G2KMaster]

[walshiam]

[Benjamin Haines]

[Jon Leo]

[Legion]

Everyone pretty much covered all the reasons why I love this movie. But it's gotten to the point where, aside from Godzilla Raids Again, there's no Showa movie I don't love.

I think I'm pop this one in tomorrow and watch it again.

[kent]

[jellydonut25]

:drool:


one of the very first Godzilla movies I ever saw (I think it went Sea Monster, Son of, Gigan, maybe king kong, then this...something or other like that) and i was FURIOUS when I first started watching it...

i knew nothing of the plot other than what I gleaned from the cover-art and so I thought that the Godzilla that appears outta mt fuji WAS godzilla

I could not have been angrier about the changing of the beam color and the roar and did not understand at all why he would spark when smashed or why he fought against anguirus (who i'd only seen in Gigan as his friend)...this movie was poised to be my least favorite Godzilla movie thus far...
then it all made sense, and i LOVED (and still love) this movie

the mythology stuff really gives a generally re-hashed plot of past movies a breath of fresh air as a 'deity' kaiju hadnt been used in the Godzilla franchise in a LONG while up to this point

though there's a LOT of stuff that doesn't make sense:
SPACE titanium?
we'll need to use an Earth scientist that knows SPACE technology?

[MekaGojira3k]

[metal_bryan]

[The Dark Uniter]

[TXKaiju]

[jellydonut25]

and now i'm officially caught up on reviews that are WRITTEN and those that are PUBLISHED...

so, my pace may slow down...

[Shonokin]

[kiryugoji04]

[jellydonut25]

[Legion]

[jellydonut25]

[Guardian7]

I originally posted this in an older post. But Legion was kind enough to inform me that there was a more recent one.
In that original posting there were things mentioned in it that have interested me in the past.
Specifically the Azumi prophetess (Beru-Bera Lin-Barbara Lynn) flaming vision that included Ghidorah.
August you said that you read about Anguirus being in Siberia in some official book. Was there anything in that for the reason of Ghidorah's appearance in the Prophetess' vision? I know it is probably moot to ask.

VISION IMAGE--


Anyhow. Was there ever a plan for Ghidorah to possibly appear (since every other alien out there used him... it wouldn't be unlikely for the Simeons to do so as well).

Just an odd thing is all. I figured if the Anguirus thing was answered by you... you'd be the most likely person to have whatever insight (if any) is available about that one micro-scene.

For everyone's enjoyment. Here is a pretty clear image of Anguirus in the Siberian winter-zone scene from GvMG.
A mournful sounding Anguirus in the frozen wastes.


Cya
G7