TALKBACK #20: Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II

[Tyler E. Martin]

[jellydonut25]

[Andrew Nguyen]

For me, everyone pretty much sums up about this movie but I might as well jump in anyway.

In terms of rankings for the Heisei series, this is just below Biolantte.

It mostly has a simple straightforward story and well-done and likeable characters, particularly in comparison to the movie that came before it. Also the idea of the UNGCC and G-Force was also another thing that I liked as well (I can only wonder how this would have turned out if Honda came on and kept this element as it seemed to, IMHO, go well with what he had done in his earlier films).

While I do like the Showa Mecha-Godzilla (in fact combine elments of the two then you probably will have the perfect Mecha-Godzilla design), I had no problem with the Heisei MG's role, liked the designs and liked the idea that they had adopted some of the things that had worked in earlier films (no doubt the experience with Super X-2 helped persuade the idea of MG being coated in artificial diamond). That is more than what I can say for Kiryu.

Also it has one of my personal favorite Godzilla battles in the series (the final battle). Admittedly it does have its faults, particularly with the issue of Rodan. While I kinda really don't like the idea of Baby-Godzilla, I could tolerate his presence in the movie (unlike his next form, Little Godzilla,)

Still this is a well-done movie in the series.

[Rodanex]

[Legion]

I really enjoy this movie. And I think a big part of that revolves when the movie came out and how things were for me in the fandom back then. I definitely think that sometimes all the outside circumstances and experiences revolving around a film can be just as important (if not more important) in shaping how one feels about a movie than the quality of the movie itself.

Although I knew about King Ghidora and Mothra before they were released, Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla was the first new Godzilla movie whose development I was able to follow from conception all the way to release and reaction. I didn't become aware of G-Fan until 1995 but I had discovered the fanzine Kaiju Review a good two years beforehand. Does anyone remember this 'zine? I remember reading articles about the production of the movie and the one issue that stands out strong in my mind was the Spring of '04 issue that that practically revolved around the movie, with reviews of the film and a ton of product overviews. There was even a (reasonably accurate) checklist of all the Bandai figures released up until that time. That was probably my favorite issue of any Godzilla-related fanzine, right up there with the majority of the 1995 issues of G-Fan and the amazing all-Godzilla vs Biollante issue of Japanese Giants.

I remember that 1993/94 was also where my obsession with Godzilla really exploded, and a lot of it revolved around this movie. This was when Bandai toys were coming fast and furious, as well as around the time I was discovering the Japanese versions of the Godzilla movies for the first time. And it was also the first time I was able to put together my own ametuer Godzilla soundtrack using a tapedeck and a VHS copy of the Akira Ifukube Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla scoring session, which I saw months before I got a copy of the movie.

For quite a while afterwards, Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla was my all-time favorite Godzilla. It doesn't have this distinction anymore (as my adult tastes favor the classics) but I still rate it highly among the films made within the last 30 years.

Whataya think sirs?

[zekend01]

[kent]

[Benjamin Haines]

[DannyBeane]

[zekend01]

[Andrew Nguyen]

[kiryugoji04]

[jellydonut25]

[Benjamin Haines]

[zekend01]

[heroforhirerob]

[zekend01]

[heroforhirerob]

[zekend01]

[Benjamin Haines]

[zekend01]

[Benjamin Haines]

[zekend01]

[Benjamin Haines]

[KaiserGhidorah]