Heisei Overall

[Legion]

[Legion]

[Legion]

[DaveZ]

[Godzilla90s2000]

[BrianBuck]

Well now that the Heisei series has had a chance to age a little, it seems like a good time to look back and put things in perspective.
Overall, the entire series holds together remarkably well. Each film leads into the next with a better flow of continuity then the Showa era had.

Some capsule reviews(of the Japanese versions), in decending order from best to worst:

1. Godzilla vs King Ghidorah. One of my all time favorite G films. This one's got it all, UFOs, time travel, ray guns, giant monsters, cyborgs, androids; everything a sci-fi fan could want. The monster fights are awesome, Godzilla is at his badass best, and MechaGhidorah is icing on the cake. Marred only by some time travel plot problems that aren't bothersome if you don't think too hard.

2.Godzilla (1984). This one holds a special place in my heart, since the American version was the first G film I ever saw on the big screen. The pseudo-documentary atmosphere of this film echoes the '54 original. It's one of the most believeable of G films, giving you the impression that you're there in Tokyo while it's all going on. No opponent monster needed, just the big G in all his undiluted glory. I can't think of anymajor problems this film had. The only minor one was the cheesy, wooden cybot G used for closeups.

3. Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla. A straighforward plot, likable characters and great monster battles. The UN Mechagodzilla is an awesome sight to behold. I even liked the Garuda warship. It's a nice progression from the Super X2. This one's major mistake is the addition of baby Godzilla. I've always felt that Godzilla works best when he's unique.

4. Godzilla vs Biollante. A great sequel to G84. Arguably Kawakitas' best effects work. The Super X2 is cool, Godzilla's redesign is spectacular, and Biollante remains one of the best rendered foes Godzilla has ever faced. It's final form is awe inspiring and horrific. An overly complex plot and poorly drawn out characters mar this otherwise fine film

5. Godzilla vs Destroyer. Notable for Godzilla's death. This one has another straighforward plot, exceptional in that it directly referrs to the events of the 54 original. I loved seeing the original Emiko return after 40 years. Godzilla junior matures into a respectable combatant and Satsuma gives the best in-suit performance of his career. While Destroyers' final stage is a letdown, the overall design motif for the creature is excellent. The flying form of Destroyer is clearly the best and most undersued. It should've been the final form. And can anyone forget Godzilla's death scene? The problems here are a few disgracefully poor effects shots and the fact that the military, not G, gets to finish off Destroyer.

6.Godzilla vs Spacegodzilla I've always felt that this film was unfairly maligned. Too many fans focus on it's flaws while ignoring all the good stuff in here. That's probably because it's immediate predecessor(Gvs MG) was such a good movie. Godzilla vs Spacegodzilla is loads of fun, inspite of it's mistakes. Yeah, the Mogera vs Spacegodzilla asteroid fight was awful to watch, and little Godzilla looked like a sick and twisted cross between Michael Moore and an iguana, but the last half of the movie is a kick ass three-way-dance battle. I loved how the film hints at Spacegodzilla being the final form of Biollante, and it's design is delightfully outlandish. It's kind of what you'd expect of a mutated genetically altered lifeform further mutated by cosmic radiation. As goofy as Mogera looked, even it has a few moments to shine. And this one also sports one of the best Godzilla costume designs ever.

7.Godzilla vs Mothra The only Heisei film I genuinely dislike. It's message is pure eco-propaganda and the characters are cardboard stereotypes. Only the monster fights make this one watchable. The new G suit disappoints as well. I gotta admit though, Battra looks awesome in both stages, and is one of the creature design highlights of the entire Heisei era.

[Giganfan]

[anguirus23]

[Andrew Nguyen]

While the origin is different, the same-three headed space demon is there as always with Ifukube's cresendoes in the background (still remembers fondly the entrence scene in Fukuoka).

[BrianBuck]

[lhb412]

[lhb412]

[Stadawim]

Not to disrespect the Showa series since they started it all, but i feel the Heisei series is the best because they got alot of the stuff i liked about the entire series straight. Godzilla looked, sounded and acted his best. His roars/growls sounded genuine while still playing off his original voice. Plus they not only "dubbed" better but they also had more depth, portraying hurts and victories and questions. The suit was almost exactly the same throughout and that was fine by me, it's his best look. Spines were right, face was lean and mean, tail was longer (almost to a fault). Even 85's suit had the right look. But then, after going through the doofy looking Showa suits (save the B/W's) ANYthing might've been better. And to top it all off, he was back to what he was brought about to be - a deadly, marauding act of nature that no man could stop or control.

Not that it matters, but my order of Heisei:

G85 (9.5/10)
vMG2 (9/10)
vKGG (8.5/10)
vDES (7.5/10)
vBIO (7.5/10) edged out by vDES
vSPG (4/10)
&MOT (2.5/10)

[Gfan54]

Of the 3 different series, I'd have to say that, overall, the Hesei is my least favorite. Then again, I'm also one of the fans who LOVES the Showa series with a passion for most of the same reasons some fans prefer the Heisei series. I liked the "far out" storylines, "bad" dubbing, etc. that comes with the Showa series, for the most part, it didn't take itself seriously and that's what I love about those movies! While the Heisei series has a few bright spots ("MechaG 2", "1985", "Biollante" and "Mothra" all were pretty decent films, but still far from being included in my top 10 G movie list), I'd have to say that the Showa is far better. As for the Millennium series, I think it has enough elements from both of the first 2 series to appeal both to those fans who prefer the Showa series and those who prefer the Heisei series...it had its share of "wacky" moments but still had its share of serious ones as well, and I simply can't wait to see "Final Wars"

[lhb412]

[Andrew Nguyen]

[Gfan54]

[Benjamin Haines]

The Return of Godzilla - 4.5 out of 5 stars
Godzilla vs. Biollante - 4.5 out of 5 stars
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah - 3.5 out of 5 stars
Godzilla vs. Mothra - 1.5 out of 5 stars
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II - 2.5 out of 5 stars
Godzilla vs. Spacegodzilla - 0.5 out of 5 stars
Godzilla vs. Destroyer - 3.5 out of 5 stars

[Gfan54]

My ratings, out of 4 *s:

Godzilla 1985 **1/2
Godzilla Vs. Biollante **1/2
Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah **
Godzilla & Mothra: The Battle for Earth **1/2
Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla II ***
Godzilla Vs. Spacegodzilla *1/2
Godzilla Vs. Destoroyah **

Overall, I think the Heisei series was OK but it could've been much better. I feel that the series often took itself too seriously and, thus, often came across as being rather dull...even the better films in this series had this problem. I much prefer (ESPECIALLY!) the original Showa series and even (to a somewhat lesser extent) the Millennium series to the Hesei one.