TALKBACK #20: Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II

[jellydonut25]

Thanks to those Best of Godzilla soundtrack things, I sorta fell in love with this movie before I ever even saw it.


Then...I saw it.

UGH. The story is pathetic, the characters are bland, and two of the three monsters look and are executed the worst here of any of their appearances. Puppet Rodan is terrible and this is the worst Mechagodzilla by leaps and bounds.

The animatronic Godzilla face is pretty great, and the score is awesome, but besides that, this movie is a big fat pile of stank. The inclusion of Miki is ridiculous, Aoki is a terrible character, magic singing moss, pteranodon motorcycle flying machine....UGH. This movie can suck on my fist, cuz that's what I want to deliver to it. Right to its FACE.

And my LORD could they try to cram any more ham-fisted messages and "heartfelt" scenes into the final five minutes of the movie. I mean, you instantly lose me when you show a baby dinosaur crying a lone tear of sorrow, and then you go on to get worse from there!?!?!

Honestly, I'll take Spacegodzilla over this.

[Gman2887]

[jellydonut25]

[eabaker]

I really like the Heisei MG design, honestly. I mean, it doesn't hold a candle to the Showa design, which is one of my all-time favorite Godzilla opponents, but it manages relatively nice lines despite its overall bulk, and I certainly much prefer it to the graceless, busy eyesore that is Kiryu.

[jellydonut25]

[eabaker]

[jellydonut25]

[MekaGojira3k]

I don't really find the Kiryu films or this film necessarily charming.
Though I do dig the concept behind the Kiryu films a lot more.

[william newell]

The first time I got to see this was at the second AFFE convention when they had a special screening at a local theater and I had a blast! I was so happy when Sony announced that they were going to release it on DVD. Then along came the release and I hurried home and popped it into the player and all I could think was, "What the hell happened?" Some of the worst English acting ever. In fact, so much of this movie is in (really bad) English, I was wondering why they even bothered to subtitle it. To be honest, though, this was a common problem with Toho's films from that era. Just look at the Gajin performances from "Returner"...so sad. And Rodan...worst incarnation of the character, ever,imo. One of Kawakita's main flaws was in representing flying monsters (which he insisted on placing in every one of his G films after Biollante, for some reason)and the lifelessly static puppet used here is ALMOST as bad as Space G's. And then there's Mecha-Godzilla. I actually liked the design for this when I first ran across the model kits for it, especially when the Garuda was attached, but then I heard someone refer to it as "Mecha-Barney" and I thought, "My god, they're right! That's exactly what he looks like!" Now I can't get that image out of my head. I do have to give them props for baby G, though. Probably one of the most life-like puppets from that era, to my eye. All in all, it's not the worst of the Heisei films (this one seemed to have some interesting story ideas, they were just executed poorly,imo), but, then again, I'm not that enamored with any of them (the Heisei films) as there seemed to be no "heart" involved, they seemed to be more interested in just cranking them out so that Bandai would be able to release more toys that Christmas. Just my thoughts, for what they're worth...

[kiryugoji04]

So I've been posting some stills from my latest short that we've been shooting . It's a drama so there's no tokusatsu/kaiju stuff in it but we did manage to sneak this in:



Thought you guys might appreciate it. XD

[MouthForWar]

[jellydonut25]

I basically rag on this film from the word "go" but I had a lot of fun.

[MekaGojira3k]

The tank argument is valid as hell.
*fistbumps Jelly*

Mostly because we're (me/Jelly/whoever else complains about this) looking at the internal logic of the Heisei series as established back in 84/89.
Also, at least the Showa and Millennium MechaGodzillas could tussle with Godzilla...this one...doesn't....not really. It mostly stands and fires beams.
A MechaGodzilla IS an awesome idea, and it IS awesome...when executed correctly (see GvsMG and GXMG etc)

[jellydonut25]

I watched the older MG movies recently (I need to get on updating the talkbacks with my thoughts) and the tank argument seemed even MORE valid. The original MG could fight hand-to-hand, AND it was basically portrayed as a cyborg from the beginning. It even has that intercom where the villains give it commands and it interprets how to carry out those commands on its own.

It's basically terminator before there was terminator.

And then obviously the Millenium MG is a cyborg, and is at least partially a creature unto itself.

The Heisei MG really is just a big hunk of metal that may as well be a giant platform with weapons on it for all the personality it has.

[Shin_Edda_Robo!!!!!]

Heisei MG for all intents and purposes is a Super Robot with the personality of a Gundam (that is to say NO personality. Just a machine). They doomed themselves from the start.

Can't have it both ways unless you're deconstructing it.

[MekaGojira3k]

I dunno, most Gundams elicit more personality than the Heisei MechaG did. To me anyway. I never hold it against the film though, I just hold it against the MechaGodzilla when comparing it to other MechaGodzillas.

[Shin_Edda_Robo!!!!!]

[davezilla]

Gosh, a variety of opinions on this film. I sat down and watched this film tonight for the first time in a long time. I like it but I don't love. I certainly think it is a stronger film than the two it is sandwiched between and it has a few nice things going for it. I like:

--Baby Godzilla. Now if your going to do a mini baby Godzilla and want it a little cute but not stupid/gross look like Minya than this is it. It's cute I felt bad when it felt frightened, it struck all the right cords. A nice design.

--The battle between Godzilla and Rodan. Very nice. I felt really bad for Rodan when Godzilla was strangling it. Although it seemed kind of a rushed plot point that they decide to go to that island. This wasn't explored enough in my opinion. Still the battle was nice.

--The effects. Overall I thought they effects in this film were MUCH better than GvsM. Not perfect but they kept the bad matte shots to a minimum and the final battle was certainly well handled. I can even tolerate the beam wars.

Now for a few of the bad parts:

--Rodan. I love the original Rodan. I love the character. I don't like Fire Rodan. He's tiny...I guess he's supposed to still be a youngster but I just can't stand it basically being cannon fodder and getting slaughtered with MG. And then sacrificing itself to revive Godzilla...I'm not sure that's even logical but ok. Some shots are just ok, but a lot look really bad featuring Rodan.

--MG. I hate this MG. I really do! It looks cheesy. The stub of a tail, yuck. The almost cheesy grin and it being all super shiny silver. Yuck. And I hate the crew piloting it with their really bad English. Just speak Japanese all the time. Why oh why did they have to do that. When it gets beaten I am happy.

--The human characters, I don't really care for this cast that much and I couldn't connect with the guy obsessed with Garuda and then the scientist chick. And the others are just bloodthirsty. KILL HIM!!!!!! Hmmm. He stops KG 2 movies back, then you do a 180 and all are like lets build a mech and KILL HIM!!!! I think the script just tried too much again. Was that a Heisei series reoccurring theme?

So overall not my favorite Heisei film but still good. I felt some of the direction was tighter but the script wasn't so great. I give it a 6 out of 10.

[Rodanex]

[angilas]

[Benjamin Haines]

[angilas]

[king_ghidorah]

I like Derp-Rodan....that is all.

[angilas]

[Hybrid Gojira]

I watched this tonight for the first time in a long time. There are some things I like about it, but most of it is mixed. Kawakita did a fine job adding some physical brawls in this movie. Godzilla and Rodan's first battle is very well done probably the best fight in the film. I also hate the Rodan design - the prop is poorly executed and can't touch any of the Showa Rodans. This is also my least favorite MechaGodzilla - he's kind of dull despite having some cool attacks. The new Godzilla suit is mostly the same, but the reduced spike size from the previous suits kinda bugs me. I think it takes away from the power of the Heisei look. Ikfukube's score, though it has many recycled themes, is awesome. The MG theme absolutely rocks.

The story concept is fine, but the magical fern music is kinda irritating and the flying Pteranodon drone is really stupid. Some of the matte shots are pretty solid; some are downright awful. There are few characters in the movie that are truly interesting, and honestly I have always HATED the idea of Godzilla having offspring. Minya is lame (despite Son of Godzilla being a great film) and I feel the same way here about Baby G. I like Godzilla being a one-of-a-kind monster.

Meh. I guess I'm indifferent towards the film. I like some parts and truly dislike others.