Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

As a few of us here might know, December 10th is the 10th anniversary of Godzilla vs Space Godzilla, the second to last film in the Heisei series. Falling between Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla and Godzilla vs Destroyah, the film is thought to be one of the weaker films in the Heisei series. However, the film is not without it's fans.

Use this thread to discuss the film, maybe how and when you first saw it and what you think of it. I'll add my comments later.

GvSG isn't my favorite Heisei film, I won't say I hate it since I don't. Like was mentioned earlier, GvSG suffers from poor dubbing more so than the other Heisei films. I think the fact that the whole movie comes across as a bit of a let down, it seems to me that not nearly enough care went into it's production. Take MOGUERA, after seeing MechaGodzilla takedown Godzilla, MOGUERA is a let down. He just doesn't seem nearly powerful enough to face-off with Godzilla much less have any affect on SpaceGodzilla.

The SpaceGodzilla is just plain strange to begin with, you'd think the Toho execs would have chosen a different original monster or at least updated an older one. At the very least they could've have played up the mystery of SG's origins with a sub-plot. Some bit with a mad scietist or aliens, anything would've been preferrable to no backstory at all.

Sometimes I think that the Toho execs were had their eye on the finishline [Godzilla dying in GvDestoroyah and Jr. taking his place] I think they purposely let the the quality of this film suffer, just so they could keep Minya in the public's eye and give him an interim level of growth. Making sure the audience knew that Minya had done a lot of growing since the last film isn't a bad thing, just their apparent focus on it at the detriment of the rest of the film.

All and all I don't find Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla to be a horrible film, there are certainly 1 or 2 Showa films I'd rate [comparing story to story] below GvsSG. I still watch GvSG despite it's flaws. Just remember it could've been worse

I must say, other than Godzilla vs. Biolante, this is the my most watched of the Heisei era and my second favorite. But I wish I knew why. I am not a propponent of the beam wars, and this was beam heavy, and I love Akiras Ifukubes work during the series... but I like Hattoris' work in this movie, the music gave it a very different feel. The only thing I did not like was the infamous battle in the Asteroid Belt, but oh well.

I think what clinches it for me though, is the sight of Spacegodzilla attacking Little Godzilla while it is crawling away and how it was able to stop Godzilla from protecting its' child enough to trap it. I guess I am more in love with the premise more than the film, but Spacegodzilla was just so delightfully evil... not unlike the Showa King Ghidorah.

Umm, hey...where has Cyhunter been since the 5th ofthis month?

Thanks, Trenton. But I am in the process of changing it because it is a bit of a large file for a sig and I don't wanna piss any members here off with its load time... but now I miss it since I can't get my current one to work right... Stupid Fortunecity.

Edit: Forget that, until someone complains... Scarface is here to stay! But to get back on topic....

I also give props to the design of Spacegodzilla as well, but they could have downsized the shoulder crystals. And in my opinion, the Godzilla suit is to me in this film the definitive look for the big G... It was hulking, the eyes were just right and his spines were the best proportioned in his fifty year history (I also liked the increased size of the secondary spines).

I like this movie the more I watch it. It is a different feel and breaks monotomy with the rest of the series. Although I wonder what type of score Ifukube would have composed for this movie had he done it. I like to think that it would have helped make it more enjoyable. the movie has it's strong points:

It ties neatly in with Biollante and Mothra entrys.

It harkens back to the "island adventure" G flicks of the 60's.

Space Godzilla himself is both bizzarre and awesome in design; he's also like a throwback to the wacky opponents of the 70's.

You see the transition of Godzilla's character from fierce nuclear avenger (lol) to paternal hero-monster. Another nod to the Showa years.

While SPFX are a major mixed bag, there are some good shots involving Godzilla's arrival onshore to Bath Island.

The only things I wish were edited or worked on was the MOGERA space confrontation, and Little Godzilla's suit. It kills the overall tone with unitentional silliness.

Oh yeah, the T-project storyline should have been carried out through the movie, instead of being cut to make way for the climactic battle.

That said, the movie seems to lack a bright color pallete in it's kaiju.
Godzilla: dark grey
Mogera: Silver and steel blue
Space Godzilla: muted Navy Blue and muted red.

Little Godzilla gets the exception, but I think this also contributes to what people consider a drab movie.