Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

Posted: **Thu May 13, 2004 10:05 pm**

Well, here's my review of the dubbed version...

Godzilla vs. Mothra (Heisei series, Dubbed version)

The last time I watched this movie, about a year ago, I can remember agreeing with all the people that hate it.

But something's happened to me since then. Despite having been watching Godzilla films basically since birth, I have only very recently come to grips with something...

I am a Mothra fan.

What can I say? I dig massive beautiful kaiju with little twin miniature Japanese girls that sing pretty ballads. It's weird and different enough to appeal to me.

With that in mind I went back and rewatched this movie yesterday, and to my surprise, I enjoyed the heck out of it. Oh sure, there are way, way too many strings in shot to be acceptable... and Godzilla basically makes a cameo in the picture... and the character's aren't so hot... But with those criticisms aside, I think this film is a real gem in the Heisei series.

The effects work throughout is, for the most part, top notch, with some wonderful bluescreen work that puts similar shots in later Heisei movies to shame. Literally every seen of destruction and kaiju combat in this movie is a joy to behold, with the only real problem being those damned strings supporting the flying forms of Battra and Mothra. Although they weren't as constantly visible as I remembered them being they are still horrendously distracting, and succeed in pulling you out of the movie on numerous occassions.

Highlights of the effects sequences include the Mothra Larva ocean battle with it's impressive sprays of missiles, and awesome explosion as Mothra just plows right through the command ship.

In fact, the kaiju fights with the military almost steal the show from the kaiju on kaiju fights in this movie, as Godzilla vs. the Maser squad is also a standout sequence. I especially enjoyed the very cool maser-copters added in this film.

Character-wise, we have a big "meh". I never really felt any connection to anyone in this film at all. I found them all likable enough, but for the most part everyone just seems to stand around reacting to everything instead of actually accomplishing anything useful.

And, as usual for a Heisei movie, the dubbing takes a great deal away from what is there, character-wise.

And, again, if you are not a Mothra fan, STAY AWAY! The movie is probably about 80% a Mothra movie, and 20% a Godzilla movie. Personally, I expected it going in and was fine with that. If you're not a Mothra fan then chances are you won't be, and I would suggest avoiding the film (although Godzilla is really cool when he does appear) altogether.

I've got to say this is also possibly my all-time favorite Ifukube score. Wonderful the entire way through and filled with marches that get your blood-pumping and awesome destruction sequences made haunting and surreal by the Mothra ballads playing in the background.

With an interesting plot, some spectacular effects, and possibly the best Godzilla score ever, Godzilla vs. Mothra is one of the most underappreciated Godzilla films ever, and deserves much more praise then it recieves. What it all comes down to is that even with those damn strings and the lacking character development, this film still comes across as one of the most polished films of the entire Heisei series.

Final Score: ***1/2 out of *****

P.S. - I want to add that it does really suck that Toho didn't give Battra it's own roar. That's just pure laziness on the part of the filmmakers, right there.

Posted: **Sat May 15, 2004 11:16 am**

Posted: **Sat May 15, 2004 11:37 am**

Posted: **Sun May 16, 2004 4:47 am**

Godzilla vs. Mothra has some very effective and colorful visuals. Godzilla coming out of the volcano, after being detected on a thermograph, is simply spectacular. The underwater fight with Battra is another visually striking scene. Mothra's emergence from the cocoon against Ifukube's Mothra theme is almost landmark. The sea battle between Godzilla, the Mothra larva and Battra would have been better at night, or at least in the early evening. It just doesn't look that convincing in terms of scale and life-like texture (in terms of the kaiju, especially Godzilla) in the unforgiving light of day. Perhaps that is one reason why the underwater battle works as well as it does. The sight of Mothra on the tarmack at the airfield convinces; she looks huge, just the way a real monster would. I liked Battra's rampages in Nagoya and the shots of Mothra swimming with the setting sun in the background. Speaking of Battra, its transformation into its flying form is one of the highlights of the Heisei Godzilla films.

As for the human characters/story, the film is a little heavy handed with its environment centered theme; it's kind of preachy, especially the female lead, Masako Tezuka, played by Satomi Kobayashi. But like the film itself, she has her moments. There's a scene where she's shown looking at her estranged husband, the almost child-like Takuya Fujita (played very well by Tetsuya Bessho), as he is reading a letter from their daughter, Midori (Shiori Yonezawa). That she still has feelings for him comes across very naturally, as her face glows in the light of the camp fire. You sense that she is able to put aside her anger and exasperation, even if only occasionally, or for a few moments at a time.

So I guess there's a story of development of sorts. In fact, it's alluded to in the scene at the cafe in the Phillipines, you know the line about people having to come out of their eggs, or something like that. I thought the chemistry between Kobayashi (Masako) and Bessho (Takuya) was great. They really came across as a former married couple with more than a child between them.

Another SFX note: the Mothra prop is much too 'fluffy' and toy-like. I like the Bato-Goji suit and loved the three-way battle in Yokohama at the end. Battra and Mothra 'talking' to each other was bit much, as well as the cheering of them on done by Masako, Takuya and Midori. And another thing: are there cameras all over Japan, allowing people, especially government officals, to observe everything all over the country?

Other SFX highlights: Godzilla's march with the railroad tracks in the foreground and his walking through a building. It does look like they got the camera speed wrong as he walks a little too fast to the final confrontation at the docks, but, I kind of liked it, as if he can't wait to get to the fight. There are times when the suits and props look a little too plastic (e.g., the ocean battle scene). I can remember wishing after seeing Gamera, Guardian of the Universe, that the suits/props in GvsM had the texture used for the kaiju in Kaneko's first giant monster movie.

So, I find Godzilla vs. Mothra to be pretty entertaining. I would have liked to have seen some things done differently and more attention given to how the suits/props look, especially during daylight scenes.

Also, Ifukube's Mothra theme, as the full ending credits roll, is simply beautiful.

Posted: **Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:48 pm**

Well,jamaal7 has pretty much summed up muy feelings about this movie.It's one on my fav Heisea,partially because it's such a visual feast.Compare the colourful look to this film to the soemwhat drab,more muted look of Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla and you'll see what I mean.I actually like the cuddly,fluffy Mothra,and the scene where he hatches form the cocoon is almost beautiful,accompanied by that lovely music-here,the Heisei series achieves a sense of wonder that it never reached again,unlike the Showa series,and Battra is terrific.You can't get away from the fact that Godzilla is pretty unnecessary to the story,of course!

Posted: **Tue Jul 06, 2004 4:37 pm**

Posted: **Thu Sep 23, 2004 10:44 pm**

It's an okay movie but doesn't measure up to some of the earlier and later ones in my opinion, especially considering what film timeline it belonged in and what that film timeline stressed.

Posted: **Sun Dec 05, 2004 7:51 am**

I very much enjoyed this film...If I was to say one thing I didn't like about it was that annoying little girl.
When Larva Mothra arrives and starts to spinning the coccoon and playing that music, it's almost spiritual, very moving and beautiful.
Also, the "Indiana Jones" bit in the beginning was soo cool !!!!!

Posted: **Mon Dec 06, 2004 11:35 am**

Posted: **Mon Dec 06, 2004 2:01 pm**

Posted: **Mon Dec 06, 2004 9:08 pm**

Posted: **Mon Dec 06, 2004 9:59 pm**

Posted: **Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:03 pm**

You mean the girls in Godzilla vs Mothra? They where really excellent too! By far the most talented of the The Peanuts replacements!

By the way their is a current hit band called TWINS (The do a cover of The Peanuts' KOI NO BAKANSU) made up of two girls who are not even related but are dead ringers of another.... given the Shobijin's tiny role in GFW they REALLY should have got them to do a cameo as them!

Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

What's Good about Godzilla vs. Mothra?

What's Good about Godzilla vs. Mothra?