Favorite and Least Favorite Godzilla Scores

[kent]

I figured there are a number of threads that deal with the ranking/reviewing of Godzilla movies, so I though I'd startup a thread where we discussed our favorite and least favorite Godzilla film scores. Here are my favorites in no particular order...

Godzilla (98)- If you get the two disc edition that was released a little over a year ago, you will get many more great pieces of music than you did off of the original soundtrack or even the one disc edition of the score! Arnold's themes are just remarkable and I think it works, not just in the film, but as a stand-alone listening experience as well.

Gojira- Great themes and the beginning of some of the most memorable marches in the franchise!

Godzilla Raids Again- A really underrated score. Sato's score is adventuresome and haunting.

Mothra Vs. Godzilla- One of Ifukube's best! A lot of the themes and marches were updated here and the score is even fantastic to listen to outside of the film!

Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero- One of my personal favorites as it seems to have more march themes than many of the other scores. My favorite has to be the Giant Monster March theme. Absolutely terrific!

Godzilla Vs. The Sea Monster- The score seems to be a bit out of context for the movie, but it's fun as hell to listen to!

Son of Godzilla- The main theme of the movie is memorable and pretty cutsie, but it doesn't seem to be overly done. Many of the other tracks are fun and fit the film really well.

Godzilla Vs. Gigan- Granted, it's recycled music from Ifukube's other Godzilla/sci-fi films, but it works and the tunes are phenomenal! It could almost be considered a volume of Ifukube's best scores.

Terror of Mechagodzilla- Ifukube's take on the Showa Mechagodzilla is a hit. The downside to this score, however, is some themes are repeated to a point where you feel like wanting to hit the next track button.

Godzilla 1985- Just a phenomenal haunting score! Problem here is that it doesn't tend to work as well as some of the other scores as stand-alone music.

Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla II- I consider this to be Ifukube's second-best score as the themes and marches are rousing and powerful! This is one score I can listen to over and over again without feeling tired of it!

Godzilla Vs. Destoroyah- This is, in my opinion, Ifukube's best score! Like Mechagodzilla II, the music is rather rousing and powerful. Let's not forget Requiem also! One of the most beautiful pieces of orchestral music I've heard ever! Brings tears to my eyes every time.

Godzilla 2000- Hattori's score in this film is ten times better than what it was in Spacegodzilla! The themes and marches fit well in the movie and are even entertaining outside of the film! One of my personal favorites!

GMK- Kow Otani's score is fun and fits well with the movie. However, when compared to his Gamera trilogy scores, I think this is his weakest outing. Still entertaining.

Godzilla Tokyo S.O.S- My favorite score by Ooshima. Her score to Megaguirus was just off-beat for what that film needed and she really improved with GMG. However, this is her personal best, in my opinion.

Least favorites in no particular order...

King Kong Vs. Godzilla- Besides the Faro Island theme, to me, there's absolutely nothing memorable about this score.

Destroy All Monsters- Don't get me wrong, the marches and themes are great; the problem I have with this score is the constant repetition of the main theme in various forms. I've only listened to this score once and found myself consistently wanting to push the next track button.

Godzilla's Revenge- It's interesting but just too wacky. It doesn't seem to fit as Godzilla music.

Godzilla Vs. Hedorah- The birth of the infamous 70s Godzilla theme. This theme is one that always sticks in my head and I always find a way to get rid of it. It has a slight charm to it but easily one of the worst. The only good thing about this score is "Save the Earth."

Godzilla Vs. Megalon- Pretty much the same reasons as Hedorah except there isn't even one good track on here.

Godzilla Vs. Biollante- The score seems to be too much of a spy movie-like score. Except one particular theme in the movie, I don't see this as fitting as a Godzilla score.

Godzilla Vs. Spacegodzilla- It's a decent score, but, like Destroy All Monsters, it suffers from severe repetition of several themes.

[Legion]

I'm currently suffering from a birthday drinking binge and I promise I'll add more to this post tomorrow, but here are my favorite and least favorite Godzilla scores:

Favorite:
Mothra vs Godzilla
Monster Zero
Son of Godzilla
Destroy all Monsters
Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla

Least Favorite:
Godzilla Raids Again
Godzilla 2000 (way to regress, Hattori)
Godzilla: Final Wars

[MekaGojira3k]

Favorite
Godzilla 1984
Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla 73'

Least Favorite
Godzilla: Final Wars

[Irish Gfan]

[McGodzilla]

[G2KMaster]

[jellydonut25]

Favorites:
Gojira - pure classic.
Mothra vs. Godzilla - possibly my favorite
Son of Godzilla - I think it works REALLY well
Godzilla's Revenge - eclectic
Godzilla vs. Gigan - powerful, one of the things that makes me wonder 'what if this film was done with a REAL budget...'
Godzilla vs. Biollante - I might be one of the few, but I do really like it
Honorable Mentions to: Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (return of the 'godzilla theme') Godzilla vs. Megaguirus, GMK and GxMG

Least Favorites:
King Kong vs. Godzilla - again, other than Faro Island, this is unmemorable
Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster - doesn't work for me AT ALL
Destroy All Monsters - overly repetitious
Godzilla vs. Megalon - laughably bad
Godzilla 2000 - among other parts of the movie, this is one of the things that causes me to actually (astonishingly) enjoy the American version far more than the Japanese version

[MekaGojira3k]

[heroforhirerob]

[Destroysall]

[Benjamin Haines]

[zekend01]

According to series:

Favorite= vs Mothra '64, vs. Mechagodzilla '93, GMK

NOT so good= vs. Kong, vs. Space Godzilla, 2000

Honorable mentions= War of the Gargantuas,

AND for the diehards:

Godzilla: Sound EFX / BGM on Japanese Film, BABY!! I freakin LOVE this sound effects compilation!! DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, get this if you haven't already!!

[Gojiraknight]

[Destroysall]

[The Dark Uniter]