TALKBACK #26: Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla

[lhb412]

I've seen this movie only twice before: I got a bootleg tape the Christmas after its release and a few months later Sony released the DVD and I saw it again, so in Godzilla terms this one still feels a bit new to me.

This was a very interesting rewatch to me because I ended up wrestling with just what the heck my reactions were to it. On two levels there is a significant improvement with this film: 1) the effects are consistant and occasionally pretty darn cool (aside from a few horrible shots of the monsters defying the laws of physics in the final battle - which is only bad because it doesn't jive with the pseudo-realistic tone the movie has) and 2) the story is kept pretty simple, thus steering away from huge plot holes and other defects that have plagued the more recent films - an effect of a story written by commitee.

But though these are improvements the movie itself doesn't bring anything new and fresh to the table. It feels more like a retread than any Godzilla film made before. It's Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2 with bits of Godzilla vs. Megaguirus in it!

I do like the Godzilla design, though. Taking the Millennium design and making him look more "normal" (in Godzilla terms).

Oh, and do people still call this the "Kiryu Saga?" Does that mean its Icelandic? (little Mighty Boosh reference there)

[Shonokin]

I don't mind any of the Tezuka films. But especially the "Kiryu Saga" I feel is just there. I liken it to Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Though Crystal Skull is not a completely horrible film, it brings nothing new or interesting to the table and really gives the impression there's no real reason for it to exist outside of the fact that they wanted to make more movies in the franchise. As such it just seems like more of the same, and from a fairly inexperienced director who feels more suited to making "made for tv" movies and shows.

I can watch this and Tokyo SOS and be entertained, but not moved or excited in the slightest.

On a positive note, I didn't see this on the big screen but did see Tokyo SOS in a really great movie palace with a large screen. The amount of miniature set detailing you can see at that size is pretty impressive. It really shows that it pays to see movies like this in a theater because even with HD and bluray, I don't know if you catch all the craftsmanship that goes into the sets.

[william newell]

My only complaint with this film(and Tokyo SOS)is the lack of a clear-cut villian. Godzilla's not really the bad guy, neither is Kiryu, so the audience is left without anyone to root for. How much more satisfying it would have been if this movie mainly dealt with Kiryu's rampage and the inability of anyone short of Godzilla to stop it. This is the reason why, story-wise, I prefer Godzilla X Megaguirus of all of Tezuka's G films.

[Xenorama]

I recently watched this again and thought it was pretty fun. not too long, either.

David

[MouthForWar]

[lhb412]

[TerranigmaFreak]

It's ok, nothing spectacular. The effects are good, but the best scene was the plane trying to dodge the missiles launched by Kiryu. That scene was spectacular.

[Legion]

I don't mind this movie. I like the Godzilla suit (although yes, Godzilla is pretty stiff and uninteresting in this one), Mechagodzilla looks awesome and is probably my favorite thing about the Millennium series (yes, I said it), I LOVE Michiru Oshima's score and at only an hour and a half the movie moves fast enough to not be a freakin' bore.

That said, when I want to watch a Millennium Mechagodzilla film I'll go with the sequel. The effects are better, Godzilla and Mechagodzilla both look even better, I prefer the score, it's got the best Mothra since Tsuburaya's original and the ending is actually pretty good.

So...yeah.

[KaiserGhidorah]

[MekaGojira3k]

GxMG is fairly enjoyable. Most of my enjoyment comes from how MechaGodzilla has been redone. There's a lot that made me think I'd really like this film, and in the end I just found it to be mediocre. I think a lot of it has to do with how awesome Kiryu is, and how terrible Godzilla was. He just stands there.

Thankfully most of what I found wrong with this film was all remedied in Tokyo S.O.S., but this is about GxMG. Not the best film, but not the worst in this series.

[zekend01]

[jellydonut25]

[Rodanex]

[heroforhirerob]

[MouthForWar]

[jellydonut25]

[Rodanex]

[Tyler E. Martin]

[Legion]

[metal_bryan]

[Andrew Nguyen]

[MekaGojira3k]

[kent]

[Nexus]

I did not really like this one all to much I thought it was kinda boring. Godzilla I felt was just kinda there the whole moive he had no soul behinde his proformence. I thinks its kinda sad there is some much you could have done with that plot and it jusr feel short for me.

[Legion]