TALKBACK #15: Terror of Mechagodzilla

[eabaker]

[lhb412]

[Shin_Edda_Robo!!!!!]

[MekaGojira3k]

I kind of loathe the Heisei MechaGodzilla. Kiryu is my favorite MechaG design, but it's pretty close with Showa. Heisei MechaGodzilla and his film are pretty bottom of the barrel.

[Shin_Edda_Robo!!!!!]

[Gman2887]

^I think that was the point of Heisei MG though. It was supposed to be lifeless. It wasn't a character it was a tool. The life vs. lifelessness thing was rammed down our throats in typical post-70s Godzilla fashion, but it was already doing a visually great job with it by showing a MechaGodzilla that wasn't evil or made from Godzilla's DNA-- It was a really expensive tank. I understand it doesn't really make for very interesting confrontations, but it was the MechaGodzilla they were going for at the time and it worked well in that particular movie.

[eabaker]

[Shin_Edda_Robo!!!!!]

[eabaker]

[Giganfan]

Working from a script that he co-authored, Fukuda must have felt he needed to beef up the story a little more, which would account for the long mid-section of human drama between the special effects sequences. By the time Mechagodzilla and King Seesar begin to fight, I'll admit even I start to fidget in my seat. On the whole though, I've always felt Godzilla vs. The Cosmic Monster was a pretty solid and enjoyable movie. What it boils down to for me is how much I'm entertained by the good stuff in it that enables me to over-look it's short-comings (Masaki Daimon is an extremely dull leading man, possessing none of the charisma of Akira Takarada, nor the genuine likeability of Yosuki Natsuki).

[MekaGojira3k]

I don't find either MechaGodzilla boring, but I certainly can't experience anything remotely close to boredom watching the 74' film.

[Giganfan]

[lhb412]

I love Godzilla's '60s theme from Ifukube ('Godzilla Horror Theme' I believe it's called?), but I can't deny the simple brilliance of the Gojira military march Ifukube refashions into Godzilla's personal theme here. I think both themes work in getting across different aspects of Godzilla's personality. The 'horror' theme gets across the sheer power of the monster, while the march symbolizes Godzilla's unstoppable approach.

[Russzilla]

[jellydonut25]

[Russzilla]

[MekaGojira3k]

I mean, I saw the suits and stuff some time around 96 or so. Even then it didn't do much for me, although the MG in the advanced artwork poster looked AWESOME.

Even as a kid back in 98' when I first watched the film it was just sort of there.

[Russzilla]

[jellydonut25]

Everyone wishes anything about the Heisei series was as good as the posters.

[Psycho Soldier]

[The Real McCoy]

I loved that poster when I first saw it; as a matter of fact I even bought one from the store back then. I remember thinking that Rodan looked kind of weird, but Mechagodzilla looked so awesome.

Then I saw the movie and died a little bit inside...

[Russzilla]

Quick question about TOMG. Remember the part where Godzilla got buried underground, burst back out, then proceeded to make his way towards MG while MG was blasting everything he had at him? At one point, the back of the Godzilla suit caught on fire. I'm sure this was unintentional, right? But was left in because it looked great on film during that scene. Is there a quick read about it anywhere?

[jellydonut25]

not sure if i know where to read about it, but it was unintentional, just like the suit catching fire in Mothra vs. Godzilla.

[Goji 84]

I've never read anything that suggests it was "intentional". Most likely they were both accidents, and were both used in the film because they looked cool; plain and simple.

[Silver Kamen]

Pretty sure that was an on-site accident, that was so cool they had to include it in the final film. Much like in Mothra vs. Godzilla.