Most Under-Rated Godzilla Films?

[Jorzilla]

It's probably easier for some people to point out Godzilla films that are over-rated. I want to flip that question: What are some Godzilla movies that you think are overly panned by fans/critics, but you actually enjoy quite a bit? If you need some inspiration check our the RANK threads since that should give you an idea over what's the consensus on the better films.

Here's my list:

[*]Godzilla 2000- This is a highly entertaining film. I really enjoy the characters, and the conflict between the main protagonist and his college rivals. There's actual characterization in the film compared to Tezuka's Millennium films. The fights are extremely satisfying, and were a nice change of pace compared to the relatively vanilla Heisei beam-fest. When I first saw this film, it was in US theaters so it was taken as Satire or a joke. However, now that it's not competing with cutting edge films of today, I think the effects are mostly passable and have aged quite well. Sure there are some head scratching moment, especially with the dub, but I really enjoy this film.

[*]Godzilla vs. Hedorah- This is the closest thing to a post-modern Godzilla film. I like what Banno tried to do the Godzilla. It's different. It reminds me of a Tarantino film where you can't tell if a part is supposed to be serious or tongue-in-cheek. I enjoy the cartoons, while a lot of people seem to think they are pointless. I'd also say that while this movie has a HEAVY handed moral, it works as a period piece, especially if you know about the pollution problems plaguing Japan at the time. Plus its one of the few Godzilla films to kill MAIN CHARACTERS on screen. How non-Godzilla is that?! In terms of reflecting the times it was made in, the only film that surpasses it is Godzilla 1954, and that's quite the achievement.

[*]Godzilla's Revenge- I don't really like this film, but I still think its underrated. This film fails as a Godzilla film (e.g. talking Minilla), but as a coming of age story, a kid movie geared towards young Godzilla fans it works really well. Also, the Japanese version makes the subplot of the rise in Japanese youth violence and the fracturing of the traditional Japanese family structure more obvious. That is to say, Ichiro learns to stick up for himself and become more adult-like since his Mom and Dad are never around, but this also means he's attracted to a life of hooliganism.

What I predict to see in this thread beyond my own responses:
[*] Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster
[*] Son of Godzilla
[*] Godzilla vs. Gigan
[*] Godzilla vs. Megalon
[*] Godzilla Final Wars (I honestly can't tell if the consensus is that this film is good or bad. I honestly hate it, but I'm not sure if enough people hate it to cal the movie under-rated.)

[MekaGojira3k]

Showa Era - All Monsters Attack
I think people sometimes just don't get it. It's not a typical Godzilla film and I find Honda's concept to be pretty great even if I don't think the execution is all that swell.

Heisei Era - Um. None of them. I fee like typically these get wayyy too much praise. If I had to pick I'd say 1984. I mean, to me, it feels like it doesn't come up as often as vs. Biollante in discussion, even though I feel like it's a pretty solid Godzilla film. It most certainly has a wonderful atmosphere and probably my favorite Godzilla score ever.

Millennium Era - G2k. I think it's a nice little film and I very rarely come across people who appreciate it as much as I do.

[Gwangi]

Any movie "serious" fans dislike which probably includes most of the Showa films!

Here is my list:

Gigantis
Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster (AIP)
Son of Godzilla (AIP)
Godzilla's Revenge
Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster (AIP)

[Jorzilla]

[jellydonut25]

Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster - Such a fun and imaginative film, and you rarely hear people talk about it.

Son of Godzilla - That suit really colors people's impressions.

Godzilla vs. Gigan - Best human cast of any Godzilla film. People over-focus on the stock footage.

Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla - Only because I think Godzilla vs. Mothra and Godzilla x Megaguirus are worse movies, and therefore this doesn't quite deserve its label as worst Godzilla film ever.

Godzilla 2000 - Feels more like Godzilla vs. Monster Zero than probably anything else in the series. Heavy on the science-fiction in this movie, and I like that. It gives it a bit of a different feel. I also like that they just went the route of "It's just another Godzilla adventure" instead of trying to establish some timeline.

[Russzilla]

[The Real McCoy]

Godzilla vs. Gigan and Hedorah, I think. Hedorah is a little weird, but there's a fun movie in there; you just have to tolerate it in the right way (like, block out all of the kids doing extremely dumb sh*t and the creepy hippy stuff ).

Also, I know NOBODY is going to agree with me, but I love Megalon, and I think it gets a lot more hate than it deserves. Yeah, it's a sloppy mess, but it's a seventies monster movie. Sloppy messes kind of happened more often than not. The monster action kicked ass; I think one of the better choreographed fights in the series. The biggest failure of that movie, in my opinion, was the human cast. None of them could act worth a crap. But for me, I find that one of the most redeeming qualitites: it makes for a pretty funny experience. I don't get all serious about Godzilla movies; I don't need a masterpiece to be entertained, and this movie has to be viewed from a pure comical, stupid fun point of view.

And of course it doesn't hurt to have access to the MST3K version of this movie (One of the funniest I've seen).

[Gman2887]

I'm going to go with Godzilla 2000. While not always the most enjoyable Godzilla flick, with added slip-ups, I think it's Okawara's most mature effort. By this point had been nominated for a Japanese Academy Award for directing another movie (which after finally hunting down, was pretty interesting) and he was clearly coming into his own style as a director. Godzilla 2000 was probably the most cinematic of his Godzilla movies and tonally different from his last three. It's kind of a shame it was his last film. He should have continued on with his career or at least tried another hand with Godzilla.

[H-Man]

The Heisei films get waaaaay too much hate, especially on this board. I mean, most of them are at most average for the Godzilla series, but I still think they're very underrated.

But I agree with TheRealMcCoy: I think the most underrated is probably GODZILLA VS. MEGALON.

[Jorzilla]

Heisei is underrated on this board, maybe. Outside of this, I consistently see people putting a film like Destroyah in top 5 or even top 3 lists. MGII and KG are generally highly praised. That leaves Mothra and Spacegodzilla, which I don't think people would argue are underrated films.

[Gman2887]

[MekaGojira3k]

I've found that people I meet in real life who are either new to the franchise or are only vaguely interested in Godzilla (but are into comics or horror films) tend to highly praise Heisei stuff.

But I also feel like I should have put vs. SpaceGodzilla as most underrated Heisei film. Like Jelly I think there are still worse offenders.

[jellydonut25]

[Psycho Soldier]

I don't hate the Heisei series, but it doesn't feel as solid to me overall as the Showa. They were great experiences as a kid because, hey, flashy new Godzilla movies are finally making their way here. Some of that magic is lost on me nowadays. Currently I can muster enthusiasm for Biollante and MGII, and sometimes Destoroyah depending on my mood.

Anyway, I think G's Revenge garners more hatred than it really deserves. I can agree that the ending is pretty bad, and that the amount of stock footage is far from ideal. But I think the story being told is fundamentally solid. Ichiro isn't the worst character the series has ever had, and in some respects he's not so different from many of us. I mean, who else escapes into a world of kaiju on a regular basis? I think Jor hit the other points well enough. It could never be among my favourites, but it's tolerable.

I guess I'll point out GFW as well, though I know it's more polarizing than underrated. It's not the most solid movie in terms of script or focus, but it never bores me, either. I like the human and alien characters. I don't object too much to Godzilla being nearly invincible for most of the movie, though I do wish some of those fights had lasted longer. After waiting over an hour for him to show it, it's actually kind of cathartic to watch him mow everything down. It's like waiting for Kenshiro to fight someone in Fist of the North Star: you know he's going to thrash all the mooks, but it's the when and how of it that keeps me engaged.

[Russzilla]

[daikaijusaurus]

I don't hate any of the Godzilla movies. As a fan I enjoy each movie for what it is and what it offers. One movie offers a great script and metaphors ( original Gojira ), another total weirdness ( Godzilla Vs. Smog Monster ), childlike innocence ( Godzilla's Revenge ) and mindless action packed craziness ( Godzilla Final Wars ).

My opinion for most underrated movies are (in no particular order):

Godzilla Vs. Gigan
Fun story with a cartoonist getting involved with an alien invasion, introduction of Gigan who is one of the coolest and weirdest villains, and of course Godzilla having a conversation with Angilas

Godzilla 1985
Awesome music, pretty impressive special effects (for the time) and one of the meanest portrayal of Godzilla ever! And of course the silly but fun scenes with Raymond Burr, especially his memorable speech at the end.

Godzilla Vs. Destroyer (or Destoroyah....or whatever! )
This was a very fitting end to an era for Godzilla. I love Godzilla's portrayal in this movie. Godzilla suffers from a fatal sickness, yet he fights to the very end and has probably the most memorable and saddest deaths in cinematic history (in my opinion of course). And I also loved Godzilla Junior, I just wish Toho had continued the series with him taking over. Oh well!

Godzilla Final Wars
Okay it seems that the majority really loathes this movie for reason that I just don't get. But I think it's great! It's different than any other Godzilla movie and in a great and awesome way...in my opinion. The humans fight, the monsters fight, the spaceships fight. Everybody and everything just fights!!! LOL! Pure fun and pure entertainment...end of story!

[Gman2887]

Yeah, I can't call Megalon underrated. It's pretty far at the bottom of the barrel and I can't get through it in a single sitting which is impressive for its short running time. So I think the flack it gets is pretty fair... sorta. The thing is a cult following has cropped up that idolizes it like the best thing since individually wrapped cheese slices. So "underrated" or "hated" aren't really words I use to describe Megalon.

[daijinryuu775489]

1. Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster
2. Son of Godzilla
3. Godzilla vs. Gigan
4. Godzilla 2000

[jellydonut25]

Megalon isn't so bad...but underrated isn't a word I'd use for it.

I don't know many (if any) who idolize it as the best thing since individually wrapped slices of American cheese.

Gigan? Sure. Lots of people.
Megalon? Eh...not so much.

Megalon feels about as fairly rated a movie as there is in the Godzilla universe. Everyone can agree it's not the WORST, but everyone can also agree it's not the best.

[Reaper G]

Am I the only one here who likes "Godzilla vs. Megaguirus"?

Fun monster action (both Godzilla dealing with the Meganula swarm and the big battle), an innovative weapon in the Dimension Tide, and a tough babe. Megaguirus itself was poorly handled but great in concept.

[Hybrid Gojira]

I'm pretty fond of Godzilla vs Gigan. The story is a little odd but I love me some Gigan. He's one of the coolest monsters in Godzilla lore.

Godzilla vs the Sea Monster is also a really solid flick. The characters are likable and I just enjoy the film overall.

Godzilla's Revenge. I like it. Despite all the stock footage I have fond memories of it as a kid.

The Heisei films haven't held up as well over time. I like some things about them visually, but there is often a lack of imagination in some of the battles. Outside of G85 and Biollante, the rest are just ok for me. SG is just awful. The SG design is just much cooler than the movie.

[kiryugoji04]

[Jorzilla]

I would say the biggest problem with most of the Heisei movies is that they have not aged particularly well. Maybe because I'm older and they are partially intended for a younger audiences, but compared to the Showa and even Millennium series (which are all older than 10yrs at this point), they just don't have the same...uniqueness or heart that might make you overlook special effects or plot elements which aren't up to snuff.

[Gman2887]

The first three films in the Heisei series and Destroyah are still very enjoyable to me. And while MechaGodzilla 2 and Mothra '92 aren't particularly beloved endeavors I still rank them higher than Megalon or Megaguirus...etc... SpaceGodzilla is the only one I find difficult to sit through. That one I will title the worst Godzilla film in the entire series.

[Silver Kamen]

I find that Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, is quite the Under-Rated G-film. Everyone has seen Terror of Mechagodzilla, but not the original. I assume that this is because the only DVD of the movie here in the United States, is out of print. Overall, it did not have a very large presence in the U.S. to begin with.