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G-Film Reviews

This page contains reviews for all of the Godzilla movies I have seen. If I get to see any G-films I have not yet seen, I will put a review up for it right away. Read on to see my opinion of most of the Godzilla films.

My thanks goes to Barry S. Goldberg for the Godzilla dividers that appear on this page and my other Godzilla pages.

Ratings:

-* One of the worst Godzilla films of all time.
* Not one of G's better films.
** Fair; seeing it once is probably enough.
*** A potentially good film, but has quite a few flaws.
**** This film ranks among the highest.
***** Excellent! You'll want to see it more than once.

Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1956) ****

Wow! A really great film, with great acting and special FX (for that time anyway). The American version is actually almost as good as the Japanese, this time, the American-made scenes (featuring reporter Steve Martin, played by Raymond Burr) did not detract from the film, but actually added to it. The story begins with many Japanese fishing boats being wiped from the face of the ocean in flashes of blinding light. Superstitious island natives say that the "mythical" monster Godzilla is responsible. Steve Martin, a reporter, decides to investigate the accidents. Eventually, a huge monster named Godzilla attacks Tokyo, laying the entire city to waste. Meanwhile, a scientist named Serizawa has accidently created a dangerous weapon called the Oxygen Destroyer. It destroys all oxygen in water, instantly killing anything in the vicinity. Serizawa is finally convinced to use this weapon against Godzilla after he has a promise that it will never be used again. He burns the papers containing the plans for his invention, and sets out in to Tokyo Bay (where Godzilla has retreated for the time being) with another man, Ogata, to set the Oxygen Destroyer off in the water. He does so, using diving gear. The other man surfaces, but Serizawa is unseen. They pull up his line, but it has been cut. Serizawa had decided to die with the awesome monster, so that the secret of the weapon will never be found out. The weapon does its work, and Godzilla dies, melting to a skeleton, then fading to nothing.

King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) *

This is a good Japanese film ruined in the American re-write by John Beck. The movie has a good plot, and is the first G-film to use comedy. Although Godzilla looks pretty good in this one, he has looked better, and King Kong looks pretty fake. Apparently in the American version, many of the original scenes were cut, and instead, some annoying newscasts were added to make up for the missing scenes. The story goes like this: Godzilla breaks out of an iceberg in which he was frozen, destroying a submarine in the process. He heads towards Tokyo. Meanwhile, a pharmaceutical company sends some men to get special berries from Faro Island. On the island, they find King Kong, who saves them from a giant octopus (Oodaku is its name). Kong falls asleep after drinking berry juice. The men decide to take Kong back to Japan for advertising purposes. During the voyage, however, Kong breaks free and heads for the Japanese mainland. Godzilla and Kong meet in some city, and Godzilla fries Kong. Kong retreats, and Godzilla continues on to Mt. Fuji. The humans put Kong to sleep with the berry juice, and carry him via helicopter to Mt. Fuji. There, Kong gets his butt kicked again, and things look grim for Japan. An electrical storm comes up, and revives Kong. Godzilla and Kong fall into the sea while battling. Kong surfaces and heads back towards Faro Island. Godzilla is not seen again. This is where there is a significant difference between the Japanese and American versions: in the Japanese version, Godzilla is heard roaring after Kong swims away, assuring us that he is still alive. Unfortunately, this part was cut from the American version.

Godzilla vs. the Thing (aka Godzilla vs. Mothra, 1964) **

Many people like this movie, but I don't for two reasons. One, Mothra looks like a mutated flying afghan (the blanket, not the dog) and two, the Cosmos twins awful singing. I can't stand them, and for that matter, don't know anyone who can. However, Godzilla looked pretty cool, and that made up some for Mothra's terrible costume. Anyway, a big egg washes up on shore, and Godzilla rises up from underground. He makes his way to the egg, and just as he is about to destroy it, Mothra comes and keeps him occupied long enough for the egg to hatch. The Cosmos sing to the egg to get it to hatch (farmers--here's a tip for when you need your eggs to hatch quickly--sing an annoying song to them!) after Mothra dies. The two larvae spin cocoons over Godzilla falls into the ocean. Hmm, two little worms a tenth of Godzilla's size defeating him? I think not.

Ghidrah, The Three Headed Monster (1964) **

This movie is so-so. The plot is hard to follow and the actors could really use some help, although the idea for the movie was a good one. Another downfall of the movie is the reappearance of the Cosmos twins. Ghidrah is coming to destroy planet earth. Meanwhile, a princess falls out of a plane and somehow survives. She now thinks she is a Martian, and prophecies about the appearance of Ghidrah. The earth people dont take her seriously. Then she predicts the appearance of Godzilla and Rodan, who appear and start to battle eachother. Mothra enters the scene from Infant Island and tries to convince Godzilla and Rodan to stop fighting and help fight Ghidrah. They refuse, and Mothra goes to fight Ghidrah alone. Then, for some unknown reason, Godzilla and Rodan decide to help. Mothra gets her butt kicked as usual, but Rodan and Godzilla kick Ghidrah off the planet. The princess falls, hits her head, and is brought back to her senses, and all is back to normal.

Godzilla vs. Monster Zero (1965) ***

This is a fair Godzilla movie in which two astronauts, one Japanese and one American, go to the newly discovered Planet X. There they find an intelligent race which has to live underground because of Monster Zero (or King Ghidrah). The earth people agree to lend Godzilla and Rodan to help kill Ghidrah in return for a miracle drug which can cure anything. They transport Godzilla and Rodan via flying saucer to Planet X, and there they fight Ghidrah. The earth people have returned to Planet X as well, and witness the battle. The aliens give them tapes with the formula for the drug, and the astronauts head back to earth. When they reach earth, the world listens eagerly to the tape with the formula for the miracle drug. The tape, however, demands earth's submission to Planet X, or they will send down Ghidrah, Godzilla, and Rodan to destroy it. The whole Monster Zero thing was just a hoax to leave earth defenseless. Since there has to be some excuse for the monsters to fight again, the earth people refuse to give in, and the three monsters start their destruction. One earth man discovers that the aliens can be killed by a certain sound (one of the few things in existence more annoying than the Cosmos twins' singing). They broadcast the sound over the radio, and instruct everybody to turn up the volume as loud as it goes. The aliens all self-destruct, and no longer control Godzilla and Rodan. They thrash Ghidrah once again, and Ghidrah flies off into space. The end. This movie has only one real downfall: really crazy looking aliens in jumpsuits with hair clips glued over their eyes, and hats (or whatever you call 'em) that lead me to wonder how many radios were butchered in order to provide the antennaes.

Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster (aka Ebirah, Terror of the Deep, 1966) *

A movie that was actually written for King Kong, Godzilla was a last-minute substitute. It definitely would have better suited Kong. It is not worthy of being a G-film, in my opinion. The Red Bamboo base on an island is making nuclear weapons. They also kidnap people from Infant Island to make special spray to keep the giant sea monster, Ebirah, away from their ships. Some people land on the island in search of one guy's brother. They discover the base, and also discover Godzilla sleeping in a cave on the island. They wake Godzilla using a lightning rod and some wire in an electrical storm. Godzilla thrashes the base. The men from the base attempt to escape, but the slaves from Infant Island have made counterfeit spray, and Ebirah destroys the escape ship. Godzilla and Ebirah play a little game with a boulder, and then they fight. Ebirah is killed, or at least mortally wounded. Meanwhile, the guy whose brother is missing gets his foot stuck in a weather balloon. By some happy coincidence, the balloon brings him to none other than Infant Island, which also happens to be where his brother is. The man tells the Cosmos twins about the island where their people are enslaved. They send Mothra to get the people, who have built a net for just that purpose. The people climb on the net, Mothra picks it up and carries them back home, and everyone lives happily ever after, except, of course, for the people who have just watched this poor film.

Son of Godzilla (1967) -*

This is one of the movies that helped give Godzilla a bad name. The music stinks, the plot stinks, the acting stinks, the monster costumes stink, etc. The only redeeming quality of this film is the introduction of two pretty cool-looking new monsters: Kamacuras (aka Gimantis) and Kumonga (aka Spiega). Godzilla's son is born, and frankly doesn't look a thing like the Big G; in fact, it would be more in its place in an episode of "Sesame Street." It cries out to Godzilla as it is attacked by Gimantises. Godzilla comes and rips the insects apart. The rest of the movie involves Godzilla teaching Minya, and beating him up when he does wrong, and Godzilla rescuing Minya from monsters as they attack him. The humans on the island finally succeed in their weather-controlling tests, and turn the tropical island into a winter wonderland. The monsters are frozen, and the people get away on a raft. The end.

Destroy All Monsters (1968) ****

This movie is cool for one reason: monsters, monsters, monsters! The year is 1999, and all the monsters are contained on Ogasawara island. Some space aliens arrive and release the monsters on the world's capitals. Mothra hits Beijing, Godzilla attacks New York, Gorosaurus wrecks Paris, Rodan messes up Moscow, etc. I began to wonder why none of them attacked Tokyo, the one city which is irresistable to large monsters. Then, all of the monsters join up and attack (where else?) Tokyo. The Kilaak's (the aliens) control over the monsters is discovered, and Earth regains control of the monsters. (The aliens are corny looking, they are wearing silver jumpsuits and spangles! Then again, they always look corny.) The monsters attack the Kilaak base, and the Kilaaks call in their secret weapon, Ghidora. Ghidora is defeated by the combined strength of Godzilla, Gorosaurus, Kumonga, Varan, Mothra, Angilas, Rodan, Manda, Minya, Baragon, and a host of other monsters. This battle is rather boring, simply because there are so many monsters that each one only gets about one hit on Ghidora before the dragon was defeated. Anyway, Godzilla destroys the Kilaak base, and we find that the Kilaaks are really intelligent rocks in disguise (!). The monsters are returned to the island, and all is well once again. The end.

Godzilla's Revenge (1969) -*

Definitely the worst Go dzilla film of all time. The special effects are bad, Minya looks like a refugee from Sesame Street, and Godzilla is in one of his worst costumes. The movie is pieced together mostly from stock footage. The new monster, Gabara, looks like Barney on steroids, and couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag (though he can still kick Minya's butt). A boy dreams that he visits Monster Island, where he becomes friends with Minya, who can mysteriously change size and talk. Minya helps the boy, Echiro, learn to fight, and then Echiro fights some bullies in real life and is able to defeat them. Poor dubbing, script, and musical score add to this embarrassment that they call a Godzilla film. Take my advice, and don't waste your money on it. However, if you simply MUST see this film (in the loosest sense of the word), go rent it from your local video store.

Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster (aka Godzilla vs. Hedorah, 1971) ****

Though many people don't like this flick, it is one of my favorites from the original series. Despite some really weird opening scenes, it really is good. It's been a while since I' ve seen this one, though, so I can't give too deep a description. But here goes: A giant tadpole is found out in the polluted waters on the coast of Japan. After a while, it grows into a flying-saucer type form. Then he flies over Japan, melting everything with his sulfurous exhaust fumes. Eventually, it grows into a huge blob-like form, and starts destroying things in its path. Godzilla emerges from the ocean and attacks Hedorah, the name which the pollution-mutated monster has been given. Godzilla is losing, and Hedorah has many secret weapons, including UV laser eye rays and the bility to shoot acidic muck balls at attackers. Finally, the humans figure out that Hedorah can be dried up using electricity. They build some walls made of maser (yes, that's "maser," not "laser") cannons, and Godzilla forces Hedorah back between them. The masers are turned on, and Hedorah starts to fry. Godzilla helps out with his atomic breath, and Hedorah falls in a heap of dried up muck. Godzilla digs down into the heap, and brings out two spheres (apparently eggs) which he destroys. Then Japan is safe as Godzilla goes back into hiding. One downfall of the movie is the poor musical score. Stomp Tokyo describes it like this: "...gone is any hint of majesty, now we have a Godzilla entrance theme that sounds like a diesel engine turning over!" They are not far from wrong. But despite a few flaws, it was a good flick, and worth watching a couple of times.

Godzilla vs. Gigan (aka Godzilla on Monster Island, 1972) **

This movie suffers from a poor script and poor acting. Plus, although a novelty, Godzilla and Angilas (as they do in the beginning of the film) talking to each other just adds to t he unrealisticness of the film. Anyway, aliens come down and build a theme park for monster exhibits (or so they say). The main attraction is a Godzilla tower, which is really a radio tower to call Gigan and Ghidora to earth to destroy it. Some humans find out their plot, and the group of heroes includes a scientist, a plain old guy, a black belt ninja girl, and a couple of hippies, one of which seems to be hopelessly addicted to corn on the cob. They kill all the aliens, while Godzilla and Angilas kick Gigan and Ghidora's butts. Then Godzilla destroys the tower, and all is well. One good aspect of the film, though, is that Gigan is probably one of the most cool-looking monsters to come out of the the old series.

Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) *

The second-worst of the bunch. A goofy plot, a giant cockroach for an enemy (who actually was pretty cool-looking), a robot escapee from Ultraman, and an annoying little kid whose name I still can't understand is not a good mix. Some people who live underwater are sick of nuclear testing taking place on earth. So they awaken Megalon, a giant cockroach monster, and he flies up to earth and starts destroying everything. The people under the sea (Seatopians) for some reason have contact with the aliens that appeared in G vs. Gigan, and they send Gigan down to earth to help Megalon. Jet Jaguar, a robot who looks suspiciously like Ultraman, is sent to get Godzilla to save Japan. They arrive, and Jet Jaguar grows to Godzilla's size. Together, they defeat Megalon and Gigan in one of the most poorly done battle scenes in Godzilla history. The movie ends in a Japanese song that is worth whatever price you pay for the movie just to hear it. It's hilarious. However, listener beware--this is one song that will not leave your head--and it may drive you to an early grave.

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (aka Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster, 1974) ****

My personal favorite of the original series of G-films. Mechagodzilla is really cool looking. Godzilla looks good in this film, as well. I can't say as much for King Seesar, who (sort of)helps Godzilla defeat MechaG. He looks kinda like a cross between a doggie and a Gremlin, and it was really a mistake to put him in the film. The film had two other weak points: no music by Akira Ikufube, and the aliens were kinda fake. They had guns that had an amazing resemblance to hose nozzles, and yelled down to earth lines like "Stick 'em up!" Aliens from the Black Hole would not, in all likeliness, say things like this. Anyway, aliens try to take over earth by using Mechagodzilla. Godzilla rises out of Mt. Fuji, and starts attacking Japan. He fights with Angilas (!) and defeats him. Then, he proceeds with his destruction of Japan, during which another Godzilla rises from underground. The two fight, and the second Godzilla knocks off part of the first's disguise, revealing the first to be a cyborg (so that's why he attacked Angilas)! MechaG then melts off his disguise (thanks to a super special effect). The two fight, and Godzilla falls into the ocean, apparently dead. Later, King Seesar is awakened by a girl who sings a terrible song to him (it might even be worse than the Cosmos twins? singing! NOT!). Seesar attacks MechaG, and gets his butt kicked. Godzilla then rises out of the sea, revived by a thunderstorm. He then proceeds to attack MechaG, with King Seesar offering a little help. Godzilla eventually succeeds in ripping MechaG's head off, and MechaG explodes, leaving just his head to be thrown into the sea. Godzilla wades back out to sea, and Seesar goes back into the mountain from which he came. The end of a cool flick!!!

Terror of Mechagodzilla (aka Terror of Godzilla, 1975) ***

Most people like this one better than the first. I, however, do not. This is still a good G-film, though. In it, the monkey-aliens from the first film return, and rebuild MechaG. A scientist befriends the aliens, and gives them control of his discovery, Titanosaurus (another Barney wanna-be), a dinosaur that lived underwater since the Jurrasic age. Godzilla shows up, of course, and kicks both their butts, with help from humans, who shoot Titanosaurus with super-sonic rays while Godzilla holds him. Then Godzilla throws him into the sea. While fighting, Godzilla tries the old method of ripping off MechaG's head. This, however, only exposes MechaG's brain center, and he is able to shoot more powerful eye rays from it. Godzilla picks MechaG up and tosses him head-first into a mountain, destroying his brain center, and once again exploding the body. Godzilla then goes back to the ocean.

Godzilla 1985 (1984) ***

Another so-so one. Although it did usher in the new Godzilla movies, this one was kind of stupid. It re-introduced Godzilla as an unstoppable enemy of Japan. The other Godzilla movies (except the first two) apparently never took place according to this films timeline. Godzilla rampages through Tokyo, sucks on a radioactive plant and then follows some birds out to sea. The humans realize that Godzilla's brain is partly bird-like, so he will follow the certain pitch of a bird call. They use this fact to lure Godzilla into a volcano the next time he attacks, and then they cause the volcano to erupt and supposedly kill Godzilla. I have been told that the Japanese version of this film is much better. The two main things wrong with the film are that Godzilla looks dumb (his face kinda resembles the Wolfman's) and some embarrassing scenes by Raymond Burr which were added into the American version to provide coherence with the first film. The story is good, though, and this one is a must for G-fans.

Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) ****

A really cool Godzilla movie! The acting and monster costume design was great. This one was a bit darker-themed than other G-films, so don't expect any Claymation blood in this one, but it's still really cool. A scientist combines G's cells with a rose's, and it forms a huge rose. Godzilla attacks the rose, and fries it. The cells from the rose fly into earth's atmosphere, and eventually come back in a huge, awesome form. It is bigger than Godzilla (!) and spits acidic sap. After the battle,Godzilla goes back to the ocean. The only reason this movie got only four stars was because of the language content.

Godzilla vs. King Ghidora *****

One of my all-time favorite G-films! Though the plot is a little hard to follow the first time watching it, it is really well fabricated. The SFX for this film are really good. The battle scenes are good, the acting is cool, and the score by Akira Ifukube is awesome, as usual. This film also reveals Godzilla's origin. What more could you want? People from the future come back to warn Japan that Godzilla is going to destroy them. To solve the problem, they travel back in time to WWII and teleport the dinosaur that would become Godzilla to the future, so that the dino is never exposed to radiation. The futurians leave three Dorats on the island, unbeknownst to the others. These Dorats are then exposed to the same radiation that created Godzilla. They fuse together to become King Ghidora. Ghidora attacks present-day Tokyo, and things look grim. Godzilla then rises from the sea, in a bigger and meaner form. He had been teleported back on top of a nuclear sub wreck, mutating him once again. He defeats Ghidora, and the Futurians. Now, Japan has to deal with Godzilla. Emmy, the remaining Futurian, goes back to the future and revives King Ghidora into Mecha-King Ghidora using 23rd century cybernetics. Mecha-King Ghidora fights Godzilla, and they fall into the sea. Mecha-King Ghidora is destroyed, but at the end, we see Godzilla awaken once again (a really cool scene), proving that he is still alive.

Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992) ***

Pretty much just a remake of the 1960's version, this movie features two good things: much improved SFX, and the appearance of Battra, the Black Mothra. The acting is okay, but the annoying Cosmos twins are back, singing the same old tune as before. The egg gets uncovered by a storm caused by a meteor striking earth. The meteor also wakes Godzilla and Battra. People try to take the egg to Japan by boat, but Godzilla attacks them. The egg hatches, releasing larva-form Mothra. Godzilla beats the mess out of him, then Battra appears and offers a greater challenge to Godzilla. Mothra runs away (ha ha!) and Godzilla and Battra are swallowed up by a volcano eruption underwater while battling. For some reason, the Japanese people think this has killed Godzilla (They just never learn!). Mothra comes back to Japan searching for the Cosmos (I would' ve left 'em and their annoying singing behind!). Godzilla returns as Mt. Fuji erupts and attacks Mothra (now in adult form). Battra appears, becomes friends with Mothra, and together they drop Godzilla in the ocean, Battra dying in the process. The end. The language content in this film also helped give it its rather low rating.

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1993) ***

Well, in the new series, this one was a major disappointment. The effects were so bad you'd almost think they TRIED to make them bad. The highlight of the film is the space battle between M.O.G.E.R.A. and SpaceGodzilla, which is worse than anything even the old series could produce! I mean, it looks like they hung up a black sheet, tied some styrofoam balls to fishing line, and thought it would pass for outer space. Terrible, just terrible. But, there was a good story line, and Godzilla and SpaceGodzilla's costumes looked good, Mogera was cool. But Baby Godzilla was just like a new Minya, with almost the exact looks that made the original Son of Godzilla a flop. Here's the story: G-Force has created a new robot to defend Japan against Godzilla: M.O.G.E.R.A. Another threat shows up from space: SpaceGodzilla. Mogera is sent to battle it, and is damaged. SpaceGodzilla lands, and takes Baby Godzilla captive. Godzilla battles SpaceGodzilla, and along with Mogera's help, wins. Japan saved, Godzilla walks into the sea, people look relieved, yada yada yada. All in all, an okay movie, worth seeing maybe a couple times.

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (aka Godzilla vs. Destroyer, 1995) *****

Well, this was a great way to finish it up. Great effects, great monster/costume design, great plot. My only disappointment in this one was Godzilla's death scene. I must say that I was expecting something a little more spectacular. But here's the plot (and an involved one it is). Godzilla shows up in Japan, burning orange. A college kid who is the most knowledgeable person alive about Godzilla figures that Godzilla's heart, which operates like a nuclear reactor, must be melting down. And if it does, it will cause a nuclear explosion that will demolish the world. The only way the humans can figure to stop it is to recreate the Oxygen Destroyer. They have figured out how to make micro-oxygen again, and so they can easily recreate the deadly machine. But they are worried--even if they can stop the melt-down, will the Oxygen Destroyer fall into the wrong hands? Meanwhile, a tunnel underneath Tokyo Bay experiences strange heat damage, leading the scientists to test the soil in that area. They find a creature that was hit by the original Oxygen Destroyer, causing it to mutate rapidly. The creature continues to grow, until it becomes man-sized. The humans battle the creatures with flame throwers. The creatures eventually come together to form one huge creature, which the humans decide can stop Godzilla from melting down, since it is the equivalent of the Oxygen Destroyer, just a living one. Deciding it's better to loose Tokyo than the whole world, they bring Godzilla to Tokyo by moving Godzilla Junior there. Godzilla Junior fights Destroyer, but is mortally wounded. Godzilla shows up, and fights Destroyer, apparently killing him. Godzilla goes to check on his dying son. Suddenly, a bigger Destroyer rises from the ashes, and Godzilla fights him until Destroyer is finally killed by the Super X III. Godzilla has reached critical temperature during the fight--and the meltdown begins. Tokyo is decimated, but the radiation levels are dropping rapidly--they're being absorbed by Junior! Junior stands again, and with a triumphant roar, the movie ends. A fitting ending to one of the greatest movie series of all time.

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Last updated on August 23, 1999 by the Dave-meister.