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Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla [1974] (REGION 1) (NTSC)


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This is the best Godzilla movie ever made - if you want to see just one of them, it is this one!
Review date: 2008-01-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

It is now more than 30 years since I became a serious afficionado of the oversized fire breathing dark green reptile with serious anger management issues and a Tokyo fetish. During this time I saw most of the kaiju movies and this one - together with the first "Godzilla" of 1954 - is my all time favourite. For those of you who have not a clue about those movies, it is important to know, that there are two series of Godzilla films - one in which it is a hostile force and another one in which it is a kind of protector of Japan fighting with other kaijus (giant monsters). Even in this second situation I always strongly suspected that Godzilla is fighting other monsters more to protect his own turf (I AM the one to destroy Japan and nobody else will do it for me!) that to really protect Japan.... This second kind of movies is my favourite and here we have the jewel of the crown in which Godzilla faces its possibly the toughest foe (yes guys, tougher even than King Ghidorah!). Mechagodzilla is a cyborg version of Godzilla, build by aliens who want to conquer the Earth (as always beginning with Japan) and who need to eliminate Godzilla first. Now, I think that everybody will agree that Godzilla movies are not "real" films - the scenario usually is reduced to almost nothing and must just give a pretext to the fight between kaijus or Godzilla and the Japanese army. But this movie is an exception. Here the plot is rather credible and surprisingly interesting - and The Supreme Alien Leader is a really great villain! The atmosphere surrounding the ancient prophecy is really mystical and plays well. Humour is provided by the King Seesar, a guardian monster of Okinawa, a really cuddly thing that your kids should instantly love. And then there is the music, with especially the Mirayabi Prayer, a strikingly beautiful song in Japanese, which in itself is the reason to buy a collection of soundtracks of Godzilla movies. I saw this movie many times and now that I am a grown up, I watch it sometimes with my kids - and we all have a great time! Really - if you are a fan and you do not know it yet, see it. And if you are just curious about the Godzilla phenomenon and want to see just one kaiju movie to try - well, pick this one. It is the best!

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Reviews


Everything I want in a Godzilla movie
Review date: 2002-11-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

This movie has everything a good Godzilla movie should have--monsters, fights, spies, scientists, aliens, the works. You don't even have to wait until the end of the movie to see a fight because the action starts early in this one. First, an old cave is discovered with mysterious artwork on the walls and a unique statue in a cleft, and a young woman has a prophecy that a monster will come to destroy the earth. As if on cue, Godzilla pops up, but he is immediately attacked by Anguiras. Right away, you know something's fishy because Anguiras is Godzilla's sidekick. This Godzilla is ruthless, and I am still upset about the injury poor Anguiras receives at his hand. Before long, Godzilla shows up, the two Godzillas fight and the impostor is exposed as a cyborg. Godzilla takes a pretty good beating and disappears, but MechaGodzilla is also forced to retreat and seek repair. Aliens are controlling MechaGodzilla, but they need the help of a brilliant Japanese scientist to make the necessary repairs. They capture the scientist and coerce him into helping them. Meanwhile, the good guys are running around trying to figure out the meaning of the strange statue found at the start of the movie. They find out that King Seesar, a guardian monster of sorts on Okinawa, is portrayed on the statue, so they must race to awaken Seesar to fight MechaGodzilla because they do not know if Godzilla is still alive.

The battles in this movie are quite good. MechaGodzilla has everything but the kitchen sink in his arsenal, and he even flies. King Seesar is a little weird, basically looking like a giant dog of some sort mixed with who knows what. The explosions, laser weapons, fiery breath, and general mayhem are very good, and many models are blown to bits. One of my favorite parts, though, is the song that is sung to awaken King Seesar--I have no idea what the words mean, but it is a great song I sometimes listen to just by itself. Interestingly enough, I assume the song is in Japanese, yet it is still dubbed (and rather badly in places).

In conclusion, this is easily one of the best movies in the original Godzilla series. If you don't enjoy this one, you almost surely won't enjoy any of the others, so this is a good litmus test for Godzilla newbies.

Godzilla meets his match
Review date: 2000-09-17 Rating: 10 out of 10

One of Toho's better efforts. During the making of these later Godzilla films, Japan was hitting a recession and it took its toll on the production of the films. But you can hardly tell. Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla is the first time you get to see Mechagodzilla (also seen in Terror of Mechagodzilla and Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla 1993). Fans of the older Godzilla films will also be delighted for a cameo appearance from Anguirus. We're also greeted by a bizarre new monster called King Seesar who is a giant lion. Add all of these elements together, as well as corny dubbing and bad Japanese acting and you get one of the better chapters in Godzilla's history. Also get your ear plugs ready for a terrible Japanese singer!

If you see this, make sure you see the follow up Terror of Mechagodzilla, although by now the suprise of a robot version of the Big G isn't as bad.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Masaaki Daimon
Kazuya Aoyama
Hiroshi Koizumi
Reiko Tajima
Akihiko Hirata

Creators:
Masaaki Daimon (Primary Contributor)
Kazuya Aoyama (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Columbia TriStar
Manufacturer: Columbia TriStar
EAN: 9781404964686
Binding: DVD
ISBN: 1404964681
Number of items: 1
Format: Colour, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2004-10-19
Universal product code (UPC): 043396076181
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 84 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1977-03
Language: Japanese (Original Language)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: English (Dubbed)

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