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Godzilla: Final Wars [2004] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
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Pure entertainment
Review date: 2007-10-17 Rating: 10 out of 10
This will keep you grinning all the way through it, its has everything you want in a Godzilla film - lots of action, lots of monsters, and lots of humour. (Especially when Godzilla dismissively defeats the American version and the evil guy says `I knew it was rubbish!')
The effects are not bad, and the acting, though cheesy at times, is pretty good, way better than the appalling Yank version. It rips off countless other films for certain scenes, but who cares, they all work. This actually has some not bad Matrix style martial arts in it, which was a nice suprise.
The inclusion of `minizilla' was pretty pointless and corny, but doesnt ruin 2 hours of fun. Highly recommended!
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Reviews
Pure Entertainment!
Review date: 2007-07-22 Rating: 8 out of 10
Celebrating the anniversary of the Big G in real style, i don't think i have seen a movie that is as simply entertaining in a long time, two hours just flew by. Essentially a jazzed up variation on Destroy all Monsters (Aliens control monsters, unleash monsters, humans fight back), Final Wars steals outrageously from every major US sci-fi film of the last fifteen years including The Matrix and Independence Day, but given the amount of ideas Hollywood has pinched from Japanese cinema i'm not really complaining. The monsters, all 15 of them are all given some great scenes, and look as good as they have ever done, Toho obviously spent some money on this monster bash and the film benefits from the great suit and set work, Big G himself doesn't show up properly until halfway through the picture, but is given a great entrance and is as mean and tough as ever.
Trying for something different this time, prog rocker Keith Emerson contributes to the score which kicks off with a beefed up version of the classic Godzilla theme and throws in typical synth beats and vocal work, it's not typical of a Godzilla film but it suits this film perfectly.
There is even a brief moment of reflection as Godzilla's rage is explained, and we hark back fifty years to what started this all in the first place, as i said at the start as a fan you will struggle to find a film that is as purely entertaining as this, it also features the most wicked cinematic in-joke at the expense of Godzilla's US counterpart that is worth the price of admission alone!
phenomenal
Review date: 2007-06-25 Rating: 8 out of 10
This is a fantastic film!
There are some great special effects in this film but it is the bad special effects that make this film so good. the film could have been done with all cgi monsters and high grade effects but instead they chose to keep the feel of the old Godzilla films and remain true to the films origins.
this is a worthy modern version of some classic films and a must see for any fans of the big lizard (If only for the brilliant way the film digs at the hollyword version).
ROARRR!
Review date: 2006-12-06 Rating: 10 out of 10
Godzilla at its finest!
This has everything a Godzilla film could have - more monsters than you can shake a plastic Godzilla figure at!
There is a blatant rip off of the Matrix fight scenes in this films - but you don't mind this style being 'borrowed' considering the Hollywood treatment of Japans best known giant creature.
Speaking of which - the CGI Hollywood "GINO" appears in this film and promptly gets squidged by the real Godzilla. This was a nice move that we fans appreciate - especially with the comment in the film that that monster was once mistaken for the actual Godzilla.
This film shows how suitmation and models of cities can create a fantastic range of effects, just use a bit of imagination. This film is fun, stylish, and very enjoyable.
50 years young
Review date: 2006-02-18 Rating: 10 out of 10
The 28th and supposedly "final" Godzilla film, "Godzilla: "Final Wars" was released in Japan in 2004 to mark the 50th anniversary of, unarguably Japan's biggest film star.
To mark this event, Toho Studios upped the budget, expanded the locations to China, Australia and America and bought in acclaimed action director Ryuhei Kitamura.
The result... well, it was always going to split fans down the middle. The movie is a drastic move away from the "traditional" Godzilla style and, for this viewer, a welcome one.
Plot wise, monsters go on the rampage but then disappear thanks to the arrival of seemingly "friendly" Aliens, who's intentions are anything but. Cue monsters again under alien control, and the only things that can stop them are wrestler Don Frye in his flying tank thing and... Godzilla!
Yes, the film rips-off "The Matrix" wholesale and the soundtrack - by English prog rocker Keith Emerson and US nu-metal band Sum 41 - is unlike anything ever heard in a Godzilla film, but it only adds to the charm of a movie that just wants to do its own thing. In many ways its reminiscent of the 1980 "Flash Gordon" - subtly just is not a factor here.
Toho even delved into their own back catalogue with references to the runaway planet Gorath (from "Gorath"), and Frye's ship the Goten (from "The War in Space") while the opening scenes also feature images from "War of the Gargantua's" and "Yog Monster From Space". And then there are the monsters... out of retirement come Angilas, Gigan and King Seesar, along with Rodan and Mothra... and more. Event eh US Godzilla (now called "Zilla") makes an appearance (along with the films best gag).
The martial arts sequence also extend to the monster fights, the visual effects are often stunning, sometimes plain awful, the humour is sometimes OTT, there's a totally baffling sub plot involving son-of-Godzilla, Minilla, that makes no sense whatsoever and there's Kazuki Kitamura's wonderful performance as controller of Planet X performed with a relish not seen wince Brian Blessed in "Flash Gordon".
The Sony DVD offers original Japanese soundtrack with subtitles or a dubbed track. The image is in original widescreen - oh that Sony would go back and give this treatment to the whole Godzilla series.
GFW is a mess, but its also a lot of fun!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Don Frye
Masahiro Matsuoka
Rei Kikukawa
Akira Takarada
Masuiro Matsuoka
Creators:
Takumi Furuya (Cinematographer)
Keith Emerson (Composer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Columbia TriStar
Manufacturer: Columbia TriStar
EAN: 9781404999251
Binding: DVD
ISBN: 1404999256
Number of items: 1
Format: AC-3, Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2005-12-13
Universal product code (UPC): 043396127616
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 125 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2004
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Japanese (Original Language)