Godzilla VS MechaGodzilla (2002)
Produced and Released by: Toho Co. Ltd.
Director: Masaaki Tezuka
By gojiralord

Introduction

Next to 2001’s “GMK: Giant Monsters All Out Attack,” 2002’s “Godzilla x MechaGodzilla” has been one of the most eagerly anticipated Godzilla movies. “GxMG” was released in Japanese theaters on December 14th after having a November 3rd “preview” screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival, and then got a Region 3 DVD release in July. Finally, on August 5th, the company Universe Laser & Video kept with their tradition of releasing new Godzilla movies to Region 3 DVD and VCD, and put “Godzilla x MechaGodzilla” on the market. G-Fans quickly gobbled up the Region 3 DVD as soon as possible, after reading countless reviews on numerous forums. It took me quite some time to get a copy of “GxMG” off Ebay, but I finally obtained one.

Since hearing the plot of “GxMG,” fans, including myself, were skeptical: Was this going to be another “Godzilla x Megaguris” but with new monsters? I was eager to find out. About a week later, my Region 3 came into the mail, and I popped it into my DVD-Rom in my bedroom. An hour and a half + later, I was pleasantly surprised with “GxMG.”

The Story

Since Godzilla’s initial attack in 1954, several monsters, such as Mothra, and Bigfoot Gaira, have raided Japan. In 1999, the “Anti-Megalosaurus Force,” and the JSDF are called to action as Godzilla rises from the sea once more in a terrible rain storm. One of the soldiers operating from inside a tank, is Akane Yashiro. After Godzilla raids through the village, the “AMF” and the JSDF take action against Godzilla. Akane, in panic, tries to flee, but only causes a jeep to fall off the cliff, containing several other soldiers. Godzilla smashes the jeep into oblivion.

Akane feels guilty for the deaths of her comrades, and no terrible consequence is given to her, other then being put down as the keeper of the library. In 2003, with the recent activity of Godzilla, Akane is called to be part of Squadron Kiryu, along with a group of other military members. During this time, Prime Minister Machiko Tsuge (Kumi Mizuno) hands over her job to Igarashi (Akira Nakao). Project Kiryu, conceived by the New Prime Minister, Igarashi, is a mechanical version of Godzilla, with the DNA and bones of the original Godzilla put into it. Tokumitsu Yuhara is called upon to help create Kiryu. Yuhara is a single father, with a daughter named Sara. Her mother died several years ago in order to save her unborn child. Unfortunately, the child and mother both died. Yuhara accepts the job to help with Project Kiryu, and develops a crush to Akane. Meanwhile, Akane is constantly harassed by Hayama, the brother of one of the men who were killed in the jeep back in ’99. He blames Akane.

Godzilla rises from the waters, and Kiryu is dispatched arriving at Godzilla’s location in Tokyo, only to turn berserk when Godzilla roars at the mechanical double. Kiryu literally becomes the original 1954 Godzilla, and runs wild, blowing everything up into little bits. There is no way to stop Kiryu until its energy pack dies within two hours, which it does during sunset. Prime Minister Igarashi is in fear that Kiryu may go berserk again. Akane earns the respect of her team members, but still is disgraced and disrespected by Hayama. At night, Godzilla attacks Shinagawa. The military tries to fight off Godzilla, but with no prevail. Finally, Prime Minister Igarashi gives permission to unleash Kiryu.

With Shinagawa evacuated, Kiryu starts its attack on Godzilla. After nearly exhausting all Kiryu’s power in the attack, more power is needed. The Prime Minister gives the head up to give Kiryu more power. Just as Kiryu gets up, Godzilla blasts Kiryu’s back. Finally, time is running short as daylight shines through. Trying to create a diversion, Takashi shoots at Godzilla, but ends up being caught right into The Big G’s mouth. Takashi insists Akane to shoot the Absolute Zero, but instead, Akane makes Kiryu take Takashi inside the remains of the helicopter, throw it, and then flies Godzilla into the Ocean, and then fires the Absolute Zero on Godzilla. In the end, Godzilla rises from the frozen ocean, and a damaged Kiryu rises from afar. Kiryu is unable to follow Godzilla. Akane watches from outside, on Kiryu’s metal arm, as Godzilla walks away in the sunrise.

Review

With the positive response to“GMK,” and the magnificent CGI utilized in the film, director Masaaki Tezuka was in a tough position to make “GxMG” better. Though, in the end, Tezuka chose not to succeed over the previous movie, just make his own film with spectacular special effects. The CGI of “GxMG” is neat, but leaves much to be desired. With each passing Godzilla film, you can see two things that constantly improve: building miniatures and Godzilla’s ray. The miniatures are well crafted, though, unlike “GMK,” I don’t think there was a minute that went by that I didn’t think the miniatures were miniatures at all. Before Godzilla fires his ray, his spikes on his back shine blue, and an electric-like sound goes off. I love this, and I love the ray itself even more. An improvement from “GMK.”

Music by Michiru Oshima is basically the same as “Godzilla x Megaguris” (2000). Though there are slight changes made throughout the main score. The music for “GxMG” wasn’t composed at the regular Toho lot, but by an Orchestra. The themes are much louder, and have more of an impact. Kiryu’s theme is pretty basic, and suits the character really well. If the main score used for both “Megaguris” and “MechaGodzilla” are reused to the same extent in “GMMG: Tokyo S.O.S.,” I hope Ko Otani or other really talented composers can do the soundtrack for later movies in the series. Oshima’s music is old and slightly annoying.

The suits constructed by Shinichi Wakasa are well done. Kiryu shines, but Godzilla leaves much to be desired. Godzilla shoes here as a man in a rubber suit, but in Tezuka’s “Godzilla x Megaguris,” it seemed that life was blown into the character. One complaint though, is how small Godzilla’s head is. It needs to be bigger! Kiryu, a.k.a. MechaGodzilla, is just beautiful. Much better then the crappy, futuristic 1993 version. This MechaGodzilla shows numerous cords, and has the feeling of being a gigantic robot. Kiryu is a mix between the two previous versions: The 1974 and 1993 suits. MechaGodzilla is a completely different robot in this movie!

Story and plot wise, writer Wataru Mimura (Yamato Takeru, G2000) does a better job this his previous MechaGodzilla effort, “Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla II” (1993). Mimura is well known for taking outstandingly brilliant ideas and putting them on mediocre scripts. He has a good imagination, but he just can’t write it out. This is evident as Mimura doesn’t flesh out the character of Sara, or Akane, very much. In my opinion, both characters just need more detail and depth. Godzilla doesn’t receive too much screen time, but that’s because this is more or less Kiryu’s story, though I feel incredibly cheated at the fact that Godzilla’s first appearance in 2003 is to roar at Kiryu, and then leave, in order for Kiryu to go berserk.

Overall, an entertaining movie, though it does have numerous holes to clean up, and to add on. A few highlights of “GxMG” include Kiryu going berserk, Godzilla roaring in the rain as lightning fires behind him, and Kiryu immobile as the sun sets. Note, in the above synopsis of the movie, several scenes were taken out, or not expanded on. You’ll need to see them for yourself.

Conclusion

The Region 3 DVD by Universe Laser &Video is presented in anamorphic widescreen. The main menu is a publicity image of Godzilla and Kiryu locked in combat. The only trailers that are included are for “Godzilla 2000: Millennium” (1999) and “Godzilla X Megaguris” (2000). No trailer for the movie itself is included. The subtitles, both Chinese and English, can be incorrect, and add unintentional humor (at one point Sara’s father asks Akane is she ‘wants to have children’ when it should be ‘do you like children?’).

With a Region 1 DVD on the horizon (March 24th), I’d recommend picking this up. Though not the best of the series, it is, nonetheless, an entertaining movie.

gojiralord