Talkback: Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)

[Tyler]

Masaaki Tezuka's second Godzilla film never got an individual thread of its own, so I though it would be interesting to talk about the film by itself rather than comparing it to anything else. So...



In 1999 a new Godzilla appears to raid Japan. It is immune to maser weaponry, so the bio-robot Kiryu is formed utilizing the bones of the original Godzilla from 1954. This mechanical Godzilla is fitted with the Absolute Zero Cannon, a weapon that can freeze and destroy almost anything. But it's up to the pilots behind Kiryu to take Godzilla down for good.

I like this movie a lot more than I used to. I used to think it was a boring, lame take on the '90s Mechagodzilla film. But now I really dig it. It's not perfect. It feels much more like a Mechagodzilla movie than a Godzilla one. Out of the three Godzilla films Tezuka helmed I think this is his best. If only the characters from this film were carried over for Tokyo SOS.

So in total I give it a good 3/5.

[Tohosaurus]

I liked the movie overall. At least they didn't make Kiryu as visually heavy as Heisei MG, who didn't seem very agile or fist-fight capable (more of a beam spammer like a number of other Heiseis).

Don't know why they called it Kiryu though. I also felt like it didn't seem as powerful as Heisei MG, likely due to Heisei MG's synthetic diamond outer coating.

[HayesAJones]

A fun movie. It's weakened by a few off special effects, but no less enjoyable. Kiryu is pretty cool too, however fragile he may be.

[Godzilla 1995]

I didn't enjoy this film much when I was younger, but the more I watch it the more I think this is a great film. With a fun score, enjoyable characters, and an original plot line, the film is a clever and unique entry to the G series.


But yes, it does have flaws. The characters, while being enjoyable, a few are predictable and unoriginal, but the acting is solid enough to stop the roles from being glaringly boring. Kiryu is far weaker than the previous MechaGodzillas that have fought Godzilla, and the Godzilla in this film is extremely weak and is only in the film to give the movie a conflict which Kiryu must settle. However, the film in total is marvelous fun and always a good watch. Not as good as the original Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla(1974), but good enough. I highly recommend it.

[Mini-Godzilla]

Bananaoil won me back over to the Godzilla films with this movie after I had given up on the franchise. It's easily my favorite Godzilla film post-G85, and it tops any of the films that it emulates. The characters are so engaging (and genuinely haunted by tragic events in their lives--imagine that!) that I wish that the film had spent even more time with them.

[Monster Master]

I absolutely hate Kiryu and the GXMG/SOS Goji design, but the movie ain't half bad.

[TokyoVigilante]

I have mixed feelings when it comes to this film. On one hand, I love this universe that Tezuka has crafted. The inclusion of numerous "small scale" monsters in with the A-listers like Godzilla and Mothra and showing the progression of the JSDF as a result. The JSXDF is easily my favorite incarnation of the standard "Godzilla Response Team" that has become a trope of the franchise since the nineties.

Tezuka is pretty good about portraying the consequences of these monster actions. In GxMegaguirus, the capital of Japan is moved after the devastation and non-nuclear energy sources are worked on. When Japan announces Kiryu, the Prime Minister urges other nations to allow the use of Mechagodzilla to defend their nation. These are natural and believable responses responses in this monster filled environment.

This is easily my favorite of the "Alternate Reality" universes of the Millennium films. No questions.

The music by Michiru Oshima is stellar, and to be able to make a distinct and memorable Godzilla score without resorting to just pulling out the tired and true Godzilla theme is a testament to her skills as a composer.

The special effects are solid. No glaring moments of bad computer work (like in GxMegaguirus) and the city looks like a city and not a prop.

However, the film is paced like a live action anime. Lots of quiet, sitting around talking about our feelings, then suddenly something happens and it just jumps into the action. It's jarring to watch and the human element doesn't really propel the story forward, it just moves forward on its own accord. The human characters would be more enjoyable if these talk-about-our-feelings moments were played a bit naturally and the human characters were more grounded into the story.

As for the monsters, eh. I'm not fond of this particular Godzilla. Mostly the stiff, cobra-neck and the head looks strange from certain angles. I don't mind his docile nature, it's a new personality we haven't seen before (and a little bit of a throwback to a friendlier, more Showa-y Godzilla) so I give it credit for that.

Kiryu I'm also not a big fan of. He looks fantastic and he's got a great and really fresh origin for Mechagodzilla, but the DNA computer doesn't come into play at all after they fix it (They pretty much fixed the main conflict of the story. Damn you technicians!). How much better would the final battle be if they had to use Kiryu at the risk of it going berserk again, unleashing two Godzilla's onto their city? What a great way to set up a tense final battle that just falls flat.

I don't like the pilot talking to Kiryu. That's lame. Way to Anime-y.

Overall, I think Tezuka is a great director who is a master World Builder, but kinda' drops the ball on his human action and its relevance to the plot. I think he's a Director with something to say, but was muted by invasive Studio tampering. I'd love to see him come back and do another Godzilla film. And considering he came back from friggin' Godzilla X Megagurius is even more of a testament to him as a director.

[alienhulk2099]

Kiryu is the worst Toho mech simply based on the fact that it requires to be refueled. The movie also takes itself way too seriously. The only thing decent I can say about it was that the fighting was somewhat neat, but good lord did they make it over dramatic. So yeah, I voted poor.

[Godzilla1984]

I liked the movie, Kiryu , and his Design. What I didn't like was when Godzilla first shows up and when the attack him he doesn't attack back he just backs up.....and someone says " Godzilla's retreating ". When I seen that I was like wtf!! Godzilla wouldn't retreat. But overall I enjoyed the movie. Kiryu to me is obviously the most realistic Mech thats why I like him allot more than the Heisei Mecha Godzilla. Kiryu can actually grapple with Godzilla and is fast rather than beam spam the entire movie

[King Caesar]

is it weird that when Godzilla heads back into the water after the first fight scene, i heard a sound that sounds (ha sound that sounds...) like it is from Ebirah, horror of the deep. Okay maybe its my DVD player...who knows...

Anyway i love this film and i love Kiry- cough cough- i mean Mechagodzilla's design in this film. It hits the more realistic idea of it being slightly frail but it can still put up a good brawl with the King of Monsters.

[Godzilla1984]

yea Kiryu put a real good fight

[Biollante]

Bumping this thread because I'm watching this movie. My favorite scene is when Kiryu walks through the building then powers down with the sunset behind it.

[tymon]

Great movie.

Pros:
Great pacing, editing and directing
Decent characters with good actors (and that female lead...yum)
Consistent special effects
Successful adaptation of basic plot elements from the mediocre Godzilla vs. Megaguirus
Kiryu's design and fighting style were downright amazing. Too bad its armor sucked and it had to be refueled and transported (pointless).

Cons:
Godzilla's design and (lack of) personality. What were they thinking? Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. improved in this regard, especially with the animatronic facial expressions.
The score. I like the earworm Godzilla theme and the main action theme, but everything else sounds far too bright, triumphant and "safe" (all in-key, very little chromatics). This is Godzilla, not Superman, dammit.
Unsatisfying character development
Bland atmosphere

Its too bad Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. turned out to be a retread film, instead of bringing in something new and improving upon its prequel's flaws.

[King Caesar]

it had to be refueled and transported (pointless).

It was a touch of realistic possibility. Actually, I liked how they made it like that instead of having unlimited energy or whatever.

Godzilla's design and (lack of) personality.

Did you see how pissed off he looked when Kiryu landed at the harbor? This is probably my third favorite design from the Millennium series (not including Always 2; that's a cheap shot)

The score. I like the earworm Godzilla theme and the main action theme, but everything else sounds far too bright, triumphant and "safe" (all in-key, very little chromatics).

The score itself actually helped to reinforce the massive size of the monsters. The triumphant themes used in a lot of the scenes really delivers a good atmosphere to the whole scene. I do agree it should have been darker in some scenes though.

Its too bad Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. turned out to be a retread film, instead of bringing in something new and improving upon its prequel's flaws.

Bleh, don't even began that discussion. That movie was terrible, even with Mothra and Kamoebas.

[Gojira-Fan]

Its too bad Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. turned out to be a retread film, instead of bringing in something new and improving upon its prequel's flaws.

Bleh, don't even began that discussion. That movie was terrible, even with Mothra and Kamoebas.

What's wrong with SOS?

[tymon]

SOS has amazing action but is also bland and tired - pretty much the definition of "been there, done that" IMO.

[Showa Gyaos]

It's okay. Too bad its sequel was below standard.

[King Caesar]

Its too bad Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. turned out to be a retread film, instead of bringing in something new and improving upon its prequel's flaws.

Bleh, don't even began that discussion. That movie was terrible, even with Mothra and Kamoebas.

What's wrong with SOS?

It had a lot of potential, but a lot of it was killed by too much human drama and a disappointing ending (I wanted to see Kiryu go boom in the ocean...). I don't know. It just isn't in my top favorites of the Mill series. I'd rather watch Godzilla vs Megaguiras honestly.

[Legion1979]

I think GxMG and SOS make a nice little 2-part movie. Seriously, I look at these movies as two parts of one whole.

[Chris55]

It had a lot of potential, but a lot of it was killed by too much human drama

Yeah, the little girl with the weepy plant and the horny dad? Got a little weird.