Yeah, I enjoy it, I recognize some strengths - obviously the Battra design, but I am also fond of the score, and I actually like the lead characters - as well as some pretty significant weaknesses, mostly in the Mothra effects. It's definitely not a high point of the series, or even one I'd be likely to put in the top 50%. And I know that my opinion is partly informed by nostalgia, since back when I first got seriously into G-fandom this one and GvsKG were the brand new entries that could only be obtained on subbed bootleg, and only those within the fandom knew existed, so they felt special.UltramanGoji wrote:I don't hate it, but it's a painfully plain film whose messages and themes are better portrayed in its predecessors (Mothra 61 and Mothra vs Godzilla).godzilla1541 wrote: I just don't get why so many people hate it.
I like the concept and look of Battra, the soundtrack isn't too bad and the change of pace from a military/government protagonist is a nice touch. Some of the effects are pretty bad, such as the Mothra Larva rampage in Tokyo, where the puppet/costume of the Mothra moves in an unnatural way and makes it look more like a toy. Some of the characters are rehashes of those from the aformentioned Mothra films and others are just not developed well enough for me to care.
It's not one of the worst in the series, but it certainly isn't anywhere near the top of my list.
But a lot of the vitriol thrown at it these days surprises me. So many people rank it at the very bottom of the Heisei era, but at least at a structural level it's worlds better than the directionless mess that is Godzilla vs. Spacegodzilla.