Talkback: Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)

[Rody]

I think kpa (Keith Aiken of SciFi Japan) went over this before, and if I recall correctly, it was a decision on the film crew's part to help differentiate the new Mechagodzilla from the old ones - giving the Millennium design a very distinct character.

[Pkmatrix]

Was pretty good but was I the only one that was bothered that they kept calling mechag kiryu?

I think it would've been a little better if they'd stuck with just Kiryu and never referred to it as "Mechagodzilla" at all.

[JGAR]

I like this film, definetely one of the Best Millenium films, which aren't that much though.

[GodzillaFan94]

I thought it was epic the first time I saw it, and it was the second film I ever got to see with original Japanese dialogue, so I utterly loved it. Having re-watched it recently...I think it's good. Not great, but good. And I know I am in the minority, but I absolutely love Goji's design. Probably my favorite Millennium design.

[PopInPicsPresents]

And I know I am in the minority, but I absolutely love Goji's design. Probably my favorite Millennium design.

Minority? A lot of people like it, including myself.

[GodzillaFan94]

And I know I am in the minority, but I absolutely love Goji's design. Probably my favorite Millennium design.

Minority? A lot of people like it, including myself.

Most of what I've heard on the design is criticism. Glad I'm not alone it liking it.

Edit: Just re-watched it again. Still like it a lot. I hadn't noticed it before, but, Kiryu has a big Evangelion vibe in this.

[Eunectes]

God I love this film. Godzilla's first appearance was very well done.

[Godzillian]

Was I the only one that didn't like them calling Mechagodzilla Kiryu?

[Eunectes]

It was a nice touch imo.

If you didn't know, it was to set a bond with the female and Kiryu.

[Eunectes]

The action in this movie is phenomenal.

Top 3.

[kiryu42red]

the movie was ok. it had some good and bad parts

[Tyrant_Lizard_King]

Voted POOR. Seriously next to Megaguirus this is my least favorite of the entire franchise. It's just so boring! There's not a single solitary thing I remember about it. Way too much Kiryu and annoying quasi emo lead and not enough Godzilla. Wait maybe I'm confusing the female lead with Megaguirus!?

[eabaker]

Even with its problems, I do very much enjoy the Kiryu story in general. The idea of cloning Godzilla and forcing it to fight its offspring, cousin, mate, or whatever is the only Millenium storyline that I was generally involved with emotionally.

I think part of the reason that I'm left so frustrated by these movies is that the potential of the story is so strong, and the movies just completely waste all of that potential.

[Eunectes]

Even with its problems, I do very much enjoy the Kiryu story in general. The idea of cloning Godzilla and forcing it to fight its offspring, cousin, mate, or whatever is the only Millenium storyline that I was generally involved with emotionally.

I think part of the reason that I'm left so frustrated by these movies is that the potential of the story is so strong, and the movies just completely waste all of that potential.

I bef to differ of the movies being a waste of all potential.

In fact they succeeded on what Showa MechaG didn't, giving Kiryu a personality and a backstory to actually care about.

[eabaker]

In fact they succeeded on what Showa MechaG didn't, giving Kiryu a personality and a backstory to actually care about.

Well, they succeeded in stating that he had a personality and a backstory, but they didn't convey those things in a way that achieved anything like their full emotional impact.

The Showa MG wasn't designed to have a personality and backstory, so the absence of those things can't be counted as a failure.

EDIT: Also, it's not like I'm heaping praise on the Showa MG flicks here. I consider GvsMG '74 to be one of the weakest of theShowa Godzilla flicks. I think Terror is really the only above-average Mechagodzilla movie.

[Dust_pan]

In fact they succeeded on what Showa MechaG didn't, giving Kiryu a personality and a backstory to actually care about.

Showa MG was a soulless robot that was created to be a weapon of mass destruction. Kiryu was a faulty robot whose biggest quality was that it had its own soul, but it demonstrated very little personality and self-awareness. I'd say Showa MG succeeded in what it was made to be, while Kiryu was a half-baked idea.

I admit that Kiryu was a very neat concept, but they really didn't do much with that concept. Kiryu hears Godzilla's roar, Kiryu goes on a rampage, everyone waits for Kiryu to shut down, then once Kiryu shuts down they reactivate it and have it fight Godzilla again. That's basically it. They never expand on the whole "soul of the original Godzilla" ordeal. Which is a shame, because the idea itself is very interesting and has lots of potential for a great story.

[20th Century Boy]

Kiryu had a personality? I don't really remember that. I DO remember the Showa MG being a grinning, remorseless killing machine.

Then again, you have nothing good to say about the Showa series anyway. You should probably just stop bringing that subject up.

Grinning? It's a robot; it does not express emotions. That's the face it was built with.

As for being a remorseless killing machine, that was not Mechagodzilla. It was being remote controlled by the Black Hole Aliens. They were the remorseless ones, not Mechagodzilla.

[eabaker]

Kiryu had a personality? I don't really remember that. I DO remember the Showa MG being a grinning, remorseless killing machine.

Then again, you have nothing good to say about the Showa series anyway. You should probably just stop bringing that subject up.

Grinning? It's a robot; it does not express emotions. That's the face it was built with.

As for being a remorseless killing machine, that was not Mechagodzilla. It was being remote controlled by the Black Hole Aliens. They were the remorseless ones, not Mechagodzilla.

Logically, yes, but that's really beside the point. Showa MG feels like a grinning, remorseless killing machine. The narrative of the Kiryu films may state that Kiryu has a personality, but it's not up there on the screen - and film is a medium to which audiences respond viscerally far more than they do logically.

[Legionmaster]

and film is a medium to which audiences respond viscerally far more than they do logically.

It's true. Vivian Sobchack said so.

[eabaker]

and film is a medium to which audiences respond viscerally far more than they do logically.

It's true. Vivian Sobchack said so.

I'm so glad I took those 7 years worth of college film classes; it was definitely worth the time and money to get better at arguing about Godzilla movies on the internet.