Gojira VS Mekagojira (1993)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Takao Okawara

Writer:

Wataru Mimura (writer)

Release Date:

11 December 1993 (Japan)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Action

Tagline:

Three is a very big crowd.

Plot:

The UN builds the robot Mechagodzilla in hopes of destroying Godzilla.

Plot Keywords:

Godzilla | Mechagodzilla | Giant Monster | Psychic | Creature Feature

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Masahiro Takashima	...	Kazuma Aoki
Ryoko Sano	...	Azusa Gojo
Megumi Odaka	...	Miki Saegusa
Yusuke Kawazu	...	Professor Omae
Kenji Sahara	...	Minister Takayuki Segawa
Akira Nakao	...	Commander Takaki Aso
Kôichi Ueda	...	General Hyodo
Leo Meneghetti	...	Dr. Asimov
Daijiro Harada	...	Takuya Sasaki
Tadao Takashima	...	Chief Hosono
Keiko Imamura	...	Psychic Schoolteacher
Sayaka Osawa	...	Psychic Schoolteacher
Shelley Sweeney	...	Susan
Kenpachiro Satsuma	...	Gojira
Wataru Fukuda	...	Mekagojira

Also Known As:

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (USA) (video title)
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (USA) (video box title)
Godzilla vs. Super-Mechagodzilla

MPAA:

Rated PG for sci-fi monster violence and some language.

Runtime:

108 min | USA:105 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-10 | Germany:12 | USA:PG

Company:

Toho Company

Trivia:

The English dub version of the movie is the only movie where Rodan is referred to by his real name, Radon.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the first fight between the two title Kaijus, when Mechagodzilla shoots Godzilla with the chest beam while he is down, strings can be seen on Godzilla.

Quotes:

Minister Takayuki Segawa: [answers phone] Yes? What's that? Godzilla's attacking the city?

Movie Connections:

References Sora no daikaijû Radon (1956)

Toho Monsters Rule!

Another one of the top 10 grossing Godzilla films, this movie is truly one of my favorite Godzilla movies. Though no new monsters were introduced, this movie brought back Godzilla and updated versions of Rodan, Mechagodzilla, and the Son of Godzilla. Rodan looks excellent and his performance was executed well. His famous call reminded me of the Godzilla films in the older days. He's quicker, looks better, and even gets to spit radioactive beams. Mechagodzilla is more dangerous than ever.

Instead of a space alien (referring back to 1974's Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla) he is the ultimate weapon created by G-Force to defeat Godzilla completely. The Son of Godzilla returns as BabyGodzilla. He looks more dinosaur-like and closely resembles Godzilla than Minya did (very good). Minya, that creature from the earlier Godzilla films, didn't resemble Godzilla. He looks like Barney, has huge eyes, sounds like like human babies, and TALKS (in 1969's Godzilla's Revenge only). BabyGodzilla is more what I like as the Son of the Big G. Note how the psychic girls sing a beautiful song for him. The relationship between BabyGodzilla and Asuza is touching. The head pilot of Mechagodzilla was an annoying, igornant braggart. He blasted Rodan mercilessly, and nearly brought down the curtains on Godzilla. But what's good is that there are some notable characters in this movie. Actor Tadao Takashima (from 1962's King Kong vs. Godzilla) made a cameo appearance as Chief Hosono, director of the psychic institute. Actor Kenji Sahara (from 1956's Rodan) starred as Minister Segawa, director of the defense force. Actress Megumi Odaka returns as psychic Miki Saegusa. So does actresses Keiko Imanura and Sayaka Osawa (the Cosmos). Though they starred as psychic school teachers, note how they both talked together in unison when they greeted Miki, a clear nod to the Mothra twins.

Miki befriended Godzilla and BabyGodzilla and told the commanders of G-Force to let the monsters be. However, she was forced to be among the crew in Mechagodzilla so she can use her psychic powers to located Godzilla's secondary brain and destroy it. BabyGodzilla was used as bait to lure Godzilla to Tokyo. Rodan came as well.

When Mechagodzilla saw Rodan and Godzilla, you know what happens next...... This film as a plain plot, but the excessive scenes of the monsters and the colorful characters made this an enjoyable movie. You could see the interiors of the G-Force building and the psychic institute. Composer Akira Ifukube gave another spectacular music score, providing us one of his most memorable marches-the G-Force March. He used a lot of his music from 1964's Godzilla vs. Mothra and 1991's Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. When you watch his film closely, you could catch a brief scan of Tokyo Disneyland when Rodan flies over it.

It is notable that Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983 and this movie was released in 1993, marking 10 years of the theme park's anniversary (I'm very observant). With so many monsters (5 in all) this movie is not to be missed by any Sci-Fi fans.

Grade B+