Gojira tai Mekagojira (2002)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Masaaki Tezuka

Writer:

Wataru Mimura (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 December 2002 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Kidô, Kyômei, Hyôsai (Startup, Resonance, Smashed Ice)

Plot:

After the appearance of a new "Godzilla", the Japanese government builds a robotic Godzilla to stop the beast.

Plot Keywords:

Godzilla | Monster | Gojira | Giant Monster | Bio Organic Weapon

Cast

Yumiko Shaku	...	Akane Yashiro
Shin Takuma	...	Tokumitsu Yuhara
Kana Onodera	...	Sara Yuhara (Tokumitsu's daughter)
Koh Takasugi	...	JSDF Lieutenant Togashi
Yûsuke Tomoi	...	JSDF 2nd Lieutenant Hayama
Jun'ichi Mizuno	...	JSDF 1st Lieutenant Sekine
Akira Nakao	...	2003 Prime Minister Hayato Igarashi
Kumi Mizuno	...	1999 Prime Minister Machiko Tsuge
Takeo Nakahara	...	JSDF Chief Hitoyanagi
Yoshikazu Kanou	...	Hishinuma
Kôichi Ueda	...	Dobashi
Akira Shirai	...	Shinji Akamatsu
Midori Hagio	...	Kaoru Yamada
Naomasa Musaka	...	Gorou Kanno
Shinji Morisue	...	JSDF 1st Lieutenant Hayama (2nd Lt. Hayama's Brother)
Misato Tanaka	...	Nurse
Hideki Matsui	...	Himself
Katsuo Nakamura	...	Commentator
Tsutomu Kitagawa	...	Gojira / Maser Tank Pilot
Hirofumi Ishigaki	...	Mekagojira / Maser Tank Pilot
Toshiyuki Nagashima	...	Miyagawa
Sawako Kitahara	...	Yuhara's wife
Jun Eto	...	Management
Mitsuru Fukikoshi	...	TV announcer
Tetsu Watanabe	...	Management
Naomi Fujiyama	...	Patient who escapes
Shingo Yanagisawa	...	Man whose house was destroyed
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Baldwin
Makoto Kamiya	...	Cameo appearance
Yasuo Kurashiki
Takehiro Murata	...	Cameo appearance (man picking up cans)
Kenji Suzuki	...	Cameo appearance (Maser Tank Pilot)
Masaaki Tezuka	...	Cameo appearance

Directed by
Masaaki Tezuka

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Wataru Mimura		screenplay

Produced by
Takahide Morichi	....	executive producer
Shogo Tomiyama	....	executive producer
Shogo Tomiyama	....	producer

Original Music by
Michiru Ôshima

Cinematography by
Masahiro Kishimoto

Film Editing by
Shinichi Fushima
Shinichi Natori

Casting by
Tadao Tanaka

Production Design by
Toshio Miike

Art Direction by
Yukiharu Seshita

Set Decoration by
Chuichi Yanagihori

Makeup Department
Shihomi Kobayashi	....	hair stylist
Emi Mizuno	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Kiyomi Kanazawa	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kei Hirota	....	additional assistant director
Atsushi Kaneshige	....	first assistant director
Hiroshi Okamoto	....	additional assistant director

Art Department
Nobuhiro Akitaya	....	property master
Mami Ishida	....	property master
Yasuo Kashima	....	set dresser
Yoichi Kitamura	....	property master
Asami Yamaguchi	....	property master

Sound Department
Hideaki Ishii	....	sound engineer
Masatoshi Saito	....	sound assistant
Teiichi Saitô	....	sound recordist
Masashi Tara	....	sound engineer

Special Effects by
Kenichi Eguchi	....	special effects photography
Nobuhiro Ekubo	....	assistant model maker
Kakusei Fujiwara	....	lead sculptor
Yûichi Kikuchi	....	special effects director
Shinichi Wakasa	....	model maker
Shinichi Wakasa	....	suit maker

Visual Effects by
Jamie Clay	....	visual effects
Karl Raade	....	visual effects

Stunts
Masanobu Anamiya	....	stunt coordinator
Jun Murakami	....	stunt coordinator
Ryuta Takaya	....	stunt coordinator
Yuko Umemoto	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Toshio Iwata	....	camera operator
Takayuki Kawabe	....	lighting assistant
Katsuhiko Kudo	....	still photographer
Taku Mitamura	....	lighting assistant
Atsuo Nishimoto	....	still photographer
Hideaki Odi	....	lighting assistant
Soshi Sato	....	lighting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Shinichi Wakasa	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Yumiko Nakaba	....	negative cutter
Kazuko Okayasu	....	negative cutter

Other crew
Takaya Fukutsuka	....	production assistant
Takashi Hirayama	....	production assistant
Takahiro Kikushima	....	production assistant
Daisuke Nagai	....	production assistant
Seiji Takenobu	....	production assistant
Shinichi Wakasa	....	suit designer: Godzilla suit
Shinichi Wakasa	....	suit maker: Godzilla suit
Kazunari Yamanaka	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Toho Company

Distributors

• Toho Company

Also Known As:

Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (Hong Kong: English title) (DVD title)
Godzilla X Mechagodzilla (Japan: English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for sci-fi action and some language.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Studio 9, Toho Studios, Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Toho Company

Trivia:

Mechagodzilla's nickname is Kiryu. "Kiryu" means "Machine Dragon" or "Mechanized Dragon".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the blackout, all the lights go out, even the cars.

Quotes:

2003 Prime Minister Hayato Igarashi: Kick his ass!

Movie Connections:

References Kingu Kongu tai Gojira (1962)

Another Godzilla Movie!

This Godzilla movie has a better storyline than any of the other originals. The special effects used were excellent, however the Godzilla and MechaGodzilla (Kiryu) costumes were similar to the ones used in the early Godzilla movies.

The performance of Japanese Pop Idol Yumiko Shaku (Yuki from Shura Yukihime/The Princess Blade) was great, she really portrayed her character (Akane Yashino)'s emotions well.

The overall its a good movie to watch for fun!